Mystagog "...Of Old"

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)"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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!

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

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"

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"

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"

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"

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

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

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"

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"

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"

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"

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

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"

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"

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

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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"

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

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"

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

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"

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"

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

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"

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"

"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

Braveyoung "We Are Lonely Animals"

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"

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"

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"

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