Key by pg.lost (2012)

Kind of Like: Barrows, Explosions in the Sky, Gifts from Enola
Genres: Post-rock, Instrumental, Sludge
Buy: Bandcamp
Preview:


This is the third album from Sweden's pg.lost.  If you are a fan of emotional post-rock, this will give you sustenance.  It is more visceral that EITS, I feel.  The guitars churn and whine.  It isn't exactly groundbreaking, but that doesn't mean it isn't a fun ride.  "Terrain" is not only heavy/powerful but extremely catchy which can be hard to come by.  Fortunately, it isn't hard to come by with this album because many of the songs on here are like that.

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StreamPad: Pg.Lost - "Terrain"

Pervertor by Lord Mantis (2012)

This has nothing to do with the band, I think.  It is a cool picture nonetheless.

Kind of Like: Bolt Thrower, Dethlok, Indian
Genres: Metal, Sludge, Doom, Noise Rock
Buy: Candlelight Records
Preview:
I am not huge on metal like this, but it's been awhile since I posted something of this nature, especially something sludgy.  This is visceral and gritty as hell and I love it.  As someone from Sputnik put it: "The atmosphere is doomy and grim, kind of like a big black tornado swooping you (and your house) away."

What pulled me in initially was the album art; it is dark and awesome-looking.  Also, these Chicago natives got this record produced by Sanford Parker, who has produced albums by Indian and Pelican.  Both of which have been featured on here in the past.

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Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II by Earth (2012)

Kind of Like: Grails, Sun O))), Electric Wizard
Genres: Drone, Doom, Stoner Rock, Sludge, Post-rock
Spotify: Ya
Preview: Myspace


You may remember Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light I, from last year.  That was one of my favorite albums of last year.  I was wondering if the "I" at the end implied there would be more to come, and looky here.  This leaked a while ago; I saw Music As Heroin featured this.  But, this is my first go at listening to it. I am only a minute into the first song and can tell this is going to be another stripped-down, laid-back, introverted adventure (introverted adventure? LOL).  As a listener, you really get to bask in the tones of the instruments.  Compared to their earlier works of drone metal, Angels I and II is more like being in a desert.  A dark, heavy, experimental desert.  Perhaps one of Dali's deserts?

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Palo Verde - Zero Hour [2012}

For Fans Of: Black Sabbath, Shellac, Jucifer

Genres: Metal, Noise Rock, Sludge

Spotify: Yessir

Preview:

Palo Verde is a highly improvisational all-female, metal/sludge/noise duo from Portland, OR. The band initially formed as experimental double-drum duo called Stick-It-In, but evolved into the current improvisational guitar/drums incarnation. Since 2006, they have performed extensively in the Northwest and throughout the U.S., sharing the stage with bands such as Jucifer, Thrones, Black Elk, Japanther, and Kusikia. Drummer Lauren K also plays guitar in the blistering LKN. We rarely ever get to witness women participate in metal music, and it always makes me happy to see talented women musicians make a name for themselves. Here's a review from Bitch Magazine:

"If you like dark, pared-down, and unapologetic un-catchy music check out Palo Verde, a two-piece powerhouse of a band. Lauren K's smashing drums and Terrica Kleinknecht distorted guitar are like a metal show that could fit in your living room. Don't expect some pop song that will be stuck in your head. Their songs grow slowly and organically, turning into a swirling growl of psychedelic guitar and mesmerizing drumming. Streaming their songs online just barely do justice to their sound, and if you get the chance to see them live you'll be treated to some of the most intense drumming of your life. (Don't forget to bring your anti-face melting serum)." -- Bitch Magazine

Covalescence by Milanku (2010)

Kind of Like: Russia Circles, Envy, Neurosis, Mogwai
Genres: Post-rock, Post-hardcore, Sludge
Preview: Bandcamp

"At the crossroads between post hardcore and post rock,Milanku completely charmed Montreal’s local scene with their enourmous guitar build up. Features members of Kraken,Autumn Picture and mastered by Ryan Morey (The Arcade fire)"
-Last.fm

Kenny just sent me this video for this band and I dug it.  These guys are from Montreal, a city that I can really get down with.  A hockey haven, beautiful sights/architecture, great food, and friendly/cultured people (women).

Not only do you get to listen to their album Covalescence from last year, but if you go to their bandcamp you can download a new single by them just released a couple weeks ago.

