Octotastic metal.

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

With a renewed line-up (featuring Klone's drummer, no less), Hacride are back with their most accessible, melodic yet technical album to date. But, most of all, it's the emotional intensity that truly makes the difference.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: jupitreas, R'Vannith, psykometal, Ag Fox, X-Ray Rod

White Zom...I mean...Rob Zombie is alive!

The Video

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Introspekrieg, jupitreas, wormdrink414, Doc G., X-Ray Rod

The Indonesian metal scene is more known for its brutal death metal but Vallendusk try and break that mould by showing that the scene has a lot more to offer by serving up some seriously high quality atmospheric black metal. Unlike the majority of atmospheric black metal bands that operate with that more depressive mid-tempo sound, Vallendusk differentiate themselves by employing a faster & more upbeat tempo with undoubted post & folk influences. The standout element of this record is without a doubt the excellent guitar work. Whether it's the melodic hooks or acoustic folk passages, it will grip you throughout.

Black Clouds Gathering consists of 7 tracks with the shortest track being 8 minutes long and is admittedly not the most varied record out there, so it will not suit those with a short attention span. But if epic melody-driven atmospheric black metal is your thing, I seriously suggest you give this a spin.

Listen here.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Abattoir, X-Ray Rod, Susan

Quite clearly a band with no interest in pandering to the the naysayers who never wrapped their noggins around them, Sonderkommando brings The Meads Of Asphodel back to their most abstruse. Gone is most of the whimsy and the euphoric melodies of The Murder of Jesus the Jew, here we see them at their darkest, murkiest and most nuanced. Many accuse them of "stirring the shit" with regard to their lyrical content and imagery, but that's something you should most certainly read about yourself before throwing any stones.

LISTEN

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Introspekrieg, X-Ray Rod, R'Vannith, Auntie Sahar

Anciients employ an extremely varied and eclectic mix of styles, from blues rock to black metal, that combine together so effortlessly to form what is surely one of the best debut albums of 2013 so far. Heart Of Oak is as unique & ambitious as it is memorable, and will undoubtedly be a hit with any fan's of progressive, expansive music.

Listen here.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: psykometal, R'Vannith, Susan, jupitreas, Ag Fox, Doc G., X-Ray Rod

These dudes (and chick) hail from Latvia and play a rather atmospheric variety of progressive black metal. They just barely started out in December 2012 and already they have recorded a video, released this beauty in late January, and started playing shows. That should give you an idea of the talent in this band and their music (not to mention the killer artwork).

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: !J.O.O.E.!, X-Ray Rod, R'Vannith, BloodTears

Almost a decade since the debut album, these Spanish lunatics finally unleash their second slab of utter brutality. Exodromos is half an hour of some of the craziest brutal death metal you could possibly wish to hear. Sit back and enjoy!

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: psykometal

Yes, "French Black Metal" might as well become its own subgenre because, damn, it's usually that good, and this is no exception. Way To End's 50 Shades of... I mean Various Shades of Black is a complex and proggy album and one of an initially perplexing nature but it certainly yields great rewards for the persistent. To clarify, this isn't super-ultra-mega dissonant, rather it's the snaking and morphing progressive structures and avant-garde affectations that make this a bit of a challenge to start with. It's worth sticking with though as those trying moments frequently give way to a rich, mystical tapestry of sights and sounds, often melodic and atmospheric, always intriguing and surprising.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: psykometal, BitterCOld, Fat & Sassy!, X-Ray Rod

The experience of French romance in its own way. Ferocius, crushing, devastating, relentless sound. The album, that shall not be overlooked.

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

Featuring all the surviving members of Woods Of Ypres, these North Americans (1 is Canadian, the other 2 are American) have recorded an outstanding blend of black and folk metals with a good bit of melody.

I never really listened to Woods Of Ypres but from comments I've seen here and there this album is more akin to their black metal era than their later work. Musically, it also reminds me of Panopticon's Kentucky but not quite as "country-ish" and better.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Susan, !J.O.O.E.!, X-Ray Rod, Promonex

The tomb-like silence of Akercocke might be painful to our little longing hearts but there is always Voices, the new project of Akercocke members David Gray, Peter Benjamin and Sam Loynes. This is ferocious and violent black metal, at times faster than your heartbeat, malicious, unsettling, with splashes of serene voices from the human forest which create a fugue of imaginary rain.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: !J.O.O.E.!, psykometal, X-Ray Rod, Abattoir

This is where you get sent when you've been too evil for Hell.

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

I don't always hang around snakes, but when I do they're accompanied by some excellent filthy music from early 2012 that's gone overlooked.

Listen here.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod

So, what's a mere 26 years between your esteemed, one-and-only album and your come-back-cum-sophomore follow up to it? Not a thing according to Dream Death. Celtic Frost riffing-aplenty, doom and sludge-smudged punk and heavy driven thrashing, not to mention the gravel choked vocals of Brian Lawrence still feeling like having your face scraped against the road after hurtling off a bike at 80mph. This is how to make a return to music in every possible way.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Marcel Hubregtse, X-Ray Rod, Nefarious, wormdrink414