New Music: Empty Suits, Arbre, & Horse Drawn Death Machine

Empty Suits- "MMXIII" CS (Self-Released)
Holy hell this one came as a surprise. Lots of bands contact me referencing classics like Motorhead, Celtic Frost, Venom, and the like. Few bands deliver in such a filthy and delightful way. Empty Suits' self-titled demo release captures the rawness of classic first wave black metal and pairs it with the genuine fun of punk rock. Including phrases black metal and punk rock in the same sentence does not, however, make these guys fit in with the likes of Bone Awl. Instead, think of the morbidly catchy aggression from dudes like Abscess and you'll be somewhat on your way to picturing Empty Suits. With only one live performance to date, these guys are as fresh as it gets, so hop on it while the getting's good. Free download or cheap cassette--the choice is yours.

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Arbre- "II" CD-r (Distant Voices)
Described by its label as "a solitary journey amongst the labyrinths of mother nature," Arbre's "II" is an album I could hardly find better words to explain. These four tracks of blissfully hazy wintry black metal nearly occupy an entire hour, and the process from start to finish is indeed a journey. While my first listen yielded a dense world of fog, snow, and greyscale forests, the more I revisit this album, the more things pop out to me. Much like straining to see a distant shape in the midst of a snowstorm or heavy rainfall, Arbre's true direction only reveals itself when the listener becomes a part of the album rather than a distant observer. Murky field recordings, dense black metal, and occasional acoustic interludes all work together to create one of the most exciting proper black metal albums I've heard in a while. Only 76 copies of this limited CD-r have been created, so act quickly to obtain yours.

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Horse Drawn Death Machine- "No Light" (Self-Released)
This brief EP from Ohio-based Horse Drawn Death Machine is something of an experiment in loving metal of all sorts in the internet age. Psychedelic black metal swirls in and out of urgent mid-2000s melodic death metal with a ton of stoner rock influences. The end result is an album that works just as well for the "party metal" crowd as it does for the serious headbanger. While possibly not grim enough for some of my purist black metal readers, this is an incredibly good time from a group of musicians who know how to mix their influences well without creating a sloppy mess. This one is only up for streaming, but it looks like they've got a full-length coming in 2014, so keep your eyes on these guys.

Fallen Empire's New Release Bundle: Tukaaria, Lluvia, & Death Fortress

For your convenience, one of my favorite labels has released a discounted package of their three newest releases. Normally when labels package together releases like this, it's because one is a weak seller or because one is a higher profile release meant to carry along a smaller, newer act. This isn't the case here, with three of Fallen Empire's finest releases to date all packaged as one. One of these is a reissue of an album that is likely familiar to many of my readers, while the other two are new releases from familiar faces. As with every Fallen Empire release, these are available for streaming and download from the label's bandcamp page. NOTE: All images in this review courtesy of Fallen Empire's official photographer, astareth.

Tukaaria- "Raw to the Rapine" LP
This Rhinocervs cassette (and subsequent Profound Lore CD) gem is finally seeing the gorgeous vinyl edition it's always deserved. While I can safely assume that Tukaaria has earned a reputation as a household name for most folks who visit this blog, here's a brief introduction. As with many Rhinocervs groups, Tukaaria's debut full-length is a violent piece of raw black metal, complete with choppy drumming, alternately dense and sparse song structures, and slightly psychedelic guitar touches in all the right spots. The vocals are some of the most human sounding howls I've heard from a USBM group outside of the Colloquial Sound roster, which adds a degree of human misery here that many other Rhinocervs releases lack. As with Fallen Empire's vinyl reissues of other modern USBM classics, the fullness of sound on this release (quite possibly due to a remaster from the legendary Colin Marston) truly makes it worth revisiting, even if you've already got it on cassette or CD. Especially as part of the bundle, this is a must have due to its affordability and high quality presentation.

Lluvia- "Premonicion de Guerra" LP/CS
Lluvia is the newest incarnation of Lord Vast, formerly of The Rain in Endless Fall & Wylve. My experience with this album begins with the insert, which indicates that no matter where on earth Lord Vast may reside, he takes with him the spirit of true Mexican black metal. This seems appropriate, as with this album he has dropped his prior English language ties and, at least in both album and song titles, committed himself exclusively to the proper native tongue of Spanish with this declaration of black metal war. Consistently bleak in atmosphere without catering to silly tactics that many bands use to "set a mood" in black metal, this release sees Lluvia utilizing gorgeously textured tremolo-picking and well arranged clean passages to craft the direction each song will take, weaving blankets of sound rather than black metal's typically jagged song structures. As the project's name (which is Spanish for "rain") would indicate, sounds of storms and rainfall often lead into songs. While this could be easily seen as a gimmick, it feels like a respectable and appropriate sonic decision rather than a cash-in on a theme. Vast has truly channeled the raging force of an oncoming storm. His next assault is already planned for 2014, with a recently released promotional cassette of new demo tracks that managed to sell out in the blink of an eye. If this debut release is any indication, we can only expect greatness to come.

