Battle of Mice - A Day of Nights

This record is quite old at this point (at least by my standards) but I feel that so few people I know listen to it that it needs to be shared. Julie cements herself as the finest female vocalist (that I've ever heard) in metal music. Her crooning, sexy voice can turn from a quiet, sonic sex-object to a harsh attacker in the suffocating atmosphere produced by her backing band. Featuring the musicianship of Josh Graham of Neurosis fame, you know this much talent in one place has to be too good to be true. Well, unlike most projects of the 'superground' sub-label that turn out like shit, this album definitely finds its way to the top of my personal list of 'Best Albums of All Time'.

CREEP

Tombs - Fear is the Weapon

Tombs' brand of hard-hitting blackened hardcore (which is still a shitty way of describing them since it's a great injustice to box this band up like that) is as potent as ever on this compilation of unreleased tracks that Relapse has put out for those of us rabidly waiting another offering. While Winter Hours was a very dark and morbid album, it still had a strangely 'glimmering' tone to it that almost made it seem bright. 'Fear is The Weapon' has a much darker feel to it. The bass still throbs like a beating heart underneath the walls of sound created by the guitar and drums. If you enjoyed their previous efforts you DEFINITELY need to get this.

FEAR IS THE KEY

For fans of: Jesu, Fugazi and Converge

Gifts From Enola Discography

Back to business. As you may or may not know my opinion on the state of today's post-rock scene I would just like to say that Gifts From Enola have gone above and beyond my expectations. Combining heavy riffs with climbing structures that evolve and devolve throughout the course of a song (instead of relying on a simple 'quiet, crescendo, quiet, SUDDEN EXPLOSION OF GUITARS AND REVERB, fade out' pattern that seems to prevail in this type of music) much like the likes of Isis and Mogwai without falling into the doldrums that line the path tread by followers of both bands. If you want something akin to Capricorns, Caspian and Pelican then this is for you!

Loyal Eyes Betray The Mind

Harmonic Motion Vol 1: Split w/ You.May.Die.In.The.Desert.

From Fathoms

Gifts From Enola

Dark Castle - Spirited Migration

When I picked up this album I was expecting something more akin to Electric Wizard or Bongripper but after exploring the rich textured landscapes that this two-piece constructs I would have to put them with bands more akin to Isis and Omega Massif. Each song lurches forward like a giant sloth towards the treeline when there are predators about; keeping its pace, slow and purposeful. Nothing stops this record once it's out of the gate. Riff after riff hurdles through the air with fiery intensity, landing like napalm on a sea of reverb drenched low-end and meditative drums. Sparse vocals weave through the tracks with great intent. This was a huge surprise and another must-listen.

STEAL

Fall of Efra - Elil

>Post-Metal/Crust

STEAL

Capricorns Discography

Instrumental Metal that combines the mathtensity of Don Caballero, Sludgy riffage of Pelican and the strained occasional vocals a-la Oxbow. The members of this band also play in Orange Goblin, Iron Monkey or Bridge & Tunnel. They released their second album, River , Bear Your Bones in August 2008. Both albums are featured here in just ONE FILE!!

River, Bear Your Bones + Ruder Forms Survive

Latitudes - Agonist

Most of the Sludge scene is overflowing with some very boring acts. Luckily Latitudes breaks the mold with their brand of simultaneously crushing sludge and bone-chilling melodies. The addition of a keyboardist adds depth to their gargantuan sound. The album destroys from start to finish; the opening track alone will get stuck in your head for weeks on end. Take heed; the new kings of sludge have arrived.


DOWNLOAD

BUY

Rosetta - A Determinism of Morality

Great Atmospheric Sludge from a amazing young band. Themes: Space Travel, Astral Bodies and a few others. Definitely for fans of Isis, Red Sparowes and Neurosis. A must listen for any fan of this body of work.

DOWNLOAD

BUY

Rosetta - The Galilean Satellites

Rosetta has sat on my hard drive for quite some time; 2-3 years I do believe. Occasionally I would pop them on and give them a try, riding their riffs and surfing through their tides of ambiance but only recently after the 'Great Bearded One' notified me that their 'The Galilean Satellites' release is meant to be played with both discs in unison did I really become interested. Sure Neurosis and Boris have done it before (and with FANTASTIC RESULTS!) but this still peaked my interest. Sure enough I popped this on one day in the proper manner and I was blown away, a few seconds in and I was wowed to the point of shouting to my girlfriend over the blaring guitars. I immediately purchased it before the first song was over. For people that are tired of the conventional "Post-Metal" (hurr durr hipster) borefest I suggest you pick this up; it does what this whole genre is known best for without becoming trapped in the pitfalls that have ensnared so many other NeurIsis clones out there. This record is a monument to sound.


This album is comprised of two parts; disc 1 (Sludge Riff-a-thon) and disc 2 (ambient backdrop) and when combined they tell an epic story of space travel which is continued on Wake/Lift.

Recommended for fans of: Supercontinent, Tephra, Isis, Neurosis and Year of No Light

Download Disc 1
Download Disc 2

Purchase

Reka

Reka is an awesome russian screamo band that combines elements of post rock and sludge into their music to make a acidic concotion of Red Sparowes-esque instrumental passages while tapping into the ferocity of older Isis. The throat-shredding vocals twirl through ephemeral guitars while the rhythm section maintains a heavy atmosphere and driving beats. While they're relatively unknown and fairly new they deserve a lot of attention; this is one young band that needs all the exposure they can get.

Live Recording

Studio Recording

Their Last.fm page

Omega Massif - Geisterstadt

Omega Massif produce a heavy hitting brand of instrumental doom/sludge that reminds me of a very angry Pelican. The guitars create immense atmosphere and then rip right into heavy riffage that has made me headbang in public on numerous occasions. These dudes know what they're doing and they manage to avoid all the cliches that "Post Metal" has going for it at the moment. Geisterstadt is a great piece of work and I recommend you pick this up from them; these dudes DESERVE the money.

DOWNLOAD

MYSPACE

PURCHASE

Supercontinent - Vaalbara

These guys are a local Michigan act that produces rib-snapping Sludge that beats you into submission with Carcass-esque layered guitars mixed with the crushing majesty of bands like Isis, Pelican and Struck By Lightning. Not only does this blow most NeurIsis clones out of the water; this is the Sludge Metal equivalent to a rock opera about Michigan's geological evolution. Fuck The Ocean's 'Precambrian' snoozefest of predictable imitation, when it comes to this type of music this record is second only to the legends. With immense riffing throughout, songs like 'Earthrise', 'Lakes of Iron', 'Cataclysms' and 'Epoch' could level an entire city if you hooked them up to a massive stereo; the tectonic plates would shift from the sheer heaviness. Did I mention it was mastered by Scott Hull of Pig Destroyer fame and that they feature an ex-member of The Black Dahlia Murder? Buy this CD to help fund the release of new material.


Supercontinent - Vaalbara

Tracklist

1: Nebula
2: Earthrise
3: Lakes Of Iron
4: Cataclysms
5: Rain Gives Rise
6: In Rust
7: The Monolith
8: Impact Winter
9: Epoch

PURCHASE!!!!! I'M DEAD FUCKING SERIOUS


DOWNLOAD