Monthly Archives: December 2021

Disemballerina – Fawn; A Stick and a Stone – Root Shock (2021)

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Good afternoon! If you’ve been hanging around here for a bit, you’ve probably heard Disemballerina, whose 2014 and 2016 albums were covered here, and A Stick and a Stone who had a release we discussed back in 2017 and one just this past January.

But if you haven’t — both are musical projects that generally tend toward the folk/ambient, sometimes a bit on the experimental side with unusual instrumentations, but always highly expressive, cathartic responses to both inner and outer turmoil. And over the past few months each has released a new single or EP, both of which I’d like to point in the direction of your ears today. Enjoy!

 

Disemballerina – Fawn (Riff Merchant Records, 06 August 2021)

 

A Stick and a Stone – Root Shock (Spirit House, 03 November 2021)

 

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Pyrexia – Gravitas Maximus (2021)

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Yes, there are still a couple weeks left in the year, but I feel fairly confident naming this the Brutal Death Metal album of the year. Get ready.

 

Pyrexia – Gravitas Maximus (Unique Leader Records, 10 December 2021)

 

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Mark Solotroff – Not Everybody Makes It (2021)

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Happy Friday! Here’s a bit of bonus coverage for you, as the vocalist of Anatomy of Habit (whose newly-released album was discussed right here earlier today) happened to put out his own solo record over the summer, which I’ll share with you now.

 

Mark Solotroff – Not Everybody Makes It (self-released, 30 July 2021)

 

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Anatomy of Habit – Even If It Takes a Lifetime (2021)

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After seven years of relative radio silence following 2014’s brilliant Ciphers + Axioms, today sees the emergence of the first of two anticipated new albums by Chicagoans Anatomy of Habit…

 

Anatomy of Habit – Even If It Takes a Lifetime (self-released, 10 December 2021)

 

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The Electric Mud – Black Wool; Blue Heron – Black Blood of the Earth (2021)

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For your listening enjoyment, a pair of recently-released EPs. One from the coastal swamplands of Florida, the other from the New Mexican deserts, and with sounds that match each location well.

 

The Electric Mud – Black Wool (self-released, 25 September 2021)

 

Blue Heron – Black Blood of the Earth / A Sunken Place (self-released, 03 December 2021)

 

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Red Fang – Blade to Waste Video Game (2021)

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Hey folks. I won’t waste my time or yours trying to introduce you to Red Fang, because obviously you are already familiar with them — American stoner rock band for the past decade and a half, aficionados of cheap beer and good times, probably as well-known for their goofy videos as for their music itself?

Well in case you missed it, earlier this year Relapse Records put out the band’s fifth album Arrows, and as par for the course, the band also filmed a video for the title track “Arrows” (which you can check out below if you haven’t seen it yet).

Once you’ve checked out these four-plus minutes of the bandmates whacking every imaginable object in half with swords, your initial reaction is likely to be how much fun this would be, and how much you would like to try it for yourself. If that’s true, well then you’re (somewhat) in luck…

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Awenden / Feminazgul – Split (2021)

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As we all prepare to wrap up an eventful 2021, here’s a quick look back at a two-band/three-song split that came out earlier in the year, and recently had a vinyl pressing announced for early next year. Both participating bands and the label that put this together are all pro-feminism, anti-fascism, and highly LGBTQ+ supportive — all of which are positions we can certainly get behind. And it doesn’t hurt when the music sounds cool as well…

 

Awenden / Feminazgûl – Split (Tridroid Records, cassette and digital 07 May 2021, vinyl expected March 2022)

 

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