An Autumn For Crippled Children - Lost

Glorious cascades of melancholy wash down upon you, cathedrals built from bittersweet tears pierce the rain-choked sky: indeed, this is an autumn for cripple children. Such is the sound of An Autumn for Cripple Children and their highly anticipated debut album, Lost. Literally wearing their hearts on their sleeves, AAFCC weave emotionally gripping, sonically gorgeous tapestries that canvass black metal, doom, and post-rock. However epic Lost may be in part and whole, the band moves naturally, effortlessly, between these sound palettes, never forcing the point nor evincing cloying “schizophrenia. ” This is pure catharsis, and you will get Lost within it.

(Taken from Last.fm)

An Autumn For Crippled Children is an interesting mixture of depressive, atmospheric black metal and some doom and post rock elements. With great recent releases by Svarti Loghin, Semen Datura and now these guys, the ATMF label seems to have a knack for finding creative and unique black metal bands that push the boundaries of the genre.

The music on Lost is all about creating a bleak, mournful atmosphere, but with some warmth injected here and there in the form of vibrant, reverb-laden doomy leads. The band mostly sticks to a very fuzzy and distorted black metal sound, much like Xasthur or Velvet Cacoon, but the difference between An Autumn For Crippled Children and other similar acts is the prevalence of sorrowful, doomy minor key harmonies that give the music an additional poignancy. Agalloch and older Katatonia are good reference points, not necessarily for how the album sounds but for the mood it creates.

It takes awhile for the songs on this album to begin to differentiate themselves and make an impression, but gradually you begin to notice all the elements that make up Lost. An Autumn For Crippled Children will often abruptly transition from densely atmospheric black metal to quieter sections and all-out doom passages reminiscent of bands like Daylight Dies. It may seem a bit jolting at first, but the two genres are perfect complements for one another and just add to the bleak atmosphere of this album.

Fans of depressive, atmospheric black metal and especially Agalloch fans should definitely give this album a listen. With the odd band name and the interesting, creepy cover art I wasn’t sure quite what to expect out of these guys, but their first album is certainly an enjoyable one and one of the more surprising albums I’ve encountered this year.

(Taken from here)

This one came out from nowhere and just hit my record player with such a heaviness. Creating great, dark and creepy atmosphere this album is worth more then just one listen. Watch out for these guys!

[ ATMF Records / 2010 / Black Metal / VBR ]

Tracklist

1. To Set Sails to the Ends of the Earth (05:42)
2. Tragedy Bleeds All Over the Lost (04:56)
3. A Dire Faith (08:10)
4. In Moonlight Blood is Black (04:05)
5. Ghost Light (04:34)
6. An Autumn for Crippled Children (06:20)
7. I Beg Thee Not to Spare me (04:57)
8. Gaping Void of Silence (04:52)
9. Never Shall Be Again (06:48)

---

50:24

The Ocean - Heliocentric

The Ocean Collective (usually referred to as “The Ocean”) is an experimental rock band from Berlin, Germany. Their work combines elements of modern hardcore and technical metal with classical music and electronic soundscapes. The band often describes its sound as “ambient soundtrack doomrock”.

The Ocean was founded in 2000 by guitarist and songwriter Robin Staps. During the following two years, about 40 musicians joined and left the band until a stable line-up was established. July 2002 saw The Ocean play their first concert at Berlin’s now defunct semi-legal Eimer Club. Shortly after, the band released their eponymous debut album featuring “Islands/Tides,” a 30-minute-long song that also constituted the substance of their early live shows.

(read more at last.fm)

Their new record leaked, get it while it's hot!

[ Pelagic Records | 2010 | Atmospheric Sludge | 192kbps | 50:42 ]

Tracklist
1. Shamayim - 1:53
2. Firmament - 7:29
3. The First Commandment of the Luminaries - 6:47
4. Ptolemy Was Wrong - 6:28
5. Metaphysics of the Hangman - 5:41
6. Catharsis of A Heretic - 2:08
7. Swallowed By the Earth - 4:59
8. Epiphany - 3:21
9. The Origin of Species - 7:23
10. The Origin of God - 4:33

Mediafire
Track 10 (if missing)

Coldworld - Melancholie²

ColdWorld was created in Germany in the year 2005 by G.B., the only member.

