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.