Whirr - Pipe Dreams (2012)

Full Length, Tee Pee Reecords
March 13, 2012

Genre: Shoegaze/Dream Pop
Region: USA

I loved their Distressor EP a fuckload, and their June EP was just as nice. This is their long awaited first album.

It's true that after bands like Ride, My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, The Jesus And Mary Chain, Lush, Cocteau Twins, etc. created and perfected the shoegaze/dream pop sound that one could argue there wasn't many ways to elevate the sound — unless you took it into directions that Have A Nice Life, Sweet Trip, Alcest, Crooked Necks, The Twilight Sad and The Angelic Process have taken it, and then it's hardly even the same genre. Still bands like Ringo Deathstarr, Asobi Seksu and Whirr show that the genre can birth some beautiful groups and sounds.

Whirr (formerly Whirl) have perfected their sound well with Pipe Dreams. The album is just over 30 minutes of floating ethereal chords with an angelic vocal performance from Byanca (occasionally harmonized with the guitarist Loren), lush synths that drift in and out, and hypnotizing, vibrant drumming all coming together to create a hazy, dreamy, warm ocean of noisey shoegaze. The vocals are definitely my favorite aspect here as they couple with breathing, effect drenched instruments to mold some beautiful textures.

At times it is a sedated and soft experience, either sad or euphoric while in other tracks it's upbeat, noisy and twangy, more pop oriented and catchy. It's always loud. There is no particularly jarring moments though as the album seems to effortlessly flow together and the songs are edited down (nice and short) so as to leave one feeling pleased; there is no wear from Pipe Dreams.

In the end I love this record. It definitely improves on their first EP which was already stellar. I really recommend picking this one up. Tee Pee Records has the album for order go over there and grab a copy if you like what you hear. You can also follow them on tumblr or listen to previous albums on bandcamp.

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Anhedonist - The Drear (2010)

Demo, Self-released/Independent
August 12th, 2010

Genre: Doom Metal
Region: USA

Their first full length "Netherwards" is going to finally be released in a matter of weeks and I haven't even posted this crushing slab from 2010. Shame on me

I saw them at Rites of Darkness III last winter and they did not disappoint. In fact they decimated the venue with powerful, slow blows of melancholic doom. The Drear is three tracks that hit just over ten minutes each and they are truly something to savor. They're dark and incredibly hypnotizing as they quake with unheard of sorrow, focused into the thunderous grooves expertly. Echoing and pained hoarse vocals and slow riffs meet with they cavernous and plodding drums.

The Insatiable Hole is continuously plodding, dark and subtle with melodic undertones while Despond has a section which picks up the pace slightly in the beginning (almost hitting death metal territory) before crashing downward into low tuned agony again. The last track Ouranophobia I remember clearly from ROD III. It settles into more seriously addicting slabs as heard in the first track with a clean section near the end to heighten the incoming towering conclusion to the record.

With this demo as a solid indicator I can confidently say that Netherwards will undoubtedly be among the heaviest releases this year next to Pallbearer's "Sorrow And Extinction" and Amenra's eventual release of "Mass V". Just listen to this new track!

Get this shit now and follow them over here. The vinyl release is limited to 500 hundred on Parasitic Records so I don't know if you can still get it. If not, go fucking preorder the Netherwards cd from Dark Descent Records (and eventually on vinyl via Parasitic Records and Nuclear Winter Records). Highly recommended especially for fans of Lycus, Sound Asleep, Pallbearer, Aldebaran, Evoken, etc.

DOWNLOAD (Mediafire)

Crooked Necks - Alright Is Exactly What It Isn't (2011)

Full Length, Handmade Birds Records
October 1st, 2011

Genre: Shoegaze/Post-Punk
Region: USA

Someone a month back requested that if I could get my hands on this record to post it up, so here it is.

I've seen Crooked Necks labeled black metal. To be honest I've had no exposure to this act previous to Alright Is Exactly What It Isn't, but if my ears are still working I'd say they're far more on the shoegaze (or even post-rock) side of things than black metal. The vocals (when not clean and drenched in reverb) are definitely ugly and strangled so in that respect the comparison is accurate but in every other respect they're definitely shoegaze or some variation of post-punk. Perhaps when they were known as Frail the black metal influence was far more prevalent. They have released a much lauded split with the enigmatic experimenters Circle of Ouroborus so there's obviously a connection to the genre. I'm just ignorant I suppose.

Alright Is Exactly What It Isn't is this three piece's first full length album in any of their incarnations and it is certainly a bright, glistening and delicate example of heartfelt longing in aural form. All of the songs here are soft, frail and shine brilliantly as they peak and dip, only contrasted with the strained and ghostly creaking voices. Throughout the album the solid bass lines flow and groove beneath the siren-like vocals and riffs — it creates both a tragic and euphoric feeling.

While each song has a similar feel they approach it differently. This Place Is Violent leads with clean vocals that creep up on you while melodic tones ebb softly when everything gets louder and the shrieks emerge; this pattern repeats to great effect. Streets With Teeth has a similar vibe including more strong tremolo sections but they don't last long. Some tracks definitely give off a My Bloody Valentine feel for a moment before settling into something more their own, as can be heard in Hearts and Colors.

