LUNATIC GODS - VLNOBYTIE (2012)

genre : avant-garde/progressive/extreme metal 

similar bands : Solefald, Unexpect

origin : Slovakia

strong spot : songwriting

weak spot : lyrics are not in English ( but I personally like them)

When I first read about Lunatic Gods I said ''No way,  I am not digging them, I am bored with all these mind-fucking avant-garde bands, I had a lot of Unexpect and Diablo Swing Orchestra the last couple of years''. But fortunately as soon as I listened to the first track, I realized this is not the case of another typical avant-garde band. First of all, I found the Slovakian language quite charming even though I don't have a clue about the themes the lyrics deal with. Second, the songwriting is solid as hell, everything seems to be calculated, no part seems out of place as in lots of avantgarde bands. Additionally, the tracks last less than four minutes and do not get tiring.  Third, the production is clean and heavy. Fourth, the music is complex yet catchy and most of the melodies stick easily to your mind. Last but not least, there are no filler tracks. What more do you want? Recommended!!! 

9,1 out of 10 goatheads

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BORKNAGAR - URD (2012)

genre : pagan/prog blackmetal

similar bands : Solefald, Arcturus, Vintersorg

origin : Norway

strong spot : songwriting

weak spot : -

This is an 'all star' band, including members of all the above mentioned bands. Usually 'all star' bands suck, but Borknagar have proved to be an exception all these years. They have their own style of songwriting and every album is similar to the previous one, without copying it though. I 've heard people blaming Borknagar for repetition but I totally disagree on this. Borknagar's music is rich, passionate, diverse and by no means repetitive. Musical identity in its best. Extra credits go to the clean vocals, especially the ones from ICS Vortex and Lazare from Solefald, they are simple charming.

9 out of 10 goatheads

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HAIL SPIRIT NOIR - PNEUMA (2012)

genre : psychedelic prog blackmetal/ psychedelic prog rock

similar bands : Deathspell Omega, Nachmystium, Yes

origin : Greece

strong spot : originality, vintage sound of strings, jazzy drum performance

weak spot : nothing 

Imagine The Doors wearing corpsepaint and playing black metal. Imagine Burzum as time travellers jamming with Emerson,lake and Palmer in 1972 somewhere in London. How would black metal sound if played in the 60s or 70s? The answer is given by Haris and Theoharis, also members of mighty Transcending bizarre?. Hail Spirit Noir present  one of the best prog black albums I have ever heard in my entire life. 'Pneuma' is almost perfect. Psychedelic, progressive, dark, melodic, complex yet catchy, original, strange. The clean vocals are some of the best I've heard the last years. All the melodies of the album are unique. The band uses strange chord progression but manage to create catchy songs, this is really exceptional. The sound is 100% analogue, vintage yet modern at the same time. It sounds like it was recorded ages ago, more likely in the 70s. I don't know any other band that plays this way. This is just Hail Spirit noir, pure damn Hail Spirit Noir!!!

10 out of 10 goatheads
(This is the first 10 out of 10 rating for a new album in this blog)

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SIGH - IN SOMNIPHOBIA (2012)

genre : avant-garde, psychedelic black

similar bands : Sigh

origin : Japan

strong spot : originality, orchestrations, compositions

weak spot : nothing obvious

Sigh have managed to create one of their best albums and probably one of the best avant-garde black metal albums ever, if not the best one. I am a huge fan of the band and I found 'Scenes from Hell' more amazing than sex with Lindsay Lohan. But I didn't expect this! Sigh present an album full of diverse orchestrations, strange instruments, electro loops, strange sounding effects and brilliant soundtrack-like melodies. Something like 'La Masquerade Infernale' - the black metal version (?) . Classical chord progressions and 70s instrumentation provide a very warm and vintage feeling. The album may sound frustrating at first, but it gets better and better after every listen. They are simply good composers and know how to mix their ideas perfectly in order to create coherent songs and a solid album. This time the production values are higher, it is maybe the more polished production that Sigh ever had. And it fits perfectly.  

9,8 out of 10 goatheads

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