Forever Cursed Best Of 2014 - The Haxan's Choices

Here we are again.

Personally, it was just another fucking year, just like the last 4 or 5 last years. Time seems to fly. As a matter of fact, it flies so fast that I barely have time to slow down, and look back.. well, some things aren't worth looking back, so... 2014 was all about work, dedicate time to family, friends, buying new music and just enjoying it and most of all, always learning. Music has always been there for me, in good and bad times. It's that safe harbor where I go so many times to be in total solitude and just let my spirit feast with all that magic essence that pours down through every note. I've learned so much through music, whether it's metal or not. Along the years it has also molded me into what I am today, my personal tastes and character.

And once again 2014 proved to be a great year, at least... in the field of heavy music, although so many good albums were also released in another fields of music. Did I enjoyed YOB? Yes I did! Did I liked the new Blut Aus Nord? At first I was a bit sceptic with the sound of it, but the more I listened to it, the more it grew on me, so yes. Did I loved Sinmara? Oh fuck yes! You know what I feel about Icelandic black metal and this band is no exception. The releases I'm about t show you are mostly releases that I've been emerged into mostly this year, so I hope to help you find some new and interesting music that may grab and sweep you from your shoes as well.

I had to make a Top 21, it may sound silly, but I wasn't expecting one of these specific releases would come out so soon. I was counting for it only in the beginning of next year, but since I've heard it in advance... it immediately climbed its own way to the top and I really didn't want to cut out one of the releases I already had figured for my own personal Top. Enjoy.

#21

Towers "II"

Towers are a Portland duo whose demolishing sound basically consists on just a bass and drum. And the apocalyptic visions they can cause with just that, is absolutely crushing. I really loved the whole sound of this album. The whole depth and atmosphere. Killer. 

Listen

#20

Profetus "As All Seasons Die"

Profetus from Finland return with a majestic tribute to the real funeral doom sound. Crushingly heavy, an authentic mournful ode to sadness, grief and pain. Perfect to hear in those cold Winter days in total solitude. 

Listen

#19

Wrekmeister Harmonies "Then It All Came Down"

One of the most emotionally crushing releases of this year, "Then It All Came Down" features J.R. Robinson joined by members of Indian, Corrections House, Twilight, Yakuza, Anatomy of Habit, Come, Mind Over Mirrors, Bloodiest, as well as Wrest (Leviathan) and Ryley Walker. With such collaboration the result is at sight: an amazing introspective journey into our soul.

Listen

#18

11 Paranoias "Stealing Fire from Heaven"

New supergroup featuring members from Ramesses, Bong and Satan's Wrath. "Stealing Fire from Heaven" gathers the right amount of psychedelic doom I just need to hear sometimes. A very smokey and trippy journey indeed with the right dose of heaviness imbued.

Listen 

#17

Harassor "Into Unknown Depths"

"Into Unknown Depths" marks the return of blood thirsty barbarians Harassor. The vicious blend of black metal, punk, death metal is just fucking killer. You won't get two songs alike in this album which proves the heterogeneity and the ability of Harassor to shift the direction of the songs without never losing fucking control. Fucking killer I said!!

Listen

#16

Nuclearhammer "Serpentine Hermetic Lucifer"
Probably one of the most underrated blackened death metal that came out this year. Canada's Nuclearhammer really hits the nail on this. You just need to look into that artwork to realize that this album will bring total bestial and cosmic devastation.

Listen

#15

Nux Vomica "Nux Vomica"
Another one straight out of Portland. Nux Vomica perfect blend of post metal, crust, doom results in the most amazing atmosphere. To prove that, "Reeling" is simply one of the best tracks I've heard this year. Epic.

Listen

#14

Sun Worship "Elder Giants"
I've been following the moves of Germany's Sun Worship since day one, and so far they haven't disappointed me. 2014 is marked by their full-length "Elder Giants" a brilliant, passionate and relentless album that sweeps me away every time I play it. Brilliant.

Listen

#13

Kriegsmaschine "Enemy of Man"
Another great album that passed under the radar of many. Kriegsmaschine "Enemy Of Man", one of the most brilliant black metal albums that came out this year. If you love the dissonant atmospheres of bands like Deathspell Omega or the cold atmopshere of Mgla (who shares a member in this band, in case you didn't know) I strongly recommend you "Enemy Of Man". Perfect.

