Born In A Test Tube, Raised In A Cage: It's The 2025 Metal Thread

Let's open up this fuckin' pit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBfeAnef8RQ

Just got answers back from an email interview with the vocalist from Human Barbecue, a cannibalism-obsessed brutal/slam band from Belgium. The interview will run in Burning Ambulance in February. Gotta say, his first answer made me feel pretty fucking old...

How did you first get interested in this style of metal? Can you remember the first records that inspired you to want to make this kind of music yourself?
My dad has always been listening to music at home. He used to be a punk when he was a teenager. So I have been listening to all kind of music since a very early age. I remember that he was listening to bands like Guns N’ Roses, Suicidal Tendencies, Rollins Band... I guess it just grew on me. The older I got, the harder the bands were. I discovered death metal and hardcore music during my nu-metal phase when I was 12-13. I always loved the very brutal side of death metal. Even though I started being active in the hardcore scene (still am), death metal has been by my side since those days.

Here are some upcoming releases on my radar to check out:

10-Jan
Haunted Horses (Seattle industrial metal on Three One G)

24-Jan
Mogwai
Sunrot
Wardruna

25-Jan
Clamfight (Philly Prog-adjacent Stoner Metal)

31-Jan
The Hellacopters
Jaye Jayle
Pentagram
Spesimin (Philly thrash/death/punk goodness)

7-Feb
Dream Theater
Inborn Suffering (French Death/Doom)
Jinjer
Obscura
Thundermother

21-Feb
Killswitch Engage
Mean Mistreater (Austin Trad Metal)
Sacrifice (Canadian thrashers; first new album since 2009)
The Young Mothers (Austin jazz hepcats who like grindcore)

28-Feb
Cloakroom

4-Mar
Destruction

14-Mar
Coheed and Cambria

28-Mar
Arch Enemy
Dead Meadow
Savage Master

Gotta say, his first answer made me feel pretty fucking old...

I was talking with a younger acquaintance who told me she grew up listening to the proverbial "all kinds of music." Dad liked jazz, mom liked country, little brother liked "emo." "Emo" has kind of evolved in meaning over the years, so I asked her what she meant by emo, and she said, oh, you know, stuff like Slipknot.

Definitely looking forward to new Obscura, and Destruction can always be trusted. I've heard the Mean Mistreater; it's as good as the debut, which I loved. Wardruna are actually playing near me (well, 90 minutes away, which is "near" in Montana terms) this summer:

https://fitmfest.com/

One very interesting aspect of that festival:

In partnership with the community in the Blackfeet Nation, Fire in the Mountains 2025 at the Red Eagle Campground in the Blackfeet Nation, will be an event without alcohol. This decision was made with respect to the wishes of our hosts and is a decision we align with.

Our aims have always been to build an event that places value on music, nature, and connection above all else, and to have a positive impact in the community that has welcomed us. We stand behind the decision of our Blackfeet partners that all of these aims can be obtained without the presence of alcohol.

We have no interest in passing judgments or preaching any way of life over another. All walks of life are welcome at our festival. What we do stand strongly behind is respecting the land and the wishes of those whom it belongs to.

lots of good shows coming up in London i'm looking forward to; Napalm Death/Crowbar/Full Of Hell/Brat being one, another being King Diamond/Paradise Lost/Unto Others. Incineration Fest is the one i'm most hyped for though - bearing in mind as a one dayer the clashes will be torture.... lineup so far:

Triptykon Performing Celtic Frost (UK Exclusive)
Blood Incantation (UK Exclusive)
Decapitated (UK Festival Exclusive)
Batushka (UK Exclusive)
Cryptopsy
Warbringer
Blackbraid
Spectral Wound
Lamp Of Murmuur
Undergang (UK Exclusive)
Wormwitch
Bedsore (UK Debut)
Celestial Sanctuary
Carnation
Minami Deutsch
Underdark

What does "UK Exclusive" mean? That that is the only time/place they are playing the UK in 2025? I want to start seeing stuff like this more often. Oasis at Soldier Field: Chicago exclusive! Yo La Tengo Hanukkah Shows: NYC exclusive!

yeah, I guess maybe the UK is a small enough country that promoters can pay for that sort of exclusivity and use it in marketing knowing people will travel to the show rather than miss out... probably less likely to happen in bigger countries/USA?

Old Man's Child is playing their first US live show ever this summer at an outdoor festival 90 minutes from me. Why they'd choose to make their live debut in rural Montana rather than New York or San Francisco or Los Angeles, I don't know, but they have made that choice.

