Saturday, October 31, 2009

Kingdom - Kingdom

All I know for now about Kingdom is that they're a side project founded by three dudes from the Belgium sludge band Amenra. I listenned to this badboy last night and just go sacked. Three songs of atmospheric sludge with crushing riffs and vocals. Sounds a bit of Amenra but that's nothing to be ashamed of.




Tracklist
1. Cendre

2. Wiech

3. Trone


Pelican - Pelican

Rising from the ashes of the band Tusk, the instrumental post-metal outfit Pelican formed in Chicago, 2001, by guitarists Trevor de Brauw and Laurent Lebec with sibling rhythm section Larry Herweg and Bryan Herweg (drums and bass, respectively).

Owing a great debt to pioneering forefathers Neurosis, and often compared to Boston’s Isis, and Sweden’s Cult of Luna, Pelican were initially signed to Hydra Head Records (whose head, Aaron Turner, is a member of Isis).

After making their debut with an eponymous self-titled four-song EP “Pelican” in 2003, Pelican expanded their sound with 2004’s critically acclaimed “Australasia”. In 2005 Pelican released the “March Into the Sea” EP (featuring the original 20 minutes version), followed by, arguably, their most accomplished record to date, “The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw”. “City Of Echoes” was released June 5th, 2007.

In 2009 the band signed with Southern Lord Records in preparation for the release of their fourth full album.

(Taken from Last.fm)
I have to admit I'm not into the "new" sound of Pelican (all records that have been released after "The Fire in our Throats will beckon the Thaw"), but two days ago I was once again listenning to their self titeld debut and it blew me away. The Woods is maybe one of my all time favorite sludge songs. Enjoy if you don't have tried Pelican yet!




Tracklist
1. Pulse
2. Mammoth
3. Forecast for Today
4. The Woods


Fistula - We, the Beast

Fistula are stoner/sludge metal. They’ve had many line-up changes around the two key members Corey Bing and Bahb Branca and had disbanded shortly after the split with Burmese in 2004. Since returning in 2006 with the ‘For a Better Tomorrow’ EP, they’ve released two epic full lengths on Crucial Bliss, namely ‘Inverted Black Star’ and ‘Lessons in Lamentation’, an EP and split and another album ‘Burdened by Your Existence’, which brings us up to date.

(Taken from Last.fm)

If you're into filthy sludge covered by nice stoner you will love Fistula. This is the newest EP from 2009 from the guys. Fistula fuck 'em all!




Tracklist
1. The Pessimist
2. Bipolar Bear
3. The Teething
4. Die, you're a fucking Cop
5. We don't need you
6. New found hope
7. Get thru
8. It's happening again
9. Depression Session


Happy Halloween!

Today it's the celebration day of this old Celtic ritual holiday. We wish you a nice and happy halloween from good old Europe!





Sunn o))) - Live at Roadburn Festival 2005

Sunn O))) (pronounced simply “Sun”) is an American drone/doom/experimental band based in New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA and formed in 1998. The band’s core members consists of Stephen O’Malley (Khanate, Burning Witch, SARIN, Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine, Lotus Eaters, Ginnungagap, Thorr’s Hammer, Fungal Hex, KTL, Æthenor, Gravetemple) and Greg Anderson (Goatsnake, Thorr’s Hammer, Burning Witch, Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine, Brotherhood, Engine Kid, FALSE LIBERTY, Burial Chamber Trio, Ascend). The band was formed as a tribute of sorts to Earth, another very heavy band noted as the pioneers of drone metal. G. Stuart Dahlquist currently of Asva and ex-Burning Witch performed bass on The Grimmrobe Demos and ØØ Void.

(Taken from Last.fm)



Tracklist
1. Sunn o))) - Live at Roadburn Festival 2005


Venetian Snares - The Chocolate Wheelchair Album

Aaron Funk, a Canadian producer of widely varying electronic music styles, achieved a reputation in experimental electronic circles upon his signing to planet µ (label run by Mike Paradinas, aka µ-Ziq). It’s a testament to his production prowess that his base of Winnipeg, Manitoba, hasn’t prevented IDM enthusiasts around the world from investigating his recordings.

Often abbreviated to “Vsnares” – Funk’s distinctive style reflects unconventional time signatures and extremely rapid and erratic rhythms. Unpredictable and stimulating, the effect is intense.