Death Fortress- "Mirror Into Eternity" CS
Expanding upon Death Fortress's excellent debut demo (and brilliant split with Axis of Light) is "Mirror Into Eternity," a clearer, more vicious cassette. For those who were introduced to this group via the SVN OKKLT compilation, the third track here, "Master-Deceiver" will be a familiar tune, and its companion tracks are all equally enjoyable. There's more of a black metal edge to this release than the debut demo's primitive blackened death assault, but the primal brutality does remain intact in the form of a very present, pummeling low end. From what I've come to understand, this is Death Fortress's last release as a one-man project. I can only imagine how heavy this project will become once recordings as a complete band commence, as it's already some of the densest, most evil one-man black metal I've ever heard. While this EP can absolutely stand on its own, I can't help but treat this as a sample of the magnificence to come. In no way does this detract from this brilliant tape, but I truly believe that an impending LP will escalate Death Fortress from "buzz band" to being a prominent artist. Keep an eye out.

Suede Imperial Porter

Breweries: 10 Barrel, Stone Brewing, and Bluejacket
ABV: 9.6%
IBUS: 50

Today, I decided to sample this special collaborative beer as a way of celebrating the nearly 3,000 visitors (and over 100 Facebook fans) I received yesterday after posting the first of my end of the year roundups. It's not often I get more than two hundred visitors a day, and I seldom receive more than two or three likes in a productive week. With this in mind, I initially set out to film a video of myself sampling a beer. The video was taken, but I think I need to work on my "stage fright" (so to speak) before I try to incorporate video of myself onto this website.

I purchased this beer about a month ago, as I trust almost anything with a Stone label, and I'm always excited to try new breweries, especially when they're collaborating with a brewery I love and trust. Neither 10 Barrel nor Bluejacket receives much (any?) distribution down here in Florida, so it was an added bonus to discover some new talent. As a fan of dark beer, I think this will be up my alley enough to review for many newcomers to get a feel for what I do. While drinking this beer, I perused tunes from spacey krautrock and drone inspired rockers The Cosmic Dead, at a friend's recommendation. Sufficiently psychedelic, and appropriately new to me for such a new and exciting beer.

Upon initial pour, the beer is quite fragrant, yet nothing too strong is revealed outside of the traditional porter style. For a beer with as many unique and compelling ingredients as Suede boasts, I'm surprised that the flavors aren't more pronounced. However, this isn't necessarily a complaint, as the rich yet sweet balance that is created (mostly from the avocado honey, I assume) works like a charm, providing a smooth drinking experience. I've never had calendula flower in anything before, so I'm not entirely certain what to be searching for with that, but the jasmine is probably too subtle to be a dominant flavor in something as bold as an imperial porter. The beer is rather syrupy in its body, but there are no syrupy flavors fortunately, just a pleasant sensation in my mouth. This is definitely delicious, although not so much of a groundbreaking beer as it is a thoroughly enjoyable take on a familiar format. If I gained nothing else from this beer, it's that I need to add 10 Barrel and Bluejacket to my list of breweries to seek out.

Top "Other" Albums of 2013

Okay, readers. It's the end of a year and it's time for me to force my personal opinions on you guys, regardless of what promo emails I received or which things I need to mention to earn credibility in the lo-eyes of my fellow music bloggers. Since I primarily focus on extreme sounds, it may seem that my appreciation of other music is limited. However, this is far from the truth. While I seldom have free time to check out new releases outside of the extreme metal and noise communities, I'm constantly on the search for good sounds to cleanse my sonic palate between HNW tapes and shrieking black metal LPs. With that in mind, I present eleven albums that were released in 2013 that I feel are worthy of my readers' attention yet are not necessarily metal. Many of these are "rock" albums, as it's a genre I know well. There are a few other surprises here, and I hope you'll see this as a list of good albums, not necessarily the best albums. Feel free to use the comment box to open a dialogue with me and share your thoughts. Without further rambling, I present ten albums that filled my free time this year.

