When I was in high school, and to this day, I have never felt like I fit in with a specific crowd related to music. I have always liked a little bit of everything, from the deepest of absolute soul-crushingly brutal death metal to the bleakness of DSBM. Still, I also love Carly Rae Jepsen, and Jazz music, and just overall everything has some value and worth to me. So to the metal kids, I was always not metal enough, to the hardcore kids I wasn’t hardcore enough, and the same with the punk kids, the psychobilly kids, the alt kids, etc. I think that’s why I grew up with the nerds who didn’t listen to metal. Then I heard an album that I thought might bridge the gap. That album is celebrating its 30th Anniversary today (7/7). That album is Dream Theater’s Images and Words?
Did I lose you? I get Dream theater isn’t the most revered band these days. I mean, I’ll be honest, I don’t really keep up with them either. They seem to be focused on quantity, not quality. A lot of people blame that on the departure of founding member Mike Portnoy, but from what it sounds like this was the plan or rather the direction they had been planning for some time. Album one year, heavy touring, live album next year, new album next year, and then repeat the cycle. And they’ve pretty much kept with that process since the early to mid-2000s. I believe the last truly great DT album was 2005’s Octavarium.
Let’s rewind a bit though. January 1991 Dream Theater was joined by current and longtime vocalist James Labrie which really re-started them as a band. They had one previous album that was released in 1989 titled When Dream and Day Unite. This album is not very good. I’m sure Charlie Dominicci is a great vocalist in his own right and in some glam band he would have worked out fine, but for the intricately progressive and speedy DT, it just wasn’t working. Once James joined the band they clearly could realize the sound they were going for.
On July 7th, 1992 they released their second and still to this day best selling and most popular album; Images and Words. I didn’t hear this album until 2001 during my freshman year of high school. I was predominantly listening to the Big Four (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax) and others like them, and some death metal, and a lot of Cradle of Filth. I had also been listening to a ton of Iron maiden at the time which got me to look into more melodic and sing-songy metal bands. This is when I found Helloween, Iced Earth, Blind Guardian, and of course, Dream Theater. My first encounter with this album may have involved a trip to the Limewire if you know what I mean (how many family computers did you ruin with Limewire?) But I thought I got a bum copy because the first track, and still to this date biggest single, Pull Me Under had this weird abrupt ending. I couldn’t let it go! This is well before streaming and before iPods even. I asked my friend’s older brother to drive me to the CD store, a place called Playback Music, where when I turned 16 begged them to employ me. They did not. We walked in and they had a used copy! Once I got back to my bedroom, I popped it in and heard the same weird abrupt ending. After figuring out through context clues of the song, I finally understood why.
Every song on this record is good. Literally every song! Even the 2 minute Wait For Sleep that sets up the finale of the album, Learning to Live. Over the years I believe I have called every single song on this album my favorite. 20 or so years removed I would probably say that Metropolis – Part 1: “The Miracle and the Sleeper” is my favorite song on the album. It’s truly epic. Hell, Part 2, if you don’t know, is an entire concept album released in 1998.
This band bridged the gap between me and so many types of alternative music fans. Maybe they were just popular in my high school, I don’t know, but everyone I socialized with in varying circles all had this one album and band. Without Dream Theater I’m not sure if my taste in music would be as eclectic as it is today. Shoot, Dream Theater is the band that bridges the gap between what my Dad and I listen to.
In the 20-plus years, I have been a fan I have had cool moments with Dream Theater. In 2005 I traveled to Dallas with my friend Justin and my dad to attend the Gigantour. Headlined by Megadeth, they brought this Ozzfest-like festival tour only twice. In 2005 and I believe in 2013. The one I attended featured Megadeth, Dream Theater, Anthrax, Nevermore, Symphony X, and others. My friend and I got VIP passes and got to shyly meet Dream Theater. I saw them once in Houston, and then the next morning decided to drive with friends to go see them in Austin. I got to fly to New York City with one of my best friends in the world to go to Radio City Music Hall and saw them record their 20th Anniversary live album, Score. And while we were there, on a street corner waiting for a light to change, we looked over, and standing next to us were James LaBrie and Jordan Rudess. We freaked out…
So happy birthday to Images and Words. Truly one of the more important releases in my life in metal.
