‘Sludge metal’ is perhaps the most underexplained genre descriptor that metal has going for it. Ask five different people what they think sludge metal is and I’m willing to bet real world money you’d get about five different answers. Yet this lack of orthodoxy is also perhaps the microgenre’s biggest strength: calling something sludge metal, particularly the more modern kinds of metal that get labeled as such, is usually a sign you’re going to get something unexpected within your listening experience. Pyrithe‘s Monuments to Impermanence is a prime example of the kinds of weird and exciting places that sludge can lead someone.
Brooklyn experimental tech-death purveyors Pyrrhon returned last week with their new, fourth full-length, Abscess Time. Check out my thoughts in a new video review after the jump!
Leading off with some sad news from Manilla Road: founder Mark “The Shark” Sheltonpassed away unexpectedly at age 60. No further details are available, but…this really sucks. A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover the associated expenses, and we encourage you to donate if you can.
Next up, Crowhurst has signed with Prophecy Productions. They (he?) will also be playing Prophecy Fest in Brooklyn this November. So, good stuff if you’re into Crowhurst.
Not sure if y’all heard, but Pestilence — or more to the point, mastermind Patrick Mameli — has had himself a bad coupl’a days on the internets. As a result of his, erm…activities…the band’s North American tour has been cancelled. It’s unclear whether this will affect their participation at next year’s assorted Deathfests, but at least he has those Dexter Holland-Offspring dreads going for him? (/kills self)
This one’s from Sunday, but seeing as this is the first Canto post of the week…Bloodbath has apparently finished recording their next album. Want more information? Well, you’re S.O.L. That’s literally all they’ve told us.
Interesting little Metallica tidbit here: in Spotify’s latest earnings call, CEO Daniel Ek revealed that the band uses listener data to tailor its live setlists on a city-by-city basis. That’s…honestly, just a really neat and forward-thinking thing! Good on ’em. Unfortunately, there’s probably about a thousand basement chuds who are gonna protest it BECAUSE VIOLATION OF ARR FREEDOMS or something.
And finally, let’s close it out with a couple of cool humans doing a cool thing. Psalm Zero‘s Charlie Looker arranged a cover of Pyrrhon‘s “Empty Tenement Spirit” for a 17-piece orchestra, and then Pyrrhon frontman Doug Moore sang along during the live performance. Check it out:
Goddamn, that was one of the neatest things I’ve seen in quite a while. Anyway, that’ll do it for now. Have a good weekend — especially if you’re at Migration Fest — and check back soon for more updates!
Still riding on the wave of last year’s full-length, The Mother of Virtues, Brooklyn deathsters Pyrrhon are back with a new EP, Growth Without End. They’ve got the same production team in the fold, but have moved to a different label—Handshake, Inc.—which better showcases “on the fringe” artists. And on the fringe is precisely where this EP lies; it’s nasty, extreme, noisy and forward-thinking, so if you were a fan the last time out, you’ll probably really dig this one. Continue reading →
Nine Circles 