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').

man you weren't kidding about this Coroner album, fucking great

Coroner is most certainly gonna be in my top 5 this year

A friend of mine, Stephan Thanneur (formerly of Chaos Echoes), designed the cover.

I bought the deluxe CD of the Coroner that comes with the Death Cult demo as a bonus disc, supposed to be delivered today.

xpost - cover art is great, very cool and old school looking, glad it's not AI shit that a lot bands are doing now

still have to listen to that one. forgot again!

have the new drofnosura on:
https://drofnosura-label.bandcamp.com/album/ritual-of-split-tongues

sludge/doom with a nice airy mix. seems like an improvement on the last one and i like how the clean vox sound like vod or life of agony or something like that.

ok yeah LOVING this corner record

"Peek-a-boo, out of sight does mean it's gone"

lol, they really started a verse with "peek-a-boo"

if it’s good enough for devo…

okay yeah, this Agriculture record absolutely kills. I mean, yeah, me being me I'm already primed for a record that mixes shoegaze and emo in it, but the way this is structured and flows is just incredible.

After completing the final objective and rising from the ashes of the recently self-immolated GRIDLINK, Takafumi Matsubara and Bryan Fajardo now set mission coordinates towards BARREN PATH.

https://barrenpath.bandcamp.com/album/grieving

oh, hell yeah

wow @ the coroner album. sounds awesome.

very much enjoyed Species and Time Rift LPs from above. tomorrow night - Wormrot in London, then next week Amenra and a few days after High On Fire/Necrot/Castle Rat :D

That Barren Path is so good. I'm liking it more than Coronet Jupiter, which was a bit harsh and piercing for me. This is more listenable.

It seems like a lot of good stuff dropped yesterday. The One of Nine album is really satisfying atmospheric black metal.

Do you, like me, dig crushing sludge/doom with heavy Corrupted vibes? The new album from Seoul's Gawthrop will probably do you just fine then:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/kuboa

well, you said the magic word

this stomach record has been scratching a similar itch:

https://stomachdoom.bandcamp.com/album/low-demon

I'll have to check that out, didn't know about them but I see the Weekend Nachos connection!

i'll make it unanimous, the new Coroner does indeed absolutely rip

curious to check out this death doom from Japan, love the cover and logo for sure:
https://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/embalming

Ulcerate was incredible live last night. the lights, the atmosphere, all of it. the drumming is insane live.

I put out a new album on my label today - Eidos Daemonium, by Diego Caicedo. It's a mixture of noise/death metal guitar, extreme vocals, and avant-garde string quartet writing (violin, viola, cello, bass). It's wild as hell, but I think readers of this thread will be into it.

http://diegocaicedo.bandcamp.com/album/eidos-daemonium

My wife designed the cover, as always:

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a0261915557_10.jpg

New Astronoid is entertaining - they seem to be leaning more into the dream pop/synth sounds more than the shred though. I don't see any kind of physical product available, and marketing seems non-existent.

Ulcerate was incredible live last night. the lights, the atmosphere, all of it. the drumming is insane live.

I really enjoyed them. Just a no-nonsense ferocious performance. Exactly what I wanted from them.

hell yeah. seeing them in a few days.

caught em many years back on the start of a US tour right before they got robbed and lost a bunch of gear later that evening. somewhat surprised they're even bothering!

Of course they're skipping my town, despite the huge death metal crowd here... I don't think I can make it to the Montreal show next week. :(

Not metal really, but the solo album from Blood Incantation's Morris Kolontyrsky is really good ambient synth with spacey guitars.

Anyone know Ulcerate? Thinking of catching them this weekend.

Yeah, they're amazing. I interviewed them about their back catalog a few years ago:

https://daily.bandcamp.com/lists/ulcerate-essential-songs-list

caught em the other night and loved it. definitely go imo!

that sure is one good drummer btw man

Well, after how many years ago Craig Hayes was pumping Ulcerate's tires (12, 15 years?), it's finally saw them, and that was the heaviest stuff I've heard since Yob at Roadburn. And what a drummer indeed! Really lithe, like Lombardo.

yeah, to me it felt a bit like the drummer was the lead… like, they wouldn't be too far off from something moody but not metal like, say, the cure if he weren't calmly blasting away playing super sick stuff and generally moving things along

Tickets bought! You had me at Lombardo.

lol@Ulcerate, are there any metal bands that don't have a "metal" name?

I hope not!

Jamie Saint Merat drumcam videos are the best thing on Youtube.

Ulcerate rule but I hadn't thought to look for drumcam stuff. You weren't kidding. Holy SHIT.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg5w5j78iDQ

Jeepers.

I wonder if there is a band with a drummer that *only* plays double kicks? Probably some Bozzio-like weirdo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4P4luHdFwA

spent a very pleasant afternoon with the new evoken today. very good, as always.

bit of a goofy cover tho, heh -

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a3132399082_16.jpg

less convinced by the new voidceremony. huge fan of the last record but the new one is largely missing the jazzy leads and slow riffs that gave ya something to grip on to amidst all the wheedley shredding. its still pretty cool tho.

Ulcerate was great, thanks for the nudge. The dude behind me drove 8 hours from Kansas City to see the show.

nice

keep going back to the coroner record. I never thought I'd say this but maybe I'm nostalgic for when thrash bands were trying to keep up with trends in the 90s and cleaned up their production and copped a few new tricks heavier modern bands in a "groove metal" kinda way (e.g. testament, megadeth, sepultura, etc.)? this one ticks a lot of those boxes imo

all of which is giving me the urge to listen to megadeth cryptic writings again - have always had a soft spot for this one

I just reviewed No More Color, Mental Vortex and the new one and it's really fascinating, the leap Coroner took between NMC and MV. It's exactly as you describe - more groove, a drier sound. That was my favorite Coroner album for a long time, but on this most recent re-listen I became a No More Color guy. They were really out-shredding Megadeth back then.

I'm not sure I agree if you're including rust in peace (aka the best album ever) but I absolutely agree if you mean the stuff after that!

The new Qrixkuor is a trip. Some of the hugest-sounding music I've heard in a while.

Co sign. They're what Fleshgod wish they were

oh this is good

The third track with the extra vocalist is amazing.

For anyone wondering, it's one-part murky subterranean black/death metal, but with symphonic orchestration as well. They pull it off incredibly well, and without sounding cheesy.

cool that instead of just "band name is hard to read" we also have "band name is hard to say"

I listened to Qrixkuor on Quobuz.

This is probably obvious (or plain dumb) but is it a play on cris de coeur?

This is all I could find:

The name is taken from the Qrixkuor-bird in the Ninth Arch of Kenneth Grant's book, "Against the Light":
"It is without a Name because born of the Aeon without a Word outside the circles of time ... and of the Tangled Light, Qrixkuor."

All the real-life bird names are probably taken already.