Alright, on to the best music from June of 2022!
EPs/Demos
Excavate – Imperial Horror EP
Death Metal from Memphis, Tennessee
Maggot Stomp
I don’t often refer to death metal as music that is truly pissed, but that is 100% the vibe I get from this 4-track EP. Coming in at just under 15 minutes, Imperial Horror provides death metal with very apparent hardcore influences without sounding like metalcore or deathcore. This is definitely the kind of fuck you up style death metal that Maggot Stomp is known for bringing us, and I hope they continue to lean into that direction because this release is great!
Tomb Mold – Aperture of Body demo
Death Metal from Canada
Independent release
When I first started my journey of re-discovering extreme music, Tomb Mold was one of my guiding bands. 2017’s Primordial Malignancy blew my mind. I absolutely loved what they were doing as far as their science fiction themes, and their ability to be technical without being considered tech-death. Killer production that isn’t too lo-fi, but not too polished either.
This independently released demo is under 14 minutes and consists of only 3 tracks (really it’s just 2 because the first track is very much just an intro), but the two tracks here are absolutely worth talking about this month. I just like the idea that Tomb Mold had these two killer songs ready to go and just decided to release them onto the masses independently. One thing that stands out to me on these releases is the bass work. Wow, absolutely sinister. And of course, it is always impressive when a band’s frontman is also their drummer.
Iron Tomb – Vile Retribution EP
Death Metal from the United Kingdom
Independent release
I literally racked my brain to make some kind of joke where the punchline was, “IronTomb Mold” but I couldn’t think of anything. But I felt that mash-up needed to exist in the universe. Anyway, this is the first release from the Birmingham-based quartet. While listening to this short but sweet EP, I figured this would be a side project or a band with members from other bands who genuinely know what they are doing. Especially since this EP was released in June, and they were formed in 2021. But all I could find was that the bassist and vocalist were in a very cookie-cutter deathcore band in the mid-to-late 2000s called Bound by Blood.
Wow, this band will do great things if this is their starting point. This is a pummeling mass of speedy death metal that ebbs and flows from song to song in a perfect manner. Production is great, and while the core elements are still slightly there, it still has enough punchy death metal and raging guitar work that this is no doubt face melter of the month material.
LPs
Inexorum – Equinox Vigil
Melodic Black/Death Metal from Minneapolis, Minnesota
Gilead Media
Minnesota Black Metal is a different breed. Something must be in the waters of its 10,000 lakes… Wait… is that Minnesota or Michigan **checks google** OK, it is Minnesota. I did have a “waters of Lake Minnetonka” joke ready just in case. We all just learned something. Anyway, much like their brothers in Metal, Obsequiae… **continues to do research while typing this instead of before** Oh, they’re both also in Obsequiae! Oh man, we have fun here.
Look, here is what it comes down to, the duo of Matthew Kirkwold and Carl Skildum are insanely talented. Like, putting out some of the best USBM that I have heard in a long time. This is Inexorum’s third full length and in my opinion their best to date. One of the things that makes Inexorum so unique is that they are able to tell such elegant and fleshed-out stories within a 4-5 minute song. So many of their peers need 10+ minutes to get in as much music as Inexorum does. Not that it’s a bad thing, but it’s definitely a phenomenon that doesn’t make sense until you listen to this album.
Gilead Media has something special going with black/folk metal, and right up there with label-mates Falls of Rauros, they are leading the march.
Calderum – Mystical Fortress of Iberian Lands
Black Metal/Dungeon Synth from Spain
Death Prayer Records
If you’ve read this blog for any amount of time, you know I am a sucker for album art. Whether it’s classified by the masses as good or bad, it all elicits thoughts and emotions. Before I heard a note from Calderum’s second full-length album, I saw the artwork. I think I may have just been browsing Bandcamp, or perhaps one of my many friends on Insta posted about it. Either way, I had to know more. A guy in very traditional corpse paint crouching in a cave while holding a spike-laddened baseball bat (or is it a mace/flail)? Count me in! Also, purple logos… come on! I loved everything about it and I had to know more.
