Forever Cursed

Morgirion "Infinite Retribution Upon Paradise"

2012-02-28T02:11:00.000Z

Holy shit... now this is too good to be true. Such a great album for free? You gotta be kidding me... No, this is real.

Hailing from Connecticut, comes Morgirion with their full-length "Infinite Retribution Upon Paradise" released this February. At first my attention was really caught by the artwork, I'm a sucker for dark esoteric, skeletons, black and white shit. The album starts with an intro, or better, a Prologue, like my friend Nick from the great Blackened Slugs said, sounds like a band of orcs are about to attack me. It's really hard to decipher in our head an image of what is really is going on. I can imagine some weird scenarios but you don't really want to know what goes into my fucked up mind. The thing is that this intro can really pull your leg. But don't be a fool and press "Stop", because when the gates of Hell open with "Purification Through Fire" we soon realize that this is no joke. Oh, no.. it's a fucking nightmare coming to life. Darkness falls and embraces our World, while fire starts to emerge from the cracks on the floor. Chaos breaks loose right before your eyes. The sound in "Infinite Retribution Upon Paradise" is not awesome, it's perfect. Every instrument is perfectly audible creating this thick and harmful wall of sound. When i think that nothing in this genre can at this point surprise me, here comes another outstanding act jumping straight out of the shadow of the Dark Lord's cloak.

Morgirion sound shows a band that could be easily mistaken for some band coming out of the freezing scandinavian mountains. It really shows some scandinavian influences, that i almost dare to say that bands such as the classic Emperor, or even, from the french Black Metal scene, Deathspell Omega, were or are, clearly a strong influence in Morgirion sound. Or maybe i'm totally wrong and these guys are creating something of their own. Something beautiful, mystical and unique. Their own chimera. Really. I am stoked on this one. A band that demonstrates great creativity in song-building/writing, a powerful cosmic sound that will suck you into this blasphemous esoteric void that is "Infinite Retribution Upon Paradise". Like i said earlier, the band is giving this superb album for free. But the least you could do is contact them here, and order a physical copy. I know i will... Enjoy the rot. Highly Recommended!

listen | purification through death

Mollusk "Mollusk" Review

2012-02-27T14:02:00.000Z

Now here is a band that i already had stumbled upon Bandcamp, but since i received an email requesting a review some time ago, and since i enjoyed what i heard, i thought i might just spread the word. So i might just warn you that there's no free download here. But if you're into enrich your musical culture and listen to some sludge goodness, keep on reading..

Mollusk are a rocking sludge quartet from Cincinnati / Pittsburgh and they have released last year this self-titled album with 9 sludge muscled tracks. At a first audition the structure and the sound of the songs, brought immediately to my mind the sludge band Black Cobra, it's almost impossible not to notice that, except the sound that Mollusk create is not that fuzzy. Their sound is more "controlled", think of something like Sweet Cobra. The album kicks in with an "intro" that sounds like nothing more than a warm-up for what we're about to witness. Suddenly a dam breaks and a flood of sludge follows with "Endless Mountains". From there on it's about 25 minutes of fat riffs, ambient interludes and insane drumming. One of the negative aspects of this album is that is too short, the amount of interludes i think is excessive. The songs are quite good and they left me begging for more of that rock/sludge/metal goodness. Besides digital (only for $3) The album is available on tape, and i bet that it will make it sound twice as heavy on your cassette player, so if you're interested, you can grab a copy here.

listen & buy

Ill Omen "Divinity Through Un-creation"

2012-02-26T23:13:00.000Z

After that Temple Nightside post, i found out that one of the members had this very interesting Black Metal project called Ill Omen. And judging from what i heard from the previews, i soon realized that something evil was soon to be unleashed upon this Earth. And here it is, after several Demos, the first full-length "Divinity Through Un-creation". Ushering 9 psalms of obscure, un-earthly doctrine to conjure infinite sorrow's upon the earth, "Divinity Through Un-creation" draws us a world of a haunted and mystic parallel dimension to our world, the Scandinavian influence is more than obvious in this record, Ill Omen creates this awesome deep knife-cutting atmosphere in each track, causing us visions of haunted and surreal decayed landscapes. The Australian Black Metal scene keeps on surprising us, showing that, once in a while, they can pull from Darkness great albums, like this one from Ill Omen. Truly a must hear/own album for fans of true nefarious Black Metal. You can order this here.

listen | from the land of down under

Undergang "Til Døden os Skiller"

2012-02-25T11:43:00.000Z

Well what do you know? This one caught me by surprise... Brand new Undergang killer full-length. "Til Døden os Skiller" shares the same title and tracks from the 2011 Demo "T.D.O.S", but in this full-length, as expected, the sound is more accurate. If you're into Death Metal you might know the name Undergang by now, simply one of the best and brutal Old School Death Metal bands around. Meanwhile these boys have also a split out with Funebrarum, seems like i'm missing a couple of good releases out there, that's almost an impossible task due to the lack of time that has taken over my life this month. While everyone is getting a boner out of that new Asphyx I'm totally into this.

listen | cannibal holocaust

Wyqm "Wyqm"

2012-02-24T14:05:00.000Z

Wyqm is a mysterious one man project Black Metal band certainly inspired by some of the best USBM acts like Bone Awl, Xasthur, Leviathan, and probably many others. This was his first debut, presenting 6 songs in 35 minutes of hatred, blasphemy, agony and aggression. Total dark and gloomy Black Metal is what you'll hear in this piece. You can grab this on wax here.

listen | the black horse of death

Anguish "Through the Archdemon's Head"

2012-02-24T13:53:00.000Z

What the fuck... an impaled fox head, in front of a cabin lost in the middle of nowhere? That has got to be one of the worst artworks i've ever seen.

This cover might scare many trve tough metal-heads away, but from i know from Anguish, i really had to listen to this. Born in 2007, Sweden's Anguish have been lying in the shadows preparing for their first deathly blow. A follow-up to their 2010 demo "Dawn of Doom", "Through the Archdemon's Head" is a 56-minute monolithic masterpiece that may leave some questioning the fact that this is their first full-length recording. Riff after crushing riff combine with tortured vocals to bring you what surely will be one of doom metal's finest releases of 2012. Slow classic Doom metal with a voice that sounds like Mille Petrozza from Kreator, really, really drunk. The songs on "Through the Archdemon's Head" are long, lazily slow. Every track marches toward some sort of climax, and these climaxes are all the more effective for the long hard road to them. And a hard road it is: The somber melodies that thread their way through the album offer naught but false comfort, because Anguish keeps the doomhammer close to hand and with it strikes crushing blows. Anguish cannot seem to go more than two bars without bringing a massive chord down upon your unfortunate skull. This ain't no "Sorrow And Extinction" but still is a great Classic Old School Doom album for this year. You can get this at Dark Descent store here.

listen | this is some foxy doom..

Wormlust "Svarthol" & "The Opium Sleep"

2012-02-23T01:31:00.000Z

Another fantastic pieces from the defunct but always wonderful icelandic corpse, Wormlust. I've talked about this band previously here on FxC, you can check it out here and here. If you're into high quality Black Metal i totally recommend this band to you. The atmosphere created by Wormlust is just mind blowing, simply the best material in this genre i've ever heard in my life. So, in order to complete Wormlust's discography i bring you today it's final breaths, "Svarthol" from 2010 and "The Opium Sleep" from last year. Sadly, there's only one track to each Demo. "Svarthol" is a fabulous 16 minute track of the most brilliant atmospheric Black Metal ever made, the sound is very good and it just makes me mad that a band like this had to end... why?? I curse you H.V Lyngdal, from the day you came out of your mother's womb. Why did you had to make such brilliant music like this as Wormlust and then left us, wandering blinded by your magnificent hymns in this dying world of illusion? Guess we will never know the answer. "The Opium Sleep" is strictly an ambient/instrumental track, clearly the last expiring last breath of air coming out from Wormlust. It's the perfect song to hear if you were the only person left alone on this planet. They say every genius has touch of madness. But don't we all? Highly Recommended.

tælandi dauða

Pyre "Ravenous Disease"

2012-02-22T14:06:00.000Z

This unholy strike of Death Metal focusing on bringing traditional and raw sound was formed in St. Petersburg, Russia in early may of 2011. And so far have released this cool 12"MLP, entitled "Ravenous Disease". Pyre delivers in just 4 tracks, this cool old school thrashy death metal style that will make your head spin like a fuckin' tornado. It will be soon available in the Blood Harvest store here. Now get into it... urgh!!

listen | raven sick

Arch Daeva "Illuminates Of Thanateros"

2012-02-21T02:37:00.000Z

It's 2 a.m here and i'm still working on this freelance work, drawing some shit. At this point, after being in front of a monitor since 9h30 am, i just can't think straight. But while shuffling on my iTunes i ran into this fantastic Demo from this awesome Greek Black Metal band, Arch Daeva. This is their Demo, called "Illuminates Of Thanateros". The illuminates of Thanateros, in real life, are nonetheless than an international organization focused on chaos magic. Now that we have a concept here, let's see about the rest. The ritual starts with "Illuminates of Thanateros", that features almost 3 minutes of occult moans and whispers as an intro, before the guitar kicks in with this killer riff. The drum range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with some blast beats being thrown in, the voice has this echo effect that creates this deep and more occult aura to the songs. The songs are rather catchy, even for this genre, but if you're in into this primitive, raw and occvlt Black Metal, i tell you to check this band immediately. Killer stuff.

listen | black magic

Addaura "Burning for the Ancient"

2012-02-20T23:41:00.000Z

A very interesting release this "Burning for the Ancient" by Seattle's Black Metal band Addaura. With only 4 tracks, "Burning for the Ancient", shows us a band that delivers some honest and passionate Black Metal straight from their guts. This one is more WITTR influenced than the material i've heard from their 2010's Demo, described as "Cascadian Black Metal", Addaura's interpretation of Black Metal is indeed more atmospheric. With songs that pass the 10 minute mark each, Addaura delivers some very good material and "Burning for the Ancient" is without shadow of doubt a great album that you must check out. I believe the band is preparing to launch it vinyl soon, just follow their steps here. Recommended!

listen | if these woods could speak

Fister "Violence"

2012-02-20T00:53:00.000Z

New EP from St. Louis sludge/doom trio Fister. Featuring 5 tracks, "Violence" has a more dense and heavy atmosphere than the bands previous efforts. Judging by the title of the songs, they all seem to be connected to this main theme, violence. And Fister proves that you don't have to play lightning fast to prove that you're violent. They just play slow and crushing heavy, giving to their own conceptual version of violence, a more psychologic than physical meaning. So this EP is meant to play without any interruption between the tracks. It's really awesome, i was really hooked on it since the first audition. The atmosphere is great, everything, from the instruments to the voice, sound really good. Try it for yourself. Recommended for fans of Zoroaster, Ocean (please do not confuse this with the post metal band The Ocean), Eibon and Nootgrush. The band was kind enough to offer this great EP for free at their Bandcamp. I think there will be a physical version of this soon, so keep yourself updated to what the band is doing here and buy some stuff from them here.

listen & download

Plague Widow "Plague Widow" EP

2012-02-19T11:59:00.000Z

Nothing better than starting your sunday morning with some of the best new Death Metal that is being made across seas. Besides that, some of my blogger buds have already done their duty on spreading the word and now it's my time, although this one is too good to pass it by. Plague Widow are a very promising new Death Metal/Grind band hailing from Sacramento, California, and they play this awesome, blasting, bone crushing Death/Grind. It's like a crossbreed between Wormed and Portal and add that chaotic blasts from bands like Robinson or Rotten Sound, and the result is this. A vile, heavy-as-fuck, EP. The EP features 9 tracks, including an intro, some scary interludes and an outro, the songs are pure blasting voids of the best Death/Grind i've heard, and the sound of it is just awesome, that drum doesn't even sound human, it's sick. Can't wait for a full length coming out of these guys. No download for you guys this time. Go straight to the band's Bandcamp and buy this awesome EP, c'mon... it's cheaper than a caramel machiato at Starbucks and it's totally worth it, besides you are supporting these guys. You can also get a physical copy of the EP here and some more goodies here. Be sure to follow them also on Facebook here, in order to stay updated on what the band is doing. Absolutely recommended.

listen & download

Temple Nightside "Prophecies of Malevolence"

2012-02-17T14:35:00.001Z

Here is some dark, ritualistic Black/Death Metal straight from the depths of the australian underground. "Prophecies of Malevolence" EP is the first release of the mephistophelian duo Temple Nightside. Basically it's a side project from two members of Nazxul, but they also hold on their repertoire other devilish acts from the aussie underground scene. With "Prophecies of Malevolence", Temple Nightside, takes us into a fall to the darkest pits of Hell. Layered with some dark ritualistic interludes, the instruments seem distant, as if they are distributed in several places, each one farther than the other, i'm talking about the drumming and guitar, that expel this really obscure and satanic nihilistic vortex of sound. The voice kinda reminds me of the most spine-chilling whispers from Portal's Curator. In general, it's a good start for Temple Nightside and it just leaves me begging for more. The last thing you will recall, before embracing total darkness, will be the suffocating sulfurous vapors. Behold this offering to the mighty Lord ov Darkness. Recommended for fans of Witchrist, Impetuous Rituals, Void Meditation Cult, Diocletian, etc. You can buy "Prophecies of Malevolence" here or here.

listen | black prophecies

Monarch "Omens"

2012-02-17T10:26:00.001Z

Here is the first advance for brand new Monarch album, "Omens". Monarch has got to be one of the most heavy and punishing doom bands hailing from Europe. Leaded by the gorgeous Emilie Bresson, no one could ever imagine that behind that pretty face hides one of the most tortured and hideous (read that as in a good way) voice of the doom scene. Featuring now Dark Castle drummer Rob Shaffer, "Omens" is based on three tracks only, which culminates in about 30 minutes of dark ritualistic atmosphere. But unlike their previous efforts, "Omens" pushes over that boundary of those long feedbacks riffs layered with screaming vocals where a lung, or both, are about to collapse. Not that the tortured screams and shrieks are gone, no, they are still there but in another dimension of true horror. It will be out on the 28th of this month so be sure to grab a copy here. Now, turn off the light, light up a candle, put "Omens" on and worship the Goat.

listen | burn the witch

The Rain In Endless Fall "Weald of Introspection"

2012-02-15T14:22:00.000Z

Here's another stunning release by Fallen Empire. Another very promising Black Metal act, The Rain In Endless Fall. Another project coming from Blut Der Nacht. Guess these guys were struck by inspiration and created two amazing projects in one row, first Wylve now The Rain In Endless Fall. Although coming from the same source, both bands have differences. While Wylve are more harsh and violent, The Rain In Endless Fall with their "Weald of Introspection" cassette are more atmospheric and depressing, but not too depressing... that "depression" is enhanced by the sound of thunders and rain. I really enjoyed this one as well, great stuff. And i fuckin' love that logo man. This tape is also sold out and a repress will come soon at FE, so if you want to grab a piece of this beauty, keep an eye on them.. Highly Recommended.

listen | teardrops from the sky

Wylve "Wylve"

2012-02-15T14:08:00.000Z

Featuring members from BM act Blut Der Nacht, from whom i've talked some weeks ago here, Wylve brings us with their self titled cassette, two tracks of harsh and blistering black metal that at times, manages to capture a brilliant atmosphere while still remaining relentless. This is great material, the only negative aspect i can point at this cassette is its length. It features only two tracks. It made me just listen to it over and over again. This band demonstrates great potential and if they keep it up like this or push it even further, i don't even want to imagine.. Released by Fallen Empire, this self titled tape by Wylve is currently sold out, there was only 33 copies made, but there will be a repress of it soon... so stay close in order to grab a copy. Highly Recommended.

listen | wolves in the woods

Pallbearer "Sorrow And Extinction"

2012-02-14T11:04:00.001Z

Hell yes! One of the most anticipated albums i wanted to hear this year. The full-length of doomsters Pallbearer. After a very well received Demo that generated a huge buzz within the doom scene, they quickly gain a solid reputation, and now have released their first full-length "Sorrow And Extinction".

