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Tea[m]ster's 2014 Directory


Revised to TOP 20 but might still update...
Last updated: 3/14/15

Created by: tea[m]ster | 08.02.2014



1. Lantlôs - Melting Sun
(post rock/atmospheric/shoegaze) I've liked Herbst since Líam and this keeps that sound rolling with added vox. Gorgeous atmosphere from front to back guided by excellent production. 5.0 -
2. Eden Circus - Marula
(post/alternative) Reminds so much of Soen, Karnivool and Tool. Great writing and production, a terrific sound. Every song is different and has a memorable theme or landmark. Some huge record company better sign these guys. You heard it from me first :) 4.9 ↑
3. Moanaa - Descent
(post metal) This stuff is so good I wrote a review for it. Check it out. 4.9 ↑
4. Fen - Carrion Skies
(atmospheric black) It's a grower, don't give up on it. A more straight-forward approach, simpler song structures and very 'black". The clean vox and production are nice improvements. This is one of my favorite bands on Earth right now. 4.9 ↑
5. Pet Slimmers Of The Year - Fragments Of Uniforms
(post metal) Just dam good instrumental (very sparse vocal content) post metal. Accessible guitar frameworks translate into very notable songs. The layered guitars add some real verve. 4.9 -
6. This Social Coil - After The Day Before
(post rock/alt/indie) Something different, non-metal. I really love this album. Check out my review please. You may be tempted. 4.8 -
7. Allochiria - Omonoia
(post/psychedelic metal) Terrific mixture of post/psychedelic metal and female vox. Obscure Sphinx comparisons are inevitable. Go read R'Vanniths review. 4.8 -
8. Dirge - Hyperion
(post/sludge metal) I wrote a review, please read it :) 4.7 -
9. Irreversible - Surface
(post metal) Check out my review, it would make my day. 4.7 -
10. Falloch - This Island, Our Funeral
(post rock/atmo/folk) I don't wanna give too much away...for REASONS!!! 4.7 ↑
11. Alcest - Shelter
(post rock/shoegaze metal) Is this even metal? Who cares. Beautiful and transient odes by the indistinguishable mastermind Neige. 4.7 ↑
12. Plebeian Grandstand - Lowgazers
(crust punk/grindcore/sludge) Throw black metal, screamo, hardcore, death metal and whatever else you want into this metal potpourri of diabolical madness. 4.6 -
13. Downfall Of Gaia - Aeon Unveils The Thrones Of Decay
(black/crust/post) No spoilers, yet. Stay tuned...ok, I posted a review, check it out. 4.6 -
14. Crib45 - Marching Through The Borderlines
(post/sludge/alt) Very explosive and powerful sludgy/alternative landscapes. Aggressive electronics give off a more industrial feel too. Huge album. 4.6 -
15. Harakiri For The Sky - Aokigahara
(post rock/shoegaze) Austrian 'hipster" black metal. Yes I said it :) This genre is my new fad at the moment and this record is a prime example of the depressing and mournful melancholic compositions these bands are writing . 4.6 ↑
16. Coffinworm - IV.I.VIII
(blackened death/doom) A conundrum of chaotic, dark brutal death metal. Tempo and time changes ensure all these twisted elements compliment and play nice with each other. 4.6 ↑
17. Jakob - Sines
(instrumental post rock/metal) A successful return. Pelican-like prowess and Isis-like mystique rolled into one. They separate themselves in the crowded field because of the production and unique sound structures 4.5
18. Yob - Clearing The Path To Ascend
(sludge/stoner metal) Gigantic record. Monolithic sound. They added a bit of progression and melody this time around. A really solid release. 4.5 -
