Dave’s Best of 2016

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For my personal list, I’ll write about the albums that struck me and that still evoke something when I hear them, or even when I only see their cover art. It’s a very subjective and eclectic list, and shouldn’t be taken as an objective best-of. Instead, I’ll tell you a bit more about what albums I still like, and try to explain why. This list isn’t ranked either; it’s only ordered in alphabetical order of the bands. Let’s move on!


Black Peaks really impressed me, with Statues, which came out in early 2016. And what surprised me even more … Read more

Mini-Reviews XLVII

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Baswoom & Stationer is a Polonoportuguese collaboration that gave birth to Depths, a thirty-minute ambient album. The sounds on record are layered, vibrant, and numerous, which really gives it a lush feeling. The seven tracks feel like modern soundtracks: with glitch, electronica, and just a bit of post-rock thrown in. A nice, relaxing album!
Greek progressive black metal Spectral Lore broke their one-year silence with Fossils, an ambient classical album. While Voyager and Gnosis were more tranquil than usual, for the band, this one is the barest and most contemplative one. While I haven’t been blown away by … Read more

Monthly Recommendations: 2016

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2016 has been a truly amazing year, in music. I’ve never ceased to be surprised and amazed by discoveries and recommendations from friends and readers of the website. Over the course of twelve months, we’ve picked fifty albums that are more than worth your time. To make things easier, we’ve compiled them all into a huge picture, and we’ll put links to all of these albums in this article, so you don’t have to search the website for every separate recommendation we’ve made.

On top of that, we’ll also be writing personal favourites from our little team. Each person will … Read more

Monthly Recommendations: December 2016

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There we go, one last set of monthly recommendations to end the year on a high note!

‘Japanese math-pop band Jyocho just released their first album, 祈りでは届かない距離 (A Prayer in Vain). It has a very strong indie-folk feel, but is enhanced by the presence of a flute. A friend commented that it sounds just like Uchu Conbini and The Perfect Sports – which it does! -, so I guess that means I also have to check out these wonderful bands. This album is quite captivating, thanks to the very capable musicians behind the scenes. It’s a bit difficult to get … Read more

EXCLUSIVE SONG PREMIERE: Auri – Regressions of the Seeker and Vision


Auri is the name of the atmospheric dissonant black metal project of drummer and multi-instrumentalist Sol Sinclair, which has grown and developed under secrecy for years. That’s until now! ‘Regressions of the Seeker and Vision’ is the second track off of Auri’s debut album, The Crown of Doubt, a twenty-eight-minute EP unleashing the forces of evil upon you. The first and last tracks are examples of their more atmospheric sound – and they are nothing to sleep on either -, while the core of the EP consists of fifteen minutes of in-your-faceism.

Diminished and minor intervals clash against each … Read more