Giant Squid - Centoes (2011)

 

Somber and foreboding, heavy and groovy, folkloric in storytelling, executed to fuck. Giant Squid are doing it right, the latest effort Centoes has all the ingredients to be an album contending in my top 20 for 2011. Get this, play it over and over until it sinks in. You're welcome.

Grab if you like: Minsk, Malachi, Grayceon

CENTOES

Sikth - Death of a Dead Day (2006)

2nd release by Sikth, and also their last. Nuttier than squirrel shit, but from a musical standpoint these dudes have managed to bring something almost entirely new to the progressive metal sound. This is more than just progressive however, It is heavy, technical, melodic, bizarre and carefully crafted.

Mermaid Slur

Irepress - Sol Eye Sea I (2009)

This is beautiful, like looking right into the eye of a tornado. Instrumental post-metal with a plethora of genres to incorporate at their disposal. And that they do just that, rapidly, without warning. At one moment you are listening to a jazz section, suddenly your ears blink, and the song is ripping into a sludgy soup of melodic interludes.

That artwork is certainly no slouch either, created by illustrator Chad Lenjer. I had a chit-chat with this talented bloke just after the release of this album. He assured me that this album was no mistake, and this 5-piece from Massachusetts were the most down to earth dudes he ever worked for.

I don't want to sit here trying to rack my brain for ways to describe this sound, its pretty unique and excellently executed. Listen and interpret it however you choose. The use of the sound-clips from The Goonies puts a smile on my face.


Goonies Never Say Die!

Cloudkicker

Cloudkicker, not only is it a name that made me giggle like a schoolgirl due to the picture it painted in my head, but it also hauls more ass than David Duchovny. Ben Sharp, the bloke behind this one man band is quite the dude, he works as hard as anyone out there if not harder and then offers the end result for free (or the option to donate whatever the listener feels right).

Every single EP and LP this man has released has been nothing short of prolific. Shit, does it sound like I am begging you to like this? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe fuck your mother. Here is said discography, enjoy!

As always, give what you can!

Beacons (2010)

 

A New Heavenly Body (2010)

Portmanteau (2009)

The Map Is Not The Territory (2009)

The Discovery (2008)

Cormorant - Metazoa (2009)

Look how beautiful that album cover is, I want to eat it. Consumption through the ears will have to suffice. And suffice it does, I bought this album for 6$ at my favorite used CD store in Toronto (Sonic Boom).

When I saw this CD there I definitely yelled something along the lines of "Fucking Right!" and offended some lady behind me combing through the Pop Rock section. Fuck it, if she knew anything she wouldn't be looking through Pop Rock.

Anyways, I have a point. And that point is, Metazoa is the tits! It is a little bit difficult to lump Cormorant into a genre, because they blend so many different styles and constantly change their formula. On Metal Archives they are listed as Progressive Folk/Black Metal, but one listen and you will hear many other influences, and you will love it. If not, your ears aren't working properly.


Consume
Part 1
Part 2