Undiscovered Moons of Saturn - Lost in cosmos

*Year : 2004

*Country : New Zealand

*Genre : Dark Ambient/Drone

Tracklist :

1. Drowning In Magellanic Clouds
2. Osorion's Gargantuan Sea
3. Movements Through The Asteroid Belt
4. Music Of The Spheres
5. Terrabyss The Chambers Of Ganymede
6. Cosmic Tide Of A Black Eclipse
7. To Stryde Monoceros' Dark Pendulum
8. Visions From The Caves Of Phobos

*******

Total playing time : 53.16

Comment:

Very dark structures for a calm, mysterious and haunting music. Does it look like Darkspace? Yes and no, I would say that the atmosphere is quiet similar but less "horrific", no shrill cries, no human presence, only vacuum and darkness, atmosphere in the pure state. UMOS music is a long travel far, far away. Breathtaking compositions
I can't explain why I only discovered this band this month, at the first listening of the first title I decided to buy it. An impulsive and necessary purchase!
In 3 words: Unsettling journey (through the) space

Myspace

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Gallow God - False Mystical Prose

*Year : 2010

*Country : UK

*Genre : Doom

Tracklist :

1. The Sin and Doom of Godless Men

2. The Emissary

3. Summon the Rune Wizard

4. Ship of Nails

*******

Total playing time : 37.36

Comment:

Traditional Doom in the vein of Isole, Warning and Pale Divine. Mesmerizing vocals above foggy riffing. The very slow (as Funeral Doom) guitars and drum perfectly support the haunting melodies of a great voice. We also ditcintly hear the bass, this is probably due to the excellent prodution. It's a fantastic debut EP. I won't describe it more, hear the video and make your own opinion.

False Mystical Prose in 3 words: Haunting, Mezmerising, Majestic

For fans of: Tergothon and  Shape of Despair

Myspace

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Night must Fall - Dissonance of Thought

*Year : 2007

*Country : Finland

*Genre : Funeral Doom

Tracklist :

1. Invocation

2. Awaiting the Sixth Extinction

*******

Total playing time : 30.15

Comment:

If I had to define Night must Fall in one sentence, I would say that's a mix between Wormphlegm (80%), Bethlehem (15%), Cough (3%) and Silencer (2%). They play Funeral Doom with a touch of Sludge and the result has the insanity and perversion of some Depressive Black Metal bands. The first thing that struck us is the tortured voice straight out from limbo. The rest is monotonous, abyssal, and crushing.

Dissonance of Thought in 3 words: Torture, Agony, Dissonance

No Myspace

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Ash Borer - Ash Borer

*Year : 2011

*Country : USA

*Genre : Atmospheric Black Metal

Tracklist :

1. In the Midst of Life, We are in Death.

2. Rest, You are Lightning.

3. My Curse was Raised in the Darkness Against a Doomsday SIlence.

*******

Total playing time : 39.45

Comment:

A rich Cascadian black metal band with varied music containing depressive black metal, post-rock, doom metal, ambient, and progressive metal influences. Every single second of this three long tracks delights, bewitchs and holds your minds/your intention. A perfect equilibrium between atmospheric parts and more agressive, explosive and technical Black Metal parts.
Without doubt one of the most talentuous recent atmospheric project. A serious candidate for the atmospheric black metal album of the year.

For fans of: Cascadian Metal (Skagos, Panopticon, Wolves in the Throne Room,...), Altar of Plagues, Rorcal, Fell Voices, Woods of Desolation.

Ash Borer in 3 words: Impressive, Desperate, Dreamy

Myspace

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Abysmal Grief - Abysmal Grief

*Year : 2007

*Country : Italia

*Genre : Gothic-oriented Doom Metal

Tracklist :

1. The Necromass: Always They Answer

2. Dirges

3. Cultus Lugubris

4. Requies Aeterna

5. Creatures From The Grave

6. Divination

7. When The Ceremony Ends

*******

Total playing time : 47.07

Comment:

In a sense, Abysmal Grief plays traditional Doom: A slow tempo with stretched riffs and a clear and sententious voice.
On Another hand this album is absolutely unique: "Abysmal Grief" is a dirty, noble, gothic, and extremely vain album. The entire album is lead by an organ moved by an insane pretentiousness. The clear voice is comes down to black magic incantation and foul litany. Somewhere between the grotesque and the tragic, half-way between misery and lust, "Abysmal Grief" should be a priority purchase for anyone who's capable to understand the word "excess". It looks like nothing else!

