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This Week's Recommended New Releases...

7/23/2015

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This week's recommended new releases (07/24/15):
[Click on band name for samples and more info]

Black Space Riders - Refugeeum (Black Space/Cargo)

4th album from Münster quintet; Psychedelic Space Metal

Indesinence - III (Profound Lore)

3rd album from London quartet; Death/Doom Metal

Orpheus Omega - Partum Vita Mortem (Kolony)

3rd album from Australian quintet; Melodic Death Metal

Trapped Within Burning Machinery - The Fifth Element (Midnite Collective/Black Voodoo)

2nd album from Moreno Valley, CA quintet; Sludge/Doom Metal

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This Week's Recommended New Releases...

7/16/2015

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This week's recommended new releases (07/17/15):
[Click on band name for samples and more info]

Arrakis - Ammu Dia (N/A)

Following a handful of EP releases, this Greek trio has finally put out a full-length album. While instrumental Stoner Rock is tough to maintain over the course of an entire record, these guys manage to keep it interesting for the most part. The guitar tones are delicious and the trio format allows the bass to peek through when necessary. The songs average just over 8 minutes, so there’s plenty of room for gnarly solos and trippy psychedelic jams, but the crunchy riffs are the main course.

Ommadon - Empathy for the Wicked (Golden Mantra)

Speaking of long songs, the 4th album from this Scottish duo contains just two songs totaling over 55 minutes, which is a lesson for brevity for a band whose songs clocked in at 39 and 47 minutes the last time around. At first listen it feels like an extended fuzzy feedback session with the occasional drum hit, akin to the old standby, Dopesmoker. I’ve always been fascinated by this type of instrumental Doom band. Do they rehearse these songs down to the minute detail, or do they just press record and let the fuzz fly? Regardless, there’s enough tone and riffage here to satisfy all fans of the slow and low, even though Side B is mostly wasted on senseless noise.

Prophets of Saturn - Retronauts (HeviSike)

Now we get to this week’s top release, the 2nd album from the Leicester, UK quartet. This may be the closet anyone has come yet to challenging the throne of Electric Wizard. This record is a little more upbeat and a little less nihilistic than the offerings from EW, but these guys offer an inspired take on the occult Stoner/Doom thing without sounding clichéd. While this is a Doom record through and through, I dig the bluesy Stoner Metal riffs that create the backbone for the maelstrom. In typical UK Doom fashion, the vocals are buried a bit and over-processed at times. Also, how many bands have played that opening riff on the third track? The 16-minute closer is a tour de force, though.

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This Week's Recommended New Releases...

7/9/2015

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This week's recommended new releases (07/07/15 & 07/10/15):
[Click on band name for samples and more info]

Bison Machine - Hoarfrost (Kozmik Artifactz)

The Hamtramck, MI quartet doles out some good old fashioned American stoner metal on their debut album. There are some pretty obvious Mastodon influences within the six tracks and while I’m not a huge fan of Mastodon, it’s not enough to derail the album. While the band’s technical prowess is on display throughout, it’s not super progressive, relying more on the almighty riff to get through to the listener. The vocals are really smooth and blend in perfectly with the riffage. Overall, this is a really solid debut and I assume these guys are fantastic in a live setting.

Fin'amor - Forbidding Mourning (N/A)

I’m always skeptical of anything coming out of Brooklyn, but this 6-piece delivers an absolutely punishing, relentless brand of Melodic Doom/Death on their debut album. Harkening back to the original Peaceville sound and adding a heavy dose of the current Soviet scene, these dudes conjure up a devastating melancholy nearly unrivaled these days by American bands. The piano is used quite tastefully to lull the listener into an unnerving calm before the wall of doom guitars kicks back in to destroy everything in its path. Can’t recommend this one highly enough.

Khemmis - Absolution (20 Buck Spin)

Another fantastic debut album this week, this one courtesy of the venerable Denver quartet. Combining traditional Doom with a bit of sludge and adding a fantastic fuzzy tone, these dudes have managed to conjure up something that sounds original and actually stands out in a saturated Doom/Sludge market. The vocal performance is my favorite on an album since last year’s Ancient VVisdom release and the music ranks right up there with the vocals. These dudes simply know how to write a riff and arrange a Doom song.

Possessor - Stay Dead EP (Medusa Crush)

The London trio returns to grace us with a short 4-song EP hot on the heels of last year’s fantastic debut release. They add a heaping dose of Thrash to the Doom/Stoner sound and it works quite well in my opinion. The Thrash element really does a nice job of separating these guys from the tried-and-true occult Doom scene and while the vocal suffer a bit on the production end, the riffs are enough to sell this album for me. The sound is so massive and heavy that it’s hard to imagine a power trio pulling it off. Looking forward to another full-length from these dudes soon.

Editor's Note: Beginning on Friday, July 10, global album releases will move from Monday (Europe) and Tuesday (USA) to Fridays. Accordingly, our weekly recommendations column will begin appearing on Friday next week. - JO

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This Week's Recommended New Releases...

7/1/2015

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This week's recommended new releases (06/30/15):
[Click on band name for samples and more info]

Kadavrik - Grimm I & II (Testimony)

I kind of expected some Folk Metal with that album title, but instead I was treated to some classic Melodeath in the vein of 90’s-era In Flames (at times). The fourth album from the German quintet employs the harsh vocals, chugging riffs and melodic leads utilized by the early Gothenburg bands without sounding like a carbon copy or falling prey to the breakdown-infused pit of despair that the pioneers fell into later in their careers. Overall, a very fresh update on the Melodeath sound and a must-listen for fellow fans of the genre.

King Giant - Black Ocean Waves (N/A)

The Virginia quintet returns with their 3rd album, mixing a little bit of Orange Goblin with a heaping dose of Southern groove. There’s nothing really groundbreaking or forward-thinking here, just a nice hefty slab of Stoner/Doom. You know what to expect…gnarly riffs galore and hard-driving tunes. If you're into the 90's Stoner Metal sound, check this one out for sure.

My Silent Wake - Damnatio Memoriae (House of Ashes)

This is some pretty solid melancholic Death/Doom from the veteran UK quintet on their 8th album as they continue to carry the flag from the forerunners of the Peaceville scene. These guys have been pretty active, this being their 4th album in the last 3 years, and members seem to come and go, but I don’t hear any lack of focus in the songwriting. The songs mostly stay around the 5-6 minute mark, which allows the band to hone in on the solid riffs without getting lost in some of their overly progressive tendencies that hindered the last release. Fans of Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride should scoop this one up.

Sorrowful - In the Rainfall (Solitude Productions)

Here we have yet another stunning release from the always excellent Solitude Productions, as the label continues to branch out from Russia to bring us incredible Doom/Death Metal bands. This Gothenburg (by way of Mexico) duo conjures up an absolutely punishing sound on their debut album. The guitar melodies absolutely blew me away and the vocals are top-notch. These guys mainly operate in the slow and slower realm, but when they let loose and start thrashing away, it’s something to behold, with Doom riffs doubling over Black Metal drum patterns. Very interesting listen and highly recommended.

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This Week's Recommended New Releases...

This Week's Recommended New Releases...

This Week's Recommended New Releases...

This Week's Recommended New Releases...

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