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Recommendations?

I haven't been getting much mail in the last month or two, and to be honest with you what I have been getting hasn't really been grabbing me at all, so I'm actually kind of starting to run low on new stuff to write about. I only eked out two reviews over the weekend, and while I'm gonna try to scrounge up a couple of others sometime during the week (I have at least a few on deck that should make the cut, and there's always old stuff), beyond that, aside from a few that I'm sitting on because their release dates won't hit until late-January or February, well... the landscape's pretty bare. So if anyone's encountered anything in recent months that feels wholly worthwhile, please do let me know! Thanks...

Comments

  1. old:  Weakling: Dead as Dreams, Starkweather: Into the Wire/ Crossbearer, Cynic: Focus ;) , Mayhem:  De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas , anything from Mayday, S.O.D.: Speak english or die, etc.

    new:
    Mayhem: Ordo ad Chao, Neurosis: Given to the Rising,  Ulver: Shadows of the Sun, Wolves in the Throne Room: Two Hunters, The Angelic Process: Weighing Souls With Sand, Drudkh: Anti Urban & Enstrangement, Dalek: Abandoned Language,High on Fire: Death is this Communion, Between the Buried and Me: Colors, The Dilinger Escape Plan: Ire Works, etc.

    it hink it’s enough for some time ;) I hope you will get some idea from the list.

    1.21.2008 | By Anonymous

  2. check this band out. you might like them http://www.myspace.com/ionesco
    fucked up detroit hardcore

    1.21.2008 | By Anonymous

  3. Do some classics/long-time favorites of yours.

    1.21.2008 | By David

  4. http://www.myspace.com/haveanicelife

    you will like it.
    not the usual thing.

    1.21.2008 | By nelson

  5. Would like to see what you think of these two releases;

    Ikuinen Kaamos - The Forlorn
    http://www.myspace.com/ikuinenkaamos

    Hyadningar - Imminent Useless Soul
    http://www.myspace.com/hyadningar

    1.21.2008 | By Redeemer

  6. i saw you were listening to the casket lottery these days and i know you like ‘em. two of the members (singer included?) joined forces with ex-small brown bike members and formed able baker fox. dumb name, great band. the album’s already out.

    there’s also oceansize, from the UK. they weren’t even namedropped here, but they’re incredible. they’ve also had a new album out “recently”.

    1.21.2008 | By chris

  7. Yo Andrew, do you know the album “Prone Mortal Form”? It’s by a band called Only Living Witness and criminally under-rated ;) Write about that!

    1.21.2008 | By Pim

  8. Well you’ve sometime stated that you enjoy the Finnish hardcore scene so check out these guys as they just released their debut album and have gained quite the name for themselves over the 10 or so years they’ve been together. It’s not the stuff you enjoy from back here, more like post punk or something like that, but nevertheless it’s good so check ‘em out.

    http://www.myspace.com/downstairsnoise

    1.21.2008 | By Nicholas

  9. Hey Redeemer, thanks for the heads up on both of those, especially Hyadningar, that’s definitely good stuff.  And Nicholas, that Downstairs Noise isn’t as bad as I thought it would be, haha.

    I guess there’s the new Disfear, that’s the only *new* thing I can think of that I’m all that fired up about.  Surely 2008 has to be better than 2007!?!?!

    1.21.2008 | By Johnny

  10. I know you don’t do a whole lot of death metal on reviews, but you certainly have an ear for the quality stuff. Check out DISCERN at http://www.myspace.com/discerndeathmetal
    or at http://www.discerndeathmetal.com. I think you will like it. Quality old school death metal with shred style lead work and some blues influences. Sounds like a crazy combination I know, but they really pull it off. I was going to have a CD sent to you until you stopped accepting mail and changed the format of the site.

    1.21.2008 | By Ken Frederick

  11. Here’s what I rocked in 2007.

    metal:
    witchcraft-the alchemist
    blut aus nord - odinist
    Deathspell Omega- fas …
    rossetta - wake / lift
    primordial - the the nameless dead
    rossetta/balboa
    black elk-s/t
    taint-secrets and lies
    swallow the sun-hope
    clutch-beale street
    gentlemans pistols
    hearse-in these veins
    memfis
    tulus-biography obscene
    harlots - betrayer
    year of no light-nord
    black cobra-feather and stone
    gorefest-rise to ruin

    not metal at all
    parts and labor-mapmaker
    ulver-shadows of the sun
    dalek - abandoned language
    Litmus - plantfall
    beirut
    pj harvey- white calk
    iron and wine-shepards dog
    blond redhead-23
    Angels of Light: We Are Him
    deerhunter
    burial
    stars of the lid
    panda bear
    27-holding on for …
    MARISSA NADLER

    Screamo and beyond:
    Every single fucking screamo disc on Level Plane, You and I, Seatia, Gosple, Life At these Speeds…

    1.21.2008 | By Steve

  12. Damn, lots of cool shit here, many thanks.

    Anonymous #1: I’m sure some of those oldies - most likely Cynic and/or “Into the Wire” - will get nods one day.  I’ll also say that I checked out “Ire Works” over the weekend truly hoping for the best, but was let down by it.  A couple of very promising tracks, but… I was again reminded why I’ve never been a big Dillinger fan.

