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

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Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod, Introspekrieg, KwonVerge

What is it? FOLKING BRILLIANT, that's what. Much more comparable to Serdca K Nebu than their last effort, which is a good thing to my ears. So much variety packed into each song without sounding messy or forced. Every song (minus the interludes) is like a little baby epic.

And just so you cats know, since I don't speak a lick of any Slavic languages, I sometimes pretend that the female singer is chanting about eating pizza for bonus-fun-time-points. You know... FYI.

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In a couple of days Pure Reason Revolution will embark on their very final tour consisting of just six dates in UK. As a parting gift, their brilliant début album The Dark Third will be played in its entirety for the first time ever. So, this is a fitting moment to step 5 years into the past and revisit this beautiful progressive masterpiece that has found its way into my playlist more times than I could possibly count. This is an album that I've probably enjoyed the most from the past decade.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Ag Fox, BloodTears, Fat & Sassy!, Susan, Darkside Momo, Dane Train

Weird stuff worth listening to.

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Endorsed by: BloodTears

rawrrawrRAWR! riffriffriff pound pound pound screech ROAR! thud thud thud RAWR!

Gallows is just under 30 minutes of good old asskicking deathgrind fury, raw(R!) enough to make old-timers like me tear up. And tear up the house.

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Endorsed by: wormdrink414, Doc G., X-Ray Rod

Living proof of how production can suck and yet still the album can rule. Great modern groove-thrash, highly recommended for fans of Rumpelstiltskin Grinder.

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Remember when I was all "yo go hang yourself"?

Well apparently this guy did.

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Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod

"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

Enjoy stuff like Equilibrium & Ensiferum, but want a little more aggression? Enthring might just be what you need...

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Endorsed by: White Winter Sun

The timeless classic piece from Sirenia. This release possesses all the good qualities of its sister band Tristania and also has the well-defined features that make it different from Tristania. This album is a highlight of Sirenia's discography for it features the best characteristics Sirenia has ever managed to display. The edgy extreme side, the keyboards and strings, the choir and the unforgettable vocal performance of Henriette Bordvik make this album a true experience for all who like symphonic and Gothic style.

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Endorsed by: Ag Fox, Jason W., BloodTears, Promonex, GT, KwonVerge, Darkside Momo

In a sadly frequent number of cases the inclusion of the female vocal in the more extreme end of metal is typically employed for mere novelty effect (if not for the "crumpet" effect), occasionally adding another shade to the proceedings where it might. Not only do the three-fifths female outfit SubRosa manage, without effort, to waylay this unfortunate paradigm, they succeed in turning the sludge genre on its head and make the unconventional female vocal (think Bloody Panda rather than Nightwish) and the jarring violin (think A Forest Of Stars rather than Apocalyptica) its prime catalyst, creating a distinct and unusual approach to the sound. Both offbeat and dissonant whilst heavy and crushing (but not without a woman's touch) this is quite possibly the album of the year because of it.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: BloodTears, X-Ray Rod, Ag Fox, Susan, White Winter Sun, KwonVerge

Stonerish tunes for drunk people, by drunk people. Those of greener intoxicant persuasions will probably need to stub out their spliffs and shotgun a PBR or five if they want to really get it.

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Endorsed by: Doc G., !J.O.O.E.!, Marcel Hubregtse, X-Ray Rod, Dane Train, Ag Fox, Nefarious

If you know the band, you know what to expect. They deliver what you expect and then some. Less than 5% of metal population will appreciate this morose journey. It's better to be among the few than among many...

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Marcel Hubregtse, Nefarious, Troy Killjoy, KwonVerge, X-Ray Rod

Being pleasant and happy is totally lame. Here's something completely miserable & haunting to help you be one of the cool kids.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: KwonVerge, !J.O.O.E.!, Ag Fox, Troy Killjoy, X-Ray Rod, Darkside Momo

Melancholy and disenchanted sadness + low/mid-tempo riffing + one of the best voices in the genre + a really good production = Born From Shadows or how to release a pure gem of Doom metal.

Definitely, Born From Shadows is among noteworthy Doom metal albums of 2011. Please do not miss this piece of pure melancholy from Swedish metallers Isole. A must to have, really.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: !J.O.O.E.!, KwonVerge, Marcel Hubregtse, Ag Fox, Daniell, Troy Killjoy, X-Ray Rod, Nefarious