There's a new German band called Axetasy, and on a purely instrumental level, they live up to the name: the guitars are pretty goddamn axetatic. But the vocals are a hoarse shout, not nearly power metal enough for the music, and they're weirdly placed in the mix. I don't love it as much as I wanted to, but others may disagree.

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/withering-tides

This Lifeless Dark album from December is apparently stenchcore, which isn't a descriptor I'm familiar with but seems like it basically came to mean a thrashier kind of crust punk? Anyway, it's really awesome.

https://lifelessdark.bandcamp.com/album/forces-of-natures-transformation

lol at stenchcore

I'm old enough to remember when Obscura were a wild, jazz-prog-fusion-y tech-death band. Unfortunately, their new album A Sonication (out 2/7) is some Dark Tranquillity-ass melodeath bullshit, with the occasional fretless bass solo to remind you of what once was.

https://obscura.bandcamp.com/album/a-sonication

fwiw the term stenchcore is as old as crust (coming up for 40 years) but seems to be enjoying a resurgence given the number of times I've seen "wtf is stenchcore" posts recently

I've always liked the term stenchcore because of the "our band smells bad" implication.

New Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ1M2i-7gF4

Catchier than I might have thought. Album drops 4/4.

It's ridiculous power metal video time! Here's "Power Train" by Majestica, and yes, it's about a train.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBJ7L5LyAk4

Releases this Friday that I will be checking out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqiYgldW5nw

Pentagram

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww7iDotqQ0s

The Hellacopters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEIPPQ-5UvE

Jaye Jayle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFABZr7WPkE

Spesimin

fuck sake - i hate how much i may spend on this though also know there is little to no chance of getting tickets

https://www.instagram.com/blacksabbath/p/DFsSHb-JK-O/

yeah that lineup is pretty undeniable, even with the dubious prospects of various supergroups and Pantera playing

although somewhere Dave Mustaine is crying and i want to give him a hug?

Wonder the last time Metallica supported someone.. Maybe those Rolling Stones shows in 2005?

Out of morbid curiosity I streamed a few songs of that new Obscura and, yeah, it's terrible.

The new Century album is the first real standout for me this year. Swedish melodic heavy metal... my favourite area.

The vocal performance took me a minute to warm up to, but I like it. He has a kind of dry, stone-faced quality, which works for me, especially on short punchy tracks like "No Time For Tomorrow".

Yeah, that is good. It's an unmemorable name which is why I keep forgetting to check them out, but I've just put both their albums in my Bandcamp cart.

New Phrenelith sounding pretty great on the first go through

I interviewed Belgian brutal death metallers Human Barbecue. Plus bonus "Robert Christgau is a shithead" content!

lol at calling yourself Human Barbecue.

NEW PISSGRAVE INCOMING (finally!)

https://pissgrave.bandcamp.com/album/malignant-worthlessness

Wow, I am loving the Mean Mistreater album.

I went to see Undergang and Mephitic Corpse a week ago, and even though I caught a brutal cold at the show, it scratched a metalhead itch that was in dire need of scratching. Absolute filth.

ooh, the new Christian Mistress is up on NWOTHM Full Albums on youtube.

Atmospheric black metal cover of a Jean-Michel Jarre piece is a very specific niche, and you probably know if you're in it.

https://open.spotify.com/album/0YUsJFg8fBDSaDxLGxKvZp?si=4VoFC1y0TxOaxMWk7ZTp5A

I love that cover, I was annoyed it wasn't included as a bonus track on the copy I got of that album.

Some other good metal covers this week:
- Al-Namrood doing a black'n'roll-ish version of the Exploited's "Beat the Bastards".
- Ultrviolence's blackgazey "there is a light that never goes out".
- UMC and Anna-Lena Derer Eurevisioning Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra".
- URNE doing a basically reverent rendition of Black Sabbath's "I" (from Dehumanizer).

(And for metal covered, last week there was Rosetta Stone doing Sabbath's "N.I.B.".)

This month's Stereogum metal column has a great piece on Ragne Wahlquist and Heavy Load, the first Swedish metal band.

had a fun time at the Life After Death 2 fest this weekend in London; which is heavily associated with the great Crypt Of The Wizard record store. very good sets from Vacuous (new LP on Relapse is killer) and Jaundice (death metal from Glasgow, all looked about 18). this Friday - Napalm Death / Crowbar / Full Of Hell / Brat in brixton :D

Yeah, I'm enjoying that Vacuous record.

Me too; downloaded the promo last night after reading that post and it rips.