19. Kerretta - Pirohia
(instrumental post rock/metal) Much like Jakob but their is some really cool use of different instrumentation. Amazing it all works together. 4.5 -
20. Show Me A Dinosaur - Dust
(post rock/metal) Mostly instrumental post rock-ish but it has a few "surprise" moments. Great production on well-written songs. SSDB, but the sound "feels" different. 4.5 ↑
21. THE REST
22. Alaskan - Despair, Erosion, Loss
(atmospheric sludge metal) Their best release yet. Notes that create moods of anguish and up lifting, crushing massive walls of sound filled with verve. 4.0 ↓
23. Around The World In 80 Days - Euphoria
(post-something) Russia, again. A bunch of different sounds and it's refreshing. I hear, post, alternative, electronica, indie, sludge...and it's from song to song, not WITHIN the songs. Experimental to say the least. 4.4 ↓
24. Chaos Moon - Resurrection Extract
(atmospheric black metal) Excellent production for a one-man band. I love the desolate mood and atmosphere. 4.5 -
25. Corbeaux - Hit The Head
(instrumental post/atmo metal) Another case of SSDB but I do like it. Soft dynamics embalmed with loud and crushing sections. Heavy, drowned out bass and drum work. 4.1 -
26. Echoes(UK) - The Pursuit
(post metal/sludge/post hardcore) Huge debut record from the UK. Think CoL's crushing bass and wall of guitars, Rosetta's down-tuned melodies and DSHS hardcore vocals. 3.8 ↓
27. Elysion - Someplace Better
(alt rock/gothic metal) Guilty pleasure. Sometimes I need cheesy, radio friendly, over-produced mid-tempo songs. Oh, and her voice is great. 4.3 ↑
28. Fjort - D'Accord
(post hardcore/screamo/crustpunk) Something from this genre I can actually stand ; The vocals are usually the turn-off. Not so here. Delectable riffage and cohesive sound production are additives for success from this little German band. 4.0 -
29. Griefrain - Spring Illusion
(post black metal) Cold and isolated atmosphere much like Fen but the production is a bit more detailed. Bodacious and dramatic, the melodies are pretty original for a genre that's fast becoming universalized. 4.5 -
30. Have A Nice Life - The Unnatural World
(avantgarde/noise/experimental) Hazy, metallic and droning. Versatile shoegazing at its rawest. Very different for me...and addicting. 3.8 -
31. I Wish You Were Here - Observers
(post metal/space rock) Russia does it again. Mix post metal with some post hardcore with some spacey elements = a real tripped out experience to some dense guitar riffs. 4.5 ↑
32. Impure Wilhelmina - Black Honey
(post/sludge/alternative) Sludgy post metal with actual melodies. Clean and harsh vox, nice production. Reminds me of Hum and City Of Ships. 4.5 ↑
33. Lacuna Coil - Broken Crown Halo
(gothic metal) Ever since I heard "Swamped" during the ending credits of "Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines" I have been a huge fan. Not their best release to date maybe their "mystique" is wearing off a bit - it is still solid enough for me. Cristina Scabbia's voice is huge...arena rock huge. Her best performance yet. 4.0 -
34. Last Leaf Down - Fake Lights
(metalgaze) Some of the best shoegaze music I've heard in a while. The production is flawless and the atmosphere stunning. 4.4 ↑
35. Lord Mantis - Death Mask
(sludge/industrial) Loud and heavy but yet precise and a lot of detail. Songs are very memorable and I love the vox. 4.5 -
36. Moonlit Sailor - We Come From Exploding Stars
