Gloam - Vanquished

Artist: Gloam

Album: Vanquished

Label: Eternal Warfare (322-44) & Wretched Records

Limitation: 200 Hand-numbered Copies

Country: US

Genre: Black/Doom Metal

Year: 2014

Finally, one of the bay area' s greatest unsung bands has a new physical release available to the masses (on the mighty Eternal Warfare Records, no less) for actual retail sale and consumption, albeit currently only available at live performances as far as I can tell. And what a live show it was. Ash Borer and Hell headlining with Gloam and the upcoming (and previously highly reviewed) Akatharsia playing support. While I unfortunately arrived too late for Akatharsia due to work issues, it was easily one of the best of many Gloam performances I've witnessed since I've moved to the Bay, and they effortlessly held their own next to two of the greatest live bands currently in existence. While I haven't had a chance to fully spin the fairly lengthy two song demo tape I purchased tonight (just got back from the show myself,) it contains different compositions from the CD-R demo that was previously released back in 2012, and I'm extremely excited to dive into these two no doubt epic tracks.

*UPDATE 09/10/14* Wretched Records currently has physical copies of this amazing cassette now available for purchase.

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Drouth - Skinwalker (Contempt)

Artist: Drouth (formerly Contempt)

Album: Skinwalker

Label: Contempt Self-released (001)

Limitation: 100 Copies

Country: US

Genre: Black Metal/Hardcore/Doom

Year: 2014

Recorded by Nate Myers; Eternal Warfare godhead and main contributor behind Clothbodies' favorite Mania, so you know Skinwalker is something special. This album is pure heavy metal gold. The kind of album that makes you remember why you got into metal in the first place. The type of album you play air-guitar along to. But also the kind of album that you take seriously, because this is some seriously heavy fucking music. I for one am counting down the hours until tomorrow night when I can see them destroy the Hemlock Tavern in my home town of San Francisco. If you're not fortunate enough to catch them live this tour, grab a tape from upcoming Pacific Northwest nerve-center, Greysun Records.

"The circle is a noose."

*LATE NIGHT UPDATE* Just got back from the Contempt show at Hemlock with nothing but smiles on my face, a t-shirt in my hands, and tingles down my spine. I haven't been witness to a summoning with this much sheer passion and fervor for ages, and that's far from just hyperbole. I am totally and completely impressed with the intensity with which the band played, not to mention their flawless stage presence and effortless unorthodoxy. If you get the chance to see Contempt play your hometown any time soon, I promise, you will not be disappointed. Special thanks to my boy Anthony W (of clothbodies favorite Stellar Descent) for spending an awesome night of heavy metal with me, and Preston K (mighty drummer of Contempt) and the boys for being such gracious hosts. Buy the god damn album already.

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Akatharsia - Demo

Artist: Akatharsia

Album: Demo

Label: Psychic Violence Records (PV-XII)

Limitation: 200 Hand-numbered Copies

Country: US

Genre: Black Metal

Year: 2014

Grunge influenced black metal, anyone? When I was linking to Akatharsia's Bandcamp page so you guys could check out the unholy racket these fiends create, I noticed that one of the descriptive tags they had self-listed next to 'Black Metal', 'Punk' and 'Drone', (and of course their hometown of Oakland) was, surprisingly, 'Grunge'. I wouldn't by any means say this demo sounds like Burzum crossed with Alice In Chains, nor would I have even noticed the influence of the genre if I hadn't noticed the tag, but now that I've gone back and re-listened a few more times, small things like certain riffs (the opening riff in 'Hive Mind' that begins the album comes to mind) as well as the super-catchy song-structures begin to stick out as (very) slightly derivative of some of the heavier grunge artists of the era. In spite of this intriguing facet of the band, the bottom line is that this is a black metal record, released on the mighty Psychic Violence Records, home to Ash Borer and Cerebrate among others, and demands your full respect and attention. If you're lucky enough to live on the west coast, be sure to catch them on tour this weekend in Oakland with Hell and the aforementioned Ash Borer. Mighty company for a young band to keep, indeed, but hardly surprising considering they feature members of powerhouse group Fell Voices. 

