Lecherous Gaze

"Rising from the ashes of the almighty ANNIHILATION TIME is Lecherous Gaze, taking the bombastic riffology and adding some Joey Ramone/Jim Morrison/Glenn Danzig type soulful vox. For fans of rock and fucking roll!" - Lumbro

Seriously, riffology to the max. Some of the best music the dudes ever wrote, and while the vocals are considerably different from Annihilation Time, I really dig what the new fella lays on it. But GODDAMN THOSE RIFFS!

 

Audio Testament - 4 song demo
Lecherous Gaze EP - same 4 songs, remastered and re-packaged
Lecherous Gaze/Danava/Earthless Split (2011)

Wolves In The Throne Room

 

I almost feel bad for not writing a legit description in my own words, but I'm just not feelin' it right now. So next best thing is to just give you the write up off of Southern Lord records' site. Besides, if you are into black metal, you should already know about these guys and their unique approach to the genre, combining a traditional black metal sound with shoegaze and lots of atmosphere with an eye toward eco-conscious themes.

From Southern Lord:
"During the Summer of 2002 at an Earth First rendezvous in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State, guitarist Nathan Weaver was inspired to create a band that merged a Cascadian eco-spiritual awareness with the misanthropic Norwegian eruptions of the 90's. The band envisioned would strive to create a mythic space where artist and listener alike could strip away the mindset of the mundane to reveal a more ancient and transcendent consciousness. The mysterious and wild energies of the untrammeled forests of the Northwest would be channeled into sonic form.

In the Spring of 2004, Nathan and his brother, drummer Aaron Weaver, moved to a dilapidated farmstead on the outskirts of Olympia, WA. The creation of their farm-stronghold, called Calliope, would be intrinsically linked to the development of Wolves in the Throne Room. It was during the first long, dark winter living in the collapsed farmhouse at Calliope that the band developed their trance-inducing sound and solidified the burning intent that would animate the band's music. Elements of black metal, crust punk, folk music, thrash metal and drone music were drawn upon to create a unique alchemy.

Since that time Wolves in the Throne Room have ascended to the upper tiers of the underground scene by creating a transformative and apocalyptic musical manifestation that has come to completely transcend the black metal label.

Wolves in the Throne Room's first studio album, the lush and atmospheric Diadem of 12 Stars (A Shimmering Radiance), was released in the Spring of 2006. This gloriously sprawling record was captured on tape by Tim Green at Louder Studios in San Francisco. Diadem was very well received and quickly established a cult following. Wolves in the Throne Room was heralded by the press as one of the most promising Black Metal bands to emerge from the United States, though the band stressed in interviews that they felt like they had little in common with their more Satanic peers.

The fall of 2006 brought a new pact with Southern Lord records and the beginning of a relationship with producer-engineer Randall Dunn. (SUNN O))), Earth, Grails) Their epic album Two Hunters is a masterfully dark and emotional document that further established Wolves in the Throne Room as a band totally unafraid to follow their own path. 

In January they will release a European tour-only EP picture disk, titled Malevolent Grain, on Conspiracy Records. The record is the first to feature their new guitar player Will Lindsay (Middian) who had previously served as the band's touring bass player. 

Winter Solstice 2008 saw the completion of their 3rd studio album, cryptically titled Black Cascade. Recorded onto 2 inch tape and mixed on a 1973 Neve Console by Producer Randall Dunn, this monolith of trance inducing psychedelia swings between passages of blazing crystalline blackness and ocean-deep ritualistic dronescapes. Black Cascade elevates Wolves in the Throne Room into the ranks of the elite in the extreme music world."

Demo 2004

Demo 2005

Diadem of 12 Stars (2006)

Two Hunters (2007)

Malevolent Grain EP (2009)

Black Cascade (2009)

Live at Roadburn (2009)

Deafheaven

Not a whole lot of information on these dudes, but they are apparently from San Francisco and their jams fall somewhere between atmospheric black metal and Envy-style screamo. For more info, you can read this interview. If you like Wolves in The Throne Room, you're gonna dig the shit outta these guys. Get these records.

Deafheaven - Demo
Deafheaven - Roads to Judah

Ampere

After disbanding Orchid, guitarist Will Killingsworth formed Ampere with some other buddies from Amherst, MA. The music is very much in the same vein as Orchid, but seems to have a slightly broader scope of influences, occasionally slowing down to drop a heavy riff. Suffice it to say that if you dig the Orchid stuff in the post below, you'll love these records. These have been getting heavy rotation the last several days, especially the newest release, Like Shadows. Grab 'em up.

Ampere - The First Five Years
Ampere - Like Shadows

Orchid

I'll start off by separating the real heads from the noobs... if I say screamo and all you think about is The Used and Hawthorne Heights, then you are sadly on the wrong track. But luckily Uncle Mitchypoo is here to fix you right up. With roots in DC hardcore and post-punk, REAL screamo started long before the ridiculous form of swoopy-banged fashioncore. Starting their evolution in the early to mid-90's and culminating in late 90's, bands like Orchid, Pg. 99, and City of Caterpillar were crafting a chaotic, cathartic sound previously unparalleled and rarely matched since then. Comprised of unrelenting drumming, being driven by thrashing guitars, melodic and melancholy, and topped with throat-searing, heart wrenching screams (lyrics usually based on philosophy, idealism, and DIY-punk ethics), Orchid is certainly one of the masters of their style. No other way to put it into words so just listen to the songs in this youtube compilation video and if it's your thing, get these two records.



Orchid - Chaos is Me
Orchid - Gatefold

Spirit Caravan - Dreamwheel EP

The ultimate stoner rock band. Black Sabbath meets Jimi Hendrix. If you aren't familiar with Wino, you are out of touch with pulse of the community, and this is a perfect introduction to the man's musical genius. Riff after riff, panty-tearing solo after panty tearing solo, this record only lets up momentarily, just long enough for Wino to build up a psychedelic wall of fuzz, delay, and reverb, only to crash through with his signature brand of widdly-wah-wah, maniacally feeding on your eardrums like ravenous wolverines to a fresh kill. If you like riffs and rock 'n' roll, and especially if you like those things... ON WEEEED... then get this record right now. Muhfuggin funktagious jams await.

Dreamwheel, Uh-yes indeed.

American Gods - Chariot The Ghost

American Gods are some really good dudes, originally out of Memphis, TN, who play a rad style of shoegaze, heavy and hazy. Considerably more imaginative than your standard My Bloody Valentine clone, American Gods take it to a higher level, creating a sonic barrage of 3 guitars, blending perfectly, never treading each others territory, and driving, inventive drumming. These guys are a definite standout, holding dear all things that came before them and refracting those influences through their own unique lens. Check 'em out. Dig it. Buy their shit.


American Gods - Chariot The Ghost

Kylesa - Spiral Shadow

I gave that bitch some Kylesa. Bitches LOVE Kylesa.

Brand new track from the almighty RINGWORM! Those of you who know me are aware of my fervent love this band and everything they have ever released. This new track is fucking incredible and has a great Motorhead vibe accompanying their infamous brand of chaotic metallic hardcore that can only come from the third world city of Cleveland, OH.

GET THIS AND RAGE YOUR FUCKING FACE OFF!