(Taken from Last.fm)



Tracklist
1. Abomination Street
2. Too Young
3. Langside
4. Einstein-Rosen Bridge
5. Hand Throw
6. Epidermis
7. Ghetto Body Buddy
8. Sky Painted on Car

9. Marty's Tardis
10. Herbie goes Ballistic


Friday, October 30, 2009

The Vision Bleak - The Wolves Go Hunt Their Prey

The Vision Bleak is a gothic metal band from Germany formed in 2000, consisting of former Empyrium member Ulf Theodor Schwadorf and former Nox Mortis member Allen B. Konstanz. Dame Pandora of Dark Sanctuary did guest vocals on the album The Deathship Has a New Captain.

(from Last.fm)


Horror/Gothic Metal from Germany. Very recommend for fans of H.P. Lovecraft and other horror stories! Enjoy!



Tracklist
1. Amala und Kamala
2. She-Wolf
3. The Demon Of The Mire

The Black Pharao Trilogy
4. Introduction
5. Part I: The Shining Trapezohedron
6. Part II: The Vault Of Nephren-Ka

7. The Eldrich Beguilement
8. Evil Is Of Old Date
9. By Our Brotherhood With Seth


Converge - Axe to Fall

Is it too soon to mention CONVERGE in the same breath as SLAYER and MOTORHEAD? The Boston foursome have perfected a formula which they've seldom deviated from over the years, but they're consistently fierce and exciting enough to make every album worthwhile. Their latest, Axe to Fall, continues Converge's habit of outperforming any metalcore band in listening distance, only this time they've thrown in more stylistic curveballs and mathier riffs than ever before. The payoff is 42 exhilarating minutes that fly by like an EP, plus a connecting force between MINOR THREAT and GREG-era DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN. Not to mention possibly the best album of Converge's career.

The phrase Axe to Fall works as both the album title and a warning of its contents: "Open only with a parental guardian present to pick the remains of your skull off the ground upon hearing this." The last thing you remember before blacking out could be drummer BEN KOLLER's fills giving way to the physics-defying riff of "Dark Horse" or the siren wail of KURT BALLOU's lead melody on "Effigy," but if you're lucky you'll make it at least to vertigo-inducing slide of "Losing Battle" or the tommy gun riff intro to "Cutter." JACOB BANNON's bark is one of the most expressive dins in metal today, and he'd be convincingly emotive even if Koller and eye-of-the-hurricane bassist NATE NEWTON didn't sound like they were hunting him down. Ballou is a different foe entirely–imagine having to come up with vocal lines to go with the instrumental versions of "Dead Beat" or "Reap What You Sow."

Axe to Fall is not specifically punk or metal, although it's head, shoulders and knees above most punk and metal bands. Plus, the two closing tracks indicate that there's a wealth of potential for Converge in a full album of dirges and murder ballads. Not so fast, though–Converge may sound like they could make a killer MARK LANEGAN record, but as Axe to Fall proves, they're far too important in metal for anyone to think about shifting gears. Best album of Converge's career? Maybe the best of 2009.

(Taken from here)



Tracklist
1. Dark Horse
2. Reap what you sow
3. Axe to Fall
4. Effigy
5. Worms will Feed
6. Wishing well
7. Damages
8. Losing Battle
9. Dead Beat
10. Cutter
11. Slave Driver
12. Cruel Bloom
13. Wretched World


Gegnhis Tron - Board up the House Remixes Volume I - V

Genghis Tron is a three-piece band based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania playing a hybrid style blending extreme metal with electronic music.

The trio formed in early 2004 in Poughkeepsie, NY, where they met as students (they were very good students) at Vassar College. Their earliest material — which would be released as the “Cloak of Love” E.P. on Crucial Blast Records — was a hyper pastiche of grindcore, idm, death metal, hip-hop, and even new wave.

“Dead Mountain Mouth”, the band’s first full-length, was released by the same label the following year. The newer material was a more well-blended and demented attack, focusing less on the cut-and-paste mayhem of the early songs and instead honing in on flow, song structure, and originality creating what has never been created before.

They have completed recording “Board Up The House”, their second full-length album. It was released in February 2008. It showcases the band’s talent now more than ever.

(Taken from Last.fm)
Afterwards most of the songs that have been released on Board up the House were remixed and put on five vinyls. The remixes were done by artists like Nadja Justin K. Broadrick or Ulver. Enjoy!



