We will cross into 2025 during this cycle of Initial Descent and I can already hear the ridiculous resolutions piling up like turds in a waterless toilet. My gym will be packed to the gills for the next two to three weeks until the resolution warriors go back to the couch and drop cheeto dust in their belly buttons. No? Not you? HA, really?! Ok then, prove me wrong. Alright then, not a ton this week but we’ve got some outstanding death metal that hits all too close to current events from Mutagenic Host and the remnants of Batushka now taking form as Patriarkh. No idea either but who cares, it sounds like Batushka so carry on, I say. There’s a couple others in the rest of this week’s shortened list so if you’re feeling froggy, jump all over them. We’re neck deep into EOY season so you’ll be seeing more of those this week. Enjoy the somewhat quieter week but do get some of that Mutagenic Host…

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Mutagenic Host – The Diseased Machine (Gurgling Gore / Dry Cough / Memento Mori) – death metal

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Patriarkh – ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ (Napalm Records) – black metal

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Also on tap:

Ashlands – Ashlands III, EP (Self) – black metal

Decrepid – Suffered Existence (Brutal Records) – death metal

Canary Bones – Demo (Self) – noise rock

Lord Agheros – Anhedonia (My Kingdom Music) – atmospheric black metal

Sunwise / Kilverez – Split (Half Empty Records) – post-hardcore

— Josh