"By encompassing the more traditional metal style of doom, Pallbearer's sound takes cue from such legendary doom metal bands as Candlemass and Trouble along with a classy ‘70s prog vibe and even an inkling of influence taken from “Gothic”/old school Paradise Lost that finds its way into the band’s epic yet sorrowful odes. Through powerful melodies, epic and somber passages of gloom, and with the stand out soaring vocals from vocalist Brett Campbell (who also made a guest appearance on the Loss song ‘Silent And Completely Overcome’ from their “Despond” masterpiece), Pallbearer's debut album will not only be hailed as 2012’s traditional doom metal triumph, but it shall immediately herald the four-piece right into the doom metal echelons as one of America’s mightiest exports within the genre."

The first song "Foreigner" that starts in a slow, acoustic notes soon overwhelms our senses and rolls into an epic intro with outstanding guitar solo. And the voice of Brett Campbell has got to be one of the most awesome voices in this new classic doom generation. Beautiful. With "Sorrow And Extinction", Pallbearer keep the torch of well made classic doom burning. Being released this month through Profound Lore Records you can buy it here. Now it's time to worship the Dark Lord...

listen | rotten caskets

Hellige "Demo"

2012-02-14T01:57:00.000Z

Now this was a nice surprise. Hellige is a one-man Sludge/Doom/Black Metal project from Argentina, formed in 2010. At its beginning, it started as raw black metal recordings but as time passed by, it turned into what it is now. I was introduced to Hellige with the self titled Demo from 2010, from there the only thing i remembered was this kind of weird, experimental Black Metal. But this 2012 Demo sounds a lot different, and better. It introduces a more broader sound and atmosphere, where these cavernous riffs rise from the floor to the skies. A more dense and doom-ish sound which i like a lot. The core is still Black Metal or maybe the fusion of both, Doom and Black, it doesn't really matter, the thing that matters is that this chimera has evolved into something more creepier... You can get this great Demo for FREE at the artist Bandcamp. And don't forget to follow his work here.

listen & download

Abazagorath "Abazagorath" EP

2012-02-13T14:01:00.000Z

New EP from New Jersey's Black Metal veterans Abazagorath, delivering 5 tracks of excellent influenced Scandinavian BM, very well executed and refined with a thick, super heavy production. Raging blasts, melodic, sinister riffs, superb vocals, varying, smart song-writing and an intense atmosphere culminating into a trvly fucking amazing soundtrack to their march of hate upon mankind.

listen | hatred on mankind

Witch In Her Tomb "Witch In Her Tomb"

2012-02-13T13:51:00.000Z

Great Raw Black Metal from Illinois. The tape is currently sold out on Crippled Sound Records, so you can only get this for free on their Bandcamp or below. Vicious stuff.

Bandcamp | Haxan's casket

VA "Primitive North America"

2012-02-11T23:44:00.000Z

Now here's a kvlt-as-fuck mixtape. "Primitive North America" is a homage to "Primitive Finland" and it features some of the most horrible and unlistenable Black/Punk/Noise/Metal from the U.S. You get Bone Awl, Grinning Death’s Head, Arts, Horrid Cross, Ash Pool and many more... i just put this up here because there's a band called Haxan. All the songs have been ripped from cassettes, so if you don't know the relation between a cassette and a Bic pen, fvck you.

"omg... it's so kvlt!!"

Ignifer "Le Jardin des Supplices"

2012-02-11T23:03:00.000Z

Picture yourself in a beautiful and vernal garden, dwelling around its maze with all your senses drunken by the scent and colorful palette from all the flowers, but suddenly something awakens you from that dreamy reality, screams... of pain. You walk towards that sound.. a moan. And when you look through the bushes you finally see the twisted horror that was hidden in such a beautiful place, several bodies being tortured as rivers of blood, inflicted from the wounds, flow through the floor towards the flowers in the garden.

This is basically the vision i get as i hear "Le Jardin des Supplices", the debut EP by atmospheric Black Metal Band, Ignifer. As some of you might recognize the name, "Le Jardin des Supplices", means "The Torture Garden" and that is nonetheless than a classic work of literature from Octave Mirbeau. Described as "the most sickening work of art of the nineteenth century," Mirbeau's classic novel follows a young man's journey to the ends of desire and depravity in a garden in China where torture is practiced as a work of art. And being a conceptual, or more as an homage, to Mirbeau's classic, Ignifer really do justice to Mirbeau's work by transmitting that sick and twisted feeling, leaving the listener really uncomfortable at some points due to that agonizing voice from vocalist Déhà. The sound of Ignifer is a more low distortion, sorrowful and atmospheric Black Metal, the sound is really, really deep, the real wild-card here is in the voice, it's really special, it almost matches B. from Bosse-de -Nage. "Le Jardin des Supplices" is a really interesting piece of work that i totally recommend. Enter this secret garden and just follow the trail of blood...

I want to thank LRNT from Ignifer from introducing me to this. Merci mon ami!

listen & download

Draug "Draug"

2012-02-09T15:12:00.000Z

Nothing better than some vile, disgusting and putrefied Death Metal to warm you up in this cold afternoon. Great downtuned old school death metal with many grinding parts, reminding the British masters of deathly grindcore (think of old Carcass), with strings hanging down to the floor just like the Finnish way and growls from the deepest bowels of the darkest abyss. Draug is Jared Moran (according do Metal-Archives) who has more projects than i have Death Metal tshirts. This tape, available from Plague Tapes, just crushes all my internal organs, smashes my face and skins me alive, that's basically it. Fans of Antediluvian, Ritual Necromancy and of all that barbaric and twisted low profiled Death Metal, must check this asap. And be sure to check Plague Tapes, they have some sick and killer tapes there.

listen | turned inside out

Evil Bebos "The Stranger"

2012-02-08T14:39:00.000Z

Evil Bebos are one of my latest discoveries and i've been listening closely to this album, "The Stranger", all of this morning. And I'm really enjoying it. The atmospheric sludge with those post rock strokes are just so wonderful. The sonic and dreamy landscapes that they draw, just makes my mind float to places very far away, to other surreal worlds. According to their bio, Evil Bebos have shared stage with great names as U.S. Christmas, Rwake, The Atlas Moth, Black Cobra, Battlefields, Tides, Ocoai, Generation of Vipers, Bongripper, Psilocin, Irepress, Across Tundras, and many, many more. These boys aren't rookies, no sir. The passion and dedication is felt on every note that comes out of "The Stranger". This release is quite good, not only musically speaking but as in physical format, the Limited Digipack seems very interesting too. So if you like what you hear, be sure to grab it here. I surrender to Evil Bebos sound. Highly Recommended. For fans of Mouth Of The Architect, Giant, Destroy Judas, Battlefields.

listen & download

Skinfather, The Hunger & They Are All Dead

2012-02-08T14:26:00.000Z

In for more of that dark hardcore? Yes? Ok, let's go.

From Orange County, California, come Skinfather. This quintet delivers 5 tracks of the most evil and furious hardcore, each tracks weights like a fuckin' ton and leads us into the realms of that abyss where the most vicious hardcore lies hidden. It reminds me a lot of Integrity but with more elaborated passages or a slower, sludgiers version of All Out War. So i guess that's cool.. uhn?

listen & download

The Hunger is a relatively new hardcore band from the north of the Netherlands. Their sound can be best described as extremely heavy hardcore with a rocking twist. Influenced by bands as integrity, Ringworm, Cursed, Converge, Entombed and much, much more, you surely can get an idea. This band has been around for a couple years but i only discovered them a few weeks ago. I must confess i really enjoyed this 7''. Their sound reminds me a lot of Black Ships, Black Haven or even Rise And Fall. I just wish they would launch some new stuff soon.

listen & download

Next are They Are All Dead. A more heavy and powerful proposal. These guys come from San Francisco and this "Corporate EP" was launched in April 2011. These guys deliver Grind, Crust, Hardcore, you name it.. they will do it, really heavy. That's the key ingredient to their formula. Grind all the way...

listen & download

All of these releases took time, passion and money from all of the bands. So if you please, go to their shows, buy some tees, support them in any way you can. Do not just love Music, live it!

Maranatha "Incarnate" EP

2012-02-08T00:49:00.000Z

Maranatha are a hardcore band from Columbus and i believe that this "Incarnate" EP is their first release. And i must say i was really blown away by the quality of this. Mean. Vicious. Heavy. This EP only features two tracks and left me begging for more. It has that fury and speed of Hardcore outfits like All Pigs Must Die and the total down-tuned devastation sound of bands like Trap Them or even... fuck, Entombed! Maranatha's sound has that really nearly-swedish accent also. The track "Ascend/Descend" is so good, so good that i almost start to break everything around me. I could name all of the bands that comes to my mind in order for you guys imagine what they sound like, but it's easier for you to jump to their Bandcamp to check them out. Besides all of those influences these guys have a more hardcore facet. And i fuckin' love it. Someone sign these guys... fast! Southern Lord or something! Highly Recommended.

listen | more inverted crosses

Tiger Lily, Sabrewulf, Host & Viduus

2012-02-07T14:18:00.000Z

I feel kinda short-tempered today, so in order to avoid conflicts and shit i just put my headphones and head to my "Fuck Of And Die" Playlist on my iPod and hope for tomorrow.. so next, i bring you a handful of short fuse bands that are making my delight in this wonderful and sunny afternoon.

Tiger Lily. Curious name for a heavy band. But don't let the cuddly name and that Hello Kitty mouse pointer at their Tumblr fool you. These boys from Fresno bring in their bags some sludge mixed hardcore that culminates in some serious dark and heavy tunes. Absolutely recommended for fans of Seven Sisters Of Sleep, Baptists, Low Places and all that breed of Hardcore bands. You know the drill.. The EP is available for free at the band's Bandcamp so feel free to check them out. Also love the looks fellas... reminds me of my beloved Cobra Noir... sniff sniff.

listen & download

Sabrewulf. Brought to my attention by my good friend Sanakan over at the always awesome Equivoke. Another great and promising band, delivering good, down-tuned, obscured heavy riffs. These boys from Texas are really in a good path. I'm sure it will please many of you dark hardcore fans out there.

listen & download

Another good dose of poison is brought by Host, there's another killer band that shares the same name on the internet, so listen to this one also. Host are pissed hardcore band that mixes some of the heaviness of sludge with the caustic sound of crust. It's short, it's heavy, it's good.

listen & download

Finally the last band featured here are Viduus. Previously known as Stay, the band changed its skin and now, under the name of Viddus, it brings us this great, epic crust in the veins of His Hero Is Gone with a little bit of a Neurosis touch. I really enjoyed this release and can't wait to hear more from these guys. Really impressive material here.

listen & download

Axis Of Light "By the Hands of the Consuming Fire

2012-02-06T13:37:00.000Z

Harsh and uncompromising Black Metal from the Northern wastes of England. Axis Of Light offer a raw, unrelenting Black Metal in the vein of Cirrhus, Akitsa, Horrid Cross, Raw Moon, and others. "By the Hands of the Consuming Fire" is their essay and negative viewpoint on the esoteric agendas of today's world. Debut cassette EP coming soon on Mordgrimm Records. Get it here.

listen | fire to consume us all

Ageless Oblivion "Temples of Transcendent Evolution"

2012-02-06T01:00:00.000Z

Ageless Oblivion are a Technical/ Progressive/ Death Metal (not Deathcore... please, this is not about that shit) band from Hampshire UK and their debut album, "Temples Of Transcendent Evolution", is a strong and powerful piece of work that will make your head spin like a fuckin' cat in a blender. Not a pretty image to picture in your head... but it's true. I'm not the biggest Technical/Slamming Death Metal aficionado, i usually like my Death Metal all rotten and putrid, but when i heard the first tracks of "Temples Of Transcendent Evolution", i thought: "Wow... this is solid shit.." and the best thing is that this isn't Deathcore, no skyscraper breakdowns and pig vocals and all that shit. The track "Reclamation" is one fucking hell of a track.. so good. The elements of Ageless Oblivion are rather young, and they still have a long way to go, but for a first release they have made a really great job. On the band's Facebook they cite such influences as Nile, Decapitated, Neurosis, Cult Of Luna, and guess what... Akercocke. Well, i can't hear any Neurosis of Cult Of Luna here, or maybe it passes so fast that i miss it at a blink of an eye, but the brutality of Nile and Decapitated allied with the technical moves of Akercocke are in fact there. In general, this is one hell of a way to start. You can get this album here.

listen | no fucking breakdowns

Obolus "Lament"

2012-02-03T21:55:00.000Z

Another great one, that caught me by surprise is Obolus's "Lament". I was really stoked with the Demo, and now having new tracks to hear is something completely awesome. This is great emotional, sorrowful, creeping and atmospheric Black Metal. Really, really great. Obolus are one of that "new wave of Black Metal" bands that definitely will draw (with blood) their own path to glory. The guys at The Flenser have put this for free download, but i'm pretty sure it will be for limited time. So head over to their Bandcamp to preview and download it. A vinyl version will be soon available, so support the band and label once it comes out. Once again... this one gets the Haxan approval. Highly Recommended!

listen | la tristesse durera

Rituals " Rituals"

2012-02-03T21:26:00.000Z

Dear readers, first of all, sorry for the lack of posts but it's been a crazy week with new changes at work and stuff. I'm so tired that, when i come home i fall immediately into my bed. Besides that, a dude spend some days without posting and all my blogger brothers take advantage of that and start posting awesome stuff.