ColdWorld’s first demo, “The Stars Are Dead Now”, was released via Ancient Dreams Prod. and limited to 100 copies. “Melancholie²”, ColdWorld’s debut album, was released in April 2008 via Cold Dimensions.

ColdWorld combines melodic Black Metal with influences from Ambient / Electronic and a breath of classical music. The centre stage takes the music with its sweeping melodies and icy atmosphere. ColdWorld’s music is music that forces fine-tuned listening and allows the listener submerge his/herself within a very special, cold world. ColdWorld leaves behind conventional, traditional Black Metal and brings forth new possibilities when it comes to song-writing and interpretation.

(Taken from Last.fm)

Myspace

[ Cold Dimensions / 2008 / Atmospheric Black Metal / CBR@320 ]

Tracklist

01. Dream of a Dead Sun (07:29)

02. Tortured by Solitude (06:08)

03. Winterreise (04:01)

04. Schmerzens Schreie (05:40)

05. Red Snow (08:28)

06. Stille (01:18)

07. Hymn to Eternal Frost (05:52)

08. My Dead Bride (02:39)

09. Escape (07:32)

---

49:07

Mediafire

Coldworld - The Stars are dead now

ColdWorld was created in Germany in the year 2005 by G.B., the only member.

ColdWorld’s first demo, “The Stars Are Dead Now”, was released via Ancient Dreams Prod. and limited to 100 copies. “Melancholie²”, ColdWorld’s debut album, was released in April 2008 via Cold Dimensions.

ColdWorld combines melodic Black Metal with influences from Ambient / Electronic and a breath of classical music. The centre stage takes the music with its sweeping melodies and icy atmosphere. ColdWorld’s music is music that forces fine-tuned listening and allows the listener submerge his/herself within a very special, cold world. ColdWorld leaves behind conventional, traditional Black Metal and brings forth new possibilities when it comes to song-writing and interpretation.

No Politics - Just Music!

(Taken from Last.fm)

This is a very sweet black metal project from Germany. He just released the Demo and Melancholie² so far, but for this year another full length is planned. I'll upload Melancholie² as soon as possible, too. Enjoy!

Myspace

[ Ancient Dreams Productions / 2005 / Ambient & Atmospheric Black Metal / CBR@320kb/s ]

Tracklist

01. This Empty Life (07:22)

02. Hate (04:00)

03. Cancer (03:38)

04. Suicide (05:15)

05. The old Ghost in the Well (07:47)

---

28:04

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Ikuinen Kaamos - Fall Of Icons

Ikuinen Kaamos are a metal band from Joensuu, Finland. Formed in 1997, they released four demos in the years 1997 - 2004 which are mainly directed to the underground black metal scene. The bands current style begins to take shape in the later demos as Ikuinen Kaamos start to soak up influences from death, doom and progressive metal.

In 2005, Ikuinen Kaamos signed a record deal with the Dutch label Descent Productions and as a result, release their debut album “The Forlorn” in 2006. It is an ambitious release that captures the passion and creativity of Ikuinen Kaamos. The lyrical concept is based upon the story of an old man who murdered his wife and child decades ago, and who now struggles with faith and guilt. Spiraling riffs and progressive rhythms alternating from high-speed passages to acoustic interludes merge with a sepulchral voice to drown the listener deeper and deeper into a timeless emotional abyss. “The Forlorn” is a unique album that captivates from the beginning to the end.

