Burzum - Belus (2010)

Genre:
About: This misanthropic Aryan sun-bitch is out of prison after 17 years. While on that note, read the story about why he was in there. It was just self defence from some psychopath. One of them was going to die that day whether they liked it or not. I'm sure we've all been trapped in a horrible situation like that... That is where his music comes from I believe.

So, we have what I beleive a lot of feelings trapped up over the years he was in jail, culminating in this record. It is definitely a spiritual successor to his masterpiece "Filosofem" released in 1996, and is 100% metal because he was not allowed guitars in jail, so I'm sure he missed it. Even the long ambient peice, similar to "Rundgang Um Die Transzendentale Säule Der Singularität" from "Filosofem" is completely electric guitar-driven. That song, "Belus' Tilbakekomst (Konklusjon)" actually reminds me a lot of "Coma" by Austere. Just this droning, repeated melody of a few notes but it really makes a solid song.

This whole album is not only solid, but a fantastic trip through the intricacies of this man's mind and emotions. I'd say download it if you are a fan of any type of metal, and definitely a candidate for top album of the year. I'm on play 5 or 6 now and every song still feels fresh and amazes me every time. Surprisingly bright cover for a black metal album... makes me think he wants to start fresh, like the sunrise on a new day... Favorite is either track 3 or 6.

I don't recommend you translate the tags, but here's what the song titles mean:
Translations:
1. Leuke's Scheme (Introduction)
2. Belus' Death
3. The River of Forgetfulness
4. Kaimadalthas' Descent
5. Sword Dance
6. The Kelio Horse
7. Dawn's Red
8. Belus' Return (Conclusion)

Mediafire Download

Now that the album is officially released, this is a rip straight from CD to 320kbps MP3:
Mediafire Download

Torrential Downpour - Torrential Downpour (2009)

Genre: From Minimalist/Ambient/Atmospheric to Death/Thrash/Experimental Metal/Hardcore
About: I'm sitting here thinking how to describe this music in words, and I just can't. It's so innovative and original. A lot of it is beautiful atmosphere but each song builds to a climax of heavy thrashing guitars and flying corpses (well maybe not but it sounds like it).

The first peak of the album is "Toile" which is almost 13 minutes, and it reminds me of atmospheric black metal in style, however I don't think it technically is... If you like Lunar Aurora, Trist, Drudkh, etc. this is for you.

Then the whole album builds to a climax which is "Three Twenty (The Hologram)". They might as well call it Four Twenty (The Orgasm) because it is a melodic death/thrash masterpiece. The last track is a perfect conclusion because it is a light flowing beautiful electric guitar melody.

The band members themselves seem cool, judging by that picture above and the fact that they signed my album when i asked. With very nice signatures I might add.

This band deserves so much more exposure than it has, so if you like it PLEASE purchase it and tell your friends! I'll tell you the album comes with a lot of extra goodies as well, but I won't ruin the surprise.

Buy this album (or their EP) on their Myspace!

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Trist - Willenskraft (2009) (320 kbps) (Trist (Ger) - Willenskraft)

Genre: Black Metal, Dark Ambient, Ambient, Atmospheric Black Metal
About: Willenskraft means "Willpower". I thought Hin-Fort was a masterpiece but somehow he has 1-upped himself. The main difference is while Hin was just an ever-growing wall of sound, this album is all about dynamics. Track 1 is very minimalist while track 2 slams you in the face with this loud fast black metal. And so on. This album is pure genius, I will be listening to it obsessively.

Track 1 is 12 minutes long and fairly minimalist. It sounds as if you are laying on the edge of the water on an ocean beach letting the waves crash over you, as you hear them move from the right speaker to the left. Then gradually You hear these noises which I perceived as Whale/Dolphin calls.

Track 2 then introduces what sounds like either some kind of Troll or someone being tortured but 4 minutes in, fades into this epic black metal riff that I cannot even describe and a nice drum beat. As with Hin-Fort the album slowly changes to create this just great atmosphere.

Track 3 is then more waves crashing, but then instead of the whale-type noises you hear a gradually changing ominous sounding low ambiance.

Track 4 was also a highlight as It starts with this menacing low piano (which comes out of nowhere and is 3 times as loud as the ambiance, great surprise) but then once again a fast beat and epic black guitar riff. The screaming is actually quite fitting, the same screaming as in track 2 but it sounds great. I made out a few words but I'm pretty sure most of it is just screams with no lyrics. Very nice black screams.

