“Unaussprechlichen Kulten, the ‘Black Book’ within the Cthulhu mythos that describes the titular “unspeakable cults” that worship arcane deities. Here we find an(other) extreme metal band preoccupied with the nightmarish world of Lovecraftian mythology, but Unaussprechlichen Kulten can hardly be called copycats, they’re one of the OG.” Return of the Tenctacle Mack.
“First things first, that artwork: a hulking antediluvian fish bearing down with spread fins and tangled tentacles on the tiny figure illuminated in the depths. If that doesn’t indicate musical magnitude I don’t know what does. Abyssius, on their debut, self-titled LP, explore the concept of one overcoming the confrontational nature of life’s meaninglessness—just as that behemoth looms, so does the bleak and hollow void.” Fish and nothingness.
“If there’s anything I could say for certain about Malist, it’s that they can get a hell of a lot of variety out of the superficially simple ‘atmospheric black metal’ subgenre. This variety, spanning melodic, second-wave, and quasi-DSBM styles, has doubtless played a role in Malist’s very positive reception in these halls. At least through 2021’s Karst Relic.” Mal, Maler, Malist.
“With a name that translates roughly to “The Savage End,” Saevus Finis aim to live up to their moniker with their equally-ominously-titled debut Facilis Descensus Averno (An Easy Descent into Hell). Exercising a particularly gnarly blend of dissonant death and black metal, this plays out in the expectedly extreme metal fashion, amelodious odes of cavernous, claustrophobic cacophony. And it’s pretty cool. In a funny coincidence, it turns out the vocalist of Saevus Finis—Mortvorvm— also provides pipes and guitars for Wells Valley, which received the TYMHM 2023 treatment from yours truly.” Black birds of a feather.
![Wells Valley – Achamoth [Things You Might Have Missed 2023]](https://www.angrymetalguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Wells-Valley-Achamoth-01.jpeg)
“When was the last time something supposedly dissonant and avant-garde really gripped you? Maybe it was one of this year’s releases from Blut Aus Nord, Thantifaxath, or Rorcal. Or perhaps you’ve been bored since Obscura. Whichever the case, Achamoth, from Portugal’s Wells Valley has got to rank highly as one of the more arresting examples of extreme metal in recent times.” In the valley of the dark things.
![Fvnerals – Let the Earth be Silent [Things You Might Have Missed 2023]](https://www.angrymetalguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Fvnerals-Let-the-Earth-Be-Silence-01.jpeg)
“While many within the genre drift towards the floaty, gazey, and even anodyne, my favorite kind of post-metal is the dark kind. Post-metal that uses resonant ambience, deep atmosphere, and echoing vocals to create a powerful, weighty sense of foreboding. So it was that back in February, Fvnerals, whose path and mine had not yet crossed, made me sit up and notice them. It seems that in the past, Fvnerals played it a little softer, and safer, with a mellower bent. But this time they’ve plumbed the depths of horror and melancholy.” Dread post ambient.
Listurnalia23 rolls on with Thus Spoke and Maddog‘s Top 10(ish) Records o’ the Year.
“I don’t know what exactly it is that’s Dwelling Below, but if it’s anything like whatever the cover art is depicting then I’m afraid. Beneath the surface, the music of this debut self-titled also lends itself to feelings of unease and apprehension. Formed from members of Acausal Intrusion, Hollowed Idols, and Sermon of Rot, Dwelling Below lurks in the dark and viscous slime of doomy blackened death.” Where the slime REALLY live.
“I have been known to say that metal is (probably) the only area where I strongly believe that being French indicates quality. Black and post-black metal particularly, with Alcest, Regarde Les Hommes Tomber, Vous Autres, and Blut Aus Nord amongst my personal favorites. None of those acts really have anything in common with Abduction, though, besides the band members’ first language. Also not to be confused with the UK atmospheric black metal act of the same name, Abduction’s style strikes a balance between the frostiness of second-wave, the medieval melodic bent of Véhémence and the wistful folkiness of Cân Bardd.” French style.
“You know the type of black metal. Somewhere between floaty atmospherics, and a raw fuzz, where snarling screams ring out over tremolos that are just that bit too indistinct to be straightforwardly driving. Where the energy is uniformly bleak and apathetic, whether you’re hearing blastbeats or no percussion at all. Herein lies Litha, the project of ambient composer and Mizmor collaborator Andrew Black. Unlike his other solo work, Litha is unpolished and angry, as well as differing wildly in the literal musical sense of being black metal. This is deliberate, with Black stating his desire to express his anger and pain through a more appropriate outlet that can do for him what ambient music can’t.” Paintracks.