Genghis Tron - Board up the House Remixes Volume I

Tracklist
1. Board up the House (Steve Moore Remix)
2. Colony Collapse (Justin K. Broadrick Remix)
3. Things don't look good (Rob Crow Remix)
4. Ergot (Eluvium Remix)




Genghis Tron - Board up the House Remixes Volume II

Tracklist
1. Relief (Tobacco Remix)
2. Recursion (Circle Remix)
3. Recursion (CFCF Remix)
4. The Feast / Ergot (Dntel Remix)




 Genghis Tron - Board up the House Remixes Volume III


Tracklist
1. Board up the House (Danny Lohner Remix)
2. The Feast (Scott Hull Remix)
3. City on a Hill / The Whips blow back (Phillip Cope Remix)
4. I won't come back alive (Ulver Remix)
5. Relief (Drumcorps Remix)






Genghis Tron - Board up the House Remixes Volume IV


Tracklist
1. City Whipped (Subtle Remix)
2. Relief (Telefon Tel-Aviv Dub Remix)
3. Endless Endless (Lucky Dragons Remix)
4. Colony Collapse (Odd Nasdam Remix)




Genghis Tron - Board up the House Remixes Volume V

Tracklist
1. Board up the House (Tim Hecker Remix)
2. I won't come back alive (Dudes you can trust Remix)
3. I won't come back alive (Nadja Remix)


The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation - Doomjazz Future Corpses!

The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation is the experimental Ambient/Noise/Drone/Jazz alter ego of The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble, the self-acclaimed “mutant jazz” band formed in 2000 by Jason Kohnen (aka Bong-Ra) and Gideon Kiers, and which later evolved into a six-member piece. Starting with free-form soundtracks to silent films such as Murnau’s “Nosferatu” and Lang’s “Metropolis”, the band gave birth in 2006 to its first eponymous album, released on Planet Mu.

(Taken from Last.fm)



Tracklist
1. I
2. II
3. III
4. IV
5. V
6. VI
7. VII
8. VIII
9.IX


Thursday, October 29, 2009

Sleep - Demos 1990

These are demo and alternate versions of a few songs that have been released some years later on the records Volume ISleep's Holy Mountain (also including a Black Sabbath cover). Maybe it's just a little treat for the die hard collectors of Sleep's stuff but I guess we all could enjoy a little listen to this tunes.



Tracklist
1. Lord of this World (Black Sabbath)
2. The Druid (Demo)
3. Nain's Baptism (Demo)
4. Anguish (Alternate Version)
5. The Suffering (Alternate Version)


Queen Elephantine - Kailash

Queen Elephantine is meditative blues of whirlwind ghost ships forced down the hopeless maelstroms of the Nile. Improvised, modal stoner/doom from Hong Kong.

Rooting from the guitar-bass duo of Indrayudh Shome and Daniel Quinn, the band went on through several lineup changes and a split with Massachusetts’ Elder. They finally settled on a four-piece, with the addition of drummers Michael Isley and Alex Buck, which first started to garner recognition in Hong Kong as well as recording both the acclaimed split with Sons of Otis and the massive full length “Surya”.

Shome then moved to the United States of America in late 2007, where he reassembled the band alongside vocalist Rajkishen Narayanan. Andrew Jude Riotto, bass
Brett Zweiman on tabla and Chris Dialogue on drums complete the current line-up.

(Taken from Last.fm)



Tracklist
1. Search for the deathless State
2. Gloaming
3. -
4. The Vulture and the Creed
5. Priest
6. Godblood
7. Khora


Boyd Rice and Friends - Wolf Pact

Boyd Rice and Friends is the name of a neofolk “supergroup” around NON mastermind Boyd Rice. The only static member of this project is - of course - Boyd Rice. Other well known part time members of another project called Boyd Rice & Fiends are Douglas P. (Death in June), Albin Julius (Der Blutharsch) and Michael Moynihan (Blood Axis) and Rose McDowall (Coil, Current 93, Sorrow).

(Taken from Last.fm)



Tracklist
1. Watery Leviathan
2. The forgotten Father
3. Tomb of the forgotten Father
4. Wolf Pact
5. Worlds Collide
6. Their Bad Blood
7. Rex Mundi
8. Murder Bag
9. The Reign Song
10. Joe liked to go (to the Cemetry)
11. Fire shall come
12. The Orchid and the Death's Hand
13. For their whole Lives long


Iskra - Bureval

Iskra is a crust punk band with heavy black metal influence (a style they dub “blackened crust”) from Canada. Iskra was formed by members of the ’90s crust band Black Kronstadt, whose sound was more comparable to that of bands like Provoked. The band has recently been gaining a lot of attention in the NW crust and grindcore scenes. They played at 2007’s Burning Portland, a massive 2 day crust/grind festival. Iskra was denied entry into the US for a recent tour, and had to cancel numerous dates, but were eventually able to finish most of the tour.