Then in track 5 a gun fight breaks out, actually reminds me of the beginning of "One" from Metallica.

Then track 6 you'd think is going to be an ambient outro. But then it fades into another fast black metal part with screams. The difference here is there's kind of a keyboard ambient behind it which is actually a light flowing beautiful melody.

Pretty sure he drew this cover himself as I got it from his official website: http://www.sperber-illustrationen.de/gallery.html

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Moby - Creep (Studio Brussel version) (Radiohead Cover)

Genre: Ambient, Piano
About: This is very unusual in my opinion for many reasons.

1. I despise Radiohead with a burning flame of 1000 suns. Overrated mediocre mainstream as #(*$ band. Don't even get me started.

2. This is a metal blog, and this song is as far from metal as humanly possible. However, when you really think about it, it's not all that different from something like Trist(Ger), which is ambient/atmospheric "metal"... debatable how "metal" some of those songs are.

3. Moby is an electronic artist... But this song is simply a piano line and very calm vocals... which are both very uncharacteristic of Moby. He even clears his throat at one point, leading me to believe this was a very quick, once-through recording. But it's beautiful. I may have to give Radiohead a second chance if the original is this great. (No idea what year this was recorded so i put 2009)

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Live Youtube video

Trist - Initiation (2008) (320 kbps)

Genre: Black Metal, Dark Ambient, Ambient, Atmospheric Black Metal
About: Demos recorded between 2000 and 2003, but they are very good quality. If you enjoyed the other albums you will enjoy this too.

Download pt 1
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Trist - Tiefenrauscg (Ein Abstieg in 5 Stufen) (2005) (320 kbps)

Genre: Black Metal, Dark Ambient, Ambient, Atmospheric Black Metal
About: The first album from this amazing one-man band. Conceptual album based on poems by Timo Kölling, who also did the vocals for this album (I haven't listened yet, but they are likely few and far between). Close your eyes and enter a new world.

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Trist - Hin-Fort (2007) (320 kbps) (Trist (Ger) - Hin - Fort)

Genre: Black Metal, Dark Ambient, Ambient, Atmospheric Black Metal
About: This is a side project of Aran, from the amazing german black metal band Lunar Aurora. I hope he releases another album now that Lunar Aurora is on hold indefinitely. (Edit: He is releasing a new album this spring!!!) It's basically the same as Lunar Aurora (in fact, some of the same samples from Andacht are used), but without the really fast black metal parts... Instead, he focuses on creating a whole new world by ambience, all kinds of sounds together, and dialogue samples from movies, to create a truly unique sound. This must be heard to be believed.

Track 1 is exactly one hour long, but believe me you will not get bored; you will love every second of it. It's not what i traditionally think of when i think of the word "ambient", its more of a wall of sound that is ever-changing. The two quotes are taken from the movie "Story the Film" by Dana Ranga.

The remaining tracks are different, yet similar... I really can't describe this music in words.

Close your eyes and listen as you enter a new world.

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Jean-Michel Jarre - Sessions 2000

Genre: (Ambient), (Electronic), (electronica), (Instrumental), (new age)
About: SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII did i forget to post today FCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKK well here we go whatever im listening to on shuffle right now. then two another day to make up for missing these 2 days. Ok well i love this so you should download it too.

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(Edit 07/2009- lol 0 downloads. Lets just say i wrote this on a bad day. But it really is a good album.)

Make a Change... Kill Yourself - Make A Change... Kill Yourself

Genre: Black Metal, elements of Ambient
About: I don't care if your favorite artist is Brittany Spears, download it anyway. This is what perfection sounds like. All parts were recorded by one guy named "Ynleborgaz."
A few parts are ambient but it mostly has a nice beat throughout. Songs are long but never get old, and there's an occasional female vocal by "Demonica", I don't know who she is but it fits in perfectly with this album.
If you're too scared, start with track 3 (and ruin the whole album). But I recommend getting something to eat and listening straight through all four tracks.

Year: 2005
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Negură Bunget - Om (Negura Bunget - Om)

Genre: Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, elements of: Ambient
About: This is also one of the best albums of 2006. I feel that it captures the true spirit of Black Metal. And the production is crystal-clear unlike a lot of other 'true' black metal I've heard.

"Negură Bunget is a black metal band from Timişoara, Romania. The name is taken from archaic Romanian meaning ‘Black Foggy Forest’."

The best song is "Inarborat". Starts off a bit rocky sounding but i think that was intentional. The suicidal-ish scream that happens at 2:42 and again near the end is so amazing.


Year: 2006
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