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Sunday, January 27, 2013

Portal - Vexovoid (2013)
What happens when you put death metal through the spin cycle of a washing machine? Portal is what happens. Portal's approach to death metal is highly unorthodox, highly abstract, and incredibly dissonant with almost no melody to speak of. Churning guitars and snarling vocals give this album a very otherworldly quality. It's quite easy to imagine oneself being sucked into a black hole as one listens to this monstrosity of an album. While this isn't my favorite style, I can say it's refreshing to know that there are metal bands such as this one that are still pushing the boundaries. Definitely give this one a try if you're up for something very unique and bizarre.
9/10
 

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Consciousness Removal Project - Tacit (2013)
This is an excellent instrumental album from an awesome one-man band. It's quite varied and contains just what you'd want from post-metal music: heavy riffs, beautiful atmospherics, deep bass, and electronic melodies (optional for post-metal but still great). It's just more great music from Finland and definitely something worth checking out.
9/10
 
Incura - Incura (2013)
If you like quirky alt/prog metal a la Fair to Midland then this should be right up your alley. Like FtM, Incura's debut is catchy, fun, energetic and very well-written. The songs are fairly similar, but there's just enough diversity to not make it sound samey or boring. This is going right on my "Best of" list for 2013. Hopefully, it will go on yours too.
9.5/10
 
The Howling Void - The Womb Beyond the World (2012)
The Howling Void is an excellent one-man symphonic funeral doom band. This being my first experience with symphonic funeral doom, I can say that it's a brilliant combination of genres and that this album is a fine specimen of it. The symphonic elements, along with the pulsating guitars, make it one of the darkest metal albums I've heard and about on par with the heavyweights of the genre such as Evoken, Esoteric etc.
9/10

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Marillion - Sounds That Can't Be Made (2012)
Not only is this an beautiful, uplifting masterpiece, but it might be my favorite Marillion album yet (although Marbles comes pretty close). As much as I appreciate the Fish era, this album and Marbles cement the Hogarth era as Marillion's best and most original period. The songs are expertly constructed for maximum emotional effect especially on the epic masterwork "Gaza" which connects the music with the lyrics incredibly well. Additionally, the crystal-clear production on the album gives the songs that extra shine which boosts the overall quality in ways untold. In all, this is prog rock at its most beautiful and, arguably, its best.
9.5/10
 
The Flower Kings - Banks of Eden (2012)
The latest release from one of the most respected names in neo-prog rock has the band writing some of their best tunes yet. All the songs are very passionate, adventurous and downright enjoyable. The band's technical skills on this album are top-notch, and the influences from bands such as Yes and Genesis are apparent and quite tasteful. Even after a five year hiatus, TFK prove that their prog abilities have not deteriorated. If anything, they've improved which is surprising considering the vast discography they already have. I have nothing else to say except this yet another solid release from a consistently good band.
9/10
 
Glass Hammer - Perilous (2012)
The latest album from the prolific Glass Hammer sees a slight drop in quality compared to Cor Cordium, but of course it's still a quality release from a quality band. The classic Yes-like sound still shines through, but I couldn't help but feel that the band were simply going through the motions in some of the songs. That said, I really think this one is a grower and I wouldn't hesitate to call it one of the best prog rock albums of 2012.
8.5/10
 
Lair of the Minotaur - Evil Power (2010)
Coming across as a more abbreviated version of High on Fire, Lair of the Minotaur deliver a punk-infused sludge fest filled with dirty riffs and even dirtier vocals. It's a pretty thrilling album even if it does have its dull moments, and I would certainly recommend it to fans of HoF, Baroness, Mastodon etc.
8.5/10