Listen

#12

Laster "De Verste Verte Is Hier"
After a very well received Demo, Dutch black metal band Laster return with a brilliant album that provides perfect freezing cold atmosphere, perfect for those cold and rainy Winter days. I really love the passion that is behind every riff, every blastbeat and the vocals that just slay me.

Listen

#11

Walk Through Fire "Hope Is Misery"
Desolation. Despair. Depression. These are all words that come to my mind whenever I hear "Hope Is Misery". Many of you out there aren't familiar with this band from Sweden. Their minimalist approach to their sludge doom is just one one of the most heavy I've heard this year. I'm a sucker for this kind of sound and "Hope Is Misery" proved to be a very unpleasant (in a very sadistic way) company.

Listen

#10

Spectral Lore "III"
We all know that, when it comes to black metal, Greece hides many secrets. One of them is precisely Spectral Lore. Don't know why I don't see this name floating more around. "III" quickly grew on me and proved to be one fantastic journey into the realms of atmospheric black metal. The fury of those blastbeats that walk hand in hand with some beautiful melodies. A very beautiful album that, if you don't know yet, then you must discover.

Listen

#9

Funereal Presence "The Archer Takes Aim"
One of the most played here on the Haxan's den. Funereal Presence "The Archer Takes Aim", an album with a very unique and distinctive atmosphere, brought to us by the mind of Negative Plane's Bestial Devotion. It's one of those albums I will never grow tired of hearing. Excellent.

Listen

#8

Skáphe "Skáphe"
One of this year's surprise, brought by the hand of Fallen Empire. Skáphe, a mysterious band involved in a very dense and intoxicating mist, handing us a sample of a very original black metal filled with claustrophobic atmospheres. Addictive.

Listen

#7

Funerary "Starless Aeon"
"Starless Aeon", the debut album of Funerary. I was amazed by this debut, Funerary's funeral doom approach is quite memorable and I just get the riffs of "Beneath The Black Veil" stuck in my head for hours. This track is just remarkably beautiful and it strikes me on the inside like no other. "Starless Aeon" is a very emotional, mournful and introspective journey into the cosmic valley of doom.

Listen

#6

Thantifaxath "Sacred White Noise"
The artwork doesn't reveal much on what is the story here. But as soon as we fall into the downward spiral of "Sacred White Noise" we soon realize that we're pulled into a maze of twisted riffs that don't obey any conventional black metal guideline. It's just Thantifaxath doing the best they can do. And it's just amazing.

Listen

#5

Swallowed "Lunarterial"
It only took one audition to this album to realize that I was in front of my favorite death metal album for 2014. It took a while to get here but finally did. Finland's Swallowed unleash the most lunatic and deranged death metal I've heard. Like a crossbreed between Teitanblood and Cultes Des Ghoules. Can you imagine that? The result is at sight: "Lunarterial". Fucking Awesome.

Listen

#4

Rotting Sky "Sedation"
Rotting Sky is a side project from Tim Messing from Nux Vomica. As Rotting Sky, Tim brings us an excellent formula that mixes black metal, doom with drone, noisy atmospheres. "Sedation" is simply hypnotic and I just want to listen to it in repeat forever.

Listen

#3

Fórn "The Departure of Consciousness"
With was with great pleasure that I was aware the Fórn were going to release their first full-length this year. I really loved their EP (featured here last year) and I was looking forward to hear "The Departure of Consciousness". All my expectations were exceeded when I finally heard the full album. Crushing, devastating and beautiful harmonies from these young doomsters. Just fucking stellar.

Listen

#2

Thou "Heathen"
Well.. it's fucking Thou! What else is to be said about one of the most heavy bands to walk this Earth nowadays. A very ambitious album that proved to us that this band has no match. I really how this album brings back that initial Thou sound and song structure mixed with their most recent material. Excellent.

Listen

#1

Sonance "Blackflower"
Finally, the cherry on top of the cake. An album that caught me by surprise and just climbed its way all by himself to my heart. I really loved what Sonance had brought with "Like Ghosts" but to me, "Blackflower" has just raised the bar. Slightly different from their previous but still you get it's Sonance. The whole melody that evolves us and leads us into the most catastrophic of scenarios is just heartbreaking. With "Blackflower", Sonance have accomplished something that is very rare nowadays. Try to figure what that is.