This one i was counting the days and nights to hear it in his full glory. Featuring current members of Hellas Mounds and former members of Abysmal, Rituals was formed in late 2010 in Phoenix, AZ. These guys play a blend of slow, heavy, and pummeling riffs with a mixture of sonically versed melancholy melodies. Ok, interpret that as "atmospheric sludge". This comes from the heart. This is great material. It will be launched through Alerta Antifascista and you can buy this great piece of work here. These boys are giving this for free but i strongly recommend you to buy it, it isn't everyday that you get the chance to buy a glow-in-the-dark vinyl! Highly Recommended!

listen | sonic rituals

Sun Worship "Sun Worship"

2012-02-01T02:29:00.000Z

Although to some, might be a sort of Religion or Cult, the Sun Worship i bring you today isn't nothing of that crap. Sun Worship is a Black Metal from the 3rd Wave of German Black Metal, as they (or he/she) say. This Demo, brought to my attention by my friend Sludgelord (nice to see some of this sutff on your blog mate), sounds really good, the only negative side of it is that it only carries two tracks. I really would like to hear more. It's a more melodic, i wouldn't dare calling it "Post" Black metal, because, although the songs are more melodic than most of the BM out there, it has that harsh voice, the rhythm and the guitars have that distortion sound that brings to my mind Bosse De Nage or Deafheaven. These guys worship the Sun and not the Moon, therefore... there's something curious here. Great material but i wish to hear more in the future.. so let's wait for the next Sun eclipse.

listen | worship

Kólga "Demo"

2012-02-01T02:04:00.000Z

Kólga is a new BM project headed by Austin (Panopticon/Seidr) and Jack (Seidr). Playing an atmospheric and raw black metal their lyrical content deals with a love for nature, spirituality, old history and lore, paganism and personal life experiences. Inspired by the Michigan wild, the bleakness of winter and the hope of spring, the sound of Kólga is raw, majestic and atmospheric. So if one day you're walking through the woods and if you see three beardos crossing your way, don't be scared. The boys at the Flenser have put the Demo up for free, so grab it while you can.

listen | in thy woods

http://theflenser.bandcamp.com/album/demo

Mystagog "...Of Old"

2012-01-30T13:53:00.000Z

Another cool find is this "...Of Old" from mysterious Hungarian Black Metal band Mystagog. Mystagog was formed in 2006 by two well-known and genuine Hungarian underground musicians: Angmar the vocalist of Witchcraft, Hell and Diecold is responsible for the vocals and the drums while the guitars and the bass are handled by Grave (aka Thanatos) who can be familiar from the releases of Thy Funeral, Spüolus, 666 and Diecold. Now, there are many things i like in this release, the whole structure of the songs, the artwork, the cheap low fi production. But what i like most of all is the sound, the sound man. I love this cheap low fi putrid sound... like it was recorded in a basement in some castle hidden somewhere in an Hungarian forest. And the voice... it fits like a glove into this necro wall of sound. It really gives you that stench of... old. This is the bands debut, i hope there's more to come. I hope you can enjoy this as much as i am enjoying it. You can get this here.

listen | stench of old

Charon "Sulphur Seraph (The Archon Principle)"

2012-01-30T13:38:00.000Z

Straight outta Germany arrives this bestial act, Charon. I've never heard these guys before, and they've been active since 1998. They have released they first full-length last year, called "Sulphur Seraph (The Archon Principle)". The name Charon comes from the Greek mythology, Charon is the ferryman of Hades who carries souls of the newly deceased across the rivers Styx and Acheron that divided the world of the living from the world of the dead. This album really caught my attention, Charon play some really good Black/Death. Man.. it's good. I'm not in the mood today to write a bunch of bla-bla, to convince you to hear this so... really, get this. You can order it here. Recommended!

listen | boatman's call

Knelt Rote "From Without/Insignificance"

2012-01-28T00:04:00.000Z

Knelt Rote is a band that mixes a lot of genres, from Death Metal, Black Metal, Noise, Crust and Grind, that in the end, forms this huge wall of vicious sound. It's two releases in one. You get the first one, "From Without" that came out in 2008, filled with short and furious songs, it's a more powerviolenced crust/grind that bring to my mind acts like Man Is The Bastard, Raw Radar War and early Napalm Death, but in a more incisive way... "Insignificance" (tracks 11, 12 and 13) sound more into Death Metal, the first two, "Immeasurable" and "Age" sound almost kinda like Flourishing material while "Constituent Of Oblivion" is a more darker, evil as fuck track... It may sound a little bit inconsistent, or not. You judge it. But i think these fellas are still testing the waters. I prefer a lot, i mean, A LOT, what they have created with "Constituent Of Oblivion". Fuckin' awesome track. You can get Knelt Rote stuff at Parasitic Records although "Insignificance" will be launched this year through NWP. Stay alert on these guys. Sorry about the low quality on this one, but it was all i could get... think that in this way, its sounds more kvlt.

listen | kneel before the wolves

Dirge "Elysian Magnetic Fields"

2012-01-27T23:23:00.000Z

Another review i was asked to do. This time for the French Atmospheric Sludge/Post Metal band, Dirge, and their latest effort, "Elysian Magnetic Fields". Born in Paris in 1994, Dirge is nothing less than the godfather of the European Neurotic Hardcore scene. I know Dirge since the very "boom" of the Post-Metal scene, sponsored by the great godfathers, Isis. From there on, many bands popped out like mushrooms from under every stone, but not all of them had the strength and creativity to grow stronger and make their way into the post metal/ambient sludge scene. I must confess I'm a little bit tired of this genre, but there are few things that still keep on amazing me, and this one, my friends, is one of them.

Being a veteran in the scene, Dirge knows exactly what he is doing and "Elysian Magnetic Fields" is no exception. He has made with "Elysian Magnetic Fields" his own "Panopticon". The man is a true architect of this craft. The album unfolds 8 carefully crafted and long (the shortest song has almost 6 minutes long) tracks all wrapped up in this clean and polished production. Although at some points the songs seem to want to burst that thin boundary between what's clean and tidy to what's heavy and dirty, it's like a controlled explosion where every detail of how is it going to blow, and when, is planned in detail. Every second of each song is planned just to work out perfectly. And they do. The riffs are slow and heavy, as expected, the voice knows his lessons from the Neurosis/Isis school and i must enhance that the use of those noise/industrial samplers, gives to the album that touch of genius. Really. Just listen to the third track "Cocoon", those string sounds... since i can remember i never heard something like that before, the heaviness of sludge with something so, so... fragile. It's this sort of details that make this album great, it's the core of it's greatness. Besides that, the sludge, post rock and industrial patches that form this tapestry that is "Elysian Magnetic Fields" is undoubtedly a must have for every fan of this genre. Some might say or think that this scene is dead right next to the graves where Isis and many other wannabe bands lie, but i can assure you that is alive and well, and Dirge carry it's banner high and proud, and they have all the reasons to do so. Recommended for fans of Neurosis, Isis, Cult Of Luna. You can get this here.

By request of the label i was asked not to share the link in order to respect their and the artists work. You can preview it here or in other place you might prefer... you know how to use Google right?

listen

Mania & Huldrekall "Split"

2012-01-26T01:49:00.000Z

A fucking awesome split between a band that i love, Mania, and Huldrekall, from i barely know nothing about. Mania delivers two awesome and twisted tracks, while the first track "Manifesting Dark Energy", takes us at warp speed into this chaotic and psychedelic journey thru Mania's twisted mind, the second track "Collapse of Spiraling Iteration II" is a more slow paced, almost doom-ish track, before the floor cracks opens at our feet and we are swollen by the ground into the fires of Hell. Mania really knows how to make his stuff.. so good, so breathtaking, so outstanding. Huldrekall bring in their bag, three good tracks as well, they got that Demo sound that i'm sure it will please fans of Ash Borer and Fell Voices. The guys over Eternal Warfare gave this for FREE, that's right, but it's available in physical copy that you can grab here in order to raise your cassette collection. I'm telling you, this one is really worth it. An awesome split i haven't heard in a while. Recommended!

M | H | the void of eternal bleakness

Tropic of Cancer "The End of All Things"

2012-01-26T00:41:00.000Z

By now, if you follow this blog daily you might noticed that i dig this kind of stuff i bring you next. Tropic of Cancer's "The End of All Things" is basically a compilation of songs from their early Demos and EPs. Tropic Of Cancer sounds like a drugged instrumental version of Joy Division that with echoing hypnotic rhythms, draws us through tight dark corridors, into their own private world, where few are invited to enter. For fans of The Soft Moon, Suicide, Joy Division, that kind of dark-goth stuff...

listen | black lights so bright

Dodecahedron "Dodecahedron"

2012-01-25T23:30:00.000Z

This is just the most awesome stuff you'll ever hear in your whole miserable existence...
Buy it here.

listen | the twelves sides of darkness

Shadow Of The Torturer "Marching Into Chaos"

2012-01-25T13:33:00.000Z

Formed by ex-Aldebaran front-man Mike Brown, the 33 minutes of chaotic sludge on "Marching into Chaos" is some of the heaviest, most bleakest doom ever made. This is a fine example of how every fucking sludge/doom should be made. The sound is thick and they have some of the most truly frightening dual vocals ever recorded. Fans of Hooded Menace will dig the horror filled growling. Is it possible to be catchy when you are playing so slowly, well Shadow Of The Torturer are very catchy that but maybe that is just my warped mind playing tricks on me but i find this album to be infectious in a sick kind of way. I also love to death that artwork, so fucking awesome. It was made by the great Glyn Smyth at Scrawled Design. It's been almost three years since this was released and there isn't a shadow of a new album on the horizon, yet. I pray to the mighty Horned One that new material comes soon from these guys. At least something good for this year that started in such a lousy way. Nevertheless, this is must hear, a must download, do whatever you can, but you have to check out this one. You can buy this awesome record here.

listen | die

Art Of Burning Water "Love You Dead"

2012-01-24T14:41:00.002Z

Ok kids, so today i bring you the new album from the London killing machine and one of the UK's most best kept secret, Art Of Burning Water. Heavy, raw and furious hardcore fueled crust and sludge metal attack. Totally panicked and deranged metal hardcore noise-rock for your ears. Think of Today Is The Day fucks up with the Melvins and end up in a bar fight with Converge. Buy here.

listen | don't drink the water

Le Link is Dead, Long Live The Blog!

2012-01-24T13:58:00.000Z

To all my blog comrades.

Never give in. Never give up.

They might win a battle, but they will never win this war.

They will never stop me... not even if i turn FxC into a fuckin' recipe blog!

The good news is that all of my links are still up, i renamed a few, just in case, in order to escape the tentacles of the corrupted ones.. let's see what the future will bring us.

‡FOREVER CURSED‡

BRINGING MUSIC FOR THE KIDS SINCE 2011

Andhord "Revelation" Demo

2012-01-23T13:47:00.000Z

Here is a band, whose request for being featured here on FxC fell on my mail a few days ago. Andhord are a blasphemous quartet from right next door, Spain. Or to be more accurate, Sevilla. According to the always trust-worthy Metal Archives, this is the second Demo from this band, and a curious fact, is that they share their drummer with Sludgesters Monkeypriest. Now, my BM culture isn't that vast and i must confess there are few BM bands from Spain that i know. So i was very pleased to receive this email straight from one of the members of the band. When i listened to it... oh boy.. that blastbeat wave of fury, that blizzard of riffs and that voice, i was in Heaven.. aham.. sorry, in Hell. The "Revelation" Demo starts with a very small intro, which is good (cut the chase and gimme some metal!), and after that we'll get three awesome tracks of some really infamous and mystic Black Metal. The criativity is the core of each track, no boring and repetitive three note riffing here and one particular thing... i fuckin' love the sound of it. "Revelation" Demo really reveals a solid and very promising Black Metal band that all eyes should really be upon in the future. Not all good BM hails from France, Poland or Norway. With this Demo, Andhord really demonstrate that they aren't foolin' around and that they are here to stay to kick some serious ass. Can't wait for a full-length of this band. Highly Recommended!

listen | dark revelations

Rorcal "Heliogabalus"

2012-01-20T14:17:00.000Z

Rorcal's "Heliogabalus"... this isn't particularly new, but i was asked to review it some time ago. What's the concept behind "Heliogabalus"? It's based on the life of a young Roman emperor that ascended to the Imperial power at a very early age, fourteen years old, if i'm not incorrect. He ruled until he was murdered at eighteen years of age. Although short, his imperial reign was considered very controversial due to religious/sexual issues.

