We’re slowly, inexorably catching up to modern-day with these pieces! Now we tackle July, and before you know it, August will be here all over again. Time flies when we’re 3-6 months behind. Luckily, you are all such patient, supportive folks and never, ever make us feel rushed or pressured. Well done, you! Your rewards are many. See below.
We all recall the upheaval and tumult that resulted when progressive death metal crew Nothingness’ 2023 release Supraliminal was awarded a measly 2.5. Well, the band got past this undignified slight, grew stronger, and returned with an even bigger, meaner platter of deathy splatter called Godslaughter [out July 31st on Everlasting Spew]. Nothingness still attempt to marry the inventive weirdness of acts like Gorguts with the bathtub bonesaw antics of Autopsy, and while that should never work, here it mostly does. The band aren’t afraid of long-form experimentation and pulling out all their progressive bona fides, but they also remember to pummel and brutalize the listener at regular intervals. This reckless ambition makes Godslaughter a wild and twisted ride. As Ferox aptly expressed, “Like its predecessor, Godslaughter leaves a rancid mouthfeel behind as it rants its way toward Listurnalia.” Get used to being with Nothingness.
Runner(s) Up:
Black Sites // For Eternity – Black Sites came back in July with another dose of 100% pure American heavy metal that straddles several sub-genres and picks and pulls from many influences from NWoBHM, prog, and alt-rock. For Eternity [out July 17th via self-release] is a case study in quality songcraft mattering more than the specific genre, as Mark Sugar and company drag the listener through a hodge-podge of eras and styles while keeping things lively and rocking. Nostalgia meets modern-day sounds in slick, inventive ways, and the hooks are plentiful. As Dolpin Whisperer adroitly summed up, “As the fifth step in the Black Sites journey, For Eternity strikes with finesse. And sticking to a tested and refined palette of hooky, hammering, and harmonious heavy metal, Sugar has delivered an experience that, while easy to digest, unfolds new layers with each successive listen.” Pour THIS Sugar on you!
Todomal // Graveyards of Joy – The Spanish duo behind Todomal open up the classic doom sound to progressive ideas and experimentation on Graveyards of Joy [out July 3rd on Season of Mist]. In a genre usually bound to custom and tradition, Todomal fly free, incorporating whatever elements they feel best suit the music. Over the course of this sweeping platter, you will hear Goth influences alongside soft blues and even pop. One would think that would render Graveyards of Joy a mushy mess, but somehow Todomal hold everything together and deliver a stunning experience. As a well-impressed Owlswald gushed, “Graveyards of Joy pulls all of its many ingredients into a layered, multifaceted whole that grows more rewarding with every listen. TodoMal’s twist on doom may feel occasionally strange, but it’s insanely stylish and unmistakably their own.” Get your undead jollies in this here graveyard.
The post Record(s) o’ the Month – July 2026 appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.
