Things You Might Have Missed

The EP, Split, and Single Post Part II [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By El Cuervo on January 10, 2022 in Blog Posts, Things You Might Have Missed 2021, 37 comments

It’s time for Part II of the big roundup of EPs that you might have missed in 2021. Take notes, share notes.

The EP, Split, and Single Post Part I [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By El Cuervo on January 6, 2022 in Blog Posts, Things You Might Have Missed 2021, 85 comments

A mighty host of quality EPs arrived in 2021. Did you miss some and/or all of them? We’re here to help.

Abstract Void – Wishdream [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By Dr. Wvrm on January 2, 2022 in Things You Might Have Missed 2021, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Synthwave, 21 comments

“In hindsight, 2018 stood me at an imperceptible crossroads: the intersection of my growing disenchantment with metal and a void-filling infatuation with the electronic. The latter was encouraged, if not inspired, by a Frankensteinian atmoblack/synthwave monster released at the improbably right space-time to capitalize on the trends I loved and tired of. Abstract Void’s Back to Reality would ride that wave of serendipity to become my most listened-to album of the next few years. At least until Wishdream came along.” Void when wished at night.

Khirki – Κτηνωδία [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By Kenstrosity on December 24, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2021, Folk Metal, Hard Rock, Post-Grunge, 27 comments

“Hard rock and post-grunge are pretty much dead to me. After being a huge fan of that kind of stuff in the mid-aughts, my tastes started to branch out into other avenues. Once that happened, every new record in that scene sounded the same as the last one, regardless of what band released what album. Seeing no evolution or novelty anywhere just confirmed for me that there was nothing left to look forward to. Then Khirki arrives, and I’m all fucked up. How dare the Greek trio choose fucking 20-goddamn-21 to release a post-grunge debut record, entitled Κτηνωδία, that actually rocks hard back to front?!” Hellenic heroics.

Whitechapel – Kin [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By Dear Hollow on December 23, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2021, Deathcore, Progressive Metal, 27 comments

“Kin, as its name perhaps suggests, is a distillation of the themes expressed in The Valley: family. Bozeman laments his family’s disintegration and his own loss of innocence throughout, represented through a breed of deathcore even more mature than its predecessor. The heavy hits heavier, the bleeding heart hemorrhages thicker, and the songwriting accomplishes a storytelling flow to relate it all.” Deathcore in the family.

Cara Neir – Phase Out [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By Dr. Wvrm on December 23, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2021, 14 comments

“Oftimes, “experimental” is just a nicer way of saying “incomprehensible” or “long-winded”, “avant-garde” a tidier “sucked up its own ass.” Metal is at its best when it’s truly different, not just strange. Cara Neir received high praise their last time out, but I didn’t hear it. Until now, very little from the Texans intrigued me, nothing I couldn’t swap for some Warheads at the lunch table. Until now.” 8-bits a biting.

Kyning – Ān [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By GardensTale on December 21, 2021 in Reviews, Stoner Metal, 31 comments

“Vocals are almost always a focal point in modern music of any type. Pop music is practically exclusively about vocalists, hip-hop is defined solely by its vocal style, and so on. Metal vocals oftentimes attempt to buck the trends, whether they’re unintelligible, buried beneath the music, or simply a mediocre afterthought. The latter option is more common in stoner metal, and that is where our path leads today.” Wabbit season.

Hollywood Burns – The Age of the Saucers [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By Kenstrosity on December 18, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2021, Electronic, Non-metal Metal Things, Synthwave, 26 comments

“You can probably already tell that this is not a metal album. Maybe you can’t, I dunno. Either way, I can attest that this here album is awesome. Hollywood Burns is far from a household name, but French darksynth upstart Emeric “Hollywood Burns” Levardon deserves a big reputation boost coming off of his latest opus, The Age of the Saucers. Alien abductions abound and riffy electronic buzzery surround, handily securing my attention as he serves everything I want in music through his unique synthwave lens.” Watch the skies.

Black Sheep Wall – Songs for the Enamel Queen [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By Dear Hollow on December 17, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2021, Doom Metal, Mathcore, Post-Hardcore, Post-Metal, Shoegaze, Sludge Metal, 22 comments

“I remember when Black Sheep Wall “qualified” for an Encyclopedia Metallum profile with sophomore effort No Matter Where It Ends. Kind of pedantic and nitpicky, but then again, their blend of sludge metal, post-metal, doom, and post-hardcore is bound to be divisive. The California quintet offers their fourth full-length Songs for the Enamel Queen, an expertly written and superbly executed mass of concrete-thick sludge metal injected with tumorous melodies and shifty rhythms.” Of Sheep and sludge.

Epiphanic Truth – Dark Triad: Bitter Psalms to a Sordid Species [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By Huck N Roll on December 16, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2021, Black Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, 28 comments

“A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum this year; I started listening to a handful of albums that had the black metal tag affixed to them. I don’t know if it was my mindset, the evolution of musical taste, or the fact that some of this music was actually really good, but three of these albums made my list (four, if you count the sweet little Sea Mosquito track), and today I’m going to tell you about my second-most favorite of the bunch: Dark Triad: Bitter Psalms to a Sordid Species, by the mysterious collective called Epiphanic Truth.” Psalms for the poor.