Hypothermia - Skogens Hjärta (2010)

Band: Hypothermia

Album: Skogens Hjärta

Year: 2010

Country: Sweden

Since this song is ridiculously long (68 minutes and 44 seconds to be exact) I rarely manage to squeeze in enough time to listen to the whole song. But just the other day I had an hour and a half long bus journy through dark and snow-covered woods ahead of me so I couldn't resist the temptation. I didn't have a outer worldly experience but it sure made the drive comfortable and relaxing. Hypothermia is perhaps the most common name in the Depressive Black Metal-scene with multiple releases in their bag. Some think that they are amazing and some say that they are just overrated, everyone seems to have an opinion on them though. With this release you can clearly tell that the music tends to drift more and more to the Depressive Rock sound, kind of reminds me of a gloomier and heavier Red House Painters with it's slow and mellow guitar-play and simplistic drumming. The production on Skogens Hjärta is without a doubt the best to feature on any Hypothermia-release to date and overall the sound is more cleaner than before. Although there is some more distorted and harsher parts which for the most part gives the song a heavier background, the focus is mainly on the repetitive and very catchy melodies. This may not be easy listening due to the length and lack of variation, besides some nice build-ups and slightly different drumming on some parts the whole song evolves around the main melody. For me that is the beauty of the song and i think it makes the song more melancholic. Like a lullaby to a suicide.

Song(s) you should listen to: Speaks for itself doesn't it?

HOMEPAGE/DOWNLOAD

Satan's Satyrs - Demo (2010)

Band: Satan's Satyrs

Album: Demo

Year: 2010

Country: United States

Graveyard pictures! Patched jeansjackets! Blackened metalpunk of Satanic proportions! All packed into one of the best and gnarliest demos I have heard this year. Satan's Satyrs claim to have sprung out of the idea of combining the powers of Electric Wizard and Black Flag. The result is raw, trashy and catchy rifforgies with clean yet dirty vocals and simple drumming. This demo makes me want to grow my hair long, break edge and take my fathers old motorcycle out for a alcohol-reeking joyride which result in chaos and sudden death.

Song(s) you should listen to: The song titled Satan's Satyrs is the best song in my opinion. The fact that it includes an organ-part in the background that gives the song a feeling of taking place in a dark mass is alone reason to listen to this song. Also it has a really sweet guitar-solo.

MYSPACE/DOWNLOAD

Of Legend - Cleric of Samsara (2010)

Band: Of Legend

Album: Cleric of Samsara

Year: 2010

Country: United States

Of Legend from Atlanta is a 5-piece band which, according to their lastfm, uses "the loudest sound equipment they can afford". Although the album-cover looks like something suitable for a power metal/viking rock-band you won't find any of that stuff here. Well I guess that if you use your imagination the vocals could resemble the sound of Thor riding across the sky hailing down thunder at the world, or the sound of a mountain crumbling to dust, whatever you find most appealing. Cleric of Samsara is as loud and dynamic as it is melodic and mesmerizing. The songs are long and has a variety of peaks, fleeting between soft mellow parts to loud and heavy parts. Although the songs can be repetitive there is always something waiting around the corner that keeps it fresh and interesting. Together with the really strong and passionate vocals it makes Of Legend a band that you definitely should not pass on.

Song(s) you should listen to: The Cleric is the last song of the album and starts off strong right away rather than gradually go from soft to strong. It relentlessly keeps pounding it's sludginess on you until it fades out and all is quite once more. A solid end to a solid album.

MYSPACE/DOWNLOAD

V/A Grå Fraktion (2010)

Artist: V/A (Gravsten, Evilblood, Lavender, Untitled, Galge, Marching Church, Garrotte, Salome)

Album: Grå Fraktion

Year: 2010

Country: Denmark

From the country that brought us Tuborg, pølse and piskeflø comes this bizarre collection of underground Black Metal. This LP contains 8 projects where 7 of them have their debut-releases, only Garrotte has previously released something and has gained a reputation among black metal-lofi'ers. It seems like there is a strong punk-vibe in the danish underground-scene which I think is a good thing, it makes the music sound even more dirty and foul. I can imagine that this music is created by a bunch of drunk people smashing instruments at some random party while listening to Darkthrone and GG Allin.

Song(s) you should listen to: All of these bands play a similar form of music with a few exceptions. I think the band that stands out a bit from the rest is Marching Church which has a more wierder build-up in the songs, choppy riffs and stuff like that. Also the vocals are a bit similar to bands like Circle of Ouroborus. Other than that Garrotte and Salome has some really good songs as well.

HOMEPAGE/DOWNLOAD

Weakling - Dead As Dreams (2000)

Band: Weakling

Album: Dead As Dreams

Year: 2000

Country: United States

This blog needs more Black Metal if we want to live up to its name. Therefore I thought I'd upload this band that a friend of mine told me to check out. As he has been into Black Metal for quite some time he has a good taste in music, and when he talks about a band, it's definitely worth listening to. So I went home, looked them up and the first song that blasted out of my speakers knocked me out of my chair. Weakling plays a style of Black Metal that is just my cup of tea, long songs with great guitarplay and drumming topped with vocals that are characteristic to Depressive Black Metal, full of despair and pain so to speak. Its clearly that Wolves In The Throneroom has been inspired by these guys. If you're looking for extremely raw and gnarly music then you might want to pass this up but if you fancy some really great and well played BM with lots of thought and feelings behind then you don't want to sleep on this one.

Song(s) you should listen to: This Entire Fucking Battlefield. This entire fucking song is fucking great. From start to finish it's a really good but some parts in it is absolutely amazing. You will find a build-up-part about 5 minutes into the song that transfers into a blast-part at 6 minutes that makes you feel like someone just poured a bucket of cold water over you. You might also like the last minutes where the song is slowed down and turns into an mellow and epic outro.