HONORABLE MENTION: Melvins- "Everybody Loves Sausages"
This is an album full of covers, so even though it might be one of the best damn things I heard all year, I don't feel I should allow it to compete with albums consisting exclusively of original content. That said, not everybody loves sausages, but everybody should love listening to righteous jams from Buzzo and friends, even if they're other people's songs. Instead of just producing half-assed renditions of easy and familiar songs, Melvins have produced honest and compelling tributes to tunes they love (or maybe hate?). Whether it's the playful and childlike take on Queen, the seemingly endless stoner metal take on David Bowie, or the standout cover of Roxy Music with a very special guest on vocals, this album is a blast from start to finish.

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10. Queens of the Stone Age- "...Like Clockwork"
Smooth, sexy (yes, I went there), and catchy as all hell, Queens of the Stone Age have done a fine job with their newest release. While I will state that earlier works may be preferable, in my opinion, these guys are one of the few good rock groups receiving regular radio play. At least I think they still get radio play. If these addictive jams aren't on the radio, then radio is truly dead. The feelgood nature of QOTSA's music is infectious and this album is certainly another hit in a career of consistent quality.

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9. El-P & Killer Mike- "Run the Jewels"
I'm not remotely convinced I understand or know rap, hip-hop, or any related genres. Folks close to me probably know I've got an undying love of the late Ol' Dirty Bastard and a few other big name acts, but I'm really not that savvy to rap and often find myself disappointed with it. For me, it's not uncommon that a great producer contributes to the work of a rapper who doesn't do the instrumental any justice. With this fantastic collaboration, skilled rhyming and clever yet easily digested beats are paired masterfully. In other words, this is a complete and brilliantly executed album that I'll be playing for years to come. If you aren't into purchasing it, you can stream it below or download the whole album for free at the label's site.

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8. William Onyeabor- "Who is William Onyeabor?"
Another one that might be a surprise to readers expecting this to be purely "rock" oriented in nature, but possibly no surprise to friends of mine. Luaka Bop is a record label founded by David Byrne, singer of the band Talking Heads, who are easily one of my favorite groups of all time. I've loved and followed him as he's delved into the broad spectrum of music from all places and eras of modern music history, and his label continually digs up gems like this. While technically a reissue of some sort, this brilliant album of charmingly left of center Nigerian funk reminds us that a musical worldview based around white men with guitars will inherently leave out most of the quality around us. I know my website is about black metal, but my appreciation for extreme sounds is only strengthened by my awareness of other beautiful forms of music. If you are wary of "world music" but love any electronic or psychedelic music, please do yourself a favor and peruse this gem.

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7. David Bowie- "The Next Day"
When I was a little boy, my mother would regularly play David Bowie's legendary album "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars." Bowie's music has been one of the only constants in my life, and it's not always been easy to be a Bowie fan. While he's never put out an entirely bad album, in my opinion, he has had some that are more difficult to love than others, especially as he's tried to age with his audience. I pretty much expected this album to be a sad farewell song from an old friend who just doesn't have it anymore. The emotional depth and sheer passion of this album proved me wrong in so many ways. From truly energetic playful rock tunes to all too believable melancholy, this is Bowie on top of his game in a way I haven't seen in quite some time. I can only hope that this creative flash isn't just a single spark and that we get to hear more from him soon.

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6. Nine Inch Nails- "Hesitation Marks"
Trent Reznor resurrected Nine Inch Nails. No real surprise. It never really felt like the band went away, given that it's not uncommon for an artist to take a few years between albums these days. Anyway, "Hesitation Marks" surprised me by being a mellower affair than I initially expected. While not necessarily a soothing or easy listen, this release actually sees Nine Inch Nails attempting to tread new ground rather than simply trying to appease fans. After spending the past five years or so doing anything he's felt like, it's evident that Trent's need to experiment has finally lead to some hook-heavy gems. Glad to have him back, even if I never really noticed his absence.

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5. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds- "Push the Sky Away"
Nick Cave has gone from tortured creep to, well, tortured balladeer over the course of his career. To say I've had the fortune to take in every single thing he's done would be a lie, but watching his progression toward slightly more subdued sounds has been interesting. Unlike many folks whose music "ages" with them, Nick Cave actually feels like a genuine artist creating things he believes in. This isn't to say that Cave or his band have suddenly lost their edge in favor of a mellow sound. Indeed, tracks like "Water's Edge" carry a not-so-subtle intensity that is both chilling and captivating. This album isn't going to burn down your house, but it may well loiter outside smoking cigarettes until you decide to move to a safer neighborhood.