Abysmal Grief in 3 words: Alchemy, Mass, Depravation (, Aleister Crowley)

Myspace

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Murkrat - Drudging the Mire

*Year : 2011

*Country : Australia

*Genre : Funeral Doom with female vocal

Tracklist :

1. Processional: Drudging The Mire 

2. I, Rodent 

3. Faceless 

4. World 

5. Electric Womb 

6. The Mighty Spires 

7. Speak 

8. Berceuse - Slow Immersion

*******

Total playing time : 1.11.57

Comment:

Here is my last order. A great Doom metal album, with female fantastic varied voice (Mandy VKS Cattleprod is songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist and bass player). This slooow and minimalist Funeral Doom is enriched by melancholic melodies which reinforce the sensation of lingering pain . It's the kind of music you should listen in the candlelight with a blood red wine glass on the hand.

For fans of: Enslaved,  Skepticism, Penitent, Die Verbannte Kinder Evas, Fallen, Evoken and Thergothon

Drudging the Mire in 3 words: Abyssmal, Nightmarish , Meditative

Myspace (unofficial)

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Helheim - Asgards Fall

*Year : 2010

*Country : Norway

*Genre : Black Metal 

Tracklist :

1. Åsgards Fall Part 1
2. Åsgards Fall Interlude
3. Åsgards Fall Part 2
4. Helheim Part 7

5. Dualitet Og Ulver

6. Jernskogen (re-recording)

*******

Total playing time : 33.31

Comment:

Awaiting  their new CD (Heiðindómr Ok Mótgang), I decided to post their last Ep. This release contains 2 parts separated by an interlude. A massive and epic Black Metal mixed with Norse mythology and viking elements, a classical theme for an "unique" band . Raw and clean vocals are absolutely perfect, the melodies are epic, this is right equilibrium between typical Norwegian Black Metal and Viking Metal (in the vein of Enslaved). Make your own opinion with the official clip...

For fans of: Enslaved, Taake, Einherjet and Forlorn 

Asgards Fall in 3 words: Captivating, Epic, Irreproachable

Myspace

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Subrosa - No Help for the Mighty Ones

*Year : 2011

*Country : USA

*Genre : Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal

Tracklist :

1. Borrowed Time, Borrowed Eyes
2. Beneath The Crown
3. Stonecarver
4. The Inheritance
5. Attack On Golden Mountain
6. Whippoorwill
7. House Carpenter
8. Dark Country

*******

Total playing time : 58.59

Comment:

Subrosa is a plays sludge metal with female vocals ans a Rasputina influence. haunting melodies,The arrangements are fine and the production is monstrous. How does it sound? slow rythme, methodical riffs, violins, haunting meodies, more sludge than doom, and even a traditional celtic folk song (“House Carpenter”). The whole is "obscene" but not horrific, someone noticed this pertinent observatio: Subrosa sound like Gate of slumber with tits (3/5 of the members are women) . Without qualifying this band from avant-guard metal, I would just say that this Subrosa breaks numbers of conventions with a great talent.

For fans of: Swans, Kylesa, Worm Ouroboros, Vernon, Sarah Pendleton and all open minded listeners.

No Help for [...] in 3 words: Inspired, Fantastic, Neurasthenic

Myspace

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Ascension - Consolamentum

*Year : 2010 (LP version), 2011 (CD version)

*Country : Germany

*Genre : Black Metal

Tracklist :

1. Open Hearts
2. Grey Light Sibling
3. Rebellion Flesh
4. Grant me Light
5. Fire and Faith
6. Amok
7. Angel of the Burning Sun
8. Consolamentum

*******

Total playing time : 47.07

Comment:

Ascension is a mysterious/anonymous German band mixed by two members of Odem Arcarum, Apparently Ascension should be composed of members from other established underground acts (as Katharsis). Consolamentum is a concept album following the transformation of a human soul towards salvation. The music contains Orthodoxe influences (Watain) combined with Secrets of the Moon (for the mid tempo passages). Ascension invent nothing and at the same time sounds perfect, not a single false note. Catchy riffs, subtle breaks and melodies, powerful vocals (remind me Funeral Mist) added to a developed and almost refined drum,... This occult atmosphere takes breath away.