In 2007, Ikuinen Kaamos record their sophomore album which is due to be released in January 2008. After repeated delays in releasing the album, their old label informs the band of their eventual inability to release it due to financial issues. Fed up and tired of letting their impatient fans wait for new musical outputs, the band decides to release three songs from the album as a free downloadable EP entitled “Closure”. It incorporates more progressive elements while maintaining the utterly melancholic atmosphere for which Ikuinen Kaamos are known for. The EP introduces clean vocals which support a wider range of extreme vocals in their lament.

(more on Last.fm)

Myspace

Tracklist
1. Indoctrination Of The Lost
2. Statues
3. In Ruins
4. Condemned
5. Apart

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Wyrd - The Ghost Album

Wyrd was originally formed under the name of Hellkult in Hyvinkää, Finland. After the departure of Kalma in 1998, it became a solo project of Narqath (also in Azaghal) until 2005, when JL Nokturnal joined as drummer. Wyrd makes a folkloristic version of black metal and the lyrics are about old folklore and Nordic mythology.

(more on Last.fm)

Myspace

Tracklist
1. My Ghosts
2. Daughter of the Forest
3. They
4. Daylight Dies
5. Dark Water

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Xasthur - 2005 Demo

Xasthur is an American one-man ambient black metal band formed in the cold and frostbitten land of Alhambra, California in 1995 by Scott Conner, who goes by the pseudonym “Malefic”. Although similar in terms of low-fi production and the wearing of corpse paint, musically and lyrically Xasthur’s focus is usually not on paganism, Satanism or anti-Christian blasphemy – as is common in the genre – but rather on astral projection, darkness, despair, suicide, hate, and death.

The first album Nocturnal Poisoning (recorded April-September 2001) was jointly released by independent record labels Blood Fire Death and Red Stream in 2002. Southern Lord Records re-released a remastered double-LP version in 2005. In the next years, Xasthur’s full-length albums were released through labels such as Displeased Records, Moribund Cult, Total Holocaust Records, Battle Kommand Records and Hydra Head Records. Apart from demo and EP recordings, Xasthur has released several split albums with other black metal acts such as Orosius, Acid Enema, Nachtmystium, Striborg, Angra Mainyu, Leviathan and Nortt.

(Read all at Last.fm)

This demo was recorded in 2005 and gets now released in 2010. Two unheard Xasthur songs, enjoy!

Myspace 

Tracklist

1. Unititled 4/05

2. Untitled 5/05

Mediafire | Rghost

Drudkh - The Swan Road (Lebedynyi Shlyath)

Drudkh, meaning “wood” in Sanskrit, is an atmospheric black metal band from Kharkiv, Ukraine formed in 2002 by Roman Saenko, the leading member of Hate Forest; Thurios, the leading member of Astrofaes; and Yuriy Sinitsky, of Lucifugum and Definition Sane. Their strongly folk-influenced music focuses on a strong atmosphere with a lot of feeling, and the lyrical contents embrace Slavic mythology, seasons and poetry. Many of the band’s lyrics are derived from the works of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Ukrainian poets, especially Taras Shevchenko.

“During all its history, the band followed a ‘no photos, no interviews, no website, no gigs’ policy, which was nobly accepted by DRUDKH’s new label Season of Mist. The absence of any comments or information from DRUDKH’s side gave an opening to a few ignorant internet warrior-fans to spread rumors, that the band embraces extreme political views. This is absolutely misleading and a total profanation, since there is nothing in DRUDKH’s music or lyrics that would suggest any political outlook. DRUDKH praise individualism, self-improvement and estrangement from modern values.” Roman Saenko (2008)

(Taken from Last.fm)

Myspace

Tracklist

 1. 1648

2. Eternal Sun

3. Blood

4. Glace of 1768

5. Price of Freedom

6. Fate

7. Song of Sich Destruction

Mediafire | Rghost

Der Weg Einer Freiheit - Der Weg Einer Freiheit

DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT was founded in February 2009 by Nikita and Tobias in Würzburg, Bavaria with the release of the band’s first selt-titled record. However, the concept and idea that underlie DWEF were formed some one and a half years earlier, when, following the disbandment of predecessor band FROSTGRIM, there continued to exist the creative urge to express oneself lyrically and musically through melodic and atmospheric Black Metal. Due to their debut record selling out almost immediately and based on the enthusiastic reception it received from the audience, plans for a re-release were taken into consideration. In VIVA HATE RECORDS, DWEF have ultimately found the right partner to pursue this enterprise.

