Psychonaut 4 - Have a Nice Trip (CS, Depressive Illusions, 2012)

The music of Psychonaut 4 has just about everything black metal could possibly offer: midtempo rhythms, classic blasts, downtempo shoegaze infusion and tremelo riffs. Graf, the vocalist, even comes equipped with onstage self-mutilation and bloodletting (assuring DSBM authenticity), and has an interesting hybrid of all three waves of black metal lineage. As the band hails from the nation of Georgia, there is even an accordion track steeped in traditional Russian folk music. This is a raw feeling album that has a studio quality. I think it's a nice package.

Since the cassette was released on a very underground Ukrainian label, good luck finding it. In the meantime, enjoy the streams below:

An Autumn for Crippled Children - Try Not To Destroy Everything You Love (Aeternitas Tenebrarum Musicae Fundamentum, 2013)

I'm currently digging this band from The Netherlands. Yes, their name is too long (it's taken from a song title by the 90's UK black metal band Ebonylake) . Yes, it's dramatic, and so is the album title. Yes, I love it anyway.

Essentially, its shoegazey black metal / black gaze / whatever stupid name people end up giving especially atmospheric metal. Most of you hatefully refer to it as hipster metal but, hey, don't forget that some folks still refer to your precious WIITR with the same animosity.

Regardless, this is beautiful and blissful darkness. Enjoy.

Murmur - S/T (Season of Mist, 2014)

Chicago metal band Murmur has returned with an eponymous sophomore effort that is nothing less than brilliant. To be honest, it took me off guard. The diversity of styles is overwhelming, the playing is loose yet polished, and the theme shows a great deal of growth and maturity.

This could be a tricky one for those of you that find the avant garde aesthetic a bit much to handle. The record begins with a wash of ambient free improvisation, launches into a traditional blast beat, then cycles through experimental waves of progressive (yes, King Crimson), 80's, tribal polyrhythms, acoustic, noise, jazz, and post-rock. They even break down a 70's hard rock ballad. Vocals are blackened, occasionally clean melodic harmonies, and some atonal rants, although the bulk of the album is instrumental.

What strikes me is that even though packing all of this into the same recording sounds as if it would be too busy and math rock'ish, it is not. Murmur's delivery still feels casual and uncomplicated. Most notably, this may be the most interesting metal drummer I've heard in years. At times, due to his style, it's easy to forget this is a metal record at all.

I must admit, I've never been much on prog, yet my heightened sensitivity levels came through unscathed.
This feels more like a lush and fantastic voyage through a faraway--Wait... I think the prog elements just drugged me.

Najand - Complicated Antithesis (Metal Throne, 2011)

Najand (or Nazhand) is a one man Iranian depressive black metal act. As is typical of the genre, he's prolific, with a couple dozen albums under his belt since 2005, when he was only sixteen. I've been digging this particular album because I enjoy the way the vocals are recorded. Nothing else really stands out. I must admit, I'm intrigued that he is so young, and Iranian. Novelty or not, its is a solid spin.

Cave Evil - KVVL Radio Mixtape (Rotten Shape, 2013)

I was never a RPG guy. Tried my hand at a couple one summer back in '92 but I just wasn't nerdy in that particularly way. What I am nerdy about to this day, is anything dark ambient or black metal. If you like either / both of these, boy oh boy, do I have a treat for you.

A really creative subgenre is black metal presented as if it were being made in the middle ages (Wolfmangler, Dead Raven Choir, etc.). The music presented here is the soundtrack to some ridiculous "Necro-Demonic Dungeon Brawl Boardcame", and it contains a sort of black subgenre, mixed with some sound effects and ritual electronic blackness.

Even if you scoff at RPG's, try the tunes. Fun stuff. The ninety minute mixtape features tracks from Night of Ultraviolence, Wizard333, Swordsect, Abandoned Places, Manifester, Cex, MarderIII, Muroc, Hatred, Crypt Enforcer, Whispers of Dead Gods, Tres Quatro, Mammal, OoznDmrr, Indignant Senility, and Khand. Uh huh, laugh until you listen.

Thanks to Justin Farrar for the heads up on this one. Listen on the completely over the top radio station website HERE

Or at Bandcamp:

Nattfog - Mustan Auringon Riitti (2013)

Its been entirely too long since a black metal band has been comfortable in the raw minus blastbeats, Apparently Finland is where its at for cold metallic crusty folks? Regardless, here is an example of no frills open hi hat chunk. This is crusty feeling blackness with questionable lyrical integrity, which is a bummer. I really like this band but there is rumor of NSBM leanings, just a heads up. Sorry. Its quite possible. I'm just not sure. Either way, this band slays. I admire the downtempo aesthetic. Finland kils it all.

