Dark Tranquillity - Skydancer

Haven't listened to this band in ages.

Deceased - "Dying in Analog"

This has to be one of their best songs.

Inquisition-Into the Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult

Such a great record, got a strange atmosphere to it, quite primitive. Looking forward to seeing these guys in London in the new year.

Horrendous - Ecdysis

AOTY for me.

Ereb Altor - By Honour

Fire Meets Ice was a good album, something I've come to finally realise upon a second listen (I was disappointed for the longest time after my initial hearing), but I don't think this band will ever be able to top the masterpiece that is their debut.

Tell You What Now - Signs of Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsBuEas5_XE

Bad name, but good song. If you like the style (djent/metalcore) then you'll enjoy it. However, I fuuuuuuucccckkkkiiiinnnnngggg hate it when the music stops just so they can go into some trite sample / spoken passage so that the band could relay their message to listeners. Hate this shit.

Taake - Nordbundet

The new album is kind of a disappointment after repeated spins. On first listen, Stridens Hus did seem like it was a worthy follow up but alas save for 'Det fins...' and maybe 'Vinger', the rest are a disappointment. Listening to Noregs Vaapen right now.

Riot - Thundersteel

Mandatory.

The Velvet Underground & Nico

First time hearing this...interesting album and I like the more trippy, subversive songs a lot. Album as a whole isn't something I'd likely play all the time but a couple of these songs are fantastic.

Antediluvian - Through the Cervix of Hawaah

I need to listen to this album more often. Almost forgot how good it is

I gave this one a chance and I couldn't get into it. I'm not sure exactly what was missing but it didn't strike me as much as I thought it would've.

Synapses - Expiation

Ultra-busy technical death metal. The more I hear it, the more I enjoy it.

My Dying Bride - A Chapter In Loathing

I listen to so much of their melodic stuff that I forget how heavy they can be. Brutal tremolo picking while creating a frenzied atmosphere.

Yeah, I actually get that because I didn't find it special when it first came out. I would just throw it on and focus on other stuff, but one day it just felt like I was listening to it for the first time and everything clicked.

Np : Tortorum - Katabasis

This is another album that took me multiple listens to get into. I actually don't understand why it took me long because its the kind of black metal I usually all over. Beyond the Earth and Air and Sun is a killer track. Love the solo at the end.
Brilliant album

NP: Pretty Maids [Motherland, 2013] - 7/13. Infinity (00:12/03:48) {321 kbp/s}
Actually a pretty (OH GOD THE PUN) good album

Alchemist - Lunasphere

God damn, this album slays. Haven't heard in ages, but as soon as the first clean section appeared, I remembered how great it was.

Dawnbringer - Night of the Hammer

This isn't outright disappointing, but a little underwhelming. It's very slow and restrained, to the point of spending the whole record feeling like you're waiting for the pay-off which isn't coming. There are plenty of cool ideas and memorable parts, but it fails to amaze.

Satan (Bos) - 2009 demo

I looked this up mainly for the sheer novelty of a Bosnian black metal band, but it's actually not bad. Pretty standard buzzy guitars and croaky vocals, simple one-two punk beats, and production reminiscent of a multi-generation Darkthrone cassette dub. Fairly enjoyable if you're a fan of the genre (like me).

Audiostagg - Dilemma

Totally obscure heavy/power metal band from Seattle. Man I lucked out with this one great find for sure. A couple of stinkers but an awesome cd overall.

Hell (Fra) - 'Obedience' demo (2013)

Continuing the theme of obscure bands with unoriginal names, these guys (or guy?) play solid mid-tempo black metal with a touch of DM in the beefy guitar tone. By demo standards the production is quite good if not excellent, everything has a nice clarity and sharpness to it. While not stunningly original, I can't think of any obvious comparisons off the top of my head, which is typically a good sign. The slightly chaotic riffing is pretty cool, but the raspy, evil vocals might be the best part. Looking forward to hearing more from this project.

