Weekly Digest 15-21 March
A feast of black metal we have. There is a new EP from Батюшка, a split of Taake and Helheim, atmospheric black metal Fuath from SAOR’s frontman, cosmic black metal by Mare Cognitum and the epic second part of the "Biolume" trilogy from Midnight Odyssey, speed metal from Agent Steel, French love for the Middle Ages in the conceptual epic metal album by Herzel and in oi / hardcore punk by Fléau, hardcore battle Nervous SS vs Rat Cage. Also, new Кровосток and Serge Tankian's new EP in our Weekly Digest.
Agent Steel – No Other Godz Before Me
A cult band in the speed metal genre, which has managed to lose a part of their fan base in recent years due to a very specific way of communicating online and the unreliability in performing the announced shows. But true fans of fast heavy metal can hardly resist cheking out the "No Other Godz Before Me".
spotify | apple music | deezer | youtube music
Батюшка – Царю Небесний
A Polish band that got lots of attention from fans of heavy music in 2015 with their album "Литургия", but as befits all churchmen – a drama and division followed soon. "Батюшка" brand remained with the vocalist of the Bartłomiej band, "Барфоломей" Krysiuk, with whom the Metal Blade signed a record deal. EP " Царю Небесний " is a cold atmospheric black metal release with the traditional orthodox Christian church flair. It’s not as good as " Литургия ", of course, but not bad.
spotify | apple music | deezer | youtube music
Fléau – s/t
Fléau (from the French a "whip") is a bald hardcore punk band from France, whose members call themselves a "band of mercenaries" and sing about medieval battles and wars. FFO: The Templars, Rixe, Blitz, Noi! Se, Lion’s Law, etc.
spotify | apple music | deezer | youtube music
Fuath – II
Fuath is Andy Marshal from SAOR, who is responsible for the lyrics and all instruments except the drums, and Carlos Vivas as the drummer. Together they play atmospheric black metal which they said was inspired by such bands as Burzum, Darkthrone, Drudkh, and Windir. Feel cold Scottish winds through their music.
bandcamp | spotify | apple music | deezer | youtube music
Herzel — Le Dernier Rempart
A conceptual album by the epic metal band from the French region of Brittany. "Le Dernier Rempart" is split into two parts. Part one contains two songs dealing with Brittany history along with the instrumental traditional track. Part two is the aforementioned concept about a hero named Herzel, who, through trials and tribulations, eventually delivers Brittany the Sword of the Gods ("L’Epée des Dieux"). It is the concept that could only come from the unique region of Brittany. For the fans of Manilla Road, Warlord, Queensryche, Heir Apparent, Omen and Virgin Steele, as well as Celtic and French traditional music.
spotify | apple music | deezer | youtube music
Кровосток – Наука
Legends that need no introduction. Their style, music, lyrics – everything as we like. What can I add, they are back!
spotify | apple music | youtube music
Midnight Odyssey – Biolume Part 2 – The Golden Orb
Midnight Odyssey is an australian one-man project, that person creates just incredible music. From ambient black metal / cosmic black metal / dungeon synth, the band moved towards epic metal but fear not – synths are plenty on this album. Midnight Odyssey created what feels like soundtracks to the interplanetary and intergalactic trips, exciting and inspiring. The almost two-hour album "Biolume Part 2 - The Golden Orb" is the second part of the epic trilogy and listening to it is a really cool experience. Highly recommend.
Mare Cognitum - Solar Paroxysm
Another ambient black metal / cosmic black metal one-man band released the album this week, also epic, but differently, and way more metallic than the aforementioned Midnight Odyssey. Both releases came out on I, Voidhanger Records.
Nervous SS/Rat Cage – Skopje vs Sheffield
The raw, aggressive, fast and uncompromising hardcore punk duel of Nervous SS from the capital of the Republic of North Macedonia vs Rat Cage from the capital of South Yorkshire. Released on one of my favorite punk record labels – La Vida Es Un Mus.
spotify | apple music | deezer | youtube music
Serj Tankian – Elasticity
Serj's first album since 2013. These songs could have been a part of the new System Of A Down album if Serge and Daron could agree on a common vision, but as that's still not an option – we're listening to five new tracks of Tankian's EP.
bandcamp | spotify | apple music | deezer | youtube music
Taake/Helheim – Henholdsvis
Black metal! Taake has recorded two new tracks for this split: "Brotne Bein og Mannefall" and "Ein Baat I Foss", with the lyrics of the old Norwegian writer Arne Garborg (approximately 1895). This is true Norwegian black metal that we all crave for. Gritty, dark and cold as father winter of dread himself. Helheim's contributions are two cover songs: A cover of Emperor's "Heksesabbat / Witches Sabbath", originally released on the tribute album "A Tribute to Emperor – In Honour of Icon E" from 2012 (now remastered), and a quite different and original version of the Taake song "Orkan" from the "Noregs Vaapen" album.
spotify (Taake) spotify (Helheim) | apple music (Taake) apple music (Helheim) | deezer (Taake) deezer (Helheim) | youtube music
Translation by Elizabeth July
