Kekal - The Habit of Fire
|
August
2005, after 10 years of existence as a band, KEKAL decided to move
forward and to come deep into musical territories yet unexplored by the
band. Throughout the year 2006, KEKAL was busy recording and shaping
their 6th album entitled "The Habit of Fire", an ambitious project
which marks a new statement for the band. "The Habit of Fire" is an
experimental (but yet accessible) 70-minute epic concept album of
'urban avantgarde metal', with a liberal use of electronic elements and
mix of countless musical sub-genres to accompany their trademark
guitar-driven soundscapes. "The Habit of Fire" is now.
|
| |
Primitive Graven Image - Traversing the Awesome Night
|
Hailing
from England, across the sea from the Norwegian heartland, Primitive
Graven Image bring the true black metal feeling into 2007. With booming
drums, icey guitars, hellish vocals and brooding dark atmospherics,
this music is made for black metal fans, by black metal fans.
|
| |
Celestine - At the Borders of Arcadia
|
"At
the Borders of Arcadia" is highly recommended and a must own for fans
of CONVERGE, BURIED INSIDE, ISIS, MESHUGGAH, and NEUROSIS. Angular and
blistering post-metal insanity!
|
| |
Black Crucifixion - Faustian Dream
|
After
releasing two mini albums "The Fallen One of Flames" (1992) and
"Promethean Gift" (1993) Black Crucifixion had grown tired of black
metal. These Finnish pioneers of dark metal started to create music
with more variance and began the recordings for their debut full length
album "Faustian Dream" in 1996. The album was never released, until
now, after ten years it has been finalized.
|
| |
Agalloch - Ashes Against The Grain (Slipcase)
|
Four years after
their critically acclaimed sophomore effort “The Mantle”, Agalloch
delivers their new album, “Ashes Against The Grain”. Always progressing
but never losing touch with their dark metal roots, the band’s third
album unites elements of black metal, Scandinavian prog, and post-rock
with the band’s signature brooding style.
|
| |
Agalloch - Pale Folklore
|
"Pale Folklore"
features eight tracks at a total running time of over sixty-two
minutes. Very elaborate and diverse, and surrounded by the majesty of
nature and the burden of human existence, the album bursts with
melodies with a basis of dark yet very emotional concepts. Creating
auras of dark, symphonic melancholia, "Pale Folklore" turns out to be
one of the most tragic, mournful yet expressive listening experiences
ever!
|
| |
Agalloch - The Mantle
|
Sophomore release
by AGALLOCH from Portland, OR. The Mantle is a grand multi-dimensional
opus of 70 minutes featuring their melancholic metal with post rock and
neo-folk elements. References range from Pink Floyd, Godspeed You Black
Emperor, Sol Invictus, Ulver, Dissection, Fields Of The Nephilim and
more.
|
| |
Darkthrone - Panzerfaust
|
'Panzerfaust'
starts right where 'Transilvanian Hunger' left off, with a highspeed
wall of freezing guitars and obscure, haunting melodies...however,
things turn around very quickly on the second track as the
Hellhammer/Celtic Frost influences that Fenriz now mentions constantly
in every interview come into play. Slowing way, way down, the duo (by
this time, of course, Zephyrous had left) painfully grind out abysmal,
howling black prayers to the night and its infernal forces using the
crushing, sludge-heavy style that Tom G. Warrior made so popular with
his agonizing 'Triumph of Death', keeping the atmosphere and aggression
intact with simple riff-based songs that are nevertheless incredibly
powerful. 'Triumphant Gleam', 'The Hordes of Nebulah', and 'Beholding
the Throne of Might' are just massive, monolithic, gouging anthems, as
heavy as black metal could ever get, and among this band's best work.
The rest of the album is just as good, and that's why so many people
put this album on their top ten lists when it comes to favorite black
metal releases. Also, Darkthrone's alliance with Burzum did not end
with 'Transilvanian Hunger', as Varg Vikernes wrote the lyrics to the
sixth song on this album, 'Quintessence' - a track which features what
must be Nocturno Culto's most crazed, demonic, and horrifying vocal
performance. This album is a classic, enough said.
|
| |
Darkthrone - Total Death
|
This album was
thought by many, at the time, to be the last Darkthrone would ever
produce. Not so. As it stands, this is an exhaustive foray even further
into the primitive black metal chaos that they had been exploring over
the past five albums, and is actually considered by many to be their
greatest work. As it stands, this is like a survey of the influences of
the years that had come before, from Bathory to Celtic Frost,
Hellhammer to Thorns and Mayhem. Excellent, well-defined, exquisitely
engineered paens to blasphemy and the call of the dark, with lyrics
written by some of the most notable musicians in the Norwegian scene,
including Garm, Ihsahn, etc. Features members from Satyricon, Storm
& Isengard.
