“When the trailblazing and difficult to classify Giant Squid went on indefinite hiatus in 2015, the heavy music world lost one of its great innovators and truly underappreciated acts. They signed off with their exceptional 2014 album Minoans before news eventually filtered through of their demise the following year. While all good things must end, thankfully the creative juices are still flowing for the Giant Squid band members. Vocalist/guitarist and mastermind Aaron Gregory has collaborated with the bulk of the Giant Squid crew to deliver the debut LP from Squalus.” Once squided, twice shy.
Post-Metal
Chelsea Wolfe – Hiss Spun Review
“With expectations sky high after the mesmerizing Abyss, Wolfe returns with her highly anticipated sixth opus, Hiss Spun. One of Chelsea Wolfe’s key strengths as an artist lies in her ability to continually evolve and reinvent herself. Familiar strands tie her works together, but she is not in the game of repeating herself, as Hiss Spun firmly attests.” Wolfe at your doorstep.
Myrkur – Mareridt Review
“Like or hate her heavily indebted style of enchanting folk and atmospheric, Scandinavian blackened metal, talented Danish singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Amalie Bruun has taken the metal world by storm since her inception operating under the Myrkur moniker. Moving from strength to strength in a relatively short period, her potential began to crystallize on 2015’s debut full-length, M. Despite her share of detractors and some ignorant bashing of her supposed black metal credentials, M revealed a musician in a rapid mode of artistic development, where prominent influences were largely trumped by Myrkur’s confident, charismatic vocals and improving song-writing skills.” Myrkuring in the shadows.
BIG|BRAVE – Ardor Review
“Ardor, the third full-length by Montrealers BIG|BRAVE opens with a sustained, unending riff. As it reverberates eerily, it suggests that the trio picked up right where they left off with their sophomore release Au De La, veering even further into fields of textures and sparse instrumentation. Their signature sound is a combination of elements from multiple genres and idioms, from post-rock to drone, shaped into an experimental, caustic, and often hermetic concoction.” Bliss in the abyss.
Tau Cross – Pillar of Fire Review
In 2015, the multi-national post-punk supergroup Tau Cross captured our ears and hearts with their self-titled debut, blending the crustiness of classic British punk rock with the soul of Killing Joke and the nigh-shamanistic vocals of former Amebix frontman/bassist, Rob “The Baron” Miller. So effective was this mix that their debut found its way to my #2 slot of my Top Ten(ish) list of 2015. Two years later, and with a slight line-up change, the band returns with their eagerly-awaited follow-up, Pillar of Fire. The fire still burns.
God Root – Salt and Rot Review
“Despite what the band and album name may conjure up, Salt and Rot by God Root is not the latest word in primal vegan cuisine. What we have instead is the second release from the Pennsylvanian quintet, a sludgy, post-metal mediation that sings of soil and sky and man’s connection to both.” Have we finally reached post-Neurosis?
Impure Wilhelmina – Radiation Review
“It doesn’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that musical, rhythmic, melodic swing, baby. So with that in mind, I grabbed Radiation, the sixth full-length from Swiss post-metallers Impure Wilhelmina on a blind whim, having never heard a note from them prior. Only bad things can happen, right?” Take the impurity test.
Final Coil – Persistence of Memory Review
“Whenever AMG Industries receives a promo package from an unknown act, it invariably hails them as the next big thing or a breed apart from the usual metallic fare. It’s a natural thing to do from a marketing perspective, but how many bands have a hope of living up to that kind of hype? When the promotional materials accompanying Final Coil’s debut, Persistence of Memory refrained from such workmanlike braggadocio, it caught my attention. Rather than waxing on about impending superstardom, the promo material spoke of emotion, beauty, depth and musical substance. Nicely played, chaps. That got me to spin your promo and here we all are.” No hype, plenty of persistence.
Drought Year – Nothing More Than Worthless Review
“It’s mostly G rated, when it’s not violent, sick and twisted. That speaks to the accessibility of what you can expect from Drought Year’s sophomore release – Nothing More Than Worthless.” It’s a dry heat.
Sólstafir – Berdreyminn Review
“Anybody familiar with Sólstafir’s discography, knows that they’re agents of change. Where Í blóði og anda was steeped in abrasive black metal, Svartir sandar signalled a turning point for the band, showing signs of the post-rock/metal that Sólstafir would ultimately refine on their later releases. Do I have high expectations for Berdreyminn? Hell yes!” Great expectations is a depressing story.