As some of you may have noticed, we did not have a December edition of The Buried Underground. With everyone’s end of the year list and main man Dave’s unsympathetic need to not be overworked. The nerve… a full-time job, a family, a podcast, a YouTube channel, and running a metal website for all of us. Serious eye roll. Right? Nothing stops the metal, Dave. But enough of that, I don’t need any more people pissed off. (I swear… I did not bring the goat head to the office Christmas party.)
Who’s GOAT time for that story anyway. I know, I know… I’m entirely too funny to be doing this.
So anyway, on my part of this month’s edition, I want to feature the criminally underrated and often scoffed at genre of power/heavy metal. My picks reflect the spirit of both in some way and will pound your puny little faces in with thrash, melo-death and a saxophone solo. There’s even an ABBA cover. Seriously, a fucking ABBA cover. And Dave and the gang’s picks are well… probably good, too.
Enjoy!
Rick’s Picks:
Band: Hyperia
Album/EP: Silhouettes of Horror
Release Date: 18th March 2022.
Length/Runtime: 11 songs, 50 minutes.
Origin: Vancouver, British Columbia.
Genres: Melodic Thrash, Heavy Metal, Power Metal.
Super energetic heavy metal thrash attack? That’s a giant power metal fist in the air (this means fuck yes). The fact that this release hasn’t blown up the world is a huge fucking travesty. Fun as hell, assaulting riff fest with ferocious shrieking black metal growls, gang vocals and piercing highs. A more brutal Jill Janus, vocalist Marlee Ryley is a raging maniac that can hit every note, wailing or growling, and she does. Neoclassical shredding, pedal to the metal drums, clanky metallic bass, and thrash riffs that spit fire, all bring undeniable nastiness to the party. If you want a dose of glorious thrashing heavy metal, this is it!
Record Label: Self Released
For Fans Of: Havok, Huntress, Bay Area Thrash, King Diamond.
Bandcamp: https://hyperiametal.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hyperiabandofficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hyperiametal/
Band: Gladenfold
Album/EP: Nemesis
Release Date: 29th April, 2022
Length/Runtime: 11 songs, 53 minutes.
Origin: Finland
Genres: Power Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Metal.
This is symphonic Euro-power with some vicious melodic death metal to really snarl it all up. The album intersects several different metal roads with ease, giving a soaring bombastic delivery followed by harsh growling intensity. Skilled musicianship and excellent song writing blends in a little blackened flare as well to create a crushing blow of unique intensity. Blast beats, keys, tight crunchy riffing, and melodic leads give this album an epic feel without feeling predictable. On one hand you got elegant, grandiose and proggy; and on the other dark, aggressive, and extreme. You’re going to wonder how the hell you missed this band.
Record Label: Reaper Entertainment Europe
For Fans Of: Children of Bodom, Kamelot, Wintersun.
Band: https://www.gladenfold.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gladenfold/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gladenfold/
Band: Judicator
Album/EP: The Majesty of Decay
Release Date: 25th November, 2022
Length/Runtime: 10 songs, 61 minutes.
Origin: Tucson, Arizona.
Genres: Epic Power Metal, Prog Metal.
Complex and proggy riffs drift into silky smooth melodies, dreamy passages and shredding leads, all while emotionally gripping vocals soar over journey filled music that can be described as a mix of Blind Guardian and a less chaotic Protest the Hero. I know that sounds odd, but I assure you it works. This album stands as a completely fresh take on the genre. Generous bits of heavy metal, classic rock, doom, and hell even a pinch of black metal combined with bombastic power metal makes this album an absolute gem. The buzz on this band is already high right now, hop on.
Record Label: Prosthetic Records
For Fans Of: Blind Guardian, Lords of the Trident, Borealis.
Bandcamp: https://judicatormetal.bandcamp.com/album/the-majesty-of-decay
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judicatormetal/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judicatormetal/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudicatorMetal
Dave’s Picks:
Band: Eternal Sleep
Album/EP: Desperate Prayer Blues
Release Date: December 29th, 2022.
Length/Runtime: 12 Songs, 36 Minutes.
Origin: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Genres: Hardcore, Metalcore, Sludge.
Pittsburgh riff slingers, Eternal Sleep, have just released their Arthur Rizk produced sophomore album, Desperate Prayer Blues. A record chock-full of throat-roaring hardcore, spliced seamlessly with grimy sludge and bluesy VOD/Alice In Chains-style vocal crooning. At only 36 minutes long, you’ll be surprised how much this album packs into its runtime, with every track having something alluring to pull you in. There’s just as many lyrical earworms here as there are riffs that will rupture your insides. In short, it’s an album that slaps harder than a hookers pimp.
Record Label: Closed Casket Activities
For Fans Of: Vision of Disorder, Converge, He Is Legend, Harms Way, Alice in Chains, Spiritworld.