Circa Survive - Violent Waves (2012)
Circa Survive are another band in the same vein as Thrice, The Dear Hunter etc. in that they mix prog rock, alt rock, and a bit of hardcore. While this effort doesn't quite match Blue Sky Noise, it's still very good in its own right. Anthony Green's soaring, beautiful vocals are really the cornerstone of this album as on previous ones. Some of the songs could be shortened and parts of them made a bit more interesting, but it's still good to see that the band are as ambitious as ever on this record and show no signs of letting up.
9/10 
Clutch - Blast Tyrant (2004)
Yet another awesome band I've only recently checked out, Clutch have certainly earned their reputation as one of the best stoner rock bands around. Neil Fallon's blues-inflected, chain-gangish vocals and Tim Sult's outstanding guitar work really make for a cohesive and memorable experience with this album. This album has made me very excited for the new release coming out later this year. I'll be sure to review that when it drops.
9.5/10
Thrice - Major/Minor (2011)
I've heard so much about this band that I was finally compelled to check them out. I decided to start with their latest release and it's just awesome. It's quite similar to bands such as Coheed and Cambria and The Dear Hunter, but at the same time it has its own concrete musical identity. All the songs are catchy, upbeat and very sincere. It's all radio-friendly stuff (relatively speaking, not meant as a criticism in any way), but yet it's musically dynamic and sophisticated. I'll definitely be exploring this band's back catalog and reviewing it.
9.5/10
 

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Loscil - Sketches From New Brighton (2012)
This is a superb ambient album that really shines both in its musical diversity and sense of progression. All the tracks have subtle beats and glitches that almost make them melodic. In that sense, it's neither too minimalistic nor too busy. I could easily imagine this music being the soundtrack for a dark movie or video game. As the first Loscil album I've listened to, I am thoroughly impressed with this one. I expect most ambient fans will be too.
9.5/10
Sleep Research Facility - Stealth (2012)
Filled with glitches, static, haunting atmospherics, and intermittent radio chatter, this is an album that evokes not only the silent glide of a lone bomber through the night sky, but also the uncomfortable ambiguity of humanity's relationship with technology. Tension and fear flow throughout the album giving it some kind vague narrative; what that narrative is exactly is left entirely up to the listener. While listening to this album, I imagined the B-2 flying gradually into a nightmarish realm where technology engulfs humanity. Now, I'm no Luddite of course but it seems that this album is trying to convey the message that we don't know what the full consequences of our collective decisions will be and that they could indeed be truly nightmarish. It's a deeply unsettling album, as all dark ambient works should be, and while Deep Frieze is still my preferred product from SRF, this is an excellent and quite unique album in its own right.
9/10
 
Ulrich Schnauss - A Long Way to Fall (2013)
The new album by noted electronic shoegaze musician Ulrich Schnauss finds him at perhaps his most exploratory and experimental stage. The tracks have a clear sense of progression and shimmering quality about them. In contrast to the more ambient focused "Goodbye," the new album leans towards techno and much more danceable. I still prefer his old style, but this is quite enjoyable as well. This is another very solid release from one of electronica's most talented musicians.
8.5/10
 
Twelve Foot Ninja - Silent Machine (2012)
This is a band that has crafted their own brand of "kitchen-sink" metal. You can find everything from funk to R&B to Latin jazz on this album and it's wrapped in a djent package. The vocals and songwriting are excellent, and their approach works very well most of the time. Overall, it's a very fun listen and one of the most unique metal releases I've heard in a while.
9/10
 
Aeon Zen - Enigma (2013)
This is a fairly eclectic album with influences ranging from pop to death metal, but the styles of bands such as Dream Theater, Symphony X (and sometimes Devin Townsend) seem to be a common feature throughout. It's a very epic-sounding work with James LaBrie-esque vocals and massive riffs. It's overall very good even though it drags a bit in some parts when it tries too much to sound like the aforementioned bands. I haven't heard the previous two albums yet, but this one definitely has me intrigued enough to check them out.
9/10
 
