Star of Ash - Iter.viator

Download: megaupload
Label/Date: The End Records, 2003
Standout track: Death Salutes Atropos
Genre: Trip-Hop, Ambient, Darkwave, Piano/Chamber Rock
From: Norway. (wife of Ihsahn of the black metal band Emperor)
LIYL: Ulver, The Gathering, 3rd & the Mortal, Peccatum, Massive Attack
Website: www.starofash.com
Purchase: The Omega

As The Poets Affirm

I Want to Tell My Heart to You, But I Cannot Say English

Download: megaupload
Label/Date: Zunior, 2004
Standout track: Clio
Genre: post-rock, instrumental rock
From: Ottawa
LIYL: Sweek, Do Make Say Think, Precious Fathers, Broken Social Scene, Migala
Website: asthepoetsaffirm.com
Myspace: /asthepoetsaffirm
Purchase: zunior.com

Precious Fathers

Like a log cabin, Precious Fathers are a homely mix of ingenious construction and a beautiful alpine setting. The optimum method of listening to this, their debut long-player, would ideally be inside of that very log cabin, fireplace and hearts ablaze. It sounds like chocolate tastes. And it would seem that the key to this musical wonderment lies in contentedness and experience… A mix of intelligence and experienced, instinctive musicianship, this record immediately sounds at ease with itself. The delicate guitar phrasing in opening song Prairie Train is a lesson in crafting a musical experience. By the time the horn comes in, you already think it's been there from the beginning, such is its opacity. - indieworkshop.com
Download: megaupload
Label/Date: White Whale, 2005
Genre: post-rock
From: Vancouver
LIYL: Tristeza, Do Make Say Think, Broken Social Scene, Sea and the Cake
Website: preciousfathers.com
Myspace: /preciousfathers
Purchase: White Whale

Swedish Post Rock

Sickoakes - Seawards

Download: megaupload
Website: www.sickoakes.com
LIYL: GYBE!, Ascent of Everest, Sparrows Swarm & Sing, Sigur Ros


Pg. Lost - Yes I Am

Download: sendspace
Download: divshare
Website: myspace.com/pglost
LIYL: Caspian, This Will Destroy You, Mono, Explosions In The Sky


September Malevolence - Tomorrow We'll Wonder Where This Generation Gets Its Priorities From

Download: megaupload
Website: www.septembermalevolence.com
LIYL: Explosions In The Sky, Red Sparowes, Mogwai


Scraps of Tape - This Is A Copy Is This A Copy

Download: megaupload
Download: mediafire
Website: www.scrapsoftape.com
LIYL: Ascent of Everest, Gregor Samsa, Up C Down C, Do Make Say Think


Ellis The Vacuumchild - Peace By Extermination

Download: megaupload
Website: www.ellisthevacuumchild.com
LIYL: Samuel Jackson Five, El Ten Eleven, Trizteza, Rosalina Mar

Heavy Metal In Baghdad

A side of Iraq you've never seen before. The band Acrassicauda risked death everyday to play the music they love.

"In 2003, just after the US toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein, Vice magazine published an article on the only heavy metal band in Iraq, Acrassicauda. The Baghdad-based band was formed in the last few years of Saddam’s rule and aside from the typical problems every band has, they also had to deal with the stigma of playing dark western music in an Islamic state under Baath party rule, while coming out of a decade of war, sanctions, and poverty. We found their story inspiring. When we interviewed the band they were excited to be living in a newly freed Iraq, and their future seemed limitless. They even talked of recording an album. Things took a turn for the worse, however. After a few months respite, the situation in free Iraq deteriorated quickly and by the end of the year, after a few key insurgent attacks - the bombing at the UN building, the massive strike at the grand Shi’a mosque in Najaf - Iraq started to unravel. We stayed in touch with the band through this time and in the fall of 2006, with the insurgency reaching a fevered pitch, VICE Co-Founder Suroosh Alvi and VBS Producer Eddy Moretti decided to visit them."

Click here to go to VBS.tv and watch (episodes to all 3 parts are on right side)

Acrassicauda's website
Acrassicauda's myspace

VBS.tv also has a great video on Gorgoroth featuring the comic stylings of Gaahl. Click here and click on the "True Norwegian Black Metal" episodes on the side. The ending of the last part is especially great.

