DEAD METAL

For an introduction to None, see here . The band's first two full-lengths were released on 11th April (of both 2017 and 2018), and number three is arriving like clockwork. As with its predecessors, this is a haunting slab of atmospheric depressive black metal. Accessible would be the wrong word, but it certainly is captivating. Prepare to be transported to a land of contrast - cold and warmth, space and suffocation, sadness and catharsis, beauty and pain. None navigate (and indeed balance) those extremes very well, producing albums which keep on calling you back for more. These guys stand head and shoulders above most of their contemporaries, and deserve a lot more attention. Damp Chill Of Life can be pre-ordered, from Hypnotic Dirge Records,  here . The title track can be streamed below, or via the link above.

None is a depressive black metal act from Portland, Oregon. Active since 2015, it has already birthed three releases. The first is 2017's  self-titled mini-album : Next up is  Life Has Gone On Long Enough , a full-length released in April 2018: Finally, a single from November 2018 called Where Life Should Be : All of the above have been brought to us by Hypnotic Dirge Records. Textured and substantial; this is bleak, tortured stuff, with haunting melodies and chilling atmospherics aplenty; and some hints of  Burzum . The songwriting, execution and production are all impressive. Don't sleep on this mysterious project.

None 's eagerly-anticipated fourth album drops 31st June. Hypnotic Dirge are doing the honours again, and have described Inevitable as the band's "longest and darkest work... the culmination of their musical legacy, evoking the signature depressive atmosphere that has struck listeners across the globe." The closing track can be previewed below, and pre-orders are  now on sale . Hopes are (somewhat ironically) very high indeed going into this one.

01  Krypts  -  Remnants Of Expansion  ( Dark Descent ,  2016 ) 02  Evoken  -  Atra Mors  ( Profound Lore ,  2012 ) 03  Antichrist  -  Pax Moriendi  ( Iron Bonehead ,  2018 ) 04  Blood Incantation  -  Starspawn  ( Dark Descent ,  2016 ) 05  None  -  Damp Chill Of Life  ( Hypnotic Dirge ,  2019 ) 06  Carcass  -  Surgical Steel  ( Nuclear Blast ,  2013 ) 07  Immolation  -  Atonement  ( Nuclear Blast ,  2017 ) 08  Necrot  -  Blood Offerings  ( Tankcrimes ,  2017 ) 09  Burzum  -  Belus  ( Byelobog ,  2010 ) 10  Spectral Voice  -  Necrotic Doom  ( Dark Descent ,  2015 )

Gone is the first offering from this German one man band. Autumn Laments has quite a lot in common with None - this is atmospheric, depressive black metal. It's a very strong album, especially for a solo act; and indeed for a debut. If bleak, melancholic music is your thing then don't sleep on this project. We look forward to hearing more from Autumn Laments in the future. You can download the release and/or order a cassette copy here . It can also be streamed below.

01  Hell's Coronation  ‎–  Transgression Of A Necromantical Darkness  (Godz Ov War) 02  Static Abyss - Aborted From Reality  (Peaceville) 03  Incantation  -  Unholy Deification  (Relapse) 04  Autopsy  -  Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts  (Peaceville) 05  Metallica  -  72 Seasons  (Blackened) 06  Worm  -  Starpath  (20 Buck Spin) 07  Old Tower  -  Draconic Synthesis  (Hospital) 08  Blood Incantation  -  Luminescent Bridge  (Century Media) 09  None  -  Inevitable  (Hypnotic Dirge) 10  Obituary  -  Dying Of Everything  (Relapse) *edit*  Malformed - Uncontrollable Malformity should have made this list

01  Krypts - Cadaver Circulation (Dark Descent) 02 None - Damp Chill Of Life (Hypnotic Dirge) 03  Malignant Altar - Retribution Of Jealous Gods  (Not On Label) 04 Blood Incantation - Hidden History Of The Human Race (Dark Descent/Century Media) 05  Disentomb - The Decaying Light  (Unique Leader) 06  Memoriam - Requiem For Mankind  (Nuclear Blast) 07  Vltimas ‎– Something Wicked Marches In  (Season Of Mist) 08  Mortiferum - Disgorged From Psychotic Depths  (Profound Lore) 09  Kever - Primordial Offerings  (Dark Descent) 10 Zohamah - Spread My Ashes (Redefining Darkness) *edit*  Frozen Soul - Encased In Ice ,  Imprecation - Damnatio Ad Bestias  and the Rothadás demo should have made this list; and the Mortiferum album should have been a lot higher!

9th OCTOBER Dysylumn  - Cosmogonie  ( Signal Rex/Egregor ) We interviewed this French band a couple of years ago, around the time of the release of their exceptional sophmore album (Occultation). More quality progressive black metal with death metal elements here, on this triple CD/vinyl/cassette. For fans of : None, Ov Shadows, Chasma 8th JANUARY Frozen Soul  -  Crypt Of Ice   (Century Media ) We had the pleasure of interviewing Frozen Soul earlier this year, following the release of their outstanding Encased In Ice EP. The band's first full-length coming out on a leading label speaks to the quality of their work; expect death metal excellence. For fans of : Bolt Thrower, Spectral Voice, Morpheus Descends

Cruciamentum have been featured  a number of times previously . This is their 2009 demo, which went on to be reissued by Nuclear Winter in 2011. It features four tracks, none of which have been re-recorded for subsequent releases. Convocation Of Crawling Chaos is a powerful doom-laden old school-style death metal debut. These guys are yet to put a foot wrong, and stand head and shoulders above most of their contemporaries. The EP is available to download on Bandcamp , or you can hunt down a physical copy here . You can also listen to it below.