(Taken from here...)

I stumbled over this Band when I checked out the line up of the Friction Fest in Berlin. It's nice black metal with a rich portion of a good atmosphere. The drum machine sometimes sounds a bit weird, but next to this I recommend you to check this duo out.

Myspace

Tracklist

1. Ewigkeit

2. Spätsommer

3. Frei

4. Aurora

5. Zum Abschied

6. Welk

7. Neubeginn

Mediafire | Rghost

East Of The Wall + Year Of No Light + Rosetta - Split

Born from the dissolution of the Postman Syndrome, East of the Wall formed in 2005 in Gunnison Beach, New Jersey, United States as bass guitarist Brett Bamberger (Biclops; ex Day Without Dawn, Postman Syndrome) and drummer Mike Somers (ex Postman Syndrome) joining forces with guitarist Jeff Speidell (Delft). The self-titled EP that followed was noteworthy for its duplicitous nature, straddling the line between an engulfing ambience and crushing force.

Yet one more band started after too many Belgian beers under the sun of the ending summer of 2001, Year of No Light slightly but undoubtly started to slide down to gloomier atmospheres as the inherent chaos of Bordeaux’s caves and harshness of winter made their common work.

Philadelphia quartet Rosetta push the boundaries between metal, progressive, post-rock, space rock and hardcore, providing an experimental songwriting technique filled with chaos and atmospherics. A band whose sounds range from Pink Floydian / progressive rock sonic layering to walls of pure static ambience to crushing, sweeping sludgey riffage.

(All taken from last.fm)

Including a great cover of the song Homesick (The Cure) by Rosetta.

Tracklist
1. East Of The Wall - Scumbrella (Mud Button)
2. East Of The Wall - Scumbrella (Silt)
3. East Of The Wall - Scumbrella (Dirt Merchant)
4. Year Of No Light - Cimmeria
5. Year Of No Light - Metanoia
6. Rosetta - Homesick

Mediafire | Rghost

Mount Eerie - Wind's Poem

Wind's Poem is the name of the fourth full-length album by Mount Eerie. It is largely inspired by black metal, and showcases Phil Elverum in his "relatively newfound affinity for Xasthur and other lynchpins of the unholy genre".

(Taken from wikipedia)

The follow-up to this post. Definitely download this if you like either of the following genres: (indie) folk, atmospheric black metal, drone, dark ambient. Even better if you like two or more of these. This record cannot be pigeonholed into any of the aforementioned styles, but it borrows aesthetics and techniques from all of them and it's masterfully done.

Tracklist
1. Wind's Dark Poem
2. Through The Trees
3. My Heart Is Not At Peace
4. The Hidden Stone
5. Wind Speaks
6. Summons
7. The Mouth Of Sky
8. Between Two Mysteries
9. Ancient Questions
10. (something)
11. Lost Wisdom Pt. 2
12. Stone's Ode

Mediafire| Rghost

Panopticon / Lake of Blood - Split

Panopticon
Panopticon is a one-man atmospheric black metal band from Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America which holds anarchist beliefs. The band was formed by Austin Lunn in 2007, and in early 2008 he left his other band Anagnorisis to focus all his attention on Panopticon. The band’s releases are the 2008 self-titled album, the 2009 album Collapse, and split albums with Wheels Within Wheels and Lake of Blood; several other releases are forthcoming. The band is influenced both by early BM like Darkthrone and Mayhem and by crust bands such as Amebix.