Rorcal are, for those who never heard about them, a Sludge/Doom band from Switzerland, that in pair with AmenRa, i must confess, are one of my favorite European Sludge bands. With "Heliogabalus", Rorcal bring us a colossal one hour track filled with great epic moments and some interludes that perform their task of almost dividing the track in "acts". So this could be almost a musical, where Rorcal interpret the ascension and fall of that young emperor.

It takes about 1 minute until the first riff completely smashes us, and from there on, a slow funeral march takes its place along with anguished screams of pain and despair. The use of samples/synthesizer reinforces even more that dense atmosphere that transports us back to the Roman Empire years. Heavy riffs are thrown into the air and fall in a very slow motion, i mean, very slow. This slow and grieve march continues until a musical interlude that takes place just before the next "act" of the story. The kind of music the interludes brings us, sound very tribal, making me think how would ancient Roman music sounded like? I bet it would sound just like this. "Heliogabalus" has it's own unique character, the kind of character that we might consider timeless.. people years from now will still speak of this and how epic it was/is. The more we sink into this track, the thicker the environment gets, and more and more and more, almost suffocates us. Many of you might run away from a track this long, but i can assure you that this is a real masterpiece, something like you never heard before, it's true that isn't no easy task, but effectively, Rorcal did their task very well. Take my advice and head dive into this one. You won't be sorry. The album is available to purchase through the bands website here, although, as a nice band these guys are, they also provided the album as a Free Download. But nothing beats a physical copy.

thrown to the lions

Spellhammer "Goat's Hill"

2012-01-19T14:33:00.000Z

This one just arrived this morning, still warm...

No.. still cold.

Spellhammer are Sorcering Abyss & Necro Gauntlet who have sold their souls in order to unleash the true tattarmassian Black Metal from Northern Ore, Finland. Formed in Anno Satanas 2010, they have sworn to seek the treasure in the black Pond of Tattarisuo, which once was prophecised by an evil sorcerer. Spellhammer play this kind of raw, low-fi and cold BM in the likes of the First Wave of Black Metal. "Goat's Hill" was recorded in two parts, first 7 tracks being the original goats hill sessions, recorded in Käpylä recording dungeon & vocals in a haunted cabin at the forests of sherwood. The last three songs where recorded a month or two later in Tattarmass sessions, in Käpylä recording dungeon, situated in Southern Wastelands. I really enjoyed this, the low budget low-fi production really gets you in the spirit of this album. And knowing how and where, it was recorded, it helps even more. The keyboard used in some tracks is that genius touch that ends up in making the difference. The whole aura that Spellhammer's "Goat's Hill" introduces, really has that stench from the 80's. Tired of that new reinvented post BM? Then this the thing for you. Let the ancient glory of primordial Black Metal be awaken!! Rise from the shadowy graves and dark forests!! Thanks a lot for the band for sending this gem towards me, and for giving it for free at their Bandcamp.

listen & download

Nachzehrer "Pestilence Hungers in the Shadows"

2012-01-19T14:07:00.000Z

First i gotta say this.. what's the deal in bands now having german names? Before we had Seelenmord, Blut der Nacht and now Nachzehrer. Is it some kind of hype? Or just because it gives that grrrrimm touch and freezing chill from head to toe when you whisper the band's name? Nevermind...

Rising from the pits of Boston, MA in 2009, Nachzehrer plays raw black metal combined with black thrash speed and aggression. In 2010 they put out the four song demo "Black Thrash Ritual" as a limited tape release on Massachusetts-based label Reaper's Grave, followed up by the 2011 EP "Pestilence Hungers in the Shadows" as a split-label release on Demons Gate Records/Tombs in the Valley Productions from the UK. They have shared the stage with Destroyer 666, Enthroned, Evoken, Nocturnal, Midnight, Impiety, Abazagorath, Absu and many more, unleashing a chaotic assault of blasphemic devastation with each live ritual! Damn right! Nachzehrer is some sort of german misfit vampire that consumes only dead bodies. This description suits perfectly to the sound that Nachzehrer brings. "Pestilence Hungers in the Shadows" delivers 6 tracks of some pure evil, fast, rotten and flesh decaying Black Metal.. like a fuckin horde of panzers made out of rotten corpses, crushing skulls as they march in a field of perdition. Judging by the pics of their live shows (and these guys are unstoppable) i can tell this band delivers one hell of a ball, so if you get them playing in your city, be sure to don't miss them live. These guys will have soon a Split release with Ipsissimus, all i can say is that i look forward to hear it. Meanwhile check "Pestilence Hungers in the Shadows" below.

listen | verpesteten schatten

Seelenmord "... And We Will Find Only Solitude - Part I"

2012-01-19T13:46:00.000Z

First, my apologizes to the following bands. I know it's been quite some time since you've send me your material to hear/review/post. So without further due..

Seelenmord are Enrique (Heimldaalr, ex Dead Warrior) and Daniel (In Element, Those Endless Eyes, Through My Veins, ex-Carnarium, ex-Inferi, ex-Dead Warrior ) who together form Seelenmord, a Black Metal band from Buenos Aires, Argentina. As they say:

Seelenmord takes its name from the history of a psichatric pacient from the begginings of the 20th century. “Seelenmord” it’s a german neologism which translates as “soul murder”. This is the name we have chosen for this new studio project influenced by bands such as Ulver, Gorgoroth, Nargaroth, Taake, Anaal Nathrakh, Austere, Silencer, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Agalloch, Seelenmord arises from the personal need of both musicians to create and record a raw, melodic and direct black metal.

Apart from they come from, the sound Seelenmord brings us, could easily come from the frozen lands of Northern Europe. The sound is sharp with a freezing shrieking voice thin as ice! The production is quite good and sure does justice to the powerful music of Seelenmord. The band will record several Eps and these will be uploaded and distributed freely through the web. This project is financed entirely by its members without the support of producers and/or record labels, and it pursues no other end that to share this material. It is for this reason that all of their material will be distributed for free, trusting in the support of everyone of you, that enjoy this musical genre as much as we do. So support their dedication.

listen | thru the crow's eyes

Calling all Anonymous

2012-01-17T15:23:00.000Z

Definitions have been changed.

Now everyone can leave a comment.
I know i'm gonna regret this sooner or later, but.. fuck it.
I'm very sensitive so... be NICE!

Aethyr "Nihil Grail" EP

2012-01-17T13:57:00.000Z

The mysterious duo Aethyr strikes back again..

Recorded near Christmas of 2011, "Nihil Grail" EP, consists of two previously unpublished tracks, the first one "Nihil Grail" consists of a more blackened doom track, the guitar has that black metal tone but the pace, set by the drum, is slow... and the voice is harsh, culminating in anguish screams at the climax of the song at its final minutes. The second track "Temple Of Set" sounds more to a Aethyr as we know it. A more atmospheric, beautiful and dreamy, doom/drone track. The good news is that this EP might be a sneak peek of what is coming this year. A full length? I definitely hope so. The band, as usual, was kind enough to offer this EP for free at their bandcamp. Thanks a lot to Mr. W from Aethyr form lighting me the way to this one. Recommended!

listen & download

Moonknight "Ligeia"

2012-01-17T13:41:00.000Z

One of the albums I'm addicted to lately, is this "Ligeia" from Moonknight, a Black Metal project from James L. Brown, guitarist of LA's black metal commandos Harassor who also runs the label Rising Beast. "Ligeia" consists of 6 new compositions that were actually recorded prior to many of the songs appearing on "Toplov" (the 2010's debut from Moonknight). "Ligeia" represents a more focused vision, with more than a passing nod to the early Scandinavian sounds circa late 80' to early 90's. But this is far from another Darkthrone clone... James L. Brown (aka Roach) draws from a variety of styles and sources like shoegaze, post-rock, thrash, punk, and synth ambience to make these arrangements uniquely his own. Accompanying this special CD package is a set of mini-art prints from Louisville, KY's visual assassin William David Pollard, who created a series of dark and disturbing paintings inspired by each of the 6 songs. The result is an infernal and surreal collaboration between two like-minded souls...an attack on the eyes as well as the ears. It will be soon available at Rising Beast Bigcartel, just keep an eye on this one.

listen & download

Cursed Altar "Demo"

2012-01-17T13:32:00.000Z

Here is a project that has it all to become the next big thing in that exclusive circle of bands that include acts like Deafheaven, Castevet, Ash Borer, etc, etc... Cursed Altar is an atmospheric Black Metal one-man-project hailing from North Carolina. With this Demo, that you can download for FREE at the artist Bandcamp, we get two beautiful tracks of the most well crafted Atmospheric Black Metal, with some Post Rock influences, it creates an atmosphere that reveals the great potential of Cursed Altar. In my modest opinion the only thing needed here is a voice, a harsh shrieking banshee voice and Boom! We have a winner. Loved this, can't wait for more to come.

listen & download

Wode "Demo"

2012-01-16T14:22:00.000Z

Now here is some great BM band i discovered a while ago, Wode, from Manchester. They play this kind of traditional Black Metal but their sound could also be likened to such post-black metal acts out there. Besides the cold, ugly side of BM the songs have a nice melodic structure that can last for hours in your head. A stunning demo, definitely worth keeping an eye on for the future.

listen | northern wolves

Armblast "Psilosoma"

2012-01-16T14:02:00.000Z

Armblast is a Black Metal one-man-project from Melbourne, Australia. This is its fourth release, "Psilosoma", i haven't heard its previous releases yet. But i got really stocked on this one. Raw, noisy and harsh as Hell Black Metal is what you'll have here. I really like the way this project is going, i just hope it keeps on growing.

listen | darkened moths

Venenum "Venenum" EP

2012-01-15T18:24:00.000Z

German Death Metal band Venenum brings us another dose of venomous Old School Death Metal, now with this self-titled EP. 7 tracks, including some instrumental interludes, basically it's the same tracks from the Demo, but this time with a more accurate and polished sound. Buy it directly from the band here or here. Enjoy.

listen | drink the poison

Nekromantheon "Rise, Vulcan Spectre"

2012-01-14T14:19:00.000Z

Hailing from Kolbotn, Norway , Nekromantheon (which features members of Obliteration and Audioplane) will destroy you with this brand new record that brings to mind Kreator, Hypnosia, and true NON-party Thrash. The way it should be, dark, evil and full of hell! I'm not a usual listener of this genre, but damn... this one is so good i had to open an exception here on FxC. Good, fast, dirty, unholy and most of all... EVIL, the way Thrash Metal must be done. European dudes can grab this here and dudes from the other side of the ocean can buy it here. Highly Recommended \../

listen | seek and destroy

Pombagira "Iconoclast Dream"

2012-01-14T10:28:00.000Z

Damn, if i had some fireworks i sure would blast them for this one...

At fucking last, Pombagira's last effort has fallen into my hands. "Iconoclast Dream" is an ambitious, black magic, voodoo inspired, 42 minute track album continuing the monolithic doom that their previous album "Baron Citadel" unleashed, but maybe they have over-reached themselves this time around depending on your own point of view. With "Iconoclast Dream", Pombagira continue their legacy of Wizardism Doom, the sound doesn't bring anything new, to be honest. If you're a fan of the band or of that Occult Doom in the likes of Electric Wizard, than this is the piece for you. The fact is that this is heavy and i know that, as i was, you are all anxious to hear this baby. So go check it out. Meanwhile you can get a physical copy of "Iconoclast Dream" here.

listen | black magic doom

Qui Incenditur "Tumult" Demo

2012-01-13T14:26:00.000Z

Now let me fulfill my patriotic duty by bringing to you this great project from Portugal, Qui Incenditur, with it's debut Demo "Tumult". The first impression i got was about the artwork, really great. It's good to see such devoted artists crossing the boundaries of music by also applying their aesthetic taste in visuals. Qui Incenditur is a one-man project formed in December 2010 by G.R. that is also the mind behind Onirik. Compost by 4 tracks, simply called "Tumult I", "Tumult II", "Tumult III" and "Tumult IV", Qui Incenditur unveils its dark veil and brings us 4 well crafted Black Metal tracks, i must point that the sound of this Demo is really, really good. The Production is awesome. You can tell each instrument perfectly. Can't wait for a full length, i hope soon. A true cacophony of sound with flesh decaying riffs that will corrupt your soul. Truly a dantesque nightmare. Fans of Deathspell Omega, Leviathan, Luker Of Challice, Blut Aus Nord get your ears on this one. Limited to 100 copies only, it's mandatory that you grab one of the copies, just contact the fellas at Nightmare Productions here. Recommended!

listen | from the fires of hell

Turdus Merula "Herbarium"

2012-01-13T14:03:00.000Z

Having released last year a new album, i decided first to revisit Turdus Merula first full length, "Herbarium". This is a one woman (yes... i said woman) Black Metal project from Sweden, that basically does everything, from vocals to all the instruments. “Herbarium” is a concept album about hallucinogenic and poisonous plants. The latin word “herbarium” refers to a collection of dried plants. Each of the song titles refers to a plant with both hallucinogenic and toxic qualities. There is a distinctly ritualistic dimension to the music, from the hypnotizing blast beats to the dissociative melodies, all the sounds are oriented toward cultivating an altered state of consciousness and that raw production really accentuates the delirious theme of the album, that enhances what i really like about this album, the sound of it, not perfect, but good. “Herbarium” is an enrapturing album that is bound to please ambient black metal fans. Like consuming one of these plants, and being unsure if you have taken too much or just the right amount, “Herbarium” is both a haunting and inspiring experience.

listen | black thorny flowers

Mr Death "Descending Through Ashes"

2012-01-13T13:46:00.000Z

Here are some tunes for your Friday 13th...

Having been obscured by the more popular Swedish melodic Death Metal and its Gothenburg sound for more than fifteen years, it seems that the old school Swedish metal with its Stockholm sound is on its way back into the limelight, and among the foremost exponents of the Second wave of Old School Swedish Death Metal is the aptly named band Mr Death. Featuring ex-members of legendary bands like Treblinka, Expulsion and Tiamat, Mr Death is obviously a collection of talented and very experienced musicians who were there when Sweden first crashed the gates of the death metal scene in the early 90s, and on "Descending Through Ashes", the follow-up to the critically acclaimed debut "Detached from Life", Mr Death gives us yet another convincing reason to like old school Swedish death metal. In addition to the old school death metal core sound, Mr Death also incorporate more rock-inspired elements, much like Entombed and Gorefest did back when they they started going into death 'n' roll territory, and tracks like "Come Winter" and "Descending Through Ashes" have some quite sludgy and groovy riffs in them, while "Another State of Decay" sounds like Motörhead on steroids.

