Noxagt

Turning It Down Since 2001 (Load, 2003) mediafire
The Iron Point (Load, 2004) mediafire
Noxagt (Load, 2006) mediafire
Genre: instrumental sludge/noise trio
Website: noxagt.com, load records page
Buy: amazon

My 2 cents: First 2 albums have bass, drums and viola, the viola adding that extra something special. I'd suggest listening to The Iron Point first as its the one I can't stop listening to. On their self-titled 3rd LP the viola is gone, replaced by plain old electric guitar. Now the band is just as pummeling, if not more so, but just not as interesting. Still all three albums rock. Check em out.

Info: Norwegian trio Noxagt play slow-burn metal stripped to its essential elements: no vocals, no solos, just lurching riffs and pounding rhythms, a precision machine on a hot rail to hell. The obvious comparison, given the Load Records connection, is to heavy-rock deconstructionists like Lightning Bolt, but I think that's a red herring. The stateside duo are fast and frantic where Noxagt are methodical; Lightning Bolt and their imitators explode; Noxagt are a battering ram. Same result, different methods. - dustedmagazine (all 3 albums reviewed on this site)

Monkey3 - 39 Laps

Download: mediafire
Label/Date: Buzzville, 2006
Standout tracks: 4, 5
Genre: instrumental stoner-rock
From: Switzerland
LIYL: Circle, Pelican, Kyuss, Pink Floyd, Hawkwind
Website: www.monkeythree.com
Buy: www.buzzville.be
Review: metal nose

Flight of the Conchords

The best musical comedy ever! Absolutely hilarious!
This is the New Zealand band's HBO One Night Stand show.
Format is quicktime(.mov).
Download: mediafire
Website: www.conchords.co.nz

Dalek - Abandoned Language

Download: mediafire
Label/Date: Ipecac, 2007
Standout tracks:
Genre: experimental hip-hop
From: New Jersey
LIYL: Subtle, Public Enemy, E. Neubauten, Faust, Boards of Canada
Website: www.deadverse.com
Buy: amazon pre-order
Info: "When we last left off with Dälek, they had released Absence, a dark and dirgy romp through hip-hop's underground that left countless listeners and critics in awe. However, while it would probably be a good career move to replicate that album's noisy charm, Dälek have once again reinvented themselves with their fourth and most accomplished full-length, Abandoned Language. "We've been making wall of noise records for a long time and I think with Absence we realized that was as far as we wanted to go with that sound," dälek (the MC/producer) explains. "That sound was just so heavy and dense, but the new one is about composition and notes we are playing. The layering is still there, but the instrumentation is totally different." In fact, from the sinister strings in "Lynch" to old-school hip-hop flavor of "Isolated Stare" to the heady melodicism of "Tarnished", Abandoned Language is complex enough for fans of avant-noise, but accessible enough for mainstream hip-hop audiences." -ipecac

Do Make Say Think - You, You're a History in Rust

Download: megaupload sendspace rapidshare
Label/Date: Constellation, 2007
Genre: post-rock, experimental
From: Toronto, Ontario
LIYL: Tortoise, Mogwai, ASMZ
Website: Do Make Say Think
Buy: Constellation records
Info: "Album opener "Bound To Be That Way" puts all these elements on fine display: recorded rhythmic and melodic figures fade in and out along with found and recovered sounds, lead instruments slide and shift in the mix, and the band's dual drummers deploy separate channels of syncopated stutter. "A With Living" will surprise hardcore DMST followers, as it features full-on verse-chorus-verse singing that builds towards lovely massed vocals before breaking down again into a beautiful modal horn denouement. "The Universe!" and "Herstory Of Glory" serve as tight, snappy firecrackers set off within the rest of the album’s pensive, dusky atmosphere. Constellation is thrilled to release this fifth album by one of our most creative, thoughtful, challenging and accessible groups. The CD is available in a 6-panel cardstock jacket and the LP features DMM mastering at Abbey Road and is pressed on 180g virgin vinyl. Thanks for listening" - Constellation.

