Welcome to the February edition of Territory’s Edge where I highlight the heavy music released this month that caught my attention. I don’t care much for strict categories or genre purism; whether the music is 13-minute-long blackened funeral doom or R&B influenced post hardcore, it’s eligible here. Bandcamp links are always listed by default if available, as buying from this platform does the most to directly support the artists. Otherwise, streaming links and music videos for singles will be posted. For an individual single to be discussed in full in this column, it must be released over one month in advance of an upcoming album, or be a standalone single.
Cult of Luna - The Long Road North
Cult of Luna's music often evokes a lengthy, scenic journey - for their latest album, specifically in a rural, remote part of Sweden, according to frontman Johannes Persson. With that in mind, it makes sense that The Long Road North would come accompanied by an immersive grayscale game where the player navigates through a harsh landscape. If "Lights on The Hill" from 2019's A Dawn to Fear evoked reaching a scenic overlook, The Long Road North is akin to a trek in harsh weather through remote wilderness. Throughout the band's nine albums, lengthy compositions use repetition to create an atmosphere or build up slowly to a climax. Drummer Thomas Hedlund provides a backdrop of complex, progressive rhythms for the slow-burning, chugging riffs from Johannes Persson and Erik Olofsson. "Into the Night" and the instrumental “Full Moon” provide a melancholic respite in the middle. This atmospheric break is comparable to quieter Neurosis material with Johannes adopting a Scott Van Till style of singing. Similarly, the ambient “Beyond I” and “Beyond II” offer two variations on the same theme. One features lead vocals by guest singer Mariam Wallentin, while the other is an instrumental. Brooding, colossal tracks like the title track and “An Offering to the Wild” provide a cinematic scope. Cult of Luna has yet to release a bad album, and The Long Road North is a legitimate early AOTY contender.
Hollow Front - "Comatose"
I was introduced to Hollow Front with their 2020 debut full-length, Loose Threads, and took note of the band's potential while finding room for improvement. This track displays some growth in the songwriting department, and overall is a stronger display of their abilities. According to Tyler Tate, one of the band's two vocalists, "Comatose" is about battling depression, specifically during the midst of the pandemic, as well as anxiety over an uncertain future at the time. “Comatose” features a nice usage of backing clean vocals that mesh well with the low growls, rather than just following the expected clean chorus-unclean verse format. This Grand Rapids based metalcore band goes on tour with Fit For a King and Silent Planet this spring.
Venom Prison - Erebos
On Venom Prison's new album, frontwoman Larissa Stupar is as fierce and passionate as ever. Melodic guitar solos and powerful riffs from Ash Gray and Ben Thomas further augment her powerful delivery. The band’s use of elements of Greek mythology as metaphors for modern issues, particularly current criminal justice systems, is a recurring theme throughout Erebos. Songs like “Judges of the Underworld”, “Castigated in Steel and Concrete” and “Technologies of Death” all focus on incarceration or the death penalty, and the lyricism is a strong point. A comparison between Primeval (the band’s first two EPs reissued last year) which was straight-up death metal, and Erebos reveals a new direction for them. While still primarily death metal, Venom Prison ventures into new territory with this album. The most obvious departure is the excellent “Pain of Oizys”, alternately delicate and fiercely confident. This song about battling depression is the first Venom Prison track where Larissa’s clean singing takes center stage, and her singing reappears in a supporting role elsewhere on tracks like “Veil of Night”. On the other side of the spectrum, the closer “Technologies of Death” has Larissa adopting a raspy black metal style delivery, before the fury settles down for a melodic bridge. Towards the end of the song, Larissa leaves the listener on a hopeful note, “Somewhere deep inside/empathy is still alive.” Without a doubt, Venom Prison are poised to reach bigger audiences and garner attention here.
