Nuvolascura - How This All Ends

Labels: i.corrupt Records/Longlegslongarms/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 08 Jul 2025

Tracklist:

1. if portals are linear, you'll die soon enough

2. and in the end, you threw it all away

3. why we never returned to the moon

4. figment of reality

5. if at all

6. cordiform projection

7. ex cryptids

8. last embers of awareness

9. before you disappeared

10. polar destinies

July ushered in the release of How This All Ends from Californian screamo royalty Nuvolascura. It comes five years on from As We Suffer From Memory And Imagination. It really doesn't seem like that long! It was released on two vinyl variants totalling 500 copies and 100 CDs via both i.corrupt Records and ZBR, while Longlegslongarms in Japan also released copies on CD (if anybody can tell me the quantity, I'll update this write-up asap!).

I really hope this isn’t How This All Ends for Nuvolascura (sorry, not sorry). Starting with ‘if portals are linear, you’ll die soon enough’, you’re greeted with a drum n bass style intro before Nuvo launch into something altogether heavier. More metallic than before with equally frenetic vocals, coupled with percussion and bass that adds a lot of depth to the music. This feels very much like an album from a screamo band who are leaving screamo behind. I say that because they still use long song titles like ‘and in the end, you threw it all away’, which continues the intensity delivered by the opener, but with chunkier sounding riffs in parts. That being said, mathcore-like madness isn’t too far away.

‘why we never returned to the moon’ doesn’t deliver an answer to that same question but it does deliver an extremely technical version of the band’s sound, which is absolutely stunning. The fact that they dive headfirst into ‘figment of reality’ without a pause for breath says so much. The momentum is real here and Nuvo give off massive Rolo Tomassi vibes, which is fine by me (and also not the first time I’ve used that comparison recently).

With so much trying to attract your attention musically, all the time; it’s crazy to think that people are content with mundane albums by equally mundane bands when they could be discovering this one for the first time. ‘if at all’ is one of it’s lengthier ones at over three-and-a-half minutes, and it sees Nuvo injecting more melody and expansiveness into the album. It’s a great way to bridge into the latter half, which begins with ‘cordiform projection’. It jumps back to Nuvo’s earlier screamo blueprint but with extra metal influence, as if they had spent months listening to traditional/thrash metal and early albums by NWOAHM bands.

‘ex cryptids’ seems to continue along the same path initially before the math-infused screamo takes over again. For a song that’s over just as it gets going, it hits hard. I’ve mentioned short songs a few times during this review and that’s solely down to the fact that It’s the order of things here. ‘last embers of awareness’ reaches that sweet-point between technical screamo and crust, thanks to the metallic guitar work. Penultimate song ‘before you disappeared’ is also the album’s final short-player, following ‘last embers of awareness’ instantly, pulling absolutely no punches.

It’s left to ‘polar destinies’ to close out How This All Ends and if you like polar opposites, you’re in for a treat. It sounds like it could be a Metallica song before the screams kick in and everything becomes a lot darker. There’s menace flowing through the instrumentation when it’s at it’s fullest, but it’s also joined by Nuvo’s own version of math-laden skramz too. This intensity is overwhelming at times but damn is it worth it. Nuvolascura are singlehandedly creating a new peak for this genre of heavy music and I’m here for it.

You can stream and purchase the album digitally from Nuvolascura below:-

You can also buy the album on both physical formats from the band here:-

https://www.nuvolascura.com

Grab copies from the labels here:-

i.corrupt Records - https://www.icorruptrecords.com/collections/icr-releases

Longlegslongarms - http://longlegslongarms.jp/music/products/list.php?category_id=1&orderby=date

