Record(s) o’ the Month – July 2013

For those of you unaware, July is always the slowest month for releases. This has to do with the fact that major labels basically shut down for the festival season, releasing live records and DVDs, but rarely new albums. In fact, I suspect that only shitty records get released during this period by most record labels; though that is entirely speculation. In any case, July tends to be a bit of a weak month and 2013 is a weak year, so that doesn’t say a lot for any possible Record o’ the Month right now. Still, that might be a bit misleading, as we had a few records that came out in July that were worth your time. One in particular blew away the competition (though all of them impressed), our Record o’ the Month for July, 2013: Exhumed’s latest offer, Necrocracy!

Exhumed - Necrocracy

Exhumed // Necrocracy — “In a weird way, Necrocracy is probably the first ‘mature’ Exhumed record, if goregrind allows for such a thing. This is their Countdown to Extinction, their Heartwork – fuck, maybe even their Invisible Touch.” Ask yourself a question: how can you possibly not listen to Exhumed’s Invisible Touch? Other zines have advertised this as a possible Carcass-killer, and that’s not to be mean or hyperbolize… It’s ’cause Necrocracy is really fucking good.

PowerwolfPowerwolf // Preachers of the Night — “With Blood of the Saints and now Preachers of the Night, Powerwolf have become more consistent in their sound and all that really differentiates the two albums is the hyped up speed on Preachers of the Night. It’s a welcome display of dark merriment that will satisfy die-hard fans like myself looking for a continuation of the grand Powerwolf adventure,” crooned Madam X. Sure, Powerwolf is cheesy as shit, but if you’re not lactose intolerant, Preachers of the Night is right up your alley. This slab of aged cheddar processed cheese-food awaits.

Obsidian TongueObsidian Tongue // A Nest of Ravens in the Throat of Time — “Recommended for anyone who has found some kind of despondent solace in the recent U.S. black metal bands, and any fan of black metal that wants a great gateway into the vast USBM scene.” This atmospheric black metal record from American black metallers Obsidian Tongue got our local atmospheric black metal guy Noctus a little worked up. Since he’s an atmospheric black metal guy he wasn’t ecstatic or anything, but as far as I can tell only torture and the taste of babies tears really ever get him to cross that threshold.

Ereb Altor - Fire Meets IceEreb Altor // Fire Meets Ice — “These guys deserve way more press and buzz than they ever seem to get and I strongly encourage you all to check them out. They do their own thing and have their own sound and it’s a Valhalla ready one at that!exclaimed a frothy Steel Druhm in his review of the band’s latest record. With a developing Enslaved-like feel, the Gävle-based Ereb Altor has continued to grow and impress, and Fire Meets Ice is strongly recommended to all who like Viking fare.

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