Greetings, Decibel readers!
Hope those of you out west are able to catch this year’s installment of The Decibel Magazine Tour. It was a real trip seeing Mortiis perform for the first time, and yell out in excitement when he started to play “En mørk horisont.” Makes me wish I could attend Northeast Dungeon Siege this weekend. Oh well. Meanwhile, Mayhem was fantastic as always, and I think this was the first time I’d heard them play “Symbols of Bloodswords.” Fifth time’s the charm I guess.
Also, check out this week’s new releases:
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Corpus Offal – Corpus Offal
Missed this one last week, taking the time now to correct such a grievous error. I was a big fan of Cerebral Rot, so it’s good to hear a couple of those guys continue under a new banner. And call me crazy, but I think this new project has surpassed what they did in the past, as things come together in a darker, more interesting way on Corpus Offal. The album is especially helped by the injection of faster rhythms, which you can check out on songs like “Gorging Gastric Decedent” (lol what a name).
Stream: Apple Music
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The Darkness – Dreams on Toast
You know we here at Decibel are big fans of The Darkness, as despite all appearances, we do actually like to have fun sometimes. Also, there’s hardly any bands keeping the freewheeling spirit of 1970s rock alive anymore, so we’re kind of counting on The Darkness at this point. Make no mistake here, though, Dreams on Toast leans HARD on the schtick almost to the level of parody. But it’s delivered with so much panache that you can’t help but pump your fist and forget yourself.
Stream: Apple Music
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Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power
Deafheaven is one of the best bands to emerge from the 2010s (yes they are, shut up), and they decisively prove that on their latest album. And that’s why we put them on the cover of Decibel #247. There’s a stern confidence on display here, as the band leans decisively on their metal side, departing from the moody approach of Great Mass of Color in favor of a sound much more akin to Ordinary Corrupt Human Love. But even that doesn’t do the album justice, as their characteristic blackgaze sound is pushed through a harsh sonic filter that gives it a hauntingly familiar vibe. In other words, this is Deafheaven’s answer to You Fail Me.
Stream: Apple Music
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Decrepisy – Deific Mourning
Crushing, nightmarish death-doom from Portland’s Decrepisy. The mood here is decidedly grim and foreboding, but there’s tons of groove and power on display here. Like having a moshpit after the apocalypse.
Stream: Apple Music
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Svartsyn – Vortex of the Destroyer
Ornias has returned to bring us the latest in unrelenting darkness from one of the most respected names in Swedish black metal. Svartsyn‘s catalog is vast in scope, and this is a particularly thrilling addition to that proud legacy, following a similar trajectory as In Death and Requiem. (Though I’ll always have more of a soft spot for Bloodline, The True Legend and, of course, …His Majesty.)
Stream: Apple Music