Music We Like - Amoeba.com

Discontinued (LP)

Malignancy

Excellent NYDM with an abundance of riffs and technical metal shit thrown in for good measure. This is quality head banging brutality.How have Malignancy have been able to write such ridiculously good albums since 1993, but are less well known than say Immolation or Cannibal Corpse is beyond me. Regardless, pick up this beast of an album and prepare some truly insane non watered down ear drums bleeding metal that will kick your ass. Read more

It's Inside You (LP)

Candy

Hardcore wrapped inside metal and warped round some noise wrapped in some industrial electronic cocooned in raw human emotions. This is a mosh inducing music that is both familiar like all great hardcore records but this is also different enough to exist on its own merits. It’s inside you is a more mature version of Candy, a forward thinking version of Candy. A version that is continuing to grow, experiment and redefine what it means to be a hardcore band in 2024. Read more

Funeral Sanctum (LP)

Witch Vomit

Witch Vomit has built upon their previous albums and have shown quite a bit of growth. The stand out aspect of Funeral Sanctum is using memorable melodies without sacrificing the death metal sound. The songs them selves have great riffs and enough distinction to remember the different tracks, and again I stress that the death metal is still there. In short this is a wonderful example of a band fully embracing who, and what they are without being stagnant. Read more

Pro Xristou (LP)

Rotting Christ

A long time ago in a galaxy far away there were teenagers that did not have the information of the world at their finger tips on a mobile device that could tell you whatever you wanted to know. Things took time and communication was much slower, some things took much longer to develop. However, this forced people to dig deep, to seek out to use their imagination, and develop their own ideas, their own ways, so on and so forth. I am very glad I took the time to read Non Serviam and not only got more insight to Rotting Christ but to the development of a sound that was unique to Greek Black Metal. In short the music created by the Tolis brothers (and company) way back in 1989 will not, nor should it be the music created in 2024. With that being stated, these veterans of black metal have brought into being a top tier black metal album full of their brand of hellenistic atmosphere {there’s that word again}, well thought out repetition, pacing and song composition to stress feeling over technicality or speed. This is an album that takes you on a journey to a place and time, of pre-christian values and knowledge, of pagan kings and the people that stood up to the christian invaders and said no. Overall, Pro Xristou is an accomplished piece of black metal by a band that has not only invented its own wheel but took it apart, forged something else all together. Rotting Christ continue to refine and create their own brand of special black metal that the world needs more of. Read more

Clean Hands Go Foul {reissue} (LP)

Khanate

I believe that a certain times, at certain places on earth, issue forth some sort of cosmic vibe gets sent out, that gather creative people/heads together that create something bigger than that specific time and place. Looking at the folks who found themselves drawn together (at an Isis show) to create Khanate and then the music the individuals went on to make after Khanate split up, is like trying to pin point every minute detail of why Norway in the 90’s produced some the most influential metal music ever. My laziest description of Khanate is experimental drone with hyper pissed off vocals. I do think that simplifies something that is so compelling cathartic and engaging, something that I think is trying to go beyond tangible descriptions and into the vagueness of art. But like a lot of things that can transcend the initial moment and movement of said individuals, Khanate broke up {regrouping and reforming 14 years later} but leaving behind the album Clean Hands Go Foul. I will highly recommend any and all Khanate albums for the connoisseur of harsh brutal music, and give Ean enthusiastic horns up to Sacred Bones for reissuing them on LP. Read more

Orchards Of A Futile Heaven (LP)

The Body & Dis Fig

f you are still want to read my reviews have I got a doozy of an album that is firing on all cylinders. I really appreciate when artist get together and actually make an album that takes the strength of both, and mixes them to construct something that is altogether exclusive to that particular album. This is a beautiful ugly harsh genre boundary pushing beast of an album. Of course I love it, and you will too. Read more

Nobody Planning To Leave (LP)

Shrapknel

I am left with very little to say after listening to Nobody Planning To Leave, except this is a masterpiece of music. This is hip hop at its best and should be listened to by anyone who even remotely likes music. Read more

Congo Funk! Sound Madness From The Shores Of The Mighty Congo River (Kinshasa/Brazzaville1969 -1982) (LP)

Various

Another winner from the excellent label Analog Africa. I am not an expert in any shape way or form on Congolese music, but every track on this is a funky banger. As usual these comps are well curated, full of great information and the production is top shelf. Read more

Les Chants de L'Aurore (LP)

Alcest

I’m going to get this out of the way first. This is not really a metal album per se, while it does have metal moments Alcest reminds me of Lush, Slowdive and even bits of Cathrine Wheel with a tinge of MBV to give it some edge. But Alcest is its own band with its own sound. Les Chants de L’Aurore is a perfect palate cleanser from all the harsh bleak noise I find myself listening to. This is beautiful, surreal, dreamy jangly music that is calming, full of emo and yet at the same time hopeful sounding. This album has some real depth behind the beauty, and one that is on regular rotation since its release. Another unexpected and welcome surprise of 2024. Read more

Moon's Milk (In Four Phases (LP)

Coil

I am super happy that this has been reissued on LP. An essential release for any fan of Coil or those folks who want something different that has plenty of depth and integrity. Read more

The Healer (LP)

Sumac

This is avant-garde/exprimental metal done right! Yet another album that exceeded my expectations and and continues to impress me with every listen. Read more

Infinite Mortality (CD)

Replicant

A modern metal band that has obviously studied all the stuff that came before, learned what made all those bands great and forged their own take on technical death metal, with plenty of heavy dissonant riffs. Overall this is the album that really brings forth, the mojo that makes Replicant stand out and keeps my head a bobbing. Two horns up! Read more

Disharmonic Variations (LP)

Xasthur

Well, this is about the wonky weirdest album I heard in a long while and of course I thinks it’s great. On one hand It is extremely black metal in spirit but musically I hear Americana through and through. Disharmonic Variations is so close to being a parody, that it somehow transcends that. It becomes a reflection of not only the musician but, in the way the musician/artist transverse the world. Xasthur is a very unique person and I am sure has experienced his fair share of pain, depressions and the general suck of life. He has been an artist that has followed his muse wherever it may go, and well, this is where it went. This album has grown me and I think you should give it a listen. Read more

Butcher, Baker, Nigthmare Maker (BLU)

I am not going to spoil anything about this film, but it is one of the better cult/grind house/ slashers of 1981. Severin has done an outstanding job of putting love and care into this reissue with a new scan of the original camera negative, as well as providing 6 hours of special features. One hundred percent upgrade of previous releases, and worth a night of your life. Read more

Peeping Tom (BLU)

Again, I am not going to give you a synopsis of the film, you can find it online. I will note that the new restoration via Criterion is worth it, and I have enjoyed all the supplemental features that are included. Read more

Horror Vacui (LP)

9T Antiope

Really interesting modern dark ambient folk with female vocals and an experimental edge. Read more

Musique Originale De Films: Deuxième Tome (LP)

Ahmed Malek

Incredible newly unearthed collection of classic 1970s era film music, with middle eastern melodies and lush arrangements. On the always great Habibi Funk label! Read more

The Liminality of Her (LP)

Amanda Whiting

Beautiful contemporary jazz from this talented harpist. Great grooves and gorgeous harping! Read more

Delight (LP)

Arushi Jain

Lovely ambient modular synth based soundscapes, including some sweet vocals with hints of Indian classical music which can be traced back to her heritage as an Indian-American. Read more

No Reino Dos Afetos (LP)

Bruno Berle

New Brazilian artist throws down another great new release of eclectic song stylings, on the reliable Mr. Bongo label. Read more

Amoeba berkeley Staff