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4. Boards of Canada- "Tomorrow's Harvest"
Like a handful of albums featured here, waiting for this one was both torturous and worth it. Boards of Canada have revisited some of the beautiful nostalgic fuzz that made previous albums so inviting yet also are looking to the future with their newest album. I've always felt that Boards of Canada's music was something like the musical equivalent of looking at faded photography from decades past, seeing my parents as children in the stereotypical "American dream" type suburbs that seem to have been so common from the fifties through the early seventies. This blurred characteristic remains on this release, yet there is a consistent and encouraging modernity here that makes this both fresh and timeless. I can't state strongly enough how much I enjoy this album and I hope I don't have to wait nearly as long for the next one.

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3. Ghost- "Infestissumam"
I can practically feel the blood boiling in the veins of purist readers. That's right, Ghost. These guys almost made my "metal" list but I realize that this is more of a hooky arena rock album than it is anything else. Do I buy the "gimmick" that so many of my peers accuse Ghost of using as their sole calling card? Not really. Ghost's chants about the glory of Satan are no different from Alice Cooper's electric shock scare tactics in the seventies or Marilyn Manson's apocalyptic theatrics in the nineties. What appeals to me about Ghost is their capacity to make some of the most memorable rock music of the past decade and still piss off even people who would have otherwise enjoyed it. I love rock and roll, and this album is a great rock and roll album that really does expand upon the traditional heavy metal influences that drove their first record.

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2. Tomahawk- "Oddfellows"
This must have been the year of the "comeback" album from artists who usually take their sweet time anyway. I think I waited four years for "Anonymous" to come out, so the six year gap for "Oddfellows" felt typical of anything related to Mike Patton. His notorious multitasking gives fans a broad variety of music to enjoy, but it's paired with the cost of waiting way too long for a favorite project to turn out something new. "Oddfellows" is every bit the deranged desert rock album I'd have expected it to be. With songs that creep and crawl in all the right ways, it's just as easy to feel uncomfortable while listening as it is to be lured in by a pop-friendly hook. With a staff of veteran musicians, it's easy to simply write it off as a bunch of dudes who know all the tricks, but there really is a tense chemistry at work here and it's a delight to listen again and again. I've been listening heavily since this album was released and I'm still not slowing down. Seriously infectious and great for any fan of rock music, whether focused on seedy underbelly or radio anthems--it's all here.

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1. Ulver- "Messe I.X-VI.X"
I can't even put into words how much I've enjoyed following Ulver's career over the past decade. Unlike many black metal obsessives, I was not introduced to the band through their classic early releases which still held onto something resembling metal, but instead began my journey into Ulver obsession with the sparse and haunting "Silencing the Singing" EP. I worked in a record store and found this nondescript CD in the "miscellaneous U" bin and, since it was used and available for play, popped it in and played it over the store speakers. What I experienced that day was nothing like metal, but it sent chills down my spine in a way that no metal album ever could. By the day's end I had purchased the album and spent the next number of months listening to the EP multiple times a day. Since then, I have watched Ulver evolve ever further into a sound that truly defies simple genre tags, and it brings me great joy. "Messe I.X-VI.X" sees Ulver working in conjunction with Tromso Chamber Orchestra, a group with whom I've not yet acquainted myself, but the collaboration works splendidly. Feeling more like the soundtrack to a dark and personal film than a traditional album by a group with roots in rock music of any sort, the massive emotional quality of Ulver's music continues to delight me. Vocals are sparse here, and it's the lack of singing that really allows the music to tell its own story. When Garm chooses to grace a track with his voice, it tends to bring things into territory akin to 2007's "Shadows of the Sun," which is perhaps the only album in their career that could remotely be likened to this. "Messe I.X-VI.X" will continue to disappoint listeners looking for new black metal and will continue to delight open-minded fans of challenging progressive and experimental music. Listen to this when you have time to focus on it; it's truly deserving of your complete attention.




So, there you have it. Those are the albums I heard this year that really sat nicely with me. I'll be sharing my lists of great noise and metal albums in the very near future. In the meantime, get acquainted with these eleven beauties and let me know which albums you feel I should have included or should be hanged for featuring. Cheers!