(Taken from Last.fm)

Blackened Crust-Punk from Canada, Bureval is their latest album from '09. Enjoy!




Tracklist
1. Hounds of Order
2. Within the Black
3. Dubrovlag
4. Bureval
5. Okhrana
6. Okeanos
7. Krondstat
8. Wolf of Winter
9. 80,000
10. Wie alles Anfing


Pyramids with Nadja - Pyramids with Nadja

Let me explain further. This guy Pyramids With Nadja is like a massive collaborative effort between Pyramids, Nadja and a number of otherwise established musicians. His instrumentation might be described as an energized ambient, infused with an intelligent ear for avant-garde metal and an almost indiscernible adherence to a sort of pop sensibility. PWN is the kinda guy who would successfully meld the still unparalleled compositional methodology developed in Pyramids' "s/t" album with Nadja's trademarked dirge-like shoegaze on a record and then chalk up the favorable outcome to the fact that all members of Pyramids (f. coloccia, m. dean, m. kraig, r. loren, d. william) and Nadja (Aidan Baker & Leah Buckereff) perform on all four tracks on the record.

And his friends... His friends are all well-known artists, such as: Simon Raymonde of Cocteau Twins and This Mortal Coil (performs bass on track one and four), Albin Julius of Der Blutharsch (performs vocals on track four), Chris Simpson of Mineral (performs vocals on track two), Colin Marston of Dysrhythmia and Behold the Arctopus (co-produced/engineered track one) and James Plotkin of Khanate, Khlyst, O.L.D. Phantomsmasher (mixed and mastered the entire album). And if that weren't enough I heard he knows Ulver and Lustmord (each band remixed the track, "Into the Silent Waves," for a limited ancillary product) So, how can I, just one man, compete with a dreamboat captained by a crew of such diverse and artful virtuosos like Pyramids With Nadja (drum roll)... I couldn't possibly... because when all is said and done, Pyramids With Nadja is a far more suitable mate for my girlfriend than I could ever be... he's clearly better with friends and family, his creativity exhibits a natural flexibility, and you know what, thats ok... I want her to be happy.

(Taken from Hydrahead)
This record is highly recommended. Very beautifull ambient soundscapes with soft drone and distortion over it. Four tracks in one hour, you can't do anything wrong with that one. Enjoy!




Tracklist
1. Into the Silent Waves
2. Another War
3. Sound of Ice and Grass
4. An Angel was heard to Cry over the City of Rome


Minsk - Discography

Located along the in-betweens of Chicago and Peoria, Illinois, and drawing its nominal inspiration from the Belarusian capital, nestled deep amidst the in-betweens of the East and the West, a city that has been burned to the ground on several occasions only to be rebuilt like a phoenix rising from its ashes, Minsk is an eclectic experience of passion, aggression, rhythm, noise, and trance. The music is as organic as it is other-worldly, infusing the rhythms of the earth and the resonance of the human voice with the synthetic sounds of machines, amplifiers, and effects.

Minsk performed its first show in March of 2003, released a demo CD with Lisa Falzone Recordings later that year, and has spent the last three years performing, writing, and recording. In 2004, they performed at the inaugural Templars of Doom festival in Indianapolis and appeared on a Thinker Thought Records compilation CD, entitled ‘If It Plays…’.

In 2005, they put the finishing touches on their new album with producer Sanford Parker, who joined the band during the recording process. Parker, also known for his play in the band ‘Buried at Sea’ has produced such acts as Pelican, Rwake, Lair of the Minotaur, Unearthly Trance, and Venomous Concept. The band performed at 2005 and 2006’s South by Southwest music festivals in Austin, TX, and Emissions from the Monolith festivals in Youngstown, OH.

The Ritual Fires of Abandonment, was released in Febuary of 2007.