Zegema Beach Records CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases / USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases?page=1

i.corrupt Records - https://www.facebook.com/icorruptrecs

Longlegslongarms - https://www.facebook.com/3LAdisc

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

Shesmadefromsuede - V Premiere

It seems like I've hit a glitch in the matrix, as tonight I'm premiering a song from a band that's one release and done. Hattiesburg, Mississippi's Shesmadefromsuede release their self-titled EP via Tomb Tree on 20th October (I guess you can call it a posthumous release). The song I'm premiering is 'V' and it's available to stream via Youtube below:-

Sam from Shesmadefromsuede was kind enough to provide some words about the release, but given the band's current status you can forgive them for being brief:-

"All I want to say about the release itself is Hattiesburgworld forever. The band is done entirely and we will not be playing any more shows for the foreseeable future. The bass player and myself (Sam) are forming a new band with more metalcore influences."

‘V’ lives up to the band’s own description of therapyviolence. It’s as stark as you’d imagine emoviolence to be but it also contains all kinds of extra elements, from atmospheric post-hardcore guitar melodies and percussion, to panic-chords and chugging metalcore bass/riffs. The higher-pitched screams over the top pierce through the soundstage created by the instrumentation, showing a vulnerable, slightly darker side as well.

I know that this one song isn't enough, so I've found this live set video from April that's well worth your time too:-

That set was so, so, so, so good! 

There will be 50 tapes coming from Tomb Tree on 20th October, so keep your eyes fixed on the below links if you've enjoyed this song premiere and also that live set:-

CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/tomb-tree-tapes

USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/tapes

If you want to show your support for Shesmadefromsuede posthumously, you can do so below:-

Instagram - @shesmadefromsuede

Malum - Towards Nothingness

Labels: Hellstain Productions

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 18 Apr 2025

Tracklist:

1. In Gloom I

2. Towards Nothingness

I did not think I would get time to write this evening, but there's always time to write about (and listen to) music, which is the mantra I need to live by again going forwards. My time has been eaten up by other things far too often recently. After putting together a rough review schedule at the beginning of the month, I became acutely aware that I had only covered two of those releases and quite frankly, writing one review a week didn't sit well.

Enter stage left, Norwegian black metal band Malum. They formed in Oslo in 2020 and have been very productive since their 2022 debut EP Ad Mortem, as they have released new music every year since, beginning with their first full-length album In Nauseam in 2023, followed-up by a split release with international black metal band Impia Maleficencia in 2024. Their newest EP Towards Nothingness was released in April of this year via Hellstain Production.

I have no qualms about playing music loud this evening, given how noisy my neighbours have been in recent days (first world problems, sorry!). ‘In Gloom I’ begins without any hesitation, presenting black metal that’s both atmospheric and ice cold. The way the vocals sit deep in the mix as the percussion and guitars take hold, before they rise to a more dominant position later on gives a different perspective on Malum’s sound. The switch from a breathy/earthy sound to something heavier is to be expected with the Norwegian brethren but here it seems to flow in a much more coherent way.

EP title-track ‘Towards Nothingness’ concludes it in majestic fashion (if that were possible in black metal!). The metallic opening really hits the spot and that dynamic continues as Malum deliver their measured take on the sub-genre once again. Straddling the line between exquisitely listenable and raw unlistenable black metal can sometimes be very fine, but Malum sit in the former camp in my opinion. The recording, production, mixing and mastering on this EP stand out a lot more than I had initially expected.

This EP is a great listen and even though it only contains two songs, there is more than enough to reel you in as a listener. Malum’s approach to black metal is one that should be admired. 

You can stream and purchase the EP digitally from Malum's bandcamp page below:-

Malum Instagram - @norwegian_malum

CD copies are available to purchase from Hellstain Productions here:- https://hellstain.eu/collections/hellstain-releases

Hellstain Productions - https://www.facebook.com/HellstainProductions

Beriedir - Liminal Spaces

Labels: Rockshots Records

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 10 Jan 2025

Tracklist:

1. Halo

2. Neon

3. In The Corner Of My Eyes

4. As Tight As Phantoms Hold

5. F.I.V.E.

6. More Than Starlight

7. Burnout

8. Anemoia

9. Massive

10. In The Liminal Space

This may be a little bit outside of my wheelhouse but at least I'm keeping up the support for Italian bands! Progressive metal is the sub-genre of choosing this evening with the newest album from Lombardy quintet Beriedir. Liminal Spaces saw it's release on both cd and digital formats via Rockshots Records way back in January. I have seen them being described as a progressive power metal band on some sites but I've also read that they've been compared to Leprous and Gojira as well. This is my first time hearing them, so let's see.

