DEAD METAL

Blood Incantation has been featured  a number of times previously . Live Vitrification is a 2018 live recording (of both parts of Vitrification Of Blood, from 2016's Starspawn, combined); along with a bonus ambient track. Self-released on cassette and vinyl in 2018, it has only just seen a CD release. Each of the tracks is approaching twenty minutes in length, but the ambient one is not available digitally so a physical copy is recommended. The (fully mixed and studio-mastered soundboard) live recording can be streamed below. If you are a fan of this band, you will definitely want to own it.

27th January -  Coffin Curse  ( Chile, death metal ) - Ceased to Be ( Memento Mori ) 1st May - Vader  ( Poland, death metal ) - Solitude In Madness ( Nuclear Blast ) 29th May - Behemoth  ( Poland, blackened death metal ) - A Forest ( New Aeon Musick ) 29th May -  Xibalba ‎( US, death metal/hardcore ) – Años En Infierno ( Southern Lord )

Lluvia is Spanish for 'rain'; and it is also the name of this Mexican solo project. Mexico might seem like an unusual place for black metal to be born, but that only serves to make this offering all the more interesting. Eternidad Solemne swings between raw black metal songs and ambient interludes, and it does so very effectively. Atmospheric throughout, it manages to convey a wide range of emotions; albeit mostly from the angry/depressed/sad end of the spectrum. The album was released (in 2015) by Fallen Empire/Amor Fati/Leviatan Ouroboro on vinyl; Hellthrasher on CD; and GreySun on cassette. You can hear it below, and hunt down a copy  here .

All from European bands... Rippikoulu ( Finland ) - Musta Seremonia ( self-released, 1993 ): Catacomb  ( France ) -  In The Maze Of Kadath  ( Phonoprodukt Management/Downed Productions, 1993 ): Exoto   ( Belgium ) - Carnival Of Souls ( Tessa, 1994 ): Betrayer  ( Poland ) -  Calamity  ( Morbid Noizz, 1994 ):

Phrenelith is a death metal band from Denmark. They formed in 2013, and are still active, but this is their only full-length so far. Released on Dark Descent/Me Saco Un Ojo/Extremely Rotten in 2017, it's a crushing, claustrophobic, doom-laden experience. Packed with great riffs, and consistent from beginning to end, it is a powerful debut. You can download it here , or pick up a physical copy here . The album's title track can also be previewed below.

Don't let the name put you off, this is really good stuff. California isn't the first place that springs to mind when you think of dungeon synth, but that is the origin of this project nonetheless. The solo artist describes his music as 'medieval ambient'; and his work is recommended even if you wouldn't normally be allured by the 'medieval' part. It does a great job of transporting you somewhere else - "through the embers of fading empires, mighty fortresses whose towers and iron gates pierce the sky, and desolate northern landscapes". You can download the full digital discography (three EPs/twelve tracks, recorded 2016-17) for a very reasonable price on Bandcamp . This material has only been released physically on limited edition cassettes. You can also listen to a choice EP in its entirety below.

The most recent Temple Nightside full-length was featured here . The offering which preceded that (also released by Iron Bonehead, in 2016) is The Hecatomb. It is quite possibly the Australian band's finest work to date; and that isn't to say that 2018's Recondemnation isn't also great. 'Cavernous' is a word that gets thrown around a lot these days, but it most definitely applies here. Blackened death-doom; with haunting spectral vocals that are really quite original. The Nekronikon artwork tops off the package very nicely, too. You can stream the album below, and buy it here .