Exquisite band! Extremely diverse sound! Extraordinary tunes! Excellent album! Exceptional experience!

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Dane Train, X-Ray Rod

After a number of specta-awesomely-cular releases ("Paso Inferior", "Llenandose De Gusanos", "Se Hace Por Los Suenos Asesinos" and "El Mundo Frio" just to name a few), Corrupted continue their winning streak with "An Island Insane" and "Vasana", a double ep release. And once again, Corrupted treads new ground.

"Vasana" opens up with a typical Corrupted moment, too. A melancholic sound, a thundering yet slow groove, Corrupted once again presents itself as a gargantuan mass battling inertia, life and a whole bunch of other things. More inviolable and incomprehensible than "An Island Insane", "Vasana" lies closer to Corrupted's four releases. There's no sign of stagnation though, as the strong melancholic vibe is a largely new part of Corrupted's ever expending spectrum. And possibly a tell-tale of what's to come?

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

Music to break beer bottles and stomp on LEGOs to. Fun, brutal, aggressive, fast, and good stuff. Yeah most of the songs stretch on for a little too long, but if this is listened to properly, you'll have enough beer in you to not care.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Ag Fox, Marcel Hubregtse

I wouldn't recommend this addictive album to just anyone, but if you can stomach the EXTREME candy-coated pop sensibilities of this kind of music then give ε Psilon a go. There are some absolutely killer tracks on this album just begging for you to dance around your house/apartment/Heavy Metal Castle like a complete loser to. FUN. FUN. FUN.

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

Metal Storm wisdom of the day: "The best kind of metal is the mother-in-law kind: loud, heavy and obnoxious."

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: wormdrink414

After a number of specta-awesomely-cular releases ("Paso Inferior", "Llenandose De Gusanos", "Se Hace Por Los Suenos Asesinos" and "El Mundo Frio" just to name a few), Corrupted continue their winning streak with "An Island Insane" and "Vasana", a double ep release. And once again, Corrupted treads new ground.

"An Island Insane" opens up with a typical Corrupted moment. A stomp, a sloooooow riff and a thundering growl. Another stomp, stomp, stomp. With inexorable strength, Hevi and co. pound you deep into the Earth's outer core. Melodies seep through while the distortion rises, until nothing remains but a harp and a screechy gray haze.

A short but absolutely killer gem.

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

Byfrost is now less thrashy and more blacky than on their debut, Black Earth, but it's still a wonderful, in-your-face, straightforward slab of unadulterated black metal filth. Groovy as hell too. Watch your head, and prepare for severe neck pains tomorrow morning.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Fat & Sassy!, X-Ray Rod, Ag Fox, Susan, wormdrink414

[insert melodic hardrock/metal style here] + [insert melodic hardrock/metal style here] + [insert melodic hardrock/metal style here] + [insert melodic hardrock/metal style here] + [insert melodic hardrock/metal style here] + [insert melodic hardrock/metal style here] + [insert melodic hardrock/metal style here] + [insert melodic hardrock/metal style here].

Get it? Got it? Good.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Susan, Fat & Sassy!, wormdrink414, Ag Fox, Introspekrieg, BloodTears

The Australian duo have put all their blackened hearts into the task of unleashing one impressive beast of an album this year.

Woods Of Desolation will tear your soul apart. Not with the grim coldness of winter or the sheer power of nostalgia... But with one strange, warm and infectious feeling of ecstasy. Who would have thought that our Mother Earth could be so imposing and gentle at the same time...

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Fat & Sassy!, Ag Fox, KwonVerge, Troy Killjoy

A surprisingly mature, deliciously adept and well-sounding debut album. Remember Barren Earth? Enthrope don't stand too far apart, yet they manage to be unique enough. Powerful and crisp production compliments this sleeper hit.

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

Oh boy. Another surprise hit this year. It may not be the most original music ever, but each track on this album packs a punch with tons of feeling and atmosphere. So next time your girlfriend/boyfriend or friends come over for some maximum chillage, put your Zeppelin albums away for a night and put Hisingen Blues in your sound system. Let Graveyard help you relax and then make some drinks, make some friends, make some memories, and maybe (if you're lucky) make a little bit of love tonight.

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

Long Distance Calling can have the same effect as a good poem. If you connect to it, it takes you to a whole new place where you can just enjoy the beauty of it all. In this case, that is provided by the intricate and often contemplative music of Long Distance Calling, which continue to offer us valuable albums. But much like good poetry, it mostly goes unnoticed.

Their largely instrumental music bends and twists, never afraid of invading and progressing into varied musical territories. Immerse yourself in the slick waters of these 'Invisible Giants', yet to be classified as such. It may not leave you completely satisfied, but it doesn't disappoint.

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

Staff pick dedicated to the kind people who sent me this album for free as a little bonus item for my massive order of lysergic acid diethylamide that came in yesterday. That's what I call customer service! A++ WDBA

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Ag Fox, Fat & Sassy!, BloodTears, jupitreas

Atmospheric French Space Doom! An album so enjoyable that it's one of the review requests I've received that I continue to listen to the album repeatedly after publishing the review. But rather than blathering on here, I'll just suggest interested parties click the link to my review below... and meanwhile I keep spinning this album and floating off into the void.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: KwonVerge, Deadsoulman, Ag Fox, Marcel Hubregtse, X-Ray Rod, Darkside Momo

Death metal and industrial don't blend? My butt! Morgoth were not the first to mix both styles, but they certainly were precursors anyway, with this fantastic beast of an album, released in 1993.

Of course, the band was criticized back then by the 'fans'. Forget that, forget the latest Morbid Angel, and remember the re-united Morgoth will play some festivals this summer.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: BitterCOld, Deadsoulman, Daniell, White Winter Sun, X-Ray Rod, wormdrink414, Starvynth