SotW 12/17/12: O'Brother - Lay Down

Artist: O'Brother
Song: Lay Down
Album: Garden Window

It's not super often that a song hits me as insanely hard as this one did, so when these times do come I cherish them. I highly recommend that you get the entire album from Atlanta post-rock/alternative/post-hardcore/IDevenK band O'Brother, as nearly every song on here is excellent, but "Lay Down" is truly something else, and it may be one of the single greatest rock songs I've ever heard. Everything form the impassioned vocal performance to the absolutely massive guitar tone to the impeccably timed builds and releases of tension is the closest to perfect that it could ever be, and idgaf holy shitballs this song is incredible.

Dodecahedron - Dodecahedron (2012)

Artist: Dodecahedron
Album: Dodecahedron
Country: Netherlands
Release Date: January 20th, 2012
Genre: Avant-garde black metal

Before we go into this album in any depth, let's get this out of the way: Dodecahedron sound a lot like Deathspell Omega: it's to the point where some turn their noses up at them and call them a poor man's version of that group. However, I disagree. While it's obvious that DSO are very strong influences, Dodecahedron is still a ridiculously enjoyable slab of chaotic, utterly evil-sounding avant-garde black metal, with the spectacular drum performance being a particular highlight. So, I can promise you this: if you are willing to turn off your originality filters for just 52 minutes, you will be treated to one of the most enjoyable pieces of heavy music to come out of 2012.

Sample song, tracklist, and download can be found after the jump. 

Every Time I Die - Ex Lives (2012)

Artist: Every Time I Die
Album: Ex Lives
Country: USA (Buffalo, NY)
Release Date: March 6th, 2012
Genre: Hardcore/mathcore/southern metal

I will admit that this is my first experience with Every Time I Die, and that I'm also a bit late here, but this album is up there with One Wing and All We Love We Leave Behind as one of the best metalcore albums of the year. While Converge gave the world yet another big "fuck you" with their latest album and The Chariot went for a more oddly-structured and experimental route, ETID inject some really sweet rock-y elements into Ex Lives that make it one of the catchiest and insanely fun things I've heard all year.

Sample song, tracklist, and download can be found after the jump. 

Abraham - The Serpent, the Prophet, and the Whore (2012)

Artist: Abraham
Album: The Serpent, the Prophet, and the Whore
Country: Switzerland
Release Date: October 1st, 2012
Genre: Sludge metal/metalcore

This is one of the more overlooked post-metal releases of the year, which is a shame, because this brings something to the table that's actually pretty rare for the genre: uniqueness. Imagine The Beyond-era Cult of Luna blended with Gaza and Underoath, and you'll have a decent idea of what this album sounds like. Highly recommended.

Sample song, tracklist, and link can be found after the jump. 

SotW 12/10/12: Adrift - The Soldier of My Words

Artist: Adrift
Song: The Soldier of My Words
Album: Black Heart Bleeds Black (2012)

This is just some straightforward, very well-executed post-metal that's more Through Silver in Blood than it is Panopticon. Some of the best heavy post-metal I've heard in a while, the full album is also well worth a look and may end up as one of the better post-metal albums of the year.

Departures - Teenage Haze (2012)

Artist: Departures
Album: Teenage Haze
Country: USA (Bayonne, NJ)
Release Date: November 27th, 2012
Genre: Melodic hardcore


If you heard 2011's When Losing Everything is Everything You Ever Wanted, then you'll know what to expect from Departures' second full-length, Teenage Haze: emotional, aggressive, beautiful, and technically competent melodic hardcore that would make Modern Life is War proud. Yeah... That's pretty much it.

Tracklist, sample song, and download can be found after the jump. 

Downfall of Gaia - Suffocating in the Swarm of Cranes (2012)

Artist: Downfall of Gaia
Album: Suffocating in the Swarm of Cranes
Country: Germany
Release Date: October 9th, 2012
Genre: Atmospheric black metal/crust punk/post-metal

Easily one of the best albums of 2012 in my book, this album only came into my radar a few weeks back but since then it's elevated itself to my top 5 of the year. It's like someone took the best parts of atmospheric black metal, crust punk, and post-metal, eliminating all of the fluff and filler that plagues post-metal and atmospheric black metal especially, and smashed the three together to create this simultaneously epic, punishing, and beautiful record. Think a crossbreed of Altar of Plagues, Full of Hell, and Fall of Efrafa.

Tracklist, sample song, and link can be found after the jump. 

REVIEW: Amenra - Mass V (2012)

Artist: Amenra
Album: Mass V
Country: Belgium
Release Date: November 26th, 2012
Genre: Post-metal

Read on to the review for a full description, but this is hands-down the best album of the year.

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

SotW 11/26/12: Downfall of Gaia - In the Rivers Bleak

Artist: Downfall of Gaia
Song: In the Rivers Bleak
Album: Suffocating in the Swarm of Cranes (2012)

Suffocating in the Swarm of Cranes was one of the biggest surprises of the year for me: an unusually unique and astoundingly well-done mixture of crust punk, atmospheric black metal, and post-metal that will have a very high spot in my best of 2012 list. "In the Rivers Bleak" is a perfect showcase for this brilliant album, giving attention to the best parts of the three genres it's primarily composed of, all while removing all traces of the fluff that post-metal and atmospheric black metal especially are known for. Think a mix of Altar of Plagues, Amenra, and Full of Hell. Also, the video is pretty sweet.

