Cacophonous Incantation - Implements of Hell (2019)

I really hope Implements of Hell won't stay the only release from Cacophonous Incantation, since I really enjoy it. I like their deathgrind/goregrind filled with vicious riffing and catchy grooves. Nothing groundbreaking, but they're excellent at doing it.

 

Terror System - Demo 2 (2019)

No, music from Compton is not gangsta rap only, the Terror System guys are playing grindcore (or were, don't know if they're still active, I hope they are). This second demo, released in 2019, is basic but finely crafted old school grind, halfway between grindpunk and deathgrind, 100% pure grindcore. Good stuff, an album would be welcome !

the BC page.

 

GAG REFLEX - Psychosis (2019)

As far as I know Psychosis is the only release of GAG REFLEX (from Leeds, UK) which is a pity since it's an excellent piece of powerviolence / hardcore. Short, but intense as should be. Recommended!

The BC page.

 

Dreadcore - Schematics (2019)

Schematics, by Norwegian producer Dreadcore is not exactly new, been released in 2019. Won't do for your "end of the year list", sorry, but if you enjoy nice and dark drum and bass music it will do fine. Six short tracks, ometimes more in an atmospheric synthwave vein, sometimes more nervous jungle. Good stuff.

The BC page.

 

Willie Farmer - The Man From the Hill (2019)

The Man From the Hill is the first album from Willie Farmer. It's a first album, but Farmer not new in the blue scene, he's a more than 60 years old musician (but used to work as a mechanic). Farmer, and no doubt you can feel it in his music, comes from Mississippi, near the Delta. But he plays electric/Chicago blues, with also bits of rock'n'roll. High quality traditional blues.

Album webpage

 

Blood Spore - Fungal Warfare Upon All Life (EP 2019)

Blood Spore is an American death-doom band singing about evil fungus. I really enjoy their EP Fungal Warfare Upon All Life released in 2019 (3 tracks in about 20 minutes). Their music is on the aggressive side of death-doom, with a raw delivery that can remind Autopsy. Good riffs, good vocals, good grooves. And fungus. Cool. 

The Bandcamp page.

 

Paladin - Ascension (2019)

Ascension is a brilliant first album from Paladin, totally over the top heavy speed power thrash metal (you get the idea!). Technical and aggressive but also with excellent songwriting skills, this is a full speed riffing/shredding fest, with vocals going from traditional heavy metal to a bit of growling. Paladin reminds of a less cheesy (and without keyboards) Dragonforce, or bands like Blind Guardian, Brainstorm, or Nevermore. Highly recommended!

The Bandcamp page.

 

Grand Magus - Wolf God (2019)

Yes I should have reviewed Wolf God when it came out in 2019, but at the time I hesitated if it was good, very good or excellent. I mean judged by their own standard because in my opinion Grand Magus is the best heavy metal band of the XXI century. It's an album in the vein of what they did in the last ten years, that is closer to Judas Priest than to Black Sabbath, not trendy, but they are so good at it! And I'd say Woldf God is above Sword Songs and as good as Triumph and Power (the Hunt is maybe still my favourite). Traditional heavy metal of the highest class.

Their Website.

 

GA-20 - Lonely Soul (2019) & Live vol.1 (EP 2020)

GA-20 is a garage blues trio from Boston formed in 2018, they released last year an impressive first album, Lonely Soul, and now are back with an equally good live four tracks, simply called Live vol. 1. Their music is rooted in the blues, Delta blues, Chicago electric blues, etc. but also reminds the Black Keys, and could also evoke The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street. It's really well done and I really enjoy those two releases. They're my favourite recent garage blues band.

The BC page.

 

Merzbow, Keiji Haino, Balazs Pandi - Become the discovered, not the discoverer (2019)

Become the discovered, not the discoverer, released last year, is the second album from the trio Merzbow, Keiji Haino, Balazs Pandi. It is completely improvised music and is closer to free jazz than to the harsh noise Merzbow is known for. This time his noise is more like a soundscape in the background, while Keiji Haino is playing his guitar (but don't expect riffs or melodies) and Pandi drumming. Sometimes it is heavy, but often it is more meditative, but always with a noise element provided by the guitar and machines. Good and interesting stuff. Note that a Merzbow, Mats Gustafsson, Balasz Pandi album is to be released this month, should be interesting as well.

 The BC page. 

