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black
This, their third album, continues to showcase their unique approach to black metal. It is an intense wall of sound that is also very cerebral in approach. At times it seems things are about to fall apart and are just barely held together... and at other times the approach is monolithic and overwhelming. Another very good album from a band carving out their own niche in Black Metal.
Staff pick by: BitterCOld
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Fat & Sassy!, Marcel Hubregtse, Troy Killjoy, Ag Fox, Introspekrieg, X-Ray Rod
ulverrific
The Wolves are back and their latest represents sort of a culmination of their work in the past dozen years. "SotS" has the loudest (softest?) influence, with this album having the same mellow feel as their last album, as well as the Silence EPs. The album is more sporadic than it's predecessor. Garm gets joined by a female vocalist on a couple songs. Others see 'real' instrumentation, or the occasional cacophonous outburst reminiscent of moments of "Blood Inside". The album closes with the near 15 minute track that is almost a spoken word poem coupled with ambient background noise. Not a wild left turn for the band, but more the culmination of a process.
Staff pick by: BitterCOld
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Introspekrieg, Darkside Momo, X-Ray Rod
sludge
Horrible music for horrible people... "At A Loss" is raw, visceral, angry, throbbing, raging sludge. The most pleasant thing about this album are the moribund movie clips that signal the start of virtually every song on this album. The music is a harsh blend of the energy of hard core punk with the misanthropy of black metal and the overall vibe of doom. The worst of all worlds. Have some fun and blare their cover of "Don't Bring Me Down" for the ELO fan in your life... it will bring them down, down, down, down, down... ooh-oh-hooo.

And be sure to catch these guys pitch a Whiskey Fit at Hellfest this year.
Staff pick by: BitterCOld
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Marcel Hubregtse
blackened sludge doom
Seemingly every year Lucas stumbles on to some relatively obscure release that I otherwise would have missed, and said release blows me away, earning a spot towards the high rent district of my "best of" list for that year.

Eibon is this year's find. Blackened sludgedoom which oozes forth and drowns the listener in it's foul taint... but just enough mellow moments to allow you the occasional breath while it continues to constrict away, slowly sapping your life force.

I just finally got my copy today, so I'm pimping this one again, for the benefit(?) of those who missed the first time around.
Staff pick by: BitterCOld
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Troy Killjoy, Unknown user, Marcel Hubregtse, Ag Fox, X-Ray Rod
post metal
No. not the salsa... the four piece out of the Netherlands. 1634 is a slice of nautik post-doom or something. Part post-metal, part sludge, part doom, all awesome. They employ the best traits of each genre into a cohesive whole. Ebbing and flowing like the tides, with atmospheric passages countered by thundering sludge waves at a doomish pace.
Staff pick by: BitterCOld
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Marcel Hubregtse, Ag Fox, X-Ray Rod
doom
Doom, served up traditional Chilean-stylee. Powerful, emotive vocals paired up with awesome riff after awesome riff after awesome riff. We had lots of nice things to say about their 2009 E.P. "Cult of Disease", which set the bar high for this release... and they exceeded those expectations.
Staff pick by: BitterCOld
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Marcel Hubregtse, Unknown user, Daniell, Jason W., White Winter Sun, Nefarious, X-Ray Rod
satan worshipping doom
This album is a contradiction. four tracks spread across over 50 minutes, yet Bongripper find no time for vocals/lyrics. Nor do they find time for solos. Hell, they barely have time to create song names... the four tracks are simply titled:

1. Hail
2. Satan
3. Worship
4. Doom

All they have time to do is beat you about the head and neck with riff after riff after riff for nearly an hour.
Staff pick by: BitterCOld
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Thryce, Marcel Hubregtse, White Winter Sun, X-Ray Rod, ScreamingSteelUS
death doom
so i've teased, tormented and tantalized you with a review of an album you could not have... Until Now.

It's a Festivus miracle.

If you like yer doom slow, drawn out, growly, and HELLenic, you know what to do.
Staff pick by: BitterCOld
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Marcel Hubregtse, Jason W., Troy Killjoy, X-Ray Rod
sludge
Sludge! From the "Riff Filled Land!"

Listening to this album is akin to being beaten about the head and neck (very slowly) with blunt objects. Only I imagine listening to this album is a lot more fun than being battered by blunt objects. Slow, deep, hard and drenched in feedback.

If you still need convincing, read my review for more.
Staff pick by: BitterCOld
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Deadsoulman, Marcel Hubregtse, White Winter Sun, Nefarious, Troy Killjoy, X-Ray Rod
stoner doom
Featuring tons of fuzzed out stoner doom distortion in the basic format of Sleep's Jerusalem - i.e. one long-ass song divided into several parts - these Italians followed up their MS Award winning Idolum with another superb effort. Eve is an enjoyable head-trip for after you've knocked out a couple belts of the firewater.
Staff pick by: BitterCOld
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Thryce, Promonex, Unknown user, Dane Train, Marcel Hubregtse, Ag Fox, X-Ray Rod
melodic black metal
The masters of modern Mesopotamian melodic black are back. Epigensis sees Melechesh continuing to put their stamp on melodic bm by incorporating all sorts of exotic scales and instrumentation foreign to many western ears. All the exotic is piled on to a solid foundation of pounding drums, sneering vocals and ripping riffs to create an album that definitely stands apart from and above the crowd.
Staff pick by: BitterCOld
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Daniell, Marcel Hubregtse, Jeff, GT, X-Ray Rod, wormdrink414
Progressive Black
Over the last couple records, Enslaved seemed to be moving towards metal middle age... from Black Metal to Black Floyd. AEO sees them continuing the prog path, but at the same time drawing from the best elements of their past work. The tone of this is harsher. At times they show the familiar gallop of their old BM works, at others the weirdness of Monumension and the confidence of Below The Lights. i love this album so much i want to fuck it.
post doom
The Chilean masters of prog-post doom have returned with their third, much anticipated full-length. The approach is similar to prior albums, in incorporating prog and post metal as well as ambient influences into their doom. It's appealing on emotional and cerebral levels. Quite possibly 2010's best release to date.
screaming post black(?!)
A Rage Of Rapture Against The Dying Of The Light is a cacophony of screeches, nauseatingly fast wrong chords, roving bass and more horrifying screeches, the perfect soundtrack to a nice summer's eve picnic getaway with your special someone.

There is a nice review of this up, but since so few visited it i'm going to randomly beat you over the head with this release on the front page until some other artist releases a hidden gem that another staff member doesn't pick up on first.
Staff pick by: BitterCOld
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Marcel Hubregtse, X-Ray Rod
Industrial Metal
2010 saw the Godflesh reunite for a (marred) performance at Hellfest, and saw Earache re-release a special 2cd anniversary version of this classic with remastered versions of the original tracks on one disk, and unreleased mixes and live versions of the same track order on the second disk.

Whether the original Streetcleaner or the MMX reissue, it's a slow, crushing, claustrophobic, bleak, and asphyxiating album that will leave you roadkill.
Staff pick by: BitterCOld
Endorsed by: Unknown user (x), Promonex, jupitreas, X-Ray Rod, Darkside Momo