Albums of the month: February

What a start of the year we’ve had! This years January has probably been the strongest start of a year since I started this blog with loads of great albums coming out and February is just as strong, if not stronger. One band even dropped two great albums on the same day, Cult of Fire with Nirvana and Moksha. While January was a bit short on the black metal front February had that in masses, or what about Faustian Pact, Kvaen, Faidra, YGG, Tombs, Necrowretch, Svart Crown and Cénotaphe (just to name a few even) all dropping albums you need to dig into right now if you haven’t already! Another thing worth noting is that Beneath the Massacre has come back in style with Fearmonger being some of their best material yet, welcome back! Two months in 2020 and we’ve already been offered loads of superb metal, this year is looking very bright.

Album of the month:

Kvaen – The Funeral Pyre

On one of the last days of the month it was unleashed, The Funeral Pyre! Oh does it shine bright as this is some of the best black metal I’ve heard in months. Incredible debut album and has everything I’m looking for, a contender for album of the year in my opinion. You can read the review here.

Kvaen – The Funeral Pyre was released February 28th via Black Lion Records.
Bandcamp – https://kvaen.bandcamp.com/album/the-funeral-pyre
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/1RXqAO2dPkKQGip9qU45pg?si=BjEd_IIpQ8WGwXCq5oj3oA

Runners-up:

Beneath the Massacre – Fearmonger

What a comeback by Beneath the Massacre! Eight years after Incongruous came out they release what I think is their best album yet in Fearmonger. This hits hard!

Beneath the Massacre – Fearmonger was released February 28th via Century Media Records.
Bandcamp – N/A
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/1q7U1NxOyWTzoS3cpqtQpS?si=2e90Jez_Qpu2Xgu3n6zw_A

Plague – Portraits of Mind

I generally don’t see Greece as a death metal country but more into black metal. However Plague has shown there is a lot of life (or death) in the scene there too as Portraits of Mind had me on the hook straight from the start. One of the best death metal albums released so far this year! You can read the review here.

Plague – Portraits of Mind was released February 14th via Redefining Darkness Records (NA) and Nuclear Winter Records (EU).
Bandcamp – https://plague-gr.bandcamp.com/album/portraits-of-mind
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/0u934ElljYYWNif8V6ysuz?si=kwVdxSnKStCxpo5LCNbOIA

The Spirit – Cosmic Terror

The Spirit is one of those bands I feel is underrated because I feel both their debut Sounds from the Vortex and follow-up EP Pillars of Doom were very high quality black/death metal in the veins of Dissection, Sacramentum and Thulcandra. However maybe a bit too close in the sound. With Cosmic Terror though they’ve really come a long way and while the influences are still there they’re finding their own sound more this time around.

The Spirit – Cosmic Terror was released February 7th via Art of Propaganda.
Bandcamp – https://thespiritmetal.bandcamp.com/album/cosmic-terror
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/00TpgegQ8rs1WK0hqZDyjd?si=UOuBpr86S5OtHaKaw3LvUg

Night Crowned – Impius Viam

Their EP Humanity Will Echo Out showed a lot of promise and when I reviewed it back in 2018 I thought this band could be the next big melodic black/death export from Sweden. That seems to be the case still as their debut full-length is another step in the right direction and Night Crowned is on the path towards greatness with their apocalyptic heavy style that leaves no prisoners.

Night Crowned – Impius Viam was released February 28th via Noble Demon.
Bandcamp – https://nightcrowned.bandcamp.com/album/impius-viam
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/0xbLmjAA1qgYnm7phVTPUS?si=msBbLB07SDWiun9Yu9G4bg

More great albums of February:

Faustian Pact – Outojen Tornien Varjoissa
Schizogen – Spawn Of Almighty Essence
Slaughter Messiah – Cursed To The Pyre
Shandrazel – Le Paysage De Mes Pensées
Faidra – Six Voices Inside
Hæresis – To Drown​.​.​.
Cénotaphe – Monte Veritá
Abated Mass of Flesh – Not Burned
Necrowretch – The Ones from Hell
Horresque – Chasms Pt. I – Avarice and Retribution
Serpent Noir – Death Clan OD
Svart Crown – Wolves Among the Ashes
God Dethroned – Illuminati
Sepultura – Quadra
Sylosis – Cycle of Suffering
Conjureth – Foul Formations
Neptunus – Planetary Annihilation
Skyforest – A New Dawn
Sentient Divide – Haunted by Cruelty
Artach – Chronicles of a Black Winter
Xenobiotic – Mordrake
Cult of Fire – Nirvana
Cult of Fire – Moksha (yes they released two albums!)
Blåådpalt – Sliced to Perfection
Thokkian Vortex – Thy Throne is Mine
Tombs – Monarchy of Shadows
Infirmum – Walls of Sorrow
Regarde Les Hommes Tomber – Ascension
Innards – Back From The Grave, Straight In Your Face
Ossaert – Bedehuis
Izthmi – The Arrows of Our Ways
Akiavel – V
Deprived Of Salvation – Destination : Decay
YGG – The Last Scald
Ars Veneficium – Usurpation of the Seven
Black Royal – Firebride

The Metal Gamer Songs of the Month Spotify playlist:

Plague – Portraits of Mind (Death Metal)

Hailing from Greece there has been a death metal band biding its time for years until the debut would be unleashed. That band is Plague who formed in 2011, released a short two song EP titled Abyssdiver in 2014 then went back into the shadows to continue working on their craft on what would eventually become the debut album Portraits of Mind. Influenced by the early scene of death metal and on a label (Redefining Darkness Records) that very rarely disappoint me I instantly knew that this could be something right up my alley.

There is no reason for any death metal fan to skip out on this album. An absolutely fantastic debut album from Plague and well worth the wait. Production is on point, the band plays like they were an veteran act and their musicianship shines brightly throughout the whole album as every single bit of equipment has its moment of triumph, without being forced or anything like that. Plague had me on the hook line and sinker straight from the opener “Intersperse” and then easily reeled me in. This is 36 minutes of pure death metal joy which will leave the old school Massacre fans begging for more as at times Plague almost seems like an reincarnation version of them. Together with Sallow Moth (who plays a different kind of old school death, read the review here) I’m now left in awe with two fantastic releases and immense surprises to start 2020 in a big way. Plague may be from Greece but they perform the American old school death metal way with incredible precision. One of those albums where the promo description really fits the bill and I can just nod as I read it because it wasn’t just PR talk. I hardly ever do this but I’m going to leave you with a quote from the promo that actually says it all. “Portraits of Mind is a bludgeoning affair…one that often effortlessly combines simplicity in form with stellar musicianship. The result is a lesson in Death Metal; one that borrows heavily from the early 90’s American scene. This album is the perfect balance of everything that makes Death Metal great – you’ll see for yourself.” Redefining Darkness Records were right on the money with this one and yet again they bring forth a superb death metal band from the shadows into the light.

Artist: Plague
Label: Redefining Darkness Records (NA) / Nuclear Winter Records (Europe)
For fans of: Massacre & Brutality
Release date: February 14th, 2020
Favorite song: Deranged Madness
Score: 4/5 Excellent

Hate Unbound – Plague (Death/Trash Metal)

American band Hate Unbound are quite the new kids on the block but have in a fast fashion paved their way towards the top having already shared the stage with big acts such as Origin, Dying Fetus, Belphegor and Beyond Creation. Hate Unbound plays a mix of trash and death, drawing influences from all kinds of bands like Lamb of God and Death.

When I listen to Plague the closest I can compare their sound to is Lamb of God or Slayer. It’s fast and heavy metal that’s easy to take in and headbang to. The riffs are groovy as fuck and songs like Cut really takes me back to Lamb of God’s Sacrament album (which to me is their best release yet).

I am not surprised Hate Unbound has shared the stage with big acts already and are rising quickly. Heavy music created like this is undying and not a single metalhead can stand still to it. Filled with killer riffs, solos you will want to play air-guitar to at home and heavy hard hitting vocals you can’t go wrong with picking up Plague. I think most metalheads have, or still do, listened to bands such as Lamb of God, Slayer, Megadeth and Death and if you want to experience something that can basically be called a tribute to those bands then Hate Unbounds sophomore release Plague is the perfect way to start off 2017.

Plague is out February 17th 2017 by Inverse Records.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HateUnbound
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hateunbound
For fans of: Lamb of God and Slayer
Favorite song: Cut