Crossfader

Bandcamp Picks of the Week 7/13/16

by · July 13, 2016

Here are two more stellar records you should check out, brought to you by Bandcamp Picks of the Week

bandcamp picks of the week dragged

Dragged Into Sunlight – WIDOWMAKER

Genre: Death Doom Metal

Favorite Tracks: “Parts I, II, and III”

Heavy metal is rife with with long-haired sycophants who will argue endlessly about the subgenres and sub-subgenres of metal and that this band or that falls under. Personally, I get most excited when I find bands that circumvent these discussions and defy easy categorization altogether. Dragged Into Sunlight is one of these bands, hailing from Glasgow and delivering a monolithic tower of extreme metal. Part I of this EP feels very much like something from the most ominous moments in Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s catalog, complete with small dashes of mournful violins and pianos. It proves to all be preamble for “Part II”, which manages to rip through elements of black metal, death metal, and stoner doom seamlessly in a crushing, relentless jam session. Somehow, the group spirals into an even more brutal and destructive climax on “Part III”, incorporating elements of power violence to really drive the record home. Despite having album art that looks like it was done by your weird friend in 9th grade history, this is one of the most mature and varied metal releases I’ve come across in quite awhile. You can soak it in here.

bandcamp picks of the week niechec

Niechęć- S/T

Genre: Jazz Rock, Jazz Fusion

Favorite Tracks: “Razja,” “Metanol,” “Krew,” “Trezba to zrobic”

“Polish instrumental jazz fusion” is a term which, understandably may send many listeners scurrying for the hills. Additionally, a black and white album cover with a creepy Aryan boy gazing directly at the viewer sets very specific expectations about what’s in store. In a pleasant turn of events, however, Niechęć gleefully subvert these expectations on their self-titled release and create a genuinely bizarre record. What Niechęć really excels at is playing with dramatic tension, steadily building up to incredibly intense solos and then sinking back into more mellow grooves. The bleeding, chaotic saxophone solo on “Metanol” is enough to leave anyone breathless, especially when coupled with the driving, unwavering piano work keeping things steady. Perhaps what keeps it all dynamic is that one instrument never dominates over the rest, all the core musicians in the group are given time to shine as soloists, and the solos never feel tacked on to isolated compositions but rather integral to them. This is a record that probably won’t make many end of the year lists, but is a 2016 oddity worth taking a listen to here.

Carter Moon grew up in the desolate Evangelic capital of the world and responded by developing a taste in counter culture, which eventually bloomed into a love for filmmaking and screenwriting. Carter has average opinions on most things, but will defend them adamantly and loudly until no one else wants to bother speaking up. He runs Crossfader's podcast, IN THE CROSSHAIRS.

You may also like...