(Taken from Last.fm)

Lake of Blood
All being said the band need to tighten up as musicians, but their overall delivery and approach hints at something far deeper and truer than so called US black metal like Abigail Williams and more along the lines of a more melodic and organic, less chaotic, corpse painted and spiky Averse Sefira mixed with Wolves in the Throne Room.

(Taken from teethofthedivine.com)

Another fresh split record from this week. I allready posted the 09 record by Panopticon some weeks ago. Enjoy this split now.

Panopticon

Lake of Blood

Tracklist

1. Panopticon - Haunted America

2. Panopticon - La Passione Di Sacco & Vanzetti

3. Lake of Blood - Eternal in my domain

4. Lake of Blood - Lake of blood (Live)

5. Lake of Blood - Eternal In My Domain (Live)

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Agalloch - The Silence of Forgotten Landscapes (Live)

Disenchanted and frustrated with the confines of their previous projects, Agalloch began in 1995 as the creation of John Haughm and Shane Breyer. In early 1996 in Portland, Oregon, USA, songs began to be produced by the duo and, during the summer, Don Anderson was added to the band to further refine the material. These songs would later become the From Which of This Oak demo tape in the autumn of that year. This recording showed a large amount of black metal influence, with an amount of material which would later appear on subsequent albums in one form or another. Shortly after the recording, Jason William Walton was added to the line up as bassist.

(Read more at Last.fm)

Myspace

Tracklist

1. Limbs

2. Falling Snow

3. As Embers dress the Sky

4. Dead Winter Days

5. I am the wooden Doors

6. In the Shadow of our Pale Companion

7. Not unlike the Waves

8. Bloodbirds

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Irreversible - Light

Irreversible is a atmospheric sludge band from the states. So far they released their debut album Age and Sins as second record last year. This now features the newest album Light that have been put out in 2009. Compare Irreversible to bands like Tephra, Tides, Kehlvin or Omega Massif.

Myspace

Tracklist

1. Boundary Dissolution

2. Sacraments

3. Time Compressing

4. Elements

5. Quantum Exposition

6. Ego Collapsing

7. Epiphanies

8. Resonance

9. Soul Expanding

10. Paradox Integration

11. Messiahs

12. Noosphere Rising

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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.

Myspace

Tracklist

1. Cendre

2. Wiech

3. Trone

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Panopticon - Collapse

Panopticon is a one-man atmospheric black metal band from Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America which holds anarchist beliefs. The band was formed by Austin Lunn in 2007, and in early 2008 he left his other band Anagnorisis to focus all his attention on Panopticon. The band’s releases are the 2008 self-titled album, the 2009 album Collapse, and split albums with Wheels Within Wheels and Lake of Blood; several other releases are forthcoming. The band is influenced both by early BM like Darkthrone and Mayhem and by crust bands such as Amebix.

(Taken from Last.fm)

Very interresting release from this year. Atmospheric driven black metal that's hooking up social and political arguements from an anarchist point of view. Give it a try!

Myspace

Tracklist

1. The Death of Baldr and the coming War

2. Aptgangr

3. Merkstave

4. Idavoll

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Drudkh - Microcosmos

There's not much else I can say about this release. It might very well rank among their best. It's really breath taking at times, in ways they haven't been able to pull since Autumn Aurora. The melodies are considerably more intricate and experimental at times without getting really far from the classic Drudkh sound. Drums sound great, they're not as abrasive as they were on Estrangement, nor as opaque as they were on the older releases. There's a lot of variation and at the same time, the typical, almost hypnotic Drudkh sound is more than present throughout the whole release. This might be one of the best albums to have been released so far in 2009. Extremely recommended.

