Here we are in June, and it’s time to discuss what the Last Rites crew has been listening to this past month or so. The staff is fresh off its yearly team-building exercise, otherwise known as Maryland Deathfest, and consequently, in an effort to brush up before the event or relive the glory after, you’ll find several of this year’s MDF performers in the staff playlists, including Candlemass, Insect Warfare, Morbid Angel, and this month’s co-champion Oranssi Pazuzu with its 2016 album, Värähtelijä. I’d regale you with the highlights of the band’s set, but I think I was taking a nap so that I could be fresh as a daisy for Candlemass. I ain’t much for black metal, psychedelic or otherwise, but you know who is? Our own Danhammer Obstkrieg, that’s who, and if you’re looking for the low-down on Värähtelijä, Dan has you covered.
While we’re on the topic of black metal bands with funny names, and people who like them, Progenie Terrestre Pura is our other co-champion this month with its recently released second album, oltreLuna, and Zach Duvall was quite taken with said album, judging by his review which you can read right here.
On a down note, the passing of Chris Cornell has been much on the minds of the staff, and not surprisingly Cornell’s music showed up in several playlists, with Soundgarden’s Louder than Love and Temple of the Dog’s self-titled album both making multiple appearances. In case you missed it, Mr. Duvall paid heartfelt tribute to Chris with this piece.
Wrapping things up, a few recent death metal releases make appearances this month, including Necrot’s Blood Offerings, a review of which is forthcoming, Succumb’s eponymous debut (reviewed by El Capitan aqui)and Suffocation’s …Of the Dark Light. Andrew Edmunds has the not-so-good news about …Of the Dark Light right here. Personally, while I agree entirely with Mr. Edmunds assessment, I still enjoy the album well enough. Medicore Suffocation is still above average death metal. Finally, Walpyrgus Nights, some glorius heavy metal from Walpyrgus, a pseudo-super group featuring members of Twisted Tower Dire, October 31st and While Heaven Wept, among others, is getting some spins. Look for a review in the near future.
That’s all, for now. Be sure to share your playlist in the comments, and, in honor of MDF, share, if you might, the best metal festival you’ve ever attended. Have a great month.
- Zach Duvall
Progenie Terrestre Pura – oltreLuna
Oranssi Pazuzu – Värähtelijä
James Brown – Hell
Soundgarden – Everything
Temple of the Dog – Temple of the Dog
Succumb – Succumb - Manny-O-War
Unleash the Archers – Apex
Progenie Terrestre Pura – oltreLuna
Temple of Void – Lords of Death
Fields of the Nephilim – The Nephilim
Enslaved – Below the Lights
Black Sabbath – Heaven & Hell - Michael Wuensch
Metalian – Midnight Rider
Necrot – Blood Offerings
Walpyrgus – Walpyrgus Nights
Eternity’s End – Eternity’s End
Legionnaire – Dawn of Genesis
Slowdive – Slowdive - Danhammer Obstrkrieg
Do Make Say Think – Stubborn Persistent Illusions
Jlin – Black Origami
Impetuous Ritual – Blight Upon Martyred Sentience
Havukruunu – Kelle Surut Soi
Origin – Unparalleled Universe
Progenie Terrestre Pura – oltreLuna - Andrew Edmunds
Soundgarden – Louder Than Love
PLF – Devious Persecution And Wholesale Slaughter
Queensryche – Rage For Order
Succumb – Succumb
Temple Of The Dog – Temple Of The Dog
Insect Warfare – World Extermination - Dave Pirtle
Adrenaline Mob – We The People
Alestorm – No Grave But the Sea
Life of Agony – A Place Where There’s No Pain
Dezperadoz – Call of the Wild
Earth Crawler – From Below
Wind Rose – Stone Hymn - Konrad Kantor
Swans – To Be Kind
Oranssi Pazuzu – Värähtelijä
Neurosis – Times of Grace
Blazon Stone – No Sign of Glory
Candlemass – Nightfall
Havukruunu – Kelle Surut Soi - Jeremy Morse
Necrot – Blood Offerings
Candlemass – Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
Suffocation – …Of the Dark Light
Usurper – Twilight Dominion
Defeated Sanity – Psalms of the Moribund
Morbid Angel – Formulas Fatal to the Flesh - Matthew Cooper
Motorhead – Another Perfect Day
Oranssi Pazuzu – Värähtelijä
Soundgarden – Louder Than Love
Suffocation – …Of the Dark Light
Walpyrgus – Walpyrgus Nights
Phrenelith – Desolate Endscape
