Peasant God - Null

Labels: Self-Released/Visceral Circuitry Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 21 Sep 2017

Tracklist:

1. Hate Itch

2. Yours to Suffer

3. Erased

4. Mindlapse

5. Last Gasp

6. Null

A while ago now I reviewed the 2025 full-length Mykka pimeys by Finnish sludge band Ilon Lapset, which was co-released via French extreme metal/industrial/noise label Visceral Circuitry Records (alongside Finnish label Ramekuukkeli-levyt). That review sparked correspondence between the both of us and about a week or so ago now, I received a package containing two sweet cdr promos. The first of which was to promote the label's tape pressing of Null by Swedish doom/industrial/sludge duo Peasant God.

The duo, featuring members of acts including Dead Existence, Grave Lines and Walking Corpse (amongst others) self-released Null digitally back in 2017. At the same time, Visceral Circuitry also gave it a home to help spread the music further. Earlier this year, they released it on tape for the first time. 

After receiving some potentially sobering news earlier about roof repair, I’m ready to sink into something noisy. Reading that Peasant God have been compared to the likes of Godflesh, early Pitchshifter and Body Void; I knew this release would hit the spot. The low-tuned guitar/bass, deep growls and clinical beats say all that need to be said this early on.

This is a demo by Peasant God’s own admission but it doesn’t feel like one, especially given the experience of the musicians here. ‘Yours to Suffer’ is a march of arduous proportions. Early on, its tempo doesn’t deviate all that much but later on it gets weirder, and faster too. Peasant God begin to add in subtle psychedelic/off-kilter effects too.

‘Erased’ is a noise-filled interlude that pulsates uncomfortably for nearly a minute, leading you into ‘Mindlapse’. Shutting myself off and turning the volume up really helps to bring this release to life. It definitely reminds me of when I was first deep diving into doom and sludge. I know this release it much more than just a nod to those sub-genres as it revels in industrial heaviness too.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that ‘Last Gasp’ was the demo’s final song, but it’s not. It is the longest song here though and it has that driving intensity that might not be fast, but is properly engrossing. The mesmeric bass/guitar tones and tempo are key. Closing with title track ‘Null’, Peasant God go all out with the noisy industrial weirdness and it’s honestly pretty inspiring. 

Sometimes, the harshest noise can bring the greatest clarity. I think that applies to Peasant God. Almost nine years on from its original release, Null delivers both an aural battering and a realistic take on the state of the world. Excellent!

You can stream and grab Null as a name-your-price download from Peasant God below:-

Tape copies can be purchased from Visceral Circuitry Records via bandcamp below:-https://visceralcircuitryrecs.bandcamp.com/album/null

Peasant God - https://www.facebook.com/peasantgod/

Visceral Circuitry Records - https://www.facebook.com/visceralcircuitryrecs

Biological Fathers - Biological Fathers EP

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 08 Feb 2026

Tracklist:

1. Caddy

2. Camry

3. The All-New Mitsubishi Galant

With song titles that immediately took me back to the days of the OG Gran Turismo Playstation game, there was no way in hell that I was gonna pass on the debut EP from new screamo (supergroup?) Biological Fathers. I mean, the list of bands that this group of musicians have and indeed do play in is too long to list. The EP was released as a very limited run of 100 CDs via Zegema Beach Records and what's unique about it is that all members wrote and recorded in isolation, one after the other and with no input from each other.

The Biological Fathers line-up includes Dave Cullen on guitar, Robbie Hansen on drums, Jesse Mowery on guitar, Lucio Oquendo on bass and vocalist Lowell Shaffer. If you have your ear to the ground when it comes to screamo and ZBR, you'll probably already know how this is gonna go!

Spring is very much on the way in the UK and after today’s much needed sunshine, I’m feeling energised despite being tied to the desk at my day job for most of it. I’m now sitting down with the same energy to listen to this, the briefest of EPs from Biological Fathers. Given that every member wrote and recorded their instruments/vocals independently of one another, this sounds so complete. Opener ‘Caddy’ tricks you into thinking it’s gonna be an indiemo/math rock song before the band lurches into a sound that’s much more akin to emoviolence. Obviously, they don’t stick to any sort of blueprint as the song’s latter-half is a mix of all of those things. 