The guitar sound is extremely dirty and the bass distorted beyond reason, and the drums have an organic and almost live sound to them. The vocals have the form of crusty death grunts, and the production is suitably lo-fi. This is old school death metal at its best: primitive, heavy, groovy, crusty, thrashy, and headbanging-friendly. If you like old Swedish acts like Grave, Dismember, Nihlist/Entombed, Dismember, Vomitory, and Desultory, Mr Death's "Descending Through Ashes" should be right up your alley. Fans of old school American death metal acts like Obituary, Necrophagia and Goreaphobia, as well as death 'n' roll acts like Gorefest, Six Feet Under and Debauchery might like this album, too. If interested you can buy it here.

listen | ash to ash, death to death

At The Graves "II"

2012-01-12T14:05:00.000Z

Another great slab of Sludge/Doom to cheer you up in this Thursday... At The Graves consists in a two piece sludge band from Arnold, Maryland. They have released two EP's (that you can download for free at their Bandcamp) and i believe that, at this point, they are preparing new material for their first full length, which is wonderful news. At The Graves play this thick and heavy sludge, and the result is pretty good. I'm sure it will please every sludge fan out there, if you're one of those, you must check this band immediately.

listen | looking at an open coffin hole

TWOR "TWOR"

2012-01-12T13:53:00.000Z

Another good discovery was this english band, TWOR. They play that down tuned sludgy hardcore that we all dig so much... Nothing new here but instead all is very well executed. I hope to hear more of this band in the future because they got tha skillzz!! Check it out!

listen | god of twunder

The Pledge Of Cain "We...Martyrs"

2012-01-12T13:47:00.000Z

Another awesome band hailing from the old mighty Europa. The Pledge Of Cain are a french sludge/doom band from Strasbourg. "We...Martyrs" is their first album, and i can describe it to you in just two simple words: Slow and Heavy. As soon as you enter the cold and dark quicksands that "We...Martyrs" is, you will began to sink in a very slow and painful way... just wishing that death arrives soon to end all of that suffering, but no.. The Pledge Of Cain gets some sick pleasure in making you drown in a very horrific way. I dig the sound and that harsh voice, so good man. In overhaul, "We...Martyrs" is a sick album and a great debut from this french quintet. Get into it now! Highly Recommended!

listen | in sludge we drown

Blut Der Nacht "Demo MMXI"

2012-01-11T14:08:00.000Z

Straight outta Portland, comes this Black Metal horde, Blut Der Nacht with this killer four track Demo. Blut Der Nacht opens the gates of the blackest Hell and unleashes eleven minutes of raw, blackened wrath. The trio aren’t trying to reinventing the wheel here, what is real is that they offer us, mere mortals, a slab of classic black metal without pretensions. Recorded in a 4-track, only adds to its flesh-shredding-sound that corrosive authenticity. Pure, raw and venomous Black Metal.. just like the way we like it. Limited to 100 copies only, i believe there are some copies still available for you to get, so buy it here.

listen | piles of cascadian corpses

MAL "Eonian Quiescence"

2012-01-11T13:47:00.000Z

Another great product coming straight out of the same land where demons like Blut Aus Nord and Aosoth were spawned, France. "Eonian Quiescence" is the debut of the french band MAL, formed by the mysterious R (Guitars, Bass, Drum and Programming) and F (Vocals). I found this band randomly on one of my Bandcamp excursions. The sound MAL delivers is some sort of Horror inspired Psychedelic Blackened Doom. In general we have here a very eclectic album, while some tracks, like "Unsinkable (Super Sargasso) Sea" bring to my mind comparisons to the also Black Psychedelic Doomsters, Dolorian, other tracks like "Radioactivate (Interstellar Carrier)" due to the guitar sound, reminds me of Gothic Prog Rockers, Deadsy. The voice of F fits perfectly in the canons of the Black Metal universe, while that buzzing guitar create barriers of freezing horror around us bridged by all of those prog samples that enhance the dark atmosphere that "Eonian Quiescence" brings. The band is offering this interesting album for free at their Bandcamp, don't forget to say "Thanks!" here.

listen | le mal

Ashdautas & Bone Awl "Split"

2012-01-10T13:39:00.000Z

An awesome split between the amazing Ashdautas (RIP) and Bone Awl. Man, i love Ashdautas, and as the first notes start on the 22 minute epic track "Permillion Stars In Depths Familiar" i feel like i'm pulled of into this black sucking hole and transported into another dimension. Just like Arizmenda, Ashdautas have that uinque sound that swirls around and elevates you from the floor, it automatically transports your mind into a crushing dark, cosmic cacophony storm of sharp riffs and relentless drum beats and the voice... oh man... the voice, those shrieeeekkkksss!! I fuckin' love it. In the meantime Bone Awl bring what they do best, that itchy and raw-to-the-bone Black Punk Metal. I believe this split flew in hours so i guess you won't have any luck in getting a physical copy of this, but still, if anyone knows where and how to get it, drop a line in the comments below.. in the meantime: Get into the Black Void!!!

From the ashes of bones

Seagulls Insane And Swans Deceased Mining Out The Void "Self Titled"

2012-01-10T12:57:00.000Z

Now here's a strange beast... how on earth am i going to tag this? This was my first thought that ran into my mind as the music of SISADMOTV echoed thru my ears. The first thing you will notice is the loooooong name that this band has, now i really would like to know the story behind this, probably the result of a very drunken night or other illicit stuff.. if you know what i mean. SISADMOTV is a polish band formed by Nihil (from Massemord and many other bands that he holds in his portfolio) and Havoc from the sludge doomsters Blindead. The sound they bring on this debut album is a patchwork of influences, their own influences. We get a great dosage of mid/slow paced Black Metal, some Doom, a little bit of Industrial, all entangled with countless layers of atmosphere. I guess we can call it Post Black Metal, let us not complicate. The main thing here, ladies and gentlemen, is that this is one hell of an album. It's impossible to remain indifferent to what SISADMOTV brings to us here. The voice of Nihil reminds me a lot of Anaphylactic Shock, that i love, and which i have already posted on FxC some time ago. And that's good. The album is divided in 5 parts, all entitled with the numeral system of ancient Rome. Each track has its own personality, while in "I" we have a more dense, atmospheric, slow paced Black Metal in "III" i had to check the iPod to see if it had jumped to BAN's "777 - The Desanctification". In short, putting the bands name aside, we have a pretty amazing album here. You really need to hear to believe it yourself. You can get this here. I'm afraid that this will become my latest vice... Highly Recommended!

listen | when seagulls become swans

Bruxers "EP"

2012-01-08T11:45:00.000Z

Bruxers are a crusty Death Metal band with some doom/sludge influences. Kinda like His Hero Is Gone meets Graves At Sea meets Ilsa, something like that... the truth is that Bruxers totally deliver with this EP, three tracks of dirty, heavy as fuck, crusty Death/Doom. I've been following the activity of these guys for quite some time in order to hear an official release. This is indeed promising. I hope that with this, Bruxers, will get on the map soon. Just remember this name.. Bruxers!

listen | pestilent winds

Teitanblood "Purging Tongues" EP

2012-01-08T11:33:00.000Z

Oh yeah... here is finally new Teitanblood material. "Purging Tongues" consists of a one 15 minute track EP. Here you will get it all, a super long intro, instrumental sections and most of all... a whirlwind of devastation. With an artwork that matches perfectly what you'll hear in "Purging Tongues", Teitanblood continue their path to bestial havoc. Too bad it features one track only, we want more! Pendejos!! You can buy this here although there more places where you can find it, don't be lazy and just Google it.

in tongues we speak

Sleepwalker "Demos"

2012-01-08T09:59:00.000Z

Sleepwalker is the side project from Mike, the drummer of Fell Voices. It has released two Demos so far, one in 2009 and another one in 2010. The sound that Sleepwalker presents us is a misty and murky post rock influenced BM, with repetitive and hypnotic riffs that leads us into some sort of trance. The production is as raw as you can get. This is good material though. These guys are playing now on the Gilead Media Festival, so if you're near it, check out Sleepwalker live in one of its rare live appearances.

listen | shady sounds

Cruciamentum "Engulfed in Desolation" EP

2012-01-06T13:18:00.000Z

Now this has been floating around for some weeks, my excuses but only now i finally managed to find time to put this up. This is a mandatory release that must be featured here on FxC.

England's Cruciamentum are by far one of the most important bands to emerge from that infectious time tunnel of 90s death metal. Regardless of whether you are more interested in the elder Swedish and Finnish tones being wrought by acts like Miasmal, or the direct Incantation lineage to the sounds of Disma, Vasaeleth and so forth, there is something here for you. Ominous, guttural vocals of the Incantation school, which, while not exactly original, are effectively menacing as they alternate between echoed, sparser passages and a more percussive, hostile meter. The drums here are also quite versed and flexible, with a lot of thundering warlike fills and steadier rhythms that feel as if they were built of the mud, blood and brick that confine corpses to the band's lyrical catacombs. Cruciamentum simply devastates. If you're really in for some honest and real Death Metal then don't sleep on this. You can get this awesome EP here or here. Recommended!

listen | return to flesh

Puteraeon "The Esoteric Order"

2012-01-06T12:58:00.000Z

Back to the vile...

Puteraeon is a Swedish death metal band whose members grew up listening to that music in the late 80s and early 90s and have completely embraced not only the sound, but also the ghoulish, corpse-littered lyrical focus. This debut album, "The Esoteric Order", consists of re-recorded songs from Puteraeon’s three previously self-released demos: two from 2008′s "Fascination For Mutilation", four from 2008′s "The Requiem", and five from 2009′s "The Extraordinary Work of Herbert West", plus two new songs, “Storms Over Devil’s Reef” and “Coma”. Most of the songs were inspired by the stories of HP Lovecraft (especially “Shadow Over Innsmouth” and “Herbert West – Reanimator”); others take zombies or the infamous Elizabeth Bathory as their lyrical subjects. The music and the subject matter of the songs suit each other. Regardless of the tempo, which varies, the songs just sound evil to the core. You listen, and it’s not hard at all to imagine the demented dead crawling from the earth, the crackle of arcing electricity in a re-animator’s lab, the slavering lurch of famished zombies who just can’t wait to sink their teeth into living human flesh. C'mon.. just look at that artwork. What do you call it when a death metal band is so in tune with this style of righteous music that they sound like they recorded the shit in 1991 and buried the tape in a time capsule, to be opened 20 years later? I call it soul. You can buy this here.

listen | order of the evil ones

Anne "Dream Punx"

2012-01-05T14:36:00.000Z

Here is a good revelation from last year. Portland's shoegazers Anne, who have released their debut album "Dream Punx" thru A389 Recording which houses names as Seven Sisters Of Sleep, Pulling Teeth, Weekend Nachos. It's good to see that this label had the courage to welcome a true shoegaze band (hold your horses... it's real shoegaze, not hardcoregaze or something like that) besides hardcore genres. These guys must have been closed in their rooms for months, just listening to The Cure's "Disintegration" and My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless". I like shoegaze, good shoegaze. And i must admit that Anne pulled it off really well. It's a very pleasant album to listen to, it just makes me wanna hear it over and over. Anne creates excellently somber, moody, slow-paced atmospheres that totally hit the spot. There's certainly a swirling "dreaminess" to the whole vibe, so I definitely get that aspect of it. Just expect a nice, chilled out ambiance, great songwriting… it's really, really good is the point I'm trying to make here. There have been a surprising number of incredibly solid bands exploring this style as of late, and I'm all for it. So if you're a big fan of this genre, or just a regular listener i suggest you give a try on this. Highly Recommended. Buy here.

listen | dried flowers on the window

The Soft Moon "Total Decay" EP

2012-01-05T14:08:00.000Z

Released last year, "Total Decay" EP is another freaking collection of cold, weird and hypnotic post punk tracks. "Total Decay" solidifies that The Soft Moon is on its own path, not to be compared. Just listen, hold the shadow of his hand on this journey into the darkness, as he whispers directions through the obstacles, to the light. Buy it here.

listen | dwell in the shadows

True Widow "True Widow"

2012-01-05T13:57:00.000Z

It was Winter, 2009... i left home early in the morning to go to work, jumped into a cold and foggy day, as the first notes of "AKA" started to sound on my iPod.. i fell in love. When i discovered this band, back then, i could never imagine that i would be so hooked on them until today. I've talked about them here on FxC before (here) about their new EP that came out last year and their wonderful second full-length "As High As The Highest Heavens And From The Center To The Circumference Of The Earth", another of my 2011's favorites. Here's a little bit more about the story about this awesome band:

As Dan Phillips' previous band Slowride (moderately well known in punk and "emo" circles for their pummeling onslaught and lyrical wit) dissolved, the songwriter was slowly taking a different turn. He moved away from his native Texas to Massachusetts to be trained in the old ways of woodworking and for a while there was a question of if he would ever craft another tune. While the cold and solitude certainly had their effect they allowed him to reflect and turn inwards to build something new. Songs started to emerge, but they were not what was expected. The songs that would become the first True Widow material were extremely personal, heavy, melodic, and surprisingly not at breakneck speeds. They left room for the notes and melodies to breathe as the depth of the lyrics slowly seeped in over time. After a year or two Phillips returned to Dallas, Texas where True Widow first formed. The band which now also consists of co-vocalist and bassist Nicole Estill and drummer Timothy Starks were aiming to do something entirely different from their peers. What you have before you is the outcome of their work and their first album outing. It's something that may be hard to define and not all together familiar, but ultimately rewarding for those who take the journey alongside the haunting and morphine drip vocals.