This solo black metal/dungeon synth project led by a vile and dark entity known only as Lord Mortuorum, really lets the subtle synths drive the music, while backing it with absolute riffs for days. It’s punishing yet oddly mystical at the same time. I don’t want to sound like I’m repeating myself, but the riffs on this album are incredible and constantly progressing and evolving.
When the year ends, I have a feeling this will be sticking out in a lot of folks’ minds as a sleeper hit of the year.
Paganizer – Beyond the Macabre
Death Metal from Sweden
Transcending Obscurity Records
Sweden is known for having some of the most beloved and legendary death metal bands originating from the country. Bands like; Opeth, Entombed, Dismember, Unleashed, Grave, and so many others. However, I feel like one of the most, if not the most overlooked bands from that region is Paganizer. Their latest release, Beyond the Macabre, is one reason I believe they should join the ranks of those other bands because the album is not only their best but one of the best pieces of Swedish death metal over the last 10 years.
Amazing production and musicianship lay a foundation that makes this album undeniably Swedish, but also just an overall amazing album that transcends that label into being just one of the best death metal records of the year. These veterans have crafted these 10 songs expertly in a way that shows that they still love what they do.
Rogga Johansson, frontman and guitarist, may be one of the busiest men in death metal, with his discography that is stuff as legends, but if you’re only experience with him is this album, you’d think that all of his time, care, and love went into just this release. This is non-negotiable. Go listen to this album and all of the other Paganizer albums you’ve definitely been overlooking.
Wrang – De Vaendrig
Black Metal from the Netherlands
Dominance of Darkness Productions
This album may be a Black Metal record, but this Black Metal record rocks. Seriously, from the very first track, Doodgeslagen Onschuld, it’s nothing but riffs on riffs of top-quality black metal with a ton of quality lead work. I wouldn’t blame you if after listening to this track alone you’d just be calling it a black n roll record and move on. But you’d be making a mistake.
Then, preluding into the title track of the album you are met with a beautiful piece of choral work and eerily beautiful synth work that builds an atmosphere that says, “oh you think you figured us out?” And then unleashes a speed demon of Black Metal in waves after waves. Plus, I really like Black Metal that calls forth history instead of just you’re cookie-cutter satan kvlt blah blah blah…
White Ward – False Light
Experimental/Post Black Metal from Ukraine
Debemur Morti Productions
I hope when people read my thoughts on these albums they are taking the order I am putting them in with a grain of salt. All five of these releases on any given day can be my favorite album of the month. But this White Ward album is something special.
I first heard White Ward in 2017 when their first full-length album, Futility Report was released. At the time I was listening to a lot of Cascadian Black metal, and this was a recommended album from I believe Reddit. That album blew me away. While not as stereotypically Cascadian as some of their peers, this band brought to light a post-black metal experience that makes that genre label lose all elements of its cringe past and legitimized it.
At their heart, however, they are an undeniable black metal band with incredible musicianship and aren’t afraid to bend the rules of the genre. Oh, and I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned this yet. They have a fucking full-time saxophonist! Eat your heart out Rivers of Nihil!
Anyway, when I saw they were releasing new material I was so excited because this band offers such a unique experience and this album continues that trend. The opening track, Leviathan, alone is such a journey that honestly I added it to my spreadsheet for album of the year talk right as that song was ending. But then it kept going, filling me with emotions, and feelings as if each note satisfied an individual aural nerve that hadn’t been stimulated in years. The lead guitar work is riveting without the need to be super flashy. It all just fits perfectly into these 8 tracks of music. I can’t think of a better way to spend an hour.
So once again, I apologize this is late. Life huh? Anyway, thank you so much for hanging out. What was your favorite album from June? What are some of your stand-out albums from 2022 so far? let me know down in the comments or on my Instagram page. What? You’re not following Sounds of the Void on Instagram?! That’s where the party is! Daily posts, memes, and an honest safe haven for all forms of extreme music. Click the picture below to follow!
Stay Disgusting.