I did go through a phase of really liking power metal, way before I started the blog. I listened to bands like Hammerfall and Turisas amongst others quite a lot, though I drifted away from the sub-genre when I started discovering heavier styles. I guess I’m not a huge fan of the whole fantasy/theatrical side of metal and at first listen, I’m getting that vibe from Beriedir on album opener ‘Halo’; however, the mix of melodic instrumentation, clean vocals and harsh growls work together really well. Italy is known for it’s unique blend of melody, theater and progression after all. 

Talking of theater, the keyboard work is prominent throughout this album and it’s not overpowering on ’Neon’, which is good. The change of tempos and styles throughout keep things really interesting, while the clean vocals really come into their own when they hit the highest notes. It’s still too early to decide how I feel about this album but upon hearing the opening bars of ‘In The Corner Of My Eyes’ with it’s death metal-like brutality, I’m almost sold. There’s a lot going on here, which can sometimes be overwhelming. The heaviness later on is punctuated by melody, that may come as a relief to some. I want to give a special shoutout to the excellent guitar solo towards the end too.

‘As Tight As Phantoms Hold’ sees Beriedir circling back toward their more melodic roots, but with the addition of what sounds like programmed beats (though they’re probably organic, apologies if so!). The song’s latter half of a heady mix of everything that goes into their music. I’m writing this while being somewhat out of my comfort zone musically, so apologies if I’m talking nonsense. The imaginatively titled ‘F.I.V.E.’ is up next (I say that because it’s the album’s fifth song) and it has a euro-dance feel to it before the hard-hitting percussion and guitars kick in. That feeling stays throughout the song, which is a lot more approachable for those who stay away from anything that’s truly heavy.

There’s a subtle Queen influence flowing through ‘More Than Starlight’, which grows on you as it switches between angelic melody and startling heaviness, and back again later on. The way that Beriedir weave that heaviness into their otherwise symphonic sound is excellent during ‘Burnout’, as nothing sounds out of place or forced, which was a worry of mine when I hit play on this album. In fact, it’s a lot more technically adept than I expected it to be.

I do have a soft spot for piano-led, electronica-infused music (thanks to many hours of listening to Sleep Token), so the opening bars of ‘Anemoia’ hit the spot before Beriedir retreat back into a more familiar space. The remainder of the song is more of the same but that’s not doing it a disservice and it blends nicely into penultimate song ‘Massive”, which is brimming with broody atmosphere and seemingly slower tempo s throughout. Closing with ‘In The Liminal Space’, Beriedir offer up a final slab of really well performed metal that bridges the gap between clean and harsh sounds. 

Despite being slightly outside my wheelhouse (as already mentioned) when it comes to metal, this album has surprised me a lot. I guess I prejudged it and that’s a lesson I need to learn. Beriedir are very proficient musically and they have as few tricks up their sleeve as well. I’m not quite ready to fully embrace power metal again but if it’s as proggy/heavy as this, then who knows!

