French soul-threateners Aum will release their highly destructive (and equally esoteric) force, debut record Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum, this Friday on Iron Bonehead.  We asked the band some questions, and we got some enthusiastic and thoughtful responses.  Read up on Aum’s focus and vision right here.

Pure
Not-so-strange in stereo
dB rating: 8/10

To a small number of people, Eucharist are legends. They were, in effect, part of the new wave of Swedish death metal, where outright brutality was replaced by cleverly designed aggression and insane heaviness was supplanted by unheard of musicality. That Eucharist, for a spell, shared rehearsal space with early incarnations of At the Gates and Dissection should speak volumes. And it does.

Brujeria, Aum and Skeleton of God are Waldo’s Pecks of Week. 

End recorded their black metal take on the Amebix classic for their upcoming split with Torrid Husk. 

Ayahuasca set a dark tone for their upcoming album on “Mountain of Snakes.” 

Pennsylvania-based illustrator Joe Martin is your new favorite tattoo artist.

On this week’s Demo:listen, we lie down on the cool earth and watch the aeons unfurl with Finland’s Burial Choir.

Napalm Death frontman Barney Greenway talks about his hopes for peace and dignity in the world in  FreqsTV’s latest episode of Anchors to Asphalt.

Thinking-man alt-metal tarnished by a horrid band name: Mind Funk’s 1991 debut is way better than any of us want to admit.