Boss Keloid - The Calming Influence of Teeth

This band has probably the worst name I've come across all year.  Suprisingly, though, they produce some of the best "Beard Metal" I've heard in some time as well.  Imagine a hybrid of Crowbar and Kylesa, only mathier.  The production is decent, but I wish it had the seismic low-end of those old Crowbar jams.  Pretty sweet overall.  Definitely recommended!

teeth, it's what's for dinner

Lento - Anxiety, Despair, Languish

There are many genres that I love to hate, but then there's always a band that's so good I have to eat my own prejudiced words.  This is what I wish all Instrumental Post-Metal bands sounded like.  The dreary quality that seems to link all Post-Metal is still evident, but the annoying droney, repetitive quality is not to be found.  Instead, these songs actually develop and show dynamics and melody.  Not quite enough melody to make me forget the lack of vocals, but close.  Pretty close to how Kylesa would sound if they decided to go instrumental.  Those of you with beards will dig it.

a necessary queef

Xozo - Farsight

Throw about every heavy music genre from the past twenty years into a blender, and you might end up with this.  From the metallic, to the sludgey, to the post-whatever, you'll find it displayed here.  In simpler terms, I would say it's somewhere between Neurosis, Kylesa and Trap Them.  All of this is pulled off extremely well.  The stylistic changes within don't sound abrupt or ill-fitting at all.  Highly recommended bludgeoning.  Also, sorry about the lack of posts lately, I just haven't found much stuff that's appealed to me.

I don't know what to do with this tossed salad and scrambled eggs...

I The Unlord

It's time for us to take a trip into the thick, cheesy depths of Münster (which is in Germany, in case you thought it was in Wisconsin or something).  What we have here is the finest example of Sludgecore that I've heard in months.  It's brutal, viscous, and plodding without ever becoming droney (a tag you'll never see on this blog).  I the Unlord  manage to be lethargic and violent simultaneously, which is a very fine line to walk.  The production works very nicely too, with the proper amount of sharpness and low-end without distorting your brain and speakers to oblivion.  If you're (like me) waiting for the new Xibalba full length, Praise the Most Dead should satiate your hunger for seismic musical catharsis.

I the Bunglord

Crowbar - Odd Fellows Rest

Until this week, I had forgotten how good this band used to be, and more specifically, how great this album is.  I've recently been searching my memory for albums that were old favorites to me (ten or so) years ago, and then listening to them to see if they hold up to my new jaded standards.  This one definitely does.  The seismic guitar tone, the clenched-teeth growls, the crippling grooves.  They all sound just as cathartic now as they did a decade ago.  This album was also a turning point for the band, as they went from a Sludgey Metalcore sound to pure Sludge misery.  I kind of miss the faster, Hardcore-influnced parts of their early albums, but the leaps forward in songwriting and production more than make up for it.  This effort is packed to the gills with long, bowel-churing riffs and throbbing beats that seem to go on forever.  This shit isn't for skinny vegans that like jangly Indie Rock (the musical equivalent of a rice cake).  This is for hefty people that like their music thick and dense, like audial meatloaf.

fat music for fat people. it's not just a shitty comp, it's a reality.

Lurk - Lurk

You know, for such a small country, there seems to be a constant stream of great Metal flowing out of Finland.  Many of my first posts were of Finnish bands, and while I may not hold the country in as high of esteem as Sweden or England, they're not far behind either.  Lurk's debut hasn't been turning many heads as of yet, and that puzzles me.  Maybe that's because it's not quite Death Metal enough for the denim and leather clad, and not Doomy enough for the bearded and dreadlocked.  Personally, I think it's great; and I don't care if it doesn't fit into whatever purist genre standard.  While their sound is a hybrid, I do feel like it leans more towards the Sludge/Doom side as far as riffs and pace go.  But the sparse keyboards and guttural vocals create a sinister atmosphere more akin to Death Metal.  The verbal gargle demonstrated here is of the highest caliber, as if Gorefest and Horn of the Rhino had an ugly baby.  Instrumentally, Lurk occupy a space between Modern Sludge and Atmospheric Doom/Death.  It's a very comfortable place, although a bit confusing from song to song.  But You still get great riffs, scathing vocals and a super dark atmosphere.  Who wouldn't want that?

  

crocodilian

Earth Ship - Exit Eden

Tasty and legitimately heavy Post-Metal or "Beard Metal" (as the kids like to call it) from Germany.  But this isn't the slow, atmospheric, droney stuff that people have been gushing over for the past 15 years.  This is solidly mid-paced pounding that you can actually bang your head to most of the time.  True, this is more on the Kylesa side of things than the Isis side, and I like it that way.

facial hair will drive you mad

Moksha - Sang De Roure

It's been forever since that last post, hasn't it?  Luckily, I've come across several cool new finds during my absence.  Because it's been so long, I think you guys deserve a double post.  The first one is a bottom-heavy bruiser from Spain.  I'm usually a sucker for sludge/hardcore/metal hybrids, so it's right up my alley too.  Moksha deliver equal parts High on Fire, Trap Them, and His Hero is Gone for a decidedly bassy, crushing and probably weed-influenced experience.  It's dynamic and varied without being "mathy", so don't worry about it making your simpleton head hurt like some of my "proggier" posts. 

  Moksha "Sang de Roure" by BCore Disc

like a flesh tuxedo

Salome - Terminal

Despite the name, there's nothing particularly "jewish" about this band.  And despite being from the South, there's nothing particularly southern sounding about them either.  Salome play interesting Doom in their own unique way without any gimmicks or cheese.  Sure, it's still minimalist and at times ridiculously slow, but they're bringing real songwriting and originality to the table.  Which is more than I can say about pretty much any other Doom or Sludge band out there.

no business like Shofar business

Northless - Clandestine Abuse

Truth be told, I haven't listened to this all the way through yet, just sampled it.  Even so, I can tell this unique, quality Sludgecore.  Not heard of this hybrid before?  Pretty self-explanatory: All the bottom heaviness of Sludge, but with a little added speed, hard attack, and anger of Hardcore.  The riffs and rhythms offer a slightly challenging flare and lay the dense foundation for the heated screams.  It's not too slow either, there's just enough pace to get you pissed.  I usually don't give a shit about Sludge or Doom, so that should tell you how much this stands out.  Fans of Thou, Khanate, and (enter other band here) should hear this.

candlewax abuse

Zeni Geva - Maximum Money Monster

It's seemingly impossible for a Japanese band to do anything just like the western world, they always have to put their own spin on things.  Is that unintentional and just a product of their vastly different culture, or are they purposefully trying to add a uniquely Japanese flare?  I really don't know, but I do know that Zeni Geva is definitely part of this phenomenon.  Zeni Geva are often considered the "Melvins of Japan".  I would say that's a pretty fair comparison, but with the vocals being the major differential.  Frontman KK Null's throaty gargle manifests his depraved lyrics perfectly.  Don't count him out as a one-note growler though, as he's more than capable of emitting "dying-woman" shrieks as well.   All that screaming sits on a solid foundation of noisy, sludgy riffs, taylor made to incite violence.  What more do you need?

 

Brack out with your cock out

Cattlepress - Hordes to Abolish the Divine

Proof that New York City has more to offer than just great salsa.  Nope, this some raw, midpaced Sludgecore.  This album is about halfway between Neurosis and Brainoil.  Very droney in parts, mathy in others, and I even detect a hint of Metalcore (hey, it was the 90's).  Pretty difficult to describe, but it'll seem very familiar once you hear it.  That's all I got today, just enjoy this album as it's kind of rare.

link courtesy of sketchy russian download site