Weekly Digest, Week 35 / 2025

Yay! We've got death metal back on the menu. As well as some other stuff... from Innumerable Forms, Corridoré, Ashen, Jack The Joker and Panzerchrist.

Significantly less death metal overground, but definitely a few you shouldn't miss: 

Blackbriar – A Thousand Little Deaths

Burning Witches – Inquisition

Deftones – private music

Feuerschwanz – Knightclub

Signs Of The Swarm – To Rid Myself Of Truth

We Came As Romans – All Is Beautiful…Because We're Doomed

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Innumerable Forms – Pain Effulgence

Genre: Death/doom metal

Subjective rating: 4/5

Objective rating: 4/5

Country of origin: USA

Usually death doom conjures up mental images like being trapped in musty underground caverns lit by a faint, ghostly glow, with terrifying rumbles echoing along the dripping walls. While the tone of this album certainly is sinister enough, and there's a decent amount of oppressive atmosphere to deal with, I get the feeling that this is more about the music than it is about painting a vivid soundscape. Innumerable Forms' latest falls pretty decisively on the death metal side. Even though it's slow and patient for extended stretches, it seems almost constantly eager to burst out into chugs and dive-bombing solos, and has a well-rounded production that brings out the best of each instrument. Despite its changing temperament, the mood stays very consistent, bringing the very essence of doom - hopelessness and the sense of crushing weight - like a black, low-hanging cloud cover. It does rely on a few, recognizable OSDM-tropes every now and then, but if you sit down and take it in, you will quickly come to realize just how ominously alive this thing is.

Highlights: "Blotted Inside" and "Ressentiment"

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Corridoré – Abandon

Genre: Atmospheric doom/black metal

Subjective rating: 3/5

Objective rating: 4/5

Country of origin: USA

A meld of dark feelings, both silken and abrasive in texture, into a monumental and moving sound that borrows from doom, black metal and atmospheric rock. There are aspects to this blend that I simply can't get to work for me personally, chief of which are parts of the vocal style and the more trope-y instrumental elements of black metal being used to add ugliness and harshness to expressions of anguish and despair. Some of the melody-driven atmospheric sections can also get a good bit too introspective and a bit repetitive for my taste, but they are offset by parts that contain haunting beauty. The album is a mostly slow affair, but varies greatly in intensity. The feeling you're left with is that of an extensive sonic realm that you could probably keep exploring forever, if you've got the mind to stay constantly immersed in mild depression.  

Highlight: "Like Moths" and "This Great Divide"

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Ashen – Leave The Flesh Behind

Genre: Death metal

Subjective rating: 3.5/5

Objective rating: 3.5/5

Country of origin: Australia

Ashen is an Australian band that, rather refreshingly, doesn't lean decisively neither backwards nor forwards in their chosen style of death metal, yet still manage to deliver something impactful. This thing oozes "ancient evil", dipping into both that old school mire of malevolence as well as smashing its way out of the cave with monstrous, club-wielding force. It's not "brutal" or "technical", but certainly assaults you with a towering sound that's both bulky and spiky in all the right places. Apart from the doomsday atmosphere, the groove is the real standout quality on the record, as the guitars work beautifully with the rhythms to prowl from one pulverizing riff section to the next. I imagine this will be a treat to experience live.

Highlight: "Leave the Flesh Behind"

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Jack The Joker – The Devil To Pay In The Backlands

Genre: Progressive metal

Subjective rating: 3.5/5

Objective rating: 3.5/5

Country of origin: Brazil

This is Brazilian prog metal in the vein of Leprous, just a bit more freaky, and (these days) significantly more heavy, not too far from Haken in that regard. Compared to the latter band, these guys prioritize instrumental acrobatics over melodic flow on this album, so it's not one to seek out for a cohesive, satisfyingly conceptual experience. It's got a good deal of that Devin Townsend playfulness, although they have a ways to go before reaching that level of songwriting and instrumental proficiency. That being said, they do a lot of things right, and clearly strive to push boundaries. Not that it really surprises as a prog album, but both vocals and instruments tug at the reins and poke at the limits of their capabilities. It results in a few weaker moments, but also quite a few impressive ones, and they showcase a great aptitude for mixing exploratory melody with youthful heaviness.

Highlight: "Denied"

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Panzerchrist – Maleficium, Pt. 2

Genre: Blackened death metal

Subjective rating: 3.5/5

Objective rating: 3.5/5

Country of origin: Denmark

Panzerchrist is a Danish band playing snarling, tar-drenched, spiny death metal. They obviously have a bit of a war gimmick goin on, but this is less prevalent on the second chapter of the two-part "Maleficium" album, which delves into witchery and dark myth. And, to their credit, this is evident in the musical choices on the album as well as the lyrical ones. Outside of the imposing riff charges, there's graveyard atmosphere and a sinister tone, with vocals alternating between hissing whispers and dry snarls. The transitions between downtempo, spooky sections to full-on death metal assaults can be a bit jarring at times, but overall the balance between the two works well, and the overall feeling is that of them complementing each other. Once you get what it's about it doesn't offer the biggest surprises, but also doesn't let off the gas pedal.

Highlight: "Harmbidder"