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Sooner Insignificant Better 7" by Pariso (2011)

Kind of Like: Kerouac, The Long Haul, Dillinger Escape Plan
Genres: Chaotic Hardcore, Sludge, Mathcore
Preview: Bandcamp
Buy: Throatruiner

I featured these guys on a split with Kerouac, back in April.  I recognized their name on Throatruiner's site, and saw they also had this 7 inch available that came out in January.  It is the opposite of Comity's album I just put up that was 52 minutes cut up into 4 songs; this album has 7 songs averaging at a minute and a half.  I am really digging these British guys so far, and it seems that the UK has a solid foundation of talented mathcore bands across the pond.  Cheers.

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The Journey is Over Now by Comity (2011)

Kind of Like: Ken Mode, Converge, Starkweather
Genres: Experimental, Mathcore, Chaotic Hardcore, Metal, Sludge
Preview: Bandcamp
Buy: Throatruiner

"The Journey Is Over Now", their first full-length in five years, shows a band more ruthless and musically ambitious than ever before. Four tracks delivering 52 minutes of an oppressive but finely worked chaos : a maze of winding riffs and unique melodies. Recorded and mixed between Laval and Paris by sound sorcerers Amaury Sauvé & Sylvain Biguet, mastered by Carl Saff, this fine-cut monolith of darkness shows a band in constant soul-searching and who has been able to push their art in ways they never would have dreamed possible. Exhausting in their ability to bring fluidity and atmosphere to their extremely dense compositions, "The Journey Is Over Now" reminds that COMITY is, more now than ever before, a band impossible to pigeon hole. This is extreme rock'n roll, and nothing else."
-Bandcamp

The hardest thing I have been listening to lately is screamo, which is certainly violent and chaotic, but not necessarily hard.  So finding this, was a breath of fresh air of sorts.

These guys are from France, and they rip it like they are from New York.  The quality is great, and it is just the kind of mathcore I love.  The layout of the album is unique; it is split into four parts ranging from 8 minutes to...22 minutes.  Something you are more likely to see out of a post-rock band, not a mathcore band that can easily cut down songs into specific parts.  That is probably the only problem with this album, and it isn't something I neccesarily have a problem with.  I just have a feeling this layout could only hurt the accessibility of this music instead of helping it.  I'm sure this band wasn't expecting to get radio plays, but there are small stations out there that play music like this that may be less willing to seeing that the shortest song is 8 minutes.  A lot of people don't like to be force-fed big hunks of music you know? I really don't mind it, the music  makes up for the odd layout.  These guys are really talented, and even though the song length may seem intimidating, start the album up and see if you stop it.

On a side note, this is another release by Throatruiner Records; a small time label from France that is run by one guy.  I am seeing more and more of their releases come my way, and I continue to like what I hear.

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Paroxetina by Paroxetina (2011)

Kind of Like: Russian Circles, Enemies, Adebisi Shank
Genres: Math Rock, Sludge, Post-rock, Post-hardcore
Preview: Bandcamp

Looking for some international flavor?  These guys are from Chile and have a dissonant disjunct take on math rock that reminds me of Russian Circles meets Adebisi Shank.  Maybe throw some Pelican in there.  If you're looking for some tasty new instrumental tunes then you should take a listen to these guys.

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Crooked Voices by Engineer (2011)

Kind of Like: Young Widows, Ed Gein, KEN Mode
Genres: Sludge, Mathcore, Hardcore
Preview: Bandcamp

"From Syracuse, NY, Engineer is compromised of three brothers and a brutal dude behind the drum kit. For those unfamiliar with the group, they play an intelligent and extremely loud blend of sludgy-hardcore and noisey, experimental rock that call influences from the likes of Knut, Breach, Anodyne and the Amphetamine-Reptile back catalogue (i.e. Helmet, Unsane, The Melvins) while maintaining a sound that is distinct, original and very much their own."
-Last.fm

I'm a late to this release; it came out way back in June.  I'm glad I decided to give it whirl now though.  Engineer delivers a hard as fuck, dissonant and truly unique album to a genre I haven't visited in awhile.

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Transit EP by SLOTHS (2011)

Kind of Like: Botch, Off Minor, Ampere, Pulling Teeth
Genres: Punk, Hardcore, Sludge (sometimes), Mathcore (sometimes), Post-rock (sometimes)
Preview: Bandcamp

"SLOTHS are a band from Portland OR, that plays heavy music with a wide range of influences. The music is at once sludgey and slow, fast and discordant, melodic and occasionally mathy. Each of the 3 members brings a different set of influences and sounds to the band. Formed in 2010. "
-Last.fm

"A band from Portland" doesn't really narrow down things too much.  Still digging this stuff.  Wander over to their bandcamp, and give it a listen.  The title track is just ambience, but the other three songs are tight and have their own feel.  I am kind of getting lost in the album art....