Listen

Besides these releases, I've been a lot this year into a lot of stuff, but I feel I must enhance Northward "IJsgang", sadly the last breath of this great band. Australia's Total Control with "Typical System", a very great record that successfully pulls that early 80's punk spirit and blends it with the most contemporary post punk as well, an album filled with great and eclectic songs. Vaniish "Memory Work", probably the best post-punk album that came out this year. Brilliant. Vorde "Vorde", another Fallen Empire release, saw many folks complaining about the vocals on this one, but I think it totally gives a different aura to Vorde's black metal sound. An album that intrigued me a lot at first, but the more I listen to it, the more it grows on me.

That was it for now. Wish you all the best. Let's raise our chalices up high and wish for a better year of MMXV. Hail! 

†H†

Sonance "BLACKFLOWER"

If with their debut album these blokes from Bristol totally blew my mind, now with their new album "BLACKFLOWER", Sonance have totally devastated me, inside and out. Saying that this album is "Wooa... Fucking Beautiful!!" doesn't make it justice... "BLACKFLOWER" It's pure fucking amazing. Sonance have raised their bar and released, all by themselves, a fantastic album.

More words about this fantastic new album coming soon here on Forever Cursed.

Until then, do yourselves a huge favor and listen to this album immediately. Spread it out. Now!

BLACKFLOWER

Woudloper "Woudloper"

Black metal from Utrecht, Netherlands. Now, I've really, really enjoyed this band. It's really the type of thing I'm really into. A very raw, evil and powerful blend of black metal with some hints of filthy doom pouring down all over. I would like to give you some soundwise comparisons for this band but right now I just can't recall any... but fans of the modern faction of black metal bands, like Ash Borer, Paramnesia, Unru and Cepheide will probably enjoy this band a lot. Two great tracks here, simply called "I" and "II" with all instruments placed just perfectly creating a very unique and distinctive atmosphere. Once again, nothing big in terms of sound production, nothing polished at sight. Just simply pure and passionate black metal. Follow the band's moves on Facebook and keep an eye for the tape that is coming out by the hand of Breathe Plastic Records. Support the underground.

Woudloper

Zalmoxis "Demo"

While checking my music out.. I came across this band, Zalmoxis, that according to Bandcamp info, are from Augsburg, Germany. Zalmoxis introduces us two tracks of this grim and eerie atmospheric black metal, recorded as if the sound came out from this ancient and most concealed catacombs you can ever imagine. In general, the atmosphere sounds really great, it really exhales that haunting whiff of cold black metal through that echoing guitar in the back, as well for the drum set (digital?) and the vocals are just harsh and scary enough to do its work. If you're into the most occult, sinister and cold side of black metal, without major productions and artifices, then I strongly you to check this band out.

Zalmoxis

Haxan's Halloween Mixtape IV

And yes! 

Another horrific mixtape is unleashed here on Forever Cursed. This time I've decided to put it out a little bit earlier this year, in order for you guys to fully warm up for the whole Halloween spirit that is going to happen in the next couple of days. This time I got a little carried away and compiled over 25 songs (almost two hours) of the most dreadful tunes within' the genres of death, black, doom and punk, that are meant to be played under the glowing moon on Samhain. You can also burn it into a CD and play it at your own Halloween's party.. or share it with your friends, feel free to do whatever you want with this. 

Hope you guys enjoy it and play it fucking loud, please.

Trick or Treat?

Urzeit/Akatharsia "Split"

Today I bring you a split that introduces two of the most recent and interesting super-bands, or if you prefer, side-projects, within the USBM scene, that only by carrying the elements that form them, that's enough to get some attention and respect. I'm speaking of Urzeit, formed by members of Mizmor/Hell, Ash Borer/Triumvir Foul, a band formed back in 2013 that to date, have released two excellent Demos (of which I proudly have copies of) and on the other side of the split, we have Akatharsia, a band formed by members of equally known bands like Negative Standards, Fell Voices and one ex-member from doomsters Lycus.

With a line up as powerful as this and with a strongly rooted background in black metal and doom, Urzeit offer in this split, in my modest opinion, one of the best songs ever crafted by the band to date. The sound pulls back the style within the first demo, however the sound here is.. let's say "wider", all instruments are completely decipherable and yet they seem to be played in some kind of deep catacomb due to that "live" sound that ranges from all of them. In this specific track the rhythm unfolds at a slower pace than the one that the band has accustomed us, yet it doesn't sound less threatening. It is filled with blackness all over. The loose low notes that come out from the bass conspire perfectly with the drums that, on its hand, never stops setting the pace going, whether is slow paced, speeding up until it bursts out in a blastbeat wall and returns to its initial pace.

