The New Music Thread : The Fallen Edition
Sounds interesting Vinny.
New Fallen releases slated for 14th February:
Dawn of Solace - Affliction Vortex (album)
Hangman's Chair - Saddiction (album)
Klastos - Born to Ruin (album)
Carcolh - Twilight of the Mortals (album)
Throne - Ossarium (album)
Warlung - The Poison Touch (album)
Lord of the Void - TON 618 (EP)
The Hidden Hand - Live in Leipzig (live album)
Pentagram - Lightning in a Bottle (2025)
After over five decades of drugs, crime and doom, Bobby Liebling returns with a whole new line up, some ten years after Pentagram's last album. Although I do not follow Pentagram releases (in fact, I lost track right after their self-titled debut if I am honest) but something about that vibrant artwork caught my eye and I thought to myself that if the content of the album was anywhere near as focused as the cover art then this could be a real treat. As it turns out, I am more than half correct. There are some absolute bangers on this record. Although I had not caught any of them as singles the three tracks that came out prior to the album release are all strongly written affairs. The opening track, Live Again certainly lives up to its billing as with the new line up in full flow, Pentagram sound just as good now as they did forty or fifty years ago.
Touching on psychedelia, stoner rock, hard rock and classic rock alongside the more doom-laden side to proceedings, Lightning in a Bottle is actually quite a varied affair. Full of lyrical absurdities ("I spoke to Death last night, he wore a nightmare gown, and when I spoke your name, he turned his eyes down to the ground" - from "I Spoke to Death") and widdling solos, all performed to a backdrop of solid and consistent percussion, I found this record way more interesting than I expected. The artists Bobby has recruited might have their moments of mistiming here and there (which somehow is just acceptable) but overall they have put together eleven consistent tracks. Unafraid to play with pace and tempo, the band create a distinct feeling of balance over the album. Starting off with the previously praised opening track, Live Again and then closing the album with the deliciously doomy Walk the Sociopath, Pentagram have managed to achieve a complete album experience here.
Whilst not flawless, all the tracks belong here and bring something unique to the table. Whether it is the spiralling, fuzzy chaos of Lady Heroin or the solid and direct punch of Thundercrest, most tracks leave a mark for me as I have listened through the album a few times today. Above all else, I am impressed with how good Liebling sounds. The guy is 71 for fuck's sake! On here he puts in a shift that belies any stereotypes linked to his age. Energetic, reflective and even outright thoughtful, Liebling gives a truly stellar showing here. Props also to guitarist Tony Reed who manages to mark his own identity on the record whilst still somehow staying true to the Pentagram sound at the same time. The bonus tracks on the digital version are not essential and of the main listing I can genuinely only call out I'll Certainly See You In Hell and Solve the Puzzle as being the items that should have been left on the cutting room floor.
4/5
Intensive Care & The Body - "Was I Good Enough?" [Canadian industrial/sludge meets Arizona drone/sludge]
Rwake - "The Return of Magik" [Arizona sludge metal]
Amenra - "De Toorn" E.P. [Belgian post-sludge metal]
Amenra - "With Fang & Claw" [Belgian post-sludge metal]
Just came across these guys whilst f-ing about on Bandcamp. Texan Gothic Metal. This is a promo track from their sophomore album due out next week. I like it.
New Paradise Lost album, Ascension is due 19th September. I have heard the first couple of tracks and been a bit underwhelmed to be honest.
That is exciting! It took me a long time to devote the necessary time to Watching from a Distance, but once I did I couldn't give it less than 5 stars.
Paradise Lost - "Ascension" [English gothic metal]
Pre-release review from another site: "Paradise Lost require no Introduction. From the UK acts beginnings as part of the pioneering Peaceville three through to their modern-day status as death/doom gothic icons. Each album is a celebration of melancholy and aggressive; Ascension is their seventeenth release after the five years wait that was Obsidian and it continues the band’s excellent return to truly heavy soundscapes.
The riffs are majestic and instantly memorable, whether it be from the almost upbeat ‘’Serpent on the Cross’’ and ‘’Silence like the Grave’’ with its instantly headbanging passages through to the grandiose Tyrants Serenade each track is unique yet an integral part that makes Paradise Lost work, from its gradual build from doom through to gothic like passages, nothing is hurried every note allowed to sear the sense and resonate in your eardrums. ‘’Salvation’’ is anything but, a monolithic riff so huge full of impending misery that its unmatched throughout the album and it proceeds to get heavier! The musicianship is of course nothing short of superb and Nick Holmes Vocals are the perfect conduit for themes of triumph and tragedy. From the inexorable build of ‘’Lay A Wreath Upon the World’’ to the metallic glory of ‘’Sirens’’ and ‘’Deceivers’’ (That solo) this is Paradise Lost at their most complete, at times reminiscent of Icon with its variations and dynamics,
Cathartic, emotive and simply heavy in places, Ascension is a pure Paradise Lost record that will not only heralds their continued fine form but will sure spark furious debate as to where it stands in their catalogue of excellent albums. An irresistible force of nature, Ascension is a great record with moments of excellence, glorious doomy and gothic, a must for all connoisseurs of the genre."
I have checked out the three-track preview EP on Spotify and it's not bad. Possibly leaning a bit more into death doom than they have for a while.
New Hooded Menace due 03rd October. Two tracks up for streaming are okay. Heavy PL vibe of course but digging the 90's death metal album cover more than the tracks if I am honest.