I do not understand why it is legal for motorcycles to be so goddamned loud.

I was out for a ride around town on my cycle this afternoon. While I was waiting to turn out from a quiet residential side street onto a more major thoroughfare, a guy rolled up next to me on a motorcycle. When there was a break in traffic, we both pulled out. Motorcycle Guy opened his throttle and it was just ear-splittingly loud—enough that my watch gave a loud environment notification for 90 decibels. I could still hear him long after he was out of sight.

It has been a while since I have listened to a full album of straight-up death metal, but this one sits squarely in that category.

I can’t say I enjoyed this album, but I feel like that is not the point of this genre. I’m all for the SATANSATANSATAN brand of black metal, but if I were to imagine what the in-store play music would be in hell, it would probably sound something like this.

I think this album might be my favorite metal release so far this year.

I listened to it a bunch of times when it came out last month, and then it dropped off my radar for a bit. Then I was reminded of it again by a list of April metal albums I was reading today and I am once again floored by how great it is.

Persephone is not excited about the weather. Nor, for that matter, am I.