Yob - Clearing the Path to Ascend - Marrow

Saw Mike and crew a couple years back and was really underwhelmed along with the album Atma. This track is a masterpiece of deep depressive beauty though.

Listening to "Evil Vixen" right now - some pretty killer riffs, and the slightly rough, amateurish feel has a certain charm to it. Where did you happen to find your copy, if you don't mind me asking?

Also, they seem to be coming out with a new album next year. Know anything about that?

Ilbeltz-Subak Ixeinttu Itxasotako Udek (Fire Has Light the Sea Waters)

Great Basque folk metal.

Isengard - Rise From Below

They're taking the hobbits to Isengard! Okay not really, but their demo 'Spectres over Gorgoroth' is a cult classic.

Melechesh - Rebirth of the Nemesis

Pretty fuckin' good, yeah. Heavy, adrenaline-fueled metal.

Human Bodies: No Life

since the tape is out now and getting pushed I have been listening.. it's so good that I almost want to get it since it's only on tape. I'll just wait till it's on cd.

Dark Angel - Darkness Descends

El-Ahrairah - Demo MMXII

This is some really fucking good raw black metal. They're also from my home state! Wonder how they slipped under my radar until now. It's raw but also super melodic and just killer. The project has a bunch of free demos up on their Bandcamp. Go go go go! https://el-ahrairah.bandcamp.com/

Teitanblood - Death

Giving this another shot. I am a little disappointed with this, due to the haphazard nature of the songs. Seems like a big step backwards from Seven Chalices, but I'm willing to try again. Perhaps I keep missing something.

skinny puppy - assimilate

Killer!

El.Mira - 辛辣トリコロール / a liberal view

Really strange single - the A-side is electro-pop/rock and the B-side is prog/shred

I was talking with Ibai last week and he's doing fine (I was worried about him lately).

Under the Black Inverted Pentagram from (2004) Inquisition - Magnificent Glorification of Lucifer.
In an Inquisition quick, lately. From newer to older.
Merciless shit!

This makes me happy, I hope too that he is ok. My only contact with him were a couple of emails but he seems to be nice guy. And I hope that he is/will be working with some new stuff for Ilbeltz.

Gallowbraid-Oak and the Aspen

Brilliant stuff.

Me too! He continues writing and composing music so let's hope for another Ilbeltz album soon!

Solitary Death in the Nocturnal Woodlands from (1998) Inquisition - Into the Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult (2003 Repress).
Definitely, a GREAT band!

Life of Agony - "This Time" from River Runs Red

I've got this album on it's third spin today. I had almost forgotten how much I love me some LoA.

God Macabre - Spawn of Flesh

In the mood for some early 90s swedeath!

Sargeist - Feeding the Crawling Shadows

I've been on a run of listening to 2014 albums which I've missed, with an eye to getting my album-of-the-year list written soon. This is good, but I'm not sure it'll make it, enjoyable and reliably consistent thought it is.

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART - Bat Chain Puller

Arrived today in the mail. Damn this sounds fucking good. Possibly the best-sounding CB album. Crystal-clear. Can hear all the different parts perfectly. Only downside is the shitty cover. Wish they would have used some of CB's art instead.

Dormant Ordeal - Unimagined, Unwritten, Unseen

My first listen to this band and full album "It Rains, It Pours" (2013) and I'm really diggin' it. Production is good, guitars stand out, and they put it all together quite nicely.

Epicardiectomy - Abhorrent Stench of Posthumous Gastrorectal Desecration

An excellent album for joyous slamming celebrations!

EDIT: Internal Bleeding - Voracious Contempt

This album has so many good riffs, but above all, it has possibly my favourite bass performance in all metal. God damn that rumbly bass in the background so infectious.

Dark Angel - Time Does Not Heal

Dark Angel went out with a bang with this album. Let's hope now that they've reformed, we get another album as good as this one!