Joy Wants Eternity - You Who Pretend To Sleep

Download: mediafire
Label/Date: Beep Repaired, 2007
Genre: post-rock
From: Seattle, Washington
LIYL: Mono, Explosions in the Sky, Caspian
Website: www.joywantseternity.com
Myspace: /joywantseternity
Purchase: thru website
Review: Silent Ballet

Disillusion - Back To Times of Splendor

One of my favorite cds. I was extremely disappointed when they didn't continue this sound on their newest cd Gloria.
Download: mediafire
Label/Date: Metal Blade, 2004
Standout tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5
Genre: Progressive Metal
From: Germany
LIYL: Opeth, Novembre, Agalloch, Suidakra, Giant Squid, In The Woods
Website: www.disillusion.de
Myspace: myspace.com/timesofsplendor
Purchase: amazon
Review: metalreview

Primordial - The Gathering Wilderness

Download: megaupload
Label/Date: Metal Blade, (one of the best of) 2005
Standout track: The Coffin Ships. Incredibly powerful vocals and epic music. It's about the Irish famine.
Genre: pagan/celtic/folk metal
From: Ireland
LIYL: Opeth, Agalloch, Windir, Disillusion, Bathory, Thyrfing
Website: www.primordialweb.com
Purchase: amazon
Review: metalreview

Capharnaum - Fractured

Download: rapidshare
Label/Date: Willowtip, 2004
Standout track: perpetuate catatonia, the last minute is amazing
Genre: tech prog death metal
From: Florida
LIYL: Death, Martyr, Atheist, Neuraxis, Meshuggah
Website: @willowtip
Purchase: @willowtip
Review: metalreview

Crotchduster - Big Fat Box of Shit

Listen up motherfucker!
I got something i need to say
If you dont use mammal sauce
You might as well be gay!
Download: megaupload
Label/Date: Willowtip, 2004
Genre: death metal, a ton of other genres and just plain nonsense. hilarity ensues.
From: Florida. Side project of Jason Suecof of Capharnaum
LIYL: death metal, mr bungle, juvenile humour
Website: @willowtip
Myspace: myspace.com/truenatureofwilliams (fan page)
Purchase: @willowtip
Review: metalreview

Priestbird - In Your Time

"While this trio’s last LP, Book Of Sand, was a stirring, orchestral affair released under the name of Tarantula AD, Danny Bensi, Saunder Jurriaans and Gregory Rogove’s re-emergence as Priestbird finds the three-piece rocking harder than their past form could ever suggest." - Drowned in Sound
Download: mediafire
Label/Date: Kemado, 2007
Genre: psychedelic rock, folk, orchestral
From: New York City
LIYL: Tarantula AD, Grails, Led Zeppelin, Ghost, Black Mountain, Comets On Fire
Website: www.priestbird.com
Myspace: /priestbird
Purchase: insound
Review: pitchfork

Contemporary Noise Quintet - Pig Inside The Gentleman

Download: mediafire
Label/Date: Electric Eye, 2006
Genre: intense jazz
From: Poland
LIYL: Esbjorn Svennson Trio, Exploding Star Orchestra, Miles Davis, Coltrane, Natsumen
Website: www.cnq.electriceye.pl
Myspace: www.myspace.com/cnquintet

Hazmat Modine - Bahumat

"Even though Hazmat Modine came together as band in New York City, when listening to their music, one would think they were world travelers from various corners of the earth. Built upon a foundation of traditional blues, Bahumat is an extensive journey that’s catchy enough to sway even the most adolescent minds to old school roots music. Quirky and inventive, file this one under world-inspired rhythms of yesteryear -- as if such a genre actually exists."- decoy music
Download: rapidshare
Label/Date: Barbès Records, 2006
Standout track: Everybody Loves You, the throat singing and tuba throughout give the song t a very unique atmosphere. Weird and wonderful
Genre: blues, world music, plenty of harmonica, horns and throat singing
From: New York City
LIYL: Tom Waits, DeVotcKa, Huun-Huur-Tu, Taj Mahal, Captain Beefheart
Website: www.hazmatmodine.com
Purchase: CD baby
Myspace: /hazmatmodine

!!! - Myth Takes

Download: megaupload
Label/Date: Warp Records, 2007
Standout track: Bend Over Beethoven, intense buildup with an explosion of melody starting at around 6 minutes.
Genre: dance-rock, funk
From: California, Oregon and New York
LIYL: LCD Soundsystem, James Brown, Maserati(same drummer), Holy Fuck, Funkadelic
Website: chkchkchk.net
Myspace: myspace.com/chkchkchk
Purchase: amazon
Review: cokemachineglow

Holy Fuck - Holy Fuck EP

Download: megaupload
Label/Date: Dependent Music, 2007
Genre: electro/dance rock
From: Toronto, Canada
LIYL: !!!, The Advantage, Death from Above 1979, The Rapture, M83
Website: holyfuckmusic.com
Myspace: /holyfuck
Review: almostcool

Ektroverde - Ukkossalama

Laiho, along with Circle mainstay Jussi Lehtisalo, also appears on Ukkossalama (Ektro), the fifth and best full-length by the freeform Ektroverde. Though this jazzy side project’s previous studio ventures intermittently suffered from inconsistency or automated stiffness, the ensemble’s latest offering has finally duplicated the potency, spontaneity and funky looseness of its live shows. Nine performers stretch out and spiral heavenward, luxuriating in interlocking sax solos, acid-drenched guitar dribble and detached, impromptu talk-singing. Intergalactic echo and delay washes over everything in sight. Clocking in at over 26 minutes each, the two closing improvisations spectacularly exhibit how Ektroverde’s intuitive jamming never strays into haphazard dullness." - Jordan N. Mamone, Dusted Magazine (from a great feature called Finland Calling)
Download: mediafire
Label/Date: Ektro Records, 2003
Genre: space rock, krautrock, psychedelic
From: Pori, Finland
LIYL: Circle, Ash Ra Tempel, Hidria Spacefolk, Hawkwind, Can
Website: circlefinland.com/cirverde.html
Label: www.ektrorecords.com
Purchase: ektro webstore

