Here is a collection of music I liked. I would love for these posts to start having some kind of theme, but music discovery is not so systematic. What do these bands have in common? Besides “blood” in two of their names, they are all bands I discovered in the last few weeks. Have a listen to Enblood, Bloodbark, Hammock, Mournful Congregation, and Angelo De Augustine.
Enblood
Before I spent a week in the Azores, I could not have named a single Portuguese band. But once I’ve traveled to a place, I start to notice it everywhere. Then when I saw Moonspell in concert, I found out that Portugal puts out some pretty good bands. Enblood is Portuguese technical death metal. Cast to Exile proves those three adjectives belong together.
Bloodbark
I don’t know anything about Bloodbark besides their atmospheric black metal Bandcamp tag. But the name sounds like a kenning – maybe for skin or for scabs – and Bonebranches sounds like a kenning for arms, so I’m already happy. The sound is indeed atmospheric black metal, and I liked it.
Hammock
If Bloodbark had me at kenning, instrumental Hammock had a bit to overcome. But Universalis has atmosphere in spades, with that echo-y, wide open spaces swept by cold wind sound that so many Icelandic artists are known for. They are actually from Nashville, but I won’t hold that against them any more than the name. It’s beautiful music, elegantly structured.
Mournful Congregation
It would be a great segue to say Mournful Congregation‘s Incubus of Karma is as ugly as Hammock is beautiful. But this Pennsylvania doom act has its own stately elegance and a warmth you might need after 40 minutes of Hammock. These guys are on the 20 Buck Spin label, which I just noticed seems to be a good place to find music I like.
{As an aside, I never got the difference between an incubus and a succubus, but they’re coming up a lot. Over the holidays I watched the Dresden TV show, and there was an incubus episode. Then I started watching the anime Phantom in the Twilight, (which transcends the otome genre BTW) and there was a succubus episode. So now I can keep them straight. Unfortunately, my daughter has recently had trouble remembering the word for succulent, with some comic results.}
Angelo De Augustine
I loved the hell out of Dýrð Í Dauðaþögn in both Icelandic and in English. But the followup album, when it finally came, was kind of disappointing. Despite the death metal name, Tomb by Angelo De Augustine reminds me of Asgeir Trausti with its breathy near-falsetto vocals and nostalgic guitars. This kind of music always runs the risk of being forgettable, but it sure goes down easy. Perfect for slow Sunday mornings.
So what about you? Did you hear anything you liked?
