Die Zorros - History Of Rock Vol. 7 (2003)

Die Zorros is a Swiss garage surf rock group featuring Voodoo Rhythm founder Reverend Beat Man who do amazing loose renditions of classic rock songs. History Of Rock Vol. 7 features covers of songs such as The Mamas And The Papas San Francisco, Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven, and Europe's Final Countdown. The great thing is tho, is that there is either no lyrics or just one line repeated over and over again, maybe even just one word if your lucky. These guys released a new album this year which a gave a little listen to, but History Of Rock Vol. 7 has stayed on repete for some time now. Its lo-fi and simple as fuck but thats what makes me so happy with it. Good ideas done badly.

History Of Rock Vol 7

Tracklist:

1. Der Lachende Sarg

2. Summertime

3. Blue Moon

4. Black

5. Der Euro Kommt

6. Ahhh

7. Brazil

8. Be Bob A Lula

9. Zorro Rettet Russland

10. Ti Amo

11. Massachusetts

12. Stairway To Heaven

13. San Francisco 

14. Blue Berry Blue

15. Zorro Thema

16. Final Countdown

At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul (1995)

In the Wake of seeing these guys for the first time since their regrouping after a 16 year break. I give you my favourite metal album to date. My cousin showed this to me when I was twelve years old have always listen to this album as a source of relief and inspiration. These guys are like the forefathers of swedish melodic death metal for fucks sake! Nothing gets better or more original then this. GO!

Slaughter Of The Soul

Tracklist:

1. Blinded By Fear

2. Slaughter Of The Soul

3. Cold

4. Under A Serpent Sun

5. Into The Dead Sky

6. Suicide Nation

7. World Of lies

8. Unto Others

9. Nausea

10. Need

11. The Flames Of The End

Godspeed you! Black Emperor - 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! (2012)

I got this the day it came out but like always im a little slow on posting it up here. If you have not heard of GPYBE by now, its time to crawl out of the hole you live in. These guys gave post rock the push up the arse it needed to step outside the same same sound of extensive reverb guitars and expected percussion builds. 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! is the first release since their regrouping in 2010 after the band indefinitely broke up in 2003.  Bringing in the bands old trates of field recordings and  strings this new exciting treat is nothing but spellbinding. released as a 12" + 7" LP package, you find four tracks with two of which are 20 minute classically epic instrumental pieces and two that are more of a subdued soundscape characteristic. So if you are interested in having your ears opened up to a new sound check this out. 

'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! 

Tracklist:

1. Mladic

2. Their Helicopters' Sing

3. We Drift Like Worried Fire

4. Strung Like Lights At Thee Printemps Erable

The Secret - Agnus Dei (2012)

Total fucking violence is what i think when i heard the title track off the secret's new album. Hailing from Italy this quartet delivers nothing but fast paced blackened crustcore that packs a fucking punch. True, the online hype leading up to this album has been well executed with pretty much every review site and blogger streaming early released tracks and artwork. But since its release I am fucking blown away by the immense brutality of this album, and am really enjoying the more dynamic song writing compared to their last Southern Lord release Solve Et Coagula which i still listen to religiously. So check it out and keep an eye on these guys in future days to come. 

Agnus Dei

Tracklist:

1. Agnus Dei

2. May God Damn All of Us

3. Violent Infection

4. Geometric Power

5. Post Mortem Nihil Est

6. Daily Lies

7. Love Your Enemy

8. Vermin of Dust

9. Darkness I Became

10. Heretic Temple

11. The Bottomless Pit

12. Obscure Dogma

13. Seven Billion Graves

Chelsea Wolfe - Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs (2012)

This is the second album from Chelsea Wolfe, and its a chilling album made with simple americana folk traditions, and often two chord arrangements. Its a different direction since her last album Ἀποκάλυψις where now we find her leaning more towards early PJ Harvey or Nina Nastasia. Unknown rooms is a little on the short side but i feel this brings it to a more close and personal conclusion. Its a bitter sweet story she tells with complete honesty. A beautiful album.

Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs (320 MP3)

Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs (FLAC)

Tracklist:

1. Flatlands

2. The Way We Used To

3. Spinning Centers
4. Appalachia
5. I Died With You
6. Boyfriend
7. Our Work Was Good
8. Hyper Oz
9. Sunstorm

Alamaailman Vasarat - Valta (2012)

Finnish band Alamaailman Vasarat (ten points if you can pronounce it) have been writing and recording mind blowing instrumental albums for 12 years and their new instalment Valta is nothing from that. First off i didn't even know there saw such an instrument called a sub contrabass Tubax until i heard these guys. Let alone the idea of played dual cellos with distortion. I find a lot a finnish music has a certain feel which can be very strange indeed but Alamaailman Vasarat has crafted a sound of contemporary folk rock which is strong in texture and narrative. They are highly melodic band who have pushed the boundaries with folk music and Valta stands strong with the rest of their albums which i also recommend.  

Valta (MP3)

Valta (FLAC)

Tracklist:

1. Riistomaasiiraja

2. Henkipatto

3. Hajakas

4. Norsuvaljkko

5. Haudankantaja

6. Luu Messingilla

7. Vaara Kaarme

8. Uurnilla

9. Hirmuhallinto

Eye - Center Of The Sun (2012)

I've only come across these guys in the past few day but their debute album Center Of The Sun has been on repeat ever since. Opening and title track Center Of The Sun is like a time machine back to the old days of Pink Floyd or Deep Purple. Dirty Hammond organ and fuzz guitar set the tone to this groove based journey with lyrics about galactic travel within and out. EYE are nothing new but are doing absolute justice. Check out EYE's live studio recoding below and keep an eye on the awesome skills of their keyboardist. 

Center Of The Sun

Tracklist:

1. Center Of The Sun

2. Usurpers

3. Restorers

4. Rik Rite

Dark Dark Dark - Who Needs Who (2012)

DDD's latest release has had a very different approach since their 2010 release Go Wild. The line up has slightly changed but core members still stand. I found the songs a little more stripped back and delivered as a live performance then a studio recording. I had the chance of seeing them perform this album earlier in the year and hearing this album pretty much exactly as i did that night which i find a little bit of a disappointment. I still really enjoy the flow and songwriting of Who Needs Who but wish it had more of the dubbing and vocal harmonies they have become so popular for and not having the piano being the basses for every song but three. A little let down but hey what ya gonna do, I still love these guys.

Who Need Who

Tracklist: 

1. Who Needs Who

2. Tell Me

3. Last Time I saw Joe

4. Patsy Cline

5. Without You

6. How It Went Down

7. It's A Secret

8. Hear Me

9. Meet In The Dark

10. The Great Mistake

Dysrhythmia - Test of Submission (2012)

Edgy math rock metal gods Dysrhythmia have done it again with their newest release Test of Submission. Even after the first couple of tracks I've noticed their writing has become even more intense but with smoother transitions between sections rather then their last release Psychic Maps. Sweeping atmospheric melodic guitar melodies wash over a ridiculously tight drum and bass odd time signature blast beat base and Sonically this band has stepped more into their own and come leaps and bounds since this line ups first album Barriers and Passengers. Tasty taste. 

Test Of Submission

Tracklist:

1. In Secrecy

2. Test Of Submission

3. The Line Always Snaps

4. Running Towards The End

5. In The Spirit Of Catastrophe

6. The Madness Of Three

7. Like Chameleons

8. In Consequence

Kayo Dot - Gamma Knife (2012)

Its Been a few years since I've had a good listen to Kayo Dot, so to my surprise I was very happy to have found they released brand spanking earlier this year called Gamma Knife. Lead by Toby Driver, Kayo Dot's albums have gone through many transitions, But I find this album relates more to there early recordings, maybe with a little more shine then the grittiness of Drowsing Anemone With A Copper Tongue in 2006. Abstract, avant garde, Jazzcore is what makes up Kayo Dot, with stems of Grindcore and Black Metal. Its Bitterly twisted but at the same time its opening and closing tracks sound more like a composition by Jeff Buckley.  Play this one at full volume to get the full experience. 

Gamma Knife

Tracklist:

1. Lethe

2. Rite of Goetic Evocation

3. Mirror Water, Lighting Night

4. Ocellated God

5. Gamma Knife