MYSPACE/DOWNLOAD

Diagnose Lebensgefahr - Transformalin (2006)

Band: Diagnose Lebensgefahr
Album: Transformalin
Year: 2006
Country: Sweden
So, last time I told you about the vocalist Nattramn from the band Silencer, and that the rumours about him was a big reason for Silencer's "fame". So, here's the story about Nattramn, according to rumours on forums and websites.
Nattramn has had psychological problems for a while, and he has been to mental institutions every now and then. Around the release of Silencer's album, Nattramn's brother (who also had mental issues) got some new medication from his doctor and got a terrible psychosis. He stabbed two little girls on a playground with an axe, almost to death. He was arrested, but since he was mentally ill, he was sended to a mental institution instead of prison. On the mental institution he comitted suicide when he understood what he had done. This was a true tragedy, written everywhere in the newspapers.
Some people believed it was Nattramn, but it clearly wasn't. After his brother's death, Nattramn spent a longer period at St. Sigfrid Mental Hospital in Växjö. There he was offered to write and record music as therapy and to help him recover. It was later on released, and this album is the result.Nattramn has also been working on a book for quite long, and under that time it has been rumoured that he is dead. But he isn't, so the book Grishjärta will hopefully be released soon.  

Song(s) you should listen to: Honestly, I've tried to listen to this album from the beginning to the end so many times, but I find it so unpleasant. There's this uncomfortable tension going on in most of the songs, like the ones in horror movies, so you're waiting for something to happen while you're not being able to even breathe. I really forced myself to listen to it before uploading it, and found mostly industrial crap influences.
But, it's still very uncomfortable. You can play this for your children when they haven't done their homework. They will be scarred for life, and they will never ever fail a test again.

(NOTE: The doctor on the very left on the album cover is VERY much alike Bestefar, the other writer of this blog)

WEBSITE / DOWNLOAD

Silencer - Death - Pierce Me (2001)

Band: Silencer

Album: Death - Pierce Me

Year: 2001

Country: Sweden

Once upon a time I had a silly boyfriend who wanted to scare the crap out of me. He killed the lights in the room, and showed me the fanvideo of Sterile Nails And Thunderbowels. He ended up being quite scared himself, while I was quite fascinated by both the music and the visuals from the movie Begotten. I realized this guy wasn't trve, so I broke up with him and started my Black Metal-cult myself.

And though Silencer is kind of a worn out band in Sweden, it's perfect for introducing DSBM to someone. Their music combines beautiful and melancholic intros with evil and raw Black Metal. And if you can stand Nattramn's voice already from the beginning, you can listen to pretty much anything.
The reason the band is "kind of worn out" is mostly because of the stories about their mysterious singer Nattramn, You will read more about him in the next entry we make.

Song(s) you should listen to: Sterile Nails And Thunderbowels is their big hit, so to say. And I understand why. It's the typical Silencer-song, starting off with a very memorable and beautiful intro. Then Nattramn starts off with a shriek, which he normally does. And his voice is indeed one of the most charachteristic vocals in Black Metal. Some would say that he sings like a castrated goat, others will say that it is the voice of despair. Anyhow, there is a mellow part in the song which anyone will have very hard to take serious, because the vocals sounds like some retarded version of Gollum.
They also have other songs worth listening to, like the title track Death - Pierce Me, and Taklamakan.

DOWNLOAD

This Empty Flow - Magenta Skycode (1996)

Band: This Empty Flow
Album: Magenta Skycode
Year: 1996
Country: Finland
We've uploaded some new albums in a row now, so I thought we would go for an ancient one this time. When this was released I was an utterly ugly kid with crooked teeth and glasses, so I have to be honest, I don't know what was going on at the time. I would like to believe that this album was inspiring for a lot of artists to come, but I never heard of this album or this band until I stumbled over it while looking for some old Doom. Believe it or not, but most of these guys were playing in Thergothon, one of the bands that are considered to be the formers of Doom.
This Empty Flow is totally different from Thergothon. They are still creating the dark mood with huge success, but they're mixing it with a lot of other influences. There's is a huge amount of Post-Rock and Shoegaze, which is maybe not so surprising. The surprising part is maybe the Britpop-influences, making this sound like an ambient version of Joy Division.

Song(s) you should listen to: I think you should listen to the whole album. I know some die hard Doom-fans can't stand some of the songs, because they can be a bit whiny and cheesy. But they never got their stone cold hearts broken.

DOWNLOAD  

Ättestupa - Att Korsa Den Flod Som Kommer Dränka Oss Alla (2009)

Band: Ättestupa

Album: Att Korsa Den Flod Som Kommer Dränka Oss Alla

Year: 2009

Country: Sweden

Yet another release from Swedish drone-heads Ättestupa. This came out in 2009 as a cassette on Abisko and is long out of print and quite hard to come across even in mp3-format. I came across this by accident and felt like I had to share it with you. If you have been paying attention and done your homework you know what to expect from this great band by now. I personally find this release a bit more harsh compared to the other releases, adding a more heavy and evil aura to the concoction.

Song(s) you should listen to: According to me, Åderlåtningen is the best track on this 3-piece album. It starts of with some great repetitive drumming and something that sounds like a growling monster approaching you slowly but steady. Ready to sink it's teeth in you.

HOMEPAGE/DOWNLOAD

thisquietarmy - Aftermath (2010)

Band: thisquietarmy

Album: Aftermath

Year: 2010

Country: Canada

Montreal-based thisquietarmy consists of one man and his fellow companion, his guitar. Using various effect processors and other futuristic stuff that I'm too stupid to understand he creates a soundscape that lingers in the twilight between post-rock and drone. A wall of sound with lots of different melodies hidden beneath would be the best way to describe this. In other words the more attention you pay while listening the more you discover. But if you don't feel like breaking this down to the core and write an essay on every note you can just put this on while doing the dishes or whatever, it works just as good as soothing background music.