Truly a remarkable band with an unique sound and extraordinary ability in song-writing. Love them to death. You can buy this here.

listen | gazed

This Will Destroy You "Tunnel Blanket"

2012-01-05T13:35:00.000Z

"Tunnel Blanket" delivers the epic-in-scope soundscapes that followers of its makers’ previous recordings are accustomed to, but presents them in new lights – where once the sun shone down bright upon immediate tropes and traits, now their work is better suited to distant starlight, casting changeable shadows across vistas of inspired, ambitious amplification. This is not an album to pick through in search of bold hooks and instant melodies. It is an ever-shifting, always moving work, which seems to evolve before the listener – spidery guitar lines feeling their way forth like vines scrambling up trunks in time-lapse photography. An amazing and unique album is what i think. These guys have picked post rock and added some dreamy ambient layers to it and the result is this superb piece of sound. The opening track "Little Smoke" and the track "Communal Blood", are just mind-blowing. They start as calm sea, like a mirror, and then just turn into a fuckin' tsunami of sound in slow motion. Another favorite of mine from last year. Buy it here, in vinyl, cassette or CD. Highly Recommended!

listen | blanket of sounds

Ordo Obsidium "Orbis Tertius"

2012-01-04T22:00:00.000Z

"Orbis Tertius" is the outstanding debut from San Francisco's Ordo Obsidium. "Orbis Tertius"is all about atmosphere, but you can also expect some very well played Black Metal that occasionally turns into slow, ominous doom through long, at times hypnotically repetitious songs utilizing loads of tremolo picking, abrasive screams, and emotive melodies. Quirky, discordant textures flirt with both harsher aggression and a more mangled sense of melody from time to time, while gorgeous acoustic passages and tactful, subdued synths are also occasionally employed for added effect. Also impressive is the perfectly raw recording that's not so over the top that it becomes grating. You can even pick out the basslines with relative ease, which is always a plus. I wouldn't exactly say they're trying to be the most inventive band out there, but that rarely matters. Honestly, it's often the bands that focus on taking the perfect foundation and tweaking it just a touch that create the most immediate impact. Amazing songwriting, powerful atmosphere… love it. You can buy it here or if you're in Europe, here. Highly recommended.

listen | shades of illusion

Braveyoung "We Are Lonely Animals"

2012-01-04T13:20:00.000Z

Do you remember the band Giant? That played that sludgy post metal in the likes of Mouth Of The Architect? And even released a nice album called "Song" some years ago? Well, Giant has changed its skin.. they are now known as Braveyoung, and like their name, their sound changed drastically too. But it's still intense i can assure you that. North Carolina’s Braveyoung are a post instrumental rock band and this is their first full length entitled "We Are Lonely Animals". The band now offers some hypnotic and introspective instrumental tracks that will immerse you into some cold, foggy and lonely landscapes. This was one of my favorite Non Metal Albums of 2011. Absolutely recommended for fans of Explosions In The Sky, This Will Destroy You, Mono, etc. Buy it here.

listen | narrow lights in the distance

Cemeteries "Speaking Horrors"

2012-01-04T13:19:00.003Z

Now here is something out of hand from what i usually post here on FxC. Only by holding a name like this, Cemeteries, they sure deserve some highlight here. Don't you agree? Not always i'm in the mood for some metal. Cemeteries is a dream pop/shoegaze band from Buffalo formed by one man only, Kyle J. Reigle, who writes and records music under the name Cemeteries. "Speaking Horrors" is a sonic book compost of 10 ghost related tales. The sound of it reminds me a bit of Pygmy Lush, even the voice is, at some point, familiar. "Speaking Horrors" introduces lush soundscapes filled with dreamy vocals, reverb, and poppy guitar and piano riffs. A mix of folk, shoegaze, and electronic music Cemeteries is nothing if not pleasant to listen to. As the track "Watch the Skies or Walking Home On October 31st" starts, i get surrounded by a dream world of sound, surrounded by bedsheet ghosts. Lock up the doors and windows and turn the lights out.

listen | we only come out at night

Pale Chalice "Afflicting the Dichotomy of Trepid Creation"

2012-01-03T14:09:00.000Z

Hailing from San Francisco, comes this enigmatic and promising Black Metal act, Pale Chalice, making their debut with the EP "Afflicting the Dichotomy of Trepid Creation". It's 28-minutes of expertly executed and well written black bile performed with more conviction than one-hundred "standard black metal bands". One of the new and most interesting Black Metal bands coming from the other side of the ocean. Buy it from the good ol' pals from the Flenser here.

listen | from the foggy shores

Psychic Limb "Queens"

2012-01-03T13:53:00.000Z

Well, here we are, new year & stuff... I wanted the first post of 2012 to be something new, so.. fuck it, to hell with that! I got 363 days left to post music. So, to begin with, and still suffering from the "hangover" of 2011, i'll throw some (good) leftovers.

"Queens" is the debut album from NY ferocious hardcore band Psychic Limb, who throws twelve tracks of unhinged vitriolic violence. Psychic Limb's menacing debut LP "Queens" raises the bar for lightning-fast speed and ferocity, drawing influence from punk and grindcore to create a molotov cocktail of blasting hardcore fury. Buy it here. Probably one of the best underrated albums of 2011...

listen | psycho queen

THE BEST OF 2011 - PART III

2011-12-30T13:03:00.000Z

Finally... just in time for the End of the year.

And so, here we are again, and before I start, i know that at this point everyone is just sick and tired of "Lists", around the corner there's a List, under that stone there's another List.. Every music site/blog is making their own list unless you're like Cvlt Nation that shoots a List every 5 minutes. But while we're still digesting all the crap we ate at Christmas but there's nothing better to cure that stuffed sick feeling than the albums that I bring you today in the third part of the Best of 2011, also known as the Great List of Awesomeness! These are the releases.. the fucking RELEASES man! The releases that gave me the goose-bumps as the first notes sounded... the music that made caused me a shiver from head to toes. Were, and are, indeed outstanding releases that will absolutely mark an era. So, without further delay, here it is the Best among the Best, enjoy.

- 25 -

Thantifaxath - "Demo"

I heard a lot of good Demos this year, but there was one in particular that got me hooked since the first time i heard it. Thantifaxath are a mysterious Black Metal band from Canada that play this unique beautiful and obscure Black Metal with some french Black Metal influences. This is by far, the most interesting and real Black Metal, i heard this year. Can't wait for a full length.

- 24 -

Aosoth - "III"

Intense, unsettling riffs and hoarse vocals. "III" is one of the heaviest Black Metal albums you will ever hear. Unusually low-tuned guitars and thunderous drums that we are not used to hear in the BM realm. Besides "III", Aosoth have also released an instrumental version of this album called "Variations Of Violence" and according to Metal Archives, they already have a brand new EP on the stove. I say bring it!!

- 23 -

Corpsessed - "The Dagger & The Chalice"

This was almost the year of the Finnish, the quantity and quality of the releases that came out of that cold country could easily result in a "Best Finnish Releases of 2011".. Straight from the catacombs comes this release, "The Dagger & The Chalice", and as soon as you start hearing that intro you cannot guess what you're about to testify. Dark ritualistic blood boiling Death Metal. Like my friend JGD said at his awesome blog The Living Doorway... "if you think you like death metal but don't have Corpsessed's "The Dagger and the Chalice" yet, you are 100% blowin' it."

- 22 -

Mournful Congregation - "The Book Of Kings"

One of the most, if not, the most beautiful Funeral Doom Album of the year. Mournful Congregation really know how to create really heavy and thick atmospheres. An amazing, majestic and sorrowful work.

- 21 -

Negative Plane - "Stained Glass Revelations"

An epic and haunted album... filled with obscurity in every detail, every riff, every drum beat, every scream. It's like an epic musical inspired by HP Lovecratf. You look into that cover and it feels like you're really there. Amazing.

- 20 -

Ulcerate - "The Destroyers of All"

Fucking New Zealand... don't know what those guys are taking over there, because more and more devilish Death Metal acts seem so emerge every 5 minutes... and the next band that appears is always more brutal than the previous one. Ulcerate have proved with their third full length, "The Destroyers of All", that they are one of NZ finest in the DM scene. "The Destroyers of All" shreds. A wave of destruction coming your way, crushing everything and impaling every last remaining soul.

- 19 -

Terra Tenebrosa - "The Tunnels"

From the ashes of one of my favorite hardcore bands ever, Breach, emerged Terra Tenebrosa with this brilliant piece called "The Tunnels". As soon as i heard that some Breach members were involved in some new project it became my daily obsession to discover what it was, and most of all what it would sound like. And sure it was no disappointment at all. "The Tunnels" is one dark journey into Sweden's tenebrous and deep woods.

- 18 -

Dephosphorus - "Axiom"

From Greece arrives one of the best releases of 2011. "Axiom" from Dephosphorus. Before it was even released there was a lot of talking about this band. And after some tracks were unveiled, we had reasons to believe that this was going to be a blast. An powerful blast of fury. Mixing sludge with grind and other sub genres, "Axiom" is undoubtedly one of the freshest releases of 2011. The good news is that the band is already working on a new album "Night Sky Transform", and judging by the quality of the tracks, something very powerful will be soon unleashed upon the Earth, just can't wait for that.

- 17 -

Desolate Shrine - "Tenebrous Towers"

Again from Finland arrives another amazing release, "Tenebrous Towers" from Desolate Shrine. Like i talked about in the post of this release, a band that makes of this their first release, and shows such quality and caliber deserves to be here. This blend of Black/Death is so good, so good, so good... i go almost speechless when i have to talk about this. Since the first audition i knew that this had to be one of Best releases of this year. Keep your eyes and ears on Desolate Shrine and lets wait what the future holds for them.

- 16 -

Batillus - "Furnace"

Batillus, with "Furnace", deliver one of the most crushing Sludge/Doom albums of the year. A beautifully crafted album full of sonic details that just makes me wanna hear it over and over and over... Fucking awesome.

- 15 -

Mitochondrion - "Parasignosis"

What Mitochondrion achieved with "Parasignosis" can be considered a Death Metal Classic. It's one of those albums that people will remember and talk for years. Atmospherical and authentic Black/Death is what you get here. An impressive bleakness void that will suck you in. Remarkable.

- 14 -

Void Meditation Cult - "Sulfurous Prayers"

Blasphemous and Bestial Black/Death metal from a one man band from Ohio. This could be the incarnation of Sperm Of The Antichrist but in a more demoniacal form. Down tuned guitars with some really creepy atmospheres layered in... the perfect soundtrack for your late night satanic rituals.

- 13 -

Encoffination - "O' Hell, Shine in Thy Whited Sepulchres"

Ghoat and Elektrokutioner did one hell of a job with "O' Hell, Shine in Thy Whited Sepulchres" that is a authentic monument to Death Metal. Slow and sepulchral deep Death Metal with church bells announcing a funeral march on every track. I love this album/band.

- 12 -

Wolves In The Throne Room - "Celestial Lineage"

Wolves In The Throne Room returned this year with another colossal atmospheric, and most of all, epic album. "Celestial Lineage" also gathers all the conditions to be considered a Classic in the genre. Too bad is the last of this dying breed, at least they leave in style, leaving us this remarkable piece.

- 11 -

Disma - "Towards The Megalith"

Now this, ladies and gentlemen, is Death Metal in its most pure essence. After a great Demo, an awesome full-length. "Towards The Megalith" is a real monster. Featuring Craig Pillard as the throat, it could only result in some crushing, slow/mid paced (almost doom like) suffocating DM. Love the artwork of it and judging by the cover of this "book" expect nothing but real Death Metal.

- 10 -

Indian - "Guiltless"

I like Sludge, therefore i like Indian. Ever since "The Unquiet Sky" that I'm more than alert to everything that this band makes. And with "Guiltless" they gave birth to one of the heaviest albums of 2011. Dirty soaked Sludge Doom that will crush you into dust.

- 9 -

Altar of Plagues - "Mammal"

Now this album created many discussions, some people who loved "White Tomb" were expecting another copy of it and got disappointed with "Mammal" because it's a little bit more atmospherical and experimental than "White Tomb". I personally, became in love to this album at the first audition... the track "Feather and Bone" man.. those first minutes are fucking epic! It even gives me goose-bumps. I really like the way Altar Of Plagues created this masterpiece. You just can't miss this.

- 8 -

Aldebaran - "Buried Beneath Aeons"

Aldebaran simply delivered one of the most ground breaking releases of the year. Although it's an one track only EP, "Buried Beneath Aeons" is one of the most beautiful things i had the pleasure to hear in 2011. An amazing hypnotic trip into a Lovecraftian world. Beautiful.

- 7 -

Tombs - "Path Of Totality"

By now, everybody knows the name Tombs, i dare say that they were one of the pioneers in mixing the bleakness of Black Metal with the heaviness of Sludge Metal. When i heard their 2007 Demo i could never expect that this band would grow like this and would become the monster that is today. "Winter Hours" was one of my favorite albums of 2009 and with "Path Of Totality" they hit the bulls-eye again. Tombs are a remarkable band that conceptually can create an sonic experience by putting all these details together, from the music to the artwork. A superb piece.

- 6 -

Craft - "Void"

Another album that couldn't miss, after an awesome "Fuck The Universe", Craft deliver their hatred upon mankind with this superb release "Void". You just can't be indifferent to a release like "Void". Craft makes his sound unique by using some formulas that many BM bands just refuse to use or just don't know how to use them. But Craft how the secret to that formula and created, undoubtedly, just one of the Best releases of the year.

- 5 -

Sonne Adam - "Transformation"

So what have we got here? One of the best Death Metal Albums of the Year? From Israel? Yes! Sonne Adam's first full-length was quite a surprise... It moves within the shadows, slowly, cloaked and faceless, the only thing we see are the shining red eyes of the Beast. The artwork is simply astonishing and it breathes the doomy Death Metal music of Sonne Adam. One of my favorite tracks is the interlude "Solitude In Death" it brings this image to my mind of a huge black snake with red eyes, moving slowly through the holes of an ancient olive tree in an israeli field and into the rotting carcass of Christ... that's the image i picture Sonne Adam's music.. they walk among us.

