We give you Louvado Abismo who are ‘delving into the depths of the abyss through the intricate layers of schizophrenia and psychological disturbance.’ The four CD celebration of electronic darkwave from Cherry Red No Songs Tomorrow – Darkwave, Ethereal Rock and Coldwave 1981-1990. My Diligence ‘blend various genres such as post-metal, psych-metal, doom, and shoegaze’. The quirky talking Heads influenced pop of Cowtown. The ‘force of raw energy and unapologetic dissent’ of Thou. Cobra the Impaler’s new album that is ‘forged in the crucible of modern turmoil and bound by the chains of classic metal fury.’ Vienna based Hardcore/metal artists Perfect Sky and Swedish psychedelic rock combo Hollow Ship. All reviewed below, have a listen and read at your leisure.
Louvado Abismo – Louvado Abismo
Half Beast Records
This is an immense alternative rock epic album with a Black Metal edge, it’s dense as Hell and relentless. The vocals are sometimes low, sometimes angry and sometimes absolutely livid screaming. It howls, swirls and chops down on top of you like a ton of bricks. A huge guitar and anger driven record.
No Songs Tomorrow – Darkwave, Ethereal Rock and Coldwave 1981-1990
Cherry Red
A collection of darkness but a rich varied palate of music, from electronic pop to dark majesty this is a celebration of goth loveliness from the decade when it really mattered if you wore black and backcombed your crimped hair. I was there on the edge, never really plunging into the deep pool of music but enjoying the shallows. This series of CDs is like capsizing a boat in the inky midnight sea and indulging all those dark romantic, sleazy sexual thoughts all at once. An essential collection for the connoisseur..black clad or not.
My Diligence – Death. Horses. Black.
Listenable Records
Dramatic, overblown and huge Metal. A nice vocal for the kids and lot’s of chugging, riffage and steel. This one is for the kids. It’s entry level metal and as such there’s nothing wrong with it, if I was young fresh faced and enthusiastic this would be the bees knees but as I am old, wrinkled and very cynical it’s not for me.
Cowtown – Fear of
Gringo Records
This lets itself down by trying too hard to emulate the much missed and classic Talking heads, to the extent that the singer seems to be channelling David Byrne for at least half the album. It’s the quirky, upbeat pop that the Heads seemed to put out with no effort and that in itself is ace, also when the female vocals are used they make the songs sparkle and shift into something fresh, enthusiastic and full of pop wonder. Time for Cowtown to slip gently away from the influences and make this sound their own.
Thou – Umbilical
Sacred Bones
This is a record of slow and sludgy obliterating noise and screaming. It is really horrible but at the same time totally stoned and beautiful. It’s not an easy listen, at times it feels like someone is slamming a door repeatedly into your head but if you persevere it really is worth it.
Cobra the Impaler – Karma Collision
Listenable Records
This is metal, proper heavy metal. Perhaps a little too perfect and technical in places for me. But even with that, this is still a very good Metal album. They do stray into Alt rock in places but pretty soon that slapped down and the metal Gods come in again. It sounds like the metal I grew up with, your new wave of British stuff and is all the better for it. Decent if you are partial to a bit of Steel.
Perfect Sky – Hunting Demons
WTF Records
This is great. A grunty pissed off voice saying motherfuckers over and over again to begin the record and then heads down no nonsense noisy hard core punk crossed with thrash metal chops. It’s ace, that’s really all you need to know.
Hollow Ship – Animated Music
PNKSLM
A Prog/Jazz fusion record. Not something you’ll hear me say often. It sounds like you think it will, Jazzy groovy soul with incessant smooth guitar widdling and measured drums. It’s okay for a bit but soon gets self indulgent and wearing.
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Louvado Abismo are on Facebook, Instagram and X as @LouvadoAbismo
Cherry Red Records are on Instagram, Facebook and X as @cherryredgroup
My Diligence are on Facebook, Instagram and X as @MyDiligence
Cowtown are on Facebook and X as @wearecowtown
Thou’s website is noladiy.org/thou, they are on Instagram and X as @nonepaler
Cobra the Impaler are on Facebook and Instagram.
Perfect Sky are on Instagram and Facebook.
Hollow Ship are on Facebook.
All words by Adrian Bloxham