A whole three days in a row I’ve now managed to follow through with the plan of posting small two-track collections of new music I want to recommend. I’m finding this much easier to do than the larger SEEN AND HEARD collections I usually succeed in posting only once a week — first, because I don’t agonize as much over the choices, knowing that I can make some more from my list the very next day; and second, because it takes less time to scribble words about two songs rather than five or six.
Maybe this little project is less daunting and more inviting to readers as well since it’s not such a big wall of music to confront? Just a guess.
DEATHCODE SOCIETY
I was wondering what had happened to this French symphonic black metal band. Actually, I wasn’t. I don’t really lie awake at night going through a mental list of bands who haven’t released any new music for a few years. More accurately, it dawned on me when I saw news about a new album that almost three years have passed since Deathcode Society released their fine debut full-length Eschatonizer (which you should definitely check out HERE if you haven’t already).
The new album doesn’t really include new music. (although the band are reportedly at work on a second full-length). Entitled The Armageddon Carnival, this new one is a live album, recorded during a performance in France on April 27, 2017. The band explain that it is a “no post-production edition, no overdub, almost no trigger on the drumkit (just for the clarity of the kick drums)”. They’ve also explained that the album “is the last testimony of Franz E. [guitarist Franz Enkner] playing with us,” who passed away in March, and that the album is intended as a “tribute to his unique talent”.
Recently Deathcode Society released a first single from the album, as well as a drum-cam video for the song — “The Inner Vortex” — which is one of the tracks on Eschatonizer. The video was recorded with Franz E.’s phone during the same performance captured on the new live album, and it’s loads of fun to watch.
The live recording of “The Inner Vortex” is hellaciously good fun too — savage, explosive, sweeping, storming, jolting, grand. These dudes sound as good live as they do on record.
The Armageddon Carnival features artwork by Misanthropic Art and physical editions will include hand-written calligraphy by Charles Boisard. Pre-orders are being accepted through a crowd-funding site:
https://www.ulule.com/deathcode-society/
I’m not sure when the album will be released, but probably soon after the deadline for completion of the crowd-funding campaign (at this writing, 17 days are left and 69% of the pre-sales goal has been achieved). For further info, watch this space:
https://www.facebook.com/DeathcodeSociety/
TRACK LIST:
1- The Mark of Cain
2- NooS
3- The Inner Vortex
4- Pandaemonium 1.1
5- Pigrimage
6- Seraphic Requiem
7- Nails
KORPIKLAANI
I feel the impulse to apologize for, or at least explain, the appearance of this next new song. We used to write about folk metal more than we have in recent years, but since our old friend Trollfiend retired from the game it’s become one of the least-noticed metal genres around these parts. I’ve drifted away from it as well due to a persistently strengthening taste for much nastier fare.
Having said that, I still have a soft spot in my heart (or perhaps my head) for Korpiklaani. I’ve also enjoyed the following song from their new album Kulkija, which will be released by Nuclear Blast on September 7th. Perhaps needless to say, it’s catchy as fuck, not least because of the fiddle that carries part of the melody and the accordion accents.
And although I don’t understand a word that Jonne Järvelä is singing, the grit in his voice and all those trilled Rs and hard consonants in the Finnish lyrics make it sound better to these ears than if the words had been framed in the only language I do understand.
Oh hell, you’re not getting an apology. You’re getting “Kotikonnut“. Like it or don’t, your choice.
Buy the single:
http://nblast.de/KorpiklaaniKotikonnut
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/korpiklaani