Autumn, Leaves, Scars - "The Story Of A Life"

Depressive post-ish black metal and sort of blackened shoegaze influenced gothic rock. Or something. Some nice melodies and everything is played & put together well. If any of those buzz words get ya hot under the collar, you'll enjoy this.

Autumn, Leaves, Scars - "The Story Of A Life"

- DCKR

Jungbluth - "S/T Tape"

It's not in my nature to lie to the people about the music, so I'm not gonna start now. How I happened upon this release, I have no clue. What happens is, I spend about one night a week just downloading a shit ton of music from numerous and various sources, then I spend the following week (attempting to) going through it when I've time. This has left me with a HUGE (and ever increasing) folder of new music and an impossible way to discern where I got what from. So, when I cue something up, I give it a few minutes and either continue listening because I dig it or shitcan it because I don't. If I dig it, I go looking for more info to see if I can buy it, if I can post it, and in both cases I look for as much information about the artist and release as possible. Fun life, eh? And that's just what I do with my free time.

Anyhow, Jungbluth's self titled tape was something I happened upon and from about 3 seconds in knew that I was gonna love. I was right. When I went looking for info on these guys, I read a lot of reference to "screamo" as a genre - a genre that I 99.9% of the time cannot stand. Give it up for Jungbluth being part of the .01%! But, as you might expect from myself and Magicore, it's never that black and white. Jungbluth craft a ridiculous blend of, as mentioned, "screamo", but it is far beyond that. Oldschool punk rock, screamo, post/progressive metal tendencies, hardcore, and much more are all swirling in this sonic maelstrom - and this self title tape is hugely enjoyable and recommended if even a small fraction of anything mentioned thusfar is something you're even remotely into, guaranteed.

So. Go get a tape if you can. If not, definitely get a download.

Here.

Nagaarum - "Oort"

Over the last year or so I've really noticed a lot of black metal and related sounds coming out of the peculiar land known as Hungary. It seems, at least from a distance, like an unlikely place for a thriving black metal scene. Nevertheless, there is quite a bit of it going on. Additionally, the black metal scene in Hungary seems to be largely dominated by artists working with their interpretation of the blueprint for this sound, often coloring well outside the lines and liberally cross pollinating black metal with other genres and sounds - often more experimental things.

Nagaarum is one such band from Hungary. Psychedelic and doom laden black metal, a one man outfit it seems, Nagaarum crafts a pretty complex and in depth imagining of the black metal sound. Sticking its fingers in sort of gothic and post rock pies at times, there is a lot of genuine musicality going on here while keeping true to the finer points of black metal. I guess you could call it a sort of psychedelic post space black metal, if you wanted to. There's a lot of progression and ebb & flow through out the album, and the songs on their own. A whole listening experience, "Oort" is definitely an album that will either speak to you very directly and intimately or leave you scratching your chin wondering what the hell you just heard.

Oldschool style website that's still cool to experience, go cop this one from the "releases" page.

Nagaarum - "Oort"

- DCKR

Cut The End - "Dawn's Death To Dusk"

Post death metal? Is that a thing now? The dudes in the awesomely named band Cut The End would like you to believe there is, I guess. I dunno, though. To me, it just sounds like expertly crafted heavy offerings of the post metal / post rock sub genres with a more aggro vocal delivery than either usually employ or allow, let alone champion and herald, with sludge and death metal flavors. I hate throwing around the word "epic", but this shit really is a sort of sludge tinged death derived version of post heavy metal that is, absolutely, epic. Check it out.

Cut The End - "Dawn's Death To Dusk"

- DCKR

Syberia - "Drawing A Future"

I'll let you draw your own comparisons about "Drawing A Future" from instrumental post rock/metal outfit Syberia. It's quality musicianship and absolutely worth checking out if you're into progressive rock/metal and post rock/metal.

Syberia - "Drawing A Future"

- DCKR

Barghest / False - Split

Oshkosh Wisconsin's Gilead Media with a 3 track split from Barghest and False, delivering a sort of  black / death metal hybrid that tip toes into some remotely shoegaze and/or post rock feeling moments and back again. Guitar work here is of the shredding melodic black/death metal variety and of note, vocals are layered and varied while remaining singular, lots of crashing cymbals in the drums. Choose your vice to twist your brain and turn this one up really loud when you're all alone late at night.

Barghest / False - Split

- DCKR

Loss Of Self - "Demo"

Seems like everyone is coming out of the woodwork with a black metal hybrid of one sort or another. I ain't mad. This time around it's straight up black metal and straight up post rock. It's better than that description makes it sound, though. Think of your favorite post rock outfit and rub blackness and distortion and mold all over it. That's what you get with this short & sweet effort from Loss Of Self.

Loss Of Self - "Demo"

- DCKR

0N0 - "Plus Ultra"

0N0 is a ridiculous one man technical grind/death/industrial metal outfit from Slovakia. Waaaaaaay better than you think, guaranteed. Traversing the technical death metal and grindcore terrain with incredible skill, and dabbling in sort of progressive rock and post rock realms at the same time, finished off with a smidge of industrial tendencies. Check it out.

0N0 - "Plus Ultra"

- DCKR

Monde Céleste - "Hazlescents"

Ohman, some of you are probably going to hate me for this, but I'll be fuckin' damned if this isn't a brilliant release. Self described as "dreamy light post-black metal  / noisy lo-fi darkgaze", which couldn't be more accurate while also being a bit off putting, Monde Céleste is just some kid somewhere. Makin' this breed of borderline guilty pleasure sonic bliss. Which just happens to fucking rule.

Monde Céleste - "Hazelscents"

- DCKR