    Anonymous #2: NOT BAD. Always saw that band name around years and years ago but never really heard ‘em.  They definitely must have been criminally underrated.  All that shit is on eMusic, too.  I’ll have to make use of that soon!  Thanks!

    David: I’ve definitely been thinking about it since I’m running out of new shit to cover.  Only thing is I’ve written about a bunch of my longtime favorites already over the years.  I’ve still got tons and tons of old stuff I could post about, though, so… I’m trying to go back to posting about at least one old record per week.

    nelson: Fuckin’ hell I wish this band had more than one song posted, because this track REALLY got me curious.  Looks like the record should be out this month, I’m gonna have to do some more digging on that soon.  Very interesting…

    Redeemer:  Hmmm, not too shabby.  Like Johnny, I preferred Hyadningar, though, as they seemed a little more diverse and somehow… I don’t know… I don’t want to say “more aggressive”, bet that ferocity pays off somehow.

    chris: I’ve never been able to make up my mind about Oceansize for some reason.  I’ve always felt that I should like them, but somehow I don’t particularly seem to get into them that much, ha.  However, that Able Baker Fox sounds VERY cool, and I’m absolutely gonna look into that one for sure.  Many thanks for that tip, as I had absolutely no idea!

    Pim: Is this the bar band that does Tool covers that you’re always spouting on about?  ;)

    Nicholas: The first song with the keyboards almost scared me off, but the others were actually quite good.  I like it.  I’m gonna have to look into this one, too.

    Johnny: The real question is: How is it possible for a man with such horrible fucking emo hair to sound so fucking vicious!?  But seriously, while I’ve never been a huge fan, that new track sounds pretty strong… and the vocals do blow my mind.  Not that hair affects vocal chords, but… really!  Ha, ha, ha…

    1.21.2008 | By Andrew Aversionline

  13. Ken Frederick: This isn’t bad.  I’m not floored, and part of my problem lately is that I’ve just become so much pickier for some reason, I don’t know… it’s like… I think part of me just needs to stop exploring new stuff and focus on what I already have, but… there’s still that part of me that wants to hunt for the best of the best that’s out there of the newer material, too.  That being said, the lead work totally fucking rules.  I’m loving the solos in both of these tracks big time.  “I Sacrifice” seems like a solid track overall.  Not bad, not bad.

    Steve: It’ll probably take me six months to listen to everything on that list, ha, ha, ha.  I’ll do my best!  Thanks!

    1.21.2008 | By Andrew Aversionline

  14. W O R S H I P - D O O O M !!!!
    more doom and black metal please!

    Warning: Watching from a Distance

    Kingdom of Sorrow, Pig Destroyer, Heaven Shall Burn, Disfear, Overmars: Born again, Cult of Luna, Neurosis, Immolation, Vital Remains, Portal, Kylesa, Khanate, Nile, Profane,, Regurgitate, Weakling, The Pax Cecilia, Today is the Day, Botch, Blut aus Nord, Watain, Dismember, Wolves in the Throne Room, Keep of Kalessin, Mayhem, Machezato, General Surgery, Agalloch, Drudkh, Burzum, Darkthrone, Crowbar, etc.

    1.21.2008 | By Anonymous

  15. Aeon Spoke - http://www.myspace.com/aeonspoke
    A Bunny’s Caravan - http://www.myspace.com/abunnyscaravan
    A day in black and white - my heroes have always killed cowboys
    akimbo - forging steel and laying stone
    anasarca
    bossk
    the ocean - precambrian
    ed gein
    the red chord
    dirge - wings of lead over dormant seas
    skeletonwitch

    and i’ll second that wolves in the throne room

    1.21.2008 | By jarle

  16. Andrew: If it’s the one with the terrible vocals, we’re talking about the very same band ;)

    Oh and as for tips: http://www.myspace.com/sasquatchrocks. (Listen to “The Judge” and “Let It In”)

    1.21.2008 | By Pim

  17. How about some Leeway, Overcome or Artillery. Oldies but goodies :)

    1.21.2008 | By Saibot

  18. well since you occasionally put up some screamo check out the kidcrash http://www.myspace.com/thekidcrash probably my favorite american screamo band.

