Fistful of Metal – Boxout.fm India Covid19 fundraiser
This weekend is a special episode of Fistful of Metal. It is a part of the India Covid19 fundraiser stream on Boxout.fm.
My guest is Dan Tompkins from Tesseract/White Moth Black Butterfly
The stream is for 72 hours and features a line-up of over 100 artists & DJs from over 20 countries, all contributing with exclusive sets & performances to help raise funds for the current COVID-19 crisis in India.
To donate visit – https://boxout.fm/fundraiser The page will be live till 19th May.
All proceeds from the audio-only broadcast will be donated to GiveIndia, a not-for-profit organisation actively working across India to help COVID-19 patients, their families and healthcare workers at this time of extreme crisis.
Check out the full line up below
Update: The conversation was part of the latest episode of the Horns Up podcast. Tune in below.
Bandcamp Recommendations – 2nd April 2021 #BandcampFriday
New month, New Bandcamp Friday. Here are my picks from February and March
New singles from post hardcore act Pacifist. Can’t make a choice between the two so get both of them.
Since there is a new White Moth Black Butterfly album out next month. Check out their debut album. Name Your Price.
Primal death metal from a new band featuring members of the /death/doom act Jupiterian. Another awesome death metal release this year from Everlasting Spew
Relentless crossover thrash from UK. These songs would be a treat to hear live. H/t to Allfather for sharing this.
More Death metal. International act features the bassist of Defeated Sanity. 37 minutes of intense riffs and deep growls, released by the ever reliable New Standard Elite.
Canadian label Hypnotic Dirge are donating 20% of all sales today to the Raven Trust
https://hypnoticdirgerecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.hypnoticdirgerecords.com/news/bandcamp-friday-fundraiser-friday-april-2-2021
One of my favourite acts from the past decade are releasing a concept album next week. Don’t judge it by the single as the album needs to listened as a whole.
Fistful of Metal 25
2nd Anniversary of Fistful of Metal on Boxout.fm Guest on this episode, Satyajit Gargori from Dead Exaltation. We talk about their debut album Despondent, play music from their influences and what’s on his current playlist.
Tracklist
Dead Exaltation – The Psychology
Cryptopsy – Slit Your Guts
Cattle Decapitation – Time’s Cruel Curtain
Dearth – Writhing In Cellophane Cages
Defeated Sanity – Propelled into Sacrilege
SHINDA SAIBO NO KATAMARI – Ostriched Existence
Cannibal Corpse – Inhumane Harvest
Dead Exaltation – Despondent
Humanity’s Last Breath – Glutton
Fistful of Metal 24
This episode was dedicated to the memory of Alexi Laiho (Bodom after Midnight, Ex-Children of Bodom)
The set features tracks from my best of 2020 list and also albums I am looking forward to in 2021
Tracklist
Children Of Bodom – Needled 24/7
Elephant Tree – Sails
Chepang – Pahilo Bhet
Andho Manis
The Ocean – Holocene
Defeated Sanity – Conceived Through Savagery
Spirit Adrift – Stronger Than Your Pain
Colosso – Despised
Omination – Last Trisagion
Sea Sleeper – Salt
Hellfrost And Fire – Legion of Hellfrost And Fire
Vahrzaw – Waiting with the Wolves
Fistful of Metal 23
Year ender episode of Fistful of Metal. Lots of new music.
First aired on Boxout.fm on 17th December 2020
Track list
Demonstealer – This Crumbling earth
Fuming Mouth – Master of Extremity
Found Hanging – Obliterated Intestinal Pulp
Evisorax – Ascension Catalyst
Evisorax – Harsh Reality
Deeds of Flesh – Ethereal Ancestors
Engulfed – Summoning The Black Death
Respire – Tempest
Killer be Killed – Deconstructing Self-Destruction
Palm Reader – Hold/Release
Aviations – Nineties Nine Ties
Soilwork – Death Diviner
Picks of 2020
This past year, more specifically the last 9 months have been easily the toughest for me. During the initial months of isolation, Music became my main solace along with exercise. I think I have listened to more music this year compared to past couple years. Hence it was not an easy task putting together this list.
Non metal picks (in no particular order)
Impulsive Voices is another impressive release from the guitar prodigy from Down Under. This album is darker and is a huge step in all aspects. Just listen to the track Pan which features a saxophone is a stand out track on Impulsive Voices.
Rock the Highway is a great throwback to the 80’s rock sound. There are a couple of progressive tracks on the album like Identity Crisis. Wonder if their future material will be like that.
The Earth below is the solo project from Deepak Raghu from Shepherd. Nothing Works Vol. 2- Hymns For Useless Gods was my soundtrack during times of melancholy. Big step ahead in terms of production.
Bayaan is a Pop rock from Pakistan. Suno is a very catchy album that reminds me of the Pakistani Pop rock releases from the mid 2000’s
Karakoram are another good rock band from Pakistan featuring Zain Peerzada from Takatak on guitars. Ibtida is a promising release and their upcoming album will be one to looks out for in 2021.
Metal picks
#10 On Solitude, Cloudkicker turned heavy again and was totally what I needed this year. Thank you Ben Sharp for this album.
#9 ‘When I Die, Will I Get Better?’ is a seemless meld of hardcore and black metal. The album took me on a journey through the album. I especially enjoyed the lyrics and topics it covers, things we face both in real life and online.
#8 The World that was is a potent mix of Death and doom metal. Temple of Void keep getting better with each album like a fine wine or whiskey.
#7 Stare Into Death And Be Still is Extreme metal with a menacing atmosphere. A phenomenal release. I don’t think any other album has captured better the sound of the shitshow that this year has been.
#6 Mortal has a mix of all my favourite elements of death metal, Low growls and crunchy guitar riffs. Alseep Forever is a track that I will be listening to for years to come. One of the best death metal albums I’ve heard this year.
#5 Habits is one of the albums I have listened to the most this year. It’s meditative riffs and doomy vocals left me in a trance.
#4 The first time I heard Chatta, I was blown away by what I heard. Each time I listen to this album, I find a new element. This album has pushed the levels of grindcore. This album is Chatta!
#3 Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic is a Post metal masterpiece. This album made me trip/transcend to another level.
#2 The Sanguinary Impetus is a strange mix of Technical and brutal death metal. On their previous album, they did a split of sorts with Disposal of the Dead and Dharmata. This album is a marriage of both albums and pummels you into submission. An All A’s album.
#1 Yes for the 2nd year in a row, my pick is Spirit Adrift. Enlightened In Eternity was my pick me up album for this year. An album that gave me hope that there is a light at the end of this.
Fistful of Metal 22
This episode of Fistful of Metal was dedicated to the memory of Nitin Rajan
First aired on boxout.fm on 19th November 2020.
Track list
Primitiv – Squishy and Spongy
Benediction – Stormcrow
Humanity is Cancer – The Punishment Due
Bleeding Out – Mechanized Decomposition
Revolting – Defleshed
System of a Down – Genocidal Humanoidz
Ektomorf – Reborn
Psycroptic – A Fragile Existence
Inferi – Aeons Torn
Pulcha Morte – Ex Rosa Ceremonia
Liminal Shroud – Sentinel
Katla – Villuljos
