Celebutards, Dystopian Landscapes and Pseudo-Scientific Morons....

Born Under Saturn - Reflecting the Beautiful Design

2012-01-24T18:43:00.005-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2000
Genre: Grindcore, Hardcore

By the late 90’s the Connecticut hardcore scene was in a steady decline from it’s previous glory days. Many of the musicians were moving away, the fans were getting older (with younger kids getting into grunge or whatever the fuck was popular) and just not going to as many shows and clubs were closing down. In spite of all this negative happenstance, Born Under Saturn was….well….born. Influenced by bands like Rorschach, Today is the Day and Discordance Axis, they flew in the face of what 99% of the other bands in the dwindling scene were doing. As technical as the songs were, with time signatures constantly shifting from crushing breakdowns to high-speed blasts and everything in between, they never sacrificed an ounce of aggression. The riffs were all over the board as well; angular, dissonant, noisy, clean, sludgy, thrashy, grinding, at times even locking with the bass to create some truly memorable melodies. The vocals fluctuated between a cleaner hardcore yell, spoken word and a demonic scream, the vocalist was a madman (no, seriously), he stalked the stage like a possessed lunatic in search of an exorcism. The album was recorded with Kurt Ballou of Converge and mixed by Steve Austin of Today is the Day who, incidentally, was a big fan. Easily one of my favorite bands to come out of the CT scene if yer a fan of any of the previously mentioned bands you should dig this. I also included the 2 songs from their split 7" with Shora.

Clikatat Ikatowi - Orchestrated and Conducted by

2012-01-21T17:21:00.003-06:00

From: USA
Year: 1996
Genre: Post-Hardcore

A recent post over at The Living Doorway got me thinking about the 90’s “art punk” scene in San Diego, which I always thought was a pretty pretentious name for a “genre”, but the scene produced some awesome bands, Clikatat Ikatowi being one of the best. They came a little later in the decade, formed by the guitarist of Heroin and drummer Mario Rubalcaba, who has since played with a shit ton of bands like Metroschifter, Black Heart Procession, Pinback, Hot Snakes and currently Earthless. I always loved his drumming on this album specifically, his driving, complex tom beats and general style set him apart from other drummers in the scene. The guitarist’s style was equally unique, owing as much to jazz as it did to say Drive like Jehu or his earlier work in Heroin. Noisy and discordant, half the time he wasn’t playing riffs so much as noisy abstraction. The vocals were part spoken word, part screaming, his lyrics and style just as abstract as the music. I’m not sure who came first, these guys or Swing Kids, another great band, but they obviously influenced one another and in turn influenced the much maligned screamo genre. If you let that turn you off then you’re a dumb ass, cus this album is great.

Sulaco - Build & Burn

2012-01-15T21:25:00.004-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Grindcore/Death Metal

Another one of the many, many albums I slept on last year, if you like your metal dynamic and technical, then look no further. Any fan of Erik Burke’s work with Brutal Truth and Lethargy know that this guy is a riff machine with some of the strangest ideas since Jim Jones poisoned a thousand people in Guyana. This shit is all over the place with odd time signatures, shifting tempos and complex riffs that never get so out of control that you can’t keep your head nodding. There’s a heavy chaotic noise/hardcore influence to the whole album, musically and vocally, with some emotively melodic riffs thrown in to keep the music from becoming sterile and unfeeling. I’ve heard this described as death metal and, while there are a lot of technical DM style riffs and blasting, I wouldn’t go so far as to call it death metal OR grindcore. This is another true metal hybrid. Whatever, you decide. I’m going to check out their back catalogue now cus this album is starting to grow on me like a cock fungus.
Name your price here.

Bent Sea - Noistalgia

2012-01-13T10:19:00.003-06:00

From: Belgium
Year: 2012
Genre: Grindcore

Since I don’t usually post brand new stuff or a whole lot of grindcore, I figured I’d throw you followers a freaking bone. This is the new grind project from the drummer and vocalist of Aborted with Devin Townsend on bass. Basically old school grindcore in the tradition of Terrorizer and Repulsion with a few twists and turns that keep it sounding fresh. Definitely a blastfest that should have all you freaks slathering at the mouth.

The Cancer Conspiracy - The Audio Medium

2012-01-11T21:24:00.004-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2002
Genre: Heavy Progressive Rock

It’s a testament to the sheer amount of music I am subjected to that I somehow forgot about this masterpiece. I listened to it incessantly when it first came out. Granted a lot has happened since then, my life hasn’t exactly been a whorehouse of happiness. But thinking about the time in my life when this came out makes me happy nevertheless. It probably shouldn’t. It was a pretty fucked up time. But memories are like that. They trick you. Their distance makes you feel nostalgic even if they don’t deserve it, just because they’re gone. And Christ, it was only like 10 years ago. But it was a simpler time. Not better, just simpler. And I still did my best to inject the maximum amount of chaos into the simplicity of my life back then. But not when I was listening to this album. I remember sitting back with this on and just letting the world fall away. It’s an intense, highly cerebral instrumental journey that you won’t regret taking. And we can all do with a little less regret….can’t we? Ah shit, I'm gettin all glum now, I guess I should say something about the music huh? Its kinda King Crimson, kinda Iceburn, kinda Don Caballero. If you’ve never heard of any of those bands I don’t know what to tell you. Just listen to it ya chucklehead.
Or don’t. What do I care?

Dephosphorus - Axiom

2012-01-09T19:17:00.006-06:00

From: Greece
Year: 2011
Genre: ASTROGRIND

This is the last time I put off listening to an album after reading rave reviews about it on blogs i typically trust. Not only because this album would have easily landed on my “best of” list….but because my brain feels neglected for having not listened to it sooner. First off, where the fuck did these dudes come from? Literally…..Greece. Metaphorically…..who the hell knows. I haven’t heard a debut album this insanely aggressive, original, well written and all around sick in a long time. What the fuck are they even playing? Grindcore? Crust Punk? Hardcore? Blackened Death Metal? Well they call it astrogrind but don’t get em wrong, there is nothing amorphous about their music. It goes for your throat from the first note to the last. It’s mainly the sound effects woven into the typically light speed execution that make the music sound like a singularity exploding into spacetime. They blend every aforementioned genre so beautifully that they have seriously created something unique. The way they transform one riff and genre into another (especially on the opening track) by playing around with chord progressions and tempo, is fucking incredible and gives each song a cohesion alot of bands can't match. The vocalist is a man possessed. From hardcore/black metal screams to death metal growls, this guy is clearly passionate about what he does. The drumming is incredibly tight and organic sounding. No drum trigger bullshit here. Did I mention these guys are only a 3 piece? 3 PIECE?!? Take the dissonant hardcore of Converge and Botch, the rabid grindcore of Pig Destroyer and the unhinged blackened metal of Anaal Nathrakh, dip them in a cauldron of rotting carcasses and then blast the resultant nightmare into a black hole. Dephosphorus are set to take over. Believe it.
Click on myspace link above to get it on vinyl. Artwork and layout is beautiful.
Hear two new tracks from upcoming full length at Bandcamp.

Ordo Obsidium - Orbis Tertius

2012-01-07T15:26:00.002-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Black Metal/Funeral Doom

Ok, after taking a breather, I’m back to post a bunch of shit nobody cares about and write “reviews” that nobody reads. In direct contrast to the holiday spirit that has been unsuccessfully shoved down my throat, I’ve decided to post some really dark depressive, although occasionally uplifting, stuff. These guys play a combination of atmospheric black metal and plodding funeral doom. I’m sure there are plenty of bands out there that play this style but I’m not aware of them, so this is pretty novel for me. Funeral Doom can get boring if the compositions aren’t dynamic and the same can be said for black metal. So it’s pretty cool to have a band do both, and do both very well. It’s obvious that these genres would work well together, both typically exude isolation and despair, but these guys do a tremendous job at expressing a wider range of emotions within both genres. From cold aggressive blasts to mournfully triumphant dirges, the music is always emotive. At times they even mix up the styles, by using tremolo picking over a slow funeral beat, for instance. Anyway, check it out, it’s a really good album and should satisfy lovers of both genres.

Best of 2011 - The Final Volume

2011-12-24T09:45:00.008-06:00

There are a few more albums left that i think are worthy of the "best of" list, but frankly I'm burned out with all this holiday BS so below is a list of my favorite albums of 2011 that were already posted on this blog throughout the year. I'm positive there are many great albums that i missed out on so if anyone has recommendations then let me know. Bah Humbug.

