Best of 2011 Volume 1 - Mitochondrion - Parasignosis

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.

Blut Aus Nord - 777 - The Desanctification

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.

Petrychor - Effigies & Epitaphs

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.

Fukpig - Batcave Full of Bastards EP

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

A tasty little snippet of hate...

Craft - Fuck the Universe

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)

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

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

Wolves in the Throne Room - Celestial Lineage

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-->>

Absu - Abzu

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

Newest one from the Texas occultists...

Belphegor - Discography

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)

Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness

   From: Norway Year: 2002 Genre: 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. 

Wintersoul - Frozen Storm Apocalypse

   From: United Kingdom Year:2010 Genre: 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

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

   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.