Pennywise - All or Nothing (2012)
Despite a vocalist replacement, Pennywise continue to prove that they can make straightforward, but effective punk rock. Most of the songs on this album are excellent and all of them are at least good. Definitely a punk highlight for last year.
9/10
 

Monday, January 21, 2013

Hatebreed - The Divinity of Purpose (2013)
Having never really heard much of this band before I listened to this album, I have to say that I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, there's a lot of good melodeath-sounding riffs and fairly tight songs. On the other hand, some of songs are rather bland, and the cliche "tough-guy" image along with the "tough-guy" lyrics kinda poison the well on this album. That's not to say it's a bad album. It's just my stylistic preference, but if you like it then, hey, that's great.
7.5/10
 
Ludovico Einaudi - In a Time Lapse (2013)
Maestro Einaudi returns to bring us another incredible collection of compositions, and with them to demonstrate that he is one of contemporary classical's most talented luminaries. Per usual, the pieces are gorgeous and incredibly emotional with precise and expressive piano notes as well as swelling string sections. There is a bit of experimentation on this album in terms of electronic elements and even a bass guitar on one piece, but for the most part Einaudi sticks with his winning formula. Perhaps I'm buying into the hype, but I have yet to find a modern, non-experimental classical composer whose pieces contain so much depth and are so well-written. If you are not familiar with this composer's extraordinary work then this is a great album to start with (or Divenire.) I have little doubt that this will be the classical album of the year.
9.5/10
 

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Bloodbound - Tabula Rasa (2009)
I'm glad I came across this album because it's a slice of awesome traditional metal with great Dio-esque vocals. All the songs are catchy and have great riffs which is always a plus in metal. The album does get to be a bit samey which drags it down a bit, but it's not too big a deal considering the talent of this band.
9/10
 
Anthriel - The Pathway (2010)
This is an incredibly brilliant prog metal album that sounds very much like Symphony X. The melodies, riffs, vocals, keyboards and solos are all phenomenal. This is a talented band that know the ins and outs of neoclassical prog metal and can make highly complex, but catchy tunes. Overall, it's an extremely impressive debut album and quality-wise can stand up to pretty much anything in Symphony X's catalog (except maybe The Odyssey). I can't wait to hear their next record!
9.5/10
Edenbridge - The Grand Design (2006)
Here's an excellent power-prog release with soaring choruses, awesome neoclassical riffing, beautiful ballads, and even some acoustic work. If you're a fan of Nightwish, Epica and similar bands then you should have no problem getting into this.
9/10
 
Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver (2011)
Well, I finally listened to this one and it was pretty good. For a folk album, it's very eclectic in that incorporates elements of baroque pop and electronica. Some of the songs such as the last one could do without all the synths, and I think that the first half of the record is much better than the second half. However, it's still very enjoyable and I would certainly listen to it again to take more of the nuances. I feel like it's a grower and one that needs repeated listens to fully comprehend.
8.5/10
 
Isbells - Isbells (2009)
This is definitely one of the best folk albums I've ever heard. It's fairly similar to The Tallest Man on Earth, but it adds an extra layer of depth to the music that makes even more emotional and beautiful. It's a rather dark affair which is what makes it so what gives it its haunting beauty. It's just an amazing album, and I recommend it to all folk-lovers.
9.5/10
 
The Tallest Man on Earth - There's No Leaving Now (2012)
Folk musician Kristian Matsson's Bob Dylan-esque voice and gentle, beautiful playing on this album is superb and, in my book, jettisons him into the folk hall of fame along with Iron and Wine. In fact, this album reminds quite a bit of Iron and Wine's debut album with it minimalistic approach although it's not quite as "country-esque" as that one. It's gripping, emotional songwriting that quite readily evokes feelings of nostalgia and sheer admiration. This one is a keeper.
9/10