I like how it kinda swims against a lot of the trends in death metal right now, a little Converge energy in it.

Heck yeah--only a few songs in so far, but that new Vacuous sounds great! Artfully meat-and-potatoes to these ears, and very well-produced.

Ha! "artfully meatandpotatoes" is well-put.

New Neptunian Maximalism 3CD set in April!

https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/le-sacre-du-soleil-invaincu

Brent Hinds has left Mastodon.

I still can't get used to the new name, but The Otolith (formerly SubRosa) has a new track, and it's good:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdNDoMP3XWk

xp - thanks for the heads up on the Neptunain Maximalism! Instant pre-order. FYI, as much as I am happy to support Bandcamp Friday (which I am with other things today), follow the link on their page to the US store for much more reasonable shipping costs.

Wonder what led to Hinds leaving, wouldn't have expected that.

I really dig the first Otolith album, excited for more!

The new Ghost single is disappointing me.

I hear a good song there, but the mixing and compression on the guitars I'm having trouble with.

Hmm, granted it was a headphone listen, but I thought it was really good and the most I've been excited about a Ghost lead single in awhile now. Reminded me more of the Opus Eponymous era than much has lately.

FYI, as much as I am happy to support Bandcamp Friday (which I am with other things today), follow the link on their page to the US store for much more reasonable shipping costs.

Yeah, I saw that myself. Still deciding whether to spring for a physical copy or not. The three discs are only about 35 minutes long each, just FTR. But I understand why they want to break them out so you listen to each raga separately.

I'm posting this here and in the jazz thread, for obvious reasons: I interviewed Ray Suhy, who's simultaneously an accomplished jazz guitarist and the lead guitarist in Six Feet Under. It was a really fun conversation, even if the transcription program I use couldn't tell our voices apart (two guys from Jersey yappin').

new tietanblood!

https://teitanblood.bandcamp.com/album/from-the-visceral-abyss

haven't listened yet but this band hasn't missed yet

xp Local newspaper cutbacks, innit.

2 new EPs from Amenra today: https://amenra.bandcamp.com/

and a live show, streamed from Brussels in about 10 hours from now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRwQLjczs50

new Paranoid vinyl pressing from original master tapes via Rhino is absolutely immense, best i've heard that album sound. the limited run is already being flipped for silly prices, but when they did one of these for the debut they released an unnumbered edition a while after. well worth getting.

even the steve hoffman forum lads are happy (mostly)

oops, that Amenra link just went private. Too bad, they usually keep shows on the ABConcerts channel for a while. Anyway, if anyone was wondering who that new bass player was: Amy Tung Barrysmith from Year of the Cobra.

this new labyrinthine heirs record has an extremely unique and cool sound:

https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/labyrinthine-heirs

kinda like jesus lizard meets deatspell omega or something? but a really natural version that isn't at all gimmicky? band is super locked in here. awesome.

also, its been quite a while but theres a new AKBK record:

https://akbk.bandcamp.com/album/akbk-jikkai

frantic, twisty grind with fried, noisy production. this band deserves a bigger profile.

Fuck me, that Labyrinthine Heirs record is absolutely my thing.

yeah, it’s seriously good

There's a new Nortt album. I wrote about it.

That's great news. Excited for that.

New Austere album on June 6th : https://austere-official.bandcamp.com/album/the-stillness-of-dissolution

ohhhhhh yes, the new Epica album! Born in a test tube, raised in an astral palace.

The new Tómarúm record, Beyond Obsidian Euphoria is so good, if you like your progressive metal mixed with blackened death.

https://tomarum.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-obsidian-euphoria

Sometimes it seems like there is just so much of this stuff it's impossible to give it the attention it deserves, or even the amount of attention needed to determine if it deserves attention! Golden age, glut, the gift that keeps on giving ... phew.

Stuff like what you just posted, or at least the first track, when the bass drums are going at, like, mach 12, is that just being triggered? It doesn't seem humanly possible to play that fast.

Sorry Josh, I wish I knew more of the technicalities of how that is done. My non-drummer brain says a combination of technique, double kick drums and maybe some triggering/programming, but I'm not sure.

In other news, can confirm the previous posts - the Teitanblood rips.

I really like Amenra, but I streamed the new EPs but neither really convinced me they were worth the money.

I'm really getting into the new Messa. Lots of unique and memorable songs on this one, and vocalist Sara is fantastic.