Originally written for the paper version of the Terror Cult Zine

Myspace

Tracklist

1. Days that passed

2. Distant Cries of Cranes

3. Decadence

4. Ars Poetica

5. Everything unsaid before

6. Widow's Grief

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Tenhi - Folk Aesthetic 1996 – 2006 (3 CD Compilation)

Tenhi is a Finnish band formed in 1996, playing melancholic, neofolk music. The word tenhi is an old Finnish word meaning a village elder, wise old man or seer. The music of Tenhi is minimalistic and dark. Usually, the rhythm instrument lines follow the customs of modern rock music. The melodical instruments and vocals are however very heavily folk-influenced. The basic instrumentation of the band consists of acoustic guitar, bass and drums. Frequent additional instruments include piano, violin, viola and flute and less frequent didgeridoo, mouth harp, harmonium, cello, udu and synthesizer.

(Taken from Last.fm)

This is one of the greatest compilations I've ever seen. 3 CDs with very rare and unreleased alternative songs, their demos, mcds and a FULL (!) unreleased album called "Kaski". Buy it!!!

Homepage

Tracklist
CD 1:
Kertomuksia (Demo 1997)
Näkin Laulu
Havuisissa Saleissa
Tenhi

Hallavedet (MCD 1998)
Hallavedet
Hiljaiseksi Lampi Jää

Airut:Ciwi (MCD 2000)
Tuulennostatus
Kielo
Ciwenkierto

CD 2:
Kausienranta (Unreleased)
Suortuva (Alternative Version)
Etäisyyksien Taa (From Promo 1997)
linnuit (Unreleased)
Tuulenkaato (Alternative Version)
Sydänvalkea (Unreleased)
Kuoppa (Demo Version)
Korvenraivaajat (Jäljen Demo Version)
Kielo (Bonus Song from Kauan Album 1999)
Niin auer Hiljaa Vie (Bonus Song from Kauan Album 1999)

CD 3: (Unreleased Album entity called “Kaski”)
Häie
Luo Varjo
Koiranlainen Peura
Suruiksi Soi
Sarahdus
Tuuli Varista
Laule
Vasen
Neidiie

Mediafire
CD 1 : 1/2
CD2 : 1/2
CD3 : 1/2

Tenhi - airut:aamujen

Tenhi is a Finnish band formed in 1996, playing melancholic, neofolk music. The word tenhi is an old Finnish word meaning a village elder, wise old man or seer. The music of Tenhi is minimalistic and dark. Usually, the rhythm instrument lines follow the customs of modern rock music. The melodical instruments and vocals are however very heavily folk-influenced. The basic instrumentation of the band consists of acoustic guitar, bass and drums. Frequent additional instruments include piano, violin, viola and flute and less frequent didgeridoo, mouth harp, harmonium, cello, udu and synthesizer.

(Taken from Last.fm)

This is the third Full-length of this great Finnish band. Enjoy!

Homepage

Tracklist
1. Saapuminen (Emerging)
2. Seitsensarvi (Grey Shine Of June)
3. Lävitseni Kaikkeen (Thru Me And Into Everything)
4. Luopumisen Laulu (Eloign)
5. Kuvajainen (Apparition)
6. Oikea Sointi (Lay Down A Tune)
7. Kahluu (Fury Revived)
8. Hiensynty (Burning)
9. Läheltä (A Brief Passing Moment)

Mediafire 1/2

Tenhi - Väre

Tenhi is a Finnish band formed in 1996, playing melancholic, neofolk music. The word tenhi is an old Finnish word meaning a village elder, wise old man or seer. The music of Tenhi is minimalistic and dark. Usually, the rhythm instrument lines follow the customs of modern rock music. The melodical instruments and vocals are however very heavily folk-influenced. The basic instrumentation of the band consists of acoustic guitar, bass and drums. Frequent additional instruments include piano, violin, viola and flute and less frequent didgeridoo, mouth harp, harmonium, cello, udu and synthesizer.

(Taken from Last.fm)

This is the second Full-length of this great Finnish band. Enjoy!

Homepage

Tracklist
1. Vastakaiun
2. Jäljen
3. Vilja
4. Keväin
5. Yötä
6. Suortuva
7. Tenhi
8. Sutoi
9. Katve
10. Varis Eloinen
11. Kuolleesi Jokeen

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