In 2009 they released “With Echoes In The Movement Of Stone”

(Taken from Last.fm)




Regular Studio Albums


Minsk - With Echoes in the Movement of Stone (2009)

Tracklist
1. Three Moons
2. The Shore of Transcendence
3. Almitras Permonition
4. Means to an End
5. Crescent Mirror
6. Pisgah
7. Consumend by Horizons
8. Requiem from Substance to Silence





Minsk - The Ritual Fires of Abandonment (2007)

Tracklist
1. Embers
2. White Wings
3. Mescaline Sunrise
4. The Orphans of Piety
5. Circle of Ashes
6. Ceremony ek Stasis





Minsk - Out of a Centre which is neither Dead or Alive (2005)

Tracklist
1. Waging War on the Forevers
2. Narcotics and Dissecting Knives
3. Holy Flower of the North Star
4. Three Hours
5. Bloodletting and Forgetting
6. Wisp of Tow




Demo's and EP's


Minsk - Burning (Demo) (2004)

Tracklist
1. The Time ek Stasis
2. Boreas
3. As the City burns
4. The Plains of San Augustin





Unearthly Trance & Minsk - Split 7" (2009)

Tracklist
1. Unearthly Trance - Night of the Vampire
2. Minsk - Stand for the Fire Demon


Wednesday, October 28, 2009

iLiKETRAiNS - Progress Reform

iLiKETRAiNS are a band which formed in Leeds, England in 2003. Their songs are composed of expansive orchestral and guitar-based sounds. They consist of David Martin (vocals, guitar), Guy Bannister (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Alistair Bowis (bass, vocals) and Simon Fogal (drums). They work on concept albums which are also optically represented on stage, by means of video projections and the band’s actual image (the mournings on their arms for example).


(more on Last.fm)


Post-Rock with nice, chilling vocals and absolutely nice lyrics. Enjoy!






Tracklist
1.Terra Nova
2. No Military Parade
3. A Rook House For Bobby
4. Citizen
5. The Accident
6. Stainless Steel
7. The Beeching Report



Daturah - Reverie

Daturah was formed in December 2003 in the city of Frankfurt, Germany. This quintet plays lengthy mostly songs.

Members:
* Mathias: guitar
* Flo: guitar
* Patrick: drums
* Benni: bass
* Seb: samples, synth

Additional Members:
* Raul: live visuals


The band released their self-financed debut album in May 2005. This demo, Daturah, was released half a year later on the American Indie-label Graveface Records. In the next year the band played nearly a hundred shows with Mono, Gregor Samsa and Do Make Say Think.

Their second album, reverie, was released in 2008 on Graveface Records and Golden Antenna Records.


(from Last.fm)


Epic Post-Rock with Metal influence. Live absolutely amazing. Enjoy!




Tracklist
1. Ghost Track
2. Hybrisma
3. 9
4. Deep B Flat
5. Vertex


Katatonia - Night Is The New Day

Katatonia formed in 1991 in Stockholm, Sweden and was brought together by long time friends, Anders Nyström (aka Blakkheim) and Jonas Renkse (aka Lord Seth). After more than a year of rehearsals and composing, the first real fruits of their labour came to light in mid 1992 with the release of the demo ‘Jhva Elohim Meth’, recorded at Sweden’s Gorysound Studio and produced by the multi-musician Dan Swanö. The demo sold out immediately, bringing Katatonia to the attention of Dutch label Vic Records, who went on to re-release the demo as a mini CD, titled ‘Jhva Elohim Meth – the Revival’. With the CD selling out fast and their reputation spreading like a wildfire through the underground, the duo knew they would need a fuller line-up to move the band up and forward. So, bassist Guillaume Le Huche (aka Israphel Wing) was enlisted to their ranks, enabling them to perform live in concert for the first time in their career. ... ‘The Great Cold Distance’ 2006 Bringing us right up to date and into the year of 2006, Katatonia have just delivered their brand new single, ‘My Twin’ plus a video for the same track directed by Charlie Granberg. The single is taken from their decisive seventh full-length album, aptly titled ‘The Great Cold Distance’ which was recorded during three months in the summer of 2005 at Fascination Street Studios, Örebro, Sweden. Produced by Nyström/Renkse and co-produced, mixed & engineered by Jens Bogren & David Castillo. The album is definitely their most dynamic work in their history and has such threatening coldness to it; it’s bound to create a distance from anything and everything. Renkse explains: “A distance necessary to journey through the corridors of human vexation. While embracing this album one must know that it will only help to increase the coldness between us. It’s a devious life. And this is a soundtrack to it.”


(more on Last.fm)


I don't think I have to say much about this album. It's just perfect. It's Katatonia. Enjoy!




Tracklist
1. Forsaker
2. The Longest Year
3. Idle Blood
4. Onward Into Battle
5. Liberation
6. The Promise Of Deceit
7. Nephilim
8. New Night
9. Inheritance
10. Day & Then The Shade

11. Departer


Paradise Lost - Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us

Paradise Lost - initally one of the premier death/doom bands (along with their former labelmates Anathema and My Dying Bride) that later incorporated electronic elements in their music. They formed in 1988 in Halifax, UK. Along with bands like Dream Death, Sempiternal Deathreign, Asphyx, Winter etc… they are also credited for helping develop the subgenre known as “gothic” metal.

