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Staff picks


Shining - Redefining Darkness
20.10.2012 | Progressive Black Metal

I'll be honest with all of you: After albums like VI, their cover EP and worst of all: VII, I really felt that Shining didn't have it in them anymore and should just die.
I don't mind eating my words with a pound or two of shit as long as I can do it while listening to this album.

Shining is back.
Picked by:
Thumbs up:
Mr. Doctor
DerRozzengarten
Indesinence - Vessels Of Light And Decay
19.10.2012 | Death/Doom

Without a doubt one of the best death/doom releases of the year! But don't just take my word for it, go listen to it here. You will not be disappointed.
Picked by:
Thumbs up:
Nefarious
Daniell, !J.O.O.E.!, Mr. Doctor, DerRozzengarten, wormdrink414, Marcel Hubregtse, Abattoir, BloodTears, BudDa, Ag Fox, nikarg
Anaal Nathrakh - Vanitas
16.10.2012 | Industrial Black Metal/Grindcore

December 21st was 67 days early.

Listen here.
Picked by:
Thumbs up:
J. N.
Mr. Doctor, DerRozzengarten, wormdrink414, Baz Anderson, !J.O.O.E.!, psykometal, Ag Fox, Darkside Momo, Abattoir, Promonex
De Magia Veterum - The Deification
16.10.2012 | Insanity moulded into sound

Chaos = Beauty

Picked by:
Thumbs up:
!J.O.O.E.!
Mr. Doctor, DerRozzengarten, Susan, Ag Fox
Vindicator - United We Fall
11.10.2012 | Thrash

Doesn't take no Mensa shit to figure this one out: You like riffs? You'll like this.

Listen to it in full here
Picked by:
Thumbs up:
wormdrink414
Daniell, Mr. Doctor
Skogen - Eld
05.10.2012 | Atmospheric Black Metal

Atmospheric black metal of the highest quality!

These Swede's don't try & reinvent the wheel, but they know what they are doing & do it well. This is a multi-layered, mid-paced black metal record that incorporates acoustic passages and clean chants with a beautiful yet sombre atmosphere. With a total running time of 60 minutes & with only one track clocking in under six & a half minutes it won't suit everyone's tastes, but If you are willing to invest the time & soak in all the layers on offer you will be rewarded with a truly great listening experience.
Picked by:
Nefarious
Abske Fides - Abske Fides
02.10.2012 | Doom

Beneath Brasil's beaches with topless goddesses and tropical drinks, behind the mask of Carnival, you have rampant poverty, crime, and slums. A dark side concealed under the sheen of tourist hotels and beaches. In other words, a great breeding ground for some awesome doom... enter Abske Fides.

Read review ››
Picked by:
Thumbs up:
BitterCOld
Ag Fox, Susan, Marcel Hubregtse, Nefarious, Dane Train, Mr. Doctor, Abattoir, BloodTears
Kong - Merchants Of Air
23.09.2012 | Prog

I wonder why I haven't heard of Kong before as this mostly instrumental outfit apparently goes back a while. The music of Kong blends influences from electronica and industrial with prog metal. Some of it packs a punch. Oh, those riffs and those rhythms!

Listen to the whole album on their Bandcamp page. If you're looking for a recommendation, take "Astral Calls."
Picked by:
Thumbs up:
Ivor
Marcel Hubregtse, Darkside Momo, Dane Train, !J.O.O.E.!, Ag Fox, Mr. Doctor
Midnight - Complete And Total Hell
22.09.2012 | Speed/Black

A compilation of blackened Motörhead-worship from an Ohioan outfit that completely destroys.

Click here for the tunes.
Picked by:
Thumbs up:
wormdrink414
!J.O.O.E.!, Marcel Hubregtse, Fat & Sassy!, Mr. Doctor
Ancestors - In Dreams And Time
16.09.2012 | Stoom

I don't delve deep into either stoner or doom. But albums such as this make the occasional forays so much more worthwhile. Doomy atmosphere with a drive of a stoner rock is how I like it to be served. This is no less than a stellar release.

Just listen to "On The Wind" here.
Picked by:
Thumbs up:
Ivor
Ag Fox, Daniell, wormdrink414, Marcel Hubregtse, Dane Train, Mr. Doctor, Susan, !J.O.O.E.!, BudDa, Introspekrieg
Threshold - March Of Progress
15.09.2012 | Progressive metal

This is how it should be: long, nice and easy, and sinewy. I'm talking about good prog, of course. And that is exactly what you'll find in March Of Progress. No big tricks, just good songs really.
Picked by:
Thumbs up:
BloodTears
Ag Fox, Ivor, Introspekrieg, Milena, Nefarious
Hooded Menace - Effigies Of Evil
12.09.2012 | Death/Doom

Perhaps a tad weaker than their older releases, but still a joyride full of creepy melodies that creep out from between heavy-as-lead riffs.
Picked by:
Thumbs up:
Daniell
Marcel Hubregtse, Mr. Doctor, wormdrink414, BloodTears, Susan, BudDa
Ørkenkjøtt - Ønskediktet
11.09.2012 | Proggy shizz

Both progressive and extreme and original! Oh fuck, those are three things. Nevermind. Why haven't I picked this before? Because I'm an idiot, that's why.
Disclaimer: There are no actual horses playing pianos on this album.
Picked by:
Thumbs up:
Milena
Nefarious, !J.O.O.E.!, Ivor, Introspekrieg, BloodTears, Mr. Doctor, Troy Killjoy
Sunn O))) - Rehearsal Demo Nov 11 2011
08.09.2012 | Drone Doom

Meat and potatoes Sunn O))). Stripped down, roughly-cut drone in its purest form with some curious Russian film samples (Posetitel muzeya) scattered here and there, giving it a strangely Soviet edge.

Picked by:
Thumbs up:
!J.O.O.E.!
Mr. Doctor
Unipolar Manic-Depressive Psychosis - Psychodelicus Decibeli
06.09.2012 | Avantgarde / Extreme Prog

In line with most of my picks, we're in front of some pretty unique form of metal here that's relatively unknown. Alchemist is the most legitimate name drop I could do for you to get a rough idea of how this sonic-bomb sounds.

Or you can just go here (and thank me right away).
Picked by:
Ag Fox