(post rock) Pure, unique sounding post rock ala GIAA and EITS, you can get all their stuff FOR FREE on their BC page. 3.9 -
37. Mortals - Cursed To See The Future
(sludge/doom/drone) All female outfit playing thick, dense music. The production is great and the aura is monolithic. 4.0 ↓
38. Nasheim - Solens Vemod
(atmospheric black metal) One-man band creating mystifying soundscapes making you feel like you are trudging through a dreamlike timberland. For fans of Fen and the like. 4.3 -
39. Nux Vomica - Nux Vomica
(experimental/post black metal) A really incredulous mixture of genres. Three loooong songs displaying an assortment of sludge, post, punk, black and psych ideas. You will need some serious stamina to trudge through them all. 3.8 -
40. Relic Point - VIXI
(blackened sludge/doom) High quality release from Russia. Song structures are basically all the same but have enough tempo changes to hold your attention. Feel the hatred. 4.2 ↓
41. Rolling Through The Universe - Machines In The Sky
(sludge/doom metal) Loud, drawn out and expansive, this shit from the oaks of the American Northwest is as dreary as their homeland. 4.1 -
42. Schematics For Gravity - Absence Of Weight
(instrumental post rock/metal) Good variety of songs and clean production from this veteran group. Plenty of build ups and atmospheric surprises. 4.5 -
43. Sleepstream - They Flew In Censored Skies
(instrumental post rock) Building on their debut, this post rock band from Greece has all the intangibles to hang with the big boys in the crowded post genre. 4.0 ↓
44. Thaw - Earth Ground
(experimental black metal) My black metal has to be like this. A ton of different elements and ingredients and yet some melody if you listen closely. Poland does it again. 4.4 -
45. The Mire - Glass Cathedrals
(post/prog) Precise mixture of progressive metal's tight compositions and post metal's lush landscapes and aesthetic appeal. Waited 3 years for this. 3.7 -
46. Thou - Heathen
(sludge/doom) Layers of organized guitar fuzz and deep, impenetrable bass and drums lay the ground work for some caustic sludge metal. Beware, it's heavy as fuck. 4.5 ↓
47. Tides Of Man - Young and Courageous
(instrumental post rock) SSDB, but this sticks out in the crammed post-rock crowd, probably because of the shade of prog metal camouflaged in the music. 3.8 -
48. Wayfarer - Children Of The Iron Age
(atmospheric black metal) Underrated and huge year-end surprise. Shit is right up my alley and is exactly the kind of sullen, dark aura I want. Very memorable 4.5 -
49. Winds With Hands - Untitled
(instrumental post metal) Nothing ground breaking but I so love that Isis sound. A soothing semblance of dark, sullen atmosphere reverberates through the music. Plug in, sit back and chill. 4.6 -
50. When Icarus Falls - Circles
(post metal/atmospheric sludge metal) Another CoL clone done very well. This EP has a small but impressive array of songs covering everything from astral moments to dark and haunting riffage to thick bass lines and drums. Hopefully this is a prelude to a huge LP. 3.9 -
51. Whirr - Sway
(post rock/shoegaze) These veterans are back with another sad, gazy romp through gloom-ville . Production is a bit "clearer" this time - it may put off fans. 4.5 -
52. Yarn Of Norna - Ronové
(atmospheric sludge metal) Along with Poland I think Russia is right in the midst of a post metal uprising. I like when bands trend back to that old CoL sound. Nothing fancy but powerful waves of layered guitars, deep bass and a man screaming his head off. 4.0 -



Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
[ More lists by tea[m]ster ]



Comments page 2 / 2

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Comments: 51   Visited by: 111 users
13.09.2014 - 00:47
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Written by Góral on 12.09.2014 at 13:37

I just realised ION debut isn't here. I'm sure you will enjoy it: link


I will check it. Thanks for the rec!
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rekt
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09.10.2014 - 01:15
Coolingsrock

I only have one album from this whole list lol. That means I'll be back to check some of this stuff out.
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30.10.2014 - 10:44
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Written by Coolingsrock on 09.10.2014 at 01:15

I only have one album from this whole list lol. That means I'll be back to check some of this stuff out.


Added some more stuff....keep at it!
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rekt
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30.10.2014 - 17:02
Ilham
Giant robot
I really have to thank you for that Fjort album. I am in serious need of good post-hardcore/screamo/emo like that. If you know another band that does exactly the same thing, you're more than welcome to share.
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31.10.2014 - 03:02
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Written by Ilham on 30.10.2014 at 17:02

I really have to thank you for that Fjort album. I am in serious need of good post-hardcore/screamo/emo like that. If you know another band that does exactly the same thing, you're more than welcome to share.


As a matter of fact, I am listening to this right now...has a bit more "post" than "hardcore" but it may suit you...

http://thisiserrata.bandcamp.com/album/lautre-hemisphere
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rekt
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06.11.2014 - 01:19
Ilham
Giant robot
Sorry Jay I haven't listened to Errata yet, but you should know about this, if you liked Fjort I can see you liking this :


Yes Joe I love this cover

LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN

Edit: Also, there are parts that could be described as post-metal, not just post-hardcore. I'm sure I just sold it to you.
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06.11.2014 - 01:35
Darkside Momo
Retired
You should check that latest Nojia EP, which should be right up your alley

Also, if you haven't already, give a listen to Nero Di Marte. While using different elements (but with a same post-stuff root), they have quite a similar soundscaping approach to Eryn Non Dae. (no wonder the two bands are friends and like each other's stuff, really )
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My Author's Blog (in French)


"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you"

"I've lost too many years now
I'm stealing back my soul
I am awake"
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06.11.2014 - 01:43
Ilham
Giant robot
If it's similar to Eryn Non Dae, I might get on the same boat as Jay and listen to Nojia. That Meliora album just blew me away. Thanks Seb.
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06.11.2014 - 02:07
Darkside Momo
Retired
Written by Ilham on 06.11.2014 at 01:43

If it's similar to Eryn Non Dae, I might get on the same boat as Jay and listen to Nojia. That Meliora album just blew me away. Thanks Seb.

Well, no. Nojia isn't similar to END., (it's instrumental prog/post rock/metal), however it features one END. member. Nero Di Marte is. Well, sort of. I still can't pinpoint exactly WHERE, apart from their soundscaping approach. It's really weird, I kinda want to say they have the same way of using volumes of sound and shaping them, with sometines similar, sometimes different, elements. It's actually frustrating not to be able to describe it better than that
----
My Author's Blog (in French)


"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you"

"I've lost too many years now
I'm stealing back my soul
I am awake"
Loading...
06.11.2014 - 02:11
Ilham
Giant robot
Written by Darkside Momo on 06.11.2014 at 02:07

Well, no. Nojia isn't similar to END., (it's instrumental prog/post rock/metal), however it features one END. member. Nero Di Marte is. Well, sort of. I still can't pinpoint exactly WHERE, apart from their soundscaping approach. It's really weird, I kinda want to say they have the same way of using volumes of sound and shaping them, with sometines similar, sometimes different, elements. It's actually frustrating not to be able to describe it better than that

Haha I'm so sorry, I mixed Nojia with Nero Di Marte, it's my bad. Your description is fine, I can totally picture why you recommended it to Jay.
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06.11.2014 - 02:17
Darkside Momo
Retired
Written by Ilham on 06.11.2014 at 02:11

Written by Darkside Momo on 06.11.2014 at 02:07

Well, no. Nojia isn't similar to END., (it's instrumental prog/post rock/metal), however it features one END. member. Nero Di Marte is. Well, sort of. I still can't pinpoint exactly WHERE, apart from their soundscaping approach. It's really weird, I kinda want to say they have the same way of using volumes of sound and shaping them, with sometines similar, sometimes different, elements. It's actually frustrating not to be able to describe it better than that

Haha I'm so sorry, I mixed Nojia with Nero Di Marte, it's my bad. Your description is fine, I can totally picture why you recommended it to Jay.

Nojia was an easy pick indeed Saw and discovered them recently (report incoming), and I was really pleasantly surprised
----
My Author's Blog (in French)


"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you"

"I've lost too many years now
I'm stealing back my soul
I am awake"
Loading...
07.11.2014 - 03:00
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Written by Ilham on 06.11.2014 at 01:19

LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN


I just listened to the first song - boy that was fast - and it definitely sounds like something I'd enjoy. I will get around to a more thorough listen of the album this weekend. Thanks for the rec.
Oh and props to you for remembering Eryn Non Dae. I recall you liking it. It really is a nice hidden gem.
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rekt
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07.11.2014 - 03:03
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Written by Darkside Momo on 06.11.2014 at 01:35

You should check that latest Nojia EP, which should be right up your alley

Also, if you haven't already, give a listen to Nero Di Marte.


