Black Lotus - Harvest of Seasons (2008)

Harvest of Seasons is really one of those albums I struggle to find any flaws in, but it is very easy to point out the magnificence. There is an undeniable sense of Borknagar worship woven throughout the album. The use of clean and harsh vocals, the subtle folk elements and overall sound are reminiscent to the varying sound of Borknagar.

But fuck you if you think these guys are just copy-cats who can bring nothing new to the table, because you are simply wrong. Listen and revel in the sound of Canada's hidden gem. Draped in a dreary atmosphere and coated with the natural triumph of nature. What?


(I just want to go on record here, saying Borknagar's "Universal" is easily the best song that band has ever made.)

Harvest of Seasons

Bastardator - Identify The Dead (2009)

I stumbled on this while skimming through my Circle The Wagons booklet. Fenriz usually has a "guide to must have albums!" in each CD booklet. Even though this album came out in 2009, he claims it is one of the best albums of '08, which could only mean this album is so good it is capable of time travel.

Merciless Metalpunk-Thrash with a strong glare to the 80's. As Fenriz would put it "A future classic for us fighting in the underground resistance."

Bastard-ate-her

Contaigeon - Death At The Gates Of Delirium (2010)

 

Dudes from UK obsessing over other-worldly entity's sucking the life out of your skull, muster up an album oozing with grimy guitar tones, scummy snarling growls, and drums that don't have the over-produced plastic shit sound. Not only that, but it appears there is a demonically entranced, soul hungry, tusk-less walrus on the cover, and I think it's brilliant. 

All in all, here we have some forward-thinking, demonically possessed tusk-less walrus Death Metal. Enjoy it. Or not.

Walrus smash

Negative Plane - Stained Glass Revelations (2011)

Yet another phenomenal release in early 2011 comes Stained Glass Revelations, paying homage to all the classics; Mayhem, Venom, Mercyful Fate, Pentagram, Hellhammer. This is only their second full length and yet they are among the beating force of USBM, and for good reason.

It sounds like the album was recorded with a Fisher-Price microphone inside a stingy dampened cavern, feeding the obscurity of the composition. It's very eccentric and ominous in sound and yet it remains quite memorable. 2011 is looking good so far.


Stained Glass Revelations

Mithotyn - Gathered Around The Oaken Table (1999)

Interestingly enough I have found out that Sweden is third for views on this blog. Why is this significant? This is relevant because Mithotyn are Swedish, and they kick all kinds of ass. (Hey viewers of Sweden, Jag älskar dig)

Mithotyn paved the way for Viking Metal in the 90's and Gathered Around The Oaken Table was the bands last and best release. The album hosts all the beauty's you would expect from Viking Metal; blasting drums, shrieking vocals, mighty choirs, and passages that journey through drunken celebratory post-pillaging gatherings. (accurate album cover)

Ahh, gathered around an oaken table with fellow brothers in arms, drinking mead out of a horn exchanging tales of past journeys, while enjoying the comforts of a fireplace, meat, and a lovely bar maiden. (If she doesn't keep the mead flowing, you can be sure her head will end up at the end of a spear.) Those burly dudes had it right this whole time. Tyck om! (enjoy)

Pillage. Decapitate. Glory.

Portal

Dude, fucking Portal. From Australia comes this band and they play a blend of Death Metal that you probably haven't really heard before. In a genre so vast and often blamed for being watered down, this is a welcome.

They will make you feel uncomfortable through heavily distorted guitars, murky atmosphere, odd structuring, and their overall obscured facade. Vocals are done by "The Curator" and he is the driving force behind the genius through dark menacing gutturals. Obviously fans for the theatrical, they dress up in costume, only adding to the sinister disposition behind the music. The Curator has changed his costume for each record that has been released, and each of them have been fucking brilliant.

Portal won't be news to many of you out there, but for those of you who haven't yet heard, here is Portal, and they will eat you. Every song will make you feel uneasy, learn to like it douche.

Portal - Swarth (2009)
Portal - Outre (2007)
Portal - Seepia (2001)

My grandmothers favorite song:

Krallice - New song available on stream!

On April 26, something amazing will happen to your ears. Krallice will be releasing Diotima, and it will be great. Trust me, I'm in the know. Listen to "The Clearing", and you will share my knowledge.

(Listen Here)

These guys are brainy. If Beethoven and Einstein were somehow able to have a kid together, that kid would of been Krallice. It's always nice to hear Black Metal go beyond anti-Christianity and Satan worship and delve into something more thought provoking.

Here is the unfinished album cover to be. I'm hoping it will improve beyond that, but hey, I'm a graphic designer cunt.

Dalriada - New Video Online

What is better than a group of gypsy's dancing? How about a bunch of Gypsy's dancing to Folk-Metal in a field while clips of the cheesiest flash video cut in and out.

I probably already made the lot of you flinch with those opening sentences. Me? I'm a fucking fan dude. Personally, I think most, if not 96% of music videos are pretty fucking cheese anyways.
Except this one:

Ceremonial Castings - Barbaric Is The Beast (2006)

Symphonic Black Metal done impeccably well. Even if the word "symphonic" tends to make you flinch because you are a close-minded asshole who thinks he/she is so grim and frostbitten that they are beyond the sound of keys.

Allow me to continue. Furious tremolo picking, blasting drums, with vocals that sound like a wild boar being gutted by a rusty spoon and at other times sound like a satanic séance. The keys provide a layer of ominous atmosphere throughout, BUT what really shines here is the very raw production, giving it a more warm and honest feel to it.


BLACK

Khuda - Palingenesia (2010)

Oh this? Meet Khuda they are an instrumental post-rock/metal band and they will never quit playing games with your heart. Each song paints a myriad of visuals through hearty textures and dreamy interludes. It's so catchy it should be playing Ultimate Frisbee at the park, but instead they cave your head in with Palingenesia. Fuck, that was stupid.

Here is a better one:

It's good, get it.

fuck your face