Every Step Seems Backwards begins with an almost southern/western feel when it suddenly turns dreamy with echoing murmurs, quiet bright notes, and barely-there drums. The blackened vocals emerge for a time here and there, and in the final third of the track noise swirls in the background as the fragile notes build; it becomes strangely nostalgic and eerie. Songs like this, Taste The Sounds and Lead Clouds conjure up fond memories the long lost summers of youth for me.

A purists nightmare one might say. Alright Is Exactly What It Isn't is another beautiful record that I missed in 2011, as I'm sure many others did as well. It's a shame they're not more well known. There's only 250 copies of this album in print and the 100 purple copies are long gone so get on top of this release — go to Handmade Birds.

DOWNLOAD (Zippyshare) (correct track list 23/03/2012)

Circle of Ouroborus - The Lost Entrance of the Just (2012)

Full Length, Handmade Birds Records
February 29th, 2012

Genre: Black Metal/Experimental/Post-Punk
Region: Finland

You can always count on this Finish duo experimenting with their sound and staying busy. Recently Moonflares and Eleven Fingers were muffled hazey excursions while Armon Keitaalla switched to a more traditional black metal sound leaving the muddy atmosphere behind.

The Lost Entrance of the Just returns to the post-punk/shoegaze sound on Eleven Fingers and Moonflares. Clean mournful vocals remain dominant as does the murky ethereal mist but slightly tamed, slower. This is most evident in the first two tracks. In fact the first half of the album is more ambiance heavy with dazed and drowning rhythms and less prominent use of tremolo riffs at first. Of course they always have such elements warmly pulsing under every track coupled with a soft drumming technique to entrance you, but it's much more subtle to begin with. In tracks such as Cast in Clay and Black Hole Womb the approach is similar to the clouded sound of The Angelic Process.

Skyline Painter and Ride the Wolf are closest to Eleven Fingers in my opinion as the droning cleans mix with the raw rasps from Antti, and a strong smothered tremolo pattern wails underneath. Grittier aspects of Armon Keitaalla are just barely present in some of the later songs — and only briefly. Often overtaken and smothered by drugged out atmospherics. Toivosta Syntynyt is probably the most unique here with warbled melancholic bends standing out as the lyrics are sung in Finnish.

Overall it's another solid entry into Circle of Ouroborus' extensive library of experiments though a little less gripping than their last few releases. Still enchanting though and unlike much else out there. This album (like their last few releases) is limited to 500 on vinyl so if you want it I'd hurry up and head over to Handmade Birds Records to pick it up before it's gone forever.

DOWNLOAD (Zippyshare)

Mgła - With Hearts Toward None (2012)

Full Length, Northern Heritage Records
February 28th, 2012

Genre: Black Metal
Region: Poland

As with bands like Taake, Inquisition and Lunar Aurora, Mgła prove that despite what elitists whine about the orthodox movement of black metal still plows ahead unharmed by the influx of variations on their prized style.

And what a fucking record this is! This is Mgła's second full length (their first record in four years) and it shows that they've been carefully crafting With Hearts Toward None since Groza. Again, like Inquisition, you'd never know they were a two piece from just spinning their work. The writing on display is fantastic, every track becomes spellbinding — all equally strong, fresh. It's raw but melodic with an unending string of tremolo riffs burrowing through each song, while underneath ghostly chords spring up to support them. The echoing acrid rasps and howls of the vocalist cut through the foggy atmosphere with an occasional break for semi-clean passages as the complex battering drums splash beneath.

Mgła have created quite a powerful assault here, a very satisfying listen. Uncompromising yet refreshing, bleak and cold while still cripplingly gorgeous.

Sure to be a welcome surprise to many. With Hearts Toward None does not disappoint and comes highly recommended. An example of orthodox black metal remaining fresh and addictive. Support this hard working duo by picking up the record at Northern Heritage. Don't pass on this guys.

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Cerebrate - Soul's Abyss (2012)

Demo, Psychic Violence Records
2012

Genre: Death Metal
Region: USA

Like the Fell Voices members who created Ruin Lust, the guys in Ash Borer have begun to dabble in the death metal realm with this project.

Very thrashy and traditional with a nice guitar tone comparable to Denial, that chainsaw growl ripping through bestial riffs. The first song is short, while the second song is just over five minutes and has some wicked hammer-on sections really dredging up the oldschool feeling. This is the same for the scratchy, blazing solos — squeals and bends all over the place. Raw and clouded, the production leaves much to be desired but looking past that the actual core of the two songs here is extremely solid

A nice indicator of how the Cerebrate will proceed. It seems that creators of atmospheric black metal can shred some excellent death metal too. Psychic Violence will be re-releasing this in tape form at some point in the future so be on the look out for it.

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Fire in the Cave - Fire in the Cave (2012)

EP, NK Tapes
February 28th, 2012

Genre: Blackened Sludge
Region: USA

Thanks to The Living Doorway once again for this one. That cover totally reminds me of Inquisition's "Into the Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult" reissue art, and Vasaeleth's debut cover art for that matter.

