Well, it’s been an entire month since our inaugural “The Buried Underground.” Our attempt of spreading the word on some of metals best kept secrets. Hopefully something from last month piqued your interest, (probably from Rick’s picks) and you purchased some band merch, maybe liked some social media posts, decided to stalk one of the band members and severely irritated your neighbours with high decibel awesomeness. All excellent things to do after finding new music.
(On a side note, I hope Dave doesn’t fire me for the Ricks picks comment, I hear he can get cranky.)
So, without any further nonsense, here’s November’s edition of music you need to unearth. See what I did there! Unearth, underground, that’s unintentionally funny, right?…or maybe not.
Rick’s Picks:
Band: Mass Worship
Album/EP: Portal Tombs
Release Date: 4th February 2022.
Length/Runtime: 9 songs, 39 minutes.
Origin: Sweden/Denmark.
Genres: Sludge, Black, Death, Hardcore, Doom.
A lethal dose of scorching riffs filled with sludgy death metal. Blackened elements mix with the suffocating grinding dissonance to create a nightmarish ambience that’s hard to pin down genre wise. Taking inspiration from Meshuggah, Neurosis, and At the Gates, Mass Worship melds itself into a twisted cacophony of hellish atmospheres and swampy ugliness. A torrent of Gothenburg melodies spread throughout, and blissful leads add a hopeful aura to the nightmarish soundscape. Extreme heaviness that’s also catchy and memorable, this is a band well on its way to the top. Jump on now or get fucking steamrolled.
Record Label: Century Media
For Fans Of: Humanity’s Last Breath, Gojira, Mastodon.
Bandcamp: https://massworship.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/massworship
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/massworship/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/massworship
Band: Crust
Album/EP: Wanderers
Release Date: 16th September, 2022.
Length/Runtime: 8 songs, 42 minutes.
Origin: Russia
Genres: Black Metal, Doom, Sludge, Post-Metal.
This wicked slab of murky blackened annihilation was just released in September, but somehow managed to get past some of metal’s biggest media players, but not us. We already knew this was a sludgy, atmospheric, black metal doom fest. Walls and walls of oppressive sound, balanced out by rapid tremolo picked riffs and gloomy ambience. High intensity blasting while infernal melodies sway in the background. Sometimes ruthless, sometimes bleak, the guitars shift between tight crunchiness and crust filled airiness. The anguished vocals are extremely coarse, fitting the abrasive music perfectly. Atmospheric droning with chunks of ferocious intensity makes this an album to be reckoned with.
Record Label: RUMF Productions, KsenzaRecords, Slowsnowrecords, Addicted Label.
For Fans Of: Primitive Man, Conjurer, Gaerea.
Bandcamp: https://crustband.bandcamp.com/album/wanderers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crustsludge
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crust.band/
Band: Fugitive
Album/EP: Maniac – EP
Release Date: 8th August, 2022.
Length/Runtime: 5 tracks, 17 minutes.
Origin: Fort Worth, Texas.
Genres: Thrash Metal, Crossover.
Old school thrash attacking madness in 2022? Hell, yes there is. Blake Ibanez of Power Trip fame decided to gather up some friends and release a high-octane blast of classic thrash that goes straight for the fucking throat. A punkish style with a bit of hardcore injects this skull crushing EP with tons of groove that’s an excuse to headbang violently with little regard for anyone around you. Check out their killer cover of Bathory’s Raise the Dead. Jean jackets and fucking band patches fuel this snarling little beast. If ripping crunchy guitars, harsh pukey vocals, and non-stop thrashing is what you crave, this is for you.
Record Label: 20 Buck Spin (CD, Tape, Vinyl)
For Fans Of: Power Trip, Creeping Death, Enforced.
Bandcamp: https://fugitivetx.bandcamp.com/album/maniac
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fugitivetx/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fugitive_tx/
Dave’s Picks:
Band: Edge of Haze
Album/EP: The Convoy of Ruin
Release Date: November 1st, 2022.
