Every month, I will recap the music I discovered on Bandcamp that spoke to me. I find music through word of mouth recommendations, recommendations from artists on their profile, Bandcamp editorial lists, and, occasionally, the site’s recommendation tools. These albums may or may not have been released in the month in which I am reviewing. The criteria is simply that I found them during that month. I will give each release a brief review and share the Bandcamp link. At the end of the article, a Spotify playlist of my favorite tracks from each release will be embedded. As always, you are welcome to follow the playlist, but I highly encourage you to purchase music from artists on Bandcamp.

I’m a little early with this month’s in review post, but I thought you could use a quick tour of five releases I found in December that will certainly ruin your family holiday gathering. Feel free to break out any of the following to encourage feelings of regret and disappointment in your parents.

Day Job – The Auger

Released on November 24th, 2023

I don’t want to tip my hand too far, because I fully intend to write a full review of The Auger in January. But, let’s just say I am a fan of Day Job’s brand of aggressive noise rock. I loved the Birmingham trio’s previous EP, Be a Friend, Make a Friend, and I scooped The Auger up on Bandcamp as soon as I was aware of it. Day Job let’s you know the deal right out of the gate with “Simple Machine,” a two minute punch in the mouth that sets the tone for the rest of the record, complete with gratuitous feedback, unison riffs, grindy bass, barked vocals, and muscular drums. There are moments, such as the leads in “Medicine” and “Dead Crop,” that remind me of Karate’s self-titled record, but direct comparisons are reductive.

Give it a spin this holiday season, but probably don’t show it to your grandma. She has a bad heart.

https://dayjobnoise.bandcamp.com/album/the-auger

Vampiric Coffin – The Last Drop

Released on October 6th, 2023

Vampiric Coffin’s The Last Drop is the only release on this list I’d classify as fun. Unlike many lo-fi black metal bands that forego riffs in favor of walls of washy guitars, Mississippi’s Vampiric Coffin will cram more riffs into a two minute song than most bands fit on a record. The titular opening track, “The Last Drop,” introduces a new earworm almost every 20 seconds, beginning with a hauntingly catchy organ introduction. Vampiric Coffin’s penchant for using beats that would find themselves more traditionally at home in punk settings rather than black metal makes the four song EP zip right by. I plan to explore Vampiric Coffin’s back catalog, so don’t be surprised if you see more of them in the future.

For what it’s worth, my 18 day old daughter seemed to like this EP.

https://vampiriccoffin.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-drop

Ask the Dust – Get Off Your Knees and Prey Pt. 1

Released on November 8th, 2022

Back in the land of noise rock, Ask the Dust’s Get Off Your Knees and Prey Pt. 1 is a sludgy soundtrack to nightmares and a reliable way to scare your straight laced cousin at the family Christmas party. Eschewing traditional structure, the EP is a trance inducing journey from point A to point B, taking you all the way from traditional sludge riffs in “Poison” to pure Tom Waits-esque chaos in “Murder Scene” and many strange locales in between. My favorite track, “Maggot’s Theme,” is a masterclass in how to build tension, driven by the frenetic percussion of Phil Hook to the point of a complete cacophony of abrasive noise.

https://askthedustmusic.bandcamp.com/album/get-off-your-knees-and-prey-pt-i

Vollmondprozession – Vollmondprozession

Released on December 15th, 2023

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t give Vollmondprozession’s self-titled EP a listen based entirely on the album art. There’s, honestly, almost nothing else to go on. The Bandcamp is laughably devoid of information, and the band’s Instagram account has a grand total of two posts, with one being the album art. I’m happy to report that, in this case, judging a book by its cover was the correct choice, as Bern, Switzerland’s Vollmondprozession delivers a strong collection of three moody, atmospheric tracks on this debut release. The vocals, varying in delivery from shrieks to clean singing to wails, wash over your ears in waves as you float in a sea of tremolo picked guitars. Vollmondprozession is a vibe piece, and it is a vibe I’m into.

https://vollmondprozession.bandcamp.com/album/vollmondprozession

Mortual – Evil Incarnation

Released October 15th, 2023

Mortual’s Evil Incarnation sounds, well, evil. The perfect way to convince your overly religious aunt that you are truly a child of Satan, Evil Incarnation is five blistering tracks of gutteral vocals, shredding leads, and blast beats. Seatbelts are highly encouraged, and it is recommended you keep your arms and legs within the vehicle at all times. Your only reprieve, “Inner Perdition,” is a less than one minute transitional soundscape, and you better catch your breath then, as Mortual does not take their foot off the gas again. “Sadistic Obsession” is the standout track for me, based entirely on how sick the guitar solo in the middle is. 

I lied earlier when I said only one of these albums was fun.

https://mortualofficial.bandcamp.com/album/evil-incarnation-2

No Spotify Playlist – 4/5 bands are not on the platform