Tuesday Teardown: Panopticon, Hooded Menace and Krallice
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Tuesday Teardown: Panopticon, Hooded Menace and Krallice

Tuesday Teardown is back and in a new format. Rather than review a single album, I figured it’d be better to post up quick reviews on albums that recently came out, in various genres. They’ll all be metal(ish) and they’re all worthy of a record store visit. Starting off with Panopticon‘s newest LP, Kentucky. Just listen to that opener. Since when has black metal and blue grass waltzed hand in hand through the forests of Kentucky? Believe it or not, it works. Really well.

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Kentucky even has a cover of “Come All Ye Coal Miners” by Sarah Ogan Gunning, which arguably has been around for longer than Ms. Gunning even.

For a more traditional blast beat fest, seek out tracks like “Bodies Under the Falls” and “Killing the Giants as They Sleep”. Kentucky, as a whole plays effortlessly, bringing two genres of music together that, I would have never expected. While it may not be for everyone, it’s certainly worth the rotation. Pick the 2xLP up at your local shop or here at Pagan Flames.

Next up, Hooded Menace’s third LP, Effigies of Evil has crawled its way from the crypt and into the Relapse Record camp and let me tell you, it’s fucking amazing. I know I say that every time Hooded Menace has a new release but if you like death doom with a bit of horror clips tossed into a blender, do not miss out on Effigies of Evil.

Order the limited pressing 2xLP at Relapse or at your local shop NOW!

NYC Black Metal owes a lot to Krallice. Without them, we’d be stuck with Liturgy. Ew. Every single album this band has put out has had three strengths: concept-heavy, solid production and playability. For their newest release, Years Past Matter, the band takes its crescendo of blast beats and tremolo picking to the stars.

The opener begins its ascent and without being all Alcest about it, there’s something emotional going on. But that’s where it stops. Don’t confuse Years Past Matter with shoegaze. This is black metal through and through. As in, it enters and exits matter with ferocity and confidence, something Krallice has been building on for years.

As someone who’s seen the band play in NYC numerous times over the years, at various benchmarks in their career, I can say with confidence this is their most cohesive release. So head to your local shop and pick it up. Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, there isn’t a vinyl pressing available yet. So head to the band’s Facebook to keep up on current events.