Looking forward to digging into that one, I've loved all of their albums so far.

the new Messa is great

They made a really nice video for the track "At Races":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgJk2-ddU6M

Their best one yet, definitely. Saw Concrete Winds/Black Curse on monday in london - both worth catching live. got a cheapo ticket for Vio-lence at the underworld tomorrow, very curious how that will be - not too familiar with some of catalogue

Had no idea Divide and Dissolve had a new one imminent, out this Friday. Really looking forward to that one as well.

If anybody's in the mood for brutal slam metal so ugly and dissonant it's practically noise-rock, Trichomoniasis's Harvest Of The Killing Fields is the album for you.

https://newstandardelite.bandcamp.com/album/trichomoniasis-harvest-of-the-killing-fields

oh hell yeah, love those weirdos

caught vastum the other night. insanely fun set. even with strong competition from recent mayhem and wormrot gigs, vastum still ended up being the best metal show i’ve seen in a minute. highly recommend catching em if they’re in town.

oh hell yeah, love those weirdos

caught vastum the other night. insanely fun set. even with strong competition from recent mayhem and wormrot gigs, vastum still ended up being the best metal show i’ve seen in a minute. highly recommend catching em if they’re in town.

er, oops, bad service blip!

Speaking of metal, I was looking to see if High on Fire was going to come through town again, and indeed, they are on a bill with Weedeater opening for Acid Bath this December. Good bill, but I was still kinda shocked that the gig is already sold out 7 months in advance!

Acid Bath have been dormant for 30 years or so, they're selling every reunion show out

This review of Ancient Death's Ego Dissolution got me to listen to it (and subscribe to the newsletter where it appeared). The album is really good; somewhat proggy DM with definite late-Death/early-Atheist tendencies, but a nice dose of Necrot/Celestial Sanctuary primitivism too. Plus, the bassist's clean backing vocals, which only appear on a couple of tracks, are great and something uniquely theirs. Ethical dilemma: I want to give them money, but I don't want to give Profound Lore money.

https://ancient-death.bandcamp.com/album/ego-dissolution

Decibel's rave review got my attention, then that piece, and yep.

They are not wrong.

Extraordinary creativity, some of the gnarliest stuff I've heard in ages but also some of the prettiest solos this side of mid-'80s Malmsteen. Contains multitudes, with a guitar tone one can swim in. And those female vox that come in like The Gathering, oh my.

Cool stuff. "Journey to the Inner Soul" is a beautiful piece.

One of the world’s most iconic music venues – the Sunset Strip’s Roxy Theatre – hosted a legendary 2024 gig by one of the world’s most iconic metal bands, CIRITH UNGOL. The one-night-only performance was an album release show for the band’s 2023 Dark Parade LP. It captured the lineup at the height of its considerable powers, performing Dark Parade in its entirety, along with a set of classic songs including “Join The Legion,” “Frost And Fire,” “Black Machine,” and “Atom Smasher.” The end result is a stellar live album and DVD.

There was no choice other than the Roxy for CIRITH UNGOL to record this momentous live collection. “It’s owned by a Hollywood music legend, Lou Adler,” notes cofounding drummer Rob Garven, “and is next door to the famous Rainbow Bar And Grill. It’s a landmark Hollywood club, which includes the Whisky and The Starwood [now gone] so every time we played one of these historic venues, it was a special occasion. It was great to see many of our friends and fans from all over the world at the show.”

Adds bassist Jarvis Leatherby, “For years, there has been a live bootleg record famous in the underground from their last appearance there in 1984 titled Cirith Ungol, Live At The Roxy. I felt it fitting for the band to return there 40 years later to officially document a live performance in a way the guys would be proud of. Metal Blade Records, The Adlers, Nanotear, and Goldenvoice all came together in support to actually make it happen."

CIRITH UNGOL’s Live At The Roxy holds its own against other legendary live records. “The Who made an extremely powerful album with Live At Leeds, my favorite band of all time, Mountain, had several pretty spectacular live albums, and 1993’s Uriah Heep Live is another outstanding live album! It’s hard to accurately capture all the sound and feeling of a live concert. I think these bands achieved that, and I think our Live At The Roxy does also.”

Live At The Roxy will be released on April 25th via Metal Blade Records. The record will be available digitally and as a 2xCD/DVD set or 2xLP/DVD set in the following color variants:

Green Black Marbled (US – Ltd. 500)

180g Black (EU)

Light Blue Marbled (EU)

Green Black Marbled (EU – Ltd. 500)

Demon Blood Splatter (EU – Ltd. 300)

White / Blue Splatter (Band Exclusive – Ltd. 200 available HERE)

Find preorders at metalblade.com/cirithungol.

