A Comeback, a Cult Favorite, and Some Slam
Stacked is the wrong word. Loaded in the right places is closer. A 16-year wait ends, Olympia’s finest go industrial, and a progressive death metal crew with serious pedigree finally lands one. Good Friday.
#1 — Entheos — Empty on the Inside (Metal Blade) | Progressive Death Metal
This is my most anticipated one this week, and the lineup explains why. Chaney Crabb fronts a band with Navene Koperweis, formerly of Animals as Leaders and Animosity, plus players out of Fallujah and Allegaeon. Mark Lewis produced it, Michael Lessard guests on “Tomblight,” and “Golden Crown” has been sitting in my head since July. Ten songs of technical death metal that actually has something to say.
#2 — Wolves In The Throne Room — Estuary (Relapse) | Atmospheric Black Metal
Wolves are not a band that repeats themselves, and this one sounds like a hard turn. The concept is a world a thousand years after civilization ends, with industrial noise, huge percussion and gothic guitars pushed up against the usual Cascadian haze. The band produced it themselves at their Owl Lodge studio in Olympia, and “Ghosts Among the Obelisks” is the track to hear first. I’m going in to find out how far they pushed it.
#3 — Forbidden — Forbidden (BLKIIBLK) | Thrash Metal
First album in 16 years, since Omega Wave, with Brann Dailor of Mastodon guesting on “Sycophantasy.” Eleven tracks, over an hour, recorded with Zack Ohren in Oakland. Bay Area thrash is back, and the single “Psyclops” says they didn’t come back to coast.
#4 — Mental Cruelty — Echoes of a Forlorn Land (Century Media) | Blackened Deathcore
Jens Bogren produced, mixed and mastered it, and the band is leaning into black metal, folk and power metal flourishes. That’s a big swing for a deathcore act. Worth hearing just to see if it lands.
#5 — Embryectomy — Vitriolic Baptism (Unique Leader) | Slam Death Metal
Third album from the Greek slam crew, with “Ecumenical Lobotomy” leading the charge and Tom “the SLAM OG” of Epicardiectomy guesting. Nine tracks, no apologies. Bring your neck.
That’s the list. Run it.