Song(s) you should listen to: Finding the Fallen is the longest track of the record and the one that I find most appealing. Also the transition from this song to the next, Unearthing the Past, is just great. The way they just float into each other is barely noticable and makes it feel like one complete song. Perfection.

MYSPACE/DOWNLOAD

Sönderriket - Etikens Dörr (2010)

Band: Sönderriket
Album: Etikens Dörr
Year: 2010
Country: Sweden
A couple of days ago I got a mysterious mail from a mysterious man, including only a mysterious link to a mysterious bandcamp site. Not even a single polite "hello"-phrase was written. Of course I got really curious, so I listened to both of the album published there. One of them was way too industrial for being my cup of tea, but this one caught my ears.
I guess some of you closeminded people wouldn't even call this music. It can be described as distorted melodies and reversed vocals, somehow managed by Mr Sandman. If you're from Sweden you will also notice this one man band's firm hand with words and wordplays. I would guess this album was made for being a complementary to his poetry, and for experimental causes.
If you're a fan of Ättestupa, the story-parts in Suffocate For Fuck Sake, or just if you're having trouble falling asleep, you should listen to this album.

Song(s) you should listen to: Jordiske Rund is a melancholic, but soothing, and very addicting song about nonsense, just like Riket Sönder. Kontraster is a darker song where the narrator is telling a story about loosing faith and being buried alive, and his discoveries while being underground.
I could write some words about every song, because each one of them has it's charm really. But I won't, just to leave you with a spark of curiousity left.

BANDCAMP / DOWNLOAD

Milanku - Convalescence (2009)

Band: Milanku
Album: Convalescence
Year: 2009
Country: Canada
Oh hi there, you fuzzy little man peach. I know what you're thinking right now; "Here comes Old Gregg, he's a scaly manfish..." But you don't know me. You don't know what I've got. I got something to show you. I'M OLD GREEEEEEEEEEGG!
And over to something quite similar, the Canadian band Milanku. Not that they're having seaweed hair and manginas, but you don't really know what to expect from these guys. First of all, they sing in French, which some Canadians do, but you still can't figure out what they're singing about. Second of all, when you're sitting there and are listening to the album, you will kind of get the feeling of a post-hardcore version of Mogwai. Then all of a sudden there is VOCALS. What the hell? Oh, it was probably just on this song... But wait, there's MORE in the other songs. They have a very strange way of presenting the vocals. They include just a little bit of vocals in the very end of the song. Probably so the ones who think instrumental bands are really boring to listen to will stand this album.
And they sure do got the funk.

Song(s) you should listen to: Mépris is the best one in my opinion. It starts of pretty generic and slow, but about 2.12 minutes into the song, the guitar riff of heaven folds out like a daisy flower.

MYSPACE / DOWNLOAD

Ättestupa - Untitled Lp (2008)

Band: Ättestupa

Album: Untitled Lp

Year: 2008

Country: Sweden

This is the debut album from Gothenburgs Ättestupa, two songs equals 38 minutes of minimalistic bliss. Listening to this makes me think of old Astrid Lindgren-movies, people hiding away in front of a fireplace in a small cabin by the woods, elders telling stories about ghosts, murderers, tragic deaths and other creepy stuff to the children, in the distance you can hear the faint sound of bells from a horse carriage plowing it's way through the thick snow. If you hav'nt been growing up in Sweden then I guess you have no idea what I'm talking about so after you've given this record a few spins you should download some Emil I Lönneberga (a popular film series based on the book by Astrid Lindgren). Then you will know exactly what I mean.

Song(s) you should listen to: The whole album, everyday, everytime, all the time. Over and over again.

HOMEPAGE/DOWNLOAD

ColdWorld - Melancholie² (2008)

Band: ColdWorld

Album: Melancholie²

Year: 2008

Country: Germany

It's November and winter is just waiting around the corner, in fact we already had the first snow a couple of weeks ago. Time to start planning for Christmas, what are you gonna have on your vegan christmas buffe, where and with who are you gonna spend the holidays and when in between all the planning and stress are you gonna have a heart attack? Well I say screw that. Instead of going through all that most normal people do I suggest that you download this album and let yourself be reminded of the beauty of the winter times. Inspired by band such as Burzum this one man band combines atmospheric black metal with cold ambient and a hint of classic music. This is a masterpiece in depressive black metal and the soundtrack to my winter.

Songs(s) you should listen to: Tortured By Solitude

This is a song that instantly sticks in your head. The main riff is what makes this song so good. In fact the word "good" is an insult to the song, it's simply amazing and one of the best riffs I've ever heard in a Black Metal-band. I remember playing this song to a friend who loved the music but said that the vocals destroyed the song for him. If your not into this kind of music I can understand that but for me the vocals is perfectly suited for this. Georg Börners monotonous chant-like vocals is filled with despair and you can really feel the pain and tormention behind every word.

Hymn to Eternal Frost

A song that stands out from the rest of the album since it's actually quite uplifting and joyfull. Don't get me wrong it still has that lonely and sorrowfull vibe to it but instead of making you want to burst out in tears it puts a sad smile on your face instead. Check it for yourself and you will see what I mean, you won't get disappointed.

