Metal Roundup Week of 1/19
On Metal Roundup, we dive deep into the underbelly of underground metal to pick our three favorite new releases of the week, but there were so many killer drops last Friday that we’re doing three today. You’re welcome.
Dead Mother Moon by Upon Stone
We’re starting off with SoCal melodeath fresh faces Upon Stone and their incredible debut LP Dead Mother Moon. This record finds beauty in violence, balancing blackened riffs played at breakneck speeds and moments of melodic reprieve, with a gritty old school production style that makes Dead Mother Moon feel like an instant classic. There’s already been a lot of praise for this album and it definitely lives up to the hype.
From the Gut of Gaia by Underneath
Up next, Pittsburgh deathcore act Underneath reminds us that the end is neigh on their rager From the Gut of Gaia. Through earth-shattering growls and devastating breakdowns, Underneath captures the feeling of frantic existential terror with the realization that catastrophic climate change is happening now, and unlimited rage towards every oil company executive and politician responsible for sacrificing humanity to the "God of the NASDAQ". The final 15 minute track is especially heavy and impactful; I don't want to totally spoil the ending here, but it feels like watching the Titanic sink as the listener grapples with the reality that Earth is past the point of no return.
Reclamation by Thirsting Altar
If you're looking for a more celebratory take on climate change, Reclamation by Thirsing Altar rejoices in Earth's return to a primordial swamp after the inevitable downfall of humanity. Through venomous thrash-tinged black metal, this EP calls forth chthonic forces to spread their poisonous muck and take over what was once rightfully theirs. This monstrous release elevates existential terror into cosmic horror, imagining the moment when sentient Earth turns hostile towards humanity and extracts her much-deserved revenge.
DISCLAIMER: On the video version of this review, we unknowingly included a band that shared a member with a nazi black metal band. This band has been removed from the text version and will not be named here.
