Staff picks
It's music to worship the devil to. You know, the mustache-twirling and cape-wearing, cartoony devil--the one who looks like he'd cut you a sweet deal on a used Cadillac. The cool devil, not the boring, brutish one.
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wormdrink414 Marcel Hubregtse |
A band you can rely on to deliver the goods each time, in a convincing and fresh way. 'Scuse me while I kiss the va-a-a-a-aalley, this valley I'm in.
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Milena Darkside Momo, psykometal, R'Vannith, Ivor, Introspekrieg, Ag Fox, BloodTears, Mr. Doctor |
"This one time, in doombandcamp, Evoke Thy Lords stuck a flute in their... mix." A great stoner doom jam with the added twist of near full-time Forest of Equlibrium-like flute. Perfect to chill to as the Northern Hemisphere heats up.
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BitterCOld !J.O.O.E.!, Susan, wormdrink414, R'Vannith, Mr. Doctor |
Precambrian part II, at last!! Well, quality-wise, that is; musically it's a different beast...
Are you ready to dive in the deepest of waters?
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Darkside Momo R'Vannith, Nefarious, Introspekrieg, BloodTears, Doc Godin, wormdrink414, Mr. Doctor, Troy Killjoy |
Ever wondered what Esoteric might sound like if they played black metal? Well wonder no more. Featuring Esoteric's Greg Chandler, as well as members from UK black metal masterclasses Archaicus and Omega Centauri, this has literally become the crème de la crème of England's extreme metal talent. The result is quite incredible and I predict this will top most people's black metal lists this year.
| Picked by: Thumbs up: |
!J.O.O.E.! Nefarious, Abattoir, Daniell, psykometal, Mr. Doctor, Introspekrieg, Susan |
Rock-solid, high-energy, synth-driven progressive power metal that doesn't fuck around. No heel-dragging ballads and the synthesizer doesn't sound like an afterthought, but is an integral part of the music? On a power metal album? Well, slap my ass and call me babycakes! Sign me up for another listen!
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Fat & Sassy! R'Vannith, Susan, psykometal, Promonex |
traded a copy of Nirvana's "Bleach" for this in '91. never looked back. Adios, Jeff. gonna break out the Slayer Food Mart mug tonight and hoist a few listening to this...
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BitterCOld psykometal, Marcel Hubregtse, Collin, BloodTears, Abattoir, Mr. Doctor, Nefarious, wormdrink414, Daniell, Darkside Momo, Ag Fox, dismaleuphony, Fat & Sassy!, ScreamingSteelUS |
Following on from my most recent staff pick, Vallendusk, here is another great debut Black Metal release from the Pest Productions label. This time it is of the Post Black Metal variety.
Listen here.
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Nefarious Mr. Doctor |
II is pretty much what I thought it would be... 40 minutes or so of ugly, foul blackened sludge. Only instead of 6-7 tracks they crafted two 20 minute double-epics, tossing in some groovy psychedelia to boot. Rawr.
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BitterCOld Mr. Doctor, !J.O.O.E.!, Abattoir, Daniell |
Octotastic metal.
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!J.O.O.E.! psykometal, Introspekrieg, Mr. Doctor, Darkside Momo |
With a renewed line-up (featuring Klone's drummer, no less), Hacride are back with their most accessible, melodic yet technical album to date. But, most of all, it's the emotional intensity that truly makes the difference.
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Darkside Momo jupitreas, R'Vannith, psykometal, Ag Fox, Mr. Doctor |
White Zom...I mean...Rob Zombie is alive!
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psykometal Introspekrieg, jupitreas, wormdrink414, Doc Godin, Mr. Doctor |
The Indonesian metal scene is more known for its brutal death metal but Vallendusk try and break that mould by showing that the scene has a lot more to offer by serving up some seriously high quality atmospheric black metal. Unlike the majority of atmospheric black metal bands that operate with that more depressive mid-tempo sound, Vallendusk differentiate themselves by employing a faster & more upbeat tempo with undoubted post & folk influences. The standout element of this record is without a doubt the excellent guitar work. Whether it's the melodic hooks or acoustic folk passages, it will grip you throughout.
Black Clouds Gathering consists of 7 tracks with the shortest track being 8 minutes long and is admittedly not the most varied record out there, so it will not suit those with a short attention span. But if epic melody-driven atmospheric black metal is your thing, I seriously suggest you give this a spin.
Listen here.
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Nefarious Abattoir, Mr. Doctor, Susan |
Quite clearly a band with no interest in pandering to the the naysayers who never wrapped their noggins around them, Sonderkommando brings The Meads Of Asphodel back to their most abstruse. Gone is most of the whimsy and the euphoric melodies of The Murder of Jesus the Jew, here we see them at their darkest, murkiest and most nuanced. Many accuse them of "stirring the shit" with regard to their lyrical content and imagery, but that's something you should most certainly read about yourself before throwing any stones.
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!J.O.O.E.! Introspekrieg, Mr. Doctor, R'Vannith, Apothecary |