Sh*t That Comes Out Today: August 28, 2020

Here’s some new stuff to listen to in between repeated spins of Manifest Decimation and Nightmare Logic. Rest in power, Riley Gale.

The Atomic Bitchwax
Scorpio (Tee Pee)

The Atomic Bitchwax has been intertwined with Monster Magnet from its very beginning — it was started by MM guitarist Ed Mundell with a couple friends, including Chris Kosnik, who would go on to join Monster Magnet and then bring in a couple current Magneteers when Mundell and other members left TAB. Yeah, I know it’s confusing. Now it’s basically Monster Magnet without Dave Wyndorf, which means it’s less spacey and much more rocking but still good. If you like your heavy psych with an edge, then maybe your sign is Scorpio.

Exist
Egoiista (Prosthetic)

Exist’s new album is difficult to Google — it leads to a lot of dumb YouTube videos about whether a concept Lamborghini called the Egoista exists. Exist are kinda the Lamborghini of prog metal, though. They’re sleek and powerful with really complex stuff going on underneath the hood to create the illusion of effortless motion. Not Italian, though. This one’s definitely for the Cynic-al nerds, but their mastery shines through already.

Narrow Head
12th House Rock (Run For Cover)

If you got pissed off that Decibel inducted a Failure LP in the Hall of Fame, keep moving. Narrow Head play heavy 90s-style rock indebted to the alternative side of the alternative, the one that wasn’t quite shoegaze or noise rock or grunge. Elements of Hum, Helmet, and, yes, Failure shine through on their second album. It may not feel like anything new to those who grew up with 90s radio, but they bring some welcome noisiness to their throwback stylings.

Necrot
Mortal (Tankcrimes)

While this is the type of midtempo death metal that doesn’t really move the needle for me, even an OSDM skeptic like myself can tell that these guys have something special going. Besides, people who like this stuff way more than I do are losing their goddamn minds over Mortal, so I can safely say that it’ll cause many a sweatpant boner amongst the death metal cognoscenti. Peel off your dead skin mask and join the crowd.

Pig Destroyer
The Octagonal Stairway EP (Relapse)

Three previously released stand-alone singles, three noise tracks/b-sides, all Pig Destroyer. Their takes on grind/noise/extreme metal continue to be uniquely them. Even if you have the previously-released material, it’s cool having them all in one place so you can appreciate the rage that connects them. The noise stuff is… noise stuff. If you like weird samples and tape manipulation, then here’s some more of it. “Sound Walker” is pretty cool in a Prurient existential-terror sort of way. The dichotomy showcases the two sides of the band well, even if the A-side is more likely to get spins here.

OTHER SHIT THAT COMES OUT TODAY

The Devil’s Trade – The Call Of The Iron Peak (Season Of Mist) Listen
Dokken – The Lost Songs: 1978-1981 (Silver Linings) Listen
In Flames – clayman 20th Anniversary Edition (Nuclear Blast) Listen
John Petrucci – Terminal Velocity (Sound Mind) Listen
Lynch Mob – Wicked Sensation Reimagined (Rat Pak) Listen
Metallica – S&M2 (Blackened) Listen
Powerman 5000 – The Noble Rot (Cleopatra) Listen
Redemption – Alive In Color DVD/CD (AFM) Listen
Ulver – Flowers Of Evil (House Of Mythology) Listen
Various Artists – Bill & Ted Face The Music Soundtrack (Universal) Listen
Venomous Concept – Politics Versus The Erection (Season Of Mist) Listen