Bird From The Abyss - III EP

Artist: Bird From The Abyss 
Album: III EP 
Label:  Self released
Year: 2010 

Tracklist:

01. Neck-Deep in Swampy Mud 
02. Powers Hidden 
03. Interlude from Abandoned Well 

 Download

(The saga continues and here is III EP, presented to you as an exclusive 50, numbered copy stack in a slim mini-DVD style case and black 8cm mini-CDr, with a sticker-on-cardboard insert and cover art by V. Lähde)

Official Site 
Buy 

Various Artists - A Hydra Head Sampler Phoning It In

Artist: Various Artists 
Album: A Hydra Head Sampler Phoning It In
Label:  Hydra Head
Year: 2010

Tracklist:

1. Oxbow + Philippe Thiphaine - "Coalking" From Songs for the French (5:46)
2. Daughters - "The First Supper" From "s/t" (3:18)
3. Bohren & Der Club Of Gore - "Unkerich" From Dolores (5:31)
4. Knut - "Calamity" From Wonder (1:43)
5. The Austerity Program - "Song 27" From Backsliders and Apostates Will Burn (4:04)
6. Pyramids With Nadja - "Another War" From Pyramids With Nadja (15:27)
7. Helms Alee - "Lionize" From Lionize/Truly 7" (2:45)
8. Hayaino Daisuki - "Ghosts of Purgatory" From The Invincible Gate Mind of the Infernal Fire Hell, or Did You Mean Hawaii Daisuki? (2:43)
9. Harvey Milk - "I Know This Is No Place For You" From A Small Turn of Human Kindness (5:07)
10. La Gritona - "Tony Alamo" From Demasiado Tonto Para Los Ninos Listos. Demasiado Listo Para Los Ninos Tontos (4:38)
11. Stephen Brodsky - "Here In Spirit" From Here's to the future (5:54)
12. Jodis - "Continents" From Secret House (7:27)
13. Nihill - "Mundus Subterreanus" From Krach (5:16)
14. Cave In - "Retina Sees Rewind" From Planets of Old (2:30)
15. Kayo Dot - "II. Whisper Ineffable" From Coyote (11:13)
16. Keelhaul "THC for One" from Keelhaul's Triumphant Return to Obscurity (3:34)
17. Clouds - "New Bombs" From B Chuggas May Be Logging (2:08)
18. Xasthur - "UNTITLED 4/05" From 2005 Demo (7:02)
19. GridLink - "Amber Gray" From Amber Gray (1:06)
20. Greymachine - "Wasted" From Disconnected (8:43)
21. Bergraven - "Hunger" From Till Makabert Vasen (7:08)
22. Torche - "UFO" From Songs For Singles (2:01)

 Download

 Regardless of the fact I/we shouldn't need to convince the public to download this sampler because... well... sampler = free, I/we plan on doing a little persuading... Please refer to list of reason for checking out the sampler below:

1. Free Jams!
2. 22 Free Jams!
3. Contains Some Unreleased Jams For Free!
4. Free Photos of the Lovely HHR Staff Having a Laugh and an Ice Creams!

 Official site

X:THC - The Human Condition

Artist: X:THC
Album: X: The Human Condition
Label: Self Released
Year: 2009

Tracklist:
01. Hide
02. Monster
03. A Human Flood
04. The Creature From The Blackened Room
05. Sleeping With One Eye Open
06. Don't Cry
07. Mr. Happy
08. Like Violins
09. You 're Worth Fighting For
10. Tag, You're It

We do not offer a download link since you can buy the album from the band's site for as much as you want!!

So, finally, I got the CD in the mail! I listened to it and liked it a lot! Then I ripped it so I could put it in my MP3 collection, in my iPod and so on. But as soon as the CD was ripped I realized that I didn't know where to put it in my collection!! What kind of music is X:THC playing? Is it Trip Hop? Is it Dark Rock? Is it Ambient?  Chill Out maybe?
Yeap, you got it! X:THC have managed to melt various genres of music into a big music cauldron! From the dark spoken introduction in "Hide" to the jazzy "Tag, You're it" you have the impression that there is more than one band performing on this wonderfull CD. And yet, it remains coherent the whole time, kind of being a concept album.
So, if you like Massive Attack, Nine Inch Nails and Chill Out music, then I bet that you re going to love this album!

X: THC’s Michael Nova is an existential explorer. A powerful performer, composer, filmmaker and producer, Michael is releasing his multimedia music and film project, X: The Human Condition, after over a decade of, at times, seemingly insurmountable challenges, countered by an innate creative perseverance. The project came about as many artistic ventures do – as a means of catharsis at a hard time in Michael’s life. However, hard times got harder, and when Michael became severely ill and almost went blind, X: The Human Condition seemed doomed. After completely revitalizing his way of life, Michael experienced a miraculous recovery, which in turn drove him to complete his magnum opus. Now he brings the work to the world, to inspire others to make a positive change as he did, and make a difference.

Synthesizing music, film, and an unforgettable live experience, X: THC is evolving and redefining how a live show is presented and experienced within the model of the music industry.

The central themes of the show are the universal human sentiments of isolation, loneliness, and detachment. By integrating different live media forms through “synesthesia” (cross-sensory experience), X: THC extends their own experiences to the audience, including them and affirming the fact that each of us is not alone.

The immersive, live concert performance is accompanied by Michael’s original film, X: The Human Condition, whose wistful and mysterious imagery creates an utterly unique and uplifting experience. Citing Tim Burton, Michel Gondry, Jean Cocteau, and The Brothers Grimm as major influences, Michael’s visual companion to the performance is a surrealistic trip inside the human subconscious.

In order to affect concrete change in others’ lives, X: THC has partnered with several charities dedicated to helping others who feel alone, alienated or "different". A portion of proceeds from ticket and album sales of X: The Human Condition will go to aid this vast community of people overcoming difficulties.

Official site
Buy (store)

dreDDup - El Conquistadors

Artist: dreDDup
Album: El Conquistadors
Label: Insurrection Records
Year: 2009







Tracklist:
01. Clockwork
02. First Blood
03. With No Teeth
04. Opening
05. Space Error
06. Invisible Tears
07. Mind Games
08. Last One
09. The New Pain
10. El Conquistadors
11. Futurism (MrBd Mix)
12. Oregon
13. Return of the TV
14. One of Us
15. Amputated Soul

Download

Music of dreDDup is a mixture of dark noisy sounds with rough industrial rhythm followed by metallic vocals. They are mostly influenced by post industrial music scene of the late 80's and the mid 90's. After experimenting with weird noises and rough drum beats they embraced commercial segments in