Lately the Hardcore band GOLDUST released a download compilation titled Soir. You can stream and download the whole thing for free further down. Here’s what the band has to say about it:

After the release of our second album “Destroyer|Borderlines” we wanted to release a 7″ EP again. Somewhere around this time Dave Heck of Get This Right Records asked us if we’d be interested in doing a split with the mighty FULL OF HELL, just in time for their first European tour. Of course we were. After we had written enough songs, two bands we’re friends with, CURBBITE from Bremen and JUGGERNAUT from Vienna, asked us as well if we’d like to do split 7“s with them. And shortly after that, LIGHTBEARER, a short-lived project from Essen asked us, too. So it happened we spent 2011 writing and recording songs for four split 7“s. The split with LIGHTBEARER actually never happened, because we totally lost contact with the band and I think they’re not active anymore. But that gave us the chance to put those two songs on the split 7″ with our friends in DEATHRITE.

Besides the digital compilation there’s also a very limited cassette tape, which was released late 2011 via Family Business Records.

Of course, “Soir” shouldn’t be considered as a conceptualized record like a proper full length album. It’s really a compilation of songs from different releases. One should really keep that in mind while listening to “Soir”.

Stream:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Full download:
Download the Soir compilation for free by clicking this link.

Read what the band has to say about each song: READ MORE…

Volume I: Subradiant Architecture is one of those rare records that was able to gain my attention directly with the first note I heard, makes my heart beat faster and gives me this certain powerful feeling only the best records are able to. Brendan Hayter, founder and song-writer of OBSIDIAN TONGUE, played in Woods of Ypres as well, and so it’s not very surprising that this record creates a similar, epic atmosphere. At a lot of moments Subradiant Architecture also reminds me of Agalloch, due to the same way as the tension throughout the record is built up and kept until the end and how the hymnic melodies are woven into the harsh, metallic soundscape. READ MORE…

Since the 90ies France is a fertile breeding ground for Black Metal – just think of Les Légions Noires for example. Until today really amazing, groundbreaking French Black Metal acts keep pushing the boundaries, Blut aus Nord or Deathspell Omega just to mention two. Naturally, those well known bands are just the tip of the iceberg of a vivid, blackened scene obsessed by brutal music, satanic rites and ancient myths. FHOI MYORE is a part of this scene and another great example that you don’t need big names to release quality Black Metal. Need a proof? Check Souvenirs of The Northern Cold EP and read the full review below!

FHOI MYORE leave progressive elements aside and concentrate on traditional, highly melodic Black Metal as established during the Second Wave. Samples of falling rain, acoustic interludes and a cold, dark feeling fuels the atmosphere of this EP. After a quite long and moody intro you’re thrown into the first, more midtempo’ish song. Solid and harsh, but not sooo extraordinary – but then track 3, Souvenirs: a blizzard of blast-beats, tremolo-picking and fierce, painfully shrieking vocals. The guitars shred out super melodic, single note treatments, thus creating a trve hornet’s nest of harmonies and melodies in your head. And Souvenirs is no exception – the melodic approach of that song is kept throughout most of the rest of this EP. It ends with an acoustic version of Songes Funestes, which is a perfect closer.
READ MORE…

Considering time, place and circumstances of HADES’ heyday in the mid-90ies it’s really surprising how unknown this Norwegian Black Metal band is – relatively of course, since it is surely a familiar name among trve metalheads. But in most of the many books, articles and blog posts that deal with the second wave of Black Metal, and especially the activities around the infamous Black Circle, Bergen’s HADES get mentioned only very rarely. The fact they had to change their name into HADES ALMIGHTY in 1998 only adds up to their obscurity. So whatever the reasons for their little popularity really are, it’s undeniable. Read on for the full review and the track Alone Walkyng!
READ MORE…

In times where almost every second extreme Metal record is labeled as “Post Black Metal”, “Metalgaze”, “Post Rock/Punk/whatever influenced Black Metal”, it’s important not to forget the roots and true spirit of the ugly, frostbitten and cruel blackened blasphemy that became one of the strongest innovative forces in Metal. For sure the bands of the second wave coined our picture of Black Metal the most, and besides Bathory (of course they were ahead of their time), Mayhem, Emperor and and a few others, a primarily force in Norwegian scene were (and still are) the mighty DARKTHRONE.