Vestiges - The Descent of Man (Self-Released, 2010)

"The Descent Of Man follows the creation, the evolution, and the eventual annihilation of mankind. Today, we find ourselves hoping to reverse the damage that we have done and struggling to sustain what little earth we have yet to rape repeatedly. We validate this existence with stories that justify our behavior and our role in the natural world. The promise of salvation in a land we have yet to see has clouded our judgment in a land that is right before our eyes. Industrialization, militarization, overpopulation, theism, specieism, and nihilism are regarded as evolution and progress. Our greed and ignorance have been celebrated and our past has been forgotten. We were meant to be a part of nature. We were not meant to conquer nature. We were given life and we have done everything in our power to bring death upon everything in our path, including ourselves. There will be horrifying consequences for what we have done.

For man has sown contempt, man shall reap a bitter end.
Let our bodies replenish this earth, for the true color of man has shown!"

Those are words from the band itself. Every once in a while a group of musicians reminds me that something actually matters.  The Washington D.C. outfit Vestiges plays atmospheric blackened crust with a narrative that could double as the soundtrack to Derrick Jensen's book "Endgame".

Sit down with this one. No distractions. Just you and a record. Trust me. It will shake you to your core.

Download for free or donation HERE. You can also purchase the gorgeous gatefold vinyl there too.

Torn Birch - Effigy (VAALD, 2013)

Earlier this year, Grant Evans, of Hooker Vision, unleashed a beast that wouldn't be conducive to his primary label. VAALD is his new venture, one that documents the lower depths of sound exploration.

Torn Birch, an anonymous project released as part of Evans' first batch of cassettes, is a mindbending listen. This is a narrative pastiche that surpasses music and noise, moving into pure emotion. Beginning in a vein reminiscent of the earliest Abruptum recordings, there are pangs of anguish in the vocals. Things later alternate between ambient, drone and noise, relaying a perfectly experimental bedroom black metal aesthetic. "Effigy" is a paradox of beauty and horror.

Beatrik - Requiem of December (Avantgarde Music, 2005)

I don't really hear much about the underground metal scene in Italy. I don't even know if there is much going on. So, I was surprised to discover an Italian band comprised of equal parts depressive black metal and funeral doom. Really impressive material here. Plodding DSBM guitar a la Xasthur or Nortt is contrasted by classic dark organ sounds, and simple doom drums with an occasional blast beat. There is even a bit of nature worship thrown in there under the Varg-like gurgling vocals. The recording is fairly clean and well done.

Sounds like cutting your arms while the church bells ring...



Get it HERE

Annalium Desparatio, Third Wave Part 1 (Mixtape, 2012)

Annalium Desparatio: A Fronte Praecipitium, A Tergo Lupi, Third Wave Part 1 by The Nomadic Subject on Mixcloud

Last winter, I handmade a cassette boxset for five friends of mine. The four cassettes contained a chronological history of black metal. First, second, and third wave. Here, I've mixed the first part of the third wave. Eventually, I'll mix the remainder and post those as well. Enjoy the Darkness...

Systems - Ghost Medicine (Self-released, 2011)

Systems' sound is difficult to peg. One could easily tag them with a dozen different sub-genres when discussing elements and influences. At the very least, they are a technically proficient experimental metal band. Traditionally, the elements combined on this album would be considered disparate. The magic lies in the way these guys manage to intertwine everything, giving it a natural fluidity, and managing to keep the listener's attention throughout.

This is a North Carolina band that emanates the sounds of French post-metal from the last decade, a la Overmars or some incarnation of the infamous Neige (Alcest, Amesoeurs, etc.). Equally present are the tried and true sounds of Neurot, thrash, hardcore, and death metal. The music is all rounded out with a hybrid of black metal growling vocals and baritone singing.

Nothing is contrived here. Nothing is innocuous. Ghost Medicine is a masterfully executed narrative of melancholy, beauty and brutality, an original album with brilliant production.

Buy the LP / digital album HERE

And if you're in Asheville, NC October 30, see them perform live at The Get Down alongside Black Skies, Hull and Mortals.

Liturgy - Aesthetica (Thrill Jockey, 2011)

The first time I heard of Liturgy was while hanging up flyers for a show they were playing. Musicians around town that I respect couldn't believe that they were playing a house show down the street. I couldn't believe, later that night, that I was killing a joint with them upstairs in a bedroom above one of the most intense musical experiences I have ever experienced. They played with fire and knew how to keep it going. That night, we coined the phrase “killing the horse” for getting high because it was mentioned that some of us smoke enough weed to kill a horse. That being said, their last album, Renihilation, became an obsession of mine.

