This week’s Heavy Music HQ reviews include releases from Antropomorphia, Blood Monolith, Bury Tomorrow, The Callous Daoboys, Clamfight, Executionist, Kal-El, Novelists, Paul Di’Anno, Root Zero, Slow Fall and Stress Positions.
The ratings are on a 5-star scale.
Antropomorphia – Devoid Of Light (Testimony)
An album title like Devoid Of Light comes with expectations of darkness, destruction and extremity. That’s exactly what veteran Dutch death metalers Antropomorphia deliver. Even though they’ve been around since the late ’80s, there have been some hiatuses, so their catalog is not extensive, with Devoid Of Light their sixth album, and first since 2019’s Merciless Savagery.
While following the traditional death metal template, Antropomorphia slip in some black metal elements here and there, and add enough variety to keep things interesting. That includes changing up tempos and intensities, with tracks like “A Funeral Throne” and “Unending Hunt” speeding up and slowing down. Devoid Of Light continues Antropomorphia’s long history of quality death metal.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
Blood Monolith – The Calling Of Fire (Profound Lore)
The Calling Of Fire is an intense debut from death metal outfit Blood Monolith. From the production, inspired by albums like Cannibal Corpse’s The Bleeding, to the compact 28-minute runtime, the band are yelling out to the decayed spirits of the genre’s past. There’s comfort in the nasty grooves of “The Owl In Daylight” and dive bomb guitar solos in “Pyroklesis,” as if eating a favorite meal that hasn’t lost its taste yet.
Blood Monolith put a spin on the formula at points, as synths in the intro to “Apparatus” suddenly transition to the speediest tempos on the entire record. Though traditional death metal is their jam, they also bring some of the crunch of brutal death metal and the fury of war metal into their sound. Combining all of these together gives The Calling Of Fire a satisfying sadistic streak.
Rating: 3.5
(Dan Marsicano)
Bury Tomorrow – Will You Haunt Me, With That Same Patience (Sony)
Although one of British heavy music’s mainstays, Bury Tomorrow aren’t household names in a number of other territories. But it’s not for lack of effort. Their globe-trotting work ethic, combined with more heart than Valentine’s Day has earned a dedicated following. And it’s said existing audience for whom Will You Haunt Me, With That Same Patience is tailor-made. Now on their eighth album, the melodic metalcore outfit continues to deploy songs offering churning riffs punctuated by passionate vocal hooks alongside the harsh tones.
Vocalist Dani Winter-Bates has long been one of metal’s loudest advocates for discussing mental health, and he’s exorcised demons again here, writing some brutally personal lyrics. The emotional heft of tracks like “Let Go” and atmospheric “What If I Burn” comes from, as therapists like to say, from a very real place. As for standout tracks? “Waiting” distils many of the group’s strongest elements, including ferocious vocals, vicious breakdowns and roof-raising chorus. Prog-inflected “ParadoX” is a fittingly multi-faceted closer, while “Villain Arc” and intense “Yokai” pack a sonic gut-punch. For a batch of heavy, yet accessible tunes, this record isn’t reinventing the wheel. But it’s a solid, occasionally great effort executed with conviction.
Rating: 3.5
(Brendan Crabb)
The Callous Daoboys – I Don’t Want To See You In Heaven (MNRK Heavy)
I Don’t Want To See You In Heaven is the third full-length from the Atlanta band The Callous Daoboys. It’s the follow-up to 2022’s Celebrity Therapist, with the EP God Smiles Upon The Callous Daoboys.
As on previous albums, the band shifts between styles, covering everything from metalcore to math metal to noise rock with some nu-metal and prog tossed into the mix for good measure. They shift easily between mellow crooning and harsh vocals, and their arrangements are ever-shifting. The album concludes with the 12-minute opus “Country Song In Reverse,” one of the record’s most unique tracks, but definitely not the most compelling. I Don’t Want To See You In Heaven does have a lot of compelling and interesting moments, though.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
Clamfight – Clamfight (Self)
Clamfight go the self-titled route with their fourth album, further capitalizing on the atmospheric sludge metal from 2018’s III. There’s a clear vulnerability to this record, whether it’s an entire song dedicated to friendship in the title track or bringing in Oldest Sea vocalist Sam Marandola on “Brodgar” for some sublime harmonies with drummer/vocalist Andy Martin. What helps this sort of openness could be the group having the same lineup for over 20 years, a feat that’s both rare and commendable.
From the winding intro to “The Oar” to the sorrowful instrumental “FRH,” Clamfight are not just trying to be heavy for heavy’s sake. Though the lineup hasn’t changed, age and experience have hardened their songwriting. Their newfound perspective aids in the depth of a closer like “Redtail,” which would’ve been impossible for them to pull off 15 years ago when they were just starting out.
Rating: 4
(Dan Marsicano)
Executionist – Sacrament Of The Sick (Self)
Executionist are overflowing with thrashy exuberance from young musicians completely unhinged. Sacrament Of The Sick has the brother duo of Brett and Tristan Ash with no patience for anything other than uncut thrash metal. Tristan, who handles the drums, is barely old enough to vote, yet he doesn’t let that stop him from capturing new ways to annihilate his kit for over 50 minutes.