Blut Aus Nord - 777-Sect(s)
Industrialized Psychedelic Black Metal
LIYL - Deathspell Omega, Godflesh, Darkspace

Tombs - Path of Totality
Blackened Sludgy Noisecore Post-Metal
LIYL - Neurosis, YOB, ISIS

Absu - Abzu
Blackened Thrash
LIYL - Melechesh, Order of Ennead, Necros Christos

Drugs of Faith - Corroded
Rock and Roll Grindcore
LIYL - Despise You, Nails, Agoraphobic Nosebleed

Brutal Truth - Endtime
Experimental Grindcore
LIYL - Pig Destroyer, Napalm Death, Nasum

YOB - Atma
Sludgy Doom
LIYL - Electric Wizard, Kongh, Cough

Exhumed - All Guts, No Glory
Gore Obsessed Grinding Death Metal
LIYL - Carcass, Haemorrhage, Gorgasm

Origin - Entity
Technical Brutal Death Metal
LIYL - Necrophagist, Obscura, Hate Eternal

Obscura - Omnivium
Progressive Technical Death Metal
LIYL - Pestilence, Atheist, Origin

Gridlink - Orphan
Best Grindcore Album of the Year
LIYL - Discordance Axis, Hayaino Daisuki, Noisear

Ulcerate - Destroyers of All
Abstract Post-Death Metal
LIYL - Gigan, Flourishing, Portal

Petrychor - Effigies and Epitaphs
Atmospheric Folky Black Metal
LIYL - Panopticon, Wolves in the Throne Room. Ash Borer

Best of 2011 - Volume 20 - Earth - Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light 1

2011-12-23T23:45:00.007-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Drone

Unfortunately, Dylan Carlson will forever be remembered as the guy that bought Kurt Cobain the shotgun he used to blow his brains out. I say unfortunately because a) who wants to be remembered for that? and b) as guitarist for Earth, he was a major pioneer in the development of Drone Doom, quite possibly even creating the genre himself. Earths’ first album, Earth 2, is one of the most influential albums in the history of the genre, influencing bands such as Boris, Khanate, Eagle Twin, Burning Witch and Moss. Sunn O))) basically started as an Earth tribute band, their name being an obvious nod to Earth. Though still drone doom in nature due to the use of minimalism, repetition and slow tempos, their music today bears little resemblance to early recordings. Since the album “Hex” Earth have been moving towards a textured, earthy Americana sound with influences ranging from jazz to British folk-rock to the desert soundscapes of Ennio Morricone. On this album they’ve added cello, which adds another dimension of darkness and warmth to the music. It’s like listening to the soundtrack from a western in which the hero sells his soul to the devil.
Buy it here.

Best of 2011 - Volume 19 - Krallice - Diotima

2011-12-21T16:13:00.004-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Black Metal

Every time an American band pushes the boundaries of black metal or doesn’t wear corpse paint or doesn’t endorse Satanism (and I’m sorry, but Satanism is just fucking silly anyway and 98% of the time I feel like its just bullshit posturing), or produces an album that doesn’t sound like it was recorded in their living room, they are labeled as hipster. Granted, many bands are sprouting up that are less than genuine with their intentions. But does that mean that every black metal band in America that doesn’t rehash the same tired aesthetic is hipster? And the bottom line is, American BM is way more innovative than anything coming out of Norway or even Sweden anyway, and at the forefront of such innovation, is Krallice.
On their 3rd album they have continued in their quest to push black metal as far as it will go before transforming it into something else entirely. The compositions are as intricate and epic as ever, trying to unwind them can keep you busy for days. This is not music for the casual listener, it takes multiple listens to even understand what they are doing half the time. Although the serpentine noodling of the guitars is still in full force, it’s a bit more restrained on this album, they interlock and follow each other much more than before. Litany of Regrets is full of this technique and is the closest example to traditional black metal on the album. Overall the album feels less claustrophobic than previous releases as well, there are many slower parts, the title track and Telluric Rings (easily their most accessible song) in particular, that allow the music to breathe a bit more. With breathtaking beauty and mind numbing intensity they’ve proven that you don’t have to follow every formula to create epic black metal. So call it hipster if you want. It’s always easier to write something off and dismiss it than it is to understand it anyway.
Buy it here.

Best of 2011 - Volume 18 - Elitist - Fear in a Handful of Dust

2011-12-20T22:47:00.002-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Sludge, Grindcore, Death Metal

NOT the cheesy metalcore band of the same name, this Elitist are from Portland, Oregon and they channel the nihilistic sludge of Eyehategod and add unhealthy doses of crusty death metal and blackened grindcore. Savage in their execution and unrepentant in their mission to sonically murder you, this is no holds barred aural brutality. Whether they are slowly stomping your guts out or blasting your brains through the back of your skull with a sort of sloppy precision, a few things become painfully clear. There is NO beauty, life is pain and humanity is a virus that needs to be erased. This is the soundtrack to the psyche of a meth head that’s been awake for two weeks and has blood on his rotten teeth and needles in his eyes, stalking the streets with a twelve-inch blade on his hip just hoping someone looks at him the wrong way. Then someone does.
Buy it from Season of Mist.

Best of 2011 - Volume 17 - Subrosa - No Help for the Mighty One

2011-12-17T15:26:00.004-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Doom, Folk

The war is over. Bodies lay strewn across the ground, open wounds like bloody smiles laughing at the dust. A blackness fills the cloudless sky, raining ash onto the city streets. He holds his son and walks amidst the desolation left behind by the arrogance of man. The boy is the only thing that gives his movement any meaning. His only hope.
Thus begins No Help for The Mighty One. Subrosa are an anomaly in the genre of doom. Their violin heavy, folk-inspired doom sound is unlike most anything else being produced these days. A largely female dominated band, only the rhythm section is male in fact, Kim Pack's vocals can be slightly off-key at times but are beautiful nonetheless, simultaneously inspiring hope and dread. Both the guitarist and violinist sing as well, all three females harmonizing with one another adds a whole new dimension to the music. The dark expressiveness of the violins basically take the lead in front of the guitar, which slowly broods in tandem with the drums and fuzzed out bass, creating the heavy vibe that darkens their sound. Imagine Electric Wizard and The Bad Seeds (Nick Cave’s backing band) fronted by PJ Harvey and you might get an idea of where they are coming from. They spin mythic tales of post-industrial Americana where independence and blood are the only commodities worth dying for, and individuals long to perceive a world beyond the false spirituality and bloodlust offered by organized religion.
Once again you can get a copy from Profound Lore, easily the best label for extreme music on the planet.

Best of 2011 - Volume 16 - Inquisition - Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm

2011-12-16T22:05:00.004-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2010/2011
Genre: Black Metal

This album was on a lot of year end blog lists last year because it leaked early, but because it wasn’t released in the US until January (according to Hells Headbangers) AND because I slept on it most of this year AND because it’s my favorite BM album of the year, I’m putting it on this list. Ok, lets get the issue of the vocals out of the way right now. Yes, I know Dagon sounds like a demonic inter-dimensional frog and I will admit that the first time I heard it I did not like his voice at all. But the riffs are so incredibly sick, seriously this is like some next level shit here, that I kept listening until eventually it grew on me. Both Dagon’s vocals and guitar playing are very unique, the closest comparison I can come up with is a more raw/bestial version of Abbath of Immortal’s vocals and guitar playing on At the Heart of Winter, or if you took Immortal, Sarcofago and Celtic Frost and put them in a cosmic blender and ejected the remains through a wormhole. But even those comparisons do this album no justice. You really have to hear it for yourself. The fact that there are only two people making this unholy racket is pretty amazing. Incubus is a solid drummer and he does a great job of complimenting the riffs in every way, shifting from razor blasts to stomping death marches in the blink of an eye. Definitely not for everyone, but if you give it a chance and allow yourself to get hypnotized by the demonic entity that is Dagon, you might find yourself drifting through the cosmic void, blissfully unaware, until your feet touch scorched earth again, that you have just listened to one of the best black metal albums in years.
Get a copy from Hells Headbangers.

Best of 2011 - Volume 15 - Fuck the Facts - Die Miserable

2011-12-14T16:17:00.002-06:00

From: Canada
Year: 2011
Genre: Grindcore

Wow, I have been sleeping on this band for waaay too long. Although I’ve been hearing about them for years, for some reason I never checked them out until this, their 8th, full length. I’m definitely gonna check out their back catalog now, cus this album kills. They describe their sound as bastardized grindcore and I find that very accurate. I’m not entirely sure if founding member Topon Das writes all the riffs but they run the gamut from chaotic hardcore to traditional metal to discordant grind to sludge to doom to noise rock to thrash to death metal, but he does such a great job of incorporating the riffs that it never feels like genre hopping, it almost always remains grindcore. The only track that strays is the title track which is essentially a drone doom piece, but that only takes up about a minute and a half, then its right back to blasting. I just realized this is the fourth “best of” post that has a female vocalist. Women seem to be taking the grind/death/hardcore world by storm and I think it’s awesome. It’s been a boys club long enough. The social and personal prose style lyrics that she injects with venom and spits back in the face of society can be both beautiful and brutal.
Buy it at Bandcamp.

Best of 2011 - Volume 14 - In Solitude - The World. The Flesh. The Devil.

