Metal Roundup Week of 7/7

Swatta by Chepang

On their fourth “Immigrindcore” album Swatta, Nepali-American band Chepang infuses politics into the noise. This impactful record channels their memories of the chaos experienced first-hand during the Nepalese Civil War, and their anger towards the continued government corruption in modern-day Nepal. This unflinching portrait of war-torn Nepal is jagged and venomous, but isn’t afraid to reach past the grindcore genre into moments of melody and transcendence. I cannot recommend this album enough and will now be listening to this band’s entire back catalog. 

total spiritual death by Astral Tomb

Denver has long been a hotspot for great death metal, and the trend continues with Astral Tomb’s release of total spiritual death. This record takes a prog metal approach to the death metal sound, merging more technical and experimental aspects with unfiltered brutality before descending into cavernous psychedelia. This is the first time I’ve ever heard a bongo solo on a death metal record, but Astral Tomb makes it work!

Ablanathanalba by Wizard Master

This Sabbath-flavored stoner metal record instantly won my heart. In a distorted haze, Wizard Master’s Ablanathanalba captures an old-school sound that any fan of classic metal is sure to appreciate. This record even dips into a gothy doom metal sound at times, utilizing Celtic Frost-esque church bells to create a dreadful atmosphere. Between sludgy riffs and unique samples, Ablanathanalba may not be the most brutal truecvlt release of the week, but it’s a fun throwback.