Greetings, Decibel readers!
We’ve got a of solid, brutal, and bottle-breaking music to listen to this weekend — so let’s get right to it!
—
Lamb of God – Into Oblivion
At this point in their long and storied journey, it seems Lamb of God is seeking to infuse a renewed spirit into their music and image. The band’s new logo reflects a sense of maturity and simplicity, though I think the classic emblem was one of the only proper uses of Papyrus font. The band’s style is still recognizably their own on Into Oblivion, but there’s a very evident attempt to make everything sound “big.” It produces an atmosphere that glows through the speakers and reminds the listener a bit more of the acts the band influenced in the 2010s. But fear not, the riffing style, Randy’s signature growl, and the punishing rhythms are all intact. I will always be an unapologetic defender of early-2000s metalcore and the New Wave of American Heavy Metal, so I will always be excited for a new Lamb of God record. After all, when some of the big metal giants start to leave us, we may come to rely on our Richmond-based overlords to guide the way.
Stream: Apple Music
—
Monstrosity – The Colossal Rage Screams from Beneath the Surface
The latest from the Floridian death metal institution, and their followup to 2018’s The Passage of Existence. Screams from Beneath the Surface hits with maximum impact, but has a smooth quality that makes everything seem like an elegant, but very deadly machine. Reminds me a lot of the last few Dying Fetus albums in that way. That’s a good thing.
Stream: Apple Music
—
Mors.Void.Discipline – Txketh)ëké
Horrifying, nightmarish blackened death metal. Every once in awhile, something crosses my path that just makes me say “hell yea” immediately. This album is definitely in that category, as it embodies everything non-metal listeners hate about this music. If you put something on and can imagine a room of your normie coworkers expressing disgust or indignation, and you don’t even get the obligatory “Oh, the music is fine, I just can’t do the vocals” (blah blah blah), you know it’s good. Real good.
—
Transilvania – Magia Posthuma
On the other hand, if you’re in the mood for something with more catchy hooks, you should definitely crank this up. Austria’s Transilvania are experts in weaving their metallic vampirism into exciting rhythms and compelling guitar work — all while vocalist Possessor leads the way to the catacombs!
Stream: Apple Music
—
Wolfbastard – Satanic Scum Punks
Let’s party. In hell!!! There’s no nonsense here, just black metal punk rock with the nihilism turned to 11. No elegance, no fake showmanship, just lots of songs with “Fuck” and “Bastards” in the song titles, riffs, growls, blastbeats, d-beats, deadbeats, the whole lot. Like if Motörhead, Blitz, The Exploited, Venom, and GBH all met in a dark alley and formed a street gang.
Stream: Apple Music