Bandcamp: https://eternalsleephc.bandcamp.com/album/desperate-prayer-blues
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eternalsleephc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eternalsleep
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EternalSleephc
Band: Disfiguring The Goddess
Album/EP: Karnival (EP)
Release Date: January 7th, 2023.
Length/Runtime: 6 Songs, 20 Minutes.
Origin: Minden, Nevada.
Genres: Brutal Death Metal, Slam, Industrial.
Nevada Brutal Death Metal project, Disfiguring the Goddess (AKA Cameron “Big Chocolate” Argon), is back with a new short but sweet EP. Having been releasing material for over 15 years, Disfiguring the Goddess may already be a name you’re familiar with, however, if you’ve never encased yourself in the chamber of savagery that is DtG before, then prepare to have your senses obliterated. ‘Karnival’ pulls back on some of the experimental, jazz-like nuances of 2021’s ‘Blood Animal’, and implements a far more direct and bludgeoning assault. The riffs come at you like a chainsaw-swinging Leatherface, whilst the snare tone will have you shitting blood for a week. But outwith the gutturals and fretboard annihilation, ‘Karnival’ delivers some of the most ominous work Disfiguring the Goddess has produced to date. Layered with electronics and desolate industrial undertones, this release will get under your skin like a parasite and slowly burrow its way to your core.
Record Label: Independent
For Fans Of: Kraanium, Gorepot, Waking the Cadaver, Extermination Dismemberment, Abominable Putridity, Malodorous.
Bandcamp: https://disfiguringthegoddess.bandcamp.com/album/karnival
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/disfiguringthegoddess
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dtgdtgdtg/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/disfiguringtheg
Band: SEQUESTRUM
Album/EP: Pickled Preservation (EP)
Release Date: January 27th, 2023.
Length/Runtime: 7 Songs, 17 Minutes.
Origin: Copenhagen, Denmark.
Genres: Death Metal, Brutal Death Metal, Deathgrind, Gore.
Pathological death grinders, SEQUESTRUM, will unleash their debut EP, Pickled Preservation, on January 27th. And If you hadn’t guessed, SEQUESTRUM are all about the filth…and I’m not talking a little grime here, I mean full-on, mucus infested sewage. To be honest, you’ll probably either love this slice of puss oozing death metal, or you’ll switch it off within 30 seconds. Either way, you’re gonna feel the need to wash afterwards. Featuring members of Danish riff slingers Chaotian and Undergang, this EP lives up to the bowel-loosening intensity of its member’s other bands, but also comes with some cunning surprises. Both ‘Preserved to Last’ and ‘Human Broth’ blend in a groove-laden, southern strut, which comes complete with cowbell! I mean, what’s not to like?!? If you like your death metal with a side order of vomit, then look no further. There’s grotesque and nasty…then there’s SEQUESTRUM.
Record Label: Extremely Rotten Productions
For Fans Of: Blood Duster, UNDERGANG, CHAOTIAN, SEEP, Morbific, Torture Rack, SEDIMENTUM.
Bandcamp: https://sequestrum.bandcamp.com/album/pickled-preservation
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sequestrumdk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sequestrumdk/
Ken’s Picks:
Band: Forcefed Horsehead
Album/EP: Monoceros
Release Date: March 24th, 2023.
Length/Runtime: 12 Songs
Origin: Oslo, Norway.
Genres: Crust, Grind, Doom.
Not least because their name is an absolute belter, Norway’s Forcefed Horsehead are about to release one of the most exciting albums of the year. Their latest album ‘Monoceros’ is released in March and is a literal clinic in frantic, hyper-charged scabrous grind and crust. It’s a joyously unhinged and maniacal rollercoaster of a record that barely pauses for breath. Anyone looking for a nitro-injection of a release to pump them up could do worse than trying to ride the ‘Monoceros’!
Record Label: Owlripper Recordings
For Fans Of: Wormrot, Nails, Black Breath.
Bandcamp: https://forcefedhorsehead.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forcefedhorsehead
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forcefed_horsehead/
Band: Implore
Album/EP: Burden of Existence
Release Date: October 28th, 2022.
Length/Runtime: 10 Songs, 35 Minutes.
Origin: Germany
Genres: Crust, Grind.
Both my selections for ‘The Buried Underground’ are sitting in the twisted world of Grind & Crust. This is a style for which I am a complete mark. Germany’s Implore released their brilliant ‘Burden of Existence’ record in late 2022 on Church Road Records. I really don’t feel I’ve seen it mentioned enough in 2022 AOTY discourse. I love this album. It’s just a ferocious, sand blast of a record that will make you breathless with its intensity but make you feel equally invigorated & energised such is its relentless power. Well worth your time if you need a musical pick me up.
Record Label: Church Road Records
For Fans Of: Wormrot, Napalm Death, Nails.
Bandcamp: https://implore.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imploreband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imploreofficial/
