Hectic Patterns - Random (2008)

Full-length, Holy Records
June 23rd, 2008

Genre: Technical Death Metal
Region: France

This should have been posted a long time ago. One of my favorites from 2008, I'd say they belong to the same wave as Gorod, Pavor, Pitbulls in the Nursery — mainly in the sense that they're tech death and from France. Outside of that these guys are much different and deserve much more attention. They're technical without the forced wankery (ie sweeps and sweeps) and pseudo-melodic riffs. It's the strong writing backing up their skills which holds up the music. They can control themselves which is something that many modern tech death bands seem incapable of doing.

Random has some interesting shit going on throughout with great use of both pinched/natural harmonics in an excellent guitar tone, neat effects, some relevant bass interludes and occasional slow riffing amongst the controlled chaos. It's stop-starty and angular with solid vocals and drumming. Don't let the simple artwork put you off because Hectic Patterns have created some genuinely different tech death right here.

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Braveyoung - We Are Lonely Animals (2011)

Full Length, The End Records
March 29, 2011



Genre: Post-Rock/Post-Metal
Region: USA

Well I've been waiting for something from these guys since their Bloom EP and here it is. I must say I'm really liking it. They were originally the Atmospheric Sludge/Post-Metal band Giant who had one full length and a split with Tides, then they changed their name. What we have here is something quite different from Giant and I would say different even from their EP.

Starting with a quiet piano intro, it is much more minimal with a depressive/calm tone throughout and some strong bass and violin/cello-esque elements that fit very well. There's one or two tracks with a sprinkling of low vocals but it is largely instrumental. I would compare We Are Lonely Animals to something like Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Mono and Tides.

In 320.

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Antediluvian - Under Wing of Asael (2008)

Demo, Self Released
July 19th, 2008

Genre: Death Metal/Black Metal
Region: Canada

A dense, crawling, all-consuming nuclear hurricane spanning four tracks. Those who like groups such as Ignivomous, Mitochondrion, Teitanblood, Witchrist, Vasaeleth, etc. will enjoy this.

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Greymachine - Disconnected (2009)

Artist: Greymachine

Album: Disconnected

Genre: Experimental / Noise

GREYMACHINE is a new supergroup featuring Justin Broadrick (Napalm Death, Godflesh, Techno Animal, Jesu), Aaron Turner (Isis, Old Man Gloom), Diarmuid Dalton (Jesu) and Dave Cochrane (Head Of David, GOD, Ice).

"Disconnected - eight songs, most of which run in the eight-to-nine-minute range, all feature a breathtakingly heavy combination of huge beats, sludgily dissonant guitar riffs, industrial electronics."

Download via Mediafire (320)

Ufomammut - Snailking (2004)

Genre: Stoner Doom

320

I remember being first exposed to a band named Neurosis, I was never so blown away by the intensity and atmosphere ever in my musical life, especially the album Enemy of the Sun. Since then, I've been searching for bands that offer the same feelings I got from Neurosis but I had no avail. I hate it when that happens because I am disappointed with everything and music became less enjoyable. Neurosis wasn't the only the band that did this to me but that's another story.

Ufomammut may not be similar to Neurosis but this album brought back the intensity I've been looking for. However it brings it in a different way, obviously. Ufomammut are doomy, psychedelic and heavy. They're like getting sucked into the Dreamlands, and being dragged off by Nightgaunts and you have no idea where you're going.

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Nahemah - A New Constellation (2009)

Artist: Nahemah
Album: A New Constellation (2009)
Label: Lifeforce Records
Genre: Progressive Death Metal
Country: Spain

Download via Megaupload (320)

Thomas Giles - Pulse [2011/256]

This is COMPLETELY different from Thomas's previous effort. While the electronic influence is still present in this album, it's nowhere near as prominent. Pulse is more of a progressive rock album with some electronic influence. Some songs are very different from the rest of the album ("Catch & Release" comes to mind) but everything else compliments the rest of the album fairly well. Great way to start 2011.

Artist: Thomas Giles

Album: Pulse

Release Year: 2011

Genre: Progressive Rock/Metal

1. Sleep Shake

2. Reverb Island

3. Mr. Bird

4. Catch & Release

5. Hamilton Anxiety Scale

6. Scared

7. Reject Falicon

8. Medic

9. Suspend the Death Watch

10. Armchair Travel

11. Hypoxia

Download 256 (Megaupload)

Asobi Seksu - Fluorescence (2011)

Genre: Shoegaze/Dream Pop whatever

256 kbps

New album from well known band, Asobi Seksu. I haven't given this a full listen just quite yet but here it is.