Consolamentum  in 3 words: Mysticism, Classic, Elaborate

Myspace

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Portal - Swarth

*Year : 2009

*Country : Australia

*Genre : Death Metal??

Tracklist :

1. Swarth
2. Larvae
3. Illoomorpheme
4. The Swayy
5. Writhen
6. Omenknow
7. Werships
8. Marityme

*******

Total playing time : 40.42

Comment:

I immediately warn you that many will find this music indigestible but whatever Portal is a pure and putride concentrate of brutality. Impenetrable, hermetic,... sumum of musical abstraction. The blast-beats are dirty and sluggish, the vocals are indistinguishable and cavernous,  guitars growl without any respite and their riffs are technical but unintelligible, and the whole is exempt of melodies. Haunting and disturbing the atmosphere can't be more suffocating. This music is really impressive. Is it art? What's art?

For fans of: Bunkur, Khanate

Swarth in 3 words: Major Hearing Rape 

Myspace

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Hawkwind - Space Ritual

*Year : 1973

*Country : UK

*Genre : 70's psychedelic/space rock

Tracklist :

CD1:
1. Earth Calling
2. Born To Go
3. Down Through The Night
4. The Awakening
5. Lord Of Light
6. The Black Corridor
7. Space Is Deep
8. Electronic No 1
9. Orgone Accumulator
10. Upside Down
11. 10 Seconds Of Forever
12. Brainstorm - Previously Unreleased Complete Version

CD2:
1. Seven By Seven
2. Sonic Attack
3. Time We Left This World Today
4. Master Of The Universe
5. Welcome To The Future - Previously Unreleased Complete Version
6. You Shouldn't Do That - Previously Unreleased
7. Orgone Accumulator - Bonus Track
8. Time We Left This World Today - Bonus Track
9. You Shouldn't Do That - Bonus Track

*******

Total playing time : 1.26.55

Comment:

Hawkwind is certainly the band which invented Space-Rock. 

Space Ritual is a concept album dedicated to the "musica universalis. The girl on the cover is the dancer of the band who usually danced naked and on acid on stage while the musicians were playing still serious and static, just as could be Magma. Regarding the music, Space Ritual consists of: Pachydermic rhythmic, howling saxophone, lemmy for the bass parts, 70's keyboards, audial chaos, stellar wind in your face and galactic hubbub. In fact this music is the definition of psychedelic state.

For fans of: Funkadelic, Spacemen, Pink Floyd, Mammatus, Earthless, Acid Mothers Temple, Lemmy Kilmister

Space Ritual in 3 words: Psychedelic, Monumental, Essential

Myspace

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Deafheaven - Roads to Judah

*Year : 2011

*Country : USA

*Genre : Experimental Black Metal

Tracklist :

1. Violet 

2. Language Games 

3. Unrequited 

4. Tunnel of Trees

*******

Total playing time : 38.22

Comment:

The debut demo in on the net for free and creats a great buzz (yes, this band is hype) and many positive rumors have circulated on this first album. All this attention is absolutely deserved. The Cd opens with a sprawling atmospheric post-rock section before bursting into full-on black metal chaos. Very good album.

Roads to Judah: Hybrid, Clever, Modern 

Myspace

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Abandon - The Dead End

*Year : 2009

*Country : Sweden

*Genre : Sludge/Doom Metal

Tracklist :

Disc 1

1. Bitter The Surface

2. Pitch Black Hole

3. Lost We Are

4. Falling Into Place

5. Eulogy

6. In Reality Suffer

Disc 2

1. For Crumbs We Crawl

2. The Dead End

3. It’s All Gone

4. There Is No Escape

5. Eulogy

*******

Total playing time : 1.46.27

Comment:

Johan Carlzon (R.I.P.) passed away of overdose while the album was being recorded. This tragic event naturally reinforces the depressive nature of this heavy, dark and atmospheric music. Carlzon's growls and shouts are simply blood-freezing. I never listend to a so devastating doom sludge metal. It's also interesting to notice that the beautiful artwork is by Carlzon himself. A damn good and inspired album!

