Things You Might Have Missed 2020

Paysage d’Hiver – Im Wald [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By Dear Hollow on December 21, 2020 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Black Metal, 36 comments

“Always toeing the line between raw and atmospheric, mastermind Wintherr’s (also a member of the formidable Darkspace) demo work has ranged from the crystalline ambiance of Die Festung to the unrelenting rawness of Winterkälte, consistently providing an aural experience of a blizzard at its most violent and a winter’s evening at its most empty. This has all built up to this: first full-length Im Wald, which feels far too anticlimactic for this stunning project’s storied 23-year career.” Winter has come.

Ivan – Silver Screens [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By Cherd on December 21, 2020 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Funeral Doom, 91 comments

“For those few keeping track, 2020 has been an exceptionally solid year for funeral doom. Convocation, Atramentus, Drown, Mourners and Lone Wanderer all put out top shelf bottles of distilled despondency, while golden boys Bell Witch returned to collaborate, mostly successfully, with Aerial Ruin. While each of these albums occupied a slightly different niche of the style, none wandered so far afield with such thrilling results as Australian duo Ivan on their fifth release Silver Screens.” Strange screenings.

Heathen – Empire of the Blind [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 20, 2020 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Thrash Metal, 21 comments

“Heathen. I’ve got three shirts that say it and nine people that call me that. I liken it to a word like ‘dickhead.’ It’s got great pop and works in all situations. Though it’s maybe more fun to call my mom a ‘dickhead’ rather than a ‘heathen.’ But, I suppose it depends on the day. Speaking of fun, let’s talk about that other Heathen. The one that released Empire of the Blind, and we never got it.” Blind fury.

Them – Return to Hemmersmoor [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By Dr. A.N. Grier on December 18, 2020 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Heavy Metal, 24 comments

“I can’t believe we never received the promo for Them’s Return to Hemmersmoor. I mean, seriously, I’m their biggest fan! Even when their first album fell into the hands of an anti-Diamonder, I still hailed the shit out of it. This October, I even asked my kids if they wanted to watch Tim Burton’s Sweet Hollow. That’s how much the band is on my mind.” Themsmoor.

Melted Bodies – Enjoy Yourself [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By GardensTale on December 17, 2020 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, 46 comments

“In a year like this, there’s something to be said for going crazy. If you have multiple personality disorder, severe paranoia or schizophrenia with auditory hallucinations, you never have to feel alone while you’re locked in your apartment talking to the walls! Which is why Melted Bodies have the right idea.” Assorted nuts.

Afsky – Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By Doom_et_Al on December 16, 2020 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 81 comments

“Every year, the chase is on to find that underground band no one’s ever heard of. The one that you present to everyone who loves music and watch as their expressions change from an unconvinced “Who is this?” to “Holy shit, this is amazing!” Well, folks, for those of you with a taste for pure black metal, unadulterated by frills and ribbons, I have the album for you.” Afsky and answered.

Thætas – Shrines to Absurdity [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By Kenstrosity on December 15, 2020 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Slam, Technical Death Metal, 32 comments

“Like an evil twin of Afterbirth’s Four Dimensional Flesh, Thætas’ debut full-length Shrines to Absurdity feels like a different animal than the usual brand of brutal tech. Instead of Afterbirth’s counterintuitive use of airy atmospherics and deceptively uplifting songwriting, Thætas invoke crushing despair and unnerving dissonance.” Shriny, unhappy people.

Necrot – Mortal [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By Ferrous Beuller on December 14, 2020 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Death Metal, 65 comments

“People are never satisfied. They are saturated with options, and with choice comes entitlement. Corpulent technicality and aimless dissonance have somehow convinced people that songwriting isn’t necessary. Fucking die. Whatever happened to the basics? But not just the basics, the fucking basics. Evolution is key, but nothing can replace those original elements that, when correctly combined, elicit such a chemical crush. Oakland’s Necrot have been descanting the insalubrious since 2012 and boast members of Mortuous, Vastum and Acephalix”. Death be simple.

Houkago Grind Time – Bakyunsified (Moe to the Gore) [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By Dr. Wvrm on December 13, 2020 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, 43 comments

“Far be it from me to let my shit-tier time management fall on Andrew Lee, the one man behind one-man-band Houkago Grind Time (and 2020 death metal standout Ripped to Shreds). Bakyunsified (Moe to the Gore) may house a whole lot of meta anime piss-takes, but don’t let that fool you: this spin is more grind to the core than it has any right to be.” Anime grind had to happen.

Counting Hours – The Will [Things You Might Have Missed 2020]

By Steel Druhm on December 11, 2020 in Things You Might Have Missed 2020, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 45 comments

“Longtime members of the AMG metal intelligentsia are likely aware I enjoy me some melancholy melodeath and downbeat mope-core. Said intelligentsia may also have noticed I tend to namedrop long-defunct Finnish melodeath act Rapture rather frequently. That’s because I really loved their sound and truly miss them since they called it a day after releasing the excellently bleak Silent Stage way back in 2005. Over the years various bands helped fill the hole left in my wretched soul, but no one could truly replace Rapture. Finland’s Counting Hours may have come as close as inhumanly possibly though with their debut The Will.” Inherit the sadness.