The Metal Scholar's Weekly Listening List (13th October 2020)

Starting To Feel The Real Pain Of Gigs Being Cancelled

On a day that would have involved me going to see my favourite band Black Stone Cherry, the real pain of having gigs postpones is starting to hit. 2020 would have been an awesome year for gigs and with the COVID crisis in the UK being serially mismanaged and botched, it doesn't look like live music will be coming back any time soon. Alongside the comments that people like me and my friends have to "retrain" to "adjust to the new normality" is sickening, with the arts not getting the support is needs, will there even be any venues to perform or watch live music in after the next 6 months of restrictions? It's all becoming a tsunami of doom and gloom at the moment. Whilst it is becoming a bit more of a challenge to stay positive with the constant bombardment of new rules causing chaos and confusion, I know there will be an end to this whole sorry episode of governing incompetence, there will be an opportunity for us at some point in the future and when it comes, I fully intend on taking it. I can't live without music and it as all that I have ever wanted to do, alongside writing obviously. We all need to band together to help and support one another, contribute what we can towards others arts and keep the industry thriving. Although, we can't start an arts revolution without a killer soundtrack! 2020, despite everything, is still pumping out some phenomenal albums and amazing songs, which I am absolutely living for, so when 2021 rolls around, it will be an even bigger year! Without any further ado, here's this weeks lists.

Singles Of The Week

I. Hyrgal (🇫🇷) - Ennemi(e)s (Les Acteurs de l'Ombre Productions), Black Metal

II. Necrophobic (🇸🇪) - Tartarian Winds (Century Media Records), Black/Death Metal

III. Ovtrenoir (🇫🇷) - I Made My Heart A Field Of Fire (Consouling Sounds), Sludge/Post-Metal

IV. Ultha (🇩🇪) - Forever Alway Comes To An End (Vendetta Records), Black Metal

V. Dark Buddha Rising (🇫🇮) - Sunyaga (Svart Records), Psychedelic Drone/Sludge/Doom Metal

VI. Völur (🇨🇦) - Inviolate Grove (Prophecy Productions), Ambient Folk/Doom Metal

VII. Imha Tarikat  (🇩🇪) - Brand Am Firmament (Independent), Black Metal 

VIII. Deeds Of Flesh (🇺🇸) - Alyen Scourge (Unique Leader Records), Technical/Brutal Death Metal

IX. Svalbard (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿) - Click Bait (Church Road Records), Post-Metal/Post-Hardcore

X. Wintaar (🇷🇺) - The Vultures (Independent), Atmospheric Black Metal

Albums Of The Week

I. Necrophobic (🇸🇪) - Dawn Of The Damned (Century Media Records), Black/Death Metal

II. Hellripper (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿) - The Affair Of The Poisons (Peaceville Records), Black/Speed Metal

III. Svalbard (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿) - When I Die, Will I Get Better? (Church Road Records), Post-Metal/Post-Hardcore

IV. Wintaar (🇷🇺) - There Is No God In War (Independent), Atmospheric Black Metal

V. Morwinyon (🇮🇹) - Pristine (Naturmacht Productions), Atmospheric Black Metal

Throwback Of The Week

This week's throwback seems fitting considering they are about to make a return with their 17th studio album. AC/DC are a classic rock band and when you can whack out their music at most occasions to rapturous applause. Whilst there seems to be no stopping them, the one album that influenced me the most from them was the one in which Geordie and fellow Brit Brian Johnson appeared in 1980. It needs no introduction.

AC/DC (🇦🇺) - Back In Black (Atlantic Records), Hard Rock

Weekly Listening Playlist