The Dead End in 3 words: Desperation, Misery, Mourning

Myspace

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Kylesa - Static Tensions

*Year : 2010

*Country : USA

*Genre : Stoner/Sludge

Tracklist :

1. Scapegoat
2. Insomnia For Months
3. Said and Done
4. Unknown Awareness
5. Running Red
6. Nature's Predators
7. Almost Lost
8. Only One
9. Perception
10. To Walk Alone

*******

Total playing time : 40.17

Comment:

Album of the year (2009). The band has two drummers, which offer an incredible dynamic to the music, guitars spew heavy stoner riffs and the tapping games are clever. The charismatic Laura Pleasant oscillates between singing and screaming vocals but also more profound psalm in response to the surly voice of her fellow guitarist Phillip Cope. Each instrument is highlighted in a coherent whole. A major release!

Static Tensions in 3 words: Powerful, Anger, Psychedelic Effects

Myspace

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Blaze of Perdition - Towards the Blaze of Perdition

*Year : 2010

*Country : Poland

*Genre : Black Metal

Tracklist :

1. 156
2. Misterium Kliffoth
3. Kénôme
4. The Scarlet Woman
5. Alchemy of Flesh
6. Son of Dawn
7. Królestwo Twoje
8. The Great Work
9. Towards the Blaze of Perdition

*******

Total playing time : 42.26

Comment:

Maybe not the revelation of the year, but good enough to be post on this blog. The band has the particularity to have two vocalists. This is decent old-school black metal with some good songs, but unfortunately none that are really memorable.

Towards the Blaze of Perdition   in 3 words: Aggressive, Orthodox, Traditional

No Myspace

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Power of Zeus - The Gospel According to Zeus

*Year : 1970

*Country : USA

*Genre : Hard Psychedelic Rock

Tracklist :

1. It Couldn't Be Me
2. In The Night
3. Green Grass & Clover
4. I Lost My Love
5. Death Trip
6. No Time
7. Uncertain Destination
8. Realization
9. Hard Working Man
10. Sorcerer Of Isis (the Ritual Of The Mole)

*******

Total playing time : 37.34

Comment:

The album starts in the best ways with "It Could not Be Me", a hard rock song with a monstrous rhythmic, irresistible guitar riffs and impecable Hammond organ. Subsequently the titles are more and psychedelic with beautiful vocal harmonies. Too bad the album loses intensity over minutes otherwise it could claim the title of masterpiece.

The Gospel According to Zeus in 3 words: Psychedelic, Time Machine, Trippy

for fans of: Vanilla Fudge, and Spooky Tooth

Myspace

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Night Conquers Day - Rebellion is the Art of Survival

*Year : 1999

*Country : USA

*Genre : Black Metal

Tracklist :

1. The Triumphant Night Conquers the Dying Day (Introitus II)
2. Mirror Gazing
3. The Perserverence of Ignorance
4. Rebellion is the Art of Survival
5. Drawn Together in Magnetic Violent Trances
6. Dream Sleep Sorcery
7. The Consequence of Action

*******

Total playing time : 1.12.56

Comment:

The band had a short existence, but it was enough to record two great full length. Rebellion is the Art of Survival is: Varied and "old school" vocals (with a King Diamond touch), a profusion of (slow) riffs, basic drumming, and above all brillant keyboards parts which are preponderant in this highly atmospheric and ambient music. Everything combined gives a unique style. 

It's also important to say you that all songs clock in at least 10 minutes and are complex (in the sense that there's many different variation in a same title, in some ways this is "plurisong" titles), so it's better to take your time to appraciate it intirely.

I bought this CD long time ago and this is always a pleasure to listen to it again, again and again.

Rebellion is the Art of Survival in 3 words: Misterious, Epic, Kitsch = Kvlt

Myspace

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Orchid - Capricorn

*Year : 2011

*Country : USA

*Genre : Retro Doom

Tracklist :

1. Eyes behind the wall
2. Capricorn
3. Black Funeral
4. Masters of it all
5. Down into the Earth
6. He who walks alone
7. Cosmonaut of three
8. Electric Father
9. Albatross

*******

Total playing time : 57.08

Comment:

Music characterized by Iommi-esque guitar work and charismatic vocals. A great 70's atmosphere with addictive melodies. The Sabbathian influence is undeniable, however, Orchid has a strong personality which easily distinguished them from all these uninteresting Sabbath clones. This is a flawless album from start to finish. I really haven't any reproach about Capricorn. 

Download it, Appreciate it, Buy it!

Capricorn in 3 words: Sabbathian, Retro, Addictive

for fans of: Black Sabbath, Pentagram, Trouble, Witchcraft, The Devils Blood and Jex Thoth

Myspace

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