Chelsea Wolfe - Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs

Artist: Chelsea Wolfe
Album: Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs
Release Date: October 16th, 2012
Country: USA (Los Angeles, CA)
Genre: Folk/acoustic

I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving, and even though I don't know when I am officially allowed to say this (this might be far too early), but Happy Holidays! Sorry that I haven't posted anything in a while: I've been caught up in schoolwork and going home for Turkey Day. I think the total consumed was in the realm of about 4000 calories in one hour... but I digress. I'll be back and active on this blog for a while, and from now on I'll post something when I know I'll be away for a bit. So without further ado, as a welcome back we have here Californian experimental singer-songwriter Chelsea Wolfe's latest effort. As can probably be deduced from the title, this album is much more stripped down than much of her other stuff, but it's just as good and it really fits the Fall-Winter transitional period mood well. Finally, it's just under 25 minutes long, so there's no reason not to give this a try.

Tracklist, sample song, and download can be found after the jump. 

The Pirate Ship Quintet - Rope For No-Hopers (2012)

Artist: The Pirate Ship Quintet
Album: Rope For No-Hopers
Country: UK (Bristol)
Release Date: May 25th, 2012
Genre: Post-rock w/ mild screamo influences

With their debut full-length, Bristol post-rockers The Pirate Ship Quintet join contemporaries Leech, Black Clouds, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and a few others as artists who have released truly exemplary post-rock this year. It's not anything really new or groundbreaking, largely influenced by the string-heavy, crescendo-based, classically-influenced brand of post-rock played by acts like Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Yndi Halda, but it's pulled off so well that you won't really care about its lack of originality. That's not to say that this has *all* been done before, however: there are some mild screamo influences at work here, and a few brief sections with harsh vocals.

Sample song, tracklist, and link can be found after the jump. 

Oak Pantheon - From a Whisper (2012)

Artist: Oak Pantheon
Album: From a Whisper
Country: USA (Minneapolis, MN)
Release Date: September 25th, 2012
Genre: Atmospheric black metal/folk

Don't let the questionable cover art deter you, for this is definitely one of the better folky atmospheric black metal releases I've had the pleasure of listening to this year. First off, the vocals are excellent, going between piercing and harsh shrieks, Agalloch-esque whispering, and sparingly used, surprisingly tolerable, non-stupid cleans. It also doesn't hurt that these boys can write excellent riffs and that they are really adept at blending the folk sections into the metal sections without making the music seem gimmicky or forced.

Sample song, tracklist, and link can be found after the jump. 

SotW 11/12/12: Amenra - Nowena | 9.10

Artist: Amenra
Song: Nowena | 9.10
Album: Mass V (2012)

Yes, I know this is the second week in a row in which I've posted a track from the upcoming album Mass V (11/26/12, Neurot Recordings) from Belgian sludge metal band Amenra, but I just can't help it. Seriously, the more of this album I hear - they've actually released three of its four songs already, not counting a 5th track that will be on the vinyl edition - the more I'm convinced that it will not only be the best post-metal album of the year: it will also be one of its best albums, period. "Nowena" continues this trend of awesomeness, this time with a guest vocal contribution from some guy named Scott Kelly. It's also worth noting that this seems to be a shortened version of the song, as other sources list it as being a bit over nine minutes in total duration.

God damn it, I can barely contain my excitement. The 26th can not come quickly enough.By the way, the video is just as awesome and creepy (if not more so) than the one for "Boden." It's definitely worth watching.

Enabler - All Hail the Void (2012)

Artist: Enabler
Album: All Hail the Void
Country: USA (Milwaukee, WI)
Release Date: July 17th, 2012
Genre: Hardcore/crust punk

Extremely heavy, hard-hitting, downtuned, very well-executed hardcore/crust punk from the great state of Wisconsin. Honestly, there's not a lot more to say here (or maybe I just don't currently have the attention span to say it). Get this.

Tracklist, sample song, and link can be found after the jump 

REVIEW: Toluca - Act I (2012)

Artist: Toluca
Album: Act I
Country: Russia (Moscow)
Release Date: October 12th, 2012
Genre: Atmospheric black metal/screamo

Summary: "Act I" is not only surprisingly good for such a new and underexposed band: it's also a standout among its renowned stylistic peers.

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

Deftones - Koi No Yokan (2012)

Artist: Deftones
Album: Koi No Yokan
Country: USA (Sacramento, CA)
Release Date: November 13rd, 2012
Genre: Alternative metal/shoegaze

It's finally here, people.

Sample song, tracklist, and link can be found after the jump. 

Voting ist krieg

Do it, brethren. Vote. Do it now.

