Five new albums. Five new videos. One week of underground music worth your time. From blackened thrash and old school death metal to sludge-soaked monsters and Boston rock & roll — this week's picks run the full spectrum. No filler.
Substack: https://monumentsinruin.substack.com
Our adventure into the music world continues! What is new? Well, everything! The question is, how do i choose what to share? So far I have settled with sets of five. If you can dig it then that is one new album and one new video to investigate each day of the week. For those of us who value our time while maintaining a curious appetite for the modern music world, this seems totally doable. Let’s roll into it.
New Album Releases May 15
Mournhold by Tyrannus / True Cult Records
80s thrash, atmospheric black metal, and elements of post-punk
If you are feeling nostalgic for the sound of days soaked in blackened, thrash metal that would stand next to the likes of early Megadeth and Venom, say hello to your next fix. This album is the perfect centerpiece for the classic metal fan that does not take lightly to posers.
Cover art and Tyrannus logo by Fabian Van Beek (Hagiophobic)
Demo by MANGLED RECREMENT / Caligari Records
old school death metal, Poland
Lo-fi grumbling death metal. Though the technology may be staying close to home, the riffs are ready to cut the throat of any who dare stand before their stage. This is death metal at it’s most direct to the origin. Cookie monster groans and blast beat assaults.
Logo and artwork by Marc Necrohelm
My Death Is More Beautiful Than Your Life by My Heart, an Inverted Flame / Crucial Blast
electronic metal synth doom drone psychedelic sludge
Not for the lover of the short and simple single. This is a slow, dark experimental passage into worlds that can be both welcoming and soaked in sadness. A place where shadow becomes king and depression, if not held tightly to the vest, can be let free to roam the landscape, reducing the oxygen to levels one would struggle to survive.
Art by Andrew McLeod
Gozu VI by GOZU / Blacklight Media, Metal Blade Records
metal metal blade rock & roll heavy rock stoner doom Boston
Don’t even think about pressing play on this unless you are ready to rejoice. Delivering a clean vocal bed over powerful rock vibes, everything about this album is easy to recommend. From it’s vibrantly colorful artwork to the power house vibes that put my foot through the floor of my car’s gas pedal, this will be welcomed at your next house party. Prepare to rock and roll.
Ailments by Orphan Donor / Zegema Beach Records
grindcore metal noise rock Allentown
Harsh screams cut and slice over abrasive, mathematical noise stubs. This is brutal and welcomed. Getting hit with a musical curve ball is such a treat. Especially when the artist has managed to capture your attention from the album opener and shift into uncomfortable territory. This is one of those albums. Like a chaotic moment where the onlooker can not seem to turn away. They sit frozen in shock. The situation burned into memory.
Art @melted.gif
New Video Drops May 9-15
TodoMal - Humanised Gods (Official Video)
This one may take a second to grab hold of the ear. It has a bizarre texture to it that feels polished in the beginning. Whatever it is, it is something that would typically push me away. As the song plays out the gothic vibes slowly settle in and bring a special touch to it. The synth sections keep it awkward enough to hook the ear until the eventual turn to bigger and brighter moments. Glad I hung on for the duration. It may not be my typica cup of tea but it was still very enjoyable.
Burial Clouds - Windflower (Official Video)
I can not say enough about this tune. It has an emotional weigh to it that grips you tightly. Slow, heavy, gloomy, harsh vocals that cross into some angelic territory as the music bed shifts to a more aggressive clutch. It feels like hurting. Very powerful.
Lifesick - Die with Me (Official Music Video)
Buckle up because this tune is brutal. You will watch the world crumble around you after pressing play. Hardcore and in your face. Screamy, chugging intro that drops into a blast-a-thon and is prepared to rip every single inch of your face off. No joke. This band is on fire.
The Citadel – Buzzard (Official Music Video)
This caught me a little by surprise. A totally new name and welcoming sound. With vibes of Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, this track is easy crank up the volume and let it vibrate throughout the open air. Very mellow German psychedelic rock and looking forward to hearing more as it unfolds.
MAKE - The Judge [Official Music Video]
This sludge soaked monster is directly on course to capture my attention in a big way. It is massive in sound, aggressive in attack and, of course it helps that they are from my neighboring Appalachian hills of North Carolina. Hold on to something and press play. Another tune that leaves me shouting, “Bring on more of this!”
…is this the end?