2011-12-13T13:38:00.002-06:00

From: Sweden
Year: 2011
Genre: Heavy Metal

Within the first 30 seconds of The World. The Flesh. The Devil. you can’t help but be reminded of Iron Maiden and Mercyful Fate. But the great thing about this album is that, overall, In Solitude don’t really sound like either band. The singer definitely sounds a lot like King Diamond in his lower register, but I think he manages to find his own voice. On the last album I wasn’t too impressed by his voice because he definitely sounded like he was holding back and wasn’t quite comfortable yet, but here he pushes himself a bit more, although I still feel he has more to offer. The dual guitar play is totally Maiden and Priest, but these guys come up with such memorable riffs and solos that they easily stand on their own as potentially the next great metal guitar duo. The songs are incredibly catchy and well written and even though they usually push the 6 or 7 minute mark, they never outstay their welcome. Highlights of the album are “Serpents are Rising” and “To Her Darkness”, both songs are built on simple yet infectious main riffs and the chorus for “Serpents” will get stuck in your head for a week after hearing it once. These guys were obviously born and bred on classic metal and their love for it shows. They have the potential to drop a few classics of their own on the metal world if they can hold it together long enough. Who knows, this album might even have that potential, only time will tell.
Buy it here.

Best of 2011 - Volume 13 - Disma - Towards the Megalith

2011-12-12T09:55:00.004-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Death Metal

Topping just about every end of year death metal list on the planet is Disma’s debut album, Towards the Megalith. And for good reason, they did EVERYTHING right on this album. From the analog recording, to the mix, to the music, to the atmosphere, to the awesome art work, its all death metal perfection. The band features ex-members of Incantation, Funebrarum, Assuck and Evoken, among others, including Craig Pillard, who performed vocals and guitar on Incantation’s first two albums. Overall these guys have a ridiculous amount of death and doom under their belts, so you know you’re getting the real deal here. Like I said the recording itself is sick, the extra effort to record this with analog equipment paid off in spades, the sound is raw and organic yet HEAVY and clear, the thick down-tuned guitars and fuzzed out bass help create an atmosphere that just oozes cobwebs, death and decay. I’ve never heard such a perfect balance between discernibility and dark atmospherics. Pillard’s vocals are pushed to the front of the mix but his voice matches the tone of the distortion so well that it works perfectly. At this point I’m fairly sure you know what to expect; crushing, grinding, crypt crawling doom and death. But what you won’t expect is the sheer quality of the entire package. I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that these guys have set a new standard for classic death metal that most new bands will have trouble topping.
Buy it here.

Best of 2011 - Volume 12 - Antediluvian - Through the Cervix of Hawaah

2011-12-06T14:38:00.007-06:00

From: Canada
Year: 2011
Genre: Death Metal

Until fairly recently many scientists believed that life evolved from a primordial soup, that the chemicals needed to create organic compounds existed in the ocean about 4 billion years ago and somehow received a burst of energy and created life. My point is that they thought the potential for life existed in that murky water. Supposedly, from that primordial soup intelligence would eventually evolve. This is what Antediluvian’s music makes me think of. At first listen you might write this band off as another primitive death metal band and be done with it. But listen closely. Because beneath the primordial ooze of the inhuman vocals and muddy distortion, are intelligent and technical riffs grinding, churning, striving to evolve beyond the confines of the putrid muck that envelops them. Even the album artwork reminds me of the life and death of organic matter. Blackened, abstract death metal that will continue to show you different facets the more you listen to it. Easily one of the best DM albums of the year, if you like Impetuous Ritual, Portal, or Incantation then you definitely need to hear this.
Buy it from Profound Lore.
"In this dark world where he now dwelt, ugly things and surprising things and once in a long while a tiny wondrous thing spilled out at him constantly; he could count on nothing." Philip K. Dick, A Scanner Darkly

Best of 2011 - Volume 11 - False - Untitled

2011-12-05T10:13:00.007-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Black Metal

After a quick build up on the toms, the debut album from False bursts right into scathing black metal with such conviction and punk attitude that there’s no question they are the real deal. The entire album is seething with raw aggression and authenticity. Trust me, when she screams “Hell is what you’ll sow! Hell is what you’ll reap!”, there is no doubt that she means it. From there it barely lets up until about halfway through the second track when, after battering you with some savage riffs, that would be right at home during a murder scene in a horror movie, they take a short moody breather driven by piano and slow picked, repetitive guitar chords. But that only lasts a few minutes, then it’s a thrashy BM attack straight from the bowels of hell. The keyboards on the album mostly compliment the riffs and never get flowery or pretty. Its only two tracks at about 12 minutes each but forgive me if I’d rather have a short album than 20 minutes of meandering shite. Besides, this will definitely leave you anxious to hear more from this band. Even though they’re from Minneapolis, this is Nordic BM through and through. Here’s an American band that will satisfy all you kvltists and and maybe, just maybe, make you think twice before you talk shit about the U.S. scene.
Buy it on Bandcamp.

Best of 2011 - Volume 10 - Oathbreaker - Maelstrom

2011-12-03T10:46:00.002-06:00

From: Belgium
Year: 2011
Genre: Hardcore, Metal

Oathbreaker are a metallic hardcore band from Belgium, heavily influenced by Converge and Rise & Fall. They have also recorded a killer debut album that breaks away from their influences to an extent and shows a lot of promise. Right out of the gate this album goes for the jugular, with whirlwind guitars and a low end like an out of control cement mixer barreling down on you, immediately you know that this band means business. This is not your typical chug chug on the e-chord hardcore, there is a slight tinge of black metal to the guitars at times, as well as some dissonance. Even the slow parts are far from your normal hardcore breakdowns, they’re closer to doom metal but much more immediate and stomping. They have a female vocalist that can scream her ass off, but she can also sing. On the last track, which is a beautifully dark acoustic piece, she transforms from a wailing banshee into a fragile cherub. I’m not sure how I feel about them closing the album with it, even though they do it cleverly by putting a slower doomy song in front of it, which she does some spoken word on, to bring the mood down. It would’ve been awesome if they had incorporated elements of it into other songs, like they do for a hot second on Sink Into Sin – 1. Regardless this is a great hardcore album and it’s aptly named. A chaotic maelstrom of swirling guitars, rumbling bass, jackhammer drums and agonizing screams. Get a copy from Deathwish Inc.

Best of 2011 - Volume 9 - Avichi - The Devils Fractal

2011-12-02T14:48:00.004-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Black Metal

Avichi is a black metal project formed by ex-Nachtmystium guitarist, Aamonael. It also features some solid drumming by Nachtmystium drummer Charlie Fell. The guitar playing on the album reminds me of John Cobbetts work in Ludicra at times and at other times, on the repetitive riffs, it reminds me of a VERY slow Krallice. On a few tracks I even hear some eastern influence in the scales kinda reminding me of Melechesh. Add all this together and you have a very interesting black metal album. As usual the theme of the album is Satan but Aamonael seems to be more interested in the philosophical and metaphysical aspects than screaming about decapitating goats or some shit. In any case all the usual adjectives apply, it’s ominous, its evil, etc. etc. For me it’s all about the riffs, which are awesome. He tends to use tremolo picking sparingly so you know it’s not a typical take on the genre. The tempos tend to be on the slower side for BM, with some off-kilter beats used throughout, though there is some blasting here and there. Get it from Profound Lore.

Best of 2011 - Volume 8 - Vastum - Carnal Law

2011-12-01T14:08:00.003-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Death Metal

Writing death metal in this day and age that isn’t instantly forgettable is a tough task indeed. Just ask any of the ten thousand bands that you can listen to once and just as easily never think about listening to again. Add this to the difficulty of writing PRIMITIVE death metal that’s memorable and you’ve got a, seemingly, herculean feat on your hands that not many bands can handle. Well, in my opinion, Vastum have managed to do just that. I have found myself going back to this album almost as much as Disma’s Towards the Megalith, which will be posted soon and with whom they share some sonic similarities. Vastum are from San Francisco and are related, three degrees of separation style, to the slew of other great bands that have emerged from the bay area over recent years. They feature Leila Abdul-Rauf on vocals and guitar, also of bay area hessians Hammers of Misfortune and death metal band Saros. They also feature members of crust/death band Acephalex (who also put out a good album this year), one of which she shares vocal duties with. If you’re the type of ass that gets turned off by the idea of a female vocalist in death metal then, well, don’t be a dick, because she has a sick voice, better than many male vocalists in DM. The music is mainly mid-paced chugging death metal with some faster parts thrown in, sorry but no grind here. Don’t let this turn you off either cus this is some quality DM that carries the old school flag. Pick up a copy from 20 Buck Spin.