MYSPACE/DOWNLOAD

Sorgeldom - Innerlig Förmörkelse (2009)

Band: Sorgeldom
Album: Innerlig Förmörkelse
Year: 2009
Country: Sweden
We've been uploading some black and white-album covers in a row now, so let's continue with that, even though this is the ugliest thing I've ever seen. This band does not include happy native africans dancing around a voodoo pole though, as it may seem from the cover. On the other hand, it does contain three very talented musicians from the dark woods of Sweden. And as I'm thinking about what would be the most epic of these two, you can read more about the album below...
This version of the album is the original, with all lyrics in Swedish. There is a newer release called "Inner Receivings" which I predict is the same, but with all lyrics translated. I don't know for sure, since I haven't listened to it.
This album is a must-listen to everyone who is cold hearted and bitter. Because this is very cold hearted and bitter. It does start off pretty calm, then the second track, which is a raw black metal-song, comes and slaps you in the face. Then it shifts from being raw and evil to more sensitive and melancholic parts.


Song(s) you should listen to: Insikter is actually just the intro of the album, but it's really the best tracks on it. It just consists of a very repetitive guitar, giving you some kind of Ättestupa-feeling. It's what I call "hippie-melancholic" - meaning that it's not that melancholic that you want to lay down and die, but you get very calm of it. Livslusten For Med Vinden is a shorter interlude, but it has the same concept with it's repetitive guitar.
Geväret Lades Fram, Processen Blev Kort (roughly translated as "the rifle was handed over, the process became short") is one of the real songs on the album which I really do like. It takes the intro- and interlude-guitar which I adore, and but it into a mixture of the raw song. And it endurances those 10 minutes a song has to be to get cred by the those "post-kinds" of people (like myself). Amazing.

MYSPACE / DOWNLOAD

Irreversible - Age EP (2006)

Band: Irreversible

Album: Age EP

Year: 2006

Country: United States

Just like with all genres you have leading giants in the form of bands who carries the genres flag forward. In the sludgescene these giants are without a doubt Neurosis, Cult of Luna and Isis (yeah I know Isis disbanded but that doesnt make then less crucial to the scene). But every now and then a band from the underground reaches out and shows us that they can do just as good music. Irreversible's "Age" is just that kind of album. Four songs plus an intermission packed with just about everything you can ask for in a sludgeband. Crushing guitars, heavy drumming, layered melodies, eery atmosphere and a hint of darkness sprinkled on top, the recipe for a delicious sludgecake.

Song(s) you should listen to: 8:22

Probably my personal favourite of the album. Slow layers of heavy melodies that fades out into a down tuned and soothing interlude just to explode in a burst of emotion, just the way I like it and a perfect ending for a near perfect album. And if you ever doubted that this band took it's name from the french film with the same name just read the lyrics to this song, "Time has ruined me. Time destroys all things."

MYSPACE/DOWNLOAD

Líam - Journey... Two Years And A Fragment (2008)

Band: Líam
Album: Journey... Two Years And A Fragment
Year: 2008
Country: Germany
This album title may sound like the most thoughtful complex title in the world, maybe a concept album about someone who went through a state of *insert random emotion here*, but I have to spoil it for you - it isn't. Líam just picked out some of the songs they made in the last two years, and made this album. It may not sound so extraordinary, but the album itself is pretty interesting. It starts off with a post-rock sound. Though the band is claimed to be negative about this society we're living, the first track is pretty light and upplifting, sounding like Mogwai's baby cousin. As the album continues, you will start to notice that it will get a bit darker, but still with those instrumental post-rock influences. It flows in the landscape of Alcest, until the middle of the album, when a shriek suddenly wakes you up. This is the black metal-part of the album, where you can truly hear bitterness and agony mixed in a apocalyptic kind of way. This is therefore an album suitable for everyone, since the first part is uplifting for happy days, and the other part is not-so-happy for those days of hell.

Song(s) you should listen to: As I told you before, this album is divided into two parts, one lighter, and one darker. Since I joined the dark path before I was born, I prefer the last one. Etienne is the longest song on the album, and since the post-person I am, I tend to like that one very much. It's very moody from the beginning to the end, so it will best be served in a dark isolated room with a cup of despair to drink.
But everyone has different tastes, so I think you should just listen to the album and pick your favourite.

MYSPACE / DOWNLOAD

Resurrectionists / Battle of Wolf 359 - Split (2010)

Bands: Resurrectionists & Battle Of Wolf 359

Album: Split 10"

Year: 2010

Country: Germany, UK

Yeah we've been lazy as hell lately I know, theres no real excuse to that so I'm just gonna leave it for you to se if you can find it in your broken, black hearts to forgive us.

If not then I strongly suggest that you download this, press play, play it louder than hell and just start beating your fists against the walls.

I picked this record up at a show last night and sweet spawn of Satan is this a good album! It sweeps you off your feat and while lying down it continues to beat you to a pulp. No mercy.

So what was it that just made you its bitch? Resurrectionists play some sort of screamo-influenced powerviolence and Battle of Wolf 359 plays dark, fast screamo/hardcore with some sweet melodies hidden between all the chaos. So now that we have identified your target, get on your feet and get ready for round two. This time you'll be ready for whats coming.

Song(s) you should listen to: Born Into Fire

This song starts of quite slow and sweettalks you into a sense of comfort but don't let it fool you. It suddenly explodes and unleashes a cluster of heavy riffs, wave after wave.

MYSPACE (RES),MYSPACE (BOW359), DOWNLOAD

Cult Of Luna - Eternal Kingdom (2008)

Band: Cult Of Luna
Album: Eternal Kingdom
Year: 2008
Country: Sweden
This blog hasn't been updated for a little while, but at least I have an excuse - I've been having this nasty fever and been slightly delusional. Someone who also was sligthly delusional was Holger Nilsson. He was convicted for the murder of his wife in the beginning of the 20th century. He denied it, but since he was considered to be in a very bad mental condition, he was taken into Umedalens Mental Institution. There he wrote a book of his version of what happened.
And several years later, Umedalen Mental Institution was rebuilt as a cultural building instead, with some rehearsing studios in it. Cult Of Luna played there for a while, and they managed to find the old book Holger wrote. From that they got inspiration for doing this album, which is an interpretation of Holger Nilsson book - "The Eternal Kingdom". The lyrics of the songs are actually taken straight from the book.
There's so much to write about this album, but if I wrote everything I could come up with, this post would be as long as the bible. I know most of you have already this album as an favourite of yours, and if not - COME ON LISTEN TO IT!