You can stream and purchase Liminal Spaces digitally, as well on CD below:-

CD copies are also available to purchase from Rockshots Records here:-

https://rockshots.eu/products/beriedir-liminal-spaces-cd

Beriedir - https://www.facebook.com/BeriedirOfficial

Rockshots Records - https://www.facebook.com/rockshotsrecords

Piri Reis - Ritma

Labels: Framecode Records/Long Legs Long Arms/Memori Records/Moment Of Collapse Records/Polar Summer/React With Protest/Shove Records/Slow Down Records/Smoothie Records/Utarid Tapes/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 03 Jul 2022

Tracklist:

1. Merentap Sayap Malaikat

2. Burden By Beauty

3. Pusara Atas Langit

4. Heimlich Manoeuvre Tiger Suplex

5. Cigarette For An Actor

6. All Is Well, Mr. Hildebrandt

7. Arsitektur Yang Gagal

8. Curse On Pasumpahan Island

9. Berkelana ke Kelana Jaya

10. Untuk Kimi

I recently did something that's bordering on slightly irresponsible (but not criminally irresponsible, so it's okay!). To be more precise and honest, I've purchased an expensive record. That confession has nothing to do with this review though, so I'll move swiftly on. 

Talking of records though, I do own a copy of Ritma by Malaysian screamo/emoviolence band Piri Reis.  Originally released in 2022 across all formats worldwide, it received further cd and tape pressings from almost all corners of the world in 2023 and 2024. Piri Reis have been consistently pushing boundaries and pushing their music to more screamo fans globally, and while this album is a few years old now, it's still fresh.

September was another month of limited activity purely due to life, work and the universe getting in the way. I had planned for this review to round things out yesterday but what can you do! ‘Merentap Sayap Malaikat’ opens Ritma in surprising fashion, as it’s intro sounds more akin to what you’d hear in a doctor’s waiting room. That boring image is banished soon after though by layers of rabid percussion and bass, melodic/atmospheric guitars and screeching vocals. 

‘Burden By Beauty’ is more laid back and introspective for the most part, as Piri Reis temper their emoviolence with sombre post-hardcore and even some metallic/metalcore-esque touches. Frenzied outbursts of chaos are not far behind though, as the closing bars show. ‘Pusara Atas Langit’ follows with an intro of plane noise and guitars buzzing into life before things hit that high gear again. It’s not all emoviolence and madness though, as Piri Reis again use gentler vocals and instrumentation throughout. Kind of reminds a bit of Rolo Tomassi.

The excellently titled ‘Heimlich Manoeuvre Tiger Suplex’ goers for a straight-up rock/post-hardcore sound instrumentally, which doesn’t build along with the intense vocals until much later on in the song. It’s very real and oddly gut-wrenching all the same. After a few songs that have seemed more expansive, Piri Reis begin to dip back into more explosive surroundings on ‘Cigarette For An Actor’. The way they craft their music, allowing everything to work together and to exist in it’s own space is excellent.

The sampled intro on ‘All Is Well, Mr. Hildebrandt’ is hilarious (though I feel slightly guilty for saying so). It leads to another song of many faces; from post-punk riffs to blasting drums, groovy bass and raging screams. It has everything and has that song-of-the-album feel too. ‘Arsitektur Yang Gagal’ is very much a blink and you’ll miss it piece, as it flies majestically through ninety seconds of stark screamo.

This album’s great and thankfully there are still a few songs to go. ‘Curse on Pasumpahan Island’ gently ushers you in with spoken-word vocals and lightly plucked guitars before it descends into chaos once again. The lyrics are what really leap out at you here. You’ll understand what I mean when you listen to it. Penultimate song ‘Berkelana ke Kelana Jaya’ makes you want to dance (or maybe it’s just me!). The rhythms just have that aura but the rest of the band has other ideas once again, pivoting back in a more familiar direction.

Closing Ritma with ‘Untuk Kimi’, Piri Reis call time on their only full-length to date in gloriously distorted fashion. Just guitars, subtle feedback/white noise and minimalist vocals/samples cleanse the ears, leaving you feeling very uplifted. It’s emotional in the best way. It reminds me that I need to spend more time with the records I own, as the more I inevitably buy (it’s becoming a proper habit), the harder it is to choose one to put on.