    1.21.2008 | By thom

  19. I sent you a Batoche CD several months ago, give it a listen… you just might enjoy it

    or download it here if you’ve lost it

    http://www.batoche.ca/TerraIncognita.zip

    1.21.2008 | By shawn

  20. check the October File’s Holy Armour From the Jaws of God that was released last year.  IMHO, it is what Will Haven should have released instead of the craptastic Hierophant.

    http://www.myspace.com/octoberfile 

    Mors Principium Est’s Liberation = Termination continues to kick my ass.

    http://www.myspace.com/morsprincipiumestmyspace

    1.21.2008 | By Jesse

  21. Hmmm. Here’s a few that I’ve got on my computer here at work:

    Rosetta - Wake/Lift
    Balboa/Rosetta - Project Mercury
    Blacklisted - Peace on Earth, War on Stage
    Cloak/Dagger - We Are
    DEP - Ire Works
    Down to Nothing - The Most
    Engineer - The Dregs
    Efterklang - Under Giant Trees EP and Parades
    Genghis Tron - Triple Black Diamond EP
    Jesu - Pale Sketches EP and Lifeline EP
    Les Savy Fav - Lets Stay Friends
    Lifetime - Lifetime
    Magrudergrind - Rehashed
    Modern Life is War - Midnight in America
    Neurosis - Given to the Rising
    Oceansize - Frames
    Om - Pilgrimage
    Paint it Black - New Lexicon
    Pig Destroyer - Phantom Limb
    Pissed Jeans - Hope for Men
    Qui - Love’s Miracle
    Trap Them - Sleepwell Deconstructor

    Overall, 2007 was an underwhelming year.

    1.21.2008 | By manisthebastard

  22. The new Ghostlimb is VERY good
    http://www.myspace.com/ghostlimb
    And a local Oakland band that really impressed me live is Laudanum
    http://www.myspace.com/laudanum18

    1.21.2008 | By Kawana'ao

  23. You’ll like these guys. features Pony Ret on vocals from Brazilian thrashers Violator.

    1.21.2008 | By Anonymous

  24. My bad here is the link
    http://www.myspace.com/possuidopelocao

    1.21.2008 | By Anonymous

  25. dawn: sorgh pa svarte vingar flogh

    1.21.2008 | By Anonymous

  26. Oxbow - The Narcotic Story
    Looking For An Answer - Extincion
    The Now-Denial - Mundane Lullaby
    and it’s time to throw some shit at the latest Ringworm. mosty disappointing album of 2007.
    btw, do you know when Integrity are going to put the new album out?

    1.21.2008 | By V_For_Valantis

  27. i think u really need to do a “top 10 records of all time” list, especially when it comes to hardcore and metalcore. i always refer to your website when it comes to these two genre.

    1.22.2008 | By adlianb

  28. “i think u really need to do a “top 10 records of all time” list, especially when it comes to hardcore and metalcore. i always refer to your website when it comes to these two genre.” I CONCUR!!!!!

    blood freak: mutliplex massacre
    brutal, catchy and good!

    anything from anaal nathkrakh, swarrrm, mutilation,
    municipal waste -the art of partying


    can’t wait to see what will you post!
    :)))))

    1.22.2008 | By Anonymous

  29. hi andrew, andrea from italy here, first off let me say that aversionline has been one of my main sources for discovering new awesome music in the last three or four years, you’re doing an awesome job and i hope you keep doing it forever!

    i’d like to recommend you to check out this friends of mine: http://www.myspace.com/castthyeyes, they’re a young band from italy that play intense metal hardcore in a very original and powrful manner and without falling into cliches… i have a band too but we still have to finish the new recordings… :-)

    thanks for the attention and cheers from italy

    andrea.

    1.22.2008 | By andrea

  30. edit: http://www.myspace.com/castthyeyes without the comma!

    1.22.2008 | By andrea

  31. Posted this already… a while ago you posted two of your favorite songs, one was Downpour and the other one was ‘Get Used to It’ by Solid Ground, after a few listens that song really grew on me, well seems like the band is now signed by LetItBurn and will drop their new cd in a few months. There are three new songs of that on their myspace, check it. http://www.myspace.com/solidground

    1.22.2008 | By tim

  32. I now it won’t be out for another two months but it’s “out” today and cannot be dismissed when ever discussing metal in form. That’s the new Meshuggah I’m talking about. This band is beyond amazing. It’s like metal from 2020. Can’t remember you ever mentioning them but you *need* to be down with this shit ;-)

    1.22.2008 | By Nicholas

  33. I’m also underwhelmed by ‘Ire Works’ but only given it a few spins so far. The only DEP release I’ve ever REALLY liked is their EP from 2002 with Mike Patton on vocals.