Best of 2011 - Volume 7 - Rwake - Rest

2011-11-30T08:21:00.004-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Sludge, Doom, Psychedelic

In my opinion, Rwake just don’t get the attention and praise they deserve, because in the land of doom and sludge there just aren’t many bands as creative and interesting as they are. Hailing from Little Rock, Arkansas, Rwake have been dishing out their brand of psychedelic sludge for 14 years and it just keeps getting better. From the beginning of track one you know you’re in for a psychedelic head fuck, a simple looped guitar melody, accented by a slide guitar, weaves its way into a celestial female voice while a flute adds a subtle consonance. Nothing prepares you for the monolithic doom and shredding that follows, unless you’re familiar with their past body of work, of course. Obviously I’m not gonna go through the whole album but the weirdness doesn’t stop there. They employ other unconventional instrumentation throughout the album like marimba, mandolin, moog and synth driven drone/noisescapes. The use of samples and unusual recording techniques further heightens the sense of surrealism. As always the guitar work is stellar, from the beautiful acoustic passages to the soul stirring solos to the soul crushing leaden riffs. But underneath all of this is a southern sludge band battling its demons within a haze of drug induced euphoric nightmare. It’s a lashing out like all the best metal is, confronting the evils within themselves and without, but never giving an inch of compromise. Buy it here.

Best of 2011 Volume 6 - Owen Hart - Earth Control

2011-11-29T11:44:00.005-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Grindcore, Blackened Death Metal, Hardcore

Deathgrindfreak did such a great job this year keeping up with all the quality releases that its become a daunting task for me to find albums that I loved not posted on here. I know I said I’d just repost (not that anyone reads or cares about this shit) but it just seems pointless. Anyway I found one. Some of you might be familiar with Owen Hart from their inclusion on the This Comp Kills Fascists Vol. 2 release. I love my metal hybridized and Owen Hart do it about as good as anyone. If taking Slayer, Converge, Carcass, Carpathian Forest and Today is the Day, throwing them in a pile, pissing gasoline all over them and setting a match to the mix doesn’t sound like your idea of fun then you suck, cus that’s exactly what they do. And they do it with such pissed off conviction and ease that it’s near impossible to categorize. One minute I wanna say it’s a grind or death metal album and then it shifts gears and becomes something else. The one thing that never changes is the sheer intensity that these guys exude, which is counterbalanced by the dark humor in the song titles. Just listen to it for yourself. You can get a copy over at Vitriol Records.

Best of 2011 Volume 5 - Midnight - Satanic Royalty

2011-11-26T15:40:00.005-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Black Rock n' Roll

This album is the shit. Street fighting necro rock in praise of lust, filth, sleaze and Satan. Following in the tradition of the grimier NWOBHM bands like Motorhead and Venom, Midnight’s first full length is exactly whats been missing in American metal and rock, in my opinion. No frills, no bullshit, straight up ass kickery. Add some elements of early Bathory and Discharge and you’ve got a vomit filled brew of violence and debauchery. Theres nothing original here, but who gives a fuck when it rocks this hard? These songs will find a permanent place in your brain and leave you oozing scum from every orifice.
Pick up a copy from Hells Headbangers.

Best of 2011 Volume 4 - Trap Them - Darker Handcraft

2011-11-26T10:18:00.002-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Hardcore

Like a molotov cocktail of Entombed, Converge and His Hero is Gone aimed straight at your complacent ass, Trap Them have concocted a vicious aural assault with their latest album, Darker Handcraft. This is take no prisoners hardcore from the dark side, that bashes your head in and leaves you bleeding. The guitarist takes pages from the book of swedeath and burns them, leaving a sense of the general sound but igniting that shit into a combustible evil step brother of rock and roll. The drumming is tight and precise, from grinding blasts to straight up punk to complex rhythmic battery. There is a little more breathing room on this album than previous efforts, the music grinds less and grooves more, with occasional hints at doom and noisecore, which adds a grimy layer of sheer heaviness. McKinney’s vocals are every bit as incendiary as the music, grabbing you by the throat and forcing you to pay attention and wake the fuck up. A lot of people think the albums closing tracks are weak links, I disagree. I just think they would have worked better if scattered throughout the album. They are generally slower and sludgier, so the album tends to end on a less aggressive note, making it feel like it peeters out a bit. Other than that I think it’s a great album and I look forward to where they are going next. Buy it here.

Best of 2011 Volume 3 - 40 Watt Sun - The Inside Room

2011-11-23T16:25:00.006-06:00

From: England
Year: 2011
Genre: Doom Metal

With their debut album, 40 Watt Sun have crafted a masterpiece and, in my opinion, the best doom album of the year. This album is so emotionally transparent and captivating that you’d have to be dead or exceptionally jaded not to be moved by it. Patrick Walker's (previously of doom metal legends, Warning) lyrics and vocals, which are beautiful and poignant, along with the warm waves of distortion that roll beneath the sadness, envelop the listener simultaneously in hope and despair, leaving one with a keen sense of exactly that which he is trying to convey. His approach to songwriting is more akin to that of a singer-songwriter than most doom bands, for that reason many people won’t think this is doom at all, but for the sake of argument and because I don’t know where else this fits, lets just call it doom. Christian Leitch and William Spong, on drums and bass respectively, do an incredible job filling the spaces between the crests of each wave, adding the heft that creates the strong sense of redemption that permeates the entire record, all the while struggling to stay afloat amidst the loneliness and regret. For some of you all this might sound like a little much, but for those of you that like your music heavy in every sense, including emotionally, then 40 Watt Sun is a revelation. Buy it here.

Capsule - No Ghost

2011-11-20T13:00:00.013-06:00

From: U.S.
Year: 2011
Genre: Hardcore, Screamo, Math Rock

Sorry I haven't been pulling my weight around here as of late, but I've found the motivation again I guess and I should be able to post every other day or so on here. Anyway, here's the newest from Capsule-->>

Best of 2011 Volume 2 - Grand Magus - Hammer of the North

2011-11-20T10:55:00.005-06:00

From: Sweden
Year: 2011
Genre: Heavy Metal

Not sure how well this album is gonna go over on this blog but whatever cus in my opinion this is one of the best traditional metal albums to come out in years. And even though it was released in Europe in 2010, it didn’t see a U.S. release until this year. Grand Magus originally started as a doom band but have slowly been transforming into a pure heavy metal machine and with their latest album the transformation is undoubtedly complete. In the tradition of the great Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap, everything on this album has been cranked up to 11. JB Christoffersson, also of stoner legends Spiritual Beggars, has taken his vocals and guitar playing to the next level. His voice is so forceful on this album that it sounds like he was holding back on previous recordings and, along with the vocal hooks, the riffs are incredibly catchy not to mention crisp and HEAVY. The tone in the guitar solos is reminiscent of David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, but the stoner guitar tones in the riffs are gone, the sound is pure metal crunch. The vocal melodies will have you singing along and praising Valhalla while the galloping rhythms will have you storming onto the battlefield, bloody war axe in hand, ready to fight for the fatherland. If the riffs don’t inspire a warzone at their concerts then the metal scene is in bad shape. The production is appropriately powerful as well, adding to the overall epic feeling of vast mountainous landscapes and war torn countrside. If you grew up loving traditional metal like Maiden, Priest and Dio, like I did, then you are going to love this. They took the traditional metal sound and modernized it, making it heavier and arguably every bit as memorable. Buy it here.

Today is the Day - WIllpower

2011-11-19T10:24:00.004-06:00

From: USA
Year: 1994
Genre: Noise Rock, Metal

From the opening sample to the discordant rendition of amazing grace, this album bleeds an atmosphere of paranoia, nihilism, self-empowerment and fear. Steve Austin’s screams and singing portraying the dissolution of relationships and mental health. The anger is tempered by a sadness that NEVER gets sappy because its dripping in sarcastic, murderous rage. Even on the one song that he actually approaches a heartfelt sentiment, on Simple Touch, it feels like he’s just reminding you of loss before the violence explodes again. And that’s just the vocals and lyrics. TITD have flirted with so many genres of rock and extreme metal over the years that I won’t attempt to list them all here, but on this album they took the noisy swagger of bands like Unsane and Jesus Lizard, added the heavily distorted melody and dreaminess of bands like Dinosaur Jr. and Hum, stirred in subtle doses of Slayer and Melvins and injected the progressive complexity of bands like King Crimson and Slint into one of the most emotionally charged and aggressively cathartic albums ever recorded. Discordant riffs slash and burn across the odd time signatures of the jazz-like drumming while the bass lines slither and thump beneath the turmoil while attempting to hold everything together. The use of samples throughout the album is notable for the way they help set the mood and tell the “story” and are almost as memorable as the music itself. I obviously worship this album and can’t recommend it enough. Will be posting the latest album, Pain is a Warning, soon but until then you can buy it here.

Best of 2011 Volume 1 - Mitochondrion - Parasignosis

2011-11-18T07:32:00.004-06:00

From: Canada
Year: 2011
Genre: Blackened Death Metal

So since I only post every other day, for the most part, and I don’t feel like doing one HUGE post, I’ve decided to start posting my favorite albums of 2011, one post at a time, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, starting now. I’m gonna try to keep it to the heavier stuff but one or two random albums might pop in there. Also if an album I love has already been posted on here, I’m just gonna post it again cus obviously I feel that it deserves the attention. So here goes……

A hypothetical: The moon reflects the suns fading light upon the earth. Deep within the forest, a group of black robed men stand in a circle, invoking the power of Satan. They pass a silver goblet around the circle, which contains liquid LSD. After ingesting the sacred elixir, one of them approaches a radio they have set beside the circle and hits play. The abstract madness of Portal’s Swarth comes blasting through the speakers. After contemplating cosmic destruction and witnessing the birth and death of the universe on the back of their eyelids, members of Incantation and Morbid Angel head home to jam. This album is what I think the resulting jam session might sound like.

Buy it here.

Uphill Battle - Wreck of Nerves

2011-11-16T21:29:00.005-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2004
Genre: Grindcore, Hardcore

Everywhere you look online Uphill Battle is described as a metalcore group. I disagree with this whole-heartedly and think it does them a severe injustice. In my opinion they were a grindcore band with heavy hardcore influences and slight flourishes of death metal. Both guitarists and the bass player handled vocal duties so you had three distinct voices, the trade off very reminiscent of other grindcore bands. The drummer of the band was Danny Walker, who currently plays for Intronaut and Murder Construct and previously played with Exhumed and Phobia, to name a few, so you know damn well where the drumming is coming from, and it sure as hell ain’t metalcore. The sense of dynamics in the album is amazing, tension builds and releases constantly, shifting between blasts of blinding speed and slower hardcore breakdowns with flashes of melody interspersed throughout. If you dig Converge, Burnt by the Sun or anything similar definitely check this out.

Brutal Truth - Need To Control (2010 Reissue)

2011-11-14T22:48:00.005-06:00

From: USA
Year: 1994
Genre: Grindcore

Easily one of my top 3 grind albums of all time, this is the 2010 re-mastered reissue of Need to Control which contains a Pink Floyd cover and a kick ass cover of Celtic Frosts’ Dethroned Emperor (!!). It stands apart from the rest of their catalog in that its got healthy doses of crust punk, thrash, sludge and death metal mixed in with the grind and even though the guitars are a bit experimental at times, its much more straight forward than their last 4 albums and much more varied than their first album. It’s the quality of the songwriting that makes this album so great for me, every aspect of it has been burned into my brain since the first time I heard it in 94, its just a great album. As far as re-mastered albums go, if you love this album as much as I do, its definitely worth checking out, everything is crisper and riffs that were lost before are pushed to the front. And if you’ve never heard it before, what the hell are you waiting for? Put on track 14 (Displacement), specifically, blast the volume and grind.

Goreaphobia - Apocalyptic Necromancy

2011-11-14T20:09:00.003-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Death Metal

Goreaphobia was formed in 1988 in Philadelphia, PA. They were, arguably, the first death metal band to come from there and one of the first death metal bands to come from the east coast of the US. They broke up in 1992 and members went on to join the ranks of Incantation, Immolation, Master and Absu. They reunited in 2007 and released their first full length, titled Mortal Repulsion, in 2009. They recently released this, their second full length, album and on this offering they have managed to combine old school death metal, old school black metal and old school thrash metal into something wholly modern sounding. The riffs are awesomely catchy and memorable, something I really miss in a lot of modern death metal, and the songwriting is top-notch. There’s even one song that approaches post-punk with its jangly guitars and gothic overtones. Chris Gamble’s voice falls somewhere between Tom G Warrior of Celtic Frost and Tom Angelripper of Sodom. Although the individual pieces aren’t original by any means, the end product and the way they alchemize their sound by summoning the spirits of the old school masters into an apocalyptic onslaught of pure metal fury is pretty fuckin awesome (see what I did there? Apocalyptic Necromancy! Get it? Get it? Aahhh im such a fuckin dork) In my opinion this is one of the better DM releases of the year.

Nihilist - Carnal Leftovers 1987-1989

2011-11-12T09:22:00.004-06:00

From: Sweden
Year: 2011
Genre: Death Metal

This is where Swedish death metal began. Nihilist was formed in 1987 by Nicke Andersson, also of Death Breath and The Hellacopters, Alex Hellid and Leif Cuzner. After the band called it quits, Johnny Hedlund formed Unleashed and the remaining members reformed with Uffe Cederlund (later of Disfear) on guitar and renamed themselves Entombed. Easily the most influential death metal band to ever come out of Sweden, the importance of these recordings cannot be overstated. Without Nihilist bands like At the Gates, Grave, Dismember and of course Entombed would never exist. They pioneered the buzzsaw guitar sound that so many bands copy today. This is their complete discography, containing all their demos and the first Entombed demo, “Life Goes On”. Absolutely essential for any fan of Death Metal.

Blut Aus Nord - 777 - The Desanctification

2011-11-08T18:19:00.004-06:00

From: France
Year: 2011
Genre: Industrial Black Metal

The second installment of their 777 trilogy and their second album released this year, Blut Aus Nord continue to push the threshold and have moved further away from traditional black metal with this release and deeper into a psychedelic industrial wasteland. In fact, although black metal in spirit and atmosphere, if this album were released under a different band name I doubt it would be labeled as black metal at all, gone are the blast beats and tremolo picking that kept the last album rooted somewhat firmly in BM. And these aren’t so much songs as they are sketches of haunting sonic darkness and fear. That’s not to say that the songs herein are just dark ambient pieces, on the contrary they have distinct movement and presence, not to mention some awesome guitar riffs and programmed beats, while evoking every negative emotion you can fathom. But I guess that’s all subjective, regardless, if you’re a fan of forward thinking black metal or heavy industrial, like Godflesh, you should definitely enjoy this album. Its being released on Nov 11th by Season of Mist, buy it here.

Master - Unreleased 1985 Album

2011-11-08T15:28:00.003-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2003
Genre: Death Metal

Master were formed in 1983 and, along with Death and Possessed, were one of the originators of death metal. Although, due to problems with record labels, they never reached the level of notoriety that the aforementioned bands did, they were hugely influential on second wave death metal acts like Obituary, Pestilence, etc. and first wave grindcore acts like Napalm Death and Terrorizer. This is the album they recorded for Combat Records in 1985 but never released until 2003, the music on this recording has more of a d-beat punk approach to death metal and was greatly influenced by Venom and Slayer. Still going almost 30 year later, Master are easily one of the longest running death metal bands in history.

Immolation - Providence

2011-11-06T12:05:00.003-06:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Death Metal

Well I noticed there wasn’t any Immolation on this blog yet and, seeing as how they are one of the greatest death metal bands ever, I figured I’d rectify that. For those of you that don’t know, Immolation was formed in 1986 under the name Rigor Mortis and changed it in 1988 because, I’m assuming, there was a speed/thrash metal band from Texas that already had that name. Along with Suffocation and Incantation, they helped define the New York death metal sound, and continue to do so 25 years later. They’re known for their squealing dissonant guitar riffs and complex rhythmic song structures. This is their latest EP released through Scion AV, their signature sound is still in place but has continued to slightly evolve. Oh and it kicks ass.

Jasta 14 - 7"

2011-11-05T12:57:00.008-05:00

From: USA
Year: 1995
Genre: Post-Hardcore

Jasta 14 were a Connecticut hardcore band co-founded by Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed that existed from 1991 to 1996. The early recordings of the band, although quite good, were fairly typical of early 90's hardcore and were heavily influenced by contemporaries like NYC's Burn and Absolution. By the time this recording was released they had gone through a number of vocalists and were more influenced by a lot of the post-hardcore and screamo that existed at the time i.e. Rorschach, Rye Coalition, Swing Kids etc. They went through other numerous personnel changes during their brief existence but this recording features founding member and bass player Greg Burns of Red Sparowes and Mick Barr of Krallice on guitar. After further personnel changes and a US tour in support of this 7”, playing with bands such as Botch and Snapcase, the group finally called it quits.

Integrity - Those Who Fear Tomorrow

2011-11-03T18:31:00.006-05:00

From: USA
Year: 1992
Genre: Metallic Hardcore

Once in a long while an album comes along and every nuance of that album seems to be perfect. Every vocal line, every bass line, every drum fill, every riff is so incredibly memorable that you cant ever get it out of your head. For me, this is one of those albums. Before Integrity released it they took the scene by storm with their 1989 demo, Harder They Fall. While most hardcore bands were preaching about brotherhood or some other elitist bullshit, Integrity wrote, and continues to write, songs influenced by the occult, the process church and the apocalypse, among other things. Although they took some detours along the way, their sound is pretty much the same now as it was on this album, metallic hardcore with ripping guitar solos, gargled barbed wire screaming, slow to mid-pace heavy parts punctuated with double bass and fast hardcore breaks. Check out their newer stuff if you get a chance. Oh yeah, LEAVE COMMENTS IF YOU DOWNLOAD!!!