Song(s) you should listen to: Following Betulas is the best song on the album. I'm not skilled enough with my words to describe the song the way it deserves, but it starts off like a good song, and then bursts out into a powerful apocalyptic anthem. The ending is lyrically about the moment just before a fight with the good and the evil, and you can definately feel it.
Ghost Trail starts off pretty slow and a bit haunting, let's just call it ghostly. It then turns into an aura of epicness, and ends with an apocalyptic two-drum part. This doesn't happen very fast, since the song itself is 11 minuter long, but song under 10 mintues aren't cool in the post-world.

MYSPACE / DOWNLOAD

The Saddest Landscape - You Will Not Survive (2010)

Band: The Saddest Landscape

Album: You Will Not Survive

Year: 2010

Country: United States

This band has been around for a while now and managed to establish a wide spread fanbase in the screamo-scene. I was lucky enough to catch these guys live when they played in Malmö this year, without a doubt one of the best gigs I've ever attended and really nice guys overall.

Anyhow they're latest effort "You Will Not Survive" is nothing short of a screamo-masterpiece. The softer melodic parts together with chaotic outbursts of emotion together with Andy's desperate vocals almost brings a tear to your eye. Also I have to give an eloge to the drumming on this record, not something I usually pay that much attention to but this time is different.

If this release is to your liking please show your support to this band by buying they're records or going to they're shows or whatever. They really work hard doing something they love and deserve to be recognized for it.

Song(s) you should listen to: So Lightly Thrown

My favourite of the record. If you know TSL since before you know how exceptional they are at creating those heartbreaking-sing-a-long-till-your-throat-bleeds-moments. The ending part of this song just makes me wish I was back at that time in Malmö when nothing but inches of thin air stood between me and the microphone.

MYSPACE/BUY

An Autumn For Crippled Children - Lost (2010)

Band: An Autumn For Crippled Children
Album: Lost
Year: 2010
Country: Netherlands
Okay, so the name of the band really sucks. It sounds like some newfag band with long bangs covering half of their faces, and that cares more about looks than music. But An Autumn For Crippled Children named their band after a song by the UK band Ebony Lake (which is also a horrible bad band name, but they do strange music with some originality to it). So just put a finger over the computer screen where the band name is typed, or name it something else when you've downloaded it, because this band is actually good.
This band, whatever you want to call it, combines elements of Black Metal and Doom, and juice it up with some of the old depression mood. They use the guitar in a very melodic way, so you can easily hum the melody of their songs. It therefore causes some songs to stick on your mind for a little while.
Maybe this doesn't sound like something original, but I've never heard anything like it, so it's hard to write about since you can't really compare it to other bands. It's absolutely depressing anyway, nursing you into a state of melancholy.

Song(s) you should listen to: I Beg Thee Not To Spare Me is MINDBLOWING from the beginning to the end. At least it gives me the shivers, causing emotional overload. As the song title indicates, I get the feeling of someone who was close to death once, but was saved somewhat against his/her will, and is now expressing his/her despair. It's haunting.
Ghost Light is also a great song on the album. It starts off pretty mediocre, but from the middle to the end it builds up and get more and more raw and evil.

MYSPACE / DOWNLOAD

Aäkon Këëtrëh - Dans La Forêt (1996)

Band: Aäkon Këëtrëh

Album: Dans La Forêt

Year: 1996

Country: France

Yeah I dont have a clue how to pronounce the name of this one man project either.

Aäkon Këëtrëh is a part of the infamous Les Légiones Noires, a circle of french underground Black Metal-musicians and their projects. The LLN was known for producing a shitload of demos that are almost impossible to get a hand on, apparently every original pressings of the demos released by Aäkon Këëtrëh was destroyed so the ones existing nowadays are all bootlegs. Don't you just love stories like that?

Anyhow, this isn't pure Black Metal although you clearly hear what environment this music came from. There are no other instruments except guitars and occasionally som vocals, but for the most part it's the guitar that do the talk. Sounds boring? Well if you'r not a fan of Dark Ambient i can see why you would turn the deaf ear on bands like this. To me this is as good as it gets. Each song is a hymn to despair and loneliness that sends shivers down your spine. A true Ambient masterpiece.

Song(s) you should listen to: Hard to say since all the songs are missing proper titles but the first track on the demo really does the work for me. It starts of with 4 simple yet powerfull chords which stays there as the backbone through the entire song. The rest of the songs are a bit more complex but the feeling you get from that first song stays with you through the whole album. Really you should listen to the whole album in it's whole, preferably in a dark room with some candles lit.

DOWNLOAD

Oldseed - The Terror (2009)

Band: Oldseed
Album: The Terror
Year: 2009
Country: Canada
Is this satanic? Is this evil? Is this hell's choir? I have to disappoint you this time, it isn't.
But my friend from Finland told me that this guy from Canada were heading over to Europe for a tour, and that my friend would drive him around the venues in Finland. After the tour my friend told my about this Canadian handsome gentleman, their sauna conversations, and other things that were indicating bromance moments, so I was curious about who Oldseed was.
I actually suspect that Oldseed has a bit religious intentions, so it's not what we normally upload on this blog. It's not original or extremely good. But it's acoustic folk music, perfect for those cold autumn nights with hot chocolate and warm blankets.

