Omar A. Rodríguez-López, Despair

US, 2009

So, this guy has released, like, eleven albums already. I think this is noise or concrete music, although I'm not really sure because after Calibration, I kind of tuned out. However, I do know that Omar still keeps his head in a safe place (up his a--) and that all the songs are named after Rainer Werner Fassbinder films, which is something I've decided to ignore because of my particular view on gay Nazi commies.


Playlist:

1 - In einem Jahr mit 13
2 - Liebe ist kälter als der Tod
3 - Satansbraten
4 - Angst essen Seele auf
5 - Martha
6 - Rio das Mortes
7 - Warnung vor einer heilgen Nutte
8 - Chinesisches Roulette
9 - Lola
10 - Angst vor der Angst

Link.

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Isis, Wavering Radiant

US, 2009

Their most polarizing album so far. Depending on who you ask, fantastic or craptastic. Wavering Radiant sees Isis drifting away from sludge ever so slightly and embracing some more traditional progressive elements. It will still grow on me, but I think its their best work since Panopticon.



Playlist:

01 - Hall of the Dead
02 - Ghost Key
03 - Hand of the Host
04 - Wavering Radiant
05 - Stone to Wake a Serpent
06 - 20 Minutes / 40 Years
07 - Threshold of Transformation


Link.

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The Reasoning, Awakening

Wales, 2007

The Reasoning are a relatively obscure progressive rock band from Cardiff, formed in 2005. In Awakening, the critically-acclaimed debut that enjoys a guest appearance by Marillion's Steve Rothery, the band bears reasonable similarities to Pure Reason Revolution.

Playlist:

1. Awakening
2. Chasing Rainbows
3. Playing The Game
4. Aching Hunger
5. Sacred Shape
6. Fallen Angel
7. Shadows Of The Mind
8. Within Cold Glass

Link.

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sgt., Perception of Causality

Japan, 2005

Their debut did little to foreshadow the incredible follow-up, Stylus Fantasticus, and shows a pretty generic approach to post-rock. Interesting at times, but looking back it's a naive take on what they themselves, and bands like Magyar Posse, would later perfect.


Playlist:

01 - 万能感に関する素描
02 - 銀河の車窓から
03 - 春風
04 - Moewe
05 - ………

Link.

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Sólstafir, Köld

Iceland, 2009

One of the better releases of the year, and I'm expecting this to hold itself pretty well throughout 2009. It's hard to tag a subgenre onto Köld: it teases you with viking/folk, before transitioning to black metal, and at times resorting to doom, with post-metal and hard rock passages thrown in the mix. If you enjoy Primordial give this a try.


Playlist:

01 - 78 Days in the Desert
02 - Kold
03 - Pale Rider
04 - She Destroys Again
05 - Necrologue
06 - World Void of Souls
07 - Love Is the Devil (And I Am in Love)
08 - Goddess of the Ages

Link.

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Wolves in the Throne Room, Black Cascade

US, 2009

The second dissappointment of 2009. Unlike Pure Reason Revolution's latest album, this one is actually pretty good, just not close to the level of Two Hunters. The improved production comes at the expense of what made their previous albums such black metal masterpieces. Less visceral, less broody and less gritty, it might however have enough post-metal elements to attract new fans into the fold.


Playlist:

01 - Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog
02 - Ahrimanic Trance
03 - Ex cathedra
04 - Crystal Ammunition

Link.

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Zechs Marquise, Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare

US, 2008

I don't really follow the extended Mars Volta family, but these guys (featuring Manfred/Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez) opened up for Omar Rodriguez-Lopez this week, and I was pretty impressed. Until their brother stepped in that is..


Playlist:

01 - In Strange Love
02 - MagMar
03 - Mistress Abyss
04 - The High Anxiety Arkestra
05 - Chase Scene
06 - Rotten Candy
07 - Attack of the 40ft. Wave
08 - Pigeon Shit
09 - Lady Endless
10 - Strapped to the Mast
11 - Sirenum Scopuli
12 - The Sounds of El Morro
13 - Wahaka Chop
14 - Black Ark Dub
15 - Our Delicate Midnight Opera

Link.

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Don Caballero, American Don

US, 2000

Great instrumental band from Pennsylvania, often categorized as math-rock, although the group dislikes this label.

Playlist:

1 - Fire Back About Your New Baby's Sex
2 - The Peter Criss Jazz
3 - Haven't Lived Afro Pop
4 - You Drink a Lot of Coffee for a Teenager
5 - Ones All over the Place
6 - I Never Liked You
7 - Details on How to Get Iceman on Your License Plate
8 - A Lot of People Tell Me I Have a Fake British Accent
9 - Let's Face It Pal, You Didn't Need That Eye Surgery

Link.

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Tera Melos, Self-titled

US, 2005

Tera Melos is a math-rock band from Roseville, CA. They incorporate jazz and ambient electronics with a prog-like song structure.

Playlist:

1 - Melody 1
2 - Melody 2
3 - Melody 3
4 - Melody 4
5 - Melody 5
6 - Melody 6
7 - Melody 7
8 - Melody 8

Link.

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Hella, Hold Your Horse Is

US, 2002

First LP by avant-garde/math-rock band Hella, which is Zach Hill on drums and Spencer Seim on guitar.

Playlist:

1 - The D. Elkan
2 - Biblical Violence
3 - Been a Long Time Cousin
4 - Republic of Rough and Ready
5 - 1-800-Ghost-Dance
6 - Brown Metal
7 - Cafeteria Bananas
8 - City Folk Sitting, Sitting
9 - Better Get a Broom!

Link.

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Mastodon, Leviathan

US, 2004

Yet again, another group that tours with awful bands, so far only signed to one decent label (which is, by the way, not their current one) and is commonly placed inside a dreadful category, the so-called "New Wave of American Heavy Metal". They play sludge/progressive metal and are mostly influenced by bands like Neurosis and the Melvins. New album to be released in a few days.

Playlist:

1 - Blood and Thunder
2 - I Am Ahab
3 - Seabeast
4 - Ísland
5 - Iron Tusk
6 - Megalodon
7 - Naked Burn
8 - Aqua Dementia
9 - Hearts Alive
10 - Joseph Merrick

Link.

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O.S.I., Free

U.S., 2006

The astounding follow-up to Office Of Strategic Influence, in its special edition.


Playlist:

1. Sure You Will
2. Free
3. Go
4. All Gone Now
5. Home Was Good
6. Bigger Wave
7. Kicking
8. Better
9. Simple Life
10. Once
11. Our Town


Bonus Disc:

1. OSIdea 9
2. Set it On Fire
3. Communicant
4. When You're Ready (demo)
5. Remain Calm
6. Old War




Link.

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