Just listen to it.

Bandcamp

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: R'Vannith, Fat & Sassy!, BloodTears, X-Ray Rod, Ivor

Ulcerate practically need no introduction on this site anymore. They are endeared with the respect and awe of almost everyone that's heard them. If you haven't yet heard them I bet you're well curious about them now, eh?

LISTEN

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Daniell, X-Ray Rod, wormdrink414, Troy Killjoy

Disappointed by the recent !T.O.O.H.! album? Well let's not forget the existence of this then. Featuring Wokis of the aforementioned !T.O.O.H.! at the helm, this wonderful little Duobetic Homunkulus EP is far more likely to appease those dissatisfied fans than anything else released this year. Not only is this one of the most creative tech-death records ever made, it's probably the most fun. It quite literally doesn't take itself too seriously; something pretty rare for the genre.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Fat & Sassy!, X-Ray Rod, R'Vannith, Baz Anderson

It's catchy, groovy, jazzy and spacey Grindcore: It's Antigama in a nutshell.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: psykometal, !J.O.O.E.!, X-Ray Rod, Darkside Momo, Troy Killjoy, wormdrink414

Can't stop coming back to this album.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod, Troy Killjoy, Darkside Momo

10 years ago today (give or take a few hours) SikTh unleashed upon the world what I still regard as a landmark album for extreme metal. Drawing on metalcore, math metal and progressive metal, they constructed a genre-defying record of unbridled complexity and brilliance which to this day has never, in my opinion, been bettered within its vague stylistic area of music.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Nefarious, X-Ray Rod, Fat & Sassy!, Introspekrieg

A V/A comp with more than EIGHTY participating artists, including Sleestak, Evoke Thy Lords, and, well, eightysomething more. All in all you get more than nine hours of doom, stoner, sludge, etc tunes. Yes. Nine fucking hours of music. Available at bandcamp for a mere $10.

All proceeds go to help to raise money to benefit Ed Barnard of Doommantia.com. After suffering with heart problems for years, Ed was hit with astronomical hospital bills which left him homeless... so it's an awful lot of doom for a couple bucks to help a fellow doomster out.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Marcel Hubregtse

I'm just getting acquainted with these Australians but damn if this first meeting with them isn't a spectacular one. A sound mix of influences from Tool, The Mars Volta, and even Dredg works wonders on me. Don't miss out on a good album.

Try "We Are" here.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: BloodTears, jupitreas, Introspekrieg, Darkside Momo, X-Ray Rod

It's funny how little things can surprise you, how atmospheric metal can be so emotionally brutal. Enter the beautiful darkness that is Dawning. It is both inspired and inspiring.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod, wormdrink414

I'm a fan of neither genre. In fact, I don't like black metal at all. This album, however, appeals to me with its varied songs, its industrial rendition of black metal (or is it the other way around?), its very changing nature. You might even call it somewhat progressive. It is very likely that connoisseurs of either of the main genres will not think much of this release, whether musically or vocally. However, for the very fact that I seem to like it, it might be worth checking out. So, if you are, like me, rather not into this kind of stuff, maybe you'll also find it interesting. Plus, it's got a sci-fi lyrical theme to boot.

Try "New Replicators" or "Shapeshifting."

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: R'Vannith, Darkside Momo

Oppressive, dark, s-l-o-w funeral doom with bits of drone here and psychedelia there. And yet another doom album to feature Greg Chandler twiddling knobs. Hopefully you can survive the 34 minute opener.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Nefarious, Marcel Hubregtse, Abattoir, Auntie Sahar

Starting out as a yet another neo-prog rock album, it goes into full-fledged folk-prog in the second track, and moves on to tackle prog metal for the rest of the album, even taking a stroll in the Symphony X territories. Who are these guys? I've no idea - every one of them a pseudonym. But at some point it's either Russell Allen singing, or someone does a really good impersonation of him. A fun and a good record, albeit a bit disjointed one.

Sample a teaser at ReverbNation.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Introspekrieg, R'Vannith

They didn't waste those 6 years that passed since "Simple Mind Condition". The new album was worth the wait, even though it's not as great as some of their old releases.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: !J.O.O.E.!, Marcel Hubregtse, X-Ray Rod

More of the same from these guys, but that's exactly what everyone should want--the groovy sonic curb-stomping Church of Misery lays down is the best thing to throw on as you, hoping to be featured on one of their future albums, plot your future killing sprees.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Marcel Hubregtse, !J.O.O.E.!, X-Ray Rod

Their best since Severed Survival. Need I say more?

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod, wormdrink414, Marcel Hubregtse, Doc G.