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.

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 11/12/12: 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.

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.

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.

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.