Ends Embrace - "Warhorse"/"Forgotten Ways"/"Voices of the Dead"
Up next is an underground one-man Navajo black metal project from Scottsdale, Arizona. Ends Embrace's three newest singles, two of which appear on a split EP called Thrall of the Winter Moon, show a marked progression in musicianship from We Will Never Die. Ryan Silas plays raw black metal with a bit of crust punk influence as well. The whinnies of a horse and a doomy, melodic guitar line set the backdrop for “Warhorse”, while "Forgotten Ways", which transitions into “Voices of the Dead”, reminds me of a lo-fi take on Downfall of Gaia. While I'm not normally into raw recorded black metal, Silas' affinity for punk, usage of minor key instrumentals, and anti-oppression message from an indigenous perspective give Ends Embrace a sense of individuality in the crowded underground black metal scene. The split EP is available as a pay-what-you-want download on Bandcamp if you like what you hear.
Rolo Tomassi - Where Myth Becomes Memory
While this band currently has six albums in their discography, Where Myth Becomes Memory was my introduction to Rolo Tomassi, and a very good first impression at that. This is a well-paced progressive metal album with wide influences as disparate as mathcore and dream pop. The band, whose name is a reference to the film L.A. Confidential, is led by sister and brother duo Eva (lead vocals) and James Spence (keyboards, electronics and backing vocals). Where Myth Becomes Memory is very dynamic in sound, ranging from ethereal dream pop to a maelstrom of technical metal and throaty growls. Reminiscent of Spiritbox, the single “Cloaked” is a good overview of both sides of the Rolo Tomassi sound. Softer tracks like “Closer”, “Stumbling” and “The End of Eternity” tip the overall balance of Where Myth Becomes Memory in favor of atmosphere and elegance.
Graphic Nature - new skin
While Graphic Nature take their name from a Deftones song off the progressive alternative metal masterpiece Koi No Yokan, this young band's sound is clearly in the realm of hardcore, with some industrial and old school nu metal influence thrown in. Like their fellow British contemporaries Loathe, the band has listed instrumental video game soundtracks as an influence. This ruthless ten-minute EP wastes no time kicking the door down, and finishes the sonic destruction just as quickly. According to frontman Harvey Freeman, new skin represents Graphic Nature's core sound, and is thematically about the process of freeing yourself from self-hatred and toxicity. Each of these songs lasts about two and half minutes, and offers a quick cathartic release from negative emotions.
Other Notable Releases
Albums/EPs
Korn - Requiem (Feb 4, nu metal)
Windveill - There Inevitably Will Be Silence (Feb 4, atmospheric black metal/blackgaze)
Circa Survive - A Dream About Death EP (Feb 4, post-hardcore/alternative)
Vorga - Striving Towards Oblivion (Feb 4, black metal)
Thorn - Yawning Depths (Feb 4, death metal)
Hangman's Chair - A Loner (Feb 11, doom/heavy metal)
Zeal & Ardor - Zeal & Ardor (Feb 11, black metal/soul/blues)
Napalm Death - Resentment is Always Seismic EP (Feb 11, grindcore)
Cane Hill - Krewe d'Amour Vol. II EP (Feb 11, nu metal/metalcore)
Once Human - Scar Weaver (Feb 11, melodic death metal)
Darkmatter - Project Darkmatter EP (nu metal/metalcore)
An Isolated Mind - A Place We Cannot Go (Feb 15, noise rock/experimental)
Black Map - Melodoria (Feb 18, alternative metal/post-hardcore)
Bloodywood - Rakshak (Feb 18, folk metal/nu metal)
Pure Wrath - Hymn to the Woeful Hearts (Feb 18, black metal)
Immolation - Acts of God (Feb 18, death metal)
SIFYN - Marionette (Feb 18, progressive metal - side project from Veil of Maya's Lukas Magyar)
Bad Omens - The Death of Peace of Mind (Feb 25, metalcore)
Blood Incantation - Timewave Zero (Feb 25, dark ambient)
Eight Bells - Legacy of Ruin (Feb 25, doom)
Allegaeon - Damnum (Feb 25, death metal)
Corpsegrinder - Corpsegrinder (Feb 25, death metal)