Petrychor - Effigies & Epitaphs

2011-11-01T17:24:00.006-05:00

From: USA
Year: 2011
Genre: Black Metal

I thought I’d change things up a little bit and post a new release by Petrychor, a one man black metal project formed in 2009 by an individual named Tad Piecka. The music ranges from classical to ambient to neo-folk to post rock to black metal, reminding me, at times, of early Ulver. The album opens with ambiance and ethereal female choir singing before taking pause for one of the many acoustic guitar interludes that are scattered throughout the album which, for me, are the most beautiful parts of this recording. The flamenco influence in his playing sets these passages apart from most anything else in the genre and is a breath of fresh air. The music then, quite suddenly, blasts into noisy black metal, replete with fuzzed out guitar tones and programmed drums, which work pretty well and don’t sound overly digitized. On the fourth track, Subjugated and Abused, a movement with post rock overtones slowly comes to life, building into a cascade of black noise before dissolving into a gregorian chant. The highlight of the album, for me, is the last song, Beneath Highway and Street, a 14-minute track which, with a beautifully triumphant piano passage, gives the impression of the struggle between the bleak encroachment of urban development upon the pristine beauty of unspoiled nature. As the dark aftermath slowly fades you’re left wondering just who won and I can’t help but feel that that’s the point.

1.6 Band - Broke Up

2011-10-30T11:02:00.006-05:00

From: USA
Year: 1996
Genre: Hardcore Punk

With some of the most bizarre riffs and time signatures/changes ever to come out of the hardcore punk scene, 1.6 Band is unlike anyone else before or since. With stop on a dime time changes and extremely tight musicianship, their sound remains pretty hard to describe. I wanna say Dag Nasty having sex with VoiVod, but even that does them no justice. Suffice it to say that this compilation of all their recorded material between 1991 and 1993 is awesome, unique and you need to hear it. They recently reunited, played a bunch of shows with Rorschach and released a 7”, which you can download for free at metastasisrecords.com. DOWNLOAD LINK HAS BEEN FIXED, SORRY BOUT THAT

Born Against - Nine Patriotic Hymns for Children

2011-10-30T09:38:00.003-05:00

From: USA
Year: 1991/1993
Genre: Hardcore Punk

Born Against were a hardcore punk band from New York City that existed between 1989 and 1993. They combined the slower discordant riffs of AmRep bands like Unsane with the speed and aggression of punk. Abrasive, intelligent and lyrically scathing, they were, and remain to be, a huge influence on bands as disparate as Refused and Thou and are one of my favorite punk bands ever. They played a ton of shows with Rorschach and were similar to them in certain ways and completely different in others. So if you liked the Rorschach post, you definitely need to check this out. I have also included the Battle Hymns for the Race War 10’ that was re-released as a compilation with this album.

Fukpig - Batcave Full of Bastards EP

2011-10-29T13:00:00.003-05:00

From: U.K.
Year: 2011
Genre: Black Metal, Grindcore

A tasty little snippet of hate...

Disincarnate - Dreams of the Carrion Kind

2011-10-28T00:01:00.003-05:00

From: USA
Year: 1993
Genre: Death Metal

After contributing to three death metal masterpieces by Death, Obituary and Cancer, guitarist James Murphy released this DM masterpiece of his own. Murphy wrote the majority of the music and played lead, rhythm, acoustic and bass guitar. As always the guitar solos are incredible and the riffs are technical yet catchy without ever being overly showy or venturing into prog. There are constant tempo shifts but the music never threatens to lose you and, besides the intro and outro pieces, remains crushing from beginning to end. Featuring artwork by the inimitable Dave McKean.

Craft - Fuck the Universe

2011-10-27T23:06:00.006-05:00

From: Sweden
Year: 2005
Genre: Black Metal

Craft are a Swedish black metal band that combine equal parts Bathory and Mayhem into a nihilistic feast of misanthropy and hatred. There is no attempt to create any atmosphere on this album besides that of pure destruction and chaos. They recently released a new album on Southern Lord titled Void,so check that out as well. FUCK THE UNIVERSE. Does anything else need to be said?

Blut Aus Nord - 777 - Sect(s)

2011-10-27T13:00:00.013-05:00

From: France
Year: 2011
Genre: Black Metal, Experimental

Should have posted this a long time ago, but alas I am a busy man...

Jamie Saft - Black Shabbis

2011-10-26T20:06:00.004-05:00

From: USA
Year: 2009
Genre: Metal

Here’s an album of “Jewish Metal” from keyboardist, multi-instrumentalist and composer, Jamie Saft. Besides recording this solo album for Zorn’s Tzadik label, he has performed and recorded with Merzbow, Bobby Previte and Zorn’s own Electric Masada (which I plan on posting here in the near future). The album starts off with a strange Jewish/Americana vibe before heading into Slayer territory, followed by songs which touch on Drone, Doom, Goth, Industrial and Death Metal, without at all sounding schizophrenic like, say, Naked City. Also features Trevor Dunn of Mr. Bungle, Fantomas and Secret Chiefs 3 on bass.

The Iceburn Collective - Meditavolutions

2011-10-26T16:21:00.006-05:00

From: USA
Year: 1996
Genre: Avante-Garde

The Iceburn Collective began as a “post-hardcore” band formed in 1991 known simply as Iceburn. Although some of the musical pieces were already in place on their first album, by the time this recording came to fruition they had evolved into an entirely different beast, seamlessly blending elements of Post-Hardcore/Metal/Jazz/Classical and Progressive Rock into a very unique whole. The music ebbs and flows between heavy groove and almost ethereal meditations on silence and sound. It’s best listened to continuously from beginning to end as a 70 minute-plus musical palindrome. The main focus of the band was the guitar playing of composer Gentry Densley, who later went on to form Eagle Twin and Ascend, which sounds like a cross between Sonny Sharrock and Tony Iommi.

Wolves in the Throne Room - Celestial Lineage

2011-10-25T13:00:00.000-05:00

From: U.S.
Year: 2011
Genre: Black Metal, Experimental

This album seems to be a bit heavier and less ambient than their previous efforts, but it does have a lot of female operatic vocals to tip the scale the other way. But pretty good in my humble opinion nonetheless-->>

Sea of Bones - The Harvest

2011-10-24T17:38:00.004-05:00

From: USA
Year: 2007
Genre: Sludge/Doom

Sea of Bones are a sludge/doom metal band formed in 2005 in New Haven , CT, USA. They have drawn comparisons to Neurosis and Buried at Sea, but I feel like they manage to do their own thing while using both bands as starting points. Listening to this record is like having a nervous breakdown while being bludgeoned into a deep, dark coma. There are enough tempo changes between the occasional breaks for feedback induced drone to keep it interesting, a problem that many bands in this genre struggle with. They’re getting ready to do some shows around New York and Philadelphia, so if you’re in the area head out and have your eardrums turned to gelatin.

His Hero Is Gone - Monument to Thieves

2011-10-23T23:01:00.004-05:00

From: USA
Year: 1997
Genre: Crust Punk/D-Beat

His Hero Is Gone was a crust punk/d-beat band that existed from 1995 to 1999. In those four short years they released 3 full lengths, a handful of EPs and 7 inches and have since influenced an endless number of clones. What set them apart from other punk bands was their sense of melody, impeccable song writing and the sludgy down-tuned guitars. This is my favorite album from them and I still continue to listen to it to this day. It’s aggressive and beautiful, hopeful and brooding and just plain brutal. They had a strong DIY/Anti-Consumerist ethic. Basically this is music designed to destroy the American dream. Members went on to form the band Tragedy, which I just as strongly recommend you check out if you haven’t already.

The Skeletal - The Plague Rituals

2011-10-23T13:00:00.000-05:00

From: U.S.
Year: 2011
Genre: Death Metal

I really can't find any info on these guys, other than that they are from Florida and have Kam Lee (ex-Massacre, Mantas, Death, etc...) on vocals.

Or Rathol Nok - Demo

2011-10-22T18:29:00.010-05:00

From: USA
Year: 1995
Genre: Noise Rock

For this post I chose the demo of one of Mick Barr’s earliest bands, Or Rathol Nok. I got to see two of his previous bands before I saw the one show he did under this moniker in 1995 and it wasn’t until this band that his guitar playing started going in the direction that he’s now taking it in projects like Orthrelm, Octis and the black metal band Krallice. So if you are a fan of any of his stuff then it’s a pretty interesting listen. You can hear the beginnings of the style of noodly, ADD addled guitar playing that Mick is known for. It’s much more traditionally structured than anything else he’s done since then, so if you are a fan of Krallice but have a hard time listening to his other projects, don’t despair, it’s much more accessible. Jeff Caxide, a founding member of both Isis and Red Sparowes, plays bass on this recording as well.