Length/Runtime: 9 Songs, 39 Minutes.
Origin: Finland
Genres: Progressive Metal, Djent, Cinematic Metal, Melodic Death Metal.
Finnish Porgressive Metal band, Edge of Haze, have been on my radar for such a long time. After covering their last 2 albums, and interviewing them for our old site (Rock n Reel Reviews), it was pretty much mandatory that they be added to this months instalment of The Buried Underground. You see, Edge of Haze are a hugely underrated band, and it’s only now that these guys are starting to get the recognition they truly deserve. After recently supporting Swallow the Sun and Evergrey on their Finnish tour dates, and playing festivals such as Tuska and Euroblast, it’s only a matter of time before Edge of Haze blow up (not literally, obviously). Their penchant for massive riffs and cinematic soundscapes has this release bursting at the seams with 9 of the most dynamic, versatile, and sonically pleasing tracks they’ve ever written. Do your ears a favour and check out ‘The Convoy of Ruin’.
Record Label: Darkening Tone Records
For Fans Of: Voyager, Caligula’s Horse, Evergrey, Scar Symmetry.
Bandcamp: https://edgeofhaze.bandcamp.com/album/the-convoy-of-ruin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edgeofhaze/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edgeofhaze/
Band: Bare King
Album/EP: Beggars
Release Date: May 6th, 2022.
Length/Runtime: 11 Songs, 34 Minutes.
Origin: Bakersfield, California.
Genres: Deathcore, Hardcore.
Sometimes you just want an album to throw you around like an empty tracksuit, right? Well, ‘Beggars’ by Californian Deathcore unit Bare King, is that album. Stacked to the brim with face-splitting riffs and breakdowns heavier than an iron elephant’s nutsack, this is not the soundtrack you’d pick for long walks on the beach, but rather the album you’d play when the inevitable Zombie Apocalypse arrives, and you have to windmill your way through the undead. Time to lube-up, bitches, ’cause Bare King are about to rip you a new asshole!
Record Label: Self Released
For Fans Of: Oceano, The Acacia Strain, Orphan, I Declare War, Replacer.
Spotify: Album Stream
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BareKingCA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barekingca/
Band: Death Engine
Album/EP: Ocean
Release Date: January 13th, 2023.
Length/Runtime: 12 Songs, 37 Minutes.
Origin: France
Genres: Post-Metal, Sludge, Hardcore.
After going on hiatus in 2019, French quartet Death Engine have returned with a reinvigorated line-up, and a batch of killer new songs. Swapping out their dark and dissonant hardcore sound for something more expansive, Death Engine have delivered a refined, yet crushing onslaught of riffs, intertwined amongst a melancholic post-metal backdrop. If there was ever a soundtrack written about the broken world we currently live in, then ‘Ocean’ is it. Keep your eyes peeled for this one dropping in early 2023, and a full review from Metal Epidemic!
Record Label: Code Records/Throatruiner
For Fans Of: Breach, Unfold, Botch, Cult Of Luna, Bossk, Will Haven, Rosetta.
Bandcamp: https://deathenginesound.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deathengine.net
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deathengine/
Eric’s Picks:
Band: Dychromia
Album/EP: The Dangers of Curiosity
Release Date: 25th March, 2022
Length/Runtime: 5 Tracks, 32 Minutes.
Origin: Minneapolis
Genres: Progressive Metal, Progressive Death Metal.
Mixing innovative song writing with world-class musicianship, Dychromia is the next big thing in progressive death metal. Think a more accessible BtBaM, and you’re on the right track. There’s lots of heavy guitars, blast beats, a breakdown or two, and plenty of out of this world guitar, bass, and keyboard pyrotechnics. My advice is jump on the bandwagon now because they won’t be buried underground for long.
Record Label: Self Released
For Fans Of: Between the Buried and Me, Allegaeon, (New) Fit for an Autopsy.
