Things You Might Have Missed 2022

Cherd’s Raw Black Metal Muster [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

Cherd’s Raw Black Metal Muster [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

“There are two types of people in this world: those who appreciate raw black metal, and those who live fulfilling lives with friends and careers and family who speak to them at holiday gatherings. I’ve declared my love of raw black metal here before, and since the advent of Bandcamp, the kvltest of all metal genres has become infinitely more accessible. Every year I wade through acres of tape hiss and tinny treble, looking for the half dozen or so raw black releases that rise above the buzzing tangle of cobwebs to rarified, putrid air, and this year, I’ve finally decided to document my findings.” Colonel Muster in the basement with a spiked club.

The Chasm – The Scars of a Lost Reflective Shadow [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

The Chasm – The Scars of a Lost Reflective Shadow [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

The Chasm have achieved legendary cult status in the death metal universe. Bursting on the scene way back in 1992, this Mexican act essentially took the blueprint from Possessed’s Seven Churches, slapped some early Mayhem insanity on top, and off they went into the swirling madness. An album from The Chasm is guaranteed to throw more wild riffs at you than a sane mind can process and you will be battered and bewildered by the twists and turns their trademark style takes.” Where the wild riffs grow.

Gorotica – Morbid Menagerie [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

Gorotica – Morbid Menagerie [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

“Your beloved Aunt Maxine passed away after a long illness, and now the family faces a choice between two admittedly less-than-ideal options. Is it better for necrophiles to take their pleasure with what remains of the old gal, or for ghouls to cook her up into a delicious fricassée? The corpsefucking cannibals in Gorotica answer this question with an enthusiastic “por que no los dos?”” Corpus delickti.

Brymir – Voices in the Sky [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

Brymir – Voices in the Sky [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

“Sometimes, the music doesn’t click. On paper, it should be halfway up your alley before the first song is over. It’s the right genre, right ideas, right pace, but the shit thrown against the wall still slides off into the ooze of a thousand less-deserving records. Heretofore, that was Brymir. I wanted to like them; I should have worshiped them. But their first three entries of symphonic melodic death escaped me like self-awareness from your favorite black metal band. So why, oh why, should a tired wvrm limp out of the doldrums of exile to dump on a band he doesn’t really like?” Early Brymir gets the wvrm.

Trollfest – Flamingo Overlord [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

Trollfest – Flamingo Overlord [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

At its root, Trollfest’s sound combines the “huumpa and the beast” formula popularized by Finntroll with the diverse musical influences and a willingness to expand into whatever style feels fun at the moment from DSO. But unlike aforementioned artsy (and potentially fartsy) Swedes, Trollfest pretty much sings about their collective alcohol problem (like Korpiklaani). And honestly, every time I listen to a new Trollfest album I ask myself the same question: “Why don’t I listen to these guys more?”

Scalpture – Feldwärts [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

Scalpture – Feldwärts [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

“Hailing from the Bielefeld region of Germany, the quintet specialize in the historical record of military conflict as their lyrical focus, with this newest opus detailing scenes from World War I. Keeping that in mind, you wouldn’t expect the record to be what you’d call “fun.” Except, Feldwärts is massively, addictingly fun.” WAR ARTS!!

Ultha – All That Has Never Been True [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

Ultha – All That Has Never Been True [Things You Might Have Missed 2022]

“By happenstance, I first listened to All That Has Never Been True while reading Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House. It was a match made in Hell. I breathlessly followed Eleanor Vance into paranoid insanity in the presence of sounds without a source, inexplicable events, and a house whose angles aren’t quite right. Ultha grabbed me by the ears and led me on a similar journey.” Drag me to Ultha.