Magma - Attahk

I think this is my favorite Magma record, which is blasphemy I'm sure to any big Magma fans. It's just so damn catchy and funky (cept track 3). On this record they mixed in funk, soul, gospel and prog with their usual Zeuhl insanity. The vocals are especially insane (lyrics are in Kobaïan, a made up language).
Download: mediafire
Date: 1978
Standout tracks: 2, 4, 5, 6
Genre: Zeuhl
From: France
Prog Archives page. Check out the videos!! 'specially De Futura
Wikipedia page

Goblin - Suspiria

Soundtrack to Dario Argento's film of the same name. Haunting soundscapes mixed with jazzy prog.
Download: megaupload
Date: 1977
Genre: sountrack, prog, experimental
From: Italy
Prog Archives page
Wikipedia page

T2 - It'll All Work Out in Boomland

"Although they only made one album T2 created this genuine masterpiece before they split up shortly after the albums release. Led by gifted teenage guitarist Keith Cross and featuring drummer Peter Dunton (ex Gun) and Bernard Jinks (ex Bulldog Breed) this great record is up there with Caravan's 3rd album and King Crimson's 1st as a UK '70's progressive psych monster. Based around the guitar work of Cross, the album features tight vocal harmonies, sweeping orchestration, and powerful complex arrangements. The epic "No More White Horses" is certainly the pinnacle of the record but there is not really a duff track on it. An album to explore over and over again and original vinyl copies of this are worth a fortune. Remastered plus three extra tracks taken from BBC recordings."
Download: mediafire
Label/Date: Decca, 1970
Genre: Prog-rock, Hard-rock, Blues
From: England
LIYL: Led Zeppelin, Cream, King Crimson, Deep Purple, ELP, Hendrix
Prog Archives page
Wikipedia page
Purchase: amazon

Gong - The Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy

Flying Teapot 1973

Download: Badongo

Angel's Egg 1973

Download: Badongo

You 1974

Download: Badongo

Password for all 3: lagrimapsicodelica
Genre: progressive/psychedelic rock, canterbury
LIYL: Soft Machine, Caravan, Herbie Hancock, Hawkwind, Pink Floyd, Acid Mothers
Wikipedia page
Prog Archives page

Renaissance - Scheherazade And Other Stories

"The best work of Renaissance never strayed far from the symphonic style of 19th and 20th century music. Scheherazade & Other Stories, certainly one of the band's most ambitious recordings, saw the band using their classical roots to produce one of the signature albums of 1970's progressive rock. Unlike other prog-rock groups, Renaissance eschewed much of the technology in favor of acoustic instruments and orchestral arrangements. Electric guitars and synthesizers were seldom used, giving the band's music more of a symphonic sweep." Must be pointed out that this album isn't for everyone (especially the dramatic female vocals). Most will find it pompous, over-the-top and cheesy. But still give it a chance.
Download: mediafire
Label/Date: ?, 1975
Genre: classical/orchestral rock/prog
From: England
LIYL: Genesis, Yes, ELP, Gentle Giant, Camel, Moody Blues, classical music, Simon and Garfunkle
Prog Archives page
Wikipedia page
Purchase: amazon

Alabama Thunderpussy - Open Fire

Been listening to this a lot lately. It fucking rocks!
Sorry bout the lack of posts. More to come soon.
Download: mediafire
Label/Date: Relapse Records, 2007
Genre: Hard-rock
From: Richmond, Virginia
Website: www.atprva.com
Purchase: Relapse

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