Do Make Say Think - st (1998)
Download: megaupload

Wolves in the Throne Room - Diadem of 12 Stars

Download: megaupload
Genre: epic black metal
From: Olympia, Washington
LIYL: Weakling, Negura Bunget, Drudkh, Enslaved, Agalloch
Website: www.wolvesinthethroneroom.com
Buy: Vendlus Records
Review: metalreview

Capricorns - Ruder Forms Survive

Download: mediafire
Label/Date: Rise Above Records, 2005
Standout tracks: 2, 5
Genre: epic stoner doom, mostly instrumental
From: London
LIYL: Electric Wizard, Iron Monkey, Crowbar, Pelican, Kyuss
Website: www.c-a-p-r-i-c-o-r-n-s.com
Buy: amazon
Review: digital metal

Minsk - The Ritual Fires of Abandonment

Download: megaupload
Genre: psychedelic sludge, tribal-doom
From: Illinois
LIYL: Neurosis, Electric Wizard, Isis, Rosetta
Website: www.thesoundofminsk.com
Buy: relapse(pre-order)
Info: "Transcending the current crop of heavy music imitators, Minsk bleed their tribal conviction with an atmosphere of total psychedelic delirium. Hypnotic percussion thunders beneath thickly layered guitars as synths and samples provide a backdrop for searing melodies and deeply spiritual vocal ruminations. Superbly produced at the Volume Recording Studio by bassist/vocalist Sanford Parker (Pelican, Unearthly Trance), The Ritual Fires of Abandonment is a profound and provocative experience that will have an intense and lasting impact on all who dare approach." -relapse

Eluvium - Copia

Download: mediafire
Label/Date: Temporary Residence, 2007
Standout tracks: 2, 4
Genre: ambient, orchestral, drone
From: Portland, OR
LIYL: Mono/World's End Girlfriend, Hammock, Stars of the Lid
Website: www.eluvium.net
Buy: Temporary Residence
Review: N/A

Maserati - Inventions for the New Season

Download: megaupload
Label/Date: Temporary Residence, 2007
Standout tracks: 8, 6, 4, 2
Genre: instrumental rock, space rock, kraut, post
From: Athens, GA
LIYL: El Ten Eleven, Neu!, Mogwai, Kinski, Trizteza
Website: ihaveadagger.net
Buy: N/A (not released yet)
Review: N/A

Top 50 of 2006: #s 1-10

1. Te - If That Is What Is Being Thought,..

Download: mediafire
Standout tracks: 1, 5, 6, 7
Genre: post-rock, instrumental-rock
From: Japan
LIYL: Lite, Caspian, Mono, Ostinato, Maserati, Hematovore
Website: http://tee.daa.jp
Buy: tonevendor
Review: decoy music silent ballet

2. Isis - In The Absence Of Truth

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 7, 9, 1
Genre: post-metal
From: US
LIYL: Neurosis, Cult of Luna, Pelican, Isis
Website: www.isistheband.com
Buy: amazon
Review: decoy music

3. Gifts From Enola - Loyal Eyes Betrayed The Mind

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 1, 3, 4, 8
Genre: post-rock, intrumental-rock
From: Virginia
LIYL: Caspian, UpC DownC LeftC RightC ABC + Start, Te, Shelter Red
Website: www.myspace.com/giftsfromenola
Buy: amazon
Review: silent ballet (1) (2)

4. Agalloch - Ashes Against The Grain

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 2, 5, 7
Genre: post-black-metal
From: US
LIYL: Opeth, Enslaved, Novembre
Website: www.agalloch.org
Buy: amazon
Review: metalreview

5. Mono - You Are There

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 3, 4
Genre: post-rock
From: Japan
LIYL: Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, earlier Mono, classical music
Website: www.mono-44.com
Buy: amazon
Review: indieworkshop

6. Mouth of the Architect - The Ties That Bind

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 1, 2
Genre: post-hardcore, post-rock, sludge
From: US
LIYL: Neurosis, Cult of Luna, Isis, Explosions in the Sky
Website: myspace.com/mouthofthearchitect
Buy: amazon
Review: silent ballet

7. Laura - Radio Swan is Down

Download: megaupload sendspace
Standout tracks: 3, 7, 10
Genre: post-rock
From: Australia
LIYL: Mogwai, Samuel Jackson 5, Caspian, Pelican
Website: www.wearemappingyourdreams.com
Buy: alone again records
Review: silent ballet

8. Bardo Pond - Ticket Crystals

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 1, 2, 5
Genre: Psychedelic, experimental, krautrock
From: Pennsylvania
LIYL: Acid Mothers Temple, Comets on Fire, Faust, Amon Duul, Circle
Website: threelobed.com/bardo
Buy: amazon
Review: dusted magazine

