Gimme Metal Program Director Brian Turner delivers the week's top 5 office buzz-worthy tracks.
Pike Vs. The Automaton – "Alien Slut Mum"
Not content with mere Grammys and a titanium-solid legacy with High On Fire/Sleep, Matt Pike dips into his wishlist of guitar moves and songstylings he's always pined to explore, and the product of this solo outing is a super-wild ride. If the cabin-in-the-woods weekend depicted in the video clip is anything to ponder, you're set for a man-vs-nature confrontation of a highly assaultive and truly psychedelic nature that may not end up cushy. Pike Vs. The Automaton hits February 18, and keep eyes peeled on Gimme for something special to celebrate!
Ereb Altor – "Vargtimman"
Some weird juxtapositions in this Swedish/Viking/black combo, crusty, scabbed vocals run head on into another set of soaring, almost emo-ish pipes, feelgood/feelbad music lumped into one sum? Instrumentally they can rule down and dirty amidst the sunny leads and epic outbursts, perhaps an overall snapshot take on the battles of dark and light within one band? May not be for purists, but interesting nonetheless.
Vorga – "Comet"
Despite the dayglo/neon flash of this video and the astronomy-themed sonic titles, Germany's Vorga are a headturning black metal ensemble, seemingly casting eyes on the outward void and connections to humanity. Blasted atmospheres concur with some strident and melodic attack, unusual to say the least. Striving Toward Oblivion is out on Transcending Obscurity.
Ruins Of Beverast – "Ropes Into Eden"
With a name evoking ancient Mid-and-North European eschatology – the collapse of the giant bridge Bifröst – the sound of Ruins of Beverast assimilates the sound of modern culture's disintegration. Tidal pools of muck of which disembodied voices arise and downtuned instrumentation wallows, the overall lurch of this band is mired, slow, intensely moving forward with great colorful arrangements, or maybe not at all, but content to wallow. Their sixth LP The Thules of Grimoire is out now.
Mass Worship – "Orcus Mouth"
With guitarist Gustav Erikkson leading the charge with high-end air raid siren attack, Sweden's Mass Worship evolve their homeland's death heritage into some densely crafted, all-encompassing music that cloaks over you like a burning tarp. Slaughterhouse-appropriate vocals, teeming sonic swirl punctuated by moments of near-silence, a rich and heavy listening experience ensues.
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