Greetings, Decibel readers!
We’ve got a lot going on these days at Decibel, including the big-reveal of our lineup for next year’s Decibel Metal and Beer Fest in Philadelphia. Just the sets from Deicide, Internal Bleeding and Dying Fetus alone will be incredible (time to break out the longsleeves, for real), but I’m especially stoked for Lamp of Murmuur‘s appearance. Consistent readers of this column know I have a big soft-spot for that sort for things.
But I also have a place in my heart for the albums listed below, and I hope you do as well!
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Alchemy of Flesh – By Will Alone
From our full-album stream of By Will Alone:
Alchemy of Flesh’s sophomore album, titled By Will Alone, picks up in a similar place; Morbid Angel are still the predominant influence on the band but there are other inspirations present, with Rowland citing Angelcorpse, Monstrosity and Hate Eternal as three. Whereas Ageless Abominations defaulted to a low-tuned, chugging style of death metal, By Will Alone is a noticeably faster and more-demanding album; the riffs take center stage and the drumming is pretty bonkers too.
Also, hard to not be motivated by that Mortal Kombat-esque artwork.
Stream: Apple Music
By Will Alone by Alchemy of Flesh
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Bloodphemy – Dawn of Malevolence
Hah, what a name! This is the fifth album from the Dutch death-dealers in Bloodphemy, a serving of well-produced extreme metal madness. The palm-muted sections are particularly catchy, and the arrangements will certainly be satisfying to fans of newer Hypocrisy along with the band’s countrymen in Asphyx.
Stream: Apple Music
Dawn of Malevolence by Bloodphemy
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Carcinoid – Encomium to Extinction
The term “raw black metal” gets tossed around a lot, but I think “raw death metal” deserves its own designation as well. Carcinoid would definitely fit this description with its blistering, dirt-blasted doom-death attack. Goes hard. Rules hard.
Stream: Apple Music
Encomium to Extinction by Carcinoid
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Ceremonial Bloodbath – Genesis of Malignant Entropy
Absolutely devastating. It’s almost comical how brutal and aggressive this is, as if the music was made to be intentionally upsetting. Not knocking it, of course, though I may need to pet my cat after listening.
Stream: Apple Music
Genesis of Malignant Entropy by Ceremonial Bloodbath
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Ritual Clearing – Penitence
Rousing, thunderous black metal excellence. Formed on a foundation of dramatic guitar riffs, ferocious vocals and a crushing drum-and-bass assault, this is a band destined for greatness. And I’m not just saying that because they’re from my home state of CT. Or because they tossed candy into the crowd when I saw them at Lucky 13 last month. Ok, maybe I’m biased for those reasons. Shut up. Just listen to “Burn” and “Deathfog” and you’ll be ready to join the ritual yourself.
Stream: Apple Music
The post Five For Friday: November 17, 2023 appeared first on Decibel Magazine.