Baz Underground Updates IX

Welcome to number IX of our weekly BAZ Underground Updates brought to you by Julia Katrin and Tom Boatman. Here in the Czech Republic things are starting to open up a bit and that’s brought a head-on collision between my new disastrous sleeping pattern and the need to be in work at 07:45. Fortunately we write the intro last, so all that remains to be said is we hope you’ll find something in this week’s update to feed your underground metal thirst (and now I can have a most un-metal nap).

Let’s see what’s out there…

Band: Amorphis

Since Amorphis is celebrating the group´s 30th anniversary this year but had the tour cancelled due to the pandemic, they have planned two live stream events instead on wednesday the 3rd and thursday the 4th of June titled Stream from the North Side. Available through SemiLive, the first show is aimed at the fans in America while the second is for the audience of Europe. The show will be available for ticket holders for 48 hours after the stream as well as there are two different sorts of tickets. The normal ones we know and love, as well as “support tickets” that will allow the fans to support Amorphis in these difficult times. For ticket information visit SemiLive´s webpage or checkout Amorphis´ Facebook page for additional info and time schedule.

Bands: Red Moon Architect & Crimson Sun

After having attended the livestreams Amorphis is planning, you can continue your journey of Finnish metal live streams on friday the 5th of June as Red Moon Architect & Crimson Sun plan on bringing to us a livestream in association with Dark River Festival. Tickets are available now and additional information can be obtained on the event´s Facebook page.

Saturday the 6th of June will be a special treat brought to you from the northern city of Umeå in Sweden as Umeå Hardcore TV Party 2020 plans to broadcast a livestream of +20 bands. From the information given, the whole thing is completely free of charge and all you need to do is head over to the event´s Facebook page for additional information, as well as this one to make sure not to miss out on anything.

Band: Ordinul Negru

An atmospheric black metal band from Romania with a bit of Neurosis about them (never a bad thing), Ordinul Negru have just announced limited cassette editions of their two albums “Sorcery of Darkness” and “Faustian Nights” on Loud Rage Music. Perfect music if you’d like to give these strange times an apocalyptic soundtrack. Both albums are still available in various other formats too. Click on the albums to see what’s available on Bandcamp.

Band: Diabolic Oath

Released on June 26th, Oakland, California’s Diabolic Oath have pre-orders available of their forthcoming album of pummelling, Lovecraftian black metal, entitled “Profane Death Exodus” on Sentient Ruin Laboratories (an excellent label for extreme music). You can pick this up on limited vinyl and cassette editions (+ digital files for both) here. Judging by the preview track on Bandcamp this promises to be a beast.

Band: Burzygóry

Debuting the new solo project of Finnish black metal guitarist/keyboardist Zannibal (Marrasmieli), the self-titled Burzygóry album is a little treasure for anyone with a taste for some dungeon synth. You can pick up a copy of the cassette here at Bandcamp (or if you prefer digital only it’s a mere €2). And while you’re there check out some of the other releases on Naturmacht Productions.

Band: Temple of Dread

Ok, let’s get back into the extreme end of the metal paddling pool. Testimony Records have announced the upcoming release from North German death metal outfit Temple of Dread. “World Sacrifice” is the followup to last year’s “Blood Craving Mantras” and it sounds pretty intense from the preview track. Check out the various limited edition vinyl, CD and digital offers here.

Band: Voidceremony

And now perhaps the most extreme update of all this week, 20 Buck Spin have announced pre-orders for the new release by Voidceremony. “Entropic Reflections Continuum: Dimensional Unravel” (try saying that fast 10 times) might be described as avant-garde technical death metal. Whatever you want to call it, it’s pretty extreme and pretty out-there. Check out the various editions available on pre-order here.

As June rolls around we can all be happy that at least summer did arrive with the increased sun and warmth, so it’s not like we have much to complain about in that department. But what also came with June were more events, more live streams and more offers to take advantage of while staying right at home instead of using the summer to travel or step too close to others. So as usual follow the rules, stay at home, take care of yourself and have fun, since metal is making that much easier for us! By Julia Katrin and Tom Boatman

**Please support the underground! It’s vital to the future of our genre.
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