There is so much heavy, extreme, and beautiful metal music being conjured all around the world that it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, Metal Has No Borders has curated the best of the best, from Czech Republic and India to Costa Rica and China as well as everything in between.
Enjoy our hand-picked favorite albums, singles, and videos for April 2022 below. Enjoy and share which bands you were headbanging to this month in the comment section!
Gold Album on the Month
Et Moriemur – Tamashii No Yama
Czech Republic
Piano melodies stir the imagination, teasing a duality of suspense and tranquility. There’s a minimalist quality to post-rock, yet Et Moriemur expand such parameters to heightened, grandiose extremes with the fusion of black, folk, and progressive metal in the alluring doom-y atmosphere. Certain moments are as provocative as European medieval warfare while other musical passages allude to the weight of a Japanese seastorm. Although a few tracks significantly rock the boat harder than others, this record is best consumed in full. The dynamic journey within Tamashii No Yama has worked its way under my skin the past month and I’ve enjoyed every second of the process.
Tamashii No Yama by Et Moriemur is awarded Gold Ranking Album of the Month for April 2022
Favorite Songs: “Oshima,” “Sagami,” “Takamagahara“
FFO: Earth, Møl, Isis
Silver Album of the Month
Aarlon – Dafan
India
As English is broadly considered the universal language, I find it extremely commendable when an artist commits to their native dialect rather than appeasing the masses. Rammstein’s brash German lyrics or the calming flow of Sigur Ros’ Icelandic vocals both provide a unique layer. Similarly, the Hindi language expressed by Aarlon is distinctly smooth as vocalist Pritam showcases a magnificent range. Are the vocals the only stand-out element on their new record, Dafan? Certainly not, as proven by the emotional range expressed in the instrumentals. Altogether, this project exudes the power of a full-fledged band basking in the diversity of modern rock / metal.
Dafan by Aarlon is awarded Silver Ranking Album of the Month for April 2022
Favorite Songs: “Vidroh,” “Rok Lo (ft. Gavvy),” “Inquilaab“
FFO: VOLA, Devin Townsend, Karnivool
Bronze Album of the Month
Windrunner – Tan
Vietnam
For context’s sake, it’s important to understand how Windrunner‘s newest vocalist Nân had large shoes to fill after the departure of crowdpleaser Duong Bui. Admittedly, I myself felt concern that the band’s previous melodic / growly duality would be lost, but this recent material fortunately proved my anxieties irrational. Most albums are presented as a collection of songs, but the most impactful records masterfully convey the momentum of the tracks, no different than a curator constructs the flow of an art gallery. Tan is prime proof of such, showcasing Nân’s growing confidence as her role in the vocal throne as the tracklisting progresses. Gentle melodies enticed me deeper before pushing back with thunderous screams alike the dynamics of Stockholm syndrome. When also considering the weighty-ambient production and djent-driven riffs, Windrunner have delivered an awe-inspiring showcase of lush, dystopian metalcore.
Tan by Windrunner is awarded Bronze Ranking Album of the Month for April 2022
Favorite Songs: “Sardonyx (ft. Tobias Rische)“, “Raven,” “Mahogany (ft. Sota)“
FFO: Make Them Suffer, Spiritbox, After the Burial
Other Notable Releases:
Dusk – The Relic
Costa Rica
This is some of the heaviest music I’ve consumed in awhile. Dusk’s industrial hits are on level with Mick Gordon’s Doom soundtrack and the blackened atmosphere present is equally grimy and sinister.
Listen to “Relic IV“
Abstracted – Atma Conflux
Brazil
If you’ve been on the hunt for a sound akin to Cynic’s masterful works Focus and Traced in Air, look no further. Atma Conflux resonates with a similar diversity, meshing technical death metal ferocity with clever and occasionally clean passages.
Listen to “Between Samsara and Samadhi“
SystemHouse33 – Salvation
India
It’s a sad, strange sensation to witness the groove and thrash scenes dwindle to a niche or nostalgia. For that very reason, it’s so inspiring to hear this band kick down the door of complacency, providing a handful of modern twists to thrashy, groovy metal.
Listen to “Salvation“
Check out All Recent, Upcoming, and Past Releases by Clicking Here
Best New Single / Video
Demonic Resurrection – “The Mask”
India
It’s nearly unbelievable to come to terms with the fact that Demonic Resurrection are back with two singles already this year. Their 2017 album, Dashavatar, was crucial to my discovery of the Indian metal scene. This new track is a grandiose addition to their diverse discography as the chorus rings out, “the devil is in the details,” in tandem with powerful symphonic death metal. “The Mask” also is noteworthy for boasting new guitarist Aditya Swaminathan (Kill the King) as well as guest features from drummer Kevin Paradis (Benighted) and keyboardist Misstiq.
“The Mask” by Demonic Resurrection is awarded Best Single / Video of the Month for April 2022
Other Notable Singles / Videos:
Ou – “Mountain”
China
Inexplicably innovative and full-heartedly pushing the boundaries of prog; listen here
Within Destruction – “Nightmare”
Slovenia
A tasteful meeting of minds between excitable electronic music, catchy metalcore, and noisy beatdown hardcore; listen here
Sever – “Cold World”
Latvia
Undeniably solid arena-ready metalcore catchiness, but the music video design is what truly hooked me, listen here
Anime Torment – “Corpseater”
Czech Republic
With deathcore being such an over-saturated subgenre, the balance of groove and dissonance was spectacular; listen here