Weekly Round-Up (Dec 20th 2013) Part 1.

This is the first of what I'm hoping to make a regular (weekly) feature on this here blog. I've thought about it and I reckon that this will save me trying to find the time and energy to review one band at a time or post random videos on facebook every 5 minutes...of course, there will be exceptions that I just HAVE to post straight away, but I will try to show some restraint and self-control.

Disclaimer: The following music will not necessarily have been released this week, but it is new to me.

As there has been so much exceptional new music this week, I will be posting a second part tomorrow or Sunday.

Beastmilk

I posted a couple of videos by this Finnish band on Facebook yesterday, but if you missed them, read on. They call themselves "Apocalyptic Post-Punk", but I'm not entirely sure that this is an accurate description. In fact, I'm sure it isn't. They have a whole host of influences from The Smiths, Joy Division and Bauhaus through to Killing Joke, Talk Talk and Sisters Of Mercy, so the underlying style here is very much an 80's gloomy, gothic, dark pop. Beastmilk are not just another throwaway retro band though. They manage to bring together their influences and use them to create something fresh, modern and interesting. One of the best new bands I've heard in '13.

Avatarium

Candlemass mainman and mastermind, Leif Edling returns to the fray with his new band following the Swedish Doom Metal legends' (studio) demise. In some ways, it is pretty much what you might expect from Edling -  Majestic, Sabbath-worshipping Doom Metal, but there is a hidden depth to Avatarium. For one, the band is fronted by an exceptionally talented, unknown (to me, at least) female powerhouse of a vocalist which gives them an added dimension and a gives the band a whole new dynamic (similar, at times, to the brilliant Black Moth). Then we come to the songs structures -  They are more varied and complex than the standard Candlemass fare, featuring some interesting forays into more Opeth-esque Prog Rock territory in places and some nice instant melodies. More diverse than Candlemass, then, but fans of the band should find much to sink their teeth into.

Doyle

When I heard that the former Misfits guitarist was about to unleash a solo album, I was expecting a straight forward Horror Punk record in the vein of said previous band. What I actually got was something much more interesting: There ARE Horror Punk elements here, most noticeably in the lyrics (which are very much what you might expect), but the whole thing is wrapped up in a Groove Metal cloak. This is as much Damageplan as it Misifts. If this sounds interesting, it should do. Edgier than Danzig's recent output with better songs than the Misfits have written in years and with more balls than Wednesday 13, this is something rather special.