Stream and grab the album digitally from Piri Reis below, where tape and cd copies are also still available in limited quantities:-

Piri Reis - https://www.facebook.com/pirireispunx

 

You can also purchase Ritma on various formats below:-

Longlegslongarms - http://longlegslongarms.jp/music/products/

Memori Records - https://memorirecords.bandcamp.com/album/mr-002-piri-reis-ritma

Moment Of Collapse Records - https://shop.momentofcollapse.com/collections/piri-reis

Polar Summer - https://polarxsummer.bandcamp.com/album/ritma

React With Protest - http://www.reactwithprotest.org/store.php

Shove Records - https://shoverec.bandcamp.com/album/ritma

Slow Down Records - https://slowdownrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sdr-31-piri-reis-ritma

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

Framecode Records - https://www.facebook.com/framecoderecords

Longlegslongarms - https://www.facebook.com/3LAdisc

Moment Of Collapse Records - https://www.facebook.com/momentofcollapse

Shove Records - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100062967532917

Slow Down Records - https://www.instagram.com/slow.down.records/?igshid=ZDdkNTZiNTM%3D

Smoothie Records - https://www.instagram.com/smoothie_recs/?hl=en

Utarid Tapes - https://www.facebook.com/utaridtapes

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords

Coltsblood - Obscured Into Nebulous Dusk

Labels: Translation Loss Records/Dry Cough Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 05 May 2025

Tracklist:

1. Until The Eidolon Falls

2. Waning Of The Wolf Moon

3, Transcending The Immortal Gateways

4. Obscured Into Nebulous Dusk

Seeing monolithic UK doom band Coltsblood find a home on the roster of US institution Translation Loss Records for their latest album was so wholesome,  but seeing that they also chose to release it via UK underground legends Dry Cough Records made it even more so. They have a long association with the Manchester-based label though, as Dry Cough helped to release their 2014 album Into The Unfathomable Abyss. Obscured Into Nebulous Dusk was released in May on vinyl (Translation Loss), on tape (Dry Cough) and digitally. 

It feels like an age since I have featured a proper UK doom record here. As the nights draw in and the Autumn equinox is behind us, now feels like the right time (though it wasn’t planned this way). Coltsblood deliver four songs in just over forty minutes, beginning with ‘Until The Eidolon Falls’, which exhibits why their epic and heavy take on doom is so highly regarded. The bone-shaking bass, smattering of cymbals, waling feedback and subtle guitar melody slowly leads to rhythmic instrumental atmosphere. All of these elements build slowly over the next five-or-so-minutes before the vocals finally show themselves in all their deep and menacing glory. The remaining time is spent wallowing in deep furrows before the realisation that actually they’re endorphin inducing highs,

I referred to highs as a way of describing how it makes me feel when listening to music this heavy; which is obviously very at odds with the music itself, especially on ‘Waning Of The Wolf Moon’. It’s way more instant in delivery early on but it too contains plenty of breathable passages where Coltsblood allow themselves space to be more expansive and musically expressive at the same time. Obviously, there are those moments where up-tempo blasts and spurts of death metal take hold as well; adding to the body of influence and nuance that grows through this release. 

While the previous song may have seemed short, being just under ten minutes in length (only joking of course), there’s nothing to worry about on ’Transcending The Immortal Gateways’. It’s another expansive, almost cinematic take of doom metal that builds with spellbinding attention to detail and musicianship. I got lost in this song for way too long, which is kind of the point right? Being forever shackled to social media and feeling the constant need to swipe or scroll on the next video is killing attention spans. Listen to albums, not songs!

Closing with title-song ‘Obscured Into Nebulous Dusk’, the ominous sound of church organs ring out, almost providing context to the album’s artwork, which features the ruins of one such place of worship. Nothing about this song offers peaceful solace though, unless you fully allow it to envelope you in it’s unholy warmth. That warmth comes from the everflowing melody for the lead guitar, while the bass/percussion that sits underneath provides the perfect backdrop for those deep vocals to flourish once more. 