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Ulcerate - The Destroyers of All (2011)

Full-length, Willowtip Records
January 25th, 2011



Genre: Technical Death Metal
Region: New Zealand

Oh yes. The much anticipated follow up to 2009's masterpiece Everything Is Fire has leaked, and it is another slab of atmosphere laden and dissonant death metal which you should not pass up. This year is already awesome.

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Iron Thrones - Visions of Light [2008/320]

Take In Mourning and mix them with the progressive melodies of Between The Buried and Me. Now you essentially have Iron Thrones. Enjoy!

Artist: Iron Thrones

Album: Visions of Light

Release Year: 2008

Genre: Progressive Death Metal

Download 320 (Megaupload)

Curl Up And Die - We May Be Through With The Past... / ...But The Past Ain't Through With Us (2003)

EP, Status Recordings/Revelation Records
2003





Genre: Metalcore/Hardcore
Region: USA

I came across "We May Be Through With The Past..." a month back in a record store for $3, it's one of two EPs Curl Up And Die released in 2003 that are connected (I guess); the other entitled "...But The Past Ain't Through With Us."

An excellent EP set, short and sweet, and like their two full lengths are great blasts of metalcore (with a few "experimental" moments). WMBTWTP in 320, BTPATWU in 196.

We May Be Through With The Past... (Mediafire)
...But The Past Ain't Through With Us (Mediafire)

Hooded Menace/Anima Morte Split [2010/320]

Two tracks totaling out to 11 minutes. Beautiful and heavy doom metal from each band.

Artist: Hooded Menace/Anima Morte

Album: Split

Release Year: 2010

Genre: Death/Doom Metal

1. A Decay of Mind and Flesh

2. Grasp of the Beastwoman

Download 320 (Megaupload)

Grieves - Every Hell Has It's Springtime EP [2005/96 - 128]

Very first EP ever released by Grieves. Regardless of the fact that there's no Budo, this still possesses some intense songs that even hold up to his current stuff. Sorry about the crap quality but I don't think there's a link anywhere on the internet with a higher quality. Still well worth listening to if you enjoy hip hop in the slightest.

Artist: Grieves

Album: Every Hell Has It's Springtime EP

Release Year: 2005

Genre: Hip Hop

1. Intro

2. Garbage

3. Fairytale Bullshit

4. Money Game

5. Breathe

6. Dear Friend

7. A Song for Us

8. Outro

Download 96 - 128 (Megaupload)

Lesbian - Stratospheria Cubensis [2010/320]

Here's a nice find. While not earth-shattering in originality, it's a pretty heavy album with some nice progressive bits. I assure you, the band's name in no way relates to their sound. Also happens to be one of the few stoner albums this year that I've enjoyed. If I have one complaint about it though, it would be the length of it. There's over 70 minutes of content here, but it's not really justified in any way and will likely bore the average listener before it's over. Regardless, if you're looking for a stoner fix, this will do fine.

Artist: Lesbian

Album: Stratospheria Cubensis

Release Year: 2010

Genre: Progressive Stoner/Doom Metal

1. Poisonous WitchBall

2. Poverty and War Forever

3. Raging Arcania

4. Stropharia Cubensis

5. Black Stygian

Download 320 (Megaupload)

Dead Congregation - Graves of the Archangels (2008)

Full-length, Nuclear War Now!
January 30th, 2008



Genre: Death Metal
Region: Greece

This is one beast of a record. Ritual chants, creative and clear riffing with appropriately placed pinched harmonics, occult atmosphere. Devastating and interesting. Something like a mash up of early Incantation and Immolation with a sprinkling of Iniquity/The Chasm.

In 320.

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Mitochondrion/Gyibaaw - Rituals of Transcendence / Liimk Halaayt (2010)

Split album, Siege Engine Records
July 21st, 2010

Genre: Death Metal
Region: Canada

Two excellent, fresh Canadian death metal acts coming together to make an amazing split. Three tracks from Gyibaaw (one Drudkh cover), four from Mitochondrion (one Inquisition cover, one Rites of Thy Degringolade cover) and one collaboration track makes from some good times.

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Tristwood - Dystopia et Disturbia (2010)

Full-length, Self-released
December 1st, 2010



Genre: Industrial Death Metal/Technical Death Metal
Region: Austria

I think this is what you might get if you took The Amenta and added a little bit of Mithras and Fuck... I'm Dead. Wonderful and hits the spot. The industrial aspect of this record is used very sparingly and it's effective (no cheese here) amongst the big power chord riffs in a great guitar tone, non-stop ridiculous blast beats, and grindcore-esque vocals. It's a simple formula done very right.

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