Hello, dear readers. I’ve been writing this Staff Infections feature for years now, and in addition to the main purpose of this feature, which is to share what the Last Rites staff has been listening to, I often like to at least mention a little bit about what is going on in the world, even if it’s just bitching about the weather. Although sometimes it has been hard not to, I’ve don’t think I’ve ever really made any grand political statements here on my little platform. The biggest reason I haven’t done so is that I presume you, gentle readers, all come here to Last Rites for metal, not politics. I have also refrained from making political statements, because I did not want to say something that misrepresented the opinions of the other staff members. However, I feel confident in speaking for the entire Last Rites staff when I say black lives matter. We hope that you all agree with that statement.
Now, to the playlists and the big winners therein. The most listened-to album this month is Æequiizoiikum, the forthcoming sophomore album from German black / death trio Khthoniiks Cerviiks. Æequiizoiikum isn’t out until July 17th, but we should have a review in the near future. Second place is a tie between two bands that would seem to be, based on description alone, at opposite ends of the metal spectrum: Lör, a self-described progressive / folk / power metal band, with its recently released EP Edge of Eternity, and Defeated Sanity, one of the most brutal tech-death bands in the game, with it’s soon-to-be-released album The Sanguinary Impetus. Now, Lör—with its prominent keyboards and melodic clean vocals—would never be confused for a brutal death metal band, but Edge of Eternity has some surprisingly technical and ferocious riffing that puts Lör closer to Defeated Sanity than you’d expect.
That’ll do it for this month, friends. Be sure to listen to our staff-curated Spotify playlist, and share your own playlist in the comments. Until next month, be safe, be kind and do a lot of listening.
- Danhammer Obstkrieg
Defeated Sanity – The Sanguinary Impetus
Khthoniik Cerviiks – Æequiizoiikum
Moby – All Visible Objects
The Soft Pink Truth – Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase?
Dauþuz – Grubenfall 1727
Voigt & Voigt – Mülheim Deluxe 1 - Andrew Edmunds
Paradise Lost – Obsidian
Meth Leppard – Woke
Chepang – Dadhelo: A Tale Of Wildfire
Unholy Grave – a whole lotta split 7s
Ripcord – More Songs About…
Dropdead – the first LP - Zach Duvall
Lör – Edge of Eternity
Anathema – Weather Systems
Voivod – Nothingface
Kraftwerk – The Man-Machine
Nine Inch Nails – Pretty Hate Machine - Lone Watie
Defeated Sanity – The Sanguinary Impetus
Khthoniiks Cerviiks – Æequiizoiikum
Lör – Edge of Eternity
Rider Negro – The Echo of the Desert
Virgin Steele – The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, Parts 1 & 2, and Invictus
Jonah Mutono – GERG - Ryan Tysinger
Tormentor – Anno Domini
Grausamkeit- Satan’s Addicktion & Pure Madness
Poccolus – Poccolus
Khthoniik Cerviiks – Æequiizoiikum
Vlad Tepes / Belkètre – March to the Black Holocaust
Ungod – Circle of the Seven Infernal Pacts - Fetusghost
Rwake – Rest
Elder – Gold & Silver Sessions
Tristwood – Blackcrown Majesty
Whores – Gold
Monstrosity – The Passage of Existence
The Alex Jones Prison Planet – Corrupt Them All - Manny-O-War
Jackie McLean – Let Freedom Ring
Enslaved – Vertebrae
Acerus – The Tertiary Rite
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Reunions
Ulthar – Providence
Darkthrone – Panzerfaust - Dave Pirtle
Alestorm – Curse of the Crystal Coconut
Medication – Prince Valium
Steve Earle and the Dukes – Ghosts of West Virginia
Centinex – Death in Pieces
ACxDC – Satan Is King - Megan Astrael
Ulcerate – Stare Into Death And Be Still
Valborg – Nekrodepression
Altar of Plagues – Teethed Glory & Injury
Vader – Liturgy
Pat Metheny – Imaginary Day
SW./SVN – (untitled albums) - Jeremy Morse
Xibalba – Años Del Infierno
W.A.S.P. – The Crimson Idol
Disgorge – Consume the Forsaken
Accept – Balls to the Wall
AC/DC – Powerage
Slayer – Reign in Blood
Entombed – “Left Hand Path”
His Name Is Alive – “Mouth By Mouth”
Mazzy Star – “She Hangs Brightly”
Iron Maiden – “Brave New World”
Oranssi Pazuzu – “Mestarin kynsi”
Paradise Lost – “Gothic”
Iggy & The Stooges – Raw Power
Paradise Lost – Obsidian
Mayhem – Grand Declaration of War
Talking Heads – Remain in Light
Old Man Gloom – Seminar VIII: Light of Meaning
John Coltrane – A Love Supreme
Vassafor – To the Death
Temple Nightside – Pillars of Damnation
Suede – Dog Man Star
Gary Numan – Telekon
The Soft Pink Truth – Am I Free To Go? (Hi Dan!!)
Mayhem – Out from the Dark
Holy Terror – Mind Wars
Pestilence – Spheres
Testament – Titans of Creation
Cirith Ungol – Everything
Blind Fury (i.e.Satan) – Out of Reach