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B EP by Animal Skins (2011)

Kind of Like: Blackcloud, Former Theives, Bone Dance
Genres: Sludge, Hardcore, Mathcore, Chaotic Hardcore
Preview: Bandcamp

I can't listen to this music too loud because I am sitting at a gate at the airport waiting for a flight to come in.  I don't have my headphones on me, so I'm playing it out loud amongst a bunch of people.  It's pretty coarse, ruthless sounding stuff, and I don't think people around me would like if I were blasting it.  Although I'm pretty sure the people that are having a stressful layover have this music playing in their heads right now as they curse the airline for all their problems.  Also, I didn't notice that guys mouth on the album cover when I first looked at it; it made me shit bricks when I saw it.  I just added another person that will probably be contributing stuff soon.  He is from Halifax, Canada (at least that's what I think he means by Hali, east coast of Canada).  I've always wanted to visit Nova Scotia; the closest I've been is Montreal and I loved it there.  He gave me a nice rundown of his living situation and all the cool stuff he likes to do, which I really appreciated because I like to know the people I collaborate with.  He says he likes funk, old punk, dub, reggae, but mostly hardcore and screams.  So, maybe he will dig this too.

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Anatema by Afrontar (2011)

Kind of Like: No Omega, Black Tusk, Von Wolfe
Genres: Metal, Hardcore, Sludge, Punk
Preview: Bandcamp

From what I can tell these guys are from El Salvador, or somewhere from Latin America.  Heavy ass riffage going on right here; the music ranges from fast and chaotic to slow, heavy and brutal.  I like the album art too.  I'm not big on the metal-esque fonts, but the whole decomposing body in a pool of water is pretty intense.

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Three Way Split by Bone Dance/Divider/Plebian Grandstand (2011)

Kind of Like: Gaza, Botch, Ken Mode, Deadguy, Neurosis
Genres: Sludge, Chaotic Hardcore/Mathcore, Post-Hardcore
Preview: Bandcamp

"Three bands, three different interpretations of hardcore/punk, two continents, one policy: Destroy.


BONE DANCE (Boise, Idaho, USA) doesn't want to be your friend. The nihilism you'll hear from these self-described "five loud dudes with shitty attitudes", playing their exceedingly raw brand of chaotic hardcore/sludge, will ring a bell whether you're into GAZA or KEN MODE, BOTCH or CURSED. Conceived with a colossal sense of brutality, yet never forsaking their punk ethos, "West" and "Conniver" will further consecrate this band as one to watch. Remember this goddamned name.


No matter how paradoxical it may seem, DIVIDER (Long Island, New York, USA) would prefer to unite rather than to divide. Uniting the sound of more modern filthy hardcore bands with a strong sense of punk emergency, these two tracks ("Gaia" & "Halios Geron" ) introduce Chris Tzompanakis behind the mic, best known for his work with the influential group SKYCAMEFALLING in the early 2000's. If you're into DEADGUY, THE POWER AND THE GLORY, or VISION OF DISORDER, you've found the perfect soundtrack for your next bare-knuckle boxing match.


As for PLEBEIAN GRANDSTAND (Toulouse, France), if the shrapnel-laden assault that was "How Hate Is Hard To Define" had you asking for more, this time around there won't be any survivors left to beg for a rematch. If the explosion of screaming and distortion that is "Woe Is Me" isn't enough, then the hallucinatory "Woe Is You", with its NEUROSIS inspired, trance-like drums, and a throbbing bassline that builds to a crescendo which threatens to tip the richter scale, certainly will be. The first time I heard these tracks, I felt like ripping off my eyelids. And I won't be the one."
-Bandcamp

Pretty effin' brutal if you ask me.