New music: Ghost Bath, The Unchaining, Aetherium Mors

Ghost Bath- "Ghost Bath" (Self-Released)
Ghost Bath are a relatively mysterious black metal group from China who seem to have appeared out of nowhere. The four tracks contained on this debut offering are well-executed black metal with roots in the depressive genre, but without some of the negative connotation that the genre might hold. True, there are Lifelover-esque shrieks that take some getting used to, but the music here is instantly memorable and thoroughly enjoyable. Due to this release's relatively short length, I tend to play it a few times in a row, and it hasn't really lost its appeal to these jaded ears. It seems these guys are currently working on securing a label, which would be great. This kind of stuff really deserves to be on some kind of physical format, as these atmospheres would be quite haunting through the hiss of a tape deck. For now you can enjoy it as a free download from their bandcamp page. Hop on it before these guys get the attention they're likely to receive.

The Unchaining- "Ruins at Dusk" (Self-Released)
The Unchaining is a one man black metal project from Italy. While this album is relatively brief, with two of its seven tracks serving as interludes, the pensive and passionate nature of this mid-paced atmospheric black metal release are its trademarks. Every note presented here is clearly meant to be where it has been placed, and there are occasional choral keyboard touches that hover above the music without overwhelming the soundscape. While the production seems to be bedroom quality, the spirit of the music and its creator's intent is not diminished. Instead, The Unchaining seems to strive for clarity within the fuzz in which this album resides. This is truly the work of a dedicated fan of the genre and I'm eager to see what else this artist can turn out in the future. This is available as a free download, so there's no reason you should pass this up.

Aetherium Mors- "Entrails of the Soul" (Self-Released)
By far the most brutal release featured in today's much-delayed post, "Entrails of the Soul" is a palatable yet aggressive blackened death metal release from this UK duo. One member handles all the instrumentation while the other is responsible for the lyrical direction and vocal performance. This slick beast fits nicely alongside some of the genre's larger names with its clear production only allowing you to see the glisten of every single fang in the rabid mouth of this band. Drums fly by at a ridiculous pace while melodies wander from the dark twin harmonies that fueled Dissection's earliest releases to bludgeoning heaviness that might be more familiar to fans of technical death metal. This is a release that took almost no "getting used to" for me, it just simply makes sense. The twenty minutes or so of "Entrails of the Soul" pass far too quickly for my liking, but it hopefully leaves promise of a full-length to come. This is currently available for a very low price (about $2.50 USD) as a download, so stream the thing on bandcamp and decide if you're ready to commit.

New music: Brennendes Gehirn & Dorian Williamson, thisquietarmy, Australasia, and The Chewers

Today we're visiting four albums for our music post instead of the usual three. The reason is that none of these are quite typical Black Metal & Brews releases, yet all four are worth your time and energy. For the readers with a broader appreciation of music (which seems to be most of you), I hope you'll visit with each of these releases and enjoy yourself.

Brennendes Gehirn & Dorian Williamson- "Rites of the Aethyr" CD (Antithetic)
This collaborative effort by Brennendes Gehirn and Dorian Williamson of Northumbria fame is everything I'd want in a versatile droning noise release. Three tracks that are unique even in context of the album they share, as each features a different lineup. The first track, "Involution," belongs to Dorian Williamson. It has an almost womb-like security and palpable emotion in the texture of its circular drones, the rest of the album is decidedly more ominous. The title track is a collaborative effort between both artists, and features a bit of percussion and chanting early on, yet grows into spiraling, crackling madness. Ending the album is the monumentally creepy "Geheimnis," an offering from Brennendes Gehirn, which begins with two or three minutes of speech before growing into some of the most somber and haunting noise atmospheres I've heard this year. Listen to this song in an empty parking lot on a windy night, watching paper and litter blow along. It's hard to feel like you aren't the last person on earth. The album's progression feels like the slow and final fade of the brain as one enters the realm of death. Perhaps there's more to it than that, but the vastness and severity of this release certainly work in my understanding of it. This is absolutely worth your time and interest, so grab a copy as soon as you're able.

thisquietarmy- "Hex Mountains" CD/LP (Denovali)
thisquietarmy has typically been the one-man project of Eric Quach, and while it still is, this album features many guest appearances, including the previously discussed Dorian Williamson. thisquietarmy's trademark sounds are all present on this release of subtle yet dynamic doom and drone, and if anything, this is probably the most expansive release I've heard from this artist.  Perhaps it's the influence of others, as this feels like a very organic album. Nothing is forced, nothing seems to be scrutinized. Instead, the flow of these songs feels like one artist creating something and allowing others to leave their own delicate marks. Triumphant guitars soar across the peaks of snow-capped mountains, while live drums punctuate the already breathtaking intensity and beauty created by Quach in the opening track. In contrast, many segments of this album are passages of minimal sound, with delicate waves of drone crashing off in the distance, balancing out the massive nature of the heavier passages.  While this can be a dark and personal affair at times, I feel a sense of rebirth and self-discovery when listening to this album. As always, it's featured here, so I recommend obtaining a copy.

