The Ocean, Anthropocentric

Germany, 2010.

The Ocean Collective (usually referred to as “The Ocean”) is an experimental metal band from Berlin, Germany. Their work combines elements of modern hardcore and technical metal with classical music and electronic soundscapes. The band often describes its sound as “ambient soundtrack doomrock”.

"Anthropocentric" is the second of a two album series released in 2010, following "Heliocentric".

Playlist:

1. Anthropocentric
2. The Grand Inquisitor I: Karamazov Baseness
3. She Was the Universe
4. For He That Wavereth…
5. The Grand Inquisitor II: Roots & Locusts
6. The Grand Inquisitor III: A Tiny Grain of Faith
7. Sewers of the Soul
8. Wille Zum Untergang
9. Heaven TV
10. The Almightiness Contradiction

Link.

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Renaud Garcia-Fons, Oriental Bass

France, 1997

This is what acoustics classes do to me. Garcia-Fons' music is overwhelming: inciding primarily on a jazz language – and this album being no exception – it is at most times ethnically-influenced and takes up a character of journey due to its themes and their development. The title by itself, helps understanding what elements will figure; handclapping as well as Eastern European and Northern African drumming combined with mediterranean orchestrations with are involving and beatifully played by this gifted composer and double bass player. And watch out for the bowed parts.


Playlist:

1. Oriental Bass
2. San Juan
3. Goodjinns
4. Oryssa
5. Ghâzali
6. Jullundur
7. Hommage à Ostâd
8. Bajo Andalúz
9. Jam Bulería
10. Djâni

Link.

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Maserati, Pyramid Of The Sun

US, 2010.

"Knowing what Maserati have been through during Pyramid of the Sun's creation makes it hard to consider the album on its musical merits alone. A year ago, they lost drummer Gerard Fuchs in an elevator-shaft accident. They were already working on Pyramid, and that gives the resulting LP a double shot of gravitas as one of Fuchs's final recordings and also a tribute to him."


Playlist:

1. Who Can Find the Beast?
2. Pyramid of the Sun
3. We Got the System to Fight the System
4. They'll No More Suffer From Hunger
5. Ruins
6. They'll No More Suffer From Thirst
7. Oaxaca
8. Bye M’Friend, Goodbye

Link.

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Agalloch, Marrow Of The Spirit

US, 2010.

Four years after "Ashes Against The Grain", Agalloch have finally released their much anticipated follow-up. Combining black metal, folk and post-rock altogether, Agalloch create yet another epic, dark and atmospheric masterpiece that may require a few listens to sink in completely.

Playlist:

1. They Escaped the Weight of Darkness
2. Into the Painted Grey
3. The Watcher's Monolith
4. Black Lake Nidstång
5. Ghosts of the Midwinter Fires
6. To Drown

Link.

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Virus, Carheart

Norway, 2004

Virus are Carl-Michael Eide (Czral), Einar Sjurso (Esso) and Petter Berntsen (Plenum), all former Ved Buens Ende members. Signed to Norway's Jester Records, Virus compose avant-garde metal.

Playlist:

1 - Something Furry This Way Comes
2 - Carheart
3 - Queen of the High-Ace
4 - Road
5 - Gum, Meet, Mother
6 - Dogs With Wheels
7 - It's All Gone Weird
8 - Kennel Crash Recovery
9 - Hustler
10 - Bandit
11 - Be Elevator

Link.

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RQTN, Decades And Decisions

France, 2010.

RQTN is the solo musical project of the young french producer Mathieu Artu. His music is a subtle mix between classical music and modern influences such as new-wave, post-rock and pop music.

Playlist:

1. 1928 - A Birth Among Others
2. 1942 - A Struggle In The Haze
3. 1955 - A Shelter For Lovers
4. 1970 - A Gaze Towards The Lighthouse
5. 1982 - A Dawn To Remember
6. 1986 - A Son To Concede All
7. 1997 - A Block In Town
8. 2003 - A Motionless Frozen State (ft. Antoine Ollivier)
9. 2010 - A New Decade

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Gazpacho, Missa Atropos

Norway, 2010.

Another conceptual album by Gazpacho.

"Gazpacho envisaged a story of a man who cuts all ties to the world and moves to a lighthouse to write a mass for Atropos and to taste true solitude. The title is also a wordplay on misanthropy which supposedly plays a part in the concept as well. The album tells the story of what happens inside his head and includes three of his attempts to write the mass as well as the final Missa Atropos."

To be honest, this album hasn't moved me like their two previous releases, but maybe it's just a matter of time.


Playlist: 1. Mass For Atropos I
2. Defense Mechanism
3. I Was Never Here
4. Snail
5. River
6. Mass For Atropos II
7. Missa Atropos
8. She´s Awake
9. Vera
10. Will to Live
11. Mass for Atropos III
12. Splendid Isolation
13. An Audience

Link.

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