Event Horizon February 2020

Wait, what? It’s February already? Whilst it clearly got off to slow start I think it’s fair to say that the month of January continued where 2019 left off! If you haven’t yet given an ear to the likes of the few-days-old Bütcher album, or reveled in the flesh of Japan’s twin Death Metal duo in Defiled and Invictus, or sold your souls to the gods rock n roll via the new Midnight wax then you may need to run to the nearest bank and drop some cash on those suckers. Pronto! Or you can wait, add them to your list and ponder the upcoming month of February. Here’s a select Nine (among a truckload of new ones) that you might consider giving more than a cursory glance when they arrive. Enjoy!

God Dethroned – Illuminati
Released: 07 February 2020
Style: Death Metal
Label: Metal Blade
Link: Bandcamp

Since forming in the village of Beilen in 1991, God Dethroned have amassed a sizable following through the release of 10 full-length albums. After a 2 year gap, The Netherlands greatest blackened death metal band return with their new album, “Illuminati”. Illuminati was engineered by Henri Sattler and God Dethroned soundman Ortrun Poolman. Musically speaking, Illuminati offers God Dethroned‘s most varied material to date and the lyrics go back to Occult themes and the time when they wrote songs against religion, recalling the glory days of priests on pikes and bibles bursting into flame. With a cover by Polish master Michał ‘Xaay’ Loranc (Nile, Evocation) and featuring some of God Dethroned‘s strongest songs to date, “Illuminati” is conversant in the tenets of death metal, experimental where it needs to be, and indomitable in spirit. (GD Bio)

The Spirit – Cosmic Terror
Released: 07 February 2020
Style: Blackened Melodic Death
Label: AOP Records
Link: Bandcamp

Only two and a half years after the self-release of their debut (re-released on Nuclear Blast in August 2018), the trio from Saarbrücken, Germany, announces the completion of their second studio effort, due to be released via AOP Records.
After a busy year of 2018, packed with release shows at the German Party.San and Summer Breeze festivals as well as an extensive European tour with Hypocrisy and Kataklysm, bandleader and songwriter M.T. entered the Woodshed Studios in the spring of 2019, to record this sophomore release with producer V. Santura (Triptykon, Dark Fortress). Previously, the drums have been tracked at the Iguana Studio in Baden-Württemberg.

Godthrymm – Reflections
Released: February 14th
Style: Melancholic Doom
Label: Profound Lore
Link: Bandcamp

Formed in 2017 by vocalist/guitarist Hamish Glencross (ex-My Dying Bride/Vallenfyre/Solstice) Godthrymm sees the respected UK metal luminary return to his doom metal roots, creating the music he was known to help forge with Solstice (on the legendary “New Dark Age” album) and especially with the heralded My Dying Bride from the 2000 – 2014 time period. With their debut album “Reflections”, Godthrymm have unleashed a colossal slab of heavy, mournful, yet pounding traditional doom that harks back to the classic era of ‘90s UK doom/Peaceville Records. A massive step up from the debut EP, “Reflections” is the result of Glencross taking Godthrymm further into the realm of doom into more darker, melancholic, and towering realms.

Holycide – Fist To Face
Released: 14 February 2020
Style: Thrash Metal
Label: Xtreem
Link: Bandcamp

Spanish Thrashers, Holycide return with their 2nd album. Featuring Dave Rotten (Avulsed) on vocals with 9 new songs and a Recipients Of Death cover, this is intense and aggressive Thrash Metal for lovers of bands like Dark Angel, Infernäl Mäjesty, Atrophy, Coroner, Sacrifice, and BTR-era Sepultura. Killer cover artwork by Akirant Illustration (Iron Maiden, Blaze Bayley).

Kvelertak – Splid
Released: February 14th
Style: Rock/Punk/BlacknRoll
Label: Rise Records
Link: YouTube

Rise Records will release the long awaited fourth studio album “Splid” from Norwegian act Kvelertak. The record will be the first from Kvelertak since 2016’s “Nattesferd” and is their first album featuring new singer, Ivar Nikolaisen, who joined the group in 2018. Known for their previous albums being entirely in Norwegian, “Splid” includes a couple of tracks in English, including the song “Crack of Doom” which features guest musician Troy Sanders of Mastodon. The album was recorded with Kurt Ballou (Converge, Code Orange, Zeal & Ardor, Every Time I Die, Dillinger Escape Plan, High On Fire) at Godcity Studio in Salem, Massachusetts.
From the band: “We are very excited that our new album “Splid” will be released through Rise Records and we look forward to being a part of the Rise family in the coming years. “Splid” (‘discord’ in English) is a deep dive into western gluttony, our own stupidity, and the abyss of the earth.”

Psychotic Waltz – The God-Shaped Void
Released: 14 February 2020
Style: Progressive Metal
Label: Inside Out
Link: Spotify

U.S. progressive metal pioneers and innovators Psychotic Waltz return in full original lineup with their highly anticipated fifth studio album and first new music in 23 years. Titled “The God-Shaped Void”, the upcoming album and InsideOut Music debut
Recorded with engineer Ulrich Wild in the band’s hometown of San Diego, then the rest of the recordings at Studio D in Austria and finally the material was mixed/mastered by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Devin Townsend, Fates Warning) at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden. Artwork, seen below, was created by longtime visual partner Travis Smith (Katatonia, Riverside, Nevermore).

Skyforest – A New Dawn
Released: 21 February 2020
Style: Atmospheric/Post-Black Metal
Label: Northern Silence Productions
Link: Bandcamp

“A New Dawn” is the third album from Skyforest released on Northern Silence Productions. It was written entirely in the first half of 2019 and according to the band, it takes us further into the Atmospheric (Black) Metal territory that we’ve know from their “Unity” and “Harmony” albums.
Lyrically, it is about the journey into a new chapter of one’s life. You never know what awaits you on a new day…but it’s worth checking out. Many questions are still left unanswered and yet it may lead to a positive change. The artist’s continued growth into a powerful, life-affirming creator is also reflected metaphorically in all of Skyforest’s artworks after the debut, and culminates in the wonderful paintings which adorn the new album, again masterfully captured on canvas by Sergey Shenderovsky. (Skyforest Bio)

Dark Fortress – Spectres From The Old World
Released: 28 February 2020
Style: Black Metal
Label: Century Media
Link: YouTube

German Black metal specialists Dark Fortress return with a new album, “Spectres from the Old World”– After a six-year gap, Germany’s darkest sons continue where “Venereal Dawn” (2014) left off conceptually—the birth-death lifecycle of the universe as told by spacetime—but are expanding Dark Fortress’ musical horizons by descending faster and with spiteful intent into the cosmic abyss. Bottom line, “Spectres from the Old World” is more direct, more aggressive than its predecessors.

The Night Flight Orchestra – Aeromantic
Released: 28 February 2020
Style: Classic Hard Rock/AOR
Label: Nuclear Blast
Link: YouTube

Something a little ‘out left’ of normal BAZ territory, Swedish classic rock/AOR super group The Night Flight Orchestra are set to take off with the release of their intergalactic new album “Aeromantic” on February 28 via Nuclear Blast. Whilst the last one was somewhat of a let-down after the awesome “Amber Galactic” album – I was impressed with the lead single “Divinyls”, giving me added confidence in this forthcoming full length. According to the band the new album is a street opera based upon shattered dreams, broken illusions, and the fact that we are all something much less than the person we were supposed to be. But in the darkness there’s always a glimmer of hope. And from that glimmer of hope, with the right mindset, you can sculpt and create a whole lot of Swedish classic rock melodrama.

Carefully considered and selected by K-MaN

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