Rorschach - Protestant

2011-10-21T23:43:00.008-05:00

From: USA
Year: 1993
Genre: Hardcore Punk/Metal

What’s up everyone, this is my first post on Celebutards and I’m starting things off with one of my favorite albums of all time. This album had a huge effect on the hardcore scene in the early 90’s, influencing countless bands and further bridging the gap between hardcore punk and metal. Granted there were many crossover albums in existence before this album came out but no one did it like they did. There’s something for everyone here- dissonant guitar (think Voivod or Die Kreuzen), slow sludgy parts, blast beats, odd time changes/signatures, relentless screaming, punk attitude/aggression and its all wrapped up in a sloppy metal bow. Members went on to spawn the incredible Deadguy and Kiss it Goodbye, among others.

Entrails - The Tomb Awaits

2011-10-21T13:00:00.003-05:00

From: Sweden
Year: 2011
Genre: Death Metal

These guys date back to pretty much the hay-day of death metal around 1990, but broke up due to not being happy with their sound. They of course reformed around 2008 and have been dishing out the old school death ever since...

Absu - Abzu

2011-10-20T13:00:00.002-05:00

From: U.S.
Year: 2011
Genre: Black Metal, Thrash

Newest one from the Texas occultists...

Enemy Soil - Casualties of Progress EP

2011-10-19T13:00:00.008-05:00

From: U.S.
Year: 1995
Genre: Grindcore

Andrew mentioned this a while back so I thought I'd share-->>

Suffering Mind - S/T

2011-10-18T13:00:00.020-05:00

From: Poland
Year: 2011
Genre: Grindcore

I had heard these guys (and gal) before, but I guess it didn't stick with me for some reason. But I've got to say that this release puts them right up amongst the grind elite in my humble opinion-->>

Gigan - Quasi-Hallucinogenic Sonic Landscapes

2011-10-17T13:00:00.007-05:00

From: U.S.
Year: 2011
Genre: Death Metal, Grindcore, Experimental

Here's a slab of psychedelic/grind/whatever for ya...

Evisorax - Isle of the Dogs

2011-10-15T13:00:00.011-05:00

From: U.K.
Year: 2011
Genre: Grindcore, Death Metal

I'm not sure how I completely feel about this release. On one hand it's got some pretty good grind/tech/chaotic riffage, but on the other it does have a bit of a deathcore vibe as well, so I guess you'll have to decide for yourselves on this one-->>

Condemned - Realms of the Ungodly

2011-10-13T13:00:00.016-05:00

From: U.S.
Year: 2011
Genre: Brutal Death Metal

So I'm sitting here on an oil rig, bored as hell and dreaming of my comfortable abode. So here's an album that pretty much sums up my current mood...

In need of another poster and shit...

2011-10-12T09:22:00.000-05:00

So Darrel has decided to resign as an author here on ze blog, so if anyone else would like to take his place just email me here or at john.cooper.bell@gmail.com.

Belphegor - Discography

2011-10-11T13:00:00.033-05:00

From: Austria
Year: 1991-2011
Genre: Black Metal, Death Metal

I love this band, so I figured you should too-->>

Studio albums

The Last Supper (1995)
Blutsabbath (1997)
Necrodaemon Terrorsathan (2000)
Lucifer Incestus (2003)
Goatreich - Fleshcult (2005)
Pestapokalypse VI (2006)
Bondage Goat Zombie (2008)
Walpurgis Rites - Hexenwahn (2009)
Blood Magick Necromance (2011)

Demos/EPs

Kruzifixion (as Betrayer) (1991)
Bloodbath in Paradise (1993)
Obscure and Deep (1994)

Live albums

Infernal Live Orgasm (2002)

I Want You Dead - We Are the Legions of Scums

2011-10-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Bandcamp From: GreeceYear: 2010Genre: Hardcore

"Holy shit fuck damn!!!" Those were my initial thoughts when first hearing this band. This is hardcore. Pissed off, dark, off the rails and just plain evil. I don't know what's going on in Greece as of late but whatever it is it has this band really ticked off. Get this now. Its just absolute anger.

Gorgasm - Discography

2011-10-09T13:00:00.031-05:00

From: U.S.
Year: 1996-2011
Genre: Brutal Death Metal

I recently saw that "Masticate to Dominate" was the most visited page on this blog, so I've decided to post their discography in case anyone was interested...

Demos/Promos:

Demo[1996]
Promo[2006]

Studio albums:

Bleeding Profusely[2001]
Masticate to Dominate[2003]
Orgy of Murder[2011]

EPs:

Stab-wound Intercourse[2001]

Spawn - Human Toxin

2011-10-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

From: GermanyYear: 2004Genre: Death Metal

Death fucking metal. Do you like death metal chunky? Do you like death metal groovy? How about dark? Well this shit is for you. This band reminds very much of the other groovy heavy death metal bands like Bloodsoaked, Jungle Rot, and Houwitser. Just straight up heavy and brutal ass death metal. Fucking awesome.

Deivos - Demiurge of the Void

2011-10-07T13:00:00.010-05:00

From: Poland
Year: 2011
Genre: Technical Death Metal

This sounds a lot like Fleshgod Apocalypse/Hour of Penance style brutal tech to me. Needless to say, it's pretty awesome-->>

Ahab - The Call of the Wretched Sea

2011-10-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

From: GermanyYear: 2006Genre: Doom

This thing is fucking monolithic. Everything about this album is just massive. From the reverb filled production. To the deep from the pits of the ocean vocals. This whole album is based around Herman Melville's literary masterpiece Moby Dick. As if you didn't need more of a clue the band is named Ahab for goodness sake. Nautically themed metal. Sign me up. The ocean is hardcore.

Atrocity - Todessehnsucht

2011-10-05T13:00:00.022-05:00

From: Germany
Year: 1992
Genre: Death Metal

Used to jam this all of the time in college and then I pretty much forgot about them is I started to get more into grind and brutal death. I pretty much played "As the Sky Turned Red" constantly and I've got to say it still stands up to me...

That is, before they started doing this:

Fistula - We, The Beast Ep

2011-10-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

From: United StatesYear: 2009Genre: Sludge, Doom

This is some seriously upbeat and happy music. I think you just might want to play this at your neighbor's next cookout. Or maybe your friend's wedding. In all seriousness, this is some miserable ass down-tuned and pissed off sludge similar to Eyehategod, Cavity, Grief. You get the point. Its seriously great self-help music to curl up in a warm chair and read motivational books too. Or hit on a bong, get drunk, and pass out in a puddle of vomit. Either one is equally cathartic for people. Whatever floats one's boat I say. As a bonus, they are from my current state of residence. Ohio, specifically Cleveland. So you know they are happy and fulfilled individuals.

Bedlam of Cacaphony - Neuroleptic

2011-10-03T13:00:00.016-05:00

From: U.S.
Year: 2011
Genre: Technical Death Metal, Grindcore

These guys came out with a string of pretty awesome demos about 4 years ago and then just kind of disappeared. But they're back now with a new full length and it's pretty awesome-->>

Buried at Sea - Migration

2011-10-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

From: United StatesYear: 2003Genre: Doom, Sludge, Drone

Here's some sludge/drone/doom whatever the feck you call it. I call it slow and oppressive. No seriously that's the genre tag I gave it in itunes. Due in part to the fact that the music is A. Very slow and massive. Almost lumbering. B. Its oppressively heavy. Another thing I like about it is is their name. Buried at Sea. I feel that the sea and or the ocean are just metal as fuck. How much more metal can you get than the ocean? Storms, poisonous creatures, sharks, etc. I love nautically themed metal. Which may just be the theme for my next few posts if I feel like it. Check this shit out. Its great autumn music.

Drugs of Faith - Corroded

2011-10-01T13:00:00.016-05:00

From: U.S.
Year: 2011
Genre: Grindcore

So glad this is out, I love everything this man is a part of...

Fleshcrawl - Descend into the Absurd

2011-09-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

From: GermanyYear: 1992Genre: Death Metal

We are going old fucking school here. This is death metal the way it should be done. Instead of listening to an old-school impersonator band trying to sound true. Why not just break out one of the better pre-1995 death metal albums. This Fleshcrawl album is just fucking massive. Slow, doomy passages crawl on forever. The dry production just reeks of dusty and dried out tombs full of skeletons and bone dust. This is darkness. It will take you places you really never thought you'd want to go whether you like it or not. Enjoy!

Ontogeny - Discord and Disillusion

2011-09-29T13:00:00.010-05:00

From: U.S.
Year: 2011
Genre: Technical Death Metal, Progressive

Second full length featuring members of Sol Asunder and Anomalous.

Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness

2011-09-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

From: NorwayYear: 2002Genre: Black Metal

Fuck yes!!!! The best winter black metallers. This albums is one of their best in my eyes. I'll upload more of their stuff at a later time. This album is so fucking awesome though. It sounds big, cold, and those are some of the most rocking riffs I've ever heard in a black metal album. The band literally sounds like they are playing in the middle of the arctic surrounded by an audience of polar bears. Just pure fucking awesome. This concludes my winter-themed extravaganza for now. Maybe as it approaches I'll see if I can find some more winter themed metal. This will be in heavy rotation all the way until spring though.

