Ascencion

This is italian doom metal by Caronte. 'Ascencion' includes tracks of the band's previous record, 'Ghost Owl'. Using forgotten themes as occultism, the band engages again in litanies to myths and pagan deities, without any continuity of space and time. The sound production is deliberately confused and remains in low frequences, bewildering the listener, as the doom melodies go on...

http://www.facebook.com/ferociailluminata
http://www.myspace.com/caronteferociailluminata

Digressions

Ilydaen is an istrumental post-rock Belgian band formed in 2008. I'll tell this once more, the post-rock scene is chaotic and one band is usually repeating the other... Fortunately Ilydaen avoid the usual post-rock scheme 'serenity-explosion-calm again', and do let the listener be carried away by the strong, powerful emotion and passion.

http://www.ilydaen.be/
http://www.facebook.com/Ilydaen

RIITIIR

Enslaved again works the prog rock melodies and clean vocals, without losing the abrasive black metal aspects at all. RIITIIR is more experimental than their previous release, though. There are several different styles (prog, bm, doom, psychedelic) mixed together on any given song. Far away from the immediacy of 'Axioma Ethica Odini' or the sheer class of 'Ruun' ,RIITIIR will appeal for sure to all the prog fans.

 http://www.enslaved.no/
 http://www.facebook.com/enslaved
 http://www.myspace.com/enslaved
 http://www.last.fm/music/Enslaved

Beyond The Skyline

Drowned in November is a one man post bm/blackgaze band from Argentina. It was founded a year ago by Antonio Sanna, and 'Beyond The Skyline' proves that the band is here to stay. Yet the real challenge is if it will finally stand out...

 http://www.myspace.com/hopeless_black
 https://www.facebook.com/DrownedinnovembrerDSBM
 http://www.reverbnation.com/drownedinnovember

Nightside Emanations

This is orthodox bm, this is Finland, this is Behexen. The sound in 'Nightside Emanations' is not new. However, it doesn't get monotonous at all due to the slower, mid-tempo parts amid the high tensious blastbeats. In overall, their new record is well-rendered and pointed for the good song-writing and production.

 http://www.myspace.com/behexen666
 http://www.facebook.com/behexen.official
 http://www.last.fm/music/Behexen

Only The Ocean Knows

Well this is experimental/atmospheric bm with a strong shoegaze influence. I really liked this band's past album, but here they go a bit further down the post-rock path than I would like. That's why the harsh vocals often seem to be out of place. The result isn't so bad, but I'm afraid that Autumn For Crippled Children chose a path that doesn't suit them.

http://www.myspace.com/crippledchildren2009
http://www.facebook.com/pages/An-Autumn-For-Crippled-Children/108017119243983

777- Cosmosophy

The trilogy has just been completed. Blut Aus Nord must be more than proud of the result. Twisted black metal. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

http://www.myspace.com/thehowlingofgod
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Blut+Aus+Nord
http://www.last.fm/music/Blut+aus+Nord

Anxiety Despair Languish

Lento are here to impress us even more with a very tight album. The Italian instrumental sludge band don't play with clichéd sounds. Thus Anxiety Despair Languish is full with innovative riffs, which build a certain atmosphere and stir up music 'anxiety' simultaneously. A must have.

http://www.myspace.com/lento
http://www.last.fm/music/Lento
http://www.facebook.com/lento.icon
http://www.lento-icon.blogspot.gr/
http://lento.bigcartel.com/
http://denovali.com/lento/

Photophobia-The Seven States Of Mourning

Photophobia is a dbm project with members from both Finland and Italy. This album deals with the sadness of the soul in seven chapters. Quite good.

http://www.myspace.com/photophobiaofficial

The Main As Well That Is Not Very

Side Of Despondency did chose a bizarre title for their new post-black album, 'The Main As Well That Is Not Very'... In general, you won't see any change in their music style. The whole album is dressed in melancholy. It actually invites the listener to make his own journey into melody.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Side-Of-Despondency/
http://www.myspace.com/sideofdespondency/

Lacob's Ladder

 Jacob's Ladder is Hell Militia's latest record. Listening to it, I felt trapped between the high speed, rough guitars and the worn, almost doomy parts. French seem to know the bm recipe...

http://evilness.com/hellmilitia/index2.htm
http://www.myspace.com/hell_militia
http://www.last.fm/music/Hell+Militia

Wetterkreuz

Wetterkreuz is the new album of the bm band Eis (ex Gast) . All tracks have some things in common, like wind blowing, snowstorm sounds and characteristic growls. That's why the listener feels freezing at times... Yet these anxious seconds easily turn to hypnotic ones, when the keyboards appear. Like it raw? Like Wetterkreuz!

http://www.myspace.com/geistmetal
http://www.facebook.com/eis.official

Razorsunday

Depressive Black Metal by the finnish band Fornicatus. It's actually an older unreleased compilation. Raw sound, noisy background, muffled drumms and voice shrieks. In other words, classic Fornicatus at their best. Keep in mind, this isn't music for everyone.

http://www.myspace.com/fornicatus
http://www.last.fm/music/Fornicatus

Razorsunday (Part II)

The Abyss Is My Home EP

Meskalith is a funeral doom project by DoomHead. Listening to the 'Abyss Is My Home', i felt sinking in the dark, melancholic tones and the deep vocals. There is a great need of expression here, obvious from Doomhead's experimentation in art, too (http://bogyokrisztianart.blogspot.gr/). While musicians today strive to find ways to express themselves, he strives to fit in a world that the means of epression are scarce. Such underground acts definitely need our support.

http://www.meskalith.blogspot.com
http://www.last.fm/music/MESKALITH
http://www.reverbnation.com/meskalith
http://www.doomheadsoundslaboratory.blogspot.com

 

Screws

I see this album being uploaded in more and more blogs and not without reason. The composer Nils Frahm shares some beautiful piano moments 'hiding' the breaking of his thumb successfully. Check out the clever track names. 'Do' 'Re' 'Mi' 'Fa' 'So' 'La' 'Si', while the first and the last one are named  'You' and 'Me'.

You can download 'Screws' here http://www.ErasedTapes.com

http://www.durtonstudio.com/projects/detail/project/63
http://www.myspace.com/nilsfrahm
http://www.last.fm/music/Nils+Frahm
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Nils+Frahm

Cathedraal/ Rings Of Rhea/ Schematics For Gravity 2012

Paris, Ukraine, Sweden. Three different countries, one split. I must say i had only listened to Schematics For Gravity until now, and i was impressed. Post rock, post metal, sludge, screamo, crust, all in this split. The bands prove to be really talented, each its own way. EXCELLENT WORK!

http://schematicsforgravity.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/Schematicsforgravity
http://www.last.fm/music/Schematics+for+Gravity

http://cathedraal.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/Cathedraal

http://ringsofrhea.bandcamp.com/

The Scarred People

The swedish band Tiamat releases its 10nth album. Far away from their 90's classics, 'The Scarred People' remains death metal with strong goth and doom influences, but it's definitely less heavy than their past records. Edlund's voice keeps creating a dark climate and arousing various emotions, while the chorus keeps popping into the listener's mind. One thing for sure, the fans won't get disappointed.

http://www.facebook.com/tiamat
http://www.myspace.com/tiamat

Waking Season

Post rock by Caspian. In this album, the heavy drums, the synth screams and the guitar shrieks often give their place to quiet, relaxing moments... It's a tight album, but unfortunately we can hardly talk about innovation when listening to the post rock genre.

www.caspianmusic.net
www.facebook.com/CaspianTheBand
http://www.last.fm/music/Caspian
http://caspiantheband.bandcamp.com/

A recent live performance.

Loss

A few months have passed since 'wish' and Germ are back with 'loss', a prolongation( I'd call it) of their previous great work. This ep diverses A LOT OF different genres. Eccentric, psychedelic music that captures the listener. Masterpiece.

Wind

How could we forget 'Betep', Melankoli's previous album? 'Wind' also seems to stand out in the dbm/atmospheric black genre and it's worth a lot more than a few listens.

 http://www.last.fm/music/Melankoli
 http://www.myspace.com/Melankolirus/

Photos

Some photos that cought my eye for obvious reasons. Great job.

© Helvete Photography
Support!
http://www.facebook.com/HelvetePhotography

Tir N'a N'Og

'Becoming the deceased' was sure a post-black record that stand out. Celephais return with something different now, 'Tir N'a N'Og'. I'd say they experiment even more with the post rock and neo folk sound. Although i loved the strong black influence in their past record, this more melodic one grabs me as well. Enjoy!

 http://www.myspace.com/clphs
http://www.last.fm/music/Celephais

Lustre/ Feigur 2012

 It was summer when Lustre's full-length was released and now we see their name again on the split with Feigur...not bad. While both bands are characterized for their atmospheric black metal isolation, they unite here without losing their music independence for a second. The result is amazing in this two-track record.

http://feigur.bandcamp.com/
http://www.last.fm/music/Feigur

http://www.last.fm/music/Lustre
http://www.facebook.com/Lustresweden

Brunnen

The new album of Les Fleurs Du Mal is quite good. The hypnotic atmosphere remains, as long as the oppressive acts do. I feel though that the 'highlight' is being prepared for so long...but never happens. Let yourself travel from the ambient/black tracks to the pure keyboard ones and see if such tough music suits you.

http://www.last.fm/music/Les+Fleurs+Du+Mal

Benighted In Sodom-A Premonition Of Miracles

 I have nothing to say. Just listen to it NOW!

RuneEater

Blackened folk/doom metal by Velnias. I remember being stunned by 'Sovereign Nocturnal'. And yet RuneEater is more cohesive and well written. Guitar distortions, howls, and doom peaks are remarkable. All mixed with the folk element express the deep atmosphere of nature.

http://velnias.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/VelniasCult
 

Redefining Darkness

Kvarforth is back. I must admit i love everything he's done( have deleted 'lots of girls gonna get hurt' from my mind). This doesn't mean though that his records' sound isn't getting catchier. In this album the acoustic and alternative rock parts are more and close to Opeth's and Katatonia's music. Maybe too close. The bass is great as always and there are breathtaking moments...but is this record a 'redefinition'? I'd say no. At least because, as long as its positive aspects are concerned,it keeps reminding me good but old works...

Savant Syndrome

Just a glimpse of Autism's 2013 full-length record... Powerful post metal from Lithuania.

http://autism.bandcamp.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/autismproject
http://www.facebook.com/autismprojectlt

Departure Songs

An impressive post rock/ambient album by Hammock! In terms of music arrangements, it seems that the talented duo has escalated a lot since Kenotic. Departure Songs achieve an arousal of emotions changing sadness of death to joy of life and backwards...

http://hammock.bandcamp.com/
http://www.myspace.com/hammockmusic
http://www.facebook.com/hammockmusic
http://www.myspace.com/hammockmusic