The guitar looses some of that raw black style heard in the previous demos but here, it acquires a different aura. An aura within the spectrum of black metal that seems to drink even more from the doom influences. But still those tremolo picking notes just make my delight as they are thrown into the atmosphere. And truth be told, it seems to me that some of the riffs heard here, are very alike the ones I can hear in "Erdboden Gleichmachen" from the first Demo. Ahead.. the vocals. The fucking vocals. It is simply daunting. Nightmarish howls that make us our blood freeze in horror followed by vile growls that we never thought the human voice could ever reach, the voice is definitely one the highlights here. So creepy that it gives me goosebumps. In overall, Urzeit's side to this split, begins to unfold at a slower pace and swings through some slow-to-mid-to-blasts, wrapping us in a cold and dark atmosphere towards decadence and oblivion...

Akatharsia, on the other side,  unleashes three tracks of their visceral raw black/punk metal in the style that follows the Demo released earlier this April. Three tracks of that vicious raw black metal where, black metal and punk flow consistently as they walk hand in hand, ending up by reminding me Hoax, if you seek comparisons in terms of sound. Incendiary beats, riffs that seem to go far more into punk than black metal territories and the most corrosive style of vocals that you can hear, effectively gather into this circle that doesn't close before ending with an exclusive sonic torture brought here as a wall of noise and feedback. 

A split whose interest turns out to be triggered by the bands represented here where each band brings very good tracks in their luggage, I personally prefer Urzeit but that's just me and my personal tastes talking, not wanting in any way to neglect the quality of Akatharsia. I know it will surely also appeal to fans of the genre. A release not to be missed. 

Follow the links below in order to hear/order this split release.

Urzeit | Akatharsia

Bands You Should Be Hearing Pt.IV

Another round of good music being made out there.

First is the new full-length from black metal band Vaiya. Described as "an aggressive ritual banishment of the darkest aspects of the ego. A progression upward toward the light and away from that which drags us down. Told through three thirteen minute tracks, "Remnant Light" seeks to exalt the journey toward bliss and repel the darkness that aims to destroy true being." I probably couldn't have said it better. With three tracks having each one 13 minutes exactly, "Remnant Light" is a wonderful incursion through light and the true genuine forces of Nature. Really great sound, great production and great atmosphere in general. I consider this to be Vaiya's best release to date. Recommended for fans of bands like Nhor, Wolves In The Throne Room or Woman Is The Earth. To good to let it slip by. 

Remnant Light

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Deuil, is a four piece hailing from Belgium that play a corrosive blend of sludge, black metal and doom that results in this sort of contemporary blackened sludge that you can easily connect with bands like Rorcal for example. These guys have a new release coming out and judging by the sample that you can already listen, the track "Deny...", you can tell it's going to be fucking brutal. Their previous release caught my attention but I'm really way more excited with this new release. And that artwork... man.. no words to describe it. Keep an eye out for this one. Follow their moves on Facebook.

Deny Everything

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Now this one is quite oldie.. I think. And somehow I slept on it. Until I found it again and when I listened to the whole thing again.. it just felt like a kick in my head. Ghede are a two-piece strange black metal/punk band based out of Brooklyn and they play that kind of filthy, grainy, abrasive metal punk with some hints of black metal that I love so much. Have no idea if the band is still active or not, but no matter what their state is at least they vomited this fucking demented release.

Purity Is Weakness

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Next is probably one of my favorite releases of this year. Oh... Is it too soon to state this already? Conjuring four tracks of some of the most vile and obscure black metal I've heard, Skáphe's Demo simply doesn't follow any kind of guidelines or the traditional canons of black metal as we know it. In order for you to understand this a little bit better, I could throw in some similar artists, but in the case of Skáphe... forget it. This is a beast of one kind, an unholy chimera that casts four intoxicating spells that drives us to the most forgotten and obscure pits of insanity. With a great artwork by H.V. Lyngdal (Wormlust) this is one of those releases where the sound really matches the imagery created for the cover. Enter, if you dare.

And once again, such release like this only had to come out from one of the best labels out there: Fallen Empire. These  guys have been unstoppable this year. This is the second re-press of the sold out tape. I'm still waiting for some copies to cross the Ocean... so I'm going to grab this one for sure. You should do the same.

Skáphe

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Now for a more conventional but also unholy act....