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Mongrel - Demo I

Artist: Mongrel

Album: Demo I

Label: House Of First Light (01)

Limitation: 100 Copies

Country: US

Genre: Raw Black Metal/Punk

Year: 2014

Violent, punk influenced black metal from the streets of New York City that will resonate highly with fans of Russia's Blazebirth Hall circle of maniacs. As far as I can tell, this is the first release from the stellar new House Of First Light imprint, whose roster also includes Wulfkrieg's latest release, as well as two demo releases from the mighty Vorde, yet another project from multi-instrumentalist Michael Rekeviks of Fell Voices, Ruin Lust, Sleepwalker, and most recently Vilkacis. As far as I can tell, so far the only way to pick up the Mongrel tape (which you should most definitely do) as well as the other House of First Light releases is through Oakland's Analogue Worship, one of the best online distros/labels in existence for metal and noise related releases on analogue formats. Get on it.

"House of First Light is at war with the existant, its defenders, and its false critics."

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Dross - I & II Comp *UPDATE*

Artist: Dross

Album: Dross I & II

Label: Absenter Records (No. 5)

Limitation: 50 Hand-numbered Copies

Country: US

Genre: Experimental Black Metal

Year: 2014

Originally released last year in ridiculously low quantities and quickly sold out through Arizona's recommended experimental label Tagobella Records, Dross' first, and so far only, demos quickly became two of my favorite releases last year. Featuring members of clothbodies favorites, In Thoth, Dross create driving, emotional, and slightly experimental hardened black art with amazing riffs and tortured vokills. While its hard to nail down exactly what makes these releases so special without actually hearing them, especially as several bands use this same formula to little success, Dross have that intangible 'something' that a great black metal band needs to stand out from the pretenders. There's also a noticeable improvement in songwriting quality between Demo I and Demo II, which suggests that Dross' future projects will keep exceeding those of previous releases. These compilations should go quick, so if the label's sold out by the time you read this, check out Cloister Recordings for a copy and pick up the amazing cassette release of the live ritual between Sutekh Hexen and Trepaneringsritualen while you're at it.

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Hell - Sheol

Artist: Hell

Album: Sheol

Label: Greysun Records (GSR-001)

Limitation: 100 Hand-numbered Copies

Country: US

Genre: Sludge/Drone/Doom

Year: 2014

Two devastating live performances exhibiting selections from 2013's monumental Tour Through Hell, both taken from rituals summoned in the band's own Pacific Northwest. This cassette-only release also serves to officially announce the birth of an exciting new label, Greysun Records, representing acts from the same region. With releases from names like Mizmor and Boreal planned for the future, Greysun is definitely a label to expect great things from. And while the cassette version of Sheol is unfortunately now sold out, you'll have a chance to see these songs performed live on tour with the mighty Ash Borer this summer.

"Lower Your Head."

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Carved Cross - Demo III

Artist: Carved Cross

Album: Demo III

Label: Nocturnal Emissions (NE-10)

Limitation: 66 Copies

Country: Australia

Genre: Raw Black Metal

Year: 2014

Shambolic, melancholic, draining and repetitive in the best possible ways. This is black metal art as only Carved Cross can summon it - at this point they've essentially created their own sub-genre, and on this demo they're at the height of their devastating powers. This isn't depressive black metal like the kiddies play; there's a vast and staggering well of sadness to these sounds. While late last year's full-length Futile Reflections Of A Failed Existence was utterly and overwhelmingly worshipful, they've upped the ante once more with this release. Truly one of the most effortlessly great cults of the last few years.

"Nocturnal Emissions For The Blackline Elite."

LISTEN (Digital files courtesy of On The Board)

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