Hexvessel - No Holier Temple (2012)
This is a lush, exotic trip through the Finnish occult universe that makes you feel like you're actually participating in some arcane ritual as the vocalists narrate the events. The songs meander their way through forbidden, unseen territory as if exploring the depths of a buried past. Overall, it's an excellent psych folk album that conveys a real sense of mystery and spirituality inside a captivating musical package.
9/10

 
Secret Sphere - Portrait of a Dying Heart (2012)
This band absolutely floored me. Without exaggerating, I can say that this is one of the best power or prog albums I've ever heard. It mixes in the best elements of Dream Theater, Symphony X and Kamelot into a beautiful and powerful melange. The vocals are stellar. The riffs are phenomenal. The choruses are all very catchy. There's not a single moment of filler on the whole album. What more do you need? If you love power-prog, do yourself a huge favor and listen to this album right now.
9.5/10

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Arcana - As Bright as a Thousand Suns (2012)
Arcana, much like Dead Can Dance, are known for their haunting, exotic music and this album proves no exception to the formula. It's dark and mysterious classical passages are anchored by tribal beats and ethereal vocals which accentuate the ritualistic nature of the music. It's a hypnotizing and quite soothing album that, while it may not be their best work, is piece of art that shouldn't be missed.
8.5/10
 
Shadows Fall - Fire From the Sky (2012)
Before listening to this album, I'd only heard a few songs from this band and thought they were decent. After having listened to this album for the first time, I can say that this is a very musically proficient band that knows how to make catchy and surprisingly technical metalcore songs. There's no obnoxious breakdowns as in other "core" bands; just solid, well-written stuff that would probably cause even the most ardent defenders of "tr00" metal to at least respect this band if not headbang along to their songs. This is one of the most inspired metalcore albums I've heard in recent times, and it's made me become a fan of the band.
9/10

 
Message to Bears - Folding Leaves (2012)
This is a very beautiful collection of songs that, interestingly enough, meld post-rock with folk. It's quite a brilliant combination and it's done with much skill. Some of the songs could use a bit more development though, but overall it's a strong album and one that fans of both genres should enjoy.
8.5/10
 
Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound - Manzanita (2012)
This is a pretty unique and beautiful psych album I came across. It mixes the heavy bluesiness of bands like The Doors with the lush, pastoral qualities of The Zombies and early Pink Floyd. The production is great and sounds just like the 60's. Being as nostalgic as I am for the old sounds, it's quite surprising and satisfying to know that the classic spirit of 60's psychedelia is being kept alive by bands such as this one.
8.5/10
Clark - Iradelphic (2012)
The latest album from notable IDM musician Clark shows him veering away from his IDM roots and towards an eclectic mix of electronic post-rock and trip-hop. Most of the time it's quite safe, perhaps a little too safe as other reviewers  have said. But it's also pretty beautiful, and I think that if it were developed more and "spiced up" so-to-speak, it would be a lot more engaging. It's still a good record though and compared to other artists it's still quite ambitious. Give it a chance and see what you think.
8/10
 
The Heavy Eyes - Maera (2012)
Here's another pretty decent blues-rock album that has some cool riffs and catchy vocals. It's nothing to really write home about, but it does the job and it's fun to listen to.
8/10
Panzerballett - Tank Goodness (2012)
I've never quite come across a band that mixes jazz and metal this well. In fact, they even made a metal cover of a jazz standard ("Take Five" by Dave Brubeck) which is a daunting task and pretty much unheard of in the metal world. The saxophones on the songs really help keep the music dynamic and interesting, and the addition of funk elements only adds to that. What I didn't really care for was the two or three songs with vocals such as in the cover of "I Had the Time of My Life." They might have worked well as a stand-alone singles, but I think that on the album they somewhat disrupted the flow. Minor criticism like that aside, this is still a really unique and pretty awesome thing album that is sure to be a hallmark of the very small jazz-metal genre.
8.5/10
 