Song(s) you should listen to: Under Your Breath is the best song on the album. Includes violin, upbuilding moments in manatee-speed, a nice vocalist, and easy lyrics. For some reason I also like the sample in the ending of Net, when a woman is describing the moment when on of her relatives died. Instead of being all hysterical, she describes it calm and objective, with a great amount of love and respect for him.

MYSPACE / DOWNLOAD

Fall Of Efrafa - Inlé (2009)

Band: Fall Of Efrafa
Album: Inlé
Year: 2009
Country: United Kingdom
The band itself describes this album as "80 minutes of rabbit-obsessed post-hardcore". Two questions might pop up in your head; "What? Wait? RABBIT?!", and "Is that the only damn reason to listen to it?". I will provide you with some answers my friend.
You see, Fall Of Efrafa is a concept band, basing their music on the novel "Watership Down". The novel is pretty complex, but in short terms it's about a group of rabbits who foresees the danger of man, and leaves their colony to find a safe place. Their journey is full of drama, and the author handles a lot of occuring problems in our world, in a more rodent kind of way. Finally they find the colony called Efrafa, ruled by the horrid dictator General Woundwort. The narrative rabbits decides to crash down this colony and save it's slaves. And this is what the band Fall Of Efrafa writes their music and lyrics about.
As far as the reason for listening to this album goes, just do it. It's truly epic and well written. Every song is not really a song, it's an anthem. It's anthems we will rise upon and sing when the human kind is facing it's extinction.
If you're still not convinced, just repeat the album title for yourself. It flows on your tongue. And in Watership Down, Inlé is the black rabbit of death. It can't get better than that.

Song(s) you should listen to: Republic Of Heaven is probably the song you will find the most attractive when you listen to the album the first couple of times. It's the most melodic and energetic song on the album, and includes charming sing-a-longs like "The king is dead, we bound his face, cut off his head. We spit at thee, we curse at thee, our god is dead".
Fu Inlé is on the other hand my favorite song on the album. It's basically about a conversation with Mr. Death himself, and it's therefore pretty dark, but soothing and calming. It's if he tries to calm you down and making you not being afraid of dying, and it's success I would say.
Woundwort gets on a close up second place. It's so beautiful written. It will build up and make you explode into a library of emotions. Especially the guitar in 11:30, which would make the hardest stone face on earth to melt.
Warren Of Snares is also a song that grows on you. In fact the whole album grows on you, so just forget what I said and listen to it again, again, and again.

MYSPACE / DOWNLOAD

Voqkrre - Malveillance Demo (2008)

Band: Voqkrre

Album: Malveillance Demo

Year: 2008

Country: France

Just looking at this cover gives me the creeps. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and see this fine Frenchman standing at the end of your bed, you would probably never be able to sleep again after that.

This demo is dark,raw, evil and monotonous, a real sinister one. Although the music is very deppressing I would'nt go as far as lable this DSBM. But I leave that for you to decide.

Song(s) you should listen to: La Cave aux Rats Necrophages

This song starts out with a little bit of speed but then fades out in a slower and darker tempo. Featuring some really tormented vocals which further strengthens the evil tone makes this song a perfect end to this demo.

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Lantlôs - Neon (2010)

Band: Lantlôs
Album: Neon
Year: 2010
Country: Germany
If you haven't heard this album already, you should, since it's one of the best album of 2010. If not THE best album of 2010, but the year it's not over so I'll try to hold my horses.
Lantlôs is half french and half german, and includes the best of both countries. The french part contributes with atmosphere, emotion, and the almighty touch of Neige. The german part contributes with a rough shell and some small influences from one of the best bands of Germany - Bohren Und Der Club Of Gore. The result is a band that somehow is able to ride the wave of "blackened shoegaze", but I would rather consider this as "shoegazed black metal", or just call it black metal.
This album is fairly short with only 6 tracks, but strong enough to leave an impact. Some songs starts of really jazzy, then turn into an inferno of blasting drums and well written guitar riffs. That maybe doesn't sound as much, but it's intensity vs. it's melancholic calmer parts will leave you in a state of despair and hopelessness. And as if that wasn't enough, the vocals are flawless. Neige's harsh vocals sounds like anxious suffering. And what's even more extraordinary is that he can change it into honeysmoothed singing in "Pulse/Surreal".

Song(s) you should listen to: These Nights Were Ours pretty is without a doubt the best song on the album. It seems to deal with the pestered theme of a wretched lovestory you've heard so many times. But in this song you believe every single word being said. Especially the last sentence, since Neige voice cracks as if someone tore out his heart with their bare hands.

MYSPACE / DOWNLOAD

Femtekolonnare - Valguiden (2010)

Band: Femtekolonnare

Album: Valguiden

Year: 2010

Country: Sweden

Doublepost this evening, yeah we're really spoiling you we know. And as if that wasn't enough, this album sure is not going to let you down if your into fast and angry music.

Femtekolonnare once again prove that they are capable of writing a good album that grabs you by the ears and demands your attention.

This album isn't just a powerviolence-assault of epic proportions but it also serves as a guide to the forthcoming election here in Sweden. So if you live in Sweden ans still don't know what your gonna vote for, just sit back and let Femtekolonnare tell you what parties your NOT supposed to vote for.

Song(s) you should listen to: Every single one of them really. They're just so damn good.

MYSPACE / DOWNLOAD

Suffocate For Fuck Sake - Suffocate For Fuck Sake (2004)

Band: Suffocate For Fuck Sake

Album: Suffocate For Fuck Sake

Year: 2004

Country: Sweden

Thought i'd upload this since the 2008 LP already is up and running. The main theme is the same as on the LP, epic post-rock and heavy sludge fused togethet with a storyline told through samples in the songs. This story I think is a bit sadder and darker than the LP. We get to follow a man named Hasse who has a very serious condtion, he cant sit down.

