Chaos = Beauty

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod, KwonVerge, Susan, Ag Fox

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.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod

What part of "Dissonance Incarnate" did you not understand?

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod, Introspekrieg, Ag Fox

No jokes, no lies, no deceptions. Just fantastically sounding doom from the UK, like good old Cathedral used to play. A hefty improvement over their debut, this is some mighty fine misery with an occult edge.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Marcel Hubregtse, Daniell, X-Ray Rod

As everyone knows, I'm a huge power metal fan. I've heard quite a bit of power metal so far this year and on reflection I would have to say this is the genre's strongest output of the last 6 months. Rip-roaring melodies that soar higher than the stars, achingly beautiful leads and harmonies betwixt Mories' exceptional vocal range and adeptness with the keyboard.

Dragons and unicorns have never sounded so good.

LISTEN (With Your Hearts)

Hahaha, foolish power metal suckers...

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod, Troy Killjoy, Ag Fox, Introspekrieg

So, already bored of Asphyx's recent derivative regurgitation of old school death metal? Fancy seeing what can be done with an old-school vibe when you apply brains and a modern aesthetic to it? No, I didn't think you would.

If though, on the hypothetical chance, you ARE interested in the best death metal of the year so far then you should hit up this crazy, mind-melting little number a.s.a.p.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod, Daniell, Marcel Hubregtse

So you think drone is all about oppressive atmospheres, crushing banality and putting )))'s on the end of your name? Well Bong may change your little minds on that. Taking a bit of a cue from Barn Owl (the band, not the animal) and their more chilled out and relaxed approach to the genre, Bong have shifted their sound into deeper, rather than denser surroundings. Extremely well produced, expansively psychedelic and mysterious but ultimately very listenable drone music.

Sitars are frigging awesome.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod, Daniell, Introspekrieg, Ag Fox, wormdrink414

Finally, Reverence have delivered the album they always had in them. A richly veiled exercise of varied, deeply textured, winding and intelligent modern black metal, deriving influence from contemporaries Deathspell Omega and Blut Aus Nord but ultimately creating something all their own.

At this moment in time Reverence truly embody and exemplify the sound of French black metal.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Troy Killjoy, X-Ray Rod, Daniell, KwonVerge, Nefarious, Ag Fox

Totally unashamed Candlemass worship, right down to the guitar tone, only with a Cronos-alike on vocals. Just shield your eyes when looking at that album artwork *shivers*

LISTEN

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

This is every fleeting dream you have ever had about alien worlds, every alternate dimension where 2 + 2 = 3 and where colours exist that cannot be comprehended within the limited scope of the human brain. This is something you haven't heard before.

Listen

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Troy Killjoy, X-Ray Rod, Doc G., KwonVerge, Introspekrieg, Ag Fox, Nefarious

When Ulcerate emerged early this year like a Kraken from the dead oceans and turned death metal upside down with an usually innovative lunge toward a Neurosis-ian, post-death aesthetic, I for one thought it would be a one-off entity for 2011. Apparently not. Along with a smattering of others that could fall under this neologism, such as Baring Teeth, Owl and perhaps even Mitochondrion, Flourishing take more than a leaf from this burgeoning movement of a more textured approach to death metal (and post-hardcore) and manage to inject a level of variety and diversity not seen even in The Destroyers Of All (being the perfect remedy for those that found it too repetitive).

This is one record that does not deserve to slip by unnoticed.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod, Ag Fox, Nefarious, Darkside Momo

If you ask me (and why wouldn't you) Forefather have long been the ultimate guilt-free way to enjoy cheesy and emphatically epic metal without having to give up your scruples and go to the Dark side that is power or folk metal. The hyper-melodic leads and soaring cleans are always in direct opposition to guttural rasps, blasting drums and heavy riffing.

Any fans of 'Steadfast' should luxuriate in this like a Viking bathes in the blood of his enemies.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Baz Anderson, Fat & Sassy!, Promonex, wormdrink414

Say what you will about the "Djent" genre but it mixes rather nicely with ambient soundscapes. Deep tone, spacey atmosphere and surprisingly pleasant clean vocals make this one of the most organic and impressive sounding Djent-affairs on the market. Called it "Progressive" instead of "Djent" if it irks you.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Ag Fox, jupitreas, Introspekrieg, X-Ray Rod

Yes, you read that correctly, hammered dulcimer black metal.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod, Introspekrieg, KwonVerge

"The nauseating madness has been cast aside in favour of a slower, pounding industrial, typically Blut Aus Nord; absolutely not a novelty for this band, yet a strengthening of their experimental side, as well as a worthy second chapter of the trilogy... morbid and disquieting, rather than twisted and unpredictable. Always apocalyptic of course." - Kenos

A perfect descriptive testimony of the strengths of Blut Aus Nord.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod, KwonVerge, Introspekrieg, Ag Fox, White Winter Sun, Darkside Momo