Sempiternal Past, recently released by Peaceville Records, digs deep into the death metallic roots of the DARKTHRONE itself, compiling the first four demos the band ever recorded plus three live tracks. By doing so, the record takes us back to a time when genre borders weren’t as strictly defined as they are today, when Death Metal and shortly after Black Metal were born from the rotten womb of Thrash Metal and extreme Hardcore Punk.

And as if the music alone wouldn’t be rad enough, this double LP comes in an amazing gatefold, with an inlay showing all the demos artworks, two rad photos of DARKTHRONE from back in the day (when they were really young) and extensive liner-notes.

Full review below the pic!

READ MORE…

Usually I prefer the type of music TOMBSTONES play when it’s really hot outside – not rainy, grey and cold like today. On the other hand, this three-piece is based Norway, so it makes sense again I guess. Oh, what music do TOMBSTONES play? Well, although Norway is more famous for its beastly blasting Black Metal, TOMBSTONES turn this musical concept upside down: slow, low tuned, stoned and buzzed out Doom is on the menue I’d say. Doom with massive, repetitive riffs, really good, sung vocals and a dynamic, lively production. After listening to Year of the Burial (released April 20th 2012 via Soulseller Records) for a few minutes you’ll fall into this trance-like state of mind I dig so much when I listen to music like this. Full review below the video of the opening track of Year of the Burial:

READ MORE…

It’s a very thin line between true soulful music and pathetic crap. And it’s an even thinner line between catchy (in its best sense) Post Punk and cheesy, super generic indie music. The Swiss outfit LES YEUX SANS VISAGE manages to play dark, emotional and often danceable Post Punk without falling into the latter categories. More often than not you’ll find yourself reminded of super successful acts like Interpol or the early Editors, but LYSV perform in a much more sophisticated way, nearer to the roots of this kind of music – without getting trapped by retromania either. Tomorrow Is A Million Years certainly isn’t a happy debut album, but a very deep and moving one – a journey to the loneliest places inside your heart and soul.
 
Listen to Oblivion, full review beneath.

READ MORE…

On the one hand, BEATEN TO DEATH is a quite generic name for a Grindcore band. One the other hand, you know what you’ll get, and, more important, this is already the point where the mediocrity comes to a quick end and a whole bunch of motherfucking awesome gnarliness comes in. Because BEATEN TO DEATH from Norway bring lots of innovative and fresh ideas to a genre where almost everything has been said already 20 years ago. And they do it without whimping out or drifting towards some freaked out high-tech Death-Grind kind of thing. Xes and Strokes amazes with other qualities. Full review and video of the song Winston Churchill after the jump!
READ MORE…

Wow, one year CVLT Nation – this has been an incredible, exciting time for me on basically every level of my existence. So at this very special day I’d like to feature a record that has recently been released and is absolutely worth mentioning today: I’m speaking of by the NY-based .

‘s music is as bright and gruesome as a glacier in the bright morning sun and terrible as the icy winds surrounding it. Listening to those eleven songs from start to finish, you’ll feel like being taken away to a journey to a different time and place. The real greatness of only shows when you take your time and listen to this aural masterpiece in its totality. Full review after the jump!

To achieve such an incredible athmosphere, wisely weave a web between Black Metal, Post Rock and Prog. I’ve never been a fan of the latter; I’ve always felt like being forced to listen to someone jerking off with his instrument. But ‘s definetely different. All the skillful playing only serves the purpose of creating this certain enlightening athmosphere. It’s uneccessary to mention that ‘s instrumental work is extraordinaire. The band’s biggest strength might be the vocals: beautiful but non-cheesy, clear singing reigns for the biggest part of this record, sometimes broken by fierce screams that’ll let your heart freeze. The brilliant, crystal-clear production underlines ‘s art in an outstanding way.

I can’t think of any band sounding alike. Maybe , since they’re also mixing Black Metal with Prog Rock. But doesn’t combine these genres as convincing as does. Quite a few Metal bands are hailing from New York these days, some of them very hotly debated. But ‘s definetely creating something very special that should speak for itself.

What we have here is 100% Eyehategod worship par excellence: IRON WITCH are stuck knee deep in the dirty swamps of ultra slow, ultra sick Sludge that has been cultivated by EHG and their many disciples. They’re hailing from Liverpool, England, and even though the English North-West isn’t exactly known for its swamps, closeness and blistering heat, England is home (and birthland) of some of the heaviest Sludge, Doom and Stoner Rock bands ever – and IRON WITCH has everything it takes to gain their place in this hall of downtempo fame.

Check out A .45 to pay the rent, read on after the jump!

READ MORE…