Paine - Dioxidetunnel with a Red-Light and Endless Feeling

"Paine (translation: Pressure) combines the strengths of guitarist/keyboardist/voice manipulator Jyrki Laiho (ex-Circle), drummer/keyboardist/bassist Juha Ahtiainen (Ovalki; ex-Circle), drummer/bassist Janne Peltomäki (ex-Circle) and drummer/bassist Veli Nuorsaari (Kuusumun Profeetta). Despite a reliance on taut, oppressive structures that recall their mother band, these veterans have rapidly established their own identity by carving up hollow-eyed, sci-fi metal with unmatched efficiency and exhilarating force. The quartet’s sleek, muscular four-song debut, Dioxidetunnel with a Red-Light and Endless Feeling (Kaaari), boasts the brawniest organic-meets-industrial rush since the glory days of Chrome or Hawkwind. Mysterious, spoken samples hover over controlled, robotic riffing, like some NASA broadcast gone horribly wrong. An obvious choice for EP of the year." - Jordan N. Mamone, Dusted Magazine (from a great feature called Finland Calling)
Download: mediafire
Label/Date: Kaaari, 2006
Genre: industrial krautrock
From: Finland
LIYL: Circle, Godflesh, Faust, Ministry
Can't find band or label websites or a place to buy this cd.

Morkobot - Mostro

"Mostro, the second work of Morkobot, is a sensorial experience in which different musical genres become so extreme you cannot find a definition able to describe the music.
From John Zorn to Black Sabbath, from Pink Floyd to Primus, from Godflesh to Hawkwind... past and present seem to messed up in the magic pot of sound called Morkobot."
Download: mediafire
Label/Date: Supernatural Cat Records, 2007
From: Italy
Website: www.morkobot.com
Purchase: supernaturalcat.com

Hyatari - Light Carriers

Thanks to Below The Rust for the intro to this band. Great blog for doom and stoner rock.
Download: megaupload
Label/Date: Codebreaker/Earache, 2005
Genre: Drone Doom
From: West Virginia
LIYL: Nadja, Sunn O))), Neurosis, Godflesh, Boris
Website: www.hyatari.com
Myspace: myspace.com/hyatari
Purchase: Earache store
Review: Stylus

Boredoms - Super Roots 9

Download: divshare
Website: www.boredoms.co.uk
Myspace: www.myspace.com/boredoms
Review: Pitchfork

Jesu - Sun Down/Sun Rise EP

Sun Down' / 'Sun Rise' is the fifth release by Jesu. It was released on 12" colored vinyl in two formats through Aurora Borealis on April 23, 2007. The album had already been released as a bonus CD appended to the Japanese version of Conqueror issued via Daymare.
According to Broadrick's blog, the EP was originally intended for an end of 2006 release[3], prior to the release of Conqueror (which was projected for early 2007 in the same entry) and may therefore be considered to fall in between Silver and Conqueror from a continuity standpoint.
Download: sendspace
Website: avalancheinc.co.uk/jesu

Lorus - Deluge

"What would happen if Tool, Melvins and Mogwai all had a gangbang in the back of a tour bus? Their bastard offspring would be called Lorus. Raised by King Crimson with a little strict discipline from Mr. Bungle, Lorus is an avant metal band formed by guitarist Dylan Burr and keyboardist Alan Lawrence. Lorus' music blends divergent genres and synthesizes them with a heavier end, finding new and groundbreaking avenues for heavy music."
Download: rapidshare
Website: www.lorusband.com
Myspace: myspace.com/lorusband
Purchase: CD baby

The CJ Boyd Sexxxtet - Fleur du Mal

"The CJ Boyd Sexxxtet are an experimental art collective, performing ambient chamber music on bass and many cellos. They also have an affinity for playing in the nude, and feel that music is inextricably linked to sexuality, something that is conveyed by their driving, thrusting compositions with or without the accompanying nude press photos." - silent ballet
Download: mediafire
Label/Date: Self-released, 2006
Website: myspace.com/thecjboydsexxxtet
Purchase: www.cjboyd.com
Review: Silent Ballet

Young Widows- Settle Down City

Download: mediafire
Label/Date: Jade Tree, 2006
Genre: noise-rock, hardcore
From: Louisville, Kentucky
LIYL: Breather Resist, The Jesus Lizard, Shellac, Melvins, Botch
Website: youngwidows.net
Purchase: Jade Tree
Review: Drowned In Sound