Winter New Releases
Winter new releases and a new year. I normally don’t listen to a lot of metal of any kind lately. This is due to working in a store where people come in and play metal out of tune randomly. However exceptions can be made. We have Frozen Soul. Additionally a very perplexing demo , and Origami Phase. If you enjoy reading reviews about music, then you are in luck. This link offers more. https://meatsheetfanzine.com/new-aggro-october-music/ Onward through the winter new releases of 2021.
Frozen Soul – Crypt Of Ice – Century Media
First, this LP is classic sounding in the vein of early BoltThrower and Earache Record bands like that. They also remind me a bit of Obituary.
Secondly, the cover art is great like Morbid Angel’s Altars of Madness and other classics. On the other hand there are many great cover pieces of artwork and yet the album’s songs fall short. This is not the case with Frozen Soul.
Production is crystal clear as the ice encased glaciers. Heavy, slow dirgy breakdowns that may cause one to mosh or creepy crawl. They also have tightness, power, heaviness, and speed.
The track “Crypt Of Ice” is metal perfection. “Arctic Stranglehold” is no slouch either, tempo changes, and more heaviness. Relentless song. “Wraith Of Death” starts with a foreboding intro to give you a better feeling of the subzero landscape that Frozen Soul paint on each track. Killer, moshable breakdown, also double bass volleys, chugging guitars. You are going to pick up what they are throwing down immediately or not at all.
“Merciless” has more of the same aforementioned elements but I don’t find it to be boring. In fact, this one is extra heavy, with a growl, or two. They are setting up mosh part after mosh part and I dig the bell like hits on the cymbals. “Beat To Dust” is a choppy and chugging onslaught. Circle pit and low to ground moshing opportunities abound in a mere 3 minute track. So if you like metal in the style of the previously bands, then it is highly likely you will revel in this entire album. For a jaded metal fan it left me impressed. 8. 75 / 10
Float Bait The Crescent Moon – Cramps of the Navy Blue Custard – DEMO CDR
Next hailing from Louisiana’s spice capital (home of Tony Chachere’s Seasonings and more) is a truly strange demo CDR sent to me. Yes CDR. Float Bait The Crescent Moon hailing from: Opelousas, Louisiana arrived by media mail. Self proclaimed musical style: Medieval Melt Core. This mystery band started November 5th, 2020!
Demo “Cramps of the Navy Blue Custard” is a thrill ride that you never knew you wanted to go on, but you are on it anyway, like it or not.
It’s hard to describe. Allow me to try. They can play their gear as good as any average band if not better. I think it’s the choice of styles and sounds that befuddles me. Imagine doomy “melt core?” meets a little bit of post hardcore. Then add some Meters like funk.
Then imagine a Zatarain’s rice delivery falling off a truck and making a huge cacophony on top of that.
Here is a track rundown .
Track 1. “Cracking the Canvas Twice Raw” is the singer’s attempt to lay down some vocal agony. Literally sounds like they slammed their hand in a car door. The band plays a Oktoberfest or New Orleans style waltz (WTF do i know) until they launch into a flurry of post hardcore speed and blast beats. Slowing down only to create a funky groove. It fits in like a child playing with a car radio station dial. The slinky funk groove cedes to a doom like medieval dirge. Just plain strange. Melt Core ? Indeed
Track 2 “Foncho, what cha got?” is a blistering bass blast. Float Bait’s answer to Cliff Burtons Anetshesia but get this. The backing seems to be an accordion or some kind of MIDI sample that is accordion. For real? The ending is songs of dogs gnashing their teeth. LOFL
Holy Clam chowder Track 3 “Creampuff Wiff In The Tough” offers the most straight forward anthem of this demo.
Feature it ! AC/DC, Slade, Rose Tattoo sensibilities. Power rock with an interlude that sounds like a James Brown breakdown.
Like a mutated step cousin of Accept’s “I’m A Rebel” or maybe even “Save Us” with a chant?!? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9ndJUCoFJc
“I’m a puff, I’m full of cream, but I’m tough” chanted with force over a killer break beat. Would make any Gil Scott Heron fan proud , however it makes little sense to me.
Track 4 “Fanatical Orbs” has unintelligible mumble lyrics, wahhed out guitar and what sounds like “thunder” or some guy shaking a metal plate. Literally, the way they make cheap sound effects. After that, again, it launches into almost classic thrash core, maybe a little post hardcore.
Could this be an ode to those who have seen orbs or loved ones who passed on? I’ll never know.
By now I’m thinking these guys are a bit spicy but don’t seem to want to reference the Cajun sounds of their region. They are on some other level.
Track 5 is “Spoof Backscatter” A quick little number you can mosh to. Imagine a flock of hardcore kids startled and fleeing in all directions, but then realizing it is a just a spoof.
Finally Track 6 “Flint Wumbus Has a Tiny Tongue” is a long 5 and a half minute romp into dark and light. They seem to want to reference Elephant Talk by King Crimson yet that is a hard act to follow. It falls short of that track but it has that feeling so hats off to them. The strange vocals of a man giving raspberries and almost as if they are saying “ahh” from a tongue depressor. Seems totally obviously that they are referencing “Flint Wumbus ” ; whoever that may be. Float Bait demo is a real back and head scratcher set to noise.
Origami Phase – Quadrants – EP
A dream pop shoegaze EP from the Detroit area. Starting off Winter 2021 properly. Overall this is a strong start for a debut. Four songs. Here is a track by track rundown.
“Lady Named Bright” has a dark undercurrent but the background vocals lift it up and act as a counterpoint. This is a perfect mix of 80s/ 90s dream pop with a dark tone that you might expect from Bauhaus or one of the more ominous Joy Division songs. About halfway through “Lady Named Bright” gently shifts into a Dream scape . Right before it ends though get another contrast that is reminiscent of the percussive qualities of My Bloody Valentine you made me realise.
This track gets points for having different moods and parts and yet still referencing classic shoegaze and pre shoegaze..
Secondly , “Amethyst” contains more dream state qualities as heard in last track Yet additionally yo get rich and sweet vocal harmonies. Amethyst has less dynamic changes and parts, therefore it commands a little more attention or I should say a deeper listening. If you zone out though it is quite a dreamy trip.
“Learning How To Steer” is a somewhat mellow pop number that retains the overall feeling of the last two songs.
The guitars crash nicely at 1:20 mark. It’s just heavy enough to balance the delicate arpeggiated guitar work. There’s a nice angular bass line and classic beat to carry the rhythm.
There’s a great swelling tension and repetition of the heavy riff. It could definitely be construed as hypnotic as the band says on their Bandcamp.
The fourth and final track entitled “Waiting” is probably the murkiest. It could be the goth twin of a signature Cocteau Twins song. Although it is shadowy and misty song. I think it holds up on its own and it’s a great way to close out the EP. The vocals shift between earth and air. Definitely mystique on this song. I have exhausted my free listens on their Bandcamp. I guess I’ll purchase this to hear some more and if you have the means I suggest you buy it as well. https://origamiphase.bandcamp.com/releases
As always thanks for reading about these winter new releases (and others if you click around). If you dig this blog I appreciate that. Tell a friend who may give a listen or read to these artists on here.