    Also, if Andrew or anyone else is wondering where to start with Steve’s monster list from near the top of the page then I also highly recommend Burial’s second album ‘Untrue’. Be warned that it couldn’t be less metal but this will give you a good idea of what to expect if you fancy a change of pace:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hI4bSCy9iE

    1.22.2008 | By mooseybwoy

  34. A homie of mine’s band here in CV. It’s not black metal or anything but I find their songs   catchy. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=216375942

    and here’s another so cal band.
    http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=32805328
    They actually share a guitarist.

    1.22.2008 | By Adrianoso

  35. It was mentioned above, but I thought I’d reiterate it: what about the self-titled forthcoming album from Kingdom of Sorrow? On paper, at least, it ought to do the business—a Hatebreed/Crowbar supergroup? COME ON! Do you think it lives up to its potential?

    1.22.2008 | By Trogdor the Burninator

  36. Boxer by The National has been in heavy rotation recently. Their other two albums, Alligator and Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers, are also pretty good.

    1.22.2008 | By bharat

  37. Trogdor the Burninator:

    I’m not Andrew and certainly can’t speak for him but what I’ve heard of the Kingdom of Sorrow stuff was sorta a letdown.  It’s b side Hatebreed material from “Supremacy” with tiny little bluesy finishes at the end of the riffs.  Jamey totally dominates the vocals and it’s just too much like his other stuff to really grab me.  I REALLY want to like that band, great concept, great people, great art even, and I agree on paper it seems like a sure bet, but what I’ve heard thus far leaves me flat.  I hope for better when its properly released, but I’m not holding my breath.  And trust me (and ask others here) I LOVE swamp/NOLA/Southern metal more than all other genres combined, so I’ve given it every charity possible in my effort to dig it.

    1.22.2008 | By Johnny

  38. Just because this is the kind of thread this has turned into, here’s what I’ve been rocking in the past few months:

    Graves At Sea, Coffins, and anything else on 20 Buck Spin I can get my hands on.  Nadja “Touched” and “Radiance Of Shadows” (epic as fuck laptop doom with a great suffocating guitar tone).  Cave In “Until Your Heart Stops” and “Beyond Hypothermia.”  All three Tragedy LPs.  Shipwreck AD and Pulling Teeth.

    Some Seattle-area bands you might like: Lesbian (epic doom/death/psychedelia), Grey (excellent all-girl doom), iamthethorn (Himsa singer - who I actually don’t like at all - fronting extra-downtuned doom with bits of d-beat and other stuff), Book Of Black Earth (ex-Teen Cthulhu, moshy blackened death metal with keyboards).

    1.22.2008 | By Grist

  39. I’ve been slammed at work and otherwise so I’ve been behind on checking out some of these other tips and responding, but THANKS to everyone.  I’m fucking blown away by the number of responses.  Maybe I should do some kind of reader posts once a month or something.  This is fucking insane… many thanks again.  Incredible.  A lot of great shit.

    Edit: Adrianoso, just checked out Quiet on the Set real quick and I’m really liking it.  Wouldn’t have expected to per se, but I really, really am.  REALLY am, ha, ha.  Awesome.

    1.22.2008 | By Andrew Aversionline

  40. dunno if you’re into slam metal, but this kid is fucking INSANE:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB_8sxghxis

    he’s only 17, is in like 5 bands and is far and away the most brutal death metal vocalist i can recall hearing. he also wrote and recorded the music in this track, which is probably the best slam metal i’ve ever heard- he’s one talented fucking kid.

    1.22.2008 | By finn mckenty

  41. Yup! I knew you’d like QOTS. I’ve know the guitarist, Tito, and the drummer, Brian, since high school. It’s funny cuz I see Quiet on the Set becoming bigger than Pallida Mors.

    1.22.2008 | By Adrianoso

  42. Graves at the Sea. I agree. Fucking awesome sludge.

    1.23.2008 | By Anonymous

  43. Check out the new Collapsar album “Integers”.

    1.23.2008 | By Brett

  44. check out the baroness - red album. you won’t regret it.