I’m sure it’s been said already but this album has all the hallmarks of doom album of the year. That’s a bold and somewhat subjective statement I know, but Coltsblood are consistently growing into a doom band that lead by example. I hope this release heralds a greater resurgence in UK doom.

You can stream and purchased Obscured Into Nebulous Dusk digitally from Coltsblood below:-

Physical copies can be purchased via the links below:-

Translation Loss Records - https://translationloss.com/products/obscured-into-nebulous-dusk-lp

Dry Cough Records - https://www.drycoughrecords.com/product/coltsblood-obscured-into-nebulous-dusk-cassette

Coltsblood - https://www.facebook.com/Coltsblood

Translation Loss Records - https://www.facebook.com/TranslationLossRecords

Dry Cough Records - https://www.facebook.com/DryCoughRecords

Saat - Saat

Labels: Polar Summer

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 10 Jul 2017

Tracklist:

1. Raindrops

2. Falling

I had an unexpected encounter on the Interweb a week or so ago. I was prowling Discogs with the aim of filling in some gaps in my collection when I messaged a collector who turned out to be the person behind Polar Summer. In my reply, I mentioned that I was (slowly) reviewing the label's release catalogue but I haven't yet received a response to that. That doesn't matter though as it's still amazing to have been able to converse (even briefly) with them. 

That leads me to the reason I'm writing this evening, the self-titled 2017 EP from Russian emo/shoegaze band Saat, which I'm also lucky enough to own on tape. To date this is the only release from Saat and I don't have a lot of other information to share. 

Saat have been described as a midwest emo/indie/shoegaze band. Those descriptors aren’t entirely wrong as ‘Raindrops’ rings out. Melodic vocals and guitars, coupled with grittier bass and percussion make it a joy to listen to. It reminds me a little of hearing Ensslin for the first time. Uplifting and honest at the same time.

‘Falling’ starts off with a marching-band style percussive approach before feedback and screams take over, showing a very different side to Saat. Melody isn’t far away though and when it takes hold, it’s glorious. Saat only delivered two songs here but they’re both excellent.

You can purchase this EP digitally from Polar Summer via bandcamp below:-

Mourn Recif - Mourn Recif EP

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 25 Jun 2025

Tracklist:

1. Dear Deers... This Is Getting Redundant

2. Harmonics Harm Onix's's's

3. Slow Reign

I'm moving ever closer to pulling the (financial) pin and getting my old trusty iPod Classic modded so I can use it again. I just want to fill it with music that I own on physical formats, as well as so much more of the great music I have been sent and indeed continue to be sent. Music like this, which appears on the debut EP from new Canadian screamo band Mourn Recif.

It's a little bit significant this one, as it features none other than Dave Norman on guitar (as well as vocals) for what might be the first time in a recorded form, but it's also been released via ZBR. There are many other reasons beside those though, so let's jump in shall we?

Life is coming at me fast but there’s still time to regain some of the (writing) ground I’ve lost in recent months. Mourn Recif are here to help me do that with their debut self-titled EP. Starting with a mix of emo guitar melody and more abrasive screamo vocals, joined later by energetic percussion and almost bluesy bass work, ‘Dear Deers… This Is Getting Redundant’ is over all too soon.

The very cleverly titled ‘Harmonics Harm Onix’s’s’s’ has a very (and noticeably so) modern sound to it’s intro before the full band kicks in. I’ll let you argue amongst yourselves about the sound and who I’m referring too. Any such comparisons are quickly banished though as Mourn Recif deliver an emotive and raw slab of classy post-hardcore. 

Ending with ‘Slow Reign’, which is the EP’s longest song but not it’s slowest by any means, the quartet becomes more expansive. Listening to this even through a laptop speaker makes you feel like you’re in the room with them, which is down to the excellent and organic recording, mixing and mastering. It’s a banger in every sense of the word!.