A vastly improved production compared to their 2021 Destined For Destruction EP gives these songs the muscle they were lacking before. They just need to get more concise, tending to push past a natural stopping point. It’s not a stretch to say that “Edge Of Annihilation” and “Coup De Grâce” are successful because Executionist are in and out in under three and a half minutes, something that should’ve happened more often.
Rating: 3
(Dan Marsicano)
Kal-El – Astral Voyager Vol. 1 (Blues Funeral)
Three years after their 2021 album Dark Majesty, Norwegian stoner hard rockers Kal-El went on a songwriting frenzy to warrant the release of two albums this year. Astral Voyager Vol. 1 is the first of these two albums, bringing their notable cosmic twist on the hard rock genre they are known for.
“Astral Voyager” is a nine minute attention grabbing opener and a solid kick off to this two part album series. Though Astral Voyager Vol. 1 has all the hallmarks of a Kal-El album, most of the tracks seemingly blend together with little variation between them outside of small breakdowns like with tracks like “Dilithium.” Hopefully the second part provides more variety while keeping the same energy.
Rating: 3.5
(Dalton Husher)
Novelists – CODA (NOVEMBRKS)
French crew Novelists have been plying their trade for several albums now. The band recently replaced a key member, and further broadened their sonic palette. The results on CODA are a proggy, highly melodic and emotive brand of metalcore. The versatile Camille Contreras has brought fresh energy and charisma to the lead vocalist role on her first full-length fronting the group. She instantly puts her own stamp on memorable opener “Say My Name,” and an ensuing LP with more hooks than your grandfather’s tackle box. There’s sufficient variety to retain the listener’s attention, with the group capable of crafting rich atmospherics as well as djent-driven visceral thrills.
While there are familiar moments, from the pit fodder of the hefty title track or aggressive “Maldicion de la Bruja” to the textured, electro-laden and melancholic “In Heaven,” the group welcomingly eludes a formula. The production is uber-slick, and kudos to the impressive guitar solos, which elevate already strong material ala “All For Nothing.” Meanwhile, the intricate musicianship on ambient “K.O” also resonates. Judging by the online feedback, most devotees are embracing this new incarnation of Novelists. For newcomers already enamored by the likes of Spiritbox, Northlane and Reliqa, there’s plenty to investigate, too.
Rating: 4
(Brendan Crabb)
Paul Di’Anno – In Memory Of (Metalville)
Paul Di’Anno passed away last year at the age of 66. Best known for fronting Iron Maiden on their iconic first two albums (Iron Maiden and Killers), Di’Anno was also in several other bands and released numerous solo albums. In Memory Of collects material from his Metalville Records era.
There are several songs from Architects Of Chaoz, including the previously unreleased “Je Suis Charlie” and a version of “Killers” recorded at Wacken 2015. Maiden fans will be especially interested in that one, along with “Running Free.” The rest of the compilation includes a mix of live and studio recordings. More extensive Di’Anno compilations certainly will be issued in the coming years, but In Memory Of is a good representation of various eras of Di’Anno’s career.
Rating: 3
(Chad Bowar)
Root Zero – Dark Rainbow (Self)
Welsh progsters Root Zero started as a solo project, but by 2022 Giacomo Fiderio put together a full lineup, they issued the EP The Weight Of What I Started in 2023. Dark Rainbow is their full-length debut.
There’s a lot of variety, both musically and vocally. “I Drowned In The Desert” features acoustic sections alongside extremity, while piano is front and center on part of “Dry.” Fiderio and Sasha Bannister share vocal duties, giving the album a well-rounded mix of female melodic vocals, male singing and harsh vocals. The last three songs are the album’s longest, amping up the prog and complexity. Dark Rainbow is a bit long at over 70 minutes, but there’s plenty to keep listeners engaged.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
Slow Fall – Blood Eclipse (Out Of Line)
Slow Fall continue their ascension to an imperative melodic death metal band with their captivating third album, Blood Eclipse. Much like their last album, Obsidian Waves, keyboardist Lasse Launimaa isn’t just background fodder, as the band takes risks with him, including their first ballad in “Virta.” A piano ballad can be artificial and saccharine in the wrong hands, but “Virta” is stunning in its stripped-down starkness.
No other song goes that far out there, though Slow Fall keep their music fresh with acoustics and dramatic keyboard work. Every member is at their best, including vocalist Markus Taipale contorting in his voice in ways that are appealing and gruesome. Though they may be hidden away in Finland, Slow Fall are a band not to pass on.
Rating: 4
(Dan Marsicano)
Stress Positions – Human Zoo (Three One G)
The Chicago hardcore punk band Stress Positions’ lineup is vocalist Stephanie Brooks and three members from the defunct C.H.E.W. Their full-length debut was unleashed in 2023, and they follow that up with the EP Human Zoo.
The album’s seven original songs range from intense to more intense to most intense. Brooks’ throat-shredding vocals are augmented by catchy riffs on songs like the title track, with numbers such as “Sadistic” and “Nakba” maximizing the tempo and the chaos. “Kaddish” is the outlier, an interlude with spoken word and ambient noise. The songs fly by, most in the one to two minute range. The EP’s last three tracks are remixes, two of “Human Nature” and one of “Blood Money.” They make the songs more accessible, but these songs are much more effective in the pit than on the dance floor.
Rating: 3
(Chad Bowar)
