Altarmang - Void
dark ambient
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The debut album of a new dark ambient entity by Pär Boström (Kammarheit) and Kenneth Hansson is a great gloomy piece of work, consisting of four lengthy tracks. With tape loops and analog equipment, Altarmang recorded some excellent and immersive hypnotic soundscapes, perfectly suited for everyone who feels at home in today's drone and ambient scene. I can only recommend this album since it has everything an ambient aficionado could possibly want. My advice is to purchase the album, play it loud and allow yourself to be cleansed by this music. You won't be disappointed...
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Skognatt - Ancient Wisdom
black metal
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Atmospheric one man black metal project Skognatt returns with another two track EP, after 'The Landscapes Of Ice'. Once again, the artist focuses on mostly slow and depressive black metal, laced with keyboards and symphonic arrangements. There is even an acoustic "Spanish" guitar solo, which I can appreciate a lot. I like this EP, both songs are great, but perhaps it's time to turn this act into a performing one. This music is way too good to only be enjoyed in the living room. I'm sure that this will blast on stage and I hope I'll ever get to witness that. So yes, highly recommended EP for atmospheric black metal fans.
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Meteors the Entire Night - Descend Towards the Earth
post hardcore
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Based in Coventry and formed last year, Meteors The Entire night do something interesting with screamo, hardcore and post-rock. On this debut EP, they showcase four songs (and a short breather), each pretty much as brutal and intense as the previous one. Bands like Poison The Well, Envy and Oceans Ate Alaska come to mind but I think there is a bit more work to be done. Although this is a pretty decent debut, I miss the dynamics and energy of a live performance. Obviously, those aren't easy to put on tape, only a good producer can do that. Still, I see more and bigger gigs in these guys' future. Post-hardcore fans, keep an ear open.
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Urs Wild - Drones
drone / dark ambient
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Swiss dark ambient project Urs Wild returns with a new EP, simply named 'Drones'. Well, "EP" might not be the correct word as the whole thing clocks off at around an hour. In that time, you will be fed six minimal but immersive dark ambient tracks from a very high quality. For fans of the genre, this is a must-have, a solid and excellently executed barrage of drones and soundscapes. Personally, I love how simple Urs Wild made it all look and sound. Making dark ambient is not a complicated task, but making excellent dark ambient like this, demands talent and Urs Wild is talented, that's for sure.
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Wyatt E. - Exile to Beyn Neharot
doom / post rock
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Two years ago, Belgian doomers Wyatt E. pleasantly surprised me with their debut EP. Apparently, my review for that EP got them on that year's edition of Dunk! Festival. Now, the band is back with another two track EP and I'm excited from the very beginning. With elements from drone, ambient, doom and post rock, plus Eastern influences, Wyatt E. have created two more lengthy tracks, each one a sonic adventure on its own. Think Sunn O))), think Master Musicians Of Bukkake. Fact is, this is a massively talented band that deserves bigger stages. This is one of the best things in Belgium today.
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Kemerov - FMKD
death metal / punk
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Greek death groove combo Kemerov feels like the perfect wedding between Entombed and Turbonegro. With the energy of punk rock and the brutality of death metal, this band eleven irresistible party tunes. Uptempo, raging, intense and groovy, Lemmy would be proud of these guys. The songs are as complex as a stone brick to the face but also just as effective. My personal favorites are 'Plague Of Nations' and 'Slay Your Son' but I can easily recommend every old school death metal fan to get their hands on this gem. Death 'n roll pur sang, dangerous for the neck but definitely worth it.
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Thera Roya - Masterful Universe
doom / sludge
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Brooklyn based act Thera Roya take things to another level. With a blend of doom, sludge metal and noise, this EP is a solid assault on your sanity. In fact, I have rarely heard a better musical reference for insanity and madness than these two tracks present to me. They're haunting, intriguing and intense. And that's just the MP3's, which makes me wonder how a live performance by this chaotic herd feels like. I wouldn't be surprise if concert goers end up being driven of in white vans after the gig. Sick stuff, for real.