- 4 -

Acephalix - "Interminable Night"

San Francisco-based Acephalix spew forth a stripped-down and tonally obliterating old-school Nihilist/Entombed death metal style infused with crustpunk angst. Featuring members of Depressor and other hellish Bay Area acts including three members who also do time in Vastum, another act currently gaining worldwide attention from the death metal underground, Acephalix already have a diehard cult following, and plan to take their terror worldwide now under the dark wing of Southern Lord. "Interminable Night" is a one hell of an album, since it came out that it's on my iPod weekly playlist.

- 3 -

Whitehorse - "Progression"

If i could describe this album in one word, that word would be "Haunting". "Progression" from the aussies Whitehorse is an amazing piece of fear. It only features 5 songs but every song is a slab of doom that will turn you inside out. It's got some cavernous deep growls that almost makes Craig Pillard blush also some Black Metal shrieks and to help the party there's some cool sampling sounds, something industrial to create a whole crushing and dense atmosphere. An absolutely amazing album.

- 2 -

Ritual Necromancy - "Oath of the Abyss"

Ritual Necromancy easily achieved this position by bringing to the light of day one of the most brutal, barbaric, vicious Death Metal albums of all time. I was waiting for this with great expectations and it didn't disappointed at all. "Oath of the Abyss" is just the perfect Death Metal Album for me, brutal, chaotic, filthy guitars with some primeval drumming and guttural growls. I love this... Fuck yes. Thank you so much RN for existing.

- 1 -

Leviathan - "True Traitor, True Whore"

Finally, we reached number 1. Of all the releases represented here this is probably what i was most eager to hear... "The new Leviathan!" What a great album. "True Traitor, True Whore" is a true essay in horror. The atmospheres created here by Wrest are truly strange but beautiful. Not to speak that wrest performs one of the most peculiar voices in BM. Some of you might think that this one doesn't surpass some of Levianthan's previous releases. I don't care. What i care is that i love every second of this release. An amazing work that has the ability to haunt my conscience is definitely worthy of earning the title of Album Of The Year. Finis coronat opus!

And that was it... 2011 was one amazing year in music but unfortunately, to many people, it was a hell of a year due to the economical/political scenery. Dark clouds are here to stay and 2012 isn't going to be easy either. But let's not bow down our heads and let all of that negative energies strike us down. A simple smile, a simple "Thank You" can make a difference and light up your day. To all you people out there, and to all your beloved ones, i wish you a Happy Good Year.

Have fun.

Later.

H.

Hell

2011-12-27T22:45:00.001Z

Today i bring you a late Christmas gift... the second release of Hell, simply entitled "II". For those who don't know this beast, i suggest you to first pass by through my first post (still in my native tongue) about this horribilis band. I don't need to say that i totally dig this band's sound. Doom, Sludge, Drone and Black Metal all in one? Oh my God... Yes!! I find "II" to be quite different from "I", it's more atmospheric, filled with some acoustic parts. But don't expect it to be something pleasant.. no, Hell brings anything but pleasure to your ears. It will fill them with the most vile blackened and putrid sludge doom you ever even dreamed of. And that bass... man.. the BASS!! Those chords must reach the ground to make a sound like that.. This is so good man. This is a personal cassette rip of mine so i hope you enjoy it like i am enjoying every note, every detail of "II".

You can achieve this cassette here but the best news is that the boys at Pesanta Urfolk have already forged this beast in wax, so what are you waiting to get your claws on this outstanding piece of pure evil? Support Hell and also the hard working guys at Eternal Warfare and Pesanta Urfolk, all great guys to deal with. Don't need to say that this is Highly Recommended..

forged in Hell

(link updated! Now for a better sound quality and correct song split, enjoy!)

War Master

2011-12-25T23:36:00.000Z

Fuck yes! Finally the full length of this Texas Death Metal war tank! After two killer Demos, "Pyramid Of The Necropolis" is the awaited debut of this Texas band. With this debut, War Master, continue their campaign of dystopian dismembering death metal demolition. Terminating sonic necropocalyptic carnage forged into the grave of ancient masters and sharpened down the left hand path. "Pyramid Of The Necropolis" delivers 8 ritualistic skull crushing offerings to the maddening altar of the chaos realms. Being a great Bolt Thrower and Benediction fan, i really could not this one pass by. Buy it here.

facebook | marching tanks over a filed of skulls

Amnis Nihili

2011-12-23T16:31:00.000Z

From Greece comes Amnis Nihili, a new Black Metal band that features Panos Agoros from Dephosporus on vocals. "Christological Escalation" is the stunning debut release from this Greek band that merges the most memorable moments of Norwegian Black Metal bands and contemporary French BM bands, with a real dark and esoteric touch that end in a raw, eerie, dark, sonic landscapes. Expect something splendid in the vein of early Watain, Antaeus, Leviathan or even Lurker Of Chalice. You can't miss it with that artwork, once again made by the great Viral Graphics, who have already worked for Desphosphorus. You can buy in CD format directly from the band here, or in vinyl format here. Recommended!!

website | Christ is dead

Abaton

2011-12-21T00:34:00.000Z

Where the hell did these guys came from? Now here is a great surprise for this nearly ended year, from Italy arrives Abaton. They have just released their debut entitled "Hecate" through the label Lo Fi Creatures. And as they say on their Facebook page:

The characteristics of the sounds are a mixture of obscure and gloomy doom and sludge, with powerful harcore openings and dreary references to black. The ultimate purpose of the band is to create dark and meditative atmospheres, alternating with malice and anger, until to scratch the most introspective and oniric side of every individual.

Abaton plays an awesome blend of blackened sludge metal, think Altar Of Plagues-meets-Tombs-meets-The Secret, and add an extra dose of heavy bleakness, get the picture? This band is relatively young, formed in 2010, i presume they skipped also the Demo phase, head straight into this dark vortex that is "Hecate". This album exudes darkness in every single note.. it's filthy HEAVY. For a first full-length, these guys have thrown the bar pretty high, so high i was caught with surprise with this... as the first notes start in "My Helvete" i get a "Holy shiiiiiiit..." cringing in fear in my head. The sound is good, the voice is great and the production of it all, is just awesome. The best way to picture "Hecate" would be like a sudden dark cloud that appears out of nowhere, the air thickens and Darkness overcomes the Earth.. life as we know it, is about to end. This is really, really good. The formula of combining Black Metal, Sludge or Doom isn't new... the success of that formula lies in the final result, add some interesting details to that and voilá! I can assure you that Abaton holds the key to this very unique formula. One of the best revelations of the year. Buy it here before it gets sold out, i already got mine, and it's a-w-e-s-o-m-e. Highly Recommended!

facebook | dark necromancy awakens

Ride For Revenge

2011-12-19T13:50:00.000Z

New album from these crazy blackened finnish metalheads, "Under the Eye" was recorded in different locations around southern Finland during this year. It's a little bit different from their previous releases, but still very recognizable as being from Ride For Revenge. It's filthy, claustrophobic and daft Black Metal. You can buy it here.

preview | eye see you

THE BEST OF 2011 - PART II

2011-12-18T11:47:00.000Z

Moving on... now i bring you the second part of my Best Of 2011. It's time for some metal. It's essentially compost of releases i found out to be really great, read that as great with a capital "G", here you'll get some new releases from bands i already knew and other i had the pleasure to discover this year. These releases pleased me so much.. like a young boy lost in a candy store. I've put them in alphabetic order (because it was more easy) although i love them all as an only child (love you son!) Hope you enjoy it.

- 25 -

Ajattara - "Murhat"

One of my finest discoveries this year, the finnish Ajattara. Although is is their 7th release(!) it's funny how i never heard about this band before. In "Murhat" we get a great production and great sound, songs that have an exclusive personality of their own. You just don't get bored of listening to this.

- 24 -

Antediluvian - "Through The Cervix Of Hawaah"

Finally, 2011 was the year that these Canadian hellbent Death Metal monsters delivered us a full-length. Great expectations were delivered upon this and it didn't disappointed at all. Insane and primitive drumming allied to sick Incantation riffs and a guttural voice deeper than Mariana's Trench! A must have for absolute deadly Death Metal fans.

- 23 -

Aphrenous - "Ravaged By The Incessant Scourge Of Deception"

What i like the most in this album, and the big reason i brought it up to here, is specially the sound of it. It brings me back to the years in my youth when i was starting to discover Black Metal. That good and nostalgic Old School Black Metal. Great cold atmospheres that will turn a blizzard into your ears.

- 22 -

Ash Borer - "st"

Definitely one of the most claimed and important bands of the Cascadian Black Metal scene. True emotional and passionate Black Metal with raw riffs that will crawl and carve deep into your flesh, freezing your soul.

- 21 -

Battle Dagorath - "Ancient Wraith"

I love this album. It took me only one or two listening to it to be totally surrendered to this Black grim and frostbitten from Battle Dagorath. The sound, the voice.. the voice... damn. That's gotta be one of the most creepiest voices i've heard into Black Metal. That guy surely spits stalactites of ice, its like a fucking banshee from Hell. Like it!

- 20 -

Blut Aus Nord - "777 Sect(s)"

What can i say about these french madmen? Blut Aus Nord have given us some of the best BM releases in the history of Black Metal music. And this album is no exception. "777 Sect(s)" is just a freakin' trip in a serpent shaped roller-coaster. Devilish riffs that swirls around leaving us sometimes confused. This album gathers all characteristics to be classified as a classic. People, years from now, will still speak about this.

- 19 -

Corrupted - "Garten Der Unbewusstheit"

Hated by many, through disappointment, and loved by some. In this last minority, I'm included. Quite different from the other stuff Corrupted used to bring but still i find it a splendid, intimate and beautiful album.

- 18 -

Destroy Judas - "Wake"

Practically unknown, Destroy Judas are a Long Beach sludge/doom band that made their debut with "Wake". And what a debut ladies and gentlemen.. "Wake" is an incredible release filled with crushing-emotions in every note. Their sound resembles a lot to a band i also love, Mouth Of The Architect. Really good stuff here.

- 17 -

False - "st" 12''

False are a new promising Black Metal act that also made their debut this year, through the hands of the great DIY label Gilead Media. False present powerful visceral vocals and blistering riffs that will tear your skin off from thy flesh! Impressive.

- 16 -

Flourishing - "The Sum of All Fossils"

Great album this one brought by Flourishing. Although i'm not a big fan of technical death metal, this release really caught my attention due to the sound of it.. what a great fucking sound "The Sum of All Fossils" has a very keen technical/experimental/grind sound. It's fresh, it's invigorating, it's great.

- 15 -

Heresiarch - "Hammer of Intransigence"

Bestial Death Metal from New Zealand. After the Demo "Obsecrating the Global Holocaust" that turned all eyes on these guys, the announcement of a full length left everybody restless to see what would come out of this barbaric band. And this is the result, one of the most chaotic Death Metal albums of the year.

- 14 -

Leucosis - "Pulling Down The Sky"

Leucosis basically delivered one of the best new Black Metal albums of the year. Although they're a young band, this "Pulling Down The Sky" is quite remarkable. They don't fit in the "satanic" or "paganism" circles, instead they deliver a lot of rawness and passion on this work. And every time i listen to it, it's like the first time. Great album.

- 13 -

Loss - "Despond"

Depression, anxiety, failure, illness, disease, despair, pain, fear and Loss. All of this resumed in one whole album. A total monolith of despair. Too good to let it pass by.

- 12 -

Miasmal - "Miasmal"

In for some Old School Swedish Death Metal? Fuck Yeah! One of the best Old School Death Metal albums that came out, no bullshit, no Entombed copycats, just "in-your-face" Death Metal. Where others tried and failed, Miasmal won.. fo' sho'.

- 11 -

Midnight - "Satanic Royalty"

Wait a sec.. let me get my leather jacket and a can of beer for this one. That's right. one of the most expected albums of the year for me to hear. Great Old School Blackened Rock n' Metal. Every song on this one are a blast of pure energy and fun. These guys have the sound, the artwork and the looks. What else do you need?

- 10 -

Norska - "Norska"

Another great revelation found. Oregon's Norska debut really impressed me through the high quality of the songs. Heavy and hypnotic riffs mixed with great post-rock atmospheres that will make your jaw drop to the floor. Great debut.

- 9 -

Rotten Sound - "Cursed"

If you're into grind and dig bands like Nasum, Kill The Client and Napalm Death than the name Rotten Sound isn't strange to you. Another great expectation of the year for me. Being a great Nasum fan it's impossible for me to not love this band. "Cursed" is a fucking bomb full of blastbeats, precise and fast riffs that will not give truce to your ears.

- 8 -

Seidr - "For Winter Fire"

Seidr, a band that contains several members of other bands like Panopticon, Below and Wheels Within Wheels. So what happens when we get all these guys together? Dooooooooooommmm... mixed with some post rock, folk, ambient... whatever you wanna call it. An amazing, amazing album.

- 7 -

Sutekh Hexen - "Luciform"

I love, love, love Sutekh Hexen. Some of you might think.. "Dude, that's just a bunch of noisy feedback". Honestly, i don't care. What i see here is an intelligent new breed of Black Metal, mixed with some furious ambient drone. The ability of these guys to pick up that and shape it into music is just unbelievable. Really proves what this band is worth.

- 6 -

Thou - "The Archer & The Owle" EP

Thou, these Baton Rouge doomster have grew on me every since i heard their Demo. Everything that they put out is just solid gold. Even having 3 covers on this EP, they have that Thou twist that only they can do. Every time this bands releases something, i swear, i almost leave a drop or two in my underwear. Really good stuff.

- 5 -

Thrall - "Vermin to the Earth"

Thrall's new hate essay on mankind is one remarkable piece. If this guys continues to set the bar so high.. i don't know where it will stop. In my opinion it's a little bit slower than "Away from the Haunts of Men" but there are some blastbeats to keep that Thrall's (evil) reputation. A solid release.