Song(s) you should listen to: Just like before you really should listen to the whole album from the beginning to the end to get out the most of the experience. But if you just want to listen to a song because you want to hear good music i especially like the first song "Hospital/H/The Social Worker Dragon" and "Promenade".

MYSPACE / DOWNLOAD

Palehorse - Habitual Linestepper (2008)

Band: Palehorse
Album: Habitual Linestepper
Year: 2008
Country: United Kingdom
I came across this band when I was supposed to find some music by the hardcore band Palehorse from Connecticut, USA on Spotify. But I found this band instead, which I've never heard of before.
Anyways, I liked their music, and thought their album title was pretty clever, so I did a checkup on the band. Turns out that they are a pretty known band in the sludge scene of UK. And they are sure playing sludge. Their music is fairly slow and very heavy. One thing that surprised me was the vocals that sounds a lot that something that could fit in any screamo band. If you gave the drummer some POWERTHIRST so he would drum more energetic, maybe this would be liked by all the skramz kids out there.
The band consists of a drummer, two vocalists, and two bass players. Nothing more, nothing less. Who need guitars anyway?

Song(s) you should listen to: We Cannot Love You
This song starts out pretty slow and sad, and with a really catchy bassline, that continues pretty much through the whole song. Then the sludge will squirt all it's juice over you.

MYSPACE / DOWNLOAD

Year Of No Light - Ausserwelt (2010)

Band: Year Of No Light

Album: Ausserwelt

Year: 2010

Country: France

Since my better half posted the Suffocate For Fuck Sake Lp and since I've been listening to this album alot recently i thought it would be in place to post it here. I actually think this album has alot of similarities to Suffocate For Fuck Sake, both when it comes to harmonies and feeling.

This album is slightly different from Year Of No Lights previous record "Nord". The first thing that comes to mind is that this record is entirely instrumental and tends to drift more towards a drone-like style of music. The light harmonies together with heavy bass, guitars and slamming drums create a massive wall of sound that makes it impossible to keep your head still.

Song(s) you should listen to: Perséphone I

There couldnt be a more perfect way to start off this album than with this song. It starts off a bit slow but soon builds up and unleashes upon you like a tidal wave. The harmonies are without a doubt some of the most beautiful stuff I've ever heard and it really moves you in a way thats very hard to describe. Just sit back and relax and let the song speak for itself.

Hiérophante

If Perséphone I is a song suitable for a yoga session Hiérophante is the exact opposite. When this beast comes on its like getting hit by a steam roller.

MYSPACE/DOWNLOAD

Suffocate For Fuck Sake - Blazing Fires And Helicopters On The Frontpage Of The Newspaper. There's A War Going On And I'm Marching In Heavy Boots (2008)

Band: Suffocate For Fuck Sake
Album: Blazing Fires And Helicopters On The Frontpage Of The Newspaper. There's A War Going On And I'm Marching In Heavy Boots
Year: 2008
Country: Sweden
Once upon a time about two years ago, I was sitting by the computer, and a friend who I hadn't heard anything from for a while wrote "HAVE YOU HEARD THIS EPIC SHIT?!" on msn. This guy was the one who once introduced me to Mihai Edrisch, so I was pretty eager about his new discovery. He sended me the album, which has the longest name I've ever seen, and I cranked up the volume. Since then I've never been the same.
Suffocate For Fuck Sake is a pretty decent band mixing a lot of different genres. But the way they're doing it is really extraordinary. This album follows the narrative of a depressed woman, starting around the time she tried to comitted suicide for the first time. She, her mom, her best friend, the doctor etc. are talking in between the songs, with the music going in the background as some kind of soundtrack. So we get to follow this girl through years of depression, from hospitalizing to recovery.
This maybe doesn't sound like much of a deal, but it's really hard to describe this album in a fair way. Just listen to it, you will get blown away.

Song(s) you should listen to: The album itself is a story, so if you're just listen to a track here and there in no particular order, it will turn out to be nonsense. But, the storytelling is in Swedish, so if you don't know the language the telling will be nonsense anyway (but there should be an english translation to be found somewhere, they printed translations in the booklet). But I will still recommend you to start with the first song Blue Lights And Sunshine. It still gets me to poop in my pants at occasions.

MYSPACE / DOWNLOAD

Obnoxious Youth - Obey Satan (2010)

Band: Obnoxious Youth

Album: Obey Satan

Year: 2010

Country: Sweden

Trashy hardcorepunk with gnarly vocals, shredding guitar-riffs and rock n'roll solos is the best way to describe this monster from Uppsala, Sweden.

Featuring members from Undergång and Pointless Youth.

OBEY SATAN!

Song(s) you should listen to: Wytches of Torment

The solo in this song alone makes it worth blasting on full volume until your completely deaf. Along with the fast guitar-riffs and possessed vocals i guarantee that you will most likely summon the wrath of hell while at it.

MYSPACE/DOWNLOAD

Mihai Edrisch - Un Jour Sans Lendemain (2006)

Band: Mihai Edrisch
Album: Un Jour Sans Lendemain
Year: 2006
Country: France
Everyone knows Elton John's song The Circle Of Life, right? Well, this is the updated more realistic version of it. The tracks of this album are titled so you get Mihai Edrisch's interpretation of life. You start with being born, you march forward, you start to live, then you fall in love. After that you suffer, but somehow you get a glimpse of hope, and forget, so you survive. Then, you die.
One interpretation is that you're going through all that, then you forget and survive, but years after you die the natural way. But since it's Mihai Edrisch, I think the interpretation should be a lot more complex. In the very end of the outro, you can hear some old wood creak, then a loud bang. Since there's a rope in the tree of the album cover, I think the creak is someone climbing up a chair, gets his/her head in the noose, then kicks the chair which crashes to the floor and makes the loud bang. I jump to the conclusion that the narrator couldn't forget, and committed suicide.

