Namatjira - Poetry of The Wretched (2011)

Band: Namatjira
Country: Tula, Russia
Style: Hardcore/Post-Rock
Label: Chucky The Rat

Now, normally hardcore isn't a style I like to listen, and if it is, it's the old stuff from the 80s, so why check this out, the awesome cover art. That cover looks like something a black metal band might have, but upon hearing some samples from their myspace, I was also interested. Their sound make them indulge a bit more in lengthy songs. Opening an album like this with a nine-minute song is not something that I would usually hear in a hardcore band, but the more and more I hear these tracks, the easier the comparison to post-rock comes to be known. I only mention that because when I got this, I was under the impression that it was pretty straight ahead hardcore, so hearing these softer moments really caught me off guard. The more melodic sounding riffs and structures as well as the use of a cleaner guitar sound also lends itself to that style, though there's plenty of distortion on here as well. It's when the cleaner moments come out, that a very melancholic atmosphere appears, since the use of clean guitar, as well as piano, is used throughout this album, Mir Nepoznavaem I Poetomu Dolzhen Byt Unichtozhen being a prime example.
When you actually compare this to a lot of other groups from the hardcore or screamo genre, you actually see, and it's pretty noticeable when you get half way through the album, that there is a lack of actual "heavy" moments on here. The vocals are screamed for the most part, but the music is very melodic and seems to have more in common with groups like Envy and Heaven In Her Arms than Stick to Your Guns or Maths. Heavy moments, while I found them very crucial to the overall vibe that this band has, don't carry the same sort of "emotional" weight that the softer parts do, in my opinion, and while by no means being bad in any way, I did enjoy softer tracks like The Shortest Day At Konrad Fischer's Gallery and My Zabilis V Podpole Podnimaya Kryshki Nashih Cherepov Prikreplennye Zastezhkami Molniya Chtoby Provetrit Mozgi simply due to their more melodic side being utilized in a more full way.
Overall, this is a decent debut record and I could see a lot of people definitely getting into this if they like stuff like Envy. While it's not exactly brain surgery, or super original, it's crafted very well and it has a great sounding atmosphere. Definitely check this out if you like the post-rock meets screamo/post-hardcore style.
Overall Score: 7.5
Highlights: Poetry of The Wretched, Razmyshleniya O Tom Zachem Lubit Osen, My Zabilis V Podpole Podnimaya Kryshki Nashih Cherepov Prikreplennye Zastezhkami Molniya Chtoby Provetrit Mozgi

Heirdrain - Lonely Soul (2011)

Band: Heirdrain
Country: Québec, Canada
Style: Dark Ambient/Black Metal
Label: Smell The Stench

Despite releasing his very first release back in 2006, Heirdrain's A.O.S. Heirdrain has released seventeen full-lengths prior to this one, and that's excluding all the demos, splits, and EPs. He's a prolific musician who I know relatively nothing about. This is my first encounter with any of his work, and from only having four tracks, I have some high expectations.
First off, I'll say that despite having only four tracks, this album is almost a full eighty minutes in length, with each track topping fifteen minutes. The first of these tracks, Fortress of Loneliness, is a Sunn 0))) influenced, or at least sounding, drone track, that slowly escalates from bleak drones to include more atmosphere. The vocals and drums don't really add too much to the actual track itself; but I could see fans some finding this easier to stand and help to kind of give a drone song a sort of accessable structure in that similar vocal patterns are reused in the track, but it they also kind of take away from the hypnotizing atmosphere that this track has. This style is carried out throughout the other three tracks in a similar fashion, to varying degrees of success. While the lengths of the tracks certainly reflect drone metal and funeral doom, I found that the lack of any interesting atmospheres or melodies really made me drift off while listening to this. The sound of the record is certainly one that could be compared to Sunn 0))), but it certainly doesn't have that same air of experimentation and darkness that that duo has created with their sound. I won't say it's all bad though, Always Suffering Until... has possibly the best sounding atmosphere on here.
Overall, while I wouldn't call this a bad album at all, I just couldn't get into at all. These tracks just went nowhere for me, and I could definitely see other people getting a lot more out of this than me. If you like drone metal, check this out.
Overall Score: 6
Highlights: Always Suffering Until...