Dark and heavy. Thick blackened sludgy riffs and deafening bellows emanate from the two eight minute tracks on this EP. At many points the drumming is oppressive but without drowning the other instruments. The thing is they aren't exactly like the waves hardcore bands that implement aspects of black metal and sludge into their sound, while it's clear those genres are an influence here they combine them much more comfortably. One could say they take a more Seven Sisters of Sleep approach — though in a longer form and their direction is much different still. It's very effective, managing to hold your attention all the way through. Fire in the Cave have refined the two songs well.

They have a crusty southern feel when not wallowing in the black metal aspect (especially in the solos), flashes of dissonance and melody help add variation to the onslaught of massive angry doom grooves and momentary lapses into quiet atmospheric summits.

An awesome debut. These guys have a great handle on their style, the potential to capture a huge audience is quite obvious. And they're nice enough to put the EP up at pay-what-you-want on bandcamp. Follow their shit on facebook.

DOWNLOAD (Bandcamp)

Funebrarum / Undergang - The Dead of Winter (2012)

Split, Doomentia Records
February 10th, 2012

Genre: Death Metal
Region: USA / Denmark

Fucking hell. I didn't have any idea that this split existed until the guys at Pervert The Church threw this up today. Praise them.

How could anyone pass up a split from two monsters of death metal? One track from each band to crush you to dust. I don't know what you want from me here. It's great. Ugly catastrophic violence on all fronts.

Highly recommended obviously. I think it's already sold out everywhere but it was available from Doomentia for a short time.

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Marnost / Seeds in Barren Fields - Split (2012)

Split, Self-released /Independent
February 9th, 2012

Genre: Black Metal
Region: Czech Republic / Sweden

As it stands I'm way behind on the requests so I'll try to sort through them when this semester's done. This is one that I'll gladly post by two great bands. Marnost  a young "veganarchist" four piece with only a demo and this split, and the "green anarchist" Seeds in Barren Fields who I remember A. Lundr of Panopticon promoting a while back. Both bands offer up two gigantic tracks with quite different styles of black metal.

Marnost's song titled Svůdcové lidstva is interesting in that it seems to carefully straddle elements of post-metal, crust, traditional black metal and the more atmospheric blend across the full thirteen minutes. After the feedback intro what surfaces is shimmering drawn out notes and strong bass akin to Cult of Luna or Tesa as wails ebb in the background. Suddenly the pace is switched to thunderous black metal with the drumming picking up and the crusty deep groans seeping through. At this point the tone still has an element post-metal there without falling into familiar post-metal quirks. This is felt throughout the track as they manage to weave their way elegantly through both genres. After a spoken passage the post-metal and black metal influences meld comfortably with furious tremolo riffs and glistening chords over howls and noise. The end comes with a hypnotizing acoustic passage.

Seeds in Barren Fields is a band I have heard of though until recently I didn't get a hold of their 2011 full length. From their contribution on this split, the sixteen minute Beneath the Somber Halls, I'm quite compelled to check out that album. Beginning with rain and distant thunder, the guitars enter softly and sadly. The style here is largely melodic or atmospheric black metal though not like their North American counterparts. They're more subtly progressive with crunchy death metal gallops between powerful black rhythms, melodic twangs, and fast clanging percussion; vocally more acidic and raspy aside from a spoken passage midway through. Both guitars often follow their own paths that occasionally intersect and always ringing out beautifully. The interplay is nice. Near the ten minute mark, leading up to a long fade out, things get a little heavier with an gripping repeated passage and some notable drumming.

This is a great collaboration from two virtually unknown acts. Marnost show they are a sleeping giant while Seeds in Barren Fields have encouraged me to seek out what I've missed from them. You can hear each side by Marnost and Seeds in Barren Fields on their respective bandcamps, both have links to where you can grab a physical copy (such as Music For Liberation or directly from the bands) or download digitally for a small price. Definitely recommended.

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Black Breath - Sentenced To Life (2012)

Full Length, Southern Lord Recordings
March 27th, 2012

Genre: Thrash/Hardcore/Death Metal
Region: USA

Fuck yes for new Black Breath!

I overlooked Heavy Breathing in 2010 admittedly but caught it not long after. It was a wicked dose of addictive heavy thrash bred with hardcore and Sentenced To Life continues where it left off. Nothing but power grooves, galloping anger and thrashing death galore spewed through a seriously vicious guitar tone.

Don't have much to say about this one to be honest, it's a prime slab of high-energy crossover metal no question and speaks for itself. Simple, ruthless riffs and bendy solos spill out of every gnarled corner with rarely a pause for breath. The cutthroat vocals rasp and roar as they plow over your bloodied face with disgust while devastating drumming crashes down to knock you on your ass. The slower moments are beyond heavy, sprinkled carefully amongst the searing thrash. It smacks of oldschool fury and shredding. Black Breath once again bring the awesome without hesitation.

Such a strong release. Don't hesitate to bang your heads to this mean release. Highly recommended so pick it up ASAP from Southern Lord's shop.

DOWNLOAD (Mediafire)