After having a Turnstile song stuck in my head almost all day (pretty sure you know the one), it’s refreshing to finally be able banish it with something a little heavier and more DIY. Can’t wait to here more from Mourn Recif. Great work from Jason, Branden, Dave and Ron.

You can stream and grab it as a name-your-price download below:-

As I write this, tape copies are very limited. Your best bet is to head straight to Zegema Beach Records via the links below to get a copy:-

CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/mournrecif

USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/mournrecif

Mourn Recif - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558260430705

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

Relics Of Humanity - Absolute Dismal Domain

Labels: Willowtip Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 31 Jan 2025

Tracklist:

1. Omen Apollyon

2. Summoning Of Those Who Absorbed

3. Taking The Shape Of Infinity

4. In The Name Of Ubiquitous Gloom

5. Paralyzing The Light II

6. Absolute Dismal Domain

7. Smoldering Of Seraphim

8. His Creation That No Longer Exists

9. Dominion

I'm using all of the restraint I possess to refrain from ranting (too much) about the state of our island nation right now. Politically and financially we are heading for the abyss, but those in charge are constantly telling us that things are stronger than ever. The political party system in the UK is not fit for purpose anymore and should be defunded, and disbanded. 

My idealogical views aside, it's time to dive back into the wonderful escapism that is extreme music again, while pretending that I have my finger on the pulse. I say that because tonight I am writing about the latest full-length from Belarussian death metal band Relics Of Humanity, which was released via Willowtip Records in January (and I'm well aware that it's now September).

The downtuned opener ‘Omen Apollyon’ acts as a precursor, while being more than an intro, as Relics Of Humanity don’t just employ their instrumentation to help build atmosphere but also vocals too. All of those early elements lead straight into ‘Summoning Of Those Who Absorbed’, which immediately hits hard with up-tempo percussion. That immediacy is replaced shortly after by a mix of both slow OSDM that crosses into brutal/slam death territory later on. So far so brutal and I’m only two tracks in!

‘Taking The Shape Of Infinity’ is that sweet mix of downtuned death metal and brutal slam that really hits the spot. The percussion takes over somewhat later on but that’s kind of to be expected given the organic/raw production and mastering of the album. I’ve been digging further into the brutal death metal scene of late, as it has been a sub-genre that I kinda shied away from for a time. As my tastes have changed (much like the seasons) I’ve found the technicality filling a gap I never knew was missing.

So far the songs on Absolute Dismal Domain have grown in playing time and ‘In The Name Of Ubiquitous Gloom’ is no different as it drags you to the album’s midway point. Longer song lengths don’t necessarily mean slower tempos or noodling progression though, as Relics Of Humanity prove. After an oddly stuttering end where they bleed into ‘Paralyzing The Light II’, they recover quickly with the heaviest tones and atmosphere so far.

Atmosphere is obviously a big part of the sound that Relics Of Humanity craft and nowhere is it more prevalent than on the album’s title-track ‘Absolute Dismal Domain’. Once again it’s subtly downtempo in it’s delivery, as the instrumentation is given plenty of space and the vocals are used more sparingly. ’Smoldering Of Seraphim’ is all percussive blasts and deep vocals, with the guitars sitting deeper in the mix at times.

Penultimate song ‘His Creation That No Longer Exists’ provides one final look at the more expansive sound performed by Relics Of Humanity. I use the term “expansive” a bit loosely though as it’s still driven by extremity and brutality. Closing with ‘Dominion’, you’re presented with what initially sounds like an interlude before the vocals come in, adding depth to what is an ambient and moody ending. It’s honestly hard to sum up this album without retracing well-trodden ground. It’s epic yet down-to-earth as well. 

If you like death metal in any and all of it’s forms, then you’ll undoubtedly enjoy this album. Relics Of Humanity have laid down a new marker all of their own.

