Obsidian tides will be nature's bane.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

SotW 07/15/12: Funeral Diner - I Was the Sword

Artist: Funeral Diner
Song: I Was the Sword
Album: Split 9" w/ Ampere (2007)

One of the single most unfortunate occurrences in the world of screamo was when NorCal-based band Funeral Diner called it quits in 2007. In 2005, they had released The Underdark, which was, in my opinion, one of the genre's absolute finest exaples of post-rock tinged screamo, and their final split shows that they could only go up from there. I Was the Sword is a nearly perfect track: passionate, brooding, dark, technically proficient, and incredibly emotional. This is one of those bands for which I would give a kidney to see a reunion and a new album.

Verse - Bitter Clarity, Uncommon Grace (2012)


Artist: Verse
Album: Bitter Clarity, Uncommon Grace
Country: USA (Providence)
Release Date: 07/17/2012
Genre: Melodic hardcore


Description: When Verse broke up after the release of their 2008 opus Aggression, no one really expected them to make another album, much less a mere 4 years after, yet here we are. One of hardcore's most hotly anticipated releases of the year, Bitter Clarity, Uncommon Grace is Verse in top form, churning out the emotionally poignant and politically charged melodic hardcore they've become renowned for in an extremely satisfying fashion. It might not match the unbridled passion of Aggression, but Bitter Clarity is still as awesome as anyone expected it to be. 



Tracklist, sample song, and download are after the jump.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Welcome to Billy Joe Petty!

Please welcome OT's newest contributor: Billy Joe Petty, AKA Ovrot. All you need to know about him is that he brings the \m/ in everything he does and listens to. Welcome.


Znowhite - All Hail To Thee (1984)





Artist: Znowhite
Album: All Hail To Thee
Country: USA (Chicago, Illinois)
Release: 1984
Genre: Speed Metal

Featuring the wonderful Nicole Lee at vocals, these speed metalers rape face and bring the hammer down.
Only 17 minutes long with 7 tracks, this EP is relatively short but manages to make a large impact on the listener with it's major riffs and screaming vocals. A perfect album to listen to in a car at 120 mph, speeding down the highway.

Do or Die

Thursday, July 12, 2012

The Great Old Ones - Al Azif (2012)


Artist: The Great Old Ones
Album: Al Azif
Country: France
Release Date: 04/27/2012
Genre: Atmospheric black metal/sludge metal

Description: We've all heard the atmosludge-infused black metal schtick before, but it's uncommon to find a band that does it as proficiently as The Great Old Ones. The difference here is that this French act puts far more emphasis on the sludge facet of their sound than their peers do, creating an exceptionally eerie and murky black metal album. Also, as is made obvious by the band and track names, the entire album is a love letter to the Lovecraft mythos. Win win (win).  

Tracklist, sample song, and download are after the jump.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Panopticon - Kentucky (2012)

Artist: Panopticon
Album: Kentucky
Country: USA (Louisville, KY)
Release Date: 06/05/2012
Genre: Atmospheric black metal/bluegrass


Description: One of Austin Lunn's weirdest albums yet, this one is his attempt at melding atmospheric melodic black metal with traditional coal miner bluegrass. There have been a spectrum of reactions to this so far, ranging from very positive to very negative, and while I invite listeners to make their own decisions I fall more toward the latter camp. This is a really cool and unique album and I wholeheartedly recommend it, although I believe we can all agree that the artwork sucks. 

Tracklist, sample song, and download are after the jump.

Monday, July 9, 2012

SotW 07/09/12: Jakob - Malachite

Artist: Jakob
Song: Malachite
Album: Solace (LP 2006)

Jakob are often hailed as one of the best, if not the best, active band in post-rock, and for good reason. Although they are entirely instrumental, they eschew the stereotypical twinkly crescendo-ridden output of more well-known acts like Explosions in the Sky or Mono, instead opting for a contemplative, sometimes heavy, and simultaneously bleak and hopeful approach to an increasingly stale genre. It's hard to describe through words, so I'd just recommend that you listen to Malachite, one of their best songs.

Also, their production is nothing short of Godly.

REVIEW: Old Man Gloom - NO (2012)

See this post for album info.

Summary: After 8 years, Old Man Gloom have changed little, displaying the same strengths and weaknesses that they have always carried with them.

Check out the review after the jump.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

OT Has Not Been (Completely) Forgotten

Hey, so I am aware that it has been months since I've done anything with this. This is not the first time this has happened to me: in the past, on at least three separate occasions I have had the great idea of making a blog that I was utterly devoted to for a few days, after which I promptly forgot its existence. A variety of factors (yes, including laziness) have prevented me from updating Obsidian Tides, but I do not want this blog to forever go to the grave of forgotten projects that exists on my blogger page. Just know that I actually do plan on regularly updating this from now on. hopefully expanding it and sharing plenty of awesome music with whoever cares to listen.

Until I get back home tomorrow, please treat yourself to a soothing song by the best active band in post-rock.