The 4th Release Week in March 2024 brings even more Metal Madness

Colombian-born/US-based guitarist/composer Martin Gonzalez already made a name for himself with bands like Atomic Guava and OK Goodnight (which he left after the release of their latest, excellent album “The Fox and the Bird”), but also scoring and composing music for anime (“RWBY”, Seasons 8 & 9) as well releasing his first little solo EP “Blossoms” in 2022. His newest release, “Suspiro”, is advertised as an album, even though it clocks in at just shy of the 30 minute mark. Be that as it may, the seven tracks on it contain innovative, diverse modern prog metal of the highest order ranging from instrumental delicacies to vocal led journeys with terrific guest performances by Atomic Guava’s Elizabeth Hull (‘Ouroboros’, ‘Hydrilla’). Martin’s approach, incorporating electronic and folk elements into the whole thing is not entirely unlike that of David Maxim Micic, yet distinctly his own. Curious to see where his musical journey will lead him next. I bet he’ll be going places! Dario

With guests like Marco Sfogli and RO1 (Rohan Sharma), my interest was piqued – and Spotify’s algorithm worked showing me this release because I’m following both of these excellent artists on that platform. I’m referring to “Doppelganger”, a 40 minute progressive metal tour de force by Italian shredder Matteo Bonfatti. To be fair, I expected more of an instrumental journey with these premises, so I was taken a bit off guard by the vocals and it took me a second to adjust to them. But once I was over that initial shock, I thoroughly enjoyed the diversity and sincerity of “Doppelganger” immensely. And so should you. Dario

Coming literally out of nowhere for me last Friday, NinémiA’s “Weapons of Math Destruction” quickly lined up in the list of astonishing debuts. While the cover artwork made me expect some kind of Progressive or maybe Symphonic Powermetal, I got surprised by a strong 90s nu-metal vibe coming out of the speakers sound-wise, yet with a proggy approach considering the diverse compositions, especially in the second half of the album. The songs are mostly straight-forward with powerful, groovy riffs and roughly sung, yet catchy melody lines, with the hard-hitting bass pushing them even more. In between the rather heavy offering, you’ll also find funky moments, mystical synth soundscapes or a sax interlude, making the album as a whole a huge listening fun. Katha

In the previous week, we had some Icelandic progressive death metal, this week some absolutely incredible Faroese progressive death/doom is on the menu with Hamferð’s “Men Guðs hond er sterk”, released through the prestigious Metal Blade Records on March 22. Even though I can’t say I was familiar with their music before this release, I’m pretty sure that I had heard of the name before, plus vocalist Jón Aldará’s unique, piercing vocals graced all the amazing Iotunn releases lately of course. Here, in the context of his original band, everything feels even more archaic and earthy compared to the cosmic feelings Iotunn’s music can evoke. In any case, I’m tempted to say his gripping delivery throughout this record ranks among the very best, if not the best of this year. Even though I can’t understand a single word of the Icelandic lyrics, every word, every single syllable tells a mysterious, heartbreaking story. The stuff legends are made of. Absolutely breathtaking! Dario

“By Design or Disaster” is the third album from Dutch progressive rock/metal syndicate For All We Know, more or less the solo project from Within Temptation’s Ruud Jolie with an all-star line-up featuring Léo Margarit (Pain of Salvation) on drums, Kristoffer Gildenlöw (ex-Pain of Salvation) on bass, fronted by Dutch vocalist Wudstik (Ayreon). The overall sound somewhere in between light prog metal and heavier prog rock is remarkably upbeat and optimistic, with only faint melancholic undertones, and it’s giving me quite some SubSignal vibes here and there. Despite the first few seconds that for some reason rubbed me the wrong way, this is quite an enjoyable record for fans of the aforementioned bands. Dario

The release of a new EP from the enigmatic Australian psychedelic oriental heavy metal crew called BaK is always cause for celebration here. Their blend of middle eastern and carnatic elements with old school heavy metal riffing and the occasional death metal onslaught sprinkled throughout is just so unique and simply irresistible and contagious that I can’t get enough of it! After “Flower”, “Painter”, “Crater” and “Sculpture”, it’s time for “Matter”. Things in BaKlandia (rumour has it that it might be in or around Sydney) are still overly theatrical and epic, as they should be. Always worth a visit. Dario

Not any less mysterious as BaK, not even slightly, is the Glass Beams trio from Melbourne. Their music shows significantly less traces of metal though. Practically zero to be precise. All the more space for the psychedelic world fusion to unfold its trance-like magic on the four songs (plus intro). The follow up to 2021’s surprise hit, the debut EP ‘Mirage’, the ‘Mahal’ EP shows an exciting new voice in psychedelic rock realms (think GOAT Sweden, or, as I said, a metal free BaK) already stirring up sold out clubs around the globe. No wonder, as it’s so easy to lose oneself in the fascinating exotic tales of Glass Beams. Dario

