Isis - Temporal (2012)

Artist: Isis
Album: Temporal
Country: USA (Boston, MA)
Release Date: November 6, 2012
Genre: Post-metal

Description: No, Temporal is not, unfortunately, a "new" release from post-metal juggernauts Isis. Rather, it is a final farewell from the band: a collection of demos, rarities, reworkings, and a couple of totally new, unreleased tracks (the ambient "Temporal" and the 16.5-minute instrumental epic "Grey Divide"). However, don't write this off, as this release is still a must-listen for any Isis fan. The demos are interesting and the reworkings stellar, and "Grey Divide" is spectacular. For now, the best we can do is hope for an eventual reunion at a time that everyone in the band sees fit, and whether or not this ever happens, Temporal is still a more than worthy farewell from a band that has created some truly life-changing music for me.

Track list, sample song, and download are after the jump.

The Secret - Angus Dei (2012)

Artist: The Secret
Album: Angus Dei
Country: Italy
Release Date: October 23, 2012
Genre: Blackened hardcore/grind

Description: I haven't listened to this yet, but considering how much I loved the bleak, furious, and hateful blackened hardcore presented on 2010's Solve Et Coagula, this will be an immediate priority for me and it should be for you too. Also, it's produced by the always-excellent Kurt Ballou, so yeah. You need this.

Track list, sample song, and download are after the jump.

REVIEW: Leech - if we get there one day, would you please open the gates? (2012)

Artist: Leech
Album: if we get there one day, will you please open the gates?
Country: Switzerland
Release Date: March 2nd, 2012
Genre: Post-rock

Description: With the perfect blend of atmosphere, exhilaration, dynamics, and emotion, "if we get there one day..." is one of the year's strongest and most woefully underappreciated post-rock gems.

Review, tracklist, sample song, and link are after the jump. 

SotW 10/29/12: Deafheaven - Punk Rock/Cody (Mogwai cover)

Artist: Deafheaven
Song: Punk Rock/Cody (Mogwai cover)
Album: Split w/ Bosse-De-Nage (2012)

It's rare that a band puts out a cover that honors the original, creates something completely new, and becomes something utterly brilliant, but this Mogwai cover from Bay Area metallers Deafheaven does just that. Translating a classic post-rock track into an epic slice of atmospheric black metal is an idea that could have gone so very wrong so very quickly, but this song, bleeding as much emotion as anything other original black metal track in the past few years (largely due to the always-excellent vocals of George Clark), does absolutely everything right. It goes between the expected doom-paced sections that sound exactly what you'd expect a metal cover of a post-rock band to sound like, more furious metal sections, and peaceful periods of pure post-rock bliss, all combining to create what is easily the best cover of the year, if not one of its best songs period.

Bosse-De-Nage - III (2012)

Artist: Bosse-De-Nage
Album: III
Country: USA (San Francisco, CA)
Release Date: 06/26/2012
Genre: Atmospheric/depressive black metal

Description: Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, known for being the breeding ground for a ton of quality acts, Bosse-De-Nage do not fail to impress on their third full-length. This is a lot better produced and more down-to-earth than a lot of other post-rock-tinged atmospheric or depressive acts, with a greater focus on energy than on atmosphere. The guitar tones and riffs are stellar, and the drum performance here is particularly noteworthy, as is their welcome prominence in the mix in comparison to similar acts. This is some of the highest-quality USBM that you're likely to hear this year, and you'd be doing yourself a disservice to not check this out.


Track list, sample song, and download are after the jump.

Direwolves - Me From Myself, To Banish EP (2012)

Artist: Direwolves
Album: Me From Myself, To Banish
Country: France
Release Date: 10/15/12
Genre: Sludge-tinged hardcore/crust punk

Description: The debut EP from French hardcore act Direwolves is short, sweet, and pleasantly uncomplicated and old-school in its execution. Separating this from similar bands are the stellar production (the guitar tone is somewhat reminiscent of Salvation-era Cult of Luna), the relatively unique, higher-pitched vocals, and a few very interesting facets of the band's sound that take influence from various sludge acts. Recommended for fans of Gaza, Cult of Luna, and Taste the Void.

Track list, sample song, and download are after the jump.

SotW 10/22/12: Neurosis - My Heart For Deliverance

Artist: Neurosis
Song: My Heart For Deliverance
Album: Honor Found in Decay (2012)

Arguably the strongest track off of Neurosis' new LP, Honor Found in Decay, "My Heart For Deliverance" is an epic journey of tribal percussion, massive climaxes, crushing heaviness, and a short but oh-so-sweet spoken word sample. The album, sure to become a favorite on many year-end lists, is already a must hear, but if you only lister to a single track off of it, make it this one.