Magyar Posse, Kings Of Time

Finland, 2004.

Magyar Posse are a Finnish instrumental post-rock band formed in 2000. This album, their second release, has a very cinematic atmosphere and sounds absolutely perfect.

Playlist:

1. I
2. II
3. III
4. IV
5. V
6. VI
7. VII

Link.

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Antimatter, Leaving Eden

England, 2007.

Antimatter was formed by Duncan Patterson, former member of Anathema, so it's not surprising that their sound is often so similar. Antimatter is a mix of dark ambient electronic, melancholic trip-hop, atmospheric progressive rock and even doom metal with melodic vocals.

Playlist:

1. redemption
2. another face in a window
3. ghosts
4. the freak show
5. landlocked
6. conspire
7. leaving eden
8. the immaculate misconception
9. fighting for a lost cause

Link.

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Aereogramme, My Heart Has A Wish That You Would Not Go

Scotland, 2007.
I suppose that Aereogramme can be described as alternative/progressive/indie/post-rock, although their sound is rather unique. The band has announced their split on May this year, so this is their last edited album.

Playlist:

1. conscious life for coma boy
2. barriers
3. exits
4. a life worth living
5. finding a light
6. living backwards
7. trenches
8. nightmares
9. the running man
10. you're always welcome

Link.

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Wolves in the Throne Room, Two Hunters

US, 2007

Black metal is a pretty stale genre usually, but this release proves mixing in elements of post rock and doom can make things a lot more interesting. Vocals will be slightly distracting if you don't usually listen to cookie monster metal, but they're very well executed, timed and are occasionally intertwined with female vocals.

Playlist:

01. Dia Artio
02. Behold the Vastness And Sorrow
03. Cleansing
04. I Will Lay Down My Bones Among The Rocks And Roots

Link.

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Junius, Blood Is Bright + Forcing Out The Silence

Junius play a dark and cinematic post-rock/progressive rock. Unfortunately, these two EP's are the only albums that this promising band has released so far.

Blood Is Bright, released in 2006.
Playlist:

1. (the annunciation)
2. blood is bright
3. a word could kill her
4. in the hearts of titans
5. at the age of decay

Forcing Out The Silence, released in 2004.
Playlist:

1. (elan vital)
2. hiding knives
3. from the isle of the blessed
4. (elan fatale)
5. forcing out the silence

Blood Is Bright.
Forcing Out The Silence.

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Soulsavers, It's Not How Far You Fall, It's The Way You Land

UK/US, 2007.

Mark Lanegan joins up with the Soulsavers to produce his strongest outing in years. Alongside Screaming Trees, Mad Season, a brief run with QOTSA and others, Lanegan has had a solo career with its fair share of ups and downs. Here we're treated with minimal soulful music which, amongst others, includes single Revival, a rerecording of Kingdoms of Rain from one of Lanegan's best solo works (Whiskey For The Holy Ghost) and a cover of "No Expectations" (Rolling Stones).

Playlist:

1. Revival
2. Ghosts Of You And Me
3. Paper Money
4. Ask The Dust
5. Spiritual
6. Kingdoms Of Rain
7. Through My Sails
8. Arizona Bay
9. Jesus Of Nothing
10. No Expectations

Link.

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Jesu & Eluvium, Split

Wales/U.S., 2007.
This amazing split LP combines the electronic and ambient elements of Eluvium with the post-rock/sludge style of Jesu.

Playlist:

1. farewell
2. blind and faithless
3. why are we not perfect?
4. time-travel of the sloth parts I, II and III

Link.

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Justice, †

France, 2007.

Justice's debut album, also know as Cross. It's not often I'll post an electro house album, much less one with singles splattered across music channels and radios. But besides Michael Jackson tribute D.A.N.C.E. (you might not know it, but you almost certainly have heard it), this album happens to include some of the most mind shattering sounds of the year. Vocals aren't quite on par with the music, but fortunately they're few and far between. From funky opener Genesis to the incredible mashup that is Stress, this album hooks pretty much the first time you put it on.

