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The Ocean - Pelagial
| Post-hardcore / symphonic / sludge / and then some... |
14.05.2013
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Precambrian part II, at last!! Well, quality-wise, that is; musically it's a different beast...
Are you ready to dive in the deepest of waters? Read review ››
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Lychgate - Lychgate
| Esoteric Black Metal |
10.05.2013
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Ever wondered what Esoteric might sound like if they played black metal? Well wonder no more. Featuring Esoteric's Greg Chandler, as well as members from UK black metal masterclasses Archaicus and Omega Centauri, this has literally become the crème de la crème of England's extreme metal talent. The result is quite incredible and I predict this will top most people's black metal lists this year.
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Hammerforce - Access Denied
Rock-solid, high-energy, synth-driven progressive power metal that doesn't fuck around. No heel-dragging ballads and the synthesizer doesn't sound like an afterthought, but is an integral part of the music? On a power metal album? Well, slap my ass and call me babycakes! Sign me up for another listen! Read review ››
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Slayer - Decade Of Aggression
| slaytanic thrash |
03.05.2013
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traded a copy of Nirvana's "Bleach" for this in '91. never looked back. Adios, Jeff. gonna break out the Slayer Food Mart mug tonight and hoist a few listening to this...
Picked by:
Thumbs up: |
BitterCOld
psykometal, Marcel Hubregtse, Collin, BloodTears, Abattoir, Mr. Doctor, Nefarious, wormdrink414, Daniell, Darkside Momo, Ag Fox, dismaleuphony, Fat & Sassy!
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Apocynthion - Sidereus Nuncius
| Post Black Metal |
27.04.2013
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Following on from my most recent staff pick, Vallendusk, here is another great debut Black Metal release from the Pest Productions label. This time it is of the Post Black Metal variety.
Listen here.
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Eibon - II
| Blackened Sludge |
24.04.2013
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II is pretty much what I thought it would be... 40 minutes or so of ugly, foul blackened sludge. Only instead of 6-7 tracks they crafted two 20 minute double-epics, tossing in some groovy psychedelia to boot. Rawr.
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Hacride - Back To Where You've Never Been
| Metal (melo-prog-extreme-djent-Hacride) |
22.04.2013
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With a renewed line-up (featuring Klone's drummer, no less), Hacride are back with their most accessible, melodic yet technical album to date. But, most of all, it's the emotional intensity that truly makes the difference.
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Vallendusk - Black Clouds Gathering
| Atmospheric Black Metal |
20.04.2013
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The Indonesian metal scene is more known for its brutal death metal but Vallendusk try and break that mould by showing that the scene has a lot more to offer by serving up some seriously high quality atmospheric black metal. Unlike the majority of atmospheric black metal bands that operate with that more depressive mid-tempo sound, Vallendusk differentiate themselves by employing a faster & more upbeat tempo with undoubted post & folk influences. The standout element of this record is without a doubt the excellent guitar work. Whether it's the melodic hooks or acoustic folk passages, it will grip you throughout.
Black Clouds Gathering consists of 7 tracks with the shortest track being 8 minutes long and is admittedly not the most varied record out there, so it will not suit those with a short attention span. But if epic melody-driven atmospheric black metal is your thing, I seriously suggest you give this a spin.
Listen here.
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The Meads Of Asphodel - Sonderkommando
| Your guess is as good as mine-metal. |
14.04.2013
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Quite clearly a band with no interest in pandering to the the naysayers who never wrapped their noggins around them, Sonderkommando brings The Meads Of Asphodel back to their most abstruse. Gone is most of the whimsy and the euphoric melodies of The Murder of Jesus the Jew, here we see them at their darkest, murkiest and most nuanced. Many accuse them of "stirring the shit" with regard to their lyrical content and imagery, but that's something you should most certainly read about yourself before throwing any stones.
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Anciients - Heart Of Oak
| Progressive Metal |
10.04.2013
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Anciients employ an extremely varied and eclectic mix of styles, from blues rock to black metal, that combine together so effortlessly to form what is surely one of the best debut albums of 2013 so far. Heart Of Oak is as unique & ambitious as it is memorable, and will undoubtedly be a hit with any fan's of progressive, expansive music.
Listen here.Read review ››
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Eschatos - Hierophanies
| Progressive black metal |
07.04.2013
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These dudes (and chick) hail from Latvia and play a rather atmospheric variety of progressive black metal. They just barely started out in December 2012 and already they have recorded a video, released this beauty in late January, and started playing shows. That should give you an idea of the talent in this band and their music (not to mention the killer artwork).
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Wormed - Exodromos
| Brutal Death metal |
07.04.2013
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Almost a decade since the debut album, these Spanish lunatics finally unleash their second slab of utter brutality. Exodromos is half an hour of some of the craziest brutal death metal you could possibly wish to hear. Sit back and enjoy!
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Way To End - Various Shades Of Black
| French Black Metal |
04.04.2013
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Yes, "French Black Metal" might as well become its own subgenre because, damn, it's usually that good, and this is no exception. Way To End's 50 Shades of... I mean Various Shades of Black is a complex and proggy album and one of an initially perplexing nature but it certainly yields great rewards for the persistent. To clarify, this isn't super-ultra-mega dissonant, rather it's the snaking and morphing progressive structures and avant-garde affectations that make this a bit of a challenge to start with. It's worth sticking with though as those trying moments frequently give way to a rich, mystical tapestry of sights and sounds, often melodic and atmospheric, always intriguing and surprising.
Read review ››
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