|
| |
Enslaved - Below The Lights
|
"BELOW THE LIGHTS"
is a genuine masterpiece from Extreme Metal Pioneers ENSLAVED. Pushing
the boundaries even further the band portrays elaborate avant-garde and
progressive elements making it their most innovative and massive album
so far. ENSLAVED has a history of being at the absolute cutting edge of
Extreme Metal since the early 90’s, when Norwegian Metal took it first
steps towards worldwide recognition. Always being a step ahead,
ENSLAVED has been regarded one of the most quality extreme bands in the
scene and have released album that are now considered genre classics,
such as, "Vikingligr Veldi", "Frost" and "Monumension". Even the
departure of both R. Kronheim (guitars) and Dirge Rep (drums) have not
altered ENSLAVED’s creative patterns. In fact, the remaining and
original line-up of Ivar P. & Grutle Kjellson, added a new lead
guitarist Arve Isdal which only gave the band renewed inspiration and
energy. "BELOW THE LIGHTS" is a journey downwards, into darkness.
Melodic, epic, roaring, pitch black, addictive and full of energy this
is an album of sheer brilliance!
|
| |
Immortal - Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism
|
This legendary
band's first album, beginning their notoriety with a selection of
absolute classics, including the epic 'The Call of the Wintermoon'.
This set down the essential Immortal blueprint which they followed on
the next three albums: speed on the edge of self-destruction,
razor-sharp guitars which bite to the bone, lyrics which illustrated
their own icebound world, and a sense of Northern melody which is
completely their own. Bursting with Bathory influence, obviously, but
still a classic true Norwegian black metal release.
|
| |
Sigh - Imaginary Sonicscape (reissue)
|
Originally
released in 2001, Sigh's 'Imaginary Sonicscape' is the Japanese
avant-garde black metal group's most psychedelic and exotic album.
Featuring cover art by Stephen O'Malley (SUNN O))), Southern Lord
Records), this reissue is 'Imaginary Sonicscape' as it was originally
conceived by the band, introducing two songs cut from the original
release. Remastered by James Murphy!
|
| |
Dwarka - Fragmenten Van Verdriet
|
Stunning Folk / Dark Ambient from the Netherlands. Music used to float into another age, one of natural wonder and mysticism.
|
| |
Malefic Mist / Ratsel - Manto Funebre dell'Inverno / Desolation
|
Split album between two incredibly grim and cold black metal acts from Italy; limited to 80 copies, never to be repressed.
|
| |
Ichorous / Concrete Threat - Split
|
Brilliant split
CDr of harsh grating noise. Long drawn out walls of noise and blinding
chaos fill this disc. Mind numbing audio torture!!!
|
| |
Tripod - Peace Experience
|
"tripod"
is the impulsive overlap of “cloudburst” (keyboards, loops, gameboy),
mio*star (e-drums, loops, effects) and kristof (bass). It is a
collective improvisation around the theme of peace, mixing atmospheric
layers, sharp loops and electro lo-fi sounds. “tripod” is another of
the FuseLab in-house underground productions.) Silkscreened CDr in slimline case; no booklet!
|
| |
Zebarges - Too Big For Love
|
2nd
album, still totally crazy! 21 tracks plus a video clip and 2 tracks
featuring a 6-strings guitar...are they evolving towards a redefinition
of the "VLOBEURGHHH"? I recall that it is some Metal/Punk without
guitar.
|
| |
Zebarges - Putain D' Metal
|
1st
full-length album for this duo featuring a drum programmer and a bass
player/vocalist. 12 crazy tracks of "VLOBEURGHHH" (Metal/Punk without
any guitar) with totally sick French lyrics.
|
| |
I STILL BELIEVE - Guns, Bitches and Drugs
|
Brand new! 11 punk / hardcore tracks, with boston influences, and 'fast times' influences! Angry grrrl on vocals!
|
| |
Ancestral / Wedard - Split
|
ANCESTRAL
deals with the bleak possibilities of a future, over-population of
humans and its effects on the planet, extinction, "pre-history",
processes of deforestation and desertification, origins of agriculture
and the processes of life/death/decay.old, depressing Germanic black
metal is the main focus of WEDARD. Three new eminations of melancholic
sounds have surfaced and will bring about long repressed suicidal
thoughts.
|
| |
Ancient Tundra - Requiems Of A World Lost
|
The
long-awaited second album from Canada's Ancient Tundra. Desolate,
Hypnotic and Dissonent Dark Ambient with elements of classical music,
funeral doom, and black metal. Almost a full-hour of music separated
into two acts featuring guest apperances from Mort, Hideous and Kenji
Siratori. Comes packaged in a CD case with a 4 page booklet!
|
| |
Winds Of Sorrow - Through Twilight...
|
The
debut album from Mort's (Exiled From Light, Schizophrenia, When Mine
Eyes Blacken) Atmospheric Black Metal Project. Beautiful Melodies and
Absorbing Atmospheres, an album with the potential to be uplifting yet
still be depressive! A different side of Mort's multi-faceted musical
path. Comes packaged in a CD case with a 4 page booklet!