You can stream and purchase the album digitally below, where it's also available to buy on both physical formats:-

Relics Of Humanity - https://www.facebook.com/relicsofhumanity

Willowtip Records - https://www.facebook.com/willowtip

Trudger - Void Quest

Labels: Floodlit Recordings

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 29 Aug 2025

Tracklist:

1. Merciless Sabre

2. Occupied Frequency

3. Illusory Path

4. Tethered System

5. God Rest

6. Battle Hardened

7. Wind Cleaver

8. Sleep Purge

9. Bile Elixir

Reading the press release earlier this year confirming that Barnsley's Trudger were retuning with a new album wasn't something I ever expected. The early to mid-2010's saw a continuous wave of excellent heavy bands making their way out of the deepest underground and Trudger were one such band. They released their debut EP Motionless In Dirt (in 2012) and followed it up with their debut full-length Dormiveglia (in 2014), before disappearing. 

Eleven years have passed since that debut album and with the help of rising UK independent label Floodlit Recordings, they have recently released their second full-length Void Quest. Describing their sound as neo-crust sci-fi death-sludge, they conjure up all kinds of genre-splicing sounds. That reminds me; they're not the only heavy band from Yorkshire to return of late but more on that later!

I’ve been eager to listen to this album and while I missed it on release day (29th August), my intention was for it to be the next release I would write about and here we are. Opening with ‘Merciless Sabre’, Trudger’s sound is a more condensed, almost evolutionary step up from their more introspective/post-metal approach on Dormiveglia. Prominent and off-kilter percussion/guitars do the hard yards while the vocals are filled with genuine low-end growling rage. First impressions mean a lot in this overly-stimulated society. That first impression is overwhelmingly good.

From the slightly more progressive opener to the crustier ‘Occupied Frequency’, Trudger move from blasting up-tempo crust-laden passages to much more distilled periods of dissonance and progression. The undercurrent of death and sludge is present here but it’s slightly hidden behind Trudger’s experimentation. As I say that though, ‘Illusory Path’ provokes with it’s early down-tempo approach. Sludge fills the speakers before things take an acute turn, as metallic riffs rule the airwaves alongside crustier textures.

There are occasional ambient/introspective endings to songs that provide moments of calm before the storm. One such moment is the brief few seconds that close out ‘Illusory Path’ and open ‘Tethered System’, which instantly explodes into one of the heaviest songs on Void Quest. It’s Trudger at their most unapologetic, though there are some elements of post-hardcore present as well (to my ears at least), that come as a surprise. 

‘God Rest’ slots itself in as the album’s mid-point and while other bands might have used it as a bridge or interlude, Trudger continue on with their marauding, metallic quest (sorry!). Given the sci-fi/fantasy visuals that adorn the album’s cover art and it’s song-titles, the music is certainly not of that same ilk; especially if you were expecting some sort of folky/pagan/power metal. ‘Battle Hardened’ contains more beefy slabs of off-kilter instrumentation that are really engrossing. Coupled with the consistently strong vocals, this is a joy to listen to if you like your metal heavy and dark.

The fact that Trudger can pull off longer, more progressive songs alongside the urgent shorter numbers like ‘Wind Cleaver’ shows that their time away hasn’t been wasted at all. Often when bands resurface after such a length of time, new releases can feel forced or rushed. It’s not the case with Void Quest at all. The further in you get the more exciting it becomes and before you know you’re deep into penultimate song ‘Sleep Purge’, which grows into it’s heaviest song almost instantly. 

Closing out their triumphant return with ‘Bile Elixir’ (which is an equally triumphant song in it’s own right), Trudger raise the bar for the UK underground. Void Quest is excellent all the way through. Nothing more need be said.

Void Quest is available to stream and purchase digitally below, where you can also grab physical copies on vinyl and tape (CD copies are now sold out):-

Trudger - https://www.facebook.com/trudgeruk

Floodlit Recordings - https://www.facebook.com/floodlitrecordings