Crowbar - Sever The Wicked Hand (2011)

"It’s been six long years since their release but, joyously, it’s a return to the Broken Glass days and that deep, thought-obliterating groove that plugs their music directly into your soul. That’s a fine base to be kicking off from but there’s more. By gathering members of Soilent Green, Goatwhore and Kingdom Of Sorrow around him, Kirk Windstein (Down/Kingdom Of Sorrow) now has pretty much a finger in every pie of the Deep South’s sludge metal community and, consequently, there is most definitely a wider range of tracks on show, from songs with an aggressive, fast attack to melodically-heavy numbers and subtler release come-downs. There’s also the fact that songs like the throbbing “Cleanse Me, Heal Me”, “A Farewell To Misery” with it’s chiming opening and chanting oratorio, and the splitting hardcore of “The Cemetery Angels” (featuring the line “You gave me wings and took the sky away” coming direct from an Alcoholics Anonymous book) indicate that the now sober Windstein is keen to use the album as a way of releasing his own inner demons." ~ The New Review.net

Kirk Windstein - Vocals, Guitars, Bass
Matthew Brunson - Guitars 

Patrick Bruders - Bass
Tommy Buckley - Drums

http://www.crowbarmusic.com/

http://www.myspace.com/crowbar

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Orchid - Capricorn (2011)

I have been looking forward to this release for quite some time now. Sabbath worshipping doom at its best. Check 'em out!

Theo Mindell - Vocals, Percussion

Mark Thomas Baker - Guitar, Moog

Nickel - Bass

Carter Kennedy - Drums

http://www.myspace.com/orchidsf

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From Exile - Monolith (2009)

The latest from Atlanta, Georgia's still unsigned From Exile. While their first album Crushing Reality was more on the melodic death metal side of the heavy metal spectrum, with their lastest effort, From Exile seem to be heading in a much more progressive metal direction (even the artwork reflects that). So don't expect any grunts or screams. What is offered up here is a musical sound-scape with effects laden vocals and purely awesome riffage! This albums is simply amazing!

"Marking a new direction for the band, their second album focuses heavily on the instrumental aspects, as guitar duo Eric Guenther and Ben Wetzelberger put on a clinic that is ear-opening in its execution. “Crushing Reality” was a melodic progressive death metal album, highlighted by raspy screams, ten-plus minute opuses, and an unfortunate tendency to wander haphazardly through dull sound pieces. The most noticeable difference between the two albums is how tight the band has gotten as songwriters on “Monolith.” The eight tracks pack in plenty of tempo shifts, atmosphere changes and crushing riffs, with none of the filler that was present in their debut.

“Monolith,” while split into separate tracks, could be seen as a conceptual piece of music. Each song fades into the next one, creating a half-hour epic that never ceases to astound on a musical level. The guitarists work together as a cohesive pair, trading off spell-bounding solos and soaring harmonies that trail off into an unknown oblivion. There are more dimensions to the guitar playing than just wanking and overindulgent tomfoolery; witness the classical acoustic interlude in “Impure Visionary” or the soothing vibes transmitted on closer “In The Fading Silence.”" ~ Metal Underground.com review

Eric Guenther - Guitar, Keyboards
Ben Wetzelberger - Guitar, Keyboards

http://www.myspace.com/fromexile

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Rings Of Saturn - Embryonic Anomaly (2010)

The experimental/technical death metal band known as Rings of Saturn are a new band out of Dublin, California. I know some of you will see the words death metal and skip on by, but this band breathes some fresh air into the genre with their spacey and almost progressive like writing; winding their way through a variety of sounds, structures and tempos. And despite being a young band in both years of existence and age, the band has skill and experience in spades. Combining influences from older metal bands and various heavy metal genres with a modern death metal/deathcore sound. In short, Rings of Saturn are a unique band in a genre that has been bludgeoned to death.

Prepare to be abducted!

Lucas Mann - Guitars
Brent Silletto - Drums
Peter Pawlak - Vocals

Rings of Saturn @ MySpace

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Public Service Announcement From The Chief:

Sorry for the lengthy disappearance. I've been very busy lately, but I haven't forgotten about this blog or my loyal followers. Good news is, I will be posting 3 great titles later for all of you to sink your teeth into. I am not sure if I can keep up with posting 2 or 3 albums everyday like I used to, but will try to post something every few days. And thank you to everyone who left a comment during my absence. I will get around to replying to them as soon as I can.

Stay tuned for some more great music!