Welcome to a new year of Metal Morsels! I trust you’ve had enough of enforced boozing and eating and are all ready for some ear-flaying underground music to see yourselves noisily into 2025! As ever, I hope you enjoy just some of what we’ve come up with for the first mouthful of morsels in 2025 – have a listen!
PUTRID DEFECATION
Toilet Slam!
Some of you with enough circuits around the sun will remember a lavatory-obsessed hardcore band from the UK who went by the name of Chainsaw Enema; Well, now we have Finnish fecal fans Putrid Defecation, who take scatological metal to the next level…
Track titles like Airborne Backdoor Evacuation and the superbly-monikered Erfurt Latrine Disaster will give you some idea where these blokes are headed, but as you know we’re all about the music here at MMM and I’m pleased to report that Putrid Defecation have come up with some nice chunks of grinding death to accompany the poo-based humour. The churning Whirlwind of Excrement is probably the best of the seven musical stools on offer, although the groovy charms of Unremitting Hematochezia are pretty hard to resist too. At the end of the day, though, this is Marmite stuff, and if you like one of the tracks here you’ll love em’all – and vice versa. All hail the New Kings of Brown Metal!
FRAU FLEISCHER
Italian label Wormholedeath has announced the signing of French industrial metal project Frau Fleischer, who will release their first album for the label towards the end of next month.
As evidenced by the track I’ve attached for your delectation below, they present an exciting mix of melody, cyber rhythms and good, old-fashioned guitar crunch; for the upcoming new album the band promise, and I quote: “A thrilling blend of metal, future pop, and industrial vibes, enriched by nostalgic echoes of eighties and nineties dance music”.
The band’s new label adds: “Frau Fleischer draws inspiration from a diverse palette of influences, including the heavy-hitting riffs of Slipknot, the atmospheric flair of Depeche Mode, and the ethereal sounds of Dead Can Dance. The raw energy of VNV Nation and the gritty edge of bands like Rammstein and are woven throughout their music, creating a sound that is distinctly their own”.
The band has slimmed from a trio to just core members Greg and Franz, and, though I’m automatically predisposed to viewing duos with more than a bit of suspicion, I have to say I’m enjoying what I’m hearing so far from Frau Fleischer. Have a listen for your self and see what you think!
BERGTHRON
Three decades ago, enigmatic Germans Bergthron set sail on their first of seven proposed epic journeys, from the whispering woods of their Saxon homes to the icy realms of the Arctic Circle. Here, among the pack ice, they’ve chosen to unearth not just artefacts but tales untold, embodying explorers more than musicians. This approach explains the long fifteen-year radio silence that had fans yearning for a whisper of their next move.
Bergthron, still shrouded in mystery, has united again solely for these perhaps final expeditions, possibly dispersing like fog again once the adventures conclude. This aura of mysticism has always been their hallmark, and now, celebrating their thirtieth anniversary, they break the silence at last with a new album entitled Neu Asen Land.
The band stirred from hibernation to issue this Statement: “Neu Asen Land isn’t your everyday metal album. Following (2010 offering, Expedition) Autarktis, we consciously stepped away from the genre’s clichés. We experimented with various song styles – some echoing …Autarktis, others venturing into electronic territory, but none made the cut. Our discontent led us to question what music would sound like if it were an entirely internal creation, free from external influences. That introspection prompted a ten-year hiatus, an eternity to rediscover our musical roots. We knew returning to form was almost an impossible feat, likely doomed from the start. Yet, we entered the studio rejuvenated, driven by a youthful zeal, free from expectations. In an era where metal is expected to be polished and AI-enhanced, we chose authenticity over perfection. We didn’t chase the conventional song structures, perhaps akin to a ‘Neil Young of metal,’ crafting music that’s genuinely handmade and unafraid to take risks.”
Well, they certainly achieved some of their goals, though I’m damned if my battered old ears can hear ol’ Crazy Horse yammering away anywhere on Neu Asen Land. What I did hear was indeed a refreshing take on the progressive black metal theme, made by musicians for whom the art is everything and damn the torpedos! It’s one of those records that reveals something new every time you listen, and you don’t need to be steeped in Bergthron lore to enjoy it – so you’ve got no excuse not to get involved!
SIDEWINDER
Leeds thrashers Sidewinder’s latest EP is set for release in early 2025 and comes out swinging, with tracks about Starship Troopers, Chaos Space Marines and Gears Of War.. there’s some Sci-Fi shredding happening!
Title track March Of The Eternal Heretic features Inhuman Nature frontman Christopher Barling and is the icing on the cake of an EP that shows just what these Leeds locals have to offer, and why they are in such high demand on the UK underground circuit.
An exciting crossover band from Yorkshire in the North of England, Sidewinder emerged onto the music scene in early 2023. The band was formed by five passionate musicians, each bringing their own unique style and energy to the mix. The lineup consists of Damo on vocals, Ginner and Jonesy on guitars, Finch on bass, and Gaz on drums; their shared love for blending genres quickly forged a dynamic and powerful sound that defies easy categorisation.
Since their formation, the band has rapidly gained attention in the local music scene with their electrifying live performances and energetic stage presence. They have played at numerous local and national venues, earning a growing fanbase and critical acclaim for their innovative sound and dynamic performances. As they look to the future, Sidewinder are aiming to expand their reach to include larger festivals and venues around the UK and beyond.
That’s it for now – see you in two weeks!
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