Anberlin - Vital (2012)

Artist: Anberlin
Album: Vital
Country: USA (Winter Haven, FL)
Release Date: October 16th, 2012
Genre: Alternative

And now for something completely different... Vital, the sixth full-length from Florida-based alternative rock stalwarts Anberlin, is one of the better things to come out of the genre this year. Combining the emotion of Cities (the Anberlin album considered by many to be their best work) with the maturity of 2010's Dark is the Way, Light is a Place, this album is probably the best thing they have put out since Cities. Opener and single "Self-Starter" is one of the catchiest alt-rock tracks of the year, while penultimate track "Modern Age" benefits from an absolutely fantastic chorus. Closer "God, Drugs, and Sex" brings to mind Cities closer "(*Fin)," and while it doesn't surpass that absolutely incredible track, it's still one of the more emotional and heartfelt things Anberlin have done in a while. Aside from minor gripes like a couple filler tracks and some very annoying production at times, especially with the vocals (see "Modern Age:" while it has one of the best choruses on the album, the vocals sound like they're underwater), I wholeheartedly recommend that you give this album a shot, even if it's not the sort of thing you normally listen to.

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

Toluca - Act I (2012)

Artist: Toluca
Album: Act I
Country: Russia (Moscow)
Release Date: October 12th, 2012
Genre: Atmospheric black metal/screamo
REVIEW

A short, emotional, 25-minute voyage of atmospheric black metal, screamo, post-hardcore, and post-rock, Act I is not a release that has received any attention, but it is one that deserves it. There's not much more to say about this except that its short duration and the fact that it's free from their Bandcamp page should mean that you have no excuse not to give this a go.

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

SotW 11/5/12: Amenra - Boden-Spijt

Artist: Amenra
Song: Boden - Spijt
Album: Mass V (2012)

If you know anything about Amenra, then you'll already know that Mass V, due for release November 26th on Neurot Recordings, will be one of the best post-metal releases of the year. "Boden - Spijt" only reinforces this view, showcasing the band's characteristically dark, bleak, and foreboding brand of post-metal. Although very similar in style to the band's previous releases, this song is just as excellent, if not better, than anything else Amenra have done, largely due to a particularly stellar, bass-heavy production job that is an improvement upon their previous releases. The video is also very dark and creepy, becoming one of the most fitting music videos of the year.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Old Man Gloom - NO (2012)

Artist: Old Man Gloom
Album: NO
Country: USA (Santa Fe, NM)
Release Date: 6/26/12 (or 5/2/12 if we're gonna be technical)
Genre: Hardcore/Atmospheric Sludge
Click here to read my in-depth review of this album.

Description: I'll add a description as soon as I actually listen to this but I fully expect this to be completely amazing.

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

REVIEW: Kehlvin - The Orchard of Forking Paths (2012)

Artist: Kehlvin

Album: The Orchard of Forking Paths

Country: Switzerland

Release Date: April 20, 2012

Genre: Progressive Hardcore

Description: Heavy, chaotic, dissonant, atmospheric progressive hardcore. Kehlvin stray far from their more Cult of NeurIsis-oriented roots to create something truly unique. This is evolution at its finest, and it's one of the year's best records so far.

Review, tracklist, and link are after the jump.

Tempest - Solace EP (2012)

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Artist: Tempest

Album: Solace

Country: Canada (Vancouver)

Release Date: April 2, 2012

Genre: Hardcore/post-metal

Description: Metallic hardcore with strong tinges of atmospheric sludge, especially the darker tones of Amenra and the like and the chaotic assault of Buried Inside. It's only two songs in length, so why not give it a listen? You will wish, like I did, that this could have been much longer.

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

SotW 5/13/12: Neurosis - Aeon

Artist: Neurosis
Song: Aeon
Album: Through Silver in Blood

One of Neurosis' most crushing tracks, Aeon is a definitive masterwork of sludge. Deceptively calm pianos lead off into a monstrous barrage of riffs accompanied by Steve Von Till's and Scott Kelly's signature tortured bellows, and the climax is one of the genre's most memorable. At nearly 12 minutes, it's not easy listening, but since when have Neurosis ever been? This song encapsulates everything they're good at, and you'd be remiss not to give it a spin.

Introduction: Song of the Week

You may notice the embedded youtube video on the blog's right sidebar. This will be the space reserved for the "Song of the Week," which will change weekly, accompanied by a few sentences about each new song.

Neurosis - Through Silver in Blood (1996)

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Artist: Neurosis

Album: Through Silver in Blood

Country: USA (Oakland, CA)

Release Date: April 23, 1996

Genre: Atmospheric Sludge Metal

Description: Tribal, percussive, sludgy, bleak, utterly destructive. The definitive post-metal album from the definitive post-metal band. Puts every single one of their imitators to shame. If you like this kind of music yet you don't own this, then you don't like this kind of music.

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

Welcome.

Welcome to Obsidian Tides. On here, I'll post good music from any multitude of genres, but more often than not, it will probably have ties to the following:

Sludge Metal
Post-Metal
Black Metal (including the hipsteriffic kind)
Post-Rock
Experimental/Avant-Garde Metal
Hardcore/Crust/Powerviolence/etc.
Screamo

Whatever it is, I promise that it will be good.

That is all. Enjoy.