Ironically, the band is almost unknown in their home country, but in mainland Europe they have been extremely popular for many years, especially in Greece, Germany and Bulgaria, where they are regarded as mainstream rock stars. Although they have also been partially attributable for pioneering gothic metal, throughout their career the band have also confounded fans and critics alike with their perpetual taste for reinvention and experimentation, a desire to work with producers from other musical genres, and an oft-stated refusal to repeat themselves for fear of stagnation.

For instance, vocalist Nick Holmes used a muddy sounding grunt-style of singing in the band’s early duration (Lost Paradise (1990), Gothic (1991)); Upon the release of Shades Of God (1992), Icon (1993) and Draconian Times (1995), he refined his voice to a cleaner tone almost akin to James Hetfield of Metallica; And on One Second (1997), which was distributed by hip hop label Jive Records, the band experimented with Depeche Mode-styled synth pop and electronica. Despite criticism from traditionalists, this bold approach has also garnered them many new fans along the way, and cemented the loyalty of progressive “old-timers.”

Paradise Lost’s line-up has remained remarkably consistent for a long-standing band, consisting of singer Holmes, guitarists Greg Mackintosh and Aaron Aedy, and bassist Steve Edmonson. Holmes and Mackintosh are the principal composers, with almost all of the band’s songs credited solely to them. Only the band’s drumming position has changed, with original sticks man Matthew Archer leaving in 1994 to be replaced by ex-Marshall Law drummer Lee Morris. In March 2004, Morris also left the band. Drummer Jeff Singer was brought in as a session and live drummer for the “Paradise Lost” album, and is now a permanent member of the band.

Paradise Lost have currently released their 11th album “In Requiem” which takes heavier guitar sound and a more aggressive vocal direction than in their past records. Over the Madness, a documentary by Diran Noubar, displaying the impact Paradise Lost has had on Gothic Metal will be shown in 2007.

A single named “The Enemy” from the new album was released on April 13th.


(from Last.fm)
Fantastic new album of a great Gothic Doom Band. If you like their album "In Requiem" then you'll love this album. Enjoy!



Tracklist
1. As Horizons End
2. I Remain
3. First Light
4. Frailty
5. Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us
6. The Rise Of Denial
7. Living With Scars
8. Last Regret
9. Universal Dream
10. In Truth


Church of Misery - Live at Roadburn Festival 2008

Church Of Misery (チャーチ・オブ・ミザリ) is a japanese doom metal band with a specific extra-groovy sound that is often described as “stoner doom” but the band tends to snub this term saying “We hate trend. We hate corporate attitude. We hate the word ‘stoner’. Death to false stoners!! Let there be DOOM!!” (citation from the Master of Brutality album cover artwork notes).

(Taken from Last.fm)
If you ever had the chance to catch these guys live on stage you have to admit that Church of Misery may be one of the best live acts we got out there at these days. Enjoy their performance from 08's Roadburn Festival!




Tracklist
1. Killfornia
2. I, Motherfucker
3. Shotgun Boogie
4. Red Ripper Blues
5. Sick of living
6. Candyman
7. El Padrino
8. War is our Destiny
9. Hurricane


Jamie Saft - Black Shabbis

Jamie Saft is a keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist, composer, sound engineer and producer living in Brooklyn, NY. He has performed and recorded with John Zorn, Bobby Previte, Merzbow and many others. He has also written several original film scores including Murderball and God Grew Tired Of Us.

(Taken from Last.fm)
Black Shabbis is an experimental doom metal album by this creative head who is releasing his recordings on john zorn's Tzadik label. Enjoy!




Tracklist
1. Black Shabbis - The Trail of Libels
2. Blood
3. Serpent Seed
4. Der Judenstein (The Jewry Stone)
5.  Army Girl
6. King of King of Kings
7. Kielce
8. Remember
9. The Ballad of Leo Frank


Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Electric Wizard - Dopethrone

Electric Wizard are a band from Dorset, England that formed in 1993. The band have since recorded six albums, two of which are now considered to be landmarks of their genre: Come My Fanatics… and Dopethrone. Electric Wizard have a distinct yet traditional doom metal sound that incorporates stoner and sludge traits, with lyrics typically involving the occult, witchcraft, H.P. Lovecraft, horror films and cannabis. During 2003, founding members Tim Bagshaw and Mark Greening left to form the band Ramesses, making Jus Oborn the only founding member who remains.