Playlist:

1 - Genesis
2 - Let There Be Light
3 - D.A.N.C.E
4 - New Jack
5 - Phantom pt. I
6 - Phantom pt. II
7 - Valentine
8 - The Party
9 - DVNO
10 - Stress
11 - Waters of Nazareth
12 - One Minute To Midnight


Link.

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Green Carnation, Acoustic Verses

Norway, released in 2006.
Green Carnation usually play harder prog but, as the title evidences, this is an acoustic album, quite melodic and mellow. If you enjoyed Borknagar's Origin, you'll certainly enjoy these beautiful verses.

Playlist:

1. sweet leaf
2. the burden is mine... alone
3. maybe?
4. alone
5. 9-29-045 (part 1: my greater cause/part 2: homecoming/part 3: house of cards)
6. child's play, part 3
7. high tide waves

Link.

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Orphaned Land, Mabool

Israel, 2004.
"Mabool: The Story Of The Three Sons Of Seven" is the third album by Orphaned Land. The concept revolves around the great biblical deluge and the division of the three Abrahamic religions. Amazing progressive metal sound with middle eastern folk influences.

Playlist:

1. Birth of the Three (The Unification)
2. Ocean Land (The Revelation)
3. The Kiss of Babylon (The Sins)
4. A'salk
5. Halo Dies (The Wrath of God)
6. A Call to Awake (The Quest)
7. Building the Ark
8. Norra el Norra (Entering the Ark)
9. The Calm Before the Flood
10. Mabool (The Flood)
11. The Storm Still Rages Inside
12. Rainbow (The Resurrection)


Link.

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The Gourishankar, 2nd Hands

Russia, released in 2007.
Hailing from the Ural mountains, "the music for mystical dancing in the opium saloons", as the bands calls it, is based on progressive and experimental rock and combines way too many influences - both eastern and western - to be listed. I therefore advise you to listen.

Playlist:

1. moon7
2. endless drama
3. queer forest
4. taste a cake
5. the inexpressible chagrin
6. syx
7. ...end
8. marvelous choice

Link.

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Disillusion, Gloria

Germany, 2006

Disillusion went from progressive metal to industrial rock on their second release, pretty much alienating the few rabid fans they had. This album is mostly bashed for similarities to fellow germans Rammstein (same German accent of all things) but contains some great songs if you're willing to dismiss the fact they aren't going to rip off Opeth any time soon.

Playlist:

1. The Black Sea
2. Dread It
3. Don't Go Any Further
4. Avalanche
5. Aerophobic
6. The Hole We Are In
7. Save The Past
8. Lava
9. Too Many Broken Cease Fires
10. Untiefen


Massmirror.

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Finntroll, Nattfodd

Finland, 2004

Folk metal at it's beer-guzzling finest, mixing death metal with humppa. A must, even if you can't stand cookie monster vocals. Evil has never been this fun.

Playlist:


01. Vindfärd / Människlopesten
02. Eliytres
03. Fiskarens Fiende
04. Trollhammaren
05. Nattfödd
06. Ursvamp
07. Marknadsvisan
08. Det Iskalla Trollhlodet
09. Grottans Barn
10. Rök



Massmirror.
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Head Control System, Murder Nature

Norway / Portugal, 2006

Collaborative effort composed by Daniel Cardoso (ex Sirius) and with vocals by Garm (Ulver, ex Arcturus). Most likely the least avantgarde of Garm's projects, this album has a pretty straight forward melodic rock approach and will most likely be more appreciated by fans of A Perfect Circle than Ulver. Not dazzling, but pretty entertaining nonetheless

Playlist:

1. Baby Blue
2. Skin Flick
3. Masterpiece (Of Art)
4. Blunt Instrumental
5. It Hurts
6. Watergate
7. Seven
8. Kill Me
9. Wonderworld
10. Rapid Eye Movement
11. Falling On Sleep

Massmirror.
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