Australasia- "Vertebra" CD (Immortal Frost Productions)
Italian post-rockers Australasia already graced my site earlier this year with a very solid EP debut. Now they've returned with a full-length album, featuring some of the tracks from their EP as well as some interesting new territory. There's a much stronger vocal presence on this album, although it's still primarily an instrumental affair. These guys are now dabbling in everything from tremolo picking heaviness to subtle synth beauty to dark trip-hop inspired passages, yet it still feels like a very natural progression for these musicians who clearly love experimenting and playing with each other. Fans of progressive or otherwise playful music should enjoy this greatly. Purchase a copy of this album from Immortal Frost while they're still available. Also note--the bandcamp link above only has a small selection of songs from this album, which is far longer than bandcamp would have you think.

The Chewers- "Chuckle Change and Also" (Self-Released)
The Chewers are by far the strangest band I've featured here, and for their strangeness they've burrowed a funky little hole into my heart. Their music feels like a mix of the broken junkyard blues of late-80's Tom Waits and the unconventional madness of The Residents at pretty much any time in the past forty years. This stuff might fall under the whole "outsider music" tag but I'd be the last person to consider myself an expert on it.  Many of the songs are on the shorter side but it works nicely. Rather than allowing tunes to feel like good ideas that stretch on longer than they need, The Chewers let each song exist as it needs to, with no extra instrumentation or needlessly long songs. Purchase a download from their bandcamp and immerse yourself in the oddness. If you're at all curious about the weirder side of music, you need to hear The Chewers.

New music: Judas Christ, Nostalgique, Craar

Judas Christ- "American Gulag" CS (Male Activity)
This four song cassette marks South Carolina death industrial outfit Judas Christ's debut, and boy is it a handful. Waves of minimalist noise crash back and forth over sparse percussion and shredded howling in opener "Labourgrave." The constant restraint and bare approach are what make "American Gulag" more than just an experiment in horror from another young noise group. It's obvious that these creeps know exactly when and where they want to add the uneasiness and it's the expert control of atmosphere that ultimately makes this such a convincingly dark album. Lyrics seem to focus mostly on the inherently oppressive nature of capitalism, hence the smothering dread all around. This tape is limited to fifty copies and seems to have been selling rather well. Get it from Male Activity while supplies last.

Nostalgique- "Veil" (Self-Released)
Nostalgique is the solo project from a member of Baltimore black metal group Barbelith. This album is a forty minute testament to the potential of the "depressive" black metal subcategory. While groups aiming at sounding bleak usually just sound cheesy to me, there's a buzzsaw-like consistency to the fuzz here that really does it right. There's just enough pain and misery to feel urgent and honest without falling into cliches and the melodramatic suicidal claptrap that surround this otherwise promising community. At moments Nostalgique even delves into the subtle beauty of "Souvenirs" era Alcest, which really broadens things and prevents this release from turning into mindless repetition. This sounds like it was recorded in a small home studio setup, but the rawness is welcome in such a somber release. Isolation reigns supreme here and this makes for a great solo listen. Download it for the price you desire from Nostalgique's bandcamp page.

Craar- "In Solitary Minds" CD (Self-Released)
"In Solitary Minds" is the debut full-length album from Belgian atmospheric black metal group Craar. This album works well on many levels for me, with surprisingly crisp production for a black metal debut and instantly familiar yet original tunes. These guys are working on a slightly bigger feeling sound, with crunchy guitar tones and open chords that resonate endlessly to contrast with black metal that seems to take influence from progressive giants like Enslaved. The overall clarity and largeness of sound do not prevent Craar from buckling down and producing some fast and aggressive black metal, and in fact serve to further accent these chaotic passages. Craar's ambition seems to be to break into the larger black metal community and with an album this well honed and clever, they stand a good chance of receiving more widespread recognition with future releases. Order a CD from the band directly via bandcamp.