(from Last.fm)

This album is the perfection of Stoner Doom. Enjoy! PS: Only listen while you're on T.H.C.! :)




Tracklist
1. Vinum Sabbathi
2. Funeralopolis
3. Weird Tales: I. Electric Frost, II. Golgotha, III. Altar of Melektaus
4. Barbarian
5. I, The Witchfinder
6. The Hills Have Eyes
7. We Hate You
8. Dopethrone


Doom:VS - Dead Words Speak

Johan Ericson is a multitalented musician and producer with a number of projects of his own. The most distinguished of these is Draconian; a gothic/doom act which Johan established in 1994. Johan started out as a drummer but soon expanded his field of capacity. From the profound elevation of this distinct mind calls also the spirit of Doom:vs; a project born from the idea of constructing something utterly dark in the unique field of doom metal, closer to bands such as Shape of Despair and Mourning Beloveth. Although his worship of bands like Pentagram (U.S.) and Trouble didn’t reflect on his plans this time.

(from Last.fm)

An epic, misanthropic and melancholic Funeral Doom masterpiece. One-man project of the Draconian guitar player. For fans of Shape of Despair, Skepticism and Longing For Dawn. Enjoy!



Tracklist
1. Half-Light
2. Dead Words Speak
3. The Lachymal Sleep
4. Upon The Cataract
5. Leaden Winged Burden
6. Threnode


The Fall Of Every Season - From Below

The Fall Of Every Season is the main project of Norwegian artist and songwriter Marius Strand. From at first being an underground Internet-phenomenon in 2004, this band project arose as a doom metal force to be reckoned with when the debut album, From Below, was released in 2007. All instruments and vocals were handled by Strand, defining The Fall Of Every Season as a one-man-band. Apart from just being a melodic doom metal production, this album also featured acoustic guitars and an emphasis on dynamics between the brutal and the melancholic.

With the recording of a new album in 2009 entitled Amends, The Fall Of Every Season’s emphasis on the typical down-tempo repetitive riffing is less present, while the melodies and variations in riffs play an even more important part than before. In that sense, the band could now be categorized as more of a progressive metal band. The spirit of doom and melancholy is still very present in the atmosphere of the songs, though.


(from Last.fm)

This album has the best lyrics I've ever seen. Great Doom Metal in the vein of Agalloch, The Morningside and Doom:VS. Enjoy!



Tracklist
1. From Below 11:53
2. Sisyphean 4:27
3. The Triumphant Beast 12:35
4. Escape of the Dove 3:40
5. Her Withering Petals
15:13

Griftegård - Solemn, Sacred, Severe

Griftegård is a Doom Metal band formed in Sweden (Norrköping) in 2004.

www.myspace.com/griftegrd

Current members are;

Lyrics & Guitar - OLA BLOMKVIST
Vocals - THOMAS ERIKSSON
Drums - JENS GUSTAFSSON
Guitar - PER BRODDESSON
Bass - ROBERT HYLÈN

The word “Griftegård” is an old Swedish word for “cemetery” or “burial ground”.

(from Last.fm)

Psalmbok was a really great Doom EP of this band but this album tops it in so many ways! For fans of Candlemass, Saint Vitus and other Traditional Doom Bands. Enjoy!



Tracklist
1. Charles Taze Russell
2. Punishment & Ordeal
3. I Refuse These Ashes
4. Noah's Hand
5. The Mire
6. Drunk With Wormwood


Squarepusher - Hard Normal Daddy

Born in 1975 (Essex, England), Tom “Squarepusher” Jenkinson can be broadly described as an electronic musician, though he is perhaps best known for his experimental with a heavy influence. Rising from near-total obscurity to drum’n’bass cause célèbre in the space of a couple of months, Jenkinson released only a pair of EPs and a DJ Food remix for the latter’s Refried Food series before securing EP and LP release plans with three different labels. His first full-length work, Feed Me Weird Things (on Richard “Aphex Twin” James’ Rephlex label), was a dizzying, quixotic blend of superfast jungle breaks with Aphex-style synth textures, goofy, offbeat melodies, and instrumental arrangements (Jenkinson samples his own playing for his tracks) that recall vaguely pioneers such as Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report. A skilled bassist and multi-instrumentalist, Jenkinson’s fretless accompaniment is a staple of his music and one of the more obvious affiliations with jazz (although his formal arrangements are often as jazz-derived as his playing).