Flagitious Idiosyncracy in the Dilapidation - Kakusei EP

2011-09-27T13:00:00.000-05:00

From: Japan
Year: 2011
Genre: Grindcore, Death Metal

I still haven't really found out what their name means (or how these four petite Japanese girls can bust out crazy grind for that matter), but here's the latest release-->>

Wintersoul - Frozen Storm Apocalypse

2011-09-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

From: United KingdomYear:2010Genre: Black Metal

More frozen ass black metal for you kiddies. This stuff sounds a little more polished than I.C.E.(I refuse to type that damn name out again.) This album sounds even colder and more bleak than I.C.E. Still some really good Immortal-sounding stuff. Put on your parka and go walking in the snow covered woods while listening to this.

Grotesque - In the Embrace of Evil

2011-09-25T13:00:00.000-05:00

From: Sweden
Year: 1996
Genre: Black Metal, Death Metal

Here's the pre-At the Gates band Mr. Childers was referring to...

Imperial Crystalline Entombment - Apocalyptic End in White

2011-09-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

From: United States Year: 2004 Genre: Black Metal

This post begins the kick off my next few posts of winter-themed black metal. I'm usually really picky about black metal. I can't stand it if it sounds as though its recorded in a tin can. Also the themes of Satanism get old because frankly, how played out is that angle? Seriously. That's why I love this little microcosm of black metal. Winter-themed black metal. As a huge fan of winter, as its onset approaches I listen to this type of black metal a lot to get me into the kvlt and grim mood that winter brings. The colder it is, the happier I am. This particular band is pretty awesome in their Immortal worship. They come from the grimmest, snow-kissed region of the world in......Waldorf, Maryland? Huh? I've never been to Maryland but I guess it can be a pretty kvlt state considering this is some really good black metal. Enjoy kiddies.

Defeatist - Tyranny of Decay

2011-09-23T13:00:00.001-05:00

From: U.S.
Year: 2011
Genre: Grindcore

I sadly haven't had a chance to even listen to this one yet, but I'm sure it's awesome-->>

Burn Everything - Last Run Through the Ruins

2011-09-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

Burn Everything's Bandcamp

From: Rochester, New YorkYear: 2011Genre: Hardcore, Noisecore, Grindcore

Since my post of Burn Everything's other album ended up being very popular I'm going to post the newest album by them. More sick, grindey, nutty and noisey 90's crazy core worship. I equate this band's music to an animal or human who is so enraged and angered that it doesn't give two shits about who it hurts or what it destroys. This stuff is just that volatile and I thank them for that. It's very refreshing sounding.

Pathology - Awaken to the Suffering

2011-09-21T13:00:00.000-05:00

From: U.S.
Year: 2011
Genre: Brutal Death Metal, Slamming Death Metal

Newest one from the Cali slammers...

Orchidectomy - A Prelate's Attrition

2011-09-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

From: Canada
Year: 2008
Genre: Slamming Death Metal, Brutal Death Metal

Murky. Filthy. Disgusting and putrid. Words that can often be used to describe various forms of death metal. This is definitely some murky ass slamming sickness here. Everything from the low-end biased production to the burping belching vocals just oozes filth. Listen to this and then maybe take a shower in bleach afterwards.

Bloodsoaked - The Death Of Hope

2011-09-18T07:00:00.002-05:00

From: United States
Year: 2011
Genre: Death Metal

No wankery, no bullshit. No facepaint. Just ominous, groovy, and pure death fucking metal. Must've listened to this one man projects last album at least hundreds of times. The chunky back to basics death metal is always nice because it offers a respite from the waves of old-school copycats and the myriad of overly techy wank bands. This will get your head bobbing for sure.

Shining - Discography

2011-09-17T14:00:00.000-05:00

From: Norway
Year: 2001-2010
Genre: Avante Garde, Jazz, Metal

I believe this is everything but a live performance with Enslaved (which I might just have to track down...).

Where the Ragged People Go (2001)
Sweet Shanghai Devil (2003)
In the Kingdom of Kitsch You Will Be a Monster (2005)
Grindstone (2007)
Blackjazz (2010)

Jigsore Terror - World End Carnage

2011-09-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

From: Sweden
Year: 2004
Genre: Grindcore

Very old school sounding grind that I've been listening to a lot when I need something a little more laid back in between bouts of slam death metal and 90's chaotic hardcore. This shit sounds old school as hell. The vocalist sounds like he's trying to do his best Barney Greenway impression. But it rules nonetheless.

A.S.R.A + Defeatist + Triac 3-Way Split

2011-09-15T14:00:00.012-05:00

ASRA

Defeatist

Triac

From: U.S.
Year: 2010
Genre: Grindcore

Someone requested this one in the comment box.

Victims - A Dissident

2011-09-14T06:49:00.000-05:00

From: Sweden
Year: 2011
Genre: Crust, D-beat, Hardcore

This just tears up a new asshole. I'm such a fan of the ripping d-beat and crust. Awesome band.

Killgasm - Bloodbath of Satanic Vengeance

2011-09-13T14:00:00.000-05:00

From: U.S.
Year: 2011
Genre: Black Metal, Grindcore

I've been waiting at least a couple of years for this to come out it seems-->>

Circle of Dead Children - The Genocide Machine

2011-09-12T08:00:00.002-05:00

From: United States

Year: 2001

Genre(s): Grindcore, Brutal Death Metal

Love love love this band. This album is so good. The lead singer's lows are just so sickening. Awesome stuff. Shits dark and has some seriously screwed lyrics too.

Napalm Death - Harmony Corruption

2011-09-11T16:00:00.028-05:00

From: U.K.
Year: 1990
Genre: Grindcore, Death Metal

Since the FETO post was visited pretty frequently, here's it's successor.

Here's Utopia Banished as well...

The Secret - Solve Et Coagula

2011-09-10T07:23:00.001-05:00

From: Italy

Year: 2010

Genre: Crust Punk, Hardcore

Holy shit this is some pissed off stuff. The only way I could describe this is if you were to light your car on fire and go barreling down the freeway hitting other traffic as you go. Its got punk, hardcore, and crust elements. With a super sick guitar tone. Its just fast and sounds as though its derailing the whole time. Very pissed. Get this shit.

Mr. Bungle - Discography

2011-09-09T16:00:00.036-05:00

From: U.S.
Year: 1986-1999
Genre: Avante-Garde, Experimental, Metal, Rock

I know this came out of left field, but I've been listening to them a lot lately-->>

Also, here's some covers they did as well: yup

Demos:

The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny (1986)
Bowel of Chiley (1987)
Goddammit I Love America! (1988)
OU818 (1989)

Studio albums:

Mr. Bungle (1991)
Disco Volante (1995)
California (1999)

EPs:

Mi Stroke II Cigaretto

Outbreak - The other two albums

2011-09-08T08:00:00.005-05:00

From: United States

Years Released: 2004, 2006

Genre(s): Grindcore, Powerviolence, Hardcore

Here's the other two full lengths from that wonderful speedy punk band Outbreak. I just can't get enough of this stuff.

You Make Us Sick (2004)

Failure (2006)

Splattered Entrails - Nauseate

2011-09-07T16:00:00.002-05:00

From: U.S.
Year: 2011
Genre: Brutal Death Metal, Slamming Death Metal

I guess this is a one-man band now, and from what I can tell, is all the better for it. Anyway, more brootal shit for yous-->>

Sewn Shut - Rediscovering The Dead

2011-09-06T08:00:00.003-05:00

From: Sweden

Year Released: 2005

Genre(s): Grindcore

This is some killer Swedish grind. Rips all the way through. This particular album is a compilation of all of their tracks from splits and also from one of their ep's. So enjoy this kiddies.

Weekend Nachos - Worthless

2011-09-05T16:00:00.021-05:00

From: U.S.
Year: 2011
Genre: Power-Violence, Hardcore, Sludge

I love how low and heavy these guys can go, it's almost like they're trying to play in a vat of molasses. Metaphors aside, this album kicks much ass-->>

Carnal Disfigurement - Inhuman Devoured Content from Cranial Cavity

2011-09-04T08:00:00.003-05:00

From: Czech Republic
Year:2011
Genre: Brutal Death Metal, Slamming Death Metal

Been on a slam binge here lately. I really don't need to describe this too much. Heavy as fuck slamming sickness. Put this on for working out or if you would rather lose brain cells in ways OTHER than huffing gas.

Nailbomb - Point Blank

2011-09-03T16:00:00.004-05:00

From: Brazil
Year: 1994
Genre: Thrash, Industrial

Was jamming this the other day and forgot how awesome it was, so enjoy-->>