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

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

A short but absolutely killer gem.

Picked by: Thumbs up:

Lucas BitterCOld, Daniell, Marcel Hubregtse, Mr. Doctor

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

Read review ››

Picked by: Thumbs up:

Daniell Fat & Sassy!, Mr. Doctor, Ag Fox, Lyrinan, wormdrink414

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

Get it? Got it? Good.

Read review ››

Picked by: Thumbs up:

Doc Godin Lyrinan, Fat & Sassy!, wormdrink414, Ag Fox, Introspekrieg, BloodTears

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

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

Read review ››

Picked by: Thumbs up:

Mr. Doctor Fat & Sassy!, Ag Fox, DerRozzengarten, Troy Gallant

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

Read review ››

Picked by: Thumbs up:

daniell_p Ag Fox, MoraWintersoul, Nefarious

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

Read review ››

Picked by: Thumbs up:

Fat & Sassy! Nefarious, Lyrinan, Marcel Hubregtse, Mr. Doctor, MoraWintersoul, wormdrink414

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

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

Picked by: Thumbs up:

BloodTears Ag Fox, Marcel Hubregtse, Mr. Doctor, wormdrink414

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

Read review ››

Picked by: Thumbs up:

Thryce Ag Fox, Fat & Sassy!, BloodTears, jupitreas

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

Read review ››

Picked by: Thumbs up:

BitterCOld DerRozzengarten, Collin, Ag Fox, Marcel Hubregtse, Mr. Doctor, Darkside Momo

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

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

Read review ››

Picked by: Thumbs up:

Darkside Momo BitterCOld, Collin, daniell_p, White Winter Sun, Mr. Doctor, wormdrink414, Starvynth

People keep sending me these weird PM's asking me what album I want to be buried with just in case I should die later tonight in mysterious circumstances (the fuck is going on guys?).

Well, lo and behold, one of my favorite all time classics right here. My "Holy Jesus on Ice Skates" meter just keeps going off the charts every time I play this ridiculously awesome record... to use an understatement.

Read review ››

Picked by: Thumbs up:

Thryce Darkside Momo, !J.O.O.E.!, Fat & Sassy!, Doc Godin, Collin, White Winter Sun, daniell_p, Nefarious, Marcel Hubregtse, wormdrink414, Ag Fox

Let's nip this in the bud: this ain't no Jester Race. But ain't no A Sense of Purpose either.

Take a few deep breaths, maybe think of a nice time you spent with girl/boy/horsefriend and gently let all your preconceptions slide off you, much in the same way those lovely girls who you watch mud wrestle slide all over each other on those lonely Friday nights... I'm sure I had a point, something about the new Morbid Angel? I can't really remember. Oh yeah, the new In Flames. It's really very not bad, plenty of thick leading harmonies harking back as far as Reroute To Remain do a plenty fine job of rekindling a little bit of the love you felt for these guys.

Read review ››

Picked by: Thumbs up:

!J.O.O.E.! DerRozzengarten, daniell_p, Mr. Doctor

At first sight, or, to be precise, at first listen, Samael made their new album using the same template as usual. But this time the result is exceptionally good. It takes enormous skill to compose twelve songs of similar structure and make them all sound different and unique. And incredibly catchy too, if that is possible with harsh vocals and customarily hateful anti christian lyrics. Those Swiss heretics are as hell-bent on hating religion as usual, but the whole background to their hate, all those marching rhythms, intricate and inspired keyboard passages and abrasive rasps mix together to form some of the nicest surprises of this year so far. Their best since Passage.

Read review ››

Picked by: Thumbs up:

daniell_p Ag Fox, DerRozzengarten

Shit got crazy, and I got scared.

Read review ››

Picked by: Thumbs up:

Fat & Sassy! Introspekrieg, Darkside Momo, Doc Godin, Ag Fox, Nefarious, BloodTears, Mr. Doctor, DerRozzengarten, Promonex

If you're fed up with nay-sayers bitching about djent being a non-genre, just make them listen to this superb EP. All the requirements are here, along with truly stellar songwriting, soaring vocals and a maverick ear for non-banal pop melodies.

Picked by: Thumbs up:

jupitreas Thryce, Ag Fox, BloodTears, Collin