Alarum
I first wrote about Melbourne, Australia's Alarum way back in 2001, at which point I absolutely flipped out over their jazz-infused progressive metal (sporadic appearances of aggressive vocals might lead some to say "progressive death metal," but I'd tend to lean away from that at this point in time, though I suppose it's reasonable). Over two decades later, it's so cool that they're still at it—and, frankly, putting forth increasingly excellent material that still falls into the general realm of the greats such as Cynic, Atheist, etc. Granted, Alarum's take feels a bit more streamlined and directly influenced by jazz fusion—and, for that matter, time-honored prog rock—at least in terms of the lush clean passages and beautifully melodic lead lines. So much metal of this nature has gravitated toward an overemphasis on speed and/or hyper-clinicality of production values, but Alarum has improved and matured while retaining a classic type of essence that should highly appeal to any fan of this niche. I'm so thrilled to hear this sound remain alive and well!
Recontinue is out now on CD or LP direct from the band, or digitally via Bandcamp. For those who stream, fire up Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever else you store "your" tunes.
Besieger
This is a re-release of a four-song demo recorded back in 2011 by Boston duo Besieger, who carry with them lineup ties to Aborred, Annihilust, Rancorous, and then some. Though he's not in the band, the cover art having been executed by Brian Vocal Terror (Watchmaker, etc.) is quite indicative of the sound here, which is basically rugged and in-your-face "war metal" type of thrash loaded with gnarled, mid-paced to fast riffing; snarled vocals; and lyrics exclusively about the mayhemic destruction of all life. The tempos are great, focusing on more of a driving charge than anything too blisteringly fast. And the bass-less approach doesn't lack!? There's plenty of heft to the production, where the effective rawness obviously makes total sense. I'm not sure if this was all the band ever did, but it's quite enjoyable. Nice to see this one resurface, as I had no idea of its existence prior!
Honor in Obliteration is available on cassette or digital through Bandcamp. It doesn't appear to be streaming, and I support that decision 100%.
Guest Directors
Seattle outfit Guest Directors dropped a standalone single at the start of the month that was recorded during last year's Interference Patterns sessions, and this is definitely one of those cases where I find myself exclaiming, "Damn! Why wasn't this on the album!?" Slightly catchier than some of the album's fare, it would've been one of my favorites, indeed, so I'm glad it's seeing the light. Expect another high-quality melodic indie/alternative tune, particularly striking an excellent balance between the band's two vocalists. Awesome.
Grab "Keep a Fresh Eye" from Bandcamp; or stream it using Spotify or Apple Music or some other platform that makes my skin crawl...
Lähiöbotox
Finnish act Lähiöbotox returns with their third album of hip-hop-tinged metalcore, which quickly reveals itself to be even more diverse in a number of directions—from electronic textures and synth flourishes to dissonant, thrashy riffs to a wide array of vocal styles. The songwriting almost borders on a chaotic sort of intensity since there's just so much going on and so many shifts and twists, while still holding on to plenty of hard-hitting and memorable breaks that jump out amidst the turmoil. Some of the choruses are even tending toward a more melodic/anthemic direction. It's a lot to take in, and after a few spins I still feel like I need more time to fully wrap my head around it. I certainly remain a fan, though! This band was already quite unique, and I'd have to say they're even more so now.
Unlike prior albums, Surullinen Tapaus - Sellaista on Vapaus is only on vinyl (through Ranka Kustannus), which stings for a CD guy like me, but... that's the way of the world these days, for some reason. Stream on Spotify, Apple Music, etc.
Orlock
I had a vague awareness of Orlock during the late-'90s when they were based in my hometown of Richmond, VA. They're now in Chicago, IL and churning out new recordings, some of which I believe are reworkings of earlier tunes from "back in the day." The material on this EP is tough to categorize. I've seen the group referred to as "screamo," but I'd tend to disagree. The vocals might hit on that vibe on occasion, and sometimes the music can venture into a frantic blast to match, but... that speed can also have this weird kind of crispily blackened edge to it, contrasted by a nasty, Eyehategod-ish undercurrent to some of the passages (check that gnarly feedback in "Autumn Shade")—though I certainly wouldn't make that comparison either, and hesitate to use terms like "sludge." None of this matters, of course: it's an interesting amalgamation of gritty/grungy hardcore/punk 'n' more styles and influences, and you can call it whatever you want. I understand the raw aesthetic and it more or less fits, but the recording is just a touch thin, so a little more oomph in the core would add to the impact. It's cool to see Orlock back in action, and I'm curious to hear what else will come out of it...
III is available digitally via Bandcamp; plus streamable through Spotify, Apple Music, and all that crap.
Surrender the Weapon
The members of New Jersey's Surrender the Weapon are predominantly known for having been involved with For the Love Of... and Elements DEC—which, you should know, is a big deal to me. Their debut single, "The Hum," comes from their forthcoming three-song EP, out next Friday. It'll be the #1 release of the year for me, and may well be the first thing I've heard all year that got me truly amped and excited right off the bat. I had some awareness that this project was kickin' along in the background, but have been very much impressed by the results. You can hear the ingredients of the musicians' past efforts, but fused into something a bit new—even more mature and exploratory. Larry's immediately recognizable vocal/lyrical approach flows amidst some surprising technicality tempered by superb melodic attributes. This track in particular highlights some of the intricate interplay between instruments, not to mention some of the band's most intriguing riffs. Just amazing.
I'll have more hype for this one next week when the full EP drops, and I implore you to keep an eye out for the tunes. I'm really hoping that Surrender the Weapon can catch a little more of a wave than some of the guys' recent efforts like Man Destroyed Man were able to latch onto. It's beyond deserved. For now, stream "The Hum" on Spotify, Apple Music, and so on.
