Njiqahdda - Grain III

The ever prolific (and ever unpronounceable) Njiqahdda have released something of a revelation here with this little ep. Somewhere between atmospheric death metal and mathrock with droning Morrissey as troll-style vocals. But with the feel of climaxing black metal just there but slipping through your reach. I'm loving it big time and am a little bit surprised at the effect it's having over me. Hypnotic, laid back...powerful. This is just about a perfect sound, do go over to their bandcamp where nearly all eee Recordings are available for your perusal.
Oppose the mainstream dammit!

Against the Grains

On Repeat

Mille and krew unleashed an absolute stunner from the oft maligned but UNDERrated Endorama.

Warchitect - Matter

A beyond awful name for a beyond awesome band. Wonderfully atmospheric melodic tech-death...a hardcore/post-rock-tinged Death perhaps? Or for a more obscure point of reference, anyone remember B'more tech band Psychotogen? Their Perverse and UnNatural Practices and Calculus of Evil albums? Well, Warchitect might as well be their Dutch doppelganger.

What does it Matter?

The Skull Defekts - The Drone Drug

Drone Drug's sound is about as welcome as a kick to the groin, and it succeeds on that very fact alone. ENJOOOOY!!!

The Drone Drug

Asbestoscape - Asbestoscape

Haunting ambience that will rock your nutz off. An enviable feat.

Asbestoscape

Organ - Apoplexy In Six Parts

Norway's mysterious Organ were an incredibly gifted group that presaged the sound that Ved Buens Ende would morph into with Virus. 2003's Apoplexy In Six Parts is sort of a missing link between those two bands (sonically at least, not personnel wise). Very cool instrumentation...there'll be a convoluted clean guitar passage going on and just some incessant blasting underneath. This is actually really similar to what DHG did on Supervillain Outcast. No vox really, but occasionally some disturbed samples will make an appearance (fellatio, Donald Duck?) Definitely one of the forgotten gems of weirdo Norwegian black metal, and an important step forward for the post black metal genre.

Apoplexy In Six Parts

Verdunkeln - Eintritt in Den Qualenfall

Pounding black metal with a unique atmosphere. Has a little of that Symbolist cinematic flavor of Smohalla and Ruins of Beverast paired with the wrist slicing undertones of Bethlehem...play this one to get your Verdunkadunk goin'.

Entry Into Perversion

Soror Dolorosa - Blind Scenes

Darkwave from one of the guys responsible for French dissonant bm’s Darvulia.. I’ve caught myself daydreaming to this one…it has such an easy dreamy atmosphere to get lost in. A definite “mood” record, and I feel this mood often. Why Yes, I AM a sad sack.

Blind Scenes

Island - Orakel

For those of you that just can't get enough Zeitgeister musick. Island is pretty much the same peeps that are involved in Woburn House and Valborg playing pretty much the same sort of avant death metal. A more condensed version of the Monstrous Manoeuvres album with more blastbeats. Can't beat it.

Orakel

Woburn House - Monstrous Manoeuvres In The Mushroom Maze

Opethian prog-death from the Zeitgeister contingent...more of a dissonant sometimes Gorguts angular feel to the riffs, and sweet, sweet vox. Props for the alliterative album title too. Very nice!!

Monstrous Manoeuvres In The Mushroom Maze

Under Black Clouds - As Darkness Falls

Epic doom post-rock death metal from '92.  I didn't even know this type of musick was being made back then!! Equal parts Neurosis, Obituary and My Dying Bride, this is an original and beautiful forgotten gem...let the sweet darkness fall.

As Darkness Falls

Formloff - Adjø Silo

Surreal Nordic metal that'll have your toes tapping and your dog's barking (especially during Vaskebjoernen A.l.e.k.s.). Imagine Sculptured's back-catalogue being remixed by that Cornelius mutherfucker from Solefald...real fun stuff!!

Pup'n'fresh

Heiden - Obsidian

Pretty killer black'n'roll reminding me of the Estonian Loit's patented flak'n'roll or even the militaristic Norwegians in Vreid. Heiden retains an insatiable black metal characteristic letting blastbeats emerge from all the midpaced hellfire...I even hear some postrock guitar lilt in the mix, so there's a little something for everyone!

Obsidian

Love History - Anasazi

Technical emotive mystik Metal with six members including chick soprano and choirs, acoustic guitar, synths, jew harps, bongos…add to this a mix of death metal growls, whispers and clean vox. An elegant clusterfuck.

Anasazi

Todtgelichter - Angst

Probably the best black metal album released in the last few years…I know I said that about Rossomahaar and MGLA but these Krauts have them beat. Imagine Nagelfar’s Srontgorrth combined with The Postman Syndrome’s Terraforming the result is so awesome that if I would’ve known about it sooner Angst would’ve topped my Beast of List for last year no questions asked. So many key tracks on this album but I guess it says something that Subway is the number one played song in my itunes. Addictive, depressive, enlightening, stupendous!

Angst