Mixtape: FF/RW #4 - Best of Cassettes for June & July

Up until this point, the FF/RW column has almost exclusively showcased black metal; with this installment, I’m happy to be able to broaden the scope a bit with the inclusion of Ouija Ouitch’s debut, Halloueen, which is stoner doom in the grand tradition of Electric Wizard. Halloueen was released on A Terre Records, a label out of Minnesota that’s gathering a growing and impressive roster of Midwestern bands—among them is Abyssus, a band that plays old school satanic black metal. A track off of Abyssus’s self-titled debut is on the mix, too. Tracks from Colloquial Sound Recording’s A Pregnant Light, Primal Vomit’s Black Lands, and Fallen Empire’s Tardigrada round out the mixtape.

. . .

Abyssus – S/T
Abyssus’ throwback melodic black metal is much more polished than what you’d expect for a debut demo limited to 25 tapes. By turns depressive and muscular, Abyssus’ debut draws inspiration and features lyrics from Dante’s Divine Comedy.
[Buy: A Terre Records]

Ouija Ouitch – Halloueen
Plodding occult psych doom from Michigan that’s full of hooks, Ouija Ouitch’s Halloueen was released around, uh, Halloween of last year. The first edition sold out, but a second pressing thankfully appeared a few weeks ago in the A Terre store.
[Buy: A Terre Records]

Black Lands – S/T
Black Lands’ Cursing the Light of Modern Times is three tracks of thrashing, unadulterated fury. The Floridian band’s debut demo is a strong showing of raw black metal with punk influences.
[Buy: Primal Vomit Records]

Tardigrada – Widrstand
Tardigrada’s Widrstand is the Swiss band’s first demo, and it’s a bleak and tortured whirl of mournful guitars and drowned screams. Tardigrada’s depressive black metal is occasionally more melodically complex than your typical DBM, but it sticks to the genre’s production values: lo-fi and muted.
[Buy: Fallen Empire]

A Pregnant Light – Live to Tell
Colloquial Sound Recordings (Aksumite, Dressed in Streams, et. al.) is no stranger to FF/RW, and A Pregnant Light landed at number seven on my Best Cassettes of 2011 with their powerful punk-infected melodic black metal. Live to Tell showcases three new excellent APL songs, including a cover of Madonna’s “Live to Tell” featuring guest female vocals. Incredible.
[Buy: Colloquial Sound Recordings]

DOWNLOAD: FF/RW #4 – BEST OF CASSETTES JUNE & JULY [71.91 MB .zip] (Link Updated)