‘Camry’ is a mix of different musical styles once again, all wrapped up inside a cocoon of screamo and metallic/punk energy. As with the opener, it’s short and sweet, leading to the song that first reminded me of that Playstation game. ‘The All-New Mitsubishi Galant’ is a lot more adventurous than the car that graces it’s title but let’s not forget that we’re dealing with a less than conventional band here. I’m guessing that Biological Fathers named their songs after nondescript family cars to throw us all off the scent.

In little over five minutes, this quintet has single-handedly changed the course of a sub-genre (in my humble opinion). They probably didn’t set out to do that and my review above might not have alluded to it either, but that’s how I feel now that it’s sunk in a bit. You probably didn’t hear it here first but I’ll never know.

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally, and on CD from Biological Fathers below:-

If you want to buy CD copies of the EP from ZBR and help them avoid excessive fees, head to the below links:-

Zegema Beach Records CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/biologicalfathers / USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/biologicalfathers

Zegema Beach Records - https://bsky.app/profile/zegemabeachrecords.bsky.social

Dissentience - Kaiju EP

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 20 Feb 2026

Tracklist:

1. Obsidian Tomb

2. Chaos Absolute

3. Kaiju

4. Death Shroud

My Laptop has been doing all kinds of weird things today. The weirdest of all was when the screen decided to glitch and the mouse stopped working in unison, only for couple of seconds though, but enough time for it to become really annoying. With that minor grumble out the way though, February looks like it's going to set a new record for the blog. I might mention it at the end of the month.

I took last week off with the aim of getting a few things written up and published, but as fate would have it I didn’t even get close to achieving what I wanted to. We’re now into a new month and I’m handing the floor over to US progressive death/thrash band Dissentience as they self-released their latest EP Kaiju just a couple of weeks ago. Opener ‘Obsidian Tomb’ has the kind of instrumental intro/build-up that absolutely screams progression before the full band kicks in with a sound that’s more akin to metalcore. When I mention metalcore though, I’m talking about the melodic nature of their sound, as that sub-genre has always been more musical and indeed palatable I guess.

Talking of palatable; I was looking at the line-up for this year’s Download festival in the UK the other day and I think it’s growing into a more mainstream festival (compered to when I attended in 2006 and 2007), and while it’s embracing nu-metal once again this year, there are a lot of acts that perhaps belong on different bills. Dissentience would be the perfect addition for a future line-up though, as they epitomise the spirit that the likes of Bullet For My Valentine and Trivium left on that hallowed ground. I say that as ‘Chaos Absolute’ presents Dissentience at their most off-kilter and unpredictable. I’m here for heaviness that keeps me guessing and there’s plenty of that throughout this rager!

I’m pretty sure I’ve said this before but this EP brings the same chills I felt when I heard the first EP from fellow US metalcore band A Wanted Awakening. There are few bands that have properly buried themselves within my muscle memory throughout the last fifteen years and AWA are one. I can’t fully explain why, but I’m getting the same feeling with Dissentience, which is a very good sign. Title-song ‘Kaiju’ is a lot more pummelling with its thrash metal influences and groove, leaving behind some of the prog sensibilities of the song it follows. Given the global instability over the last 24 hours, this hits differently for sure.

Closing out their newest EP with ‘Death Shroud’, Dissentience go with a moodier into followed by some excellent tech instrumentation. Two minutes have gone by before the full band kicks into top gear, with furious death-thrash taking over. They slide subtle prog-elements into it throughout, which help with the song’s momentum too. It is well over seven minutes in length after all! Sometimes, short/sharp bursts of music really help a band stand out. It’s definitely the case here. Dissentience have nailed it.