 

D-Faz - OneNationUnderDog (2019)

This album OneNationUnderDog released last year is a collaboration between French band D-Faz and American alt rapper Brzowski. The result is good Mcing, in a vein reminding a bit Sage Francis or maybe Buck 65 over production that is rooted in electro / bass music / trip hop. Brzowski warm voice providing a contrast to the colder/futuristic/abstract music of D-Faz. Interesting and quality stuff.

The BC page.

Trench Warfare - (2019)

First album for Trench Warfare from Texas, and an excellent one. Hatred Prayer is old school death metal with also a strong touch of  bestial/war metal and, like it should, their music sounds really nasty. Fast, straight to the point, crushing with evil brutality. Vibrant and very well-crafted old school extreme metal.

The Bandcamp page.

Modular Phaze - Hidden Tentacles of God (2019)

Modular Phaze is a very prolific Colombian techno producer (and founder of the Mephyst label). He already has like four releases this year but I'm choosing to review last year's album Hidden Tentacles of God, probably my favourite of his recent releases. Not his most subtle stuff, but I like the power it evokes. Heavy techno beats and fast snares, a bit of synth for the atmosphere and it makes a high quality hard hitting rave style dark techno.

The BC page.

The Comet Is Coming - The Afterlife (EP 2019)

The Comet Is Coming is a London based trio with saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings (also in Sons of Kemet, Shabaka and the Ancestors, etc.), keyboardist Dan Leavers, and drummer Max Hallett. The Afterlife is an EP and a kind of sequel to their previous album Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery (both released by the famous free jazz record label Impulse!). Their music is a shining mix of lyrical and melodic spiritual jazz, psychedelia and krautrock. There are some vocals on the excellent starting track with the featuring of Joshua Idehen, but otherwise it's completely instrumental. The band managed to recycle old elements into something sounding different and fresh and it's a very enjoyable listen that should please anyone into free/psychedelic music.

Their website

The Tunnel - The Use of One's Power (2019)

Simple but effective techno from Tunnel, the four tracks of The Use of One's Power goes from warehouse rave style hardcore techno bangers to more quiet anguished and futuristic atmosphere's. Good stuff.

The BC page. 
 

Active Shooter - Sign of the Times (2019)

First album from Active Shooter, a powerviolence/grind band from Houston/Texas. In Sign of the Times they just follow closely a well known recipe, but they do it very well and better than most. Also, sparing us the useless samples, feedback intros and sludge parts to stay relentless and straight to the point is a very good point for them and it works wonder.  Excellent stuff!

The BC page.

Cunts - Cunts (2019)

Released by Ipecac Recordings, and with the guitarist of Dead Cross, it had chances to be good. And indeed it delivers and don't disappoint. Cunts is a very fine old school hardcore album, a bit in a Black Flag vein. Recommended!

The BC page.

Yacopsae - Timeo Ergo Sum (2019)

Since their inception in 1990 the German grinders Yacopsae became a pillar of the European grind/crust scene. Not just because they outlived the other bands, but also because they're really good at what they do. Their new album (released in 2019) Timeo Ergo Sum is another proof.
Highly recommended for anyone into the punk side of grind.

BC page.

Hexendrone - Libereco Mito​-​Realeco Morto (2019)

Hexendrone is a Russian duo (drums, guitar, noise and vocals), thse two guys have been very prolific in the lats three years and with their label Lärmshturm Records they released many albums or split of their various projects, all going from stoner/doom/sludge to harsh noise/death industrial/power electronics, everything quite raw and radical, and good. Hexendrone is their most sludge project and Libereco Mito​-​Realeco Morto is the second album. It sounds like Eyehategod style sludge, but more minimalistic and with slower and heavier slow parts and faster hardcore parts. Will satisfy anyone liking the rawer and noisier side of slow and heavy music.

The BC page for the album

The Lärmshturm Records BC page

Glenn Branca - The Third Ascension (2019)

Sadly this one is a posthumous release since Glenn Branca died in 2018. The Third Ascension is a live recording and  a return to the 4-guitar, bass and drums format of his 1981 release The Ascension as well as 2010's The Ascension: The Sequel. The performance is by The Glenn Branca Ensemble at NYC's The Kitchen in 2016. This excellent album is a "no-wave" masterpiece of noise-rock / jazz-rock / post-metal (but Branca wrote that kind of msuic before metal even existed!)  that does not sound like a mix of different genres but truly show a very personal composing style free of any preconceived limitations. Oh, and this is also super heavy !
Highly recommended stuff that really makes me want to dig into Branca's discography.

The Bandcamp page.