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One Life All-In - The A7 Session
hardcore / metal
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Wow, this feels like the nineties are coming back, but then again, what would you expect from a band with members from The Spudmonsters, Seekers of the Truth and Benighted. Dog Eat Dog, Sick Of It All and Anthrax come to mind when I hear to these six old school tunes. As heavy as melodic and as intense as immersive, this breed of hardcore punk can easily get the party started at festivals. Besides, there is an interesting metal edge to be found here, at first listen perhaps a bit too melodic for hardcore fans but very welcome indeed. See, some genres never die...
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AVSA - Parallels
experimental / ambient / noise
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Avsa - not to be confused with Asva, is an Italian experimental project by Anacleto Vitolo and Sergio Albano. The music on this strange album seemingly balances on the thin edge between ambient and noise. Soundscapes, drones, crackles and unidentifiable noises make up otherworldly tunes which are haunting and hypnotic at the same time. I don't think this music is a pleasant dinner companion but it's perfectly suited for gloomy meditations and dark seances. Obviously, I recommend this album to all fans of the strange, obscure and odd. This is an epic piece of work.
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Mesmur - S
funeral doom
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Hailing from North Carolina, Mesmur are well on their way to become one of my favorite doom metal bands. Of course, I'm a sucker for funeral doom which makes it easier for them, but there is also something else. Unlike their colleagues in Mar De Grises, Evoken and Esoteric, Mesmur laces their funeral doom with dissonant guitars and soundscapes, giving the whole thing an extra eerie touch. The four long tracks on this album are great, epic pieces of work, melodic, intense and accompagnied by a haunting growl. All funeral doom fans should get their hands on a copy of this album, honestly.
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Valle Crucis - Valle Crucis
black metal
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American black metal duo Valle Crucis sound so old school and raw that I initially thought that this was a Norwegian thing from the nineties, found in some old basement. Their breed of black metal obviously reaches back to the harsh, nihilistic and aggressive nature from that glorious era, which in a way makes this EP a glorious one too. Influenced by the pioneers, such as Gorgoroth, Marduk, God Dethroned and Dark Funeral, Valle Crucis uncontrollably blast their fierce and violent music through my speakers. For fans of those old days, this is a solid grasp of hope and nostalgia. Truly recommended stuff.
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Goat War - Warwolf
speed metal / black metal
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Speaking about old school, this one feels like it comes directly from the first wave of black metal, or at least a parody of that genre. With a mix of speed metal, power metal and black metal, Goat War delivers four chaotic songs about battle, glory and whatnot, complete with brutal vocals and thrash metal shrieks, but not in a good way. I don't think this EP is meant to be taken seriously. It's best to be enjoyed while also completely wasted on cheap alcohol. Sniffing glue might help too. But if you're into obscure and often laughable clichés, you absolutely can't go wrong with this EP.
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Ditheist - Eternity of Nothingness
death metal / grindcore
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Ok, one more old school sounding album before I go to something else. American band Ditheist does a pretty good job with this one. It's brutal as fuck and intense enough to rip out your eardrums but it also contains something experimental, something that makes this sound a bit different from their colleagues. At times, old Sepultura comes to mind, along with some other death metal originators. For death metal fans, this is definitely something worth checking out. Favorite songs: the title track 'Eternity Of Nothingness' is a blast and closer 'Crippling Vexation' is a murderer.
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X-Coast – Transformations EP
techno / rave / house
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What? I said that I was going to check out something different for a change so I almost automatically end up in the dance and techno scene. On the other hand, here we're also dealing with old school stuff. This EP seems to come directly from some mid nineties rave parties, flavored with some funky house music. This EP is the first in a new series called UNDERTHESEA. If the whole series is as old school inspired as these three track (plus remix), the dance scene might indeed become a lot more interesting to me. So check it out, maybe you'll find a new favorite dance tune.
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Tripeo - Eighth Trip
techno
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And finally, we'll go for an hypnotic, techno induced trip with Darko Esser's Tripeo project. These two tunes mark his first record since 2015 and somewhat sound like gloomy acid tunes from the earlier nineties with beats and electronic noises. Obviously, that makes them guaranteed dancefloor fillers at your upcoming raves. Personally, I'm a bit more fond of the second track, which is somewhat more relaxed. The opener is an obtrusive techno tune that will drag you to the dancefloor. Together, they make up for solid assshaking workout, something I can always recommend.
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Serge