Song(s) you should listen to: Mourir
This song is that last on the album, and it stands out a bit from the rest. It starts off pretty calm and delightful, but of course the atmosphere builds up and leads to Mihai-ordinary chaos. Then it finishes with the words "Comme une dernière image, celle que je veux peut être garder de nous, je serai là, pour toujours, suspendu à tes lèvres…", which can be roughly translated to "As the last picture I want to keep precious, I'll be there forever, hanging on to your lips". As the romantic hypocrite I am, my heart is melting.

MYSPACE / DOWNLOAD

Svedhous - Despair Poetry (2007)

Band: Svedhous

Album: Despair Poetry

Year: 2007

Country: South Korea

Suicidal Black Metal from South Korea? Well thats not something you come across every day is it? Especially not when the music is so well played and great like the one created by this one man band from Busan. This demo can easily be compared to the big names in the genre like Hypothermia, Trist, Austere etc etc. Gloomy, monotonous, repetitive, atmospheric and full of despair, everything you can possibly ask for when you feel like cover all your sences in absolute darkness.

Song(s) you should listen to: Dawn With Bedewed Eyes

A pinnacle of despair and desperation. The riffing, the vocals, the horror, the beauty!

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Femtekolonnare - In Vino Veritas (2010)

Band: Femtekolonnare

Album: In Vino Veritas

Year: 2010

Country: Sweden

If Massgrav would combine forces with Satan the result would be Femtekolonnare. This abomination of pissed off powerviolence/hardcore and Black Metal has summoned a 16 song demo of anti-hippie, anti conservative and capitalist hating songs straight from hell.

It's clear that Femtekolonnare knows how to do a good demo that never gets boring, in between all the blast beats and face-melting riffing we find slower parts and movie-samples that will keep you interested for whats to come.

Both the lyrics and movie-samples are all in swedish so unfortuneatly for all you non-swedish people you probably wont understand the meanings behind the songs. Nevertheless this is a band you shouldnt sleep on, new material is on its way and this is undoubtedly not the last we've heard from Femtekolonnare.

Song(s) you should listen to: Ta En Folköl och Var Som Folk

Most likely the best anti-straight edge anthem out there. Fast, angry and even has a "sing-a-long part". Doesnt get any better than this.

Jönköping Hardcore

Jönköping Hardcore what the fuck is that? Boygirls with make-up (the bad kind, not corpse paint) who sings like little girls. This is one of the "slower" songs on the demo and is about all the good "hardcore-bands" from Jönköping. Her Bright Skies, Intohimo etc etc.

Fred, Kärlek och Jävla Dumheter

This song contains the only part of the demo remotely close to a breakdown. It's a really mean and evil one that makes you want to go on a rampage. Hippies better watch out when this tune comes on.

MYSPACE/DOWNLOAD

Ättestupa - Begraven Mot Norr (2010)

Band: Ättestupa

Album: Begraven Mot Norr

Year: 2010

Country: Sweden

In Sweden there is a myth of a place called "Ättestupa", a steep were people who had played out their role where thrown to their death. Whether this really has happened or not, Ättestupa from Gothenbourg sure knows how to make music that gives you that chilling feeling that you'll most definetly feel when standing on the edge looking down into the abyss.

Begraven Mot Norr is inspired by funeral traditions and death processions in ancient rural Sweden. This album is perfect to listen to whenever you feel gloomy or just want to calm down.

Song(s) you should listen to: The whole album really, but the first song "Den Sista Tiden" that starts of with the sound of a pouring river instantly sets the mood for the whole album. Melancholic yet sothing and beautiful.

HOMEPAGE/DOWNLOAD

Svartkraft - Den Onda Pesten (2003)

Band: Svartkraft

Album: Den Onda Pesten

Year: 2003

Country: Finland

The word "Black Metal" instantly makes people let there thoughts wander away to the coldness of the forest and mountains of Norway. However Norway is not the only Scandinavian country who has its sheer part of cold. Svartkraft is most likely spun in the darkest forest to be found in Finland by the most evil creatures of the night you can imagine.

Just look at the cover-art and you know that theres no hope to be found in this album.

Song(s) you should listen to: Elementens Fall. From the first chord you know what the deal about this is. Cold, monotonous and melancholic Black Metal. A perfect tune to just lay down and die to.

MYSPACE/DOWNLOAD

Mihai Edrisch - L'un Sans L'autre (2003)

Band: Mihai Edrisch
Album: L'un Sans L'autre
Year: 2003
Country: France
This album is a slap of desperation in your face. It starts of with an innocent intro of kids in a playground, but don't let that fool you, on the next track hell will break loose. The first half of the album is so intense you have to be prepared to get an epileptic seisure any time. After that there's some kind of interlude, so you will make it from the epileptic seisures. Then part two kicks in, which is so heartbreaking that it makes you want to curl up and die.
This is not something for those who haven't understood the charm of emotional music. They will probably just think I'm ridiculous. But even though it's almost 10 years this was released, it's still one of my favourite albums. And Mihai Edrisch's vocals are just wonderful. Their lyrics could be in African, Finnish, or the language Chip 'n Dale speaks in a Disney cartoon, the vocalist Johan would still make you understand something is terribly wrong.

Song(s) you should listen to: Everyone, really. Every song is as close to perfection it can get, and no song lack speed, emotion, or anything. But the title track L'un Sans L'autre have a really catchy bass intro, if you're into that.

MYSPACE / DOWNLOAD