|
| |
|
|
White Medal - "White Medal" 7" EP
|
White vinyl,
quality gatefold layout. Grim pulsating black metal with a truly
original warmth and intense atmospheric grandeur. Somehow, brutal and
beautiful at the same instant. Highly Recommended!
|
| |
Roid 7" EP
|
Italian
grindcore youngsters, with future members of la quiete, rebelde and
raein. Mixing old school powerviolence and emotional grind influences;
Roid is pure passionate music! Glossy booklet and white vinyl.
|
| |
Fog - From Within The Darkness Beyond Eternity - 7" vinyl
|
Two
new tracks from FOG that take the band into a stronger more dark and
aggressive direction. Rich melodies mixed with a deep wide open
aggressive fury! Pure technical originality while capturing the hateful
black atmospheres of the old ones!
|
| |
Leviathan - The Blind Wound 12"
|
This
is the standalone LP release of the Leviathan side of the
Sapthuran/Leviathan split. 5 tracks of some of the most abstract and
obscure black metal to ever arise from the US. Highly recommended!!!
|
| |
Fog - Through The Eyes of Night, Winged They Come - 12"
|
Amazing debut from this horde of USA black metal.
|
| |
In Battle - Welcome to the Battlefield - 12"
|
The legendary and outstanding Viking/Black/Death Metal masters! Features Erik Rutan (Morbid Angel, Hate Eternal) on guest solo guitar!
|
| |
Satariel - Hydra - 12"
|
Creative and unique sound, extremely memorable Death Metal/Melodic Death Metal.
|
| |
VORKUTA/KRATORNAS - Monoliths of Annihilation - split 7"
|
Both
bands deliver brand new tracks exclusive to this release. VORKUTA's
side of the split shows the thrashier side of the band mixed with its
trademark black metal approach found on the group's "Into the Chasms of
Lunacy" album. KRATORNAS carries on in its chaotic brand of black death
metal along the lines of old MORBID ANGEL, KRISIUN and early SLAYER.
|
| |
Cower - 'Hatred Songs' - 7" inch
|
Imagine power violence, stoner rock and doom metal all rolled up into one crushing sound! Black vinyl.
Pressed by Television records
|
| |
|
|
Ichorous - Damage Curb (cassette)
|
4
new tracks of brutally destructive harsh noise. Amazing, crushing tones
of destroyed atmosphere! Extremely limited cassette tape!
|
| |
Leech/Thou - We pass like night from Land to Land (cassette)
|
Sludgy Doom (Thou) and Cascadian Black Metal (Leech). AMAZING split tape released on Woodsmoke Records!!!
|
| |
Skagos/Tomhet - Himmelszelt (cassette)
|
Canadian forest
metal band Skagos and one-man atmospheric black metal project Tomhet in
the long awaited split tape from Woodsmoke. Thirty minutes each side.
|
| |
Njiqahdda - Njimajikal Arts (cassette)
|
Njiqahdda are
an amazing ambient/meditative/black metal group with psychadelic
tendencies from Illinois. This tape contains Disk 1 (only) of the
original Njimajikal Arts release. Both sides are approximately 28
minutes long.Released in 200 copies but is already down to 60 copies. Get one while we have them available!!!
|
| |
Oaken Throne - Number 4 - Winter 2006 - Magazine
|
One
of the most amazing underground print publications in the planet,
beautiful design and conceptualization brought to fruition!!! Features
Animus, Black Boned Angel, Celestiial, Graves At Sea, L'Acephale,
Nachtmystium, Temple of Baal, Thralldom, Villains, Vorkreist, Withered,
Wolves In The Throne Room & many more!!!!
|
| |
Oaken Throne - Number 5 - Summer 2007 - Magazine
|
One
of the most amazing underground print publications in the planet,
beautiful design and conceptualization brought to fruition!!! Features
Acrimonious, Adorior, Archgoat, Asunder, Blacklodge, Caina, Coffins,
Cult of Daath, Dapnom, Harvey Milk, Moss, Necromorbus, Portal, &
Wold. Also comes with a killer compilation CD with many of the bands
listed above!!!
|
| |
Oaken Throne - Number 6 - Winter 2009 - Magazine
|
Finally, the new issue is here! There has been lots of interest
in this zine, especially over the last 2 years and all the word of
mouth recommendations have been directly related to the intense quality
and craftsmanship these guys have put into Oaken Throne since issue #1
(some of you might perhaps remember the first 2 issues being like 5
feet tall?). Issue #6 is another 7x7 formatted work of art and they
managed to step up the quality yet again this time ditching the staples
and adding the extra class of making everything spinebound. Interviews
this issue include: Akitsa, Aluk Todolo, Avsky, Dead Raven Choir,
Dialing In, Gnaw Their Tongues, Immolation, IXXI, Lugubrum, Necros
Christos, Necrovation, Throneum and Vargr. As with the last issue, #6
also includes a compilation CD containing tracks from all the
interviewed artists. A whopping 96 pages presented with the usual
stellar offset printed covers.
|
| |
|