Bandcamp: https://dychromia.bandcamp.com/album/the-dangers-of-curiosity
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dychromia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dychromiamn/
Band: Cobra the Impaler
Album/EP: Colossal Gods
Release Date: 28th February, 2022.
Length/Runtime: 8 songs, 42 minutes.
Origin: Ghent, Belgium.
Genres: Metal, Progressive Metal, Groove Metal, Stoner Metal.
The first thing that comes to mind when you hear Cobra the Impaler is Mastodon. There’s no denying, that Cobra the Impaler has been influenced by Mastodon, but in no way do they rip them off, and, in fact, the songs on Colossal Gods are better than anything Mastodon has put out in over a decade. With huge riffs, catchy melodies, thundering drums, and emotional screams, Colossal Gods is one of the top 10 releases of 2022.
Record Label: Listenable Records
For Fans Of: Mastodon, Gojira, Spirit Adrift.
Bandcamp: https://listenable-records.bandcamp.com/album/colossal-gods
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cobratheimpaler
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cobratheimpaler/
Band: Ironmaster
Album/EP: Thy Ancient Fire
Release Date: 1st April, 2022.
Length/Runtime: 10 Tracks/42 Minutes.
Origin: Nyhammar, Sweden.
Genres: Death Metal
Ironmaster is death-fucking-metal, plain and simple. Featuring members/former members of Scar Symmetry and Dark Funeral, Thy Ancient Fire is unrelenting, pummeling death metal that reminds me of why I started listening to the genre in the first place. Some of the riffs have a Nile/Behemoth feel and there are some symphonic accents that sound like Fleshgod Apocalypse, but overall, this is just death metal in all of its glory.
Record Label: Mojoholic Records
For Fans Of: Nile, Behemoth, Fleshgod Apocalypse.
Bandcamp: https://ironmaster1.bandcamp.com/album/thy-ancient-fire-2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ironmaster666
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ironmaster666/
Hillary’s Picks:
Band: Long Knife
Album/EP: Curb Stomp Earth
Release Date: 13th September, 2022
Length/Runtime: 13 songs, 26 minutes.
Origin: Portland, Oregon.
Genres: Hardcore Punk
Looking for a band that has a perfect blend of hardcore, thrash, and raw rock ‘n roll? Long Knife is bringing it! Curb Stomp Earth is energetic as hell and lyrically devilish. This is definitely not your run-of-the-mill punk rock. These dudes can rip out some solos with ease, and the use of keyboards and saxophone takes things to a different level. The tracks on this album are as catchy as STIs at a furry party, but they will also make you want to get your ass into that circle pit and throw fists. Long Knife made one hell of an album, and I seriously have zero complaints about it. Get this one into your ear holes as soon as you can!
Record Label: Black Water Records
For Fans Of: Fear, Reagan Youth, Chain Whip.
Bandcamp: https://longknife.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Long-Knife/100063538089363/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/long.knife/
Band: Vicious Blade
Album/EP: Siege of Cruelty
Release Date: 24th June, 2022.
Length/Runtime: 5 songs, 14 minutes.
Origin: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Genres: Blackened Thrash
Hailing from Pittsburgh, Vicious Blade brings us an album that is fast, heavy, and generally an ass kicking good time. Siege of Cruelty is teeming with some seriously thrashy, evil, and dirty riffs. The musicianship on this work is solid as a steel beam (I couldn’t help the steel reference. We are talking Pittsburgh, after all). I would be remiss if I didn’t highlight the vocalist, Clarissa Badini. She expertly delivers growls, screams, and spitfire clean vocals which is incredibly impressive. In a male dominated scene she shines like a gem and this reviewer is here for it. Make it a point to give Vicious Blade a listen and show them some support!
Record Label: Our Ancient Future
For Fans Of: Castrator, Sadistic Ritual.
Bandcamp: https://viciousblade.bandcamp.com/album/siege-of-cruelty
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viciousbladepgh/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicious_blade/