Colosseum - Chapter 3: Parasomnia (2011)

Band: Colosseum
Country: Riihimäki, Finland
Style: Funeral Doom Metal
Label: Firebox Records

This is the final release of Finnish funeral doom masters Colosseum, as the death of frontman Juhani Palomäki early last year marked the demise of the band. This is supposedly the final compositions Palomäki made and thus his most current memories can be found in these five tracks. With over an hour worth of music, this trilogy of funeral doom with hopefully be held in a high regard and maybe even classics.
If you're at all interested in funeral doom, you'll know about Colosseum's first two albums, as they were both two of the most critically acclaimed albums to emerge from the genre in a while. Their sound is possibly a bit more unique from a lot of other funeral doom acts in that they don't restrict themselves to slow and really slow tempos, there's a bit more variation in here, though you'll never hear a thrash moment on here. There's also a better sense of melody and atmosphere, which is something a lot of groups and projects from this scene use, but often don't get right; and in my opinion it's the band's overwhelming sense of melancholy that really gets this darker, more somber and morose, feeling to their sound. I also find this band's sound to be a lot more enjoyable than a lot of other acts, as the opening track, Dilapidation and Death, is a towering twenty-one minute epic that doesn't even seem half that long.
While plenty of funeral doom groups make use of keyboards in their sound, this is one of the first that has made their sound so epic and majestic using them. Though the use of real cello and violins are used on here, it's the effect of them with the keyboards that simply just blew me away. The melodies on here also have a majestic approach to them, often going into the realms of traditional doom or even gothic melodies, hear Passage to Eternity. I also enjoyed the moments when the band mellowed out a little bit, hear the title-track, Parasomnia, where there's definitely a more atmospheric vibe that's being added due to the use of cleaner guitars.
Overall, this is a great funeral doom album that definitely outshines a lot of other groups and only shows what we are now missing. Definitely an album that will be respected down the line, as this is some of the best funeral doom I've heard in a while. If you like slow, doom metal, definitely pick this up, you won't regret it.
Overall Score: 8.5
Highlights: Dilapidation and Death, Parasomnia

Clair Cassis - Luxury Absolute EP (2011)

Band: Clair Cassis
Country: Portland, Oregon
Style: Atmospheric Black Metal
Label: Independent

After apparently breaking up last year, Clair Cassis released this new EP last about two months back. Though fans of the band probably aren't all that surprised by it, as Velvet Cacoon they made up stories about themselves all the time just to confuse people. This new release has gotten a decent amount of press, but not that much, if you're a fan, you probably already know about this.
Honestly, despite the praise I gave the debut album from this band, I've not particularly been all that interested in the EP that followed it up, just to lack of interest more than any particular reason. This new EP kind of has the same effect, I just can't seem to penetrate it for some reason. I also just can't stand the vocals on here, they just annoy the living crap out of me, I think it's just the tone, it sounds a bit too throaty to me, and it just gets under my skin, tracks like Antique Sea Smoke and Under Sleepy Grey Elms. Musically, I can't say that there's a lot to really brag about on here, it's decent, but nothing original like Velvet Cacoon's work.
Overall, this is decent, nothing great, nothing terrible, even the vocals. I'd rather listen to the debut or Velvet Cacoon over this and the previous EP, but I'm sure there will be others who disagree. If you already like the band, I'm sure you already know about this, so you don't need me recommending it to you, otherwise go to the debut first.
Overall Score: 5
Highlights: Rosewater Cake, The March of March

Sorts - Sorts EP (2011)

Band: Sorts
Country: Tallinn, Estonia
Style: Black Metal
Label: Drakkar Productions