9. Magyar Posse - Random Avenger

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 7, 5, 2
Genre: post-rock, experimental
From: Finland
LIYL: ? they don't sound like anyone else
Website: www.magyarposse.com
Buy: verdura records
Review: silent ballet

10. Man Man - Six Demon Bag

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 1, 6, 8, 10
Genre: psychotic pub band?
From: Philadelphia
LIYL: Tom Waits, Captain Beefheart, Zappa, Primus, Moustache
Website: www.wearemanman.com
Buy: amazon
Review: pitchfork

Top 50 of 2006: #s 11-20

11. Gregor Samsa - 55:12

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 2, 5, 6
Genre: post-rock
From: Virginia
LIYL: ASMZ, GYBE!, Sigur Ros, Yndi Halda, My Bloody Valentine
Website: gregorsamsa.com
Buy: amazon
Review: silent ballet

12. Natsumen - Never Wear Out Your Summer xxx !!!

Download: megaupload Download: (2)
Standout tracks: 2, 3, 6
Genre: jazz, big-band, swing, math-rock, post-rock, noise
From: Japan
LIYL: Boredoms, Te, Samuel Jackson Five, big-band dynamics and rooted in rock and jazz aesthetics, and noisy as fuck
Website: www.natsumen.net
Buy: amazon japan
Review: silent ballet

13. Subtle - For Hero For Fool

Download: mediafire
Standout tracks: 1, 3, 7
Genre: hip-hop, experimental, electronica
From: US
LIYL: Anticon(label), Dalek, Blackalicious
Website: www.subtle6.com
Buy: amazon
Review: decoy music

14. Jakob - Solace

Download: megaupload Download: sendspace
Standout tracks: 2, 5
Genre: post-rock
From: New Zealand
LIYL: Mogwai, Mono, Hammock, Jesu
Website: www.jakob.co.nz
Buy: smoke cds
Review: silent ballet

15. Jesu - Silver ep

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks:
Genre: Ambient Doom
From: US
LIYL: Godflesh
Website: avalancheinc.co.uk
Buy: amazon
Review: metalreview

16. Melvins - Senile Animal

Download: rapidshare sendspace axifile
Standout tracks: 4, 5, 6
Genre: rock, stoner, doom
From: Seatle
LIYL: rock, stoner, doom
Website: www.melvins.com
Buy: amazon
Review: stylus

17. Green Milk From The Planet Orange - City Calls Revolution

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 1, 4
Genre: psychedelic, extended jam sessions
From: Japan
LIYL: Boredoms, Acid Mother's Temple, Melvins
Website: www.green-milk.com
Buy: beta-lactam ring records
Review: losing today

18. Devin Townsend - Synchestra

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 3, 8, 13
Genre: prog, metal, hard rock
From: Canada
LIYL: Strapping Young Lad
Website: www.hevydevy.com
Buy: amazon
Review: metalreview

19. Grails - Black Tar Prophecies Vols 1, 2, 3

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks:
Genre: post-rock, experimental, krautrock
From: Oregon
LIYL: Dirty Three, Flower Travellin Band, Bohren & Der Club Of Gore, Red Sparowes
Website: www.grailsongs.com
Buy: amazon
Review: silent ballet

20. Hammock - Raising Your Voice Trying to Stop an Echo

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 2
Genre: ambient, bliss
From: Tennessee
LIYL: Stars of the Lid, Labradford, Brian Eno, Landing
Website: www.hammockmusic.com
Buy: amazon
Review: silent ballet

Top 50 of 2006: #s 21-30

21. Windmills by the Ocean - Windmills by the Ocean

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 1, 2, 3
Genre: post-hardcore
From: US
LIYL: Isis, Red Sparowes,
Website: www.myspace.com/windmillsbytheocean
Buy: amazon
Review: silent ballet

22. Del Rey - A Pyramid for the Living

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 1, 3
Genre: post-hardcore, post-rock, instrumental rock
From: US
LIYL: Pelican, Red Sparowes, Isis
Website: www.dlry.net
Buy: my pal god records
Review: silent ballet

23. Mastery - Lethal Legacy

Download: rapidshare
Standout tracks: 2, 6
Genre: instrumental thrash!
From: Toronto
LIYL: Metallica(old), Slayer, sore necks
Website: www.masterymetal.com
Buy: spinerazor records
Review: metalreview

24. Year of No Light - Nord

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks:
Genre: post-hardcore, sludge
From: France
LIYL: Neurosis, Envy, Rosetta
Website: yearofnolight.free.fr
Buy: radar swarm
Review: digital metal