CIRITH UNGOL – Live At The Roxy Lineup:

Tim Baker – vocals

Greg Lindstrom – guitar

Robert Garven – drummer

Armand John Anthony – guitar

Jarvis Leatherby – bass

“The band's strong late-period form is now also documented on an impressive live album, which, with a whopping 100 minutes of playing time, includes the complete release show for the 2023 album The Dark Parade. Recorded at the legendary Roxy Club on L.A.'s Sunset Strip, CIRITH UNGOL practically offer a complete showcase of their work, culminating in the frenetically acclaimed 'Join The Legion'. The audience sound is also beautifully captured, so that Live At The Roxy can be recommended to every CIRITH UNGOL cultist to heart.” – Deaf Forever (DE)

For CIRITH UNGOL coverage contact l✧✧@earsplitcompo✧✧✧.c✧✧.

https://www.facebook.com/cirithungolofficial

https://www.instagram.com/cirithungolband

https://www.metalblade.com

https://www.facebook.com/metalbladerecords

https://www.instagram.com/metalbladerecords

https://x.com/MetalBlade

https://www.metalblade.com/museum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpoqKs3uvaE

oops, missed the contact change---here tis: liz at earsplitcompound dot com

I'm really getting into the new Messa. Lots of unique and memorable songs on this one, and vocalist Sara is fantastic.

it's fucking incredible

"Fire on the Roof" to "The Dress" is an immaculate sequence.

yeah. I listened to the album 2x in a row yesterday. I never do that. it's majestic

I'm probably one of the biggest Sumac fans around here, but even acknowledging that, the new album with Moor Mother is fantastic.

Ancient Death album is so great, hitting me in the same way the last Horrendous LP did.

yeah, i really like it too. depending how they evolve, i could see them following a mastodon-style popularity trajectory… if thats still possible anymore

That last Horrendous album might be my favourite release of like... the last five years. Still amazing.

Released today the brilliant, Opia release their debut album

I Welcome Thee, Eternal Sleep
by Opia
https://hammerheart.bandcamp.com/album/i-welcome-thee-eternal-sleep
on Hammerheart Records

riyl: Draconian

more streaming links:

https://opiadoom.lnk.to/iwelcomethee

gothic doom metal

the production on this album is glorious, rich layered atmospherics, dynamic guitars, great vocals from Tereza Rohelova - clean and growling.

a single from the album:

Opia - Fade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odCQAQgf-jQ

interesting the band members come from a black metal background.

interview
Doomed Confessionary: Dan, Phoenix & Tereza (Opia)
https://doomed-nation.com/doomed-confessionary-dan-phoenix-tereza-opia/

Can you say something more about the current music scene in the UK?
Dan: This is kinda tricky since we’re all very spread out (even across countries) but I think as the band practices and records in Cardiff it’s perhaps the closest thing to a “home town” for the band generally. I would suggest that the South Wales/Bristol/Gloucestershire area all represents one doom metal scene in the UK. In that region you have some phenomenal bands like The Drowning, My Silent Wake, Pantheïst, Edenfall, Thrakian, Inver, Root Zero. There are also some atmospheric/melodic black metal bands there like Ofnus and Cistvaen who in all honesty probably have far more in common with us and the others I mentioned above than they do with the majority of the UK black metal scene.

This Science Friday radio segment on extreme metal vocals is really interesting and not pandering or sneering in any way.

big ups on the horrendous recommendation - great stuff

French post metal band Year Of No Light is back with an album length track recorded in 2015 (but their 2 planned shows are their Ausserwelt album in full?)

https://pelagic-records.com/product/year-of-no-light-les-maitres-fous-cd-digipack/

Loved the Tribunal debut, but the new one might be even better.

At the risk of turning this into live posting my listening, just finished the new Divide and Dissolve, it is astounding. It's essentially Takiaya Reed's solo project now, with some help on the drums, but this is stunningly beautiful and moving.

Didn't really expect the "new"* Cadaver to begin with a song that sounds like Voivod and Mr Bungle but idk

(*it was largely written in 1991 and never recorded...until now)

It becomes a bit more standard death by track two

Born in a testtube, raised in a cage, killed by the SFPD ...

https://www.stereogum.com/2306500/former-possessed-guitarist-shot-and-killed-by-san-francisco-police/news/

Jesus, grim. 30-minute shootout and he had three different guns.

The Ancient Death album is a real gem. The sort of album that rewards close and undistracted listening and reveals more and more.