Italian tech death outfit Hideous Divinity is back at it, with their 5th full length release! Hitting hard with a top-notch production, “Unextinct” is coming at your ears with a wall of sound, sounding huge and meanwhile a myriad of details are flying around. Beyond the expected tech barrage, their sound also covers a sense of grandeur with hints of epic black metal, reminiscent of Emperor at times. Enrico Di Lorenzo’s vocals span a wide range of techniques, going down remarkably low. Well worth a run-through if you can withstand the most crushing of sonic tempests! Bas 

After many months of digging and trying to get more into death doom metal, I have accepted that I need an album to be not just death doom. This album right here by Civerous is a perfect example of what I look for in the genre. “Maze Envy” is an absolutely pummeling yet beautifully soothing experience; maybe not quite at the same time. What I mean by this is that the record starts with hardcore-influenced death metal riffing that goes insanely hard for the whole first half of the listen, which then goes into the latter half, turning into a heavy, emotional ride of doom and gloom, with the accompaniment of cello and subtle post-black metal tinges. This makes for an overall very engaging experience, one that gave me goosebumps, which death doom has not done for me since Tchornobog’s debut in 2017. “Maze Envy” has become an essential staple for the genre, and will be a frequent return for many years. Can’t wait to get pulled into another world yet again once I get a vinyl copy! Colin

As a major Fall of the Leafe fan, I was very happy to find out that mastermind Jussi Hänninen had founded a new band, called The Bleak Picture. With Jussi taking on all instruments and his Autumnfall bandmate Tero Ruohonen on vocals, the Finnish duo released a promising EP, which triggered enough interest to work on a full-length album. The result of that effort is called “Meaningless”, released by Ardua Music. With such a band name and album title, it’s no wonder that The Bleak Picture operate in the doom/death metal spectrum, but there is more to it than that.
Between the crushing riffs and the deep growls, there is room for plenty of melody, with the lead guitars and clean vocals giving the album quite a gothic atmosphere. It breaks the monotony that is the pitfall of the genre and makes “Meaningless” stand out in the massive flood of releases. The icing on the cake is the guest appearance of Tuomas Tuominen (ex-Fall of the Leafe, ex-The Man-Eating Tree), whose unique vocals never cease to impress. If you’re looking for some great melancholic music, “Meaningless” might just be the album you need. Lykle

British Post Rock four piece Blanket return for what might just be their best album to date, “Ceremonia“. Whilst I love the shoegaze influenced soundscapes of their debut, “How to let Go”, or the complex arrangements of “Modern Escapism”, this third album finds a way to blend everything together in a much tighter package, whilst still exploring many different ideas in their sound. Blanket hail from Blackpool, England, which also happens to be my hometown. Whilst that was a factor in why I wanted to review Ceremonia, I’ve been following Blanket for a while now and I’m genuinely proud of these lads for creating such a consistent album that undoubtedly puts Blackpool on the map. There really is so much on offer here, with influences of shoegaze, post rock, emo and djent, with everything from atmospheric piano to wall of noise distortion and harsh vocals. The creativity on display in the songwriting, and the technicality of the instrumentals on Ceremonia prove that Blanket are a very talented fresh band, and could well be the next big name in British post rock. Sam

Smooth, synth-tastic jams galore might be the credo of Zombi’s newest album, “Direct Inject”. Equal parts super chill and relaxed, at the same time so exciting it is actually capable of elevating your heartbeat (while simultaneously slowing down your brainwaves to a deep state of peace). Conflicting emotions that work magically in harmony and unison all of a sudden. I can’t get enough of it. It’s highly addictive. Dario

Sometimes it’s difficult to embrace and enjoy an album like Wombat Supernova’s debut “Apewoman vs Turbo” when you’re all about that doom & gloom & drama (at least musically) usually… On the other hand, I can’t help but marvel at its carefree wonders, both ridiculously technical in their execution, yet lightweight and with an air of effortlessness. As befits a proper math rock release. An ominous foreboding after a peak of silliness in the last track ‘the nest’, almost like a dark ambient hidden track, slowly calls me back to the harsh realities of everyday life, but maybe it’s all just a big ruse like the fake breakdown in the first single ‘bertrand’. We might find out if and when the French duo will reveal a sequel. A sequel that would be very welcome, not only regarding the album, but also regarding the most hilarious music video in recent memory. Dario

“Distant Glow”, the brand new EP by Californian prog metal outfit Artificial Language, already got the full review treatment from our Reviewer Bob (read it right here), but it’s just too good not to get featured among this week’s highlights as well. He concluded: “…this band deserves to be better known outside their own country. As good as this EP is, I hope it is a stopgap in lieu of another full album. That would be most welcome, and this is certainly a band to watch out for.” So, until then, listen to “Distant Glow” for 21 minutes and 17 seconds of energetic, emotionally gripping modern prog metal! Dario

Same goes for Omnivide’s debut album “A Tale of Fire”. Bob’s verdict: “Omnivide’s goal is to have their music illustrate the brutality and destructive power of nature, which can and will defend itself when threatened, and does so in a ruthless manner that is almost incomprehensible to our human minds. ‘Opulence’ serves as a prime example of their musical diversity, with its relentless energy and thought-provoking lyrics.” Read his in depth review right here and dive into “A Tale of Fire” at your earliest convenience for some crushing, versatile progressive death metal! Dario