NEILL JAMESON CAN’T SHUT THE FUCK UP: A 2023 LIST II

photo by Hillarie Jason

(One of the perennial highlights of our year-end LISTMANIA series are the articles Neill Jameson has contributed, and we’re very happy that he’s doing so again this year. This one is the second of a handful of Parts we’ll be publishing. To be clear, Neill wrote the title of this feature himself. And hey, you should check out Krieg‘s new album Ruiner too.)

Still here? Good. Don’t worry, you haven’t missed your chance to call me a nazi or SJW cuck, depending on your obviously refined perspective. Here’s the next batch of releases from 2023 you should check out. 

Your band probably isn’t here. Maybe next list.

 

Brennos “Green, Yellow, Black and White” (self released)

▶︎ Green, Yellow, Black And White | Brennos (bandcamp.com)

If you imagined demo era The Deathtrip, Cress, and the most minimalist Ildjarn recordings not done on synth you kind of get the idea of what Brennos sounds like. Stomping drums, harsh and noisy guitars and commanding vocals, this demo was an unexpected (and welcomed) surprise. I’ve obviously got an affinity for the noisier and punkish side of black metal and this scratches that itch. Plus every demo comes with a small oil painting, probably the nicest “extra” I’ve ever received with something. Brennos kind of flew under the radar and there’s still some tapes available. Great project, worth supporting.

 

Wooly Rhinoceros “Hunter Gatherer Ambient” (Lost Armor)

▶︎ Hunter Gatherer Ambient | Woolly Rhinoceros | Coniferous Myst (bandcamp.com)

We could start off by listing everything creator Myst is involved with, but that would take up most of my word count and frankly, you should already be aware of most of them anyway, but for 2023 my favorite work he released was the Wooly Rhinoceros demo compilation. Featuring three demos of lush, frozen and tranquil dark ambient, this is the only “prehistoric” themed synth recording I’ve felt was beyond a silly novelty since Diplodocus’ amazing full length a few years back. Very special release.

 

Wolfland “Nebulas” (Death Hymns)

Wolfland (Unknown) – Nebulas (Album 2023)

Sure, there’s plenty of synth projects that take you into the woods or dungeons or castles etc, but it’s much rarer to find dark ambient that goes towards the heavens and past the stars. At least ones of quality, though I’m sure some jerkoff already is dribbling precum waiting to tell me I’m wrong. Nebulas is one of those rare cases. Reminiscent of Neptune Towers somewhat, though blacker and more droning, this record is perfect for solitary nights contemplating the void above.

 

Crucifixion Bell “Mirages in Izar” (self released)

Mirages in Izar | The Astral Serpent (bandcamp.com)

And so we’ve reached the end of Crucifixion Bell’s short but prolific lifespan. You could say Mirages in Izar is, in a way, an aborted full length since all physical production was halted and the project put to rest but we are left with it digitally. I hear that’s the wave of the future. Anyway, like every Crucifixion Bell release before it, Mirages in Izar goes for the throat and doesn’t let go. A fitting eulogy for the project.

 

Akitsa “Devenir le Diable” (Hospital Productions)

Devenir le diable | Akitsa (bandcamp.com)

Jesus Christ it’s really been almost six years since the last Akitsa full length? One of the originators of the concept of mixing harsh noise with black metal that has been copied over and over again without giving proper credit where it’s due, Akitsa continue their legacy of martial, stomping black metal cruelty. An unforgiving release and a welcome return. 

 

Cruciamentum “Obsidian Refractions” (Profound Lore)

Obsidian Refractions | CRUCIAMENTUM | Cruciamentum (bandcamp.com)

I guess the whole “OSDM” thing is still going on? At least that’s what a lot of other year end lists lead me to believe and frankly I find the whole thing uninteresting, which I’m sure a lot of you are saying the same thing about my lists. But very rarely a new death metal record catches my attention, though this year has a few more than usual. But the best one? Obsidian Refractions easily. Crushing death metal in the traditional English way with some nods to Florida for good measure. Merciless, heavy and occasionally doomy, this is the real shit right here.

 

Southern Spruce “Weird Moons Over Uppsala” (The End Commune) 

Weird Moons Over Uppsala (LP, 2023) | Southern Spruce | The End Commune (bandcamp.com)

This is a difficult one to write about because there really aren’t very many projects like Southern Spruce, who have now ceased to be. Bizarre punk, outsider rock n roll, and the very fringe of black metal? These are all ways I could describe them but none of them would do Weird Moons Over Uppsala any justice nor would it prepare you for the experience. You just need to know that there has been very few like them in the annals of black metal’s outsiders.

 

Yellow Eyes “Master’s Murmur” (Sibir Records)

Master’s Murmur | Yellow Eyes (bandcamp.com)

If you haven’t heard yet, this isn’t what you expect from Yellow Eyes. Instead of their frenetic black metal you have nine different expressions of dark ambient, bleak folk and death industrial. Written as a prelude to their long awaited next full length, Master’s Murmur shows many different faces to Yellow Eyes, each one captivating. I hesitate to use words like “refreshing” or “boundary pushing” since those tend to be useless journalistic cliches but in this case there’s really no clearer way to describe this release. It’s not what you expect from Yellow Eyes, and yet it is. 

 

An Old Sad Ghost “Onion Saga” (Kajdum Records)

Onion Saga | An Old Sad Ghost (bandcamp.com)

An Old Sad Ghost continues his prolific run with at least four or five physical releases this year alone. Onion Saga is a compilation of three pieces that tell a story, possibly the first time I’ve seen the project approach anything close to whimsical in nature. For once I’m not using that term as a pejorative. Musically this is the same high quality dungeon synth this project has delivered since his first public release on the ill fated Hollow Myths label, though this time there is an obvious theme of aural storytelling. One of my favorites of the genre, I’m never disappointed when I spend my time with a new An Old Sad Ghost recording.

***

Congratulations, you’re halfway done with my shit. I think, anyway. I’m making this up as I go along so there might be four or five of these fucking things. I’d like to think I don’t need to mention this but if you find anything in my (or anyone else’s, for that matter) lists interesting, please support the artists. If buying merch isn’t your thing then at least share what you hear with others. The creative underground is already in a shit economy and the prospects of 2024 aren’t seeming too terrific.