Jenkinson grew up listening to jazz and greats like Miles Davis, Augustus Pablo, Charlie Parker, and Art Blakey. The son of a jazz drummer, Jenkinson followed in his father’s footsteps, playing bass and drums in high school. Introduced to electronic music through experimental - artists such as LFO and Carl Craig, Jenkinson soon began assembling the rolls of disparate influence into amalgams of breakbeat techno and post-bop avant-garde and progressive jazz. Claiming a closer affinity with jazz than (although he draws from both equally in his music), Jenkinson’s EPs as Squarepusher and the Duke of Harringay (Jenkinson moved to Harringay from his Chelmsford birthplace) were initially disregarded as misplaced perversions of jungle’s more obvious compositional principles, but found ready audience in fans of post- experimental listening music. He inked a deal with Warp in 1995, releasing the Port Rhombus EP and three others through a variety of different labels. His full-length debut, Feed Me Weird Things, appeared in 1996, followed a year later by Hard Normal Daddy.

Critical acclaim for Jenkinson’s work peaked with 1998’s Music Is Rotted One Note, for which he became a one-man fusion group — multi-tracking himself playing drums, bass, and keyboards. The following year, he released two EPs (Budakhan Mindphone, Maximum Priest) and another full LP, Selection Sixteen. Go Plastic appeared in summer 2001, featuring the closest thing to a hit Squarepusher had ever seen, with the single “My Red Hot Car.” Subsequent releases such as 2003’s Do You Know Squarepusher and 2004’s Ultravisitor found him refining his fusion of composition, programming, and musicianship.

More recently, in 2008 Squarepusher released “Just A Souvenir”, an album with a more rock-influenced sound, followed in 2009 by “Solo Electric Bass”, consisting of live recordings of Jenkinson on the titular instrument.

Tom Jenkinson is also known as Chaos A.D.

(from Last.fm)

Great Electronic/IDM Album. Enjoy!



Tracklist
1. Coopers World
2. Beep Street
3. Rustic River
4. Anirog D9
5. Chin Happy
6. Papalon
7. E8 Boogie
8. Fat Controller
9. Vic Acid
10. Male Pill, Pt. 13
11. Rat/P's & Q's
12. Rebus

Astra - The Weirding

Like a heavy hammer onto anvil, down from Ether’s starry meadows, the sounds of ASTRA are engulfing this planet Earth. With their heads floating in the mist of Europe’s original psychedelic and progressive eras, the boys formed under the winter sun of San Diego, CA in the year 2001 as Silver Sunshine. They released their SDMA-nominated, eponymous debut album in 2004 on Empyrean Records, followed by “A Small Pocket of Pure Spirit”(also nominated) - their evolved EP in 2005 on the same label. With the departure of original Silver Sunshine drummer Iain Andrew Sclater, and the joining of new drummer/multi-instrumentalist David Hurley in 2006, their sound and direction have evolved and grown. They have decided to change their name along with their sound and lineup and are now known as ASTRA. With the recent joining of guitar wizard/multi-instrumentalist Brian Ellis, the planets have aligned and ASTRA is now complete. They’ve toured the west coast of the U.S. twice and shared the stage with many friends like: Dungen, Winter Flowers, Earthless, Jennifer Gentle, Jana Hunter, Bigelf, Saint Etienne, Persephone’s Bees, Entrance, Titan, The Black Keys, The Sunshine Fix, All Night Radio, Green Milk From the Planet Orange and DMBQ to name a few. So what’s on the horizon for ASTRA? Richard Vaughan (guitar/mellotron/vocals), Conor Riley (guitar/mellotron/arp odyssey/organ/vocals), Stuart Sclater (bass), David Hurley (drums/flute/various noisemakers) and Brian Ellis (guitar, moog) are curently recording their debut full length album entitled: The Weirding, for Rise Above Records to be released in March of 2009.

(Taken from Last.fm)
Debut album of this psychedelic / progressive rock band. The record sounds so vintage that you could think it was released back in '79 instead of march '09. Sometimes Astra really hit the sound of the old Pink Floyd and King Crimson records. They will aslo perfrom at the Roadburn Festival 2010. Enjoy!




Tracklist
1. The Rising of the Black Sun
2. The Weirding
3. Silent Sleep
4. The River Under
5. Ouroboros
6. Broken Glass
7. The Dawning of Ophiuchus
8. Beyond to Slight the Maze