Μνήμα - Disciples of Excremental Liturgies (2022)

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I wasn't privy to black metal noise terrorists, Μνήμα's new album until I found it through the esteemed Arson Cafe's newest post—If you're not aware of his spot already, bookmark it because he's one of the very last bastions of defence when it comes to keeping the underground lit, and further more, putting words and flavour into what is normally rife with banality and feigned interest into blogs, zines and websites that rely on promotion more than integrity.

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I digress, Μνήμα have finally committed to a full-length album after a deluge of EP's and Demo's have been released since 2017, and it's more of the same assault on your auditory meatus, but with more tact and focus on letting the melody poke through the wall of screeching reverb and commotion. I can imagine old fans of Μνήμα being divided into two camps when it comes to this decision: Those that oppose their decision to refine their sound, and those that are not in opposition at all.

Me, I'm on the former, as I am sure most fans of Μνήμα are. It's not as if this choice has fundamentally changed their sound… Μνήμα are still incredibly raw and blown out, and the predilection to infuse traditional black metal with even more noise is still prevalent and in some cases even bolstered. Disciples of Excremental Liturgies is not casual listening, its inherent goal is in alignment with early black metal, a complete and utter rebellion to clean sound, and though they have taken a few liberties when it comes to the purity of black metal, it's still just and isolating as it needs to be to retain its potency. Go head first into THE BLACK VOID!

 Μνήμα - Disciples of Excremental Liturgies (bandcamp)

Spectral Lore / Mare Cognitum - Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine (2020) [split]

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This split is blowing so many releases out of the water – It's less of a split and more of a joined-collaborative of full-lengths between two gladiators in the arena of discordant black metal with a penchant for the esoteric and cosmic – Between the two of them, Spectral Lore and Mare Cognitum are punching way over their weight on Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine with a total running time just shy of 2 hours. It's colossal in full sway of the word and It's a lot to digest in one sitting and though it might even be guilty of being lofty at times you should pay attention. If not, you're getting it all wrong.

Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine (bandcamp)

Nox Formulae - Drakon Darshan Satan (2020)

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Dark Descent Records is a label you can set your watch to quite consistently when it comes to digging into something that satiates that filthy hankering you may or may not often get for something putrid, something that exudes fumes of rot from a bloated corpse, with leaking bile and black candles of ceremony. Take that as you will, or as you won't, it's all the same really.

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I'm impatiently waiting for more releases as we're already in March and there's only one full length (almost out) to speak of thus far, and one phenomenal split release from Anhedonist and Spectral Voice. To come out at the end of March though, is this promising release from Nox Formulae. I've only heard the one song up on bandcamp but I can already say I'm fully bought in. All in on the pot, pre flop, as some might say. Take a listen for yourself and understand that form isn't always linear, and style isn't always cohesive, but chaos can be beautiful especially when its saturated in that cold sonic sound that often comes out of the scene in Greece.

Here's the thing though, (I feel like I get into this frame of mind every single year) we're approaching the first quarter of the new year and I have yet to be floored by any one release yet in the arena of metal. Which I only bring up because maybe I'm missing something? I mean my ears aren't constantly on the ground, so I hope I am. If anyone has any sources or recommendations please smack me upside the head with them. Forever grateful, Chris.

Nox Formulae - Drakon Darshan Satan (bandcamp)