Katalepsy - Autopsychosis (2013)
I'm not really familiar with "slam" death metal; in fact, this is the first album in the genre that I've listened to, and I think it's excellent. This band sure knows how to write simple, yet brutal riffs that keep you headbanging throughout each song (a la Dying Fetus only heavier). They also throw in a lot of technicality for good measure (borrowing nicely from Suffocation), but technicality is certainly not the focus of the music. Autopsychosis is a monster of an album and its unrelenting brutality might discourage some fans of more traditional death metal, but in my opinion this is a very satisfying, well-constructed album that can appeal to a fan-base outside the slam scene. This is sure to be one of the best death metal albums of the year.
9/10
Martyrdod - Paranoia (2012)
If you want vicious, uncompromising d-beat (Swedish crust punk) then this album is a fine choice. However, be warned that it is at times monotonous, especially on the longer songs. If the band had chosen to make a shorter record, I think it would have packed even more of a punch, but as it is this is still a solid and brutal slice of punk that for the most part won't disappoint you.
8/10
Nebulous - The Quantum Transcendence of Death (2013)
This is a pretty good tech-death album that brings you pretty much what you'd expect of any tech-death album. Lots of complicated riffs, aggressive drumming, sci-fi lyrics, the standard fare. While it's not re-inventing the wheel of the genre, it's still enjoyable to me as a fan of traditional tech-death.
8/10

Gaza - No Absolutes in Human Suffering (2012)
This album can best be described both as a venomous, high-decibel rant against the world and as a sort of catharsis and search for order amidst the chaos. At times it's violent, ugly and suffocating and sometimes it's hypnotically beautiful. This is a truly unique album that takes post-metal back to its hardcore roots and blends the best aesthetic qualities of both genres into a potent and very organic synthesis. Lyrically, the band makes no qualms about assaulting you with their radical political and anti-Christian views which is perhaps why the music sounds so fresh and inspired. This is one of the darkest and most compelling hardcore albums I've heard yet and I urge you to give it a try.
9/10
Megaherz - Gotterdammerung (2012)
This is a decent album that sounds quite a bit like Rammstein yet doesn't quite pack the same punch. There are catchy songs and some interesting riffs, but on the whole I was left somewhat disappointed by it. However,  they are still quite a talented band and I have hope that their other albums will be more satisfying.
7.5/10
Pythia - The Serpent's Curse (2012)
This is a solid symphonic metal release with great vocals, catchy choruses and some good riffs. Some of the songs did find my attention wavering a bit, but overall it's pretty enjoyable and something I'll be returning to in the future.
8.5/10
Stonerider - Fountains Left to Wake (2012)
Wow, this is one band that not only wears their influences prominently on their sleeves, but also mixes those influences into a unique stoner/blues concotion which is immensely satisfying. From Led Zeppelin to CCR to the old blues greats such as Robert Johnson, BB King etc, this is a very well-rounded and highly inspired record. All the songs are really catchy, and the vintage-sounding production is just killer. It's a heavy record, but its "heaviness" is much closer to the bluesy hard rock of Led Zeppelin than to the Sabbath-esque metallic riffage of many other stoner bands. Honestly, I think this band beats out their more popular blues-rock contemporaries such as Rival Sons and The Black Keys (not that those bands are bad by any means though.) In any case, I thoroughly recommend this album to all lovers of classic rock.
9.5/10

Friday, January 18, 2013

Finsterforst - Rastlos (2012)
This is an excellent atmospheric black metal/folk release that calls to mind the music of Moonsorrow. It's sweeping, epic stuff that makes you feel like you're right in the Lord of the Rings universe (as cheesy as that might sound). Like Moonsorrow, Finsterforst have a knack balancing harshness with epic melodies and storytelling so as to make for a provocative and beautifully grandiose musical statement. If you want music that really fires up the imagination then I highly recommend this to you.
9/10
Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pandora's Pinata (2012)
When I first checked this band out on Youtube, I thought "swing-metal." When I checked out this album, I discovered that such a reductive term as that does not really apply to most of this band's music. The music is classicaly orchestrated, complex and very intriguing. It is certainly one of the most unique metal albums I've listened to, but the strength of the album lies primarily in the airtight songwriting abilities of the band rather than the "novelty factor" (one could say the same about Volbeat, another very unique and very talented band). Everything from the riffs to the string sections to the amazing operatic vocals is carefully choreographed and expertly placed to form compelling and mostly quite catchy music. If you want to take a walk on the wild side of metal then I highly recommend this amazing album to you.
9.5/10
 