25. Strapping Young Lad - The New Black

Download: megaupload NEEDS PASSWORD
Standout tracks: 3, 5, 9
Genre: heavy metal
From: Canada
LIYL: Devin Townsend, Mastodon, Meshuggah
Website: www.hevydevy.com
Buy: amazon
Review: metalreview

26. Novembre - Materia

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7
Genre: melodic metal, prog-metal
From: Italy
LIYL: Katatonia, Opeth, Insomnium, Agalloch, Green Carnation
Website: www.novembre.co.uk
Buy: amazon
Review: digital metal

27. Amon Amarth - With Oden on Out Side

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 4, 7, 9
Genre: Viking Metal
From: Sweden
LIYL: old Amon Amarth
Website: www.amonamarth.com
Buy: amazon
Review: metalreview

28. Russian Circles - Enter

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 1, 3
Genre: post-rock, instrumental-metal
From: US
LIYL: Pelican, Isis, Rosetta
Website: www.russiancircles.net
Buy: amazon
Review: silent ballet

29. Isis & Aereogramme - In The Fishtank

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 1, 2
Genre: post-hardcore, ambient
From: US
LIYL: Isis, Areogramme
Website: www.isistheband.com www.aereogramme.co.uk
Buy: amazon
Review: scenepointblank

30. Caspian - Tour ep (1 new track)

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 1-preview track from new 2007 album, demo quality
Genre: post-rock
From: US
LIYL: Caspian's EP, anticipate their 2007 LP
Website: www.caspianmusic.net
Buy: N/A
Review: N/A

Top 50 of 2006: #s 31-40

31. If These Trees Could Talk - st EP

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 1, 4
Genre: post-rock
From: US
LIYL: Caspian, Gifts From Enola, This Will Destroy You
Website: www.myspace.com/ifthesetreescouldtalk
Buy: cdbaby
Review: silent ballet

32. Intronaut - Void

Download: rapidshare
Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 4, 5
Genre: post-hardcore, prog-metal
From: US
LIYL: Isis, Mouth of the Architect, Swarm of the Lotus, Botch
Website: www.intronaut.com
Buy: amazon
Review: decoy music

33. Enslaved - Ruun

Download: megaupload pass=www.metalunion.tk
Standout tracks: 3, 4, 5
Genre: black metal, progressive rock
From: Norway
LIYL: Emperor, Opeth, Immortal
Website: www.enslaved.no
Buy: amazon
Review: metalreview

34. Clogs - Lantern

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks:
Genre: post-rock, neo-classical
From: Australia/US
LIYL: Rachel's, Do Make Say Think, ASMZ, Dirty Three
Website: www.clogsmusic.com
Buy: amazon
Review: pitchfork

35. Blueneck - Scars of the Midwest

Download: megaupload
Genre: post-rock
From: UK
LIYL: Tulsa Drone, Theta Naught, Godspeed, Mogwai, Sigur Ros
Website: www.blueneck.com
Buy: alphaheaven
Review: silent ballet

36. Junius - Blood Is Bright

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 4, 5
Genre: hard rock, post-rock, metal
From: US
LIYL: Amplifier, Joy Division, Isis, The Cure, Swans
Website: www.juniusmusic.com
Buy: radar recordings
Review: metalreview

37. The Ascent of Everest - How Lonely Sits the City

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks:
Genre: post-rock
From: US
LIYL: GYBE!, ASMZ, Yndi Halda
Website: www.ascentofeverest.com
Buy: zambooie
Review: silent ballet

38. Mastodon - Blood Mountain

Download: N/A
Standout tracks: 2, 4, 7
Genre: metal, thrash
From: US
LIYL: Metallica, Slayer, Lamb of God
Website: www.mastodonrocks.com
Buy: amazon
Review: metalreview

39. Sweek - The Unbelievable Cinematic Crash

Download: megaupload
Standout tracks: 1, 4
Genre: post-rock
From: Belgium
LIYL: Bright Red Paper, Explosions in the Sky, Yndi Halda
Website: www.sweek.be
Buy: Carte Postale Records
Review: silent ballet

40. Die Apokalyptischen Reiter - Riders on the Storm

Download: rapidshare
Standout tracks: 3, 5
Genre: melodic thrash metal, viking metal
From: Germany
LIYL: In Flames, Rammstein, Amon Amarth, Enslaved
Website: www.reitermania.de
Buy: amazon
Review: metal temple