You can stream and purchase Kaiju digitally from Dissentience below:-

CD copies and other merch are available to purchase from the band here -https://www.dissentience.com/products

Dissentience - https://www.facebook.com/dissentienceband

Vesseles - Home

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 16 Jan 2026

Tracklist:

1. Flesh Throne

2. Eternally Within Us

3. The Beneath

4. Home

5. They Wither...

6. Until They Are Dust

7. Scriptures Etched Into the Mind's Pillars

8. Perpetual Chasm of Black Mirrors

9. This Is Not Home

So I've finally twigged that when I share blog updates on Instagram, they also get automatically posted on Threads, which means I no longer need to post separately on the latter (I'm going for maximum social media reach this year apparently!). 

My technical ineptitude and self-deprecation aside, the approach is working as interaction and blog visits are on the rise. That can only be a good thing, especially for the bands I cover, including US symphonic black metallers Vesseles.

The Californian quartet released their debut album Home in January, consisting of nine songs and it follows their 2024 EP I Am A Demon. They draw influence from the likes of Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir and Septic Flesh.

Like death metal, black metal takes on many forms. From the raw black metal associated with the genre’s origins to the more melodic reaches of sub genres like post-black metal or blackgaze, there’s always something for every listener. Symphonic elements like choral singing and piano or synths have long been close bedfellows too and they’re used here to great effect. Album opener ‘Flesh Throne’ actually sounds a lot more theatrical musically than it should, given the extremity of Vesseles. The percussion, guitar work and harsh vocals are all delivered with such purpose. Even when cleanly sung passages and the session piano of Antonio Giardina take the lead (as it does throughout the album), they’re swiftly followed by extra intensity.

‘Eternally Within Us’ sees the clean passages increase as a chorus of sinister chants from The Vicken Studios Orchestra add more intrigue to what’s laid down by Vesseles. The kick drumming pummels here but there’s also a real sense of how different percussive tempos can add atmosphere. That’s a real takeaway for me here as two musical worlds collide and proceed to dance in perfect harmony. There are so many subtly progressive touches on this album and they become more evident on ‘The Beneath’, where the piano key changes reflect the dark movements of the music, thankfully refraining from the usual corny fantasy-like melodies. I’m on board with everything so far, which I honestly didn’t think I would say. 

Title song ‘Home’ initially presents itself as a striking ballad complete with lovely clean dual-vocals and keys, before Vesseles whisk you back into more familiar territory. As with all of their song so far, it’s expansive across its entire timespan. ‘They Wither…’ is the perfect orchestral interlude to lead into what is a more urgent latter half starting with ‘Until They Are Dust’, which sees the black metal take the spotlight as it sits front and centre. It’s up there as the standout track here for me.

’Scriptures Etched Into the Mind’s Pillars’ retains the urgency and builds with melody that flows all the way through, even during the periods of dissonant barbarity. It’s over all too quickly, which just goes to show how proficient and enjoyable the music is. That’s the case throughout the entire record too. Penultimate song ‘Perpetual Chasm of Black Mirrors’ follows a very brief yet unnecessary pause, leading you into a sometimes grimier, sometimes artier version of what Vesseles and accomplices can create.

Closing with ’This Is Not Home’, there’s a real sense that you’re coming to the end of a journey filled with inward and existential reflection. Once again clean singing prevails, coupled with demonic growls and expansive instrumentation. It’s a hell of an ending and end it does, on a dime. While it’s still cold and dark in the UK, the warming embrace of black metal is comforting. Home is an album you’ll be glad you have given your attention to, if you haven’t already/ Hopefully, there will be more to come from Vesseles in the future.

You can stream and purchase Home on all formats from Vesseles below:-

Vesseles - https://www.facebook.com/vesseles

Limbs - Like A Poet, Keen To The Rustle Of Leaves

Labels: Kuwago Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 02 Feb 2026

 Tracklist:

1. Ishtar

2. Centro de Gravedad

3. Sunrise, Parabellum

4. War of Jig-saw Pattern

5. La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo

6. Song For Swans

7. Pag-aaral Sa Oras

I have two sofas in my living room (which, doubles as my music room currently). One is where I sit and the other is currently covered in records, tapes and other cool music-related things that I have received recently, I'm notoriously slow at merging new stuff with the rest of my collection, as I have over 1,400 records and nearly 300 tapes at this point. A large part of what needs merging came from Zegema Beach Records last week, which is where the link to this review comes in because I'm writing about a new 2026 ZBR release this evening.

