Beneath Brasil's beaches with topless goddesses and tropical drinks, behind the mask of Carnival, you have rampant poverty, crime, and slums. A dark side concealed under the sheen of tourist hotels and beaches. In other words, a great breeding ground for some awesome doom... enter Abske Fides.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Ag Fox, Susan, Marcel Hubregtse, Nefarious, Dane Train, X-Ray Rod, Abattoir, BloodTears

I wonder why I haven't heard of Kong before as this mostly instrumental outfit apparently goes back a while. The music of Kong blends influences from electronica and industrial with prog metal. Some of it packs a punch. Oh, those riffs and those rhythms!

Listen to the whole album on their Bandcamp page. If you're looking for a recommendation, take "Astral Calls."

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Marcel Hubregtse, Darkside Momo, Dane Train, !J.O.O.E.!, Ag Fox, X-Ray Rod

A compilation of blackened Motörhead-worship from an Ohioan outfit that completely destroys.

Click here for the tunes.

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

I don't delve deep into either stoner or doom. But albums such as this make the occasional forays so much more worthwhile. Doomy atmosphere with a drive of a stoner rock is how I like it to be served. This is no less than a stellar release.

Just listen to "On The Wind" here.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Ag Fox, Daniell, wormdrink414, Marcel Hubregtse, Dane Train, X-Ray Rod, Susan, !J.O.O.E.!, BudDa, Introspekrieg

This is how it should be: long, nice and easy, and sinewy. I'm talking about good prog, of course. And that is exactly what you'll find in March Of Progress. No big tricks, just good songs really.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Ag Fox, Ivor, Introspekrieg, Milena, Nefarious

Perhaps a tad weaker than their older releases, but still a joyride full of creepy melodies that creep out from between heavy-as-lead riffs.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Marcel Hubregtse, X-Ray Rod, wormdrink414, BloodTears, Susan, BudDa

Both progressive and extreme and original! Oh fuck, those are three things. Nevermind. Why haven't I picked this before? Because I'm an idiot, that's why.
Disclaimer: There are no actual horses playing pianos on this album.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Nefarious, !J.O.O.E.!, Ivor, Introspekrieg, BloodTears, X-Ray Rod, Troy Killjoy

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

In line with most of my picks, we're in front of some pretty unique form of metal here that's relatively unknown. Alchemist is the most legitimate name drop I could do for you to get a rough idea of how this sonic-bomb sounds.

Or you can just go here (and thank me right away).

Staff pick by:

I don't know German, but I'm pretty sure "freiheit macht frei" means "fuck you and your ears." This is death-infused, loud-n-noisy grind done all chunky-like and right.

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

Swedish death that's to-the-point, Entombedish, and stripped down, yet isn't overly simplistic and heard-it-before. It's unique stuff that isn't up its ass with the fact that it's unique.

Click here if you enjoy good music.

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

It's stoner. It's got rolling guitars to rock your socks off. It's tripping. The Machine are second only to an out of body experience.

Need more convincing? Try the teaser here or better yet the full 12 minute track off the album here.

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

Who's up for some filth and violence?!

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

New and true Norwegian black metal. Got more evil sounding tunes to spare than most LPs manage to pack in to begin with.

Click here to listen (to "Ild" in particular).

Staff pick by:

Everything bleak and awful in the world beautifully compiled into more than two hours of torturous melancholy.

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