Greetings,Decibel readers!
What an incredible day for new releases! We’ve got two bigDecibelfavorites down below, names that will definitely be fresh in the minds of subscribers, along with some lesser-known bands that are definitely worth your time. And there’s a newSigh album. Let’s go!
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Acausal Intrusion – Vomit Meditations
Terrifying, menacing technical blackened death metal with a special twist. Although the band’s sound follows the dissonant tradition of bands likeGorguts(Obscura specifically)andUlcerate, they also find interesting moments to sneak melody into the mix. A candle in the dark, if you will. But not a sign of hope, more a spark that lights a devastating blaze.
Stream:Apple Music
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Chat Pile – Who Loves the Sun
The kind of band that kind of baffles me at first — “What is this?” “Do I like it?” “Where does that highway go to?” — but starts to grow on me pretty quickly. There’s a lot of stylistic alchemy going on here, but I feel like you could sum this up as “indie with teeth.” If that sounds cool to you, check out our cover story onChat Pile inDecibel #264.
Stream:Apple Music
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Devil Master – Bloody Dreams
Oh hey, we did a recent cover story on these guys too!Devil Masterhas been weaving their unique sonic web for awhile now, throwing various high-contrast threads of punk, black metal, thrash, and goth rock into the machine and seeing what happens. I thinkBloody Dreams shows years of experimentation and refinement continue to pay off, with this album showing more of a fist-pumping rock-out vibe than 2022’s atmosphericEcstasies of Never Ending Night. The soundtrack to your next ghouls’ night out.
Stream:Apple Music
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Rahvn – The Purity of Vengeance
Badass blackened death metal from Minnesota. If you’re in the mood for punishment mixed with fiery elegance, this EP should be at the top of your list. Normally I’m not a fan of the kick-drum sound used here, but it fits so well on songs like “Distilled Visions” and “Macabre” that I have to give in and admit it couldn’t be any other way. In other words, the “death metal” part of their sound is basicallyFormulas Fatal to the Flesh andBlack Seeds of Vengeance, which makes for a wicked concoction once you add the eerie black metal side of things.
Stream:Apple Music
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Sigh – Goh-Ka
The latest from the Japanese masters of … well, how do you even sum upSigh at this point? Perhaps the genius of the band is in the fact that you can’t easily categorize them, but still recognize who you’re listening to. There’s soaring and epic moments, punishing and blistering moments, and totally baffling and surprising moments — all on the same album. As it should be. Mikael Åkerfeldt‘s guest guitar solo on the Scorpions-esque “Unputenpu” is a nice bonus too!
Stream:Apple Music