Album Review: Primitive Man — Observance

Primitive Man - Observance

Somehow I don’t think that a new Primitive Man releasing on Halloween is a coincidence.  The folks have a brand to uphold, and I would count them among a select few bands who make music that can be truly terrifying at times.  It’s really incredible to think that the trio have been around for over a decade now, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down, letting up or compromising their vision.  Observance is the latest in a whirlwind series of monumental releases, and if you can believe it, it might just be the most complete P//M album yet.

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Initial Descent: October 27 – November 2, 2025

Primitive Man 2025
Primitive Man

Alright then, this is not a drill. It is officially Halloween week, FINALLY. Time for tricks, treats, ghosts, ghouls, horror, frights, candy corn, and well, more candy corn. And since it’s Monday, it is also time for new releases of which we’ve picked a brutal top four for you to ponder over. Primitive Man kicks off this week’s festivities with a very strong chokehold on the “heaviest and most soul crushing band EVER” title…still! Then it’s bloodcurdling black metal from Outlaw, flesh peeling death metal from Heteropsy, and a little something to piss off the neighbors with from horror punkers The Other. All that and a ton more are hiding out in the catacombs below so “dig in” and cozy up to the best corpse you can find. Happy Halloween, enjoy! *cue Vincent Price scary laugh…*

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CANTO: Bell Witch & Aerial Ruin, Primitive Man, I See Stars, and More

24 hours and it’s time to jump on another plane. After a day in Boston. I’ll catch you all next week!

  • We’ll start with something I’m really excited about. Bell Witch & Aerial Ruin announced the impending release of Stygian Bough Vol. II, set to arrive on November 14th through Profound Lore. Check out “Waves Became The Sky”.
  • Funeral Harvest have set October 31st (have I mentioned the plethora of quality Halloween releases this year?) for their next mini album. Malum in Se will be out through Amor Fati Productions and “Draco Nequissime” can be heard here.
  • Electronic metalcore crew I See Stars announced a headlining tour next February and March. Supporting acts are still to be determined, but tickets can be acquired here starting Friday.
  • More metalcore. Secrets released a lyric video for “Paralyzed”, out through SBG Records. This track also arrives with the news that Richard Rogers and Connor Allen have returned to the group.
  • And we’ll close out the day with the heaviest band on the damn planet. Check out “Natural Law” from Primitive Man below. Observance is out on October 31st through Relapse Records. Tickets for their upcoming tour can be snagged here.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
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Profile: London-based death metal crew Vacuous

Oh we are SO back. For our second Profile of the week, we are turning the calendar all the way back to February because there was a certain death metal album that emerged that I have just now been getting around to and I feel compelled to loop you all in. London-based Vacuous dropped In His Blood through Relapse Records and it is a form of death metal that is filled with atmosphere, raw emotion, and is plenty dark. Basically, there’s a lot to love. It may have taken me over six months to get to it, but I sure am making up that time rapidly. So join me won’t you!? Responses to our questions can be found below along with the Bandcamp link. Have at it!

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CANTO: Primitive Man, Novembers Doom, The Hunt, and More

On Thursdays we run the trails. Like, a long way and with a lot of hills.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
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Profile: Ireland’s Death Metal Juggernauts Malthusian

Malthusian
Malthusian image courtesy of Kate M

I can already hear the sighs from Malthusian‘s fans for leaving out the ‘blackened’ part in the title of this piece. And that’s ok because for their sophomore effort, The Summoning Bell, the name of the game is some of the most sinister and dark death metal the band has ever put forth. The songs here are lean and mean, perfectly trimmed to deliver the deadliest strikes imaginable. AND, the entire album has some serious replay value. Needless to say it has fast become a fave around these parts and we genuinely feel like it’ll do the same for you. Just ahead of release day the band got back to us with their answers to our Profile questions so we could dig around under the hood a little and get to know them. Head below to see how it went down and hit up Relapse Records to grab yourself a copy.

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