Thanks for the recs DM. I will listen to the Nojia release this weekend. As far as NdM, I have heard great things about it. The album is in my music folder, just haven't gotten around to it yet. Stay tuned.
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rekt
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07.11.2014 - 03:04
Darkside Momo
Retired
Written by tea[m]ster on 07.11.2014 at 03:03

Written by Darkside Momo on 06.11.2014 at 01:35

You should check that latest Nojia EP, which should be right up your alley

Also, if you haven't already, give a listen to Nero Di Marte.


Thanks for the recs DM. I will listen to the Nojia release this weekend. As far as NdM, I have heard great things about it. The album is in my music folder, just haven't gotten around to it yet. Stay tuned.

----
My Author's Blog (in French)


"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you"

"I've lost too many years now
I'm stealing back my soul
I am awake"
Loading...
24.11.2014 - 02:47
Ilham
Giant robot
Written by tea[m]ster on 31.10.2014 at 03:02

As a matter of fact, I am listening to this right now...has a bit more "post" than "hardcore" but it may suit you...

http://thisiserrata.bandcamp.com/album/lautre-hemisphere

I'm a bit on the fence with this one. I found it a little too long, and the vocals became too much for me after a certain point. Otherwise, very nice find it. Thanks Jay .
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19.12.2014 - 01:34
Diverge

Have an AOTY yet?
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25.12.2014 - 20:06
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Written by Diverge on 19.12.2014 at 01:34

Have an AOTY yet?

I gotta re-do the list but I think my top 5 is set:

5. Allochiria - Omonoia
4. This Social Coil - After The Day Before
3. Pet Slimmers Of The Year - Fragments of Uniforms
2. Moanaa - Descent
1. Lantlos - Melting Sun

My list isn't and never will be as diverse as yours and say JOOE's. I am pretty restricted to what I enjoy now. I really appreciate your curiosity about what I am digging. It was a tough choice for number one. Moanaa really can make a claim for the top spot.

You have a top 5 yet?
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rekt
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26.12.2014 - 06:11
Diverge

Written by tea[m]ster on 25.12.2014 at 20:06

Written by Diverge on 19.12.2014 at 01:34

Have an AOTY yet?

I gotta re-do the list but I think my top 5 is set:

5. Allochiria - Omonoia
4. This Social Coil - After The Day Before
3. Pet Slimmers Of The Year - Fragments of Uniforms
2. Moanaa - Descent
1. Lantlos - Melting Sun

My list isn't and never will be as diverse as yours and say JOOE's. I am pretty restricted to what I enjoy now. I really appreciate your curiosity about what I am digging. It was a tough choice for number one. Moanaa really can make a claim for the top spot.

You have a top 5 yet?

Man I really dig your lists. I find them far more focused than my own. I honestly haven't heard any of those albums in full so I want to do my best and check them out. Moanaa was really good when I gave it a skim awhile ago, though.

My album of the year is Qualeaceans' debut, although I doubt it will be up your alley. That Kayo Dot one is phenomenal, though, if you want to check it out.
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01.01.2015 - 18:12
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Written by Diverge on 26.12.2014 at 06:11

My album of the year is Qualeaceans' debut, although I doubt it will be up your alley. That Kayo Dot one is phenomenal, though, if you want to check it out.

Thanks for the recs. My list has been updated to a top 20. I probably will tinker with it - I am not quite ready for 2015 yet, lol.
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rekt
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01.01.2015 - 19:39
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Written by Ilham on 06.11.2014 at 01:19

Sorry Jay I haven't listened to Errata yet, but you should know about this, if you liked Fjort I can see you liking this :

Thanks for the rec, I am enjoying this. Keep em coming!
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rekt
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02.01.2015 - 20:04
basquetal

Almost everything in your top 20 list, is post-something. I guess that your favourite music style is post metal/rock hahaha
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