The Great Old Ones - Al Azif (2012)

A release I have been awaiting for quite some time has surfaced from its bubbling cauldron of Lovecraft worship. I almost decided against posting this for a couple reasons:
For one, it's been posted on a couple of other stellar blogs with write-ups that will be far more detailed than my own.
For two, I feel more guilty than usual for posting up a free download link due to a personal understanding of how much time and effort the band has poured into this album. Though, this can be said about most bands posted here. The mindset still remains though, the links are already there for us to feed off of, I just create another portal to that money sucking link. The idea is that those who can afford it, will at least go their shows, buy merch and albums and continue to support the band.

•  •  •

Moving on… The Great Old Ones fucking kill this album. There isn't a single riff on this album that is dull or misplaced, there isn't a single slip up or mediocre fill on the pounding of skins, the vocals howl and echo in valleys of great walls while the atmosphere builds up into something that evokes a profound thought and a good headbang. The whole album is layered thickly, every detail thought out and exhausted meticulously and effectively.

I did an interview with TGOO a little while back, check that out here.

Grab if you like: Year of No Light, Altar of Plagues, Wolves In The Throne Room

Buy! Bandcamp
Grab Now via Zippyshare download! (While your signed digipack copy is in the mail right ;)?

Alda - Tahoma (2011)

Alright, so let's agree on something before I get started. Every now and then I go on these stints of disappearing acts, where the other realm I dwell in gets pushed behind (the pixelated world) so that my main realm (the high definition range world) can be maintained accordingly. Rather than bore you music seagulls about my personal life, (I have however officially made the transfer from small boring town where carrying a 12-pack of beer while riding your nephews stolen mountain bike is commonplace to the hustle and bustle of Toronto where the majority are soul-sucking try-hards with their chins pointed to the clouds like a prissy skyscraper) I'll just get started…

 •  •  •

Look up. What do you see? Correct, a righteous painting of what appears to be sturgeon wearing red sweaters their elder sturgeon grandmothers hand-knit for them gathering around a human skull in a valley of beauty. My sentences are allowed to ramble on incoherently for the next little while because I can blame it on my blog rust, and fuck you.

Replenish Records: "Formed in Washington during the fall of 2007, Alda is a four-piece band from Tacoma that plays a style of black metal that is considered to be of the Cascadian (Fuck the term, let's just say it has that dreamy metal gaze allure that is often hit or miss and teetering on pretentiousness) ilk. The band is a collective project that is dedicated to the reclamation of Lost Wisdom and the application of a lifestyle founded on respect and communication with the soils on which they dwell."

Their are unique incorporation's of elements that suit the feeling very well and drive that wild outdoors vibe. Examples can be heard throughout the album, the end of Shadow of the Mountain and Wandering Spirit have interesting soundscapes, musically this feeling can also be found in the beginning and middle of Tearing of the Weave as well as the opening track intro. What I am trying to say is, the overall effect gives the proper affect. (see what I did there? Magic.)

So, this concludes my first post in a little while, be sure to give me a motivational pat on the back in the comments and let me know if you are in the camp of liking or disliking Tahoma.

Grab if you like: Fell Voices, Panopticon, Drudkh

Bandcamp + 320 Download

Gone Backpacking...

To whom it may concern, I leave the comfort of Canada to backpack into the wilderness of Shenandoah national park in the state of Virginia. I will be gone the week, so go check out all the other better blogs to keep your shit together, and in the meantime listen to Nàttsòl.

If I get eaten by a bear, I give this blog to whomever comments first.

Wreck and Reference - No Youth (2012)

It's beautiful, like a firework factory strewn in flame. Inspiring and demoralizing wrapped in 35 minutes. Doom drenched in noise, drone, bleak atmosphere and vocals ranging from somber to shrilled howls. It's definitely odd, it's definitely worth grabbing.

•  •  •

It is available for a "name your price" digital download over at their bandcamp. I gave a measly 3$ for it, well worth it. Give it a listen, if your fancy is tickled, support the shit.

Wreck and Reference bandcamp

Lunar Aurora - Faust

Tribulation - The Horror (2009)

Filthy death metal done the old-school way, without scruples nor gimmicks but a healthy amount of thrash and grime. Tribulation of Sweden put out their debut in 2009 and didn't fuck up once. Meat hook like riffs, ghoulish atmosphere, nostalgia and sleaze. This one is mandatory.

Grab if you like: Possessed, Repugnant, Teitanblood

The Horror

Black Chalice - Submission (2012)

Slowly churning doom amidst a decaying atmosphere that at times sounds triumphant. There are moments on Submission that just force the headbang out of you, there is no choice. It's often labeled as death/doom, but that's sort of piss poor representation, it has elements yes, but this is doom with varying influences.

Grab if you like: Creeping, Six Dead Horses, Year of No Light

Submission

Enabler - Year One (2011)

Burning on the pyre, slowly, excruciatingly with each passing second becoming more agonizing than the next. Respectively added to the elite roster of Southern Lord and for good reason, these dudes from Milwaukee play a blend of sledgehammer heavy crusty hardcore. Check out all their splits as well!

Grab if you like: Black Sheep Wall, Masakari, Low Places

bandcamp.

year one.

Solace

I plan on living the remainder of my old years in a cabin such as this one in either Norway, Iceland or the Faeroe Islands. I'll be wrinkly, whiskey soaked and tallt all while rocking my jean vest sitting beside a wood-fire and wolf/malamute hybrid. Also, black metal on vinyl.

•  •  •

Maybe this? The folky elements will have me wanting to go out and chop wood.

sorry.

Here's the deal, I'm a fucker, and being a fucker can be tiresome work. My Icelandic girlfriend left the island of fire and ice to come visit me for a couple weeks, so I took a little leave of absence from my internet self to get viking drunk.

sorry.

I have a lot of catching up to do, and I plan on doing just that. Stick around I'm going to monitor fuck your ears with goodies.

Charles Manson was denied parole yet again, just an FYI.