Real things are happening around you.

I see this slightly fitting after a Napalm Death post and the mention of Misery Index, both of which are rooted in political dissidence and unrest. This is happening in Homs, Syria while we sit at our computers freely downloading music only to be occasionally frustrated by slow download speeds, broken links, internet trolls, cave trolls, sticky keys, musical disappointment, etc. French journalist with balls of steel shows us around the anarchy.

Real talk.

Napalm Death - Utilitarian (2012)

Alright blokes, here we have deathened grind legends Napalm Death with their 2012 offering Utilitarian, personally I'd rather just spin Heirs to Thievery by Misery Index. Utilitarian however is no slouch, and in fact hoists some rather interesting experimental moments that work out quite well beneath the ensuing mobocracy.

Grab if you like: Nasum, Repulsion, Assück

Utilitarian(s)

Drudkh - Eternal Turn of the Wheel (2012)

Behold Drudkh's latest offering Eternal Turn of the Wheel, a promised 'return to roots' album which is a precarious promise to make (and one I feel will be of disappointment if I'm looking in the direction of Autumn Aurora). It will take me many spins through this before I can procure any type of consensus.
Though I stand behind my bold statement that both Wolves In The Throne Room and Drudkh will be focused solely on instrumental works in the future. (I have zero basis for such a statement, I'm just a motherfucker that likes to think he knows things.)

Grab if you like: Kroda, Hate Forest, Walknut

Eternal Turn of the Wheel

Moonknight - Ligeia (2012)

A heaping pile of atmospheric black metal with its lineage closely tied to the early Scandinavian roots of BM. Add in elements of post-rock, punk, shoegaze, and ambient soundscapes buried under layers of noise. I bought this on the bandcamp at a 'pay what you can' type situation, I think I threw in 4$ or so, if you have any extra dough, buy this dude a beer.

Grab if you like: Leucosis, Arckanum, Malmort


Ligeia

In an Isolated aboriginal town, gangs split-up naming themselves after Heavy metal bands and fight over whose band is better.


'At the beginning of 2008, the Australian national news reported on a small, isolated Aboriginal community deep in the Northern Territory, aka the middle of nowhere, aka Satan’s Asshole, aka East Bumblefuck.'

 • • •

Violent riots had erupted between two of the town’s largest gangs and for a moment it looked like the Australian Army (because there really is such a thing) was going to have to be brought in to settle the fighting. But what really blew us away was that the town, which is named Wadeye (pronounced “Wad-air”), was split up into gangs named after heavy metal bands. There were the Judas Priest Boys, the Evil Warriors, and the Slayer Mob. We immediately dropped everything else we were working on and embarked north from Melbourne to Wadeye to see it for ourselves. Nothing could have prepared us for what we found…

To continue the article, click the horns \m/

Ensiferum Studio Diary: Week 1

Deschain - Sea of Trees Forest of Gallows (2011)

"With this realm soon to be forgotten. For I have grown weary, worshiping the altars of man!"

Distant.

Grab if you like: Nachtmystiu, Altar of Plagues, Cormorant 

Deschain 

Smorzando - Smrad (2008)

Here is a demo definitely worth checking out, especially if you dig ambient black metal acts like Lunar Aurora. At first, everything about this tells me I won't like it: Obscure name that makes me feel like a complete dicksmith for saying out loud (turns out it's a technical music term), terrible logo accompanied by a slightly oddball photo that does appear to be eerie but the approach is all wrong! I know, none of this shit really matters when it comes to the actual sound of the music, I'm just critical about the overall aesthetic, and I hope I remain to be.

 • • •

Moving on, get the fuck on this if you dig lo-fi ambient black metal with an overflowing amount of whispy shrieks and howls buried underneath layers of melodic passages weighed down in a morose forlorn atmosphere.

Grab if you like: Lunar Aurora, De Silence et d'Ombre, Paysage D'Hiver

Lied

Proclamation - Nether Tombs of Abaddon (2012)

 • • •

"And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand."

 • • •

Fucking Proclamation man, I knew I would be able to count on them. Atmosphere ridden with grime that would make a crack-den seem like a luxurious loft. One spin through Nether Tombs of Abaddon will have you taking a shower all the while tearing apart a bible in a blasphemous frenzy.

Grab if you like: Sarcófago, Beherit, Teitanblood

Hatred Sacrament 

Drudkh - When Gods Leave Their Emerald Halls (New song)

Good things are on the horizon.

Mercyful Fate - Don't Break The Oath (1984)

Don't Break The Oath, once a staple for black metal party's in Norway during the early 90's with its cult approach and cacophony of King Diamond. Play it loud, play it often.

Grab if you like: Ghost, King Diamond, Portrait

FATE

Random CD grab: Fairlyand - Of Wars In Osyrhia (2003)

Another random grab from my CD stash, brace yourselves travelers of Severed Heads Open Minds, this here is some seriously cheesy albeit awesome power metal. Often compared to Rhapsody when female vocalist Elisa Martin was in the line-up, which was only for Of Wars In Osyrhia. Essentially, what we have here is a dragon riding musical vessel for dudes sitting in their rooms on a 10 hour WoW or DnD binge. They eat this shit up, it's great.

I grew up watching The Neverending Story, so I was pretty much doomed from birth.

Grab if you like: Rhapsody, Dark Moor, Heavenly


Fairy lands

Sigh - The Transfiguration Fear (new song)

After this listen, I'm expecting good things from Sigh's new album Somniphobia set to release in mid March. It sounds like a nightmare on LSD.