The Metal Scholar's Weekly Listening List (23rd March 2021)

I Genuinely Can't Believe It Is The First Anniversary Of The National Lockdown...

Who'd have thought that 12 months down the line we'd still be in this absolute shit show (for lack of better words)? The world just keeps going more insane by the day and, quite rightly, a lot of us a bloody fed up for sure. Anyway, I won't dwell on that because it's more exhausting than living at this point in time. One thing to look forward to for many is Bloodstock Festival in Derby, after a big announcement today and a shake up of the Metal 2 The Masses regional competitions, it's exciting to think that the festival will make the absolute most of its return. One thing I'm looking forward to is the Wardruna "First Flight of the White Raven" Virtual Release Show on the 26th March, which you can still buy tickets for and have access to the stream until the 28th. I have been waiting to see this band perform live for so long it's unreal, and now I finally have my chance. Despite it being from the comfort of my chair, I have no doubts that the experience will be spiritual and moving. Everyone here knows how much of a fan of Wardruna I am and this is the most excited I have been for a very long time! Anyway, Spring is definitely starting to show itself, the sun is making me happy and so are the stream of good releases coming out. So, without further ado, here are this week's lists.

Singles Of The Week

I. Black Stone Cherry (🇺🇸) - Again (Live From The Sky) (Mascot Records), Southern Rock

II. Northlane (🇦🇺) - Clockwork (Independent), Progressive Metalcore

III. Wode (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿) - Lunar Madness (20 Buck Spin), Black Metal

IV. Spectral Wound (🇨🇦) - Fair Lucifer, Sad Relic (Profound Lore Records), Black Metal

V. Goath (🇩🇪) - Dissolving Flesh Redemption (Ván Records), Black Metal

VI. Alastor (🇸🇪) - Death Cult (RidingEasy Records), Psychedelic Doom Metal

VII. The Ember, The Ash (🇨🇦) - Becoming The Eidolon (Prosthetic Records), Blackened Deathcore

VIII. Unfathomable Ruination (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿) - Suspended In Entropic Dissipation (Willowtip Records), Technical Brutal Death Metal

IX. The Vintage Caravan (🇮🇸) - Crystallised (Napalm Records), Psychedelic Rock

X. Paysage d'Hiver (🇨🇭) - Äschä (Kunsthall Produktionen), Black Metal/Ambient

Albums Of The Week

I. Varmia (🇵🇱) - Bal Lada (M-Theory Audio), Black/Folk Metal

II. Fornicus (🇺🇸) / Ofstingan (🇺🇸) - Split (Life After Death), Black Metal

III. Asbjorn Daemonium De Noctis (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿) / Abyssielle (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿) - Cosmic Ritual (Independent), Black Metal

IV. Nebula Mori (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿) - Beyond The Event Horizon (Independent), Atmospheric Black Metal

V. Bog Wizard (🇺🇸) / Dust Lord (🇺🇸) - Four Tales Of The Strange (The Swamp Records), Doom/Stoner Metal

Discovery Of The Week

A band that has surprisingly flown under my radar but are right up my street are Wolf King. The California four piece have an abrasive and raw brand of metal that is doomy, sludgy and aggressive. The dark and brooding atmospheres packed into a death doom influenced hardcore box. Definitely a band to keep an eye on!

Wolf King (🇺🇸) - The Path Of Wrath (ProstheticRecords), Hardcore

Throwback Of The Week

This week's throwback isn't an old album by any means but one I know that I loved reviewing. Negotium Crucis is an absolute stand out English black metal album that brings the plague's horrors into the modern world. Given the state that we found ourselves in with Coronavirus it definitely gives the album an added edge. 

The Infernal Sea (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿) - Negotium Crucis (Apocalyptic Witchcraft Recordings), Black Metal

Favourite Song

Weekly Listening Playlist (Updated Weekly!)