This new album, Aesthetica, brings me to a place where my ears have to work to hear all of the amazing sounds they're creating because I don't want to miss anything. I've seen them play a few of these songs live and one in particular stuck with me. I searched the internet-theory to its edge to find the song and couldn't until recently because it is on this new album. “Veins of God” is one of the last songs, a transcendental stoner metal song played by a Brooklyn black metal band, truly transforming and fulfilling the foreshadowed expectations by the album's title.

They venture before with songs of incredible speed, parts of songs involving their token vocal harmonization and melodies and no other instruments, and dive to the heaviest note with weight. They create sounds that you want to hear, experimenting with sophisticated variety and raw honesty. It makes your mind work in a way that pleases itself, true aesthetic of varying rhythms with time and space blurring from speed.

It seems that getting lost in this album is the way to find what you like about it. Everything on Aesthetica is proper to play while starting a fire, watching one burn down everything, or lighting the flame to kill the horse. Keyword: Experiment.

--Oliver Kelly

Get Aesthetica Here

Or:

Ulver - Shadows of the Sun (2007, The End)

Ulver is one of the most unpredictable bands in the Avant-garde world. The Norwegian trio are firmly rooted in the capitol of the early 90's Black Metal scene; However, they only made a couple records that fit nicely into the genre.

This is an odd bunch. Its possible that the first album was recorded in the forest. Its also possible that when signed to major label Century Media, they put the sign-on Bonus toward Armani suits, haircuts, cocaine, booze and a car. Regardless, the mysterioso and non-conformity is all part of the allure for avid Ulver fans. The band insists that one can be Black Metal as fuck whether or not it involves corpsepaint, blastbeats or tremelo guitars.

The latest outing is their most somber and serene. Its a very laidback compilation of reflective and depressing elegies. Garm's vocals here are perfectly mixed, the heavy synth layers are a solid spine and the choral arrangements are just chilling. Though mostly ambient, the crescendos toward incidental drum tracks are always welcome and the minimal jazz-like trumpet is perfectly positioned. A guest appearance from Christian Fennesz is a nice surprise, as is the cover of Black Sabbath's "Solitude" from "Masters of Reality".

There is an intentional density created in this sound. One that calls to mind the title of their first album "Bergtatt" which, translated, means "wandering off into the mountains". There is a feeling that the solitude depicted in this narrative is a last rites of sorts, a man making peace before his final breath, what things might sound like after the wrists are slashed and the vital crimson is nearly drained. The heart is slowing, the brain is slowing and solace is finally achieved.

Overall, this is their most impressive and refined album to date...metal or not. I can't wait to be surprised by what happens next.

Get It Here

Or:

Sombres Forets - Quintessence (2006, Sepulchral)

One man Canadian BM band Annatar makes epic depressive odes to mother nature with characteristics of raw black metal and funeral doom. This is nothing too original or fascinating but its clear that he's genuine in his intent and his passion shines through every aspect of the recording. Fans of Xasthur, Abyssic Hate or Burzum may write this off at first listen but a couple tracks in, the misanthropy deepens and the anguished hooks and blood-curdling screams prevail. A particularly distinguishing element is his hypnotic use of keyboards and acoustic guitars which heighten the emotional content and help convey the forest-worshipping themes.

Again, not trying to sell the greatest Suicidal Depressive BM record ever here but its a very solid album that I thoroughly enjoy.

Get It Here

Moevot - Abgzvoryathre (1993) DEMO tape

Moevot (Vordb from Les Legions Noires) makes the blackest metal without a hint of Black Metal. This is pure Ambient darkness. From a clean and beautiful vocal chanting an inverted Lord's Prayer to deathly gurgling over simple organ repition, this is spine-tingling music. A world of very real paranoia envelopes me as I listen to this on headphones while sitting in the dark. This is no joke. Utterly bleak and minimal guitar strumming performed in the cultish context presented here is disturbing and extremely uncomfortable. This feels like the score to a silent 1920's black mass snuff film. Definitive Black Ambient.

Get It Here

Learn more about Les Legions Noire here

Moonsorrow - Viides Luku : Havitetty (2007, Spikefarm)

This is the most exciting album I've heard in quite a while. Finnish sextet Moonsorrow has crafted an impressive document of Progressive Black Metal. There are elements here that would appeal to fans of Opeth as well as fans of Drudkh or Wolves in the Throne Room. This is a cross sub-genre recording that never feels contrives or trifling.