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Passage Through Purgatory by Black Tusk (Remastered) (2011)

Kind of Like: Zoroaster, Howl, Bison B.C.
Genres: Sludge, Hardcore, Metal
Preview: Bandcamp


This a remaster of Black Tusk's 2008 effort, Passage Through Purgatory that includes two bonus tracks as well.  This album is an absolute stoner rock/metal beast with hints of post-hardcore, punk and southern rock.  This image will show you why you should give this album a listen:

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Starkweather/Overmars Split (2011)

Kind of Like: Rorschach, Deadguy, Amenra, Icos
Genres: Sludge, Doom, Metal, Post-hardcore, Hardcore
Preview: Website

Overmars is a 7 piece sludge band from Lyon, France. Starkweather is a metal/hardcore group that formed in 1989 and would go onto influence such bands as Converge, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Mastodon by pioneering the cross-over between metal and hardcore music.  They wrote two long songs each to make a pretty brutal split that was released by, you guessed it: Deathwish.

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The Gorgon Tongue: Impale Golden Horn & Forbidden Planet by Horseback (2011)

Kind of Like:  Merzbow, Stars of the Lid, Jodis
Genres: Sludge, Ambient, Metal, Drone, Doom
Preview: Bandcamp

"HORSEBACK’s ‘The Gorgon Tongue: Impale Golden Hom and Forbidden Planet’ brings together a reissue of Jenks Miller’s 2007 offering, ‘Impale Golden Hom’ with the new work of the ‘Forbidden Planet’ Lp. ‘Impale Golden Hom’ is a work of lush, blessed out drone a la Flying Saucer Attack and Loop. It’s beauty is in stark contrast to ‘Forbidden Planet’; a decidedly harsh record with its sinister tones and abrasive, distorted black-metal vocals."
-rlslog

Get ready to zone out.

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Two for Tuesday: Heavy Rocks and Attention, Please by Boris (2011)

Kind of Like: Sun O))), Earth, The xx
Genres: Sludge, Doom, Pop, Experimental
Preview: NPR

When I first put the new Heavy Rocks on my itunes, it immediately started causing problems.  The songs intertwined with the old Heavy Rocks album they put out so it looked like one giant album, so now  I have an album called Heavy Rocks and this one called Heavy Rocks 2.  Honestly, I don't know why they felt so compelled to call this Heavy Rocks again.  Trust me, it has some heavy ass songs, but it also has a bunch of poppy ones that were on the New Album.  I am still listening to Heavy Rocks and haven't listened to Attention, Please yet, but that album apparently is their "least metal" album they have put out and is instead focusing on "icy rhythms" and "smoky moods" that pull closer to being similar with bands like the xx.  Guitarist Wata is doing her first lead performance for that album.

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Relief Demo/EP by Frandy (2011)

Kind of Like: Botch, Converge, Trap Them
Genres: Chaotic Hardcore, Mathcore, Sludge
Preview:  Bandcamp

Just stumbled on these guys and turns out they are from Michigan as well.  For a "demo" this sounds pretty great.  It's nice to see another good technical hardcore band coming from out of this state, there is so many shit bands that dilute any sort of good hardcore scene.  Kenny, maybe play a show with them?  I could see that working out pretty well.  These guys call themselves hardcore and/or sludge.  I guess I can see the sludge, but I would associate them more with the bands up top.

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Guiltless by Indian (2011)

Kind of Like: Zoroaster, Weedeater,
Genres: Doom, Metal, Sludge, Drone, Hardcore
Preview: Indian's Myspace

"A truly uneasy listen that will drag you into the abyss and spit you out of the other side shaking, confused and very much an Indian fan. Brave it to the end and you'll be rewarded. Absolutely fantastic."
-OneMetal.com

"One thing I dig throughout the album are the vocals that sound like the death calls of ten thousand ghosts. The sludge & crusty drumming is off the chain. Plus, the guitars create this wall of drone that act as a layer of tension between all the other sounds. There are moments on Guiltless where the band finds this space of sinister emotion that actually energizes the listener."
-CVLTNation.com

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Murder The Mountains by Red Fang (2011)

Kind of Like: Young Widows, Queens of the Stone Age, Electric Wizard
Genres: Sludge, Metal, Rock
Preview: NPR

First By Surprise (Mountain Smashers) and now these guys?  What's everybody got against mountains?  Love the album art; had a couple trippy covers the past couple updates.  These guys are stoner rock/metal from Portland.  They used to be on Sargent House, but this will be their second release for Relapse.

"RED FANG is the latest effort from long time bros and collaborators Bryan Giles (Last of the Juanitas, Party Time), Aaron Beam (Dark Forces, Lachrymator), David Sullivan (Party Time, Face Down In Shit, Shiny Beast) and John Sherman (Party Time, Bad Wizard, Trumans Water, All Night). The four have boiled down their disparate sounds to create the ONLY sound: RED FANG."
-Last.fm

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