DODECAHEDRON - DODECAHEDRON (2012)

genre : avant-garde black

similar bands : Deathspell Omega
origin : Holland
strong spot : performance, production

weak spot : lack of originlity

I saw this coming...I was 100% sure that big labels would start releasing albums similar to 'Paracletus' and here it is, behold...the 'Dodecahedron' from Season of Mist. It's not that the music is bad, I enjoyed listening to this album but unfortunately this is a rip-off. No need to explain more, just give it a few spins and you can judge for yourself. I am also sure that some reviewers will praise this one. First reason, most of them don't have a clue about music, second, they never listen to the albums thoroughly enough, third, they are influenced by hype, fourth reason, they don't have a clue about music (x2).
The album is based on atonality,dissonant riffs, chaotic drum patterns and so on. Where lies the problem? Whereas Deathspell Omega's 'Paracletus' was original and the music had equal doses of dissonance and devastating melodies disguised as dissonance (a careful ear would notice that they are blackgaze-like melodies undercover), this album is just dissonance and a bit of industrial noise. It's quite easy for almost every descent band to write tons of dissonant tracks like Dodecahedron.On the contrary,  DSO are original and captivating because they combined dissonance with actual  musical compositions (i.e. 'Apokatastasis Panton' etc). Final verdict, almost failure.

5,1 out of 10 goatheads

 link

HAIL SPIRIT NOIR - PNEUMA (to be released 2012)

Just discovered a really unique band. Retro sounds collide with  prog black elements. There are only two songs streaming but I am sure this is a good finding for the future. Includes members of transcending Bizarre?

COLD BODY RADIATION - DEER TWILIGHT (2011)

genre : shoegaze, post-black

similar bands :Fall of Rauros, Alcest, Agalloch, Wolves in the Throne Room, The Album Leaf, Sigur Ros
origin : Holland
strong spot : serenity

weak spot : production standards could be higher

''Deer twilight'' is my first encounter with the Dutch band. This is not an album to fully capture your attention. It sounds more like a soundtrack for a national geographic documentary as it encompasses the serenity and peacefulness of an amazon forest. The songwriting is primarily based on chord progressions that lack a certain melody but, oddly enough, the whole album is crafted in a clever manner so as to make you wanna listen to it again and again. It is an album that is really captivating and perfect driving through the night or along a foggy forest. Now I'll have to check their previous endeavour which is equally good according to the rumors...

9,1 out of 10 goatheads

 link

THE DEVIL'S BLOOD - THE THOUSANDFOLD EPICENTRE (2011)

genre : gothic, occult rock/metal

similar bands : Ghost, In Solitude
origin : Holland
strong spot : songwriting, retro atmosphere, diversity in compositions

weak spot : the lack of harsh vocals :)

And Now for Something Completely Different, as the might Monty Pythons used to say. I love bands like Ghost and I could not resist posting this here.  Female vocals, vintage sound and style, hammonds, devil worship and lots of brilliant melodies. This is certainly not extreme but it is worth checking by almost every metal fan.

9 out of 10 goatheads

 link

EBONYLAKE - IN SWATHES OF BROODING LIGHT (2011)

 genre : avantgarde death/black

similar bands : Deathspell Omega, Blutmond, Morbid angel, Smohalla
origin : UK
strong spot : combination of dissonant chaos and symphonic samples, performance

weak spot : nothing obvious

Ebonylake present a chaotic ocean of merciless blastbeats, dissonant chords, screams, strange drum tempos and symphonic elements. I personally enjoyed it a lot. There are lots of bands that try to create something new but their music lacks a certain identity and seems to lead everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Ebonylake stretch the barriers of conventional music but seem to know where to lead their music to. The band has a passion with strange chord progressions and atonality, so this automatically becomes a love it or hate it album.

8,4 out of 10 goatheads

 link

ALCEST - Les Voyages De L'Âme (2012)

genre : pop/ indie metal? (black metal influences)

similar bands : HIM, 30 seconds to Mars, Smashing Pumpkins
origin : France
strong spot : first track

weak spot : songwriting, harsh vocals are almost gone

Well, Alcest is the talk of the town in the black metal cycles. Their previous album gave them huge publicity and established them as kings in the shoegaze/ post black idiom. I hope this stops with their new album which by no means is black or extreme metal. My problem with Alcest is that in both their last albums, there are only 2 or 3 really f^%##ing cool tracks where the music breathes and the songwriting is clever, the rest of the tracks are usually some pop chord progressions that sound dull and naive. They have managed to sound original, their music encompasses a romantic atmosphere  that is  reminiscent of french pop songs, something unique for a band that uses distorted guitars. If only they had better songs, I would really love their albums.

7  out of 10 goatheads