"Jaasta Syntynt, Varjojen Virta" is a drawn out 30 minute piece that never loses my attention. Its important to recognize that this is not several short movements fused together but an actual half hour long song. An unbelievable undertaking, incredibly conceived and masterfully executed. Around the sound of a crackling fire, guitars slowly churn, building into a doomscape with death and progressive overtones. This evolves into a heavy Black Metal motif with traditional folk instrumentation. The effect is epically brutal and spiritually torturous.

"Tuleen Ajettu Maa" begins with intensive chanting and quickly bursts into classic heavy blastbeats and tremelo guitar.

The organic flow of the composition and structure here is mindbending. Don't forsake this undeniably great Heathen Black Metal masterpiece.

Get It Here

Or:

Chaos Moon - Languor into Echoes, Beyond (2007, Ars Magna Recordings)

This band is primarily the project of Esoterica. The fact that these guys hail from Nashville, Tennessee surprises the hell out of me. For all I knew this could have been someone in his bedroom in the Eastern Bloc.

The first half of the record is chock full of blast-beats and second wave familiarity that most Black Metal fans will enjoy. However, in the middle of the fourteen minute epic "Simulacrum of Mirrors", things shift in the favor of those who enjoy Atmospheric Black Metal. I'm just implying some similarity. I do not intend to lump this band into the Wolves in the Throne Room category. What I find most interesting about this album is the use of standard blast-beats and the use of ethereal keyboards almost in opposition to each other culminating in its own cohesive sound.

This results in Ambient AND Black Metal, not Ambient Black Metal. Many elements presented here will be familiar to those who enjoyed Leviathan's "Lurker of Chalice" project. Also in contrast is the romantic sound of Chaos Moon. I have no idea what the lyrics are but little of this recording feels suicidal or even self-loathing to me. There is more than a sliver of light seeping through in "The Palterer" and in "Hymn to Iniquity" where there are obvious hints of 4AD and Shoegaze.

If you are open to synthesizers with your Black Metal, I'd be shocked if you didn't enjoy this one.

Get It Here

Or:

Agalloch - Marrow of the Spirit (2010)

Its been four long years since my favorite American Black Metal band released an album. Well, the new one is here and it was well worth the wait.

The cello and field recordings of "They escaped the Weight of Darkness" introduce us to the new Agalloch. Its a beautiful ambient interlude that gives way to "Into the Painted Grey" which heralds the blastbeats and fine-tuned aggression of new drummer Aesop Dekker, who finally gives them the heavy handed sound they've been looking for.

"The Watcher's Monolith" calls to mind the Neo-Folk tendencies of "The Mantle". The acoustic-laden Post-Rock of this gorgeous track reminds me just how versatile this band can be.

The track I'd heard about but still wasn't prepared for is "Black Lake Nidstang", a seventeen minute sprawling epic worthy of the hype its been receiving. A minimal beginning gives way to a driving sludgy rhythm with a surprisingly clean yet plaintive vocal track. After a lovely seemingly infinite period, the tracks unravels into a droning experimental soundscape with a beautifully simple guitar loop before returning to the meat of the track and eventually decaying in a luscious fashion.

The closing track "To Drown" is by no means anti-climactic after the beast of a track prior. It holds its own as a classic Agalloch track reminding us of the Drudkh-like nature of this band but distinguishes itself with a classical march that resolves the album in a very mature and dignified manner.

Personally, I already prefer it over "The Mantle". Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe its just the fact that I'm a drummer and as an Agalloch fan, I finally dig the drummer. What's certain is that herein lies another Post-Black Metal Shoegaze Folk (insert label here) classic. I have been working on my albums of the year list and this one crept up on me. I couldn't be happier that it did.

Get It Here

Or:

Overmars - Affliction, Endochrine...Vertigo - 2005

My favorite underrated French metal band will rot your brain, confuse the hell out of you and weigh heavily on your mind if you manage to endure the 69 minute barrage. This 2005 release is extremely honest and radically brutal. I call it metal out of necessity. Its ripe with Black Metal, Sludge,Hardcore, Horror film soundscapes, instrumental interludes and dissonant atmospherics. Patiently delivering a story that seems infinite, this septet runs the gamut of moods underneath Arnaud's plaintive and growling vocals. Avant-garde intellectualism sides with grace and intensity in the face of their depressive and grisly subject matter. Meticulously produced, I highly recommend listening to this one in headphones. Only...not before bedtime.

Get It Here

Or: