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This Week's Recommended New Releases...

9/24/2014

This week's recommended new releases (09/23/14):
[Click on band name for samples and more info]

Beak - Let Time Begin (Someoddpilot)

Chicago quartet busts out some massive atmospheric sludge on their debut full-length album.

The Well - Samsara (RidingEasy)

Killer psychedelic stoner/ doom on the debut album from this Austin, TX trio.

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This Week's Recommended New Releases...

9/16/2014

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This week's recommended new releases (09/16/14):
[Click on band name for samples and more info]

Ides of Gemini - Old World New Wave (Neurot)

L.A. trio returns with their second album of atmospheric blackened doom.

Myrkur - Myrkur (Relapse)

Debut EP from mysterious one-woman black metal project out of Denmark.

Snailking - Storm (Consouling Sounds)

Swedish doom/stoner/sludge trio makes a heavy impression with their debut.

Sons of Crom - Riddle Of Steel (Debemur Morti)

Swedish duo bursts on the scene with their epic doom/ heavy metal debut.

Stallion - Rise and Ride (High Roller)

Classic speed metal from German quintet on their debut album.

Stryvigor - Forgotten by Ages (Svarga Music)

Icy atmospheric black metal debut from Ukranian quartet.

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This Week's Recommended New Releases...

9/9/2014

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This week's recommended new releases (09/09/14):
[Click on band name for samples and more info]

Crimson Shadows - Kings Among Men (Napalm)

I don't generally get into Power Metal, but this Toronto quintet adds a dose of Melodic Death to the stew and that makes a huge difference. on their second album, Crimson Shadows use sparse clean vocals in tandem with raspy, blackened shrieks and gruff death growls that combine with the outstanding musicianship to create something fresh and exciting. This is what Dragonforce would sound like if its members were men. Swords and sorcery never sounded so brutal.

Lonely Kamel - Shit City (Napalm)

The Norwegian stoner rockers return with their fourth album, a scorching affair full of top notch material, switching seam- lessly between blazing stoner punk and laid back bluesy numbers. I haven't heard a lot of stoner stuff out of Norway, but they seem to be on par with their Swedish brethren. I honestly would have guessed that this came out of SoCal if I hadn’t known better.

Megaton Leviathan - Past 21: Beyond The Arctic Cell (Seventh Rule)

It takes some serious talent to be able to stretch a riff for over 4 minutes without losing steam and this Portland trio has mastered the art on their second album. This is drone doom at it's finest. I had the added bonus of cranking this album while driving through intense fog across the foothills of southern Ohio. I love it when music matches atmosphere so perfectly.

The Order of Israfel - Wisdom (Napalm)

It appears that there's a new Gothenburg sound these days. Actually, I wouldn't go that far, but if the debut album from these Swedes is any indication, that may not be far off. Wisdom is full of classic/epic doom in the vein of Candlemass, with some additional thrashy parts for good measure. Plus, they drag out the classic "cursed Nazarene" speech from Omen III: The Final Conflict on Track 8. Gets me everytime.

The Sabbathian - Ritual Rites EP (Svart)

Here's another solid classic doom release this week, this time courtesy of two dudes in North Carolina and a haunting female vocalist who hails from Norway. I don't know what kind of rehearsal/ recording arrangements this trio endures, but the result is pretty damn killer. Slow doom jams combined with pummeling riffage and those creepy vocals. Already looking forward to a full-length release from this outfit.

Steak - Slab City (Napalm)

Following two highly acclaimed EPs, this London foursome has finally released their debut full-length. This album would make the cut based on its unbelievably thick fuzz tones alone, but luckily the songs have merit as well. This is pure stoner metal, as lean and bloody (good) as the choice cuts at your local butchery. Oh, and John Garcia makes a guest appearance.

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Unsigned Bands of the Month - August, 2014...

9/4/2014

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King Dead – King
Dead

Instrumental sludge/doom from Stroudsburg, PA
http://kingdead.bandcamp.com/album/king-dead

Lucifer’s Fall – Lucifer’s Fall

Traditional doom from the bowels of Australia

http://lucifersfall.bandcamp.com/

Maze of Roots – Chapter 1/Chapter 2

Haunting doom from icy Finland
http://mazeofroots.bandcamp.com/album/chapter-one-3

Monobrow – Big
Sky, Black Horse

Instrumental stoner metal from Ontario

http://monobrowmanband.bandcamp.com/

North – Metanoia

Progressive doom/sludge from Tucson, AZ

http://galacticdads.bandcamp.com/album/metanoia

Scissorjack – Be
the Wolf

Groovy Southern stoner metal from San Antonio

https://scissorjack.bandcamp.com/album/be-the-wolf

Editor's Notes: Thanks to everyone who suggested a band or pointed me in the right direction. I'm always looking for new bands to check out and as always, I only recommend stuff that I personally enjoy. I'm really excited about this month's haul. Check out these six killer bands and keep those suggestions coming. - JO

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This Week's Recommended New Releases...

9/3/2014

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This week's recommended new releases (09/02/14):
[Click on band name for samples and more info]

Dark Fortress - Venereal Dawn (Century Media)

The Bavarian six piece returns with their 7th album and first in 4 years. It's kind of hard to pigeonhole this album because it's super heavy and melodic, but it's not really melodic death metal. At times, Dark Fortress borrows heavily from Opeth, back when Opeth was still a metal band. These dudes basically run the gamut, from doom to thrash to death and back again, with acoustic passages thrown in for good measure. The melodic guitar leads are particularly impressive.

The Haunted - Exit Wounds (Century Media)
The Haunted seem to get a lot of grief simply because they're not At The Gates. I have to admit that I've always been more intrigued than impressed myself, but on their 8th album, this Gothenburg quintet unleashes a vicious riff fest the likes of which have rarely been rivaled this year. There's plenty of vitriol in the lyrics and each of the 14 tracks offers a different twist on The Haunted's brand of thrashy melodic death metal. Check out the final track, "Ghost in the Machine", for some of tastiest riffs ever to come out of Sweden.

YOB - Clearing the Path To Ascend (Neurot)

This Eugene, OR trio has been a pillar of the doom scene for over 10 years and for that entire time, I've unconscionably sat on the fence. Thus, I can't say whether this new album measures up to YOB standards, but it's certainly an impressive album by any other metric. From crushing doom to introspective interludes, the 4 tracks that make up this hour long album make for an incredible listening experience.I think it's time to finally check out the back catalog and any recommendations from readers would be greatly appreciated.

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This Week's Recommended New Releases...

This Week's Recommended New Releases...

This Week's Recommended New Releases...

Unsigned Bands of the Month - August, 2014...

This Week's Recommended New Releases...

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