- 4 -

Trap Them - "Darker Handcraft"

And yes. The masters of dirty, dark, and schizophrenic crust grind are back. The big soul of this band is Ryan's voice, i mean, it's unmistakable as we hear it. And every time we hear a new Trap Them album is coming out it's like a young boy waiting for Christmas Day to arrive. Oh yeah. Every young new dark hardcore band wanna sound just like Trap Them.. that's the impression i get. But just to say that these guys deliver like no one and are, at this point, a reference into this genre.

- 3 -

Wolvhammer - "The Obsidian Plains"

Ugly, twisted and a bastard son of a rat of an album. Filled with songs that will rip your eyes out and piss on your bloody sockets. If you’re tired of squeaky clean productions, bands welding generic Swedish death metal onto faceless American hardcore, etc, Wolvhammer’s got the cure for what ails ya. Viva hate.

- 2 -

Wreck Of The Hesperus - "Light Rotting Out"

Slow and dirrrrrty... That's how i appreciate my sludge/doom. And WOTH really know the formula to it. This primitive sludge/doom they bring on "Light Rotting Out" it's just one of finest, in this genre, i had the pleasure to fill in my ears into. Gruesome!

- 1 -

Yellow Eyes - " Silence Threads The Evening's Cloth"

A great surprise and revelation. I must confess i got a little disappointed with new Krallice (don't even try to argue that) but this album, from the unknown Yellow Eyes, really filled that space. This is a very good album, a fresh and modern Black Metal with some post-rock and hardcore influences. Yellow Eyes have definitely earned their place in the actual American BM scene.

And this it folks... for now. Keep your eyes sharped for Part III. Because even better releases will be featured. Hope you've enjoyed this part, and you know the drill. Start the (healthy) discussion!

Shroud of the Heretic

2011-12-17T13:12:00.000Z

So i made a break between my Best Of Lists to up this, because it's too good to pass by. Shroud of the Heretic are a new death/doom band hailing from Portland, Oregon. It's the band of my blogger pal JT from Coffinpsalms. This is their first EP that counts with a great artwork made by JJ from Order of the Vulture. Judging by the quality of the Shroud, it just makes me drool thinking in a official full length. If you love real dark and obscure Death Metal, don't sleep on this.

bandcamp | soup of the day: human soup

THE BEST OF 2011 - PART I

2011-12-14T23:22:00.002Z

Ok, so here we go... it's the first Top of the Best Releases in 2011 here in FxC. In my opinion, it has been a great year in music in general, specially in heavy music. We had great great releases, some new and fresh albums and of course some disappointments. I have chosen to catalogue my List as "Releases" instead of dividing it in "Albums", "Demos", "EPs", etc.. because to me, there were quite a few releases that came in the shape of Demo that were better than many albums out there, to be honest. Due to several great releases i had to split this Best Of 2011 List in some parts (oh gluttony!), so i'll start from the end, leaving the finest ones to last (surprise, surprise). Enjoy!

- 15 -

Bacchus - "s/t"

One of the revelations of the year, with this self titled album, Bacchus, proved their potential and earned at their cost, a privileged space in the actual hardcore/neocrust scene. A very good album indeed.

- 14 -

Baptists - "s/t" EP

These Cursed v2 kicked some serious ass with their Demo and this EP. Their crust influenced hardcore convinced everyone that they are here to stay and this is just the beginning. Now under the shadow of Southern Lord, they will shred like nothing you've ever seen before. Hope they launch a full length soon

- 13 -

Heartless - "Hell Is Other People"

Awesome debut from Heartless. Brutal powerviolenced hardcore in the veins of bands like Nails, Surroundings, etc. They totally opened their way through by punching, kicking, biting, shoving everything and everyone. A total bulldozer of devastation. No wonder they were caught by Southern Lord as well.

- 12 -

Hexis - "XI

I love these dannish boys... really. I don't know why, but european hardcore, specifically, from northern europe, has that quiet, innocent and angelical look but inside they eager for blood. Hexis are definitely one of the finest hardcore bands Europe has to offer and are the maestros of this hellish cacophony. Their blend of hardcore, black metal and sludge leaves me beyond words.

- 11 -

Low Places - "Spiritual Treatment"

The perfect copycats of Cursed, one of my if not, my favorite band (RIP) In this case what did you expect? After some great Demos, Low Places are already a well known name in the actual hardcore scene. These guys have successfully filled, with joy, the void Cursed's extinction left in me.

- 10 -

Momentum - "Whetting Occam's Razor"

Another great debut and revelation of the year, featuring members of neocrusters Fall Of Efrafa, Momentum delivers a different approach, a more melodic hardcore but still with very influences from crust. "Whetting Occam's Razor" is an awesome conceptual album that carries a lot of meaning and passion.

- 9 -

Pulling Teeth - "Funerary"

This is, unfortunately, the last breath of Baltimore hardcore thrashers Pulling Teeth. The band have recently stated that they have accomplished everything they had to do and are moving on. So let's just hope that they bring new great projects. At least they quit in style. "Funerary" is one hell of a record and with no doubt had to be here as i'm sure it will be on many Best Of lists around the World. Solid, Fast, Vicious, "Fuck You!"... That's Pulling Teeth's funeral my friends.

- 8 -

Raw Radar War - "On a Field of White" EP

What can i say? I love this band, love their sound, love Jonah's voice like i said before... This EP, man... like a truckload of ammunition out of control. Besides bringing great tunes, these guys also give us a lesson of History with this EP. "Defeeeeeeennnnnd!! Defeeeeeennndd the Laaaaaaaaannnnd"!!

- 7 -

Seraphim - "The Light In The Distance"

A hardcore band that brings us a different approach, a more Neurosis/Isis influenced sound that culminates into this wonderful album. Great harmonies, great production. Seraphim's "The Light In The Distance" is one of those albums i never grow tired from hearing it. Heavy crushing sections blend into hypnotic psychedelic riffs and beautiful acoustic passages. Amazing.

- 6 -

Soul Swallower - "Devoured"

Raw caustic noisy hardcore punk. That's how i can, in few words, describe you "Devoured". A great FOAD album, carried with furious drum passages that almost sounds like Black Metal, and the aggressiveness of Powerviolence. A fucking great album.

- 5 -

Weekend Nachos - "Worthless"

THIS IS HARDCORE!

- 4 -

Wiccans - "Skullduggery"

Fast, herky-jerky hardcore punk with insanely melodic guitar lines that are juxtaposed with tough and unique vocals over a driving punk sound. Man, when i hear this i was wanna get drunk and party. Wiccans manages to balance power and catchiness in one of the best hardcore LPs we've heard in awhile.

- 3 -

Will Haven - "Voir Dire"

Will Haven. Will fucking Haven. This album marks the return of original singer Grady and it could not be any better. What a crushing, heavy album "Voir Dire" is. Being such a great Will Haven fan, i was very pleased with this album. A total orgasm. Fantastic!

- 2 -

Young And In The Way - "V. Eternal Depression"

One of the most dark and menacing hardcore albums of the year. Young And In The Way know their shit and they are growing bigger, bigger and bigger. Like a fucking storm. If you dig hardcore, or let's say, the dark side of hardcore, and still haven't heard about this band, then i don't know what the fuck are you doing.

- 1 -

Young Widows - "In And Out Of Youth And Lightness"

One of my personal favorite bands ever. I know this is not quite hardcore, but fuck it.. i had no place else to put these guys in. Young Windows, as time passes by, are getting better and better. Great musicians, great guys, great tunes. "In And Out Of Youth And Lightness" is a beautiful album with great dark atmospheres, unexpected instrumentation like only YW can deliver, bold arrangements. An awesome, awesome album.

That's it for now... hope you've enjoyed it. Feel free to drop some lines in the comments and stay tuned for the forthcoming Lists.. soon.

Mass social network madness

2011-12-13T21:22:00.000Z

That's right... now you can follow FxC on Facebook. Trve Kvlt indeed.

El Ego

2011-12-13T13:49:00.000Z

El Ego are a metal band from right next door, Spain. I refuse to use the tag "Melodic Death Metal" because i really hate this label... C'mon, "Melodic" and "Death Metal"?? What's so melodic about Death Metal? Moving on.. This is their debut album from 2009 called "Winds Of Glory". In my opinion it is quite a good release, even better than their latest "We've Been Dead Before" released this year. One of the things i like in this album is the sound, it's really good. I love the guitar tones and drumming. The production is also quite good. You will surely notice on their sound some influences from bands as At The Gates, Disfear and also The Great Deceiver. The instrumentals are also remarkable in this underrated release. "Winds Of Glory" is one of those albums i have in my iPod that when i stumble upon, i can't stop listening to it until the end. "Winds Of Glory is a shot of pure adrenalin, you just can't stop headbangin'.. trust me.

myspace | whirlwind of brutality

The Funeral Pyre

2011-12-13T12:59:00.000Z

A kick ass album, this "Vultures At Dawn". Coldness evil is majestically served in furious riffs, crushing drumming and soul freezing screams. "Vultures At Dawn" is the forth release of american Black Metal band The Funeral Pyre, it doesn't sound like the usual Black Metal with corpse paint and cold low fi tremolo picking sound.. it's more of an brutal-evil-as-fuck-death-influenced-black-metal.. so let's just call it Blackened Death Metal. This band is really good, and in case you didn't know, their vocalist John Strachan, recently revealed that he has joined Early Graves as their new vocalist. Strachan is going to replace Makh Daniels, who passed away in a van accident (may his soul rest in peace). So expect an extra dose of brutality that he has in TFP in Early Graves. Meanwhile check this out and destroooooooy!!

myspace | under the shadow of the vulture

Torture Chain

2011-12-12T14:35:00.000Z

Torture Chain is a Raw American black metal band that is totally gnarly. They came out with one of the raddest demo tapes last year, called "Across Great Landscapes to a Legacy of Blood". This tape has the perfect balance of blackened punk & raw heavy black metal. With all of their epic chaotic feedback & twisted distortion, they find a way to have a layer of deranged melody in their tunes. Torture Chain’s production has that lo-fi sound that almost acts as another instrument. The singer’s voice is raspy and diseased-sounding, and totally off the hook. Their guitarist brings the tempo of their songs almost down to a doom sort of pace. When he is not doing that, his riffs just sound like unearthly screams of sonic beauty. Check them out!

drawing landscapes of blood

Seasonal Code

2011-12-12T13:58:00.000Z

Seasonal Code is an experimental/atmospheric Black Metal band from the U.K and i was totally unaware of this band until i heard "Aortian Dialectus", that is basically a compilation of some of the material previously released by the band as Demos that have been now remastered. It seems that this band no longer exists by the name of Seasonal Code, they cut the Seasonal and now there's only Code. I know nothing about Code either... but after what i heard here I'm feeling kinda tempted to check them out. All i know is that "Aortian Dialectus" was one of the pleasant things in the veins of atmospheric Black Metal i heard this year. The package of this compilation was also appealing but i think it's sold out too. In "Aortian Dialectus" we get killer riffs, some nice vocal lines and a nice slick production assuming that they kept the original structures of the songs. This is an album really worth checking out.

myspace | the end of seasons

Disma

2011-12-10T16:46:00.000Z

I was making up my Best Of 2011 List when i was caught by this one... New EP from Disma entitled "The Manifestation". Features two killer songs straight from the bowels of Hell, "The Manifestation" and "Purulent Quest". You know it's going to destroy you. Buy it here.

manifestation of the living dead

World Narcosis

2011-12-08T15:51:00.000Z

I'm tired as hell.. but still, i gathered some strength to share this dose of violence with you guys. This is ridiculously brutal. World Narcosis is a band brought to me by my friend Ægir, the drummer of Logn that also shares drums in this band. Crossing borders between grind and powerviolence, World Narcosis spit all of their hate towards the World in a 10 minutes manifesto. Imagine a crossbreed between Botch, Coalesce and add to that a little bit of Pig Destroyer. Short bursts of powerviolent grind that with the help of distressed screams will give you a frantic feeling in your ears. The production of this 7'' is awesome and every instrument is exactly where the should be. World Narcosis have shaped with success their own vision of hell. Take a look. Buy it here.

bandcamp | parade of death

Malachi

2011-12-07T13:53:00.000Z

This self titled album from crusty doomsters Malachi is one of my favorites in the genre, although it's oldie it still is quite goodie. This crust tainted doom it's just wonderful and gives me an orgasm to my ears every time i revisit it. Malachi really emphasizes on the atmospheric part with constant chugs and little known presence of actual vocals. The interchanging female and male vocals is also a nice little twist to it all. Totally crushing riffs lead into noodley guitar solos, haunting crazy cello parts lead in and out of doomy interludes and breakdowns. The sound effects make me feel like i'm a little bit more eveil just for listening to this record. Just beautiful. Fans of any crust related sludge would get a kick out of this band, in case their not familiarized with the name Malachi. If you're a fan of Oroku, Fall Of Efrafa, Grayceon, what the fuck are you waiting to get this? They have a hand full of releases really worth checking out too. A must have indeed.

myspace | prophets of doom

Paganus

2011-12-07T13:22:00.000Z

Paganus are a Finnish Death/Doom five-piece who formed in 2000, only releasing a couple of demos up until this self-titled debut album back in 2008. When you take into consideration that even though there are only 4 tracks on offer here, that the album still has a runtime stopping just short of 50 minutes, you'll win no prizes for guessing the tempo at which they play their music, yep... sloooooooowwwwwww. With that said, they have enough inventiveness in their song structures to keep a vice-like grip on your imagination for every second. Every nuance, every crackle of static filled distortion and every moment of contemplative silence has been perfectly honed to serve you with one of the finest doom releases ever released. Even though the tempo is generally slow, it doesn't stop the strangulated guitars occasionally straying off to a more mid tempo pace to pound your senses with a fantastically defiant vigor. Vocally, it's not your standard Doom/Death affair either, with blackened throaty hiss interchanging between an easily intelligible shout depending on the mood of the riff that they're topping.

All of these separate ingredients blend into one incredible whole, with the excellent songwriting shining through the darkened mire and charred moods that glide around this album like restless wraiths. For fans of Graves At Sea, Burning Witch.

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