    1.23.2008 | By loutibbs

  45. i really think you should give Orgone a listen.  they play wild experimental metal stuff, but it sounds very organic in structure and the playing style (as well as the recording) is rather unique.  also, they have some interesting ideas they cover metaphorically in the lyrics and it’s just very solid stuff overall. 

    check them out here: http://www.myspace.com/orgoneus

    they put all of their new album on their myspace, in order of the tracklisting.

    1.24.2008 | By Derek

  46. @Andrew: it would be wonderful if you can post all of the material written for Blodstarid (Holy Terror) here. I miss those black metal reviews.

    1.24.2008 | By Cowboy

  47. check these guys they rule…
    hahaha grind/humor/fucking great   I think that they gonna release a 7’’ some time .look forward to buy it…
    http://myspace.com/fiendishdevirginator

    1.25.2008 | By george

  48. Cathedrals:Microgravity

    1.25.2008 | By Anonymous

  49. Check Fall of Efrafa from the euwkay and End Of Level Boss
    Also there’s a bunch of new bands coming up from the ashes of the H8000 scene, dunno if any of them is actually any good, so if you could look into that and tell us jaded ex HC scenester kids which ones are worth their salt and our attention, that would be nice

    also after the swing to the worst that Leng T’che took there’s now a new band with their original singer called Den Of Robbers, that’s good punky sludgy warped grind like we know it from the Che’s first albums

    1.26.2008 | By Stevhan the invincible

  50. And I’m late for the party! That’s what I get for being wrapped up in school.

    I still urge you to check out the new Parkway Drive album, which, well, might not be the biggest improvement ever, but another ten-or-so great Swedish-influenced songs with more of everything, and since you liked their last one, it should be right up your alley.

    1.26.2008 | By xGabex

  51. I have a nice packacke for you waiting to be mailed. Couple records from Finland that might interest you. I’ll mail it later this week.

    1.28.2008 | By Samuli

  52. andrew, i know you’re overflown with new shit as is, but i’ve got another recommendation for you. i know you like klimt 1918. some of the dudes have formed a new band called the foreshadowing. gothicy katatonia. the album’s out on candlelight. check out “death is our freedom”:

    http://www.myspace.com/theforeshadowing

    2.1.2008 | By chris

  53. What about the Norwegian thrash act Infernö? Killer stuff with insane vocals. Their latest effort, a compilation called Metal Commando ATTACK out on Duplicate Records, just slays. They did release two albums on Osmose back in the day, Downtown Hades and Utter Hell.

      http://www.myspace.com/thrashmetaldogsofhell

    2.11.2008 | By A

  54. two norwegian ones for you:

    monolithic: instrumental duo…intense stuff, even better live:
    http://www.myspace.com/monolithicmusic

    motorpsycho: these guys have been around for years, going through various styles. dunno how to label their music these days…not metal, but still worth your time:
    http://www.myspace.com/motorpsychopage

    4.18.2008 | By vegard

  55. .......These Days S/T
        Shoot to Kill “All Quiet On The Western Front”
        Waco Fuck “Paranoia”..................................

        all three are just killer hardcore.  You will agree.

    9.5.2008 | By Tony Scherler

  56. The Fevered (Death metal band from Australia) - http://www.myspace.com/thefevered
    Demoraliser (Metal band from Grimsby, UK) - http://www.myspace.com/demoraliser
    A band called Cuttin Class from the UK. No longer together but you can pick up all of their recorded output free, via their myspace site - http://www.myspace.com/wearecuttingclass.

    12.20.2010 | By Jim

  57. check us out, mix of origin meets hate eternal…\m/...

    1.27.2011 | By mathias

  58. Check out Hellcrawler from Slovenia.  http://hellcrawler.bandcamp.com  You can pick up the album “Wastelands” for free. Cool stuff!

    9.7.2011 | By Drew

  59. Check out Exeloume. Some really good newish trash from Norway. You know what they say about Norway and metal, right? Can’t go wrong. I haven’t checked, but i assume their full-length is available in Spotify as well if that’s your thing.

    http://www.myspace.com/exeloumethrash
    http://snotpope.com/exeloume/

    10.5.2011 | By Jarle

  60. metal/punk/stoner band from belgium (antwerp), just released our full-length “Cults ‘n’ Cunts”. Recorded by Epic Productions and mastered at New Alliance East (US, Converge, Doomriders, Unsane, ...). Played shows with Fucked Up / Today Is The Day / Saviours / Tombs / Weedeater / Burning Love / Cloak&Dagger / Punch / Gods&Queens / Lords / Throats / Buried Inside / Blacklisted / ... and did a UK-tour with Lavotchkin (uk).

    http://notyourhighness.blogspot.com
    http://yourhighness.bandcamp.com

    11.8.2011 | By Ben

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