Swamp Witch - Gnosis

Swamp Witch are a band that intrigues me simply for the fact that they're one of the few bands ballsy enough to mix stoner doom with death metal (an idea that I've toyed around with for a long-ass time). These dudes pull it off perfectly. The ethereal guitar leads weave in and out of each other like phased-out electric eels writhing stoned in a big pile. The band can switch from the up-tempo to savagely heavy in the matter of a few measures. 'Gnosis' is short and to the point, spanning only three songs, Swamp Witch don't waste any time packing the riffs into each and every track. Get torched, turn this up and sink into endless couch lock as some of the most brain-rattling riffs thunder through your ear-pussy. SWAMP WEED For Fans of: Cough, Fistula, Incantation, Acid Witch

Wrathprayer - The Sun of Moloch: The Sublimation of Sulphur's Essence Which Spawned Death and Life

It's been a bit since I've used this blog but since so many of my readers still come back here (even when I don't post for months on end) I gotta throw you a bone. Wrathprayer's blend of bestial blackened death comes in the style of the Australian death metal scene with hints of bands like Teitanblood and Witchchrist. The reverb-soaked production adds a cavernous depth to their music. The atmosphere throughout the record is seamless and well composed, as for the music, the riffs are primitive and chaotic. This record is a must-have for fans of truly blasphemous music. BVRN For Fans of: Portal, Diocletian, Teitanblood, Profanatica, Vomitor

Nihilist - Demo Collection

Nihilist were one of those bands that took the principle aesthetics of death metal to their extremes. They played the lowest, nastiest, swampiest doom-laden death metal tat ever crawled its way out of Scandinavia. Plodding drums back gruesome guitars that often lumber with a slow, purposeful canter. The monstrous vocals are on a completely different level than what most bands were doing and quite frankly are still way better than what most bands are trying to accomplish with this sound to this day. Nihilist later became the famed band Entombed so if for some reason you haven't already heard this that should be reason enough to give this a spin.

Tracks 1-3: 'Premature Autopsy' Demo '88
Tracks 4-6: 'Only Shreds Remain' Demo '88
Tracks 7-8: 'Drowned' Demo '89
Track 9: 'The Head Not Found' Session '89
Tracks 10-11: 'The Drowned' Session '89
Tracks 12-14: Entombed's 'But Life Goes On' Demo '89

UGH!

Midnight - Satanic Royalty

Midnight's brand of blackened rock 'n' roll rips and tears with the metal ferocity that had seemingly disappeared from the face of hard music. These metal warriors operate out of Cleveland and lately they've been making a lot of noise. Their first full length is exactly what you'd expect from Midnight (which is NOT a bad thing). There are riffs upon riffs upon riffs throughout this record. Songs like "You Can't Stop Steel" and "Lust, Filth and Sleaze" are not only great sing-a-long anthems of pure rock scuzz, they're also great headbanging material. Every ounce of this record is steeped in unholy energy. It's been a long time since a band has gotten me in their grips like Midnight have.

These dudes are the future of heavy metal.

ALL HAIL HELL!

If you like it, BUY THIS RECORD