Sólstafir - Ótta

Iceland's Sólstafir have brought upon the world a premier track from their upcoming album, Ótta, due out in the 29th of August. I'm not even going to comment on whether this is metal or not (seemingly the main focus of many critics, the same happening with Alcest or Lantlôs). This is a great track, bringing them closer to those ethereal soundscapes typical of their brilliant fellow countrymen Sigur Rós. A special note goes for the banjo line, one more proof that banjo and rock/metal go well together, even in the farthest fringes of the genre (just remember Taake's "Myr").

 

Tashaki Miyaki - I Came

You know one of the reasons why it's fun to be running a thematically ambiguous blog is that you start to doubt your own ability to post a song named "I Came" without thinking about the myriad of different ways to ruin it with some overtly and offensivelly pornographic satanic black metal of one sort or the other.

There's a place for anything, I suppose. Childish innuendo aside, Tashaki Miyaki do seem to enjoy their loaded (eheh) lyricism here and there.

Childish innuendo really aside, this song is great. Upbeat, catchy, fuzzy rock with a warm 90's throwback and a dream-pop feel. Dug through their bandcamp and can't find the album that this song belongs to, maybe none at all, but I will be checking this band out further in the future. Check them out and check out their facebook page while you're at it.

Boris - Noise (streaming)

I'm really not sure what I'm feeling right now, this album is way weird. I'll get back to you on that, let me just say that the song Heavy Rain hits you like a cement train, out of the fucking blue - you'd think you'd notice the tracks under your feet? And then it jumps to Taiko No Baka, this twee-noise-pop interlude starkly contrasting with the previous wall of sound. I don't know, man.

This will asking for some looped listening. Fitting that Boris would send out a mature album like that, they do have the statute to demand some attention from the listener.

Though so far, the album, it's not something too noteworthy for me. 

Anyway, thought I could share. The album is streaming for a limited time on NPR, through this link.

Goatwhore - FBS (new song)

I don't know if you guys noticed, but Goatwhore have pulled out a killer track from their next album Constricting Rage of the Merciless, due out in July. Check it out!

Ride for Revenge – "Enter the Gauntlet"

Some weeks ago, Finland has blessed us with one filthy pearl of beastly black metal. Imagine if Archgoat or Beherit took their foot off the gas for a while and started to listen to Sunn O))). They would probably sound like their countrymen Ride for Revenge, whose latest full-length Enter the Gauntlet was released in the beginning of May. They offer us therein a cacophony of distorted lo-fi guitars, prominent bass lines and hypnotizing tunes, peppered with sickly raspy vocals. It’s the perfect amalgamation of raw black metal and drony, ritualistic soundscapes. Check out their Bandcamp and buy the album. It’s 6 euros for 73 minutes of mindfuckíng and mesmerizing music, for Satan’s sake.