Dopethrone - III (2012)
This band takes stoner metal to the extreme with harsh, blackened vocals and an extra thick riffs. The music does drag in some spots, but overall it's very solid stuff and certainly unique in the genre. Recommended for fans of other extreme stoner bands such as Weedeater and Acid Witch.
8/10
Belzebong - Sonic Scapes & Weedy Grooves (2011)
Featuring catchy, heavier-than-lead riffs and thick, hazy atmospherics, Sonic Scapes & Weedy Grooves is an awesome instrumental stoner album. With any luck, Belzebong will be to stoner metal what Scale the Summit and Animals as Leaders are to prog metal. Here's hoping.
9/10

Actress - R.I.P. (2012)
Here's a very solid experimental electronic album that fuses IDM with ambient and throws in some vocal samples for good measure. It's quite diverse and each song has a unique identity. However, I think that at least on some of the tracks there was an over-emphasis on that identity and its novelty, and not enough in the way of development and composition. But this is still a very engaging and ambitious release that fans of Aphex Twin, Four Tet etc. should be happy with.
8.5/10
 
Saturnus - Saturn in Ascension (2012)
Saturnus are a pretty-well known doom/death band, but this is the first album of theirs that I've heard. It is really impressive. The epic, captivating melodies along with the classical elements help establish a beautiful, yet depressing atmosphere that calls to mind the work of Daylight Dies and others. In fact, this album is about as enjoyable as Daylight Dies most recent album "A Frail Becoming." If you're looking for emotional, dramatic death/doom then this is a must-listen.
9/10

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Mantric Muse - Mantric Muse (2012)
If you're looking for Ozric Tentacles-esque prog-psych music then this band should do the trick. Like OZ, Mantric Muse is expansive, lush, and captivating. They construct very exotic atmospheres that give a sense of wonder and exploration to the music. Their mastery of the genre is quite apparent, and overall this is a very impressive debut release.
9/10
 
Riverside - Shrine of New Generation Slaves (2013)
The melancholic prog titans have returned with what may be their best effort yet. Borrowing liberally from Pink Floyd, Deep Purple and others, Riverside have no qualms about showing off every ounce of musical talent they possess on this album. Whether it's the complex keyboard-guitar interplay on "Escalator Shrine" or the infectious riffs of "Celebrity Touch," this is a band whose musical skills are a true force of nature. But the real strength of the band is Mariusz Duda's hypnotizing, mournful vocals which anchor the songs and give them a real sense of direction. The lyrical theme on the album is that of alienation from modern life due to technology and globalization so in that sense this very much feels like a concept album. But even more important than the question of it being a concept album is the question of how it ranks quality-wise. I can say that this ranks extremely high both in the band's discography and relative to other prog artists, and that it will easily fall into my "Best of 2013" list.
10/10

Void of Sleep - Tales Between Reality and Madness (2013)
Borrowing from bands such as Mastodon, High on Fire, and Black Sabbath, these highly talented Italian newcomers come bearing tons of great riffs and catchy, clean vocal lines. It's a heavy album, but not so heavy that you get lost in the distortion and lose focus of the music itself. This band has expertly crafted an thoroughly accessible album that really stands out in the already over-saturated doom scene. The acute balance between the doom atmosphere and the stoner fuzz is one of the band's key strengths and is why, I think, they have real potential.
9/10