Two tracks, brutal black metal from Estonia, a country I know almost nothing about, why not give it a shot. Being that this EP is just over ten minute total, I almost instinctively had to check it out. There was just something about the cover and the track titles that made me want to check this out.
This EP wastes no time, bursting out into an old-school blackened thrash vibe with Gentes Aestorum. Both Hands, Middle Finger however takes an odd turn with it's opening covering Guns N' Roses' Paradise City, with wrong lyrics, before bursting into a more traditional black metal sort of sound. This type of style may not be something I typically listen to, but I do enjoy it when it's done well, and what I'm hearing from these tracks definitely has my blood pumping. There's a punk sort of energy on here, something I always love hearing in metal, so that's just a plus in my book.
Overall, this was a decent release, it has a good energy to it, and I'd definitely check out a full-length if it was being released. I am a fan of what I heard on here, though the second track's intro was a bit irksome, I still enjoyed it. If you like blackened thrash, definitely look into checking out this EP.
Overall Score: 6.5
Highlights: Gentes Aestorum

Pergalė - Horizontalios Maldos Palaima (2011)

Band: Pergalė
Country: Vilnius, Lithuania
Style: Avant-Garde/Depressive Black Metal
Label: Inferna Profundus Records

I've had this release for a little while so it's about time I give it a review. Their sound was described as depressive black n' roll and I've seen comparisons to Lifelover made about the album, so it did interest me. The band also features members from Argharus and Obtest.

I think the Lifelover comparison is a just one upon listening to this album, and the varied vocals styles and poppy sort of approach to songwriting is fairly obvious. I did find this to show a lot more of a progressive element than what Lifelover does though, the piano playing is a lot quicker and "virtuoso" in a way, as well as songs tend to be a little longer as well. The ventures into other styles is quickly showcased, even on the opener Aš Tave Subadysiu (I Will Stab You), which moves into an odd polka part near it's conclusion. A lot of what's on here is very melodic though, and some songs are even danceable, hear Sado Mazo Vokietija (Sado Mazo Germany).

As for the varied vocals, well, you'll hear everything from regular shrieking to grunts, spoken word, singing, yelling, moaning, it's all well done though. While the music on here could definitely be called black metal, there's just a certain quality that makes me think of it as a lot more accessible than it really should be, similarly to the way I see Lifelover. The ballad, Viskis (Whiskey), really stood out on here for it's acoustic guitar and spoken word bleakness.
Overall, this is a pretty solid album, it has it's flaws, but for a debut release, it's really good. There's plenty of catchy and melodic melodies on here, as well as enough weirdness to please any avant-garde fan. If you like left-field black metal with a bit of a rock n' roll attitude, definitely look into this release.
Overall Score: 8
Highlights: Sado Mazo Vokietija (Sado Mazo Germany), Viešnamio Harmonija (The Whorehouse Harmony)

Deschain - Upon The Oaken Throne (2011)

Band: Deschain
Country: Bloomington, Indiana
Style: Progressive/Melodic Black Metal
Label: Independent

This debut album from an Indiana trio really came out of nowhere and took the underground by surprise last month. I've seen it on numerous blogs with people saying fairly positive things about it, so it intrigued me. Why not want to hear an underground band doing something new.
What you'll hear on here is definitely intriguing sounding, as it's a very different sound for black metal. Most of this band's roots obviously lie in black metal, but there are obviously hints of death and progressive metal in here as well, adding enough variety, and justifying the long song-lengths. Having said that, tracks like Ashes feel a bit over-extended and do feel like they could have been cut down by a few minutes. The songwriting is very strong on here, with plenty of catchy, melodic sounding riffs going on throughout these songs, hear a track like Destruction of Seasons. More than half of this album is instrumental as well, so you'll be happy to know that if you like the musicianship, it's well documented.
The production on here is pretty weak on here in my opinion though, and it does harm the overall impact that this release has. In my opinion, the drums are just way too clicky sounding, and it makes it sound too much like a drum machine, which I don't usually have a problem with, but this sound just really annoyed me. Another thing that bothered me was that occasionally when the guitar playing went into some sort of proggy sounding part, the production tended to dip and it would suddenly drop from being on top of the mix and start falling into the background for some reason.
Overall, besides maybe being a bit long and some bad production, this is a really solid debut album that shows a lot of potential. Definitely some original stuff going on here, with some nods to several great bands as well. If you like progressive black metal, take that any way you like, check this out for sure.
Overall Score: 8
Highlights: Upon The Oaken Throne, Black Horses