Welcome, friends, to a somewhat belated August edition of Staff Infections. Let us see just what the Last Rites staff has been listening to in the waning days of summer. For one, our pal Dave Pirtle has been listening to Otep, and he doesn’t give a shit who knows about it. To thine own self be true, Dave. Unfortunately none of the rest of the staff shares Dave’s appreciation for Otep, so Smash the Control Machine is not one of our albums of the month. It came surprisingly close, however, as just one more playlist appearance would have put it into the multi-way tie for first place. Five separate albums share the blue ribbon this month with, a mere two playlist appearances apiece.
Taking the winners in alphabetical order, first up is Crypt Sermon with the soon to be released doom metal triumph, The Ruins of a Fading Light. We’ve been feasting our ears on the promo of Fading Light for a while now, but in less than a month you all will be able to join in the fun. Expect a review in the near future. Next is Gold & Silver Sessions, the recently released EP from stoner / doom / etc. trio, Elder. Thirdly is some good old Norwegian black metal from Gaahl’s Wyrd, the latest project from (if the name didn’t give it away) former Gorgoroth vocalist Ghaal. Ghost’s Invited, the groups debut, was released in May, and while we didn’t review it at that time, Ryan Tysinger gave it a write up in our Missing Pieces feature from last month. Penultimately, we have Immortal Bird’s Thrive on Neglect, which our resident grumpy old man (as if there’s only one) Chris Sessions praised effusively with his review back in June. Last, but not least is Pyramid of Terror, the sophomore release from trad-metal torch-bearers Mirror. You can read Captain’s review of Pyramid of Terror right here.
Once again, Andrew Edmunds has compiled a Spotify playlist featuring tracks some tracks from some of our albums of the month, as well as staff-selected tracks from individual playlists. Have a listen to the playlist while you share your own in the comments. Until next month, be kind to each other and listen to Slayer.
- Captain
Mirror – Pyramid of Terror
Elder – The Gold & Silver Sessions
Dold Vorde Ens Navn – Gjengangere I Hjertets Mørke
Consummation – The Great Solar Hunter
Deformation – Deformation
M. Grig – Mount Carmel - Manny- O-War
Megaton Sword – Niralet
Portishead – Third
Witch Vomit – Buried Deep in a Bottomless Grave
Midnight Prey – Uncertain Times
Wingtips – Exposure Therapy
Crypt Sermon – The Ruins of Fading Light - Zach Duvall
Gaahls Wyrd – GastiR – Ghosts Invited
Wormed – Metaportal
Bolt Thrower – …for Victory
Disharmonic Orchestra – Not to Be Undimensional Conscious
Borknagar – Borknagar
Monstrosity – Imperial Doom - Ryan Tysinger
Dark Tranquility – Skydancer
Gaahls Wyrd – Gastir – Ghosts Invited
Colosseum- Chapter 3: Parasomnia
Crypt Sermon – The Ruins Of A Fading Light
Mirror – Pyramid Of Terror
Slow – V – Oceans - Craig Hayes
Swordwielder – System Overlord
Nightfucker – S/T
Hawkwind – The 1999 Party
New Model Army – Thunder and Consolation
Tomb Mold – Planetary Clairvoyance
Tristengrav – II – Nychavge - Dave Pirtle
Otep – Smash the Control Machine
Zed – Volume
Hollow Haze – Beyond Wild Landscapes and Deep Blue Seas
Disentomb – The Decaying Light
Abbath – Outstrider
Sabaton – The Great War - Chris Sessions
Immortal Bird – Thrive on Neglect
Tomb Mold – Planetary Clairvoyance
Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti
The Hollies – Greatest Hits
The Doors – The Doors - Andrew Edmunds
WASP – Dominator
Scorched – Ecliptic Butchery
Immortal Bird – Thrive On Neglect
Vain – No Respect
Chastain – The Voice Of The Cult
Tomb Mold – Planetary Clairvoyance - Danhammer Obstkrieg
Doombringer – Walpurgis Fires
Jig-Ai – Entrails Tsunami
The Neptune Power Federation – Memoirs of a Rat Queen
Elder – The Gold & Silver Sessions
Nehëmah – Light of a Dead Star
Prins Thomas – Ambitions - Jeremy Morse
Suffocation – Pierced From Within
Desaster – The Arts of Destruction
AC/DC – ’74 Jailbreak
Slayer – Reign in Blood
Tanith – Into Another Time
Abyssal – A Beacon in the Husk
Who are those people in the photograph
Immortal Bird
Nuclear Death Terror – Self Titled
Nuclear Death Terror – Ceaseless Desolation
The Offering – Home
Municipal Waste – The Art of Partying
Paradise Lost – Symbol of Life
Les Discrets – Septembre et Ses Dernières Pensées
Arch/Matheos – Winter Ethereal
Tomb Mold – Planetary Clairvoyance
The Levitation Hex – The Levitation Hex
Abyssal – A Beacon in the Husk
Tool – Ænima
Death – Symbolic
Tomb Mold – Planetary Clairvoyance
Deicide – S/T
Exhorder – The Law
Flotsam & Jetsam – Drift
Forced Entry- Uncertain Future
Idle Hands-Don’t Waste Your Time
Mystik-Self Titled
Bathory-Blood Fire Death
Circle Jerks- VI
Sanctuary- The Year The Sun Died