The release I'm talking about is the fourth and final release from Filipino screamo/math/post-hardcore and Limbs. Like A Poet, Keen To The Rustle Of Leaves came out in early February on tape via ZBR, as well as on CD via Filipino label Kuwago Records and digitally via Limbs themselves. After this album, Limbs have elected to call it a day after ten years, so this acts as a legacy to their sound and their love of humanity.

We’re now at the other side of a forty-five day streak of rain (or something like that!), which accounts for almost every day so far this year! I wish I lived somewhere with a better climate. Grumble aside, my energy is better spent focusing on this new (and last) album from Limbs. Opener ‘Ishtar’ sounds absolutely huge! The volume of the instrumentation as it kicks into life is completely unexpected and when the vocals join in, things get even louder. Limbs aren’t just about high intensity though, as they soon throttle back to more post-hardcore/introspective territory, with some added mathcore thrown in. Their tempo slows as the song progresses, which suits their sound really well actually.

‘Centro de Gravedad’ builds on the foundation left by ‘Ishtar’ as Limbs go for something much longer. For a trio, they’re able to make such technical and engrossing noise as if it were easy. The atonal opening two-minutes of this second song illustrate that point before things get a lot faster, with ripping emoviolence taking hold. Percussive blasts, shattering bass, grinding yet melodic guitar and dual vocals of the hellish variety make up the first half, and then some! The latter half of more subdued, with some loverly bluesy bass lines and suspense-laden instumentation before everything gives way to more crazed mathcore.

Overanalysing music is a curse and it’s one that hangs over me, so I’m sorry if my writing is too much writing, I’ll try to cut it down some. ‘Sunrise, Parabellum’ is more concise in delivery but it’s still resplendent in what makes Limbs sound so epic. Raw yet brilliantly recorded, mixed and mastered chaos. The additional vocals performed by Angela, Nico, Terence and Therese of Kuwago Records towards the end show how tight their community is and are joyful to hear. 

This is such an immersive album. ‘War of Jig-saw Pattern’ could be interpreted in so many ways as a song-title but after such an expansive intro, you’re greeted with a very different approach from Limbs. One that sounds much rawer and more immediate that you might be expecting, almost as if Limbs embraced industrial audio-terror. I’m not degrading it so don’t throw any shade on me. It sounds brilliant!

‘La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo’ is instantly different, with the gentle guitar and up-front spoken-word poetry from Terence Repelente. It sounds very real and very visceral (in a subtle kind of way), even though I can’t speak or translate Filipino. It only lasts for a few minutes though as Limbs soon break back into their characteristic heaviness. It’s heaviness that has a great deal of impact as it’s bookended by more subtle, introspective musicianship and vocals. Ending with another flourish of sludgy post-hardcore/emoviolence, Limbs are determined to go out on a high.

Penultimate song ‘Song For Swans’ has a rare glimpse of Limbs using clean vocals in English, which is a surprise as far as intros go. In fact, the opening bars bring to mind folk music before the screamo that follows soon after. It’s characteristically fast as you’d expect, with additional panic chords and mathcore-tones thrown in; that is until brass/woodwind joins in towards the end. 

Limbs say album closer ‘Pag-aaral Sa Oras’ is an adaptation of the song of the same name by Kerima Tariman (also featuring additional vocals from YJ of FFPS Canada here) and it’s very much traditional in sound with percussion playing alongside soft acoustic guitar and choral singing. It builds in layers for the first half before stopping unexpectedly, giving way to more gentle acoustic music to close.

As goodbye albums go, this one is very strong. It’s very bittersweet that this is my first time hearing Limbs as well. I guess that sometimes the best ones just pass us by.

You can stream and purchase the album digitally via bandcamp below:-

Limbs - https://www.facebook.com/limbs1991

Physical copies can be purchased from the labels below:-

Zegema Beach Records CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/limbs / USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/limbs

I believe that Kuwago Record have sold out of their CD copies, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Kuwago Records - https://www.facebook.com/kuwagorecords

Zegema Beach Records - https://bsky.app/profile/zegemabeachrecords.bsky.social