Fell Voices - Untitled

Fell Voices have a brand of black metal very much akin to the likes of Weakling and Wolves in The Throne Room but manage to avoid being a copycat band. They definitely evolve WITTR's earlier demo/Diadem-era sound into something a little darker and raw, bringing memories of Judas Iscariot to mind (for some unknown reason). There's a good bit of atmosphere on this record but the majority of it comes from the guitar work rather than anything employed outside of the upfront musical elements. The riffs are epic in nature and definitely draw the listener into their grasp with meditative pacing and the gradual rise and fall of tension making the two tracks on the album fly by; great songwriting. The audible bass is also a bonus. I greatly enjoy the fact that the bassist has some very defined moments on this record (which sadly, is rare among black metal bands)


Having only heard them since I picked up this record the other night I can say that I'm decently surprised and I can say I'm pretty glad that I picked this baby up. Hopefully you'll like it enough to go buy it from them because this act definitely deserves your cash.

LUST


FOR FANS OF: Judas Iscariot, Wolves in The Throne Room, Weakling, Horna, Nightbringer

Nightbringer - Apocalypse Sun

Nightbringer's occult-focused brand of USBM whirls like a torrent of black energy; riffs intertwining and coming undone like a many-headed serpent writhing in its own coils. Raw production is great but Nightbringer doesn't let it ruin their sound; the mixing on this record definitely adds that old school, archaic vibe but at the same time it doesn't detract from the music. Nightbringer are doing black metal the way that it should be done in this day and age.

and if you don't like it you're probably ELITIST SCUM!

Wolves in The Throne Room - Celestial Lineage

Wolves in the Throne Room's 'Celestial Lineage' is the final piece to the trilogy started by 'Two Hunters'. Their sound has now become an amalgamation of all the styles present on the records that preceded this release.

The expansive ambience plays out behind galloping drums and ethereal guitars with each piece slowly bleeding into the other. Slower doom-oriented passages juxtapose the staggering moments of near silence and grow into epic and triumphant crescendos of blackened glory, leaving the listener lost in the massive space created by the music.

Having listened to this record immediately after seeing them live brings a lot of perspective to the desired feeling at each part. I highly recommend seeing them while they're on tour with Thou where you can snag this gorgeous album before the release date.

BOW

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Leviathan - The Tenth Sub Level Of Suicide

Leviathan is one of those one-man-bands that manages to crank out interesting and layered music with each release, this one in particular is fantastically stellar right down to the amazingly nimble basslines that dance under the ethereal guitars like witches at the Sabbat. Everything here is done right in ways beyond imagining; the vocals are potent and vicious while the drums keep their pace excellently even in the more haunting passages between blasts, the bass is perfect in the mix and the guitar maintains its lo-fi "chill" while sounding vibrant and lively. Definitely a great release to keep you company during these cold winter months.


Kill Yourself

Nightbringer - Death And The Black Work

Not many bands truly encompass the full majesty of the world of the occult. Few successfully conjure images of black monoliths of the three veils; projecting death and its many mysteries into sonic form. Nightbringer successfully accomplishes this without breaking a sweat. They've put out one of the most atmospherically and technically punishing black metal records ever to have emerged from the void. With riffs that cut like cold steel and bass that bubbles and ebbs like hot tar, the instrumentation on this album never seems misguided or underdeveloped. Everything here is perfect and this album deserves much more attention. The hereafter opens its gates as you start to spin it. Open up your ears to the tales of the dead and revel in it.

Did I mention that they're from the good ol' US of A? USBM reigns supreme.


STEAL

Deathspell Omega - Paracletus

The Orthodox Avant-Garde Black Metalworkers from France are back with yet another slice of beautifully orchestrated grimm darkness. With some of their best (and most appealing) guitar work yet and their always AMAZING drumming and their TOP-NOTCH bass player. This album blasts forth like a never ending pit of serpents striking in unison. Envenomed vocals intoxicate while the guitars drift in and out of your mind, the throbbing bass pushing you onward while the drums pound you deeper and deeper into the cold and unfeeling world that this album puts forward. EASILY their most diverse and compelling release among a catalog of nearly flawless material. If you like Black Metal and don't have/enjoy this, I have no idea why you don't spontaneously combust.

WORSHIP

Velvet Cacoon - Genevieve

Day 5 of my Animal Rights/Environmentalist Music Week

STEAL

Agalloch Discography

This is a band that has always had a dear place in my heart. When I first got into Atmospheric music they kind of guided me through it all. I'd spend weeks listening to them only to drift away to new things only to come back again. Their a sandbar in my musical ocean. They work in folk music in between fountains of majestic black metal, doom and even post-rock inspired passages. They command the attention of their listener with soaring melodies and trance-like rhythm.




From Which of This Oak Demo

Pale Folklore


Of Stone, Wind and Pillor


The Mantle


Tomorrow Will Never Come EP


Split With Nest


The Grey EP



Ashes Against The Grain


The White EP

Darkspace Discography

An interesting Space-themed Ambient Black Metal bands. Surprisingly, they don't skimp on the riffs while still maintaining a heavy atmosphere. A must listen for fans of Horna, early Wolves in The Throne Room, Panopticon and Judas Iscariot.






Darkspace -I



Darkspace I



Darkspace II



Darkspace III



Thanks to Cult of Ruins for the links! Check out his blog if you; a lot of great stuff floating around.

Panopticon - Collapse

Very awesome Crust Punk influenced Black Metal from good ol' Kentucky. They combine a the sounds of Amebix, Wolves In The Throne Room, Leviathan and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. They also defy the predominantly Right Wing beliefs of the Black Metal culture by combining Communist/Anarchist viewpoints into their music. Haunting folk interludes disperse themselves within waves of Blackened Crust. Definitely a must own for fans of any of the aforementioned bands.


DOWNLOAD

BUY

Wolves In The Throne Room - Black Cascade

Now I understand black metal isn't for everyone, neither is ambient music; the two put together seem to be the bane of a great deal of casual listeners along with 10 minute plus songs. Oddly enough, I am thankful for that; something this special shouldn't be wasted on the casual listener looking for cheap thrills. This album is a great example of black metal being inventive. Adding subtle doses of crust punk, shoegaze, drone, ambient and even some post-rock here and there, Wolves in The Throne Room managed to create on of the most unique metal records of the past decade. Not only is its euphoric atmosphere strengthened from previous releases but the addition of keyboards and bass adds such depth to these compositions that you can almost feel the wind biting your face as the wall of guitars comes down like fierce winter gales, the earth bass throbbing beneath your feet as the snowy keyboards pile around your collapsed body. Turn on this record, turn off the lights, light some candles and get ready for a musical journey through the Cascade Mountains. Also, please purchase this record if you have the chance. Not only does it go to support a monumental band but it also goes on to support Southern Lord; one of the best labels in history.


DOWNLOAD

PURCHASE