As we edge closer to the end of the year the trend in long lists of new releases continues. But one thing that has remained consistent is the quality, for the most part, of these releases week to week. This week is no different here on Initial Descent and expect this trend to continue in the coming weeks. Leading us off is the emotionally stirring debut No Stars Upon the Bridge from atmospheric doom metallers Hallatar, many names you’ll recognize from this group: Amorphis, Trees of Eternity and HIM so be sure to check this one out. Next up is Amenra who continue their very distinct vision of sonic depth, dark spirituality and uncompromising heaviness on Mass VI and again, do not miss it. Moving right along is the debut Teneral from NY’s Pyrolatrous who very successfully combine black and death metal in a unique way. Finishing up the top spots this week is the doom duo Bell Witch with their mammoth one-song opus Mirror Reaper and they actually pull it off. One-song albums are a bit of a chance to say the least but also a marathon if there’s not enough substance but that’s not the case here, grab some popcorn and dig in. Like I said, the quality is already apparent but it also lies in the quantity that follows so stick around and enjoy it.

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Hallatar – No Stars Upon the Bridge (Svart Records) – atmospheric doom metal [full review]

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Amenra – Mass VI (Neurot Recordings) – experimental doom / metal

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Pyrolatrous – Teneral (Gilead Media) – black / death [full review]

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Bell Witch – Mirror Reaper (Profound Lore) – doom metal [full review]

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Also on tap:

Aegrus – Thy Numinous Darkness (Saturnal Records) – black metal

Affliktor – S/T (Transcending Obscurity) – black / thrash

Archons – Lords of Light and Thunder (Independent) – sludge / space metal

Bell – Tidecaller (High Roller Records) – swedish metal

Deadfreight of Soul – Tortured Puppets (Kernkraftritter Records) – death metal

Death Rattle – Volition (Independent) – groove / thrash

Elm – Dog (Bronson Recordings) – noise rock

Expander – Endless Computer (Nuclear War Now! Records) – progressive black / death

Fire Red Empress – Black Morphine (Polaris Records) – hard rock

Friendship – Hatred (Southern Lord / Sentient Ruin) – black / hardcore

Goatpenis – Anesthetic Vapor (Nuclear War Now!) – black metal

God Mother – Vilseledd (Party Smasher Inc.) – hardcore / grind / sludge / noise [feature]

Gutslit – Amputheatre (Transcending Obscurity) – brutal death metal

GWAR – The Blood of Gods (Metal Blade) – gwar

Iron Monkey – 9-13 (Relapse Records) – hardcore / sludge

Ivan Miladinov – Soul Finder (Club Inferno Ent.) – avantgarde death metal

Jenn Vix – Unlocked (Independent) – alternative

Kadavardisciplin – Death Supremacy (Hammerheart) – black metal

Korrupt – Preachers and Creatures (Fysisk Format) – hardcore / punk

Lewis & The Strange Magics – Evade Your Soul (Soulseller Records) – heavy psych rock

Lostair – Ad Jubilaeum (Revalve Records) – metal

Low Estate – Covert Cult of Death (The Flenser) – black metal

Masters of Disguise – Alpha / Omega (Limb Music) – speed metal

Naeramarth – The Innumerable Stars (Independent) – progressive metal

Nervcast – Locked and Loaded, EP (Independent) – alt metal

Nick Oliveri – N.O. Hits At All Vol. 3 (Heavy Psych Sounds) – stoner rock

Night Viper – Exterminator (Listenable) – heavy metal

Retortion Terror / Invidiosus – Split (Horror Pain Gore Death) – death / grind

Reign of Vengeance – The Final Aeon for All Humans (Independent) – death / black

Rig Time! – War (Innerstrength Records) – hardcore

Rope Sect – Proselytes, 7″, EP (Iron Bonehead) – dark rock

Seeds of Mary – The Blackbird and the Dying Sun (Klonosphere Records) – rock / metal

Sorcerer – The Crowning of the Fire King (Metal Blade) – doom

Spectral Haze – Turning Electric (Totem Cat Records) – psychedelic doom

Stonebirds – Time (Independent) – post sludge

The Kahless Clone – Our Never-Ending Loneliness (Independent) – melodic doom

The Kennedy Veil – Imperium (Unique Leader) – death metal

The Mons – Trust No One (Triple Eye Industries) – punk [feature]

Throane – Plus Une Main A Mordre (Debemur Morti Productions) – noise / black metal / drone [full review]

Tuskar – Arianhrod (Riff Rock Records) – sludge

Wormwood – Mooncurse (Translation Loss) – sludge / psych / doom

Xanthochroid – Of Erthe and Axen: Act II (Earth and Axen) – cinematic black metal

Yellow Eyes – Immersion Trench Reveries (Gilead Media / Sibir Records) – black metal [full review]

Zgard – Within the Swirl of Black Vigor (Independent) – atmospheric pagan black metal

– Josh