Another fine release that made it's appearance at the beginning of this year, was the debut of LVTHN. Some of the most alert ones may already know this band, if not... keep on reading. So, LVTHN is this new "mystery" black metal band coming from Belgium that quickly caught everyone's attention with their debut Demo. No wonder they did. With only two tracks, these guys deliver some fine guitar work, sick vocals and some really obscure and raw black metal just the way we like it. Look forward to see what the future will bring for LVTHN. Get the tape or 7'' in a store near you. Now.

LVTHN

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Another great debut that caught my eye and ears, comes from Austin, TX. "Petals" from the band Funeralbloom. Funeralbloom plays a more accessible type of post-black metal. Fusing elements of post-rock with black metal, I can also hear some kind of a gloomy post-punk vibe in the middle there.. like we can hear in the opening track "Black Shoes". With "Petals", the band really put out a very good-all-above-the-average release, that I truly believe it will caught more eyes and ears upon them in a very near future. Any comparison to that well known post-black metal band that puts pink on the cover of their album that some people listen but they don't admit it, is absolutely unnecessary here. This is Funeralbloom and they have a very specific sound of their own. Everyone loves/hates comparisons. Just open your fucking mind, listen to the music and take your own conclusions. Check them out. Cassettes available through Broken World Media.

Funeralbloom

Bands You Should Be Hearing Pt.III

Yet again, some suggestions that might interest you.

Forhekset allé is a one man atmospheric-post-gaze-black metal act from Copenhagen, Denmark. The whole formula used by Forhekset allé on this EP is quite interesting. The whole mix between black metal, post-rock, shoegaze and electronic elements delivers some very intriguing and innovative music in the metal realm. I believe the best term to describe "VINTERBÆST" is indeed "experimental". This EP left me very curious on how a full-length would be from this artist.

VINTERBÆST

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Of Spire & Throne, a very well known band from here. I've been posting the work of these fine Scottish gentlemen since day one, and it's curious to witness their growth every time they send new material out. This year the band introduces us to "Toll of the Wound" their latest full-length album that came out by the hand of Broken Limbs Recordings. Once again, the trio unleashes three crushing songs that will smash our skulls with the most loathsome sludge doom to which the band has got us used to. Heavy, filthy dragged riffs covered with the cavernous vocals of Ali Lauder. One thing you'll probably notice, if you haven't heard this yet or at least with enough attention, is that, soundwise, the first track "Legacy" has a slight different kind of production than the other two songs. that was precisely the first thing I noticed when I heard the album. This happened because they were recorded by two different people with a with an range of five months between them although "Toll of the Wound" was mastered by James Plotkin. Two songs of the most minimalist sludge doom sliced by a instrumental all wrapped up in a very good sound mastering. You like your doom slow and sluggish? Then this is for you. Buy it here. Support these lads.

Of Spire & Throne

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Offerstigen, a very curious band from Sweden. What do these guys play? Low-fi Black metal? Ritualistic Doom? I don't know and it's hard for me to describe their sound or even compare it to some band that already exists. They sound a lot different from the stuff I'm used to hear. And you know what? I like it. The despairing screams that range from afar from the rest of the instruments, the whole gloomy atmosphere that the band manages to pass with this release is really unique. Check them out.

Offerstigen

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Outer Gods the destructive atmospheric drone duo from Atlanta are back. Delivering two massive tracks of 22 minutes long each, that work as chapters for this noisy and corrosive wall of noise that we face in "Through This Unending Chasm". I do not listen a lot to this genre nowadays but once I press "Play" I get in such an entrancing state that is hard for me to get out this dark, labyrinthine well of drone and dark ambient. The first chapter deliver a more harsh and massive wall of distortion while the second chapter is more about creating a very haunting and creepy atmosphere. Approved!

Outer Gods

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Pornography, from Nashville, Tennessee. I almost forgot how good this band is. And at this point I don't understand how these guys aren't in some well known labels out there. I kinda imagine this band in Gilead Media, Iron Lung or even Deathwish. Pornography's sound is also very unique and is something that separates them from the rest herd. Slow, punishing, minimalist riffs that are thrown with precision into the mind of the listener causing nothing but discomfort. The tracks here, "Hex" and "Golden Sunshine" are very good but still, not enough. I want more from this band. And I'm sure you do too. So please... check the rest of the discography from this band. You can thank me later.

PRNGRPHY

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Finally, Recitation, an occult doom band from Copenhagen, Denmark. Introducing his first self titled EP. Apparently this was all written, performed, recorded and mixed by J. S. Jarlstrøm. Holy shit dude. The result is three heavy, primitive and slow impenetrable doom tracks. At a first listen it might not grow on you (it didn't grew on me at first ) so, it's going to take some few plays for you to probably get into Recitation's obscure version of doom. Of course that, soundwise speaking, there are some edges that needed to be trimmed so let's see what the future will bring for Recitation. Horns up!

Recitation

Bands You Should Be Hearing Pt.II

First, and to start in a good way, I bring you the putrid sonic attack by Wørsen. A primitive, raw black metal punk band from Florida. This "Rehearsal" tape was released on Primal Vomit Records and the band seems to be writing new stuff at this point. Here we get, basically, six tracks of filthy, disgusting  and raw-to-the-bone style of black metal that will please fans of bands like Black Apparition, Raw Moon, Ancestors, etc. Check'em out.

Wørsen

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Next is a young band from Zurich, Switzerland, Æsop, with their debut EP "Weltengänger". Entirely recorded and produced by the band itself, "Weltengänger", contains three tracks that together, result in a total of 20 minutes length. Although it was all crafted under a very DIY spirit, the result is really astonishing. The sound is great, all the instruments are perfectly combined, the vocals and the songs are really good and interesting. Æsop's sound drinks from atmospheric sludge to post metal with some hints of black metal in the middle. Fans of bands like Year Of No Light (back from when they used vocals), Rorcal or Kehlvin for example, should keep an eye on them. A very solid and strong EP by Æsop. Look forward to hear what the future will bring.

Aesop

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Now it's a band I've talked about some time ago, Grue. This time Grue, delivers "Rake" EP although I recommend you to look back into their stuff and hear the album "Casualty of the Psychic Wars". I'm glad to hear that the band continues their style of ravenous and epic black metal, specially here on the "Rake" EP where the band unleashes two incendiary tracks: "All Mortal Greatness Is But Disease" and "Rake", burning down every little sparkle of hope and life. Soundwise, Grue's sound is very accessible, reaching out not only the usual avid black metal fundamentalist kind of fans but also the usual heavy music fan that seeks new bands and that, once in a while, likes to dig in deep inside the black metal specter. The drum seems a little bit low in the mix, nevertheless you can still feel that it's there. The big highlight for me is indeed the vocals. It's really different from what we usual get from the most standard black metal bands out there, not the usual style of harsh or grim kind of vocals, and that's why it stands out. It's clear yet filled with hate and powerful. Very good stuff, check them out.

Grue

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Next is Naught, a doom metal band from Iceland. Now, we're all used to think about black metal when we relate "Iceland" and "metal". This time, we get to see another side of the cold and desolate landscapes of Iceland. Naught presents us with "Tómhyggjublús", a beast formed by three sluggish, mournful, despairing songs that clock around 7 to 11 minutes long, all filled with this draining negative energy. These guys play really slow... so slow that you can almost see your beard growing along the playing of "Tómhyggjublús". And that's how doom is meant to be: fucking slow and evil. Check them out.

Naught

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Yith, a black metal project from the U.S. that seems to already have a solid cult around it, as every tape that is released is already sold out. Soundwise, Yith blends the best of two worlds: black metal and doom. And you can see the justification for all the adoration around this band: Yith's tracks are really above the average, speaking of a an unknown band, that probably many of you out there never heard about before. Yith sound here is perfect. It really matches that artwork and it's suitable for those cold, foggy Winter days. A very interesting release for you to discover. 

Yith

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For the last, but not the least, I present you Hedge Fund from Boston, MA (Somerville). Hedge Fund play this brute and noisy hardcore punk in the style of bands like Mind Eraser, Rival Mob or Full Of Hell, so that you can get the picture. "Apeiron" was all self recorded and released in cassette that, I think is still available. When Hedge Fund aren't busting heads with their brutal "mongocore" hardcore, they're fucking up with our brain making up some noisy and violent sort of power electronics as heard on the tracks "We Have Transgressed" and "Of The Crooked Timber". I think it works rather well here. I mean, it's the fusion of these two that makes "Apeiron" one hell of a good release. So what the hell are you still waiting? Go and buy the tape Goddamn it!!!

Hedge Fund

                     

Bands You Should Be Hearing Pt.I

I've realized that my inbox is flooded at this point with requests, and as much as I would like to, it's hard to filter most of the stuff there. I really would love to take some decent time to listen to all of the music people kindly send me, but I find that to be a very, almost, impossible task to do it in the very little spare time that I have. I know you guys would love a deep and full review of all your releases... but in the end it all comes down to use Forever Cursed as the messenger, the vehicle to your message out there, I just light the way and people will do the rest. So, without further bullshit, excuses, bla-bla-bla, here are some of releases/bands that caught my attention in the past few months.

I became aware of the Pennsylvania duo Capa since the "Shallow Towers"release, at this point many of you probably know them too. The band plays a more contemporary, avant-garde and technical style of black metal. I look at Capa's sound and I interpret it as "progressive metal with black metal influences" and not as simply "black metal" because it's not. Although I'm not the most avid fan of this style of over polished kind of production, "The Droves" turned out a very interesting listen and it's one of those releases that you will put on repeat for the next couple of hours or even days. The whole production behind it is very keen and the songs are pretty solid. Like I said, the percentage of black metal influence is strong on this one, although after lifting up Capa's cloak (Fact: "Capa" in portuguese means "cloak") and after dissecting their sound, it I also found some "djenty" and post-metal riffs that are thrown in the middle of the tracks. In the end the result is this very tragic, almost theatrical, if you look at it through this point of view, style of metal. What a nice surprise. Check them out below.

The Droves | Alternative DL Link

This next band crashed in a very mysterious and simple email with the just the Bandcamp link in it. The band is Home Is Gone (No, it's not a His Hero Is Gone covers band) from New York and they introduce us to "Triptych", that's right: a three song release that consist of this blasting, furious, industrial sounding black metal sound. Almost as a bastard child between Genghis Tron and Liturgy (wait..) and the result is, at least, interesting. Check them out below.

Home Is Gone

From Finland, Maze of Roots, a doom duo releasing their fifth Demo, well they've released two Demos last month, simply called "Chapter One" (or was it supposed to be Three?) and "Chapter Two", two chapters of what it seems a trilogy. Maze of Roots plays a very bleak, depressing, anguished and traditional style of doom metal, following the Finnish heritage of doom bands like Umbra Nihil and Majesty for example. I must confess I wasn't very impressed with their first Demos, I really didn't like the vocals at all but maybe it was just me back then. Here, Maze of Roots, successfully created some very nice tracks filled with a very gloomy and melancholic atmosphere. (Sorry I took so long Joel)

Chapter I | Chapter II

Next is Cepheide, a brand new band, formed this year, coming from France. The band describes their sound as raw cascadian black metal in the vein of bands like Ash Borer or Fell Voices. Indeed Cepheide's style of black metal drinks up in a insatiable way, the influence of the Cascadia style of bands. It's good to see bands like this coming out of Europe, the truth is that there aren't many bands playing this style here. So it's always good to witness the rise of bands Cepheide. In "De Silence et de Suie" (that was created under a very DIY spirit by the band itself) expect four great tracks of passionate, uncompromised, energetic and raw black metal. A great release by Cepheide. Bravo!

Cepheide

Idre, a trio from Oklahoma who quote names like Neurosis, Ennio Morricone, Swans, OM, and Khanate when describing their music. Interesting, no? It immediately makes me just go out and press "Play" as I forget what I was doing. This self titled album consists of 2 songs spanning over 40 minutes. The first track "Factorie" last almost half-hour and its melancholic tone reminds me a lot of the style of Across Tundras. The more we dig in, the more weird it gets, as more entangled we get in those slow and atmospheric layers. In the second track "Witch Trial" I really get the OM influence. The sound is Ok, I get their thing here but I'm not a big fan of the vocals. These guys are trying to do something different here but I believe that they still didn't reached it.. yet. I wasn't too excited with this released. Please Idre, prove me I was so wrong in a very near future. Take your own conclusions below. A CD and LP versions will be available later this summer.

Idre

Oh yes! Filthy, nasty, sickening sludge doom from Keeper. From what I've seen so far, these guys are escalating quickly with their "MMXIV" Demo. Formed by ex-Tiger Lily (whom I've talked about here on the blog some time ago) member, Keeper is the answer to every sludge/doom aficionado. You dig Thou? You dig Hell? You dig The Abominable Iron Sloth? You dig Old Witch? Then this band is for you. Just one word to describe this release: Crushing! Support these dudes. Tape out now on Grimoire Cassette Cvlture.

Keeper