Wijlen Wij - Coronachs Of The Ω

The sophomore release from this potent Belgian trio is a stimulating journey through four heaping slabs of funeral doom. However, this certainly isn't evil and soul-crushing in the traditional understanding of the style. With Wijlen Wij, clean vocals, suprisingly good melodies and grooves, and even a few audio samples combine to form some of the most upbeat and overall interesting funeral doom I've heard in quite awhile. Opener "Boreas" is nothing short of amazing.

Stream it on Bandcamp.

Staff pick by: Auntie Sahar
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), X-Ray Rod, Unknown user, BloodTears, Marcel Hubregtse, Abattoir

Hexis - Abalam

Recommended for fans of Lord Mantis and Indian, Hexis are pretty much the sonic equivalent of jumping into a septic tank. Proceed with caution.

Stream on Bandcamp.

Staff pick by: Auntie Sahar
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), wormdrink414, X-Ray Rod

Ea - A Etilla

Returning in full force with the band's distinct signature, A Etilla is a massive journey through a single slab of sorrowful doom landscapes. Builds up great in its pacing, and strikes an excellent balance between dark melodies and an entrancing ambient touch.

Listen on Bandcamp

Staff pick by: Auntie Sahar
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Abattoir, Troy Killjoy

Altar Of Betelgeuze - Darkness Sustains The Silence

Start your year off on a good note with the debut from this interesting Finnish group. Harsh and death doom-ish at points, but also has a surprisingly groovy edge to it, with clean vocals that sound as if they could easily fit in your typical desert stoner band.

Check out a few tracks on their Bandcamp, "The Spiral Of Decay" in particular.

Staff pick by: Auntie Sahar
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Nefarious, BloodTears, X-Ray Rod, BitterCOld, psykometal

Domovoyd - Oh Sensibility

Catchy grooves and trippy landscapes galore, the first full release from this Finnish four piece is definitely one of the better stoner efforts of 2013, as well as one of the best debuts. Has a very "lazy floating" type of feeling at many points, creating an atmosphere that's quite easy to fall back and get lost in. If that and the fantastic album art don't win you over, I don't know what will.

Turn on, tune in, drop out.

Staff pick by: Auntie Sahar
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Unknown user, R'Vannith, Deadsoulman, BloodTears, X-Ray Rod

In The Company Of Serpents - Of The Flock

The sophomore release from this two piece Colorado outfit. Of The Flock is chalk full of groovy, hard-hitting sludge, at some points darkly melodic and atmospheric in its delivery, helping to give the band a higher dimension of personality that certainly makes them more intriguing than many of their contemporaries.

LISTEN HERE

Staff pick by: Auntie Sahar
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), wormdrink414, Abattoir

Rudra - RTA

The seventh volume in a saga of quality extreme metal from Singapore. Cloaked in a layer of obvious Asian musical influences sure to interest fans of bands like Nile and Melechesh.
Check out a track here.

Staff pick by: Auntie Sahar
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Unknown user, X-Ray Rod, Marcel Hubregtse

Mörkö - Itsensänimeävä

The recent Finnish trend for the bizarre and psychedelic continues. All that's good in the worlds of black, doom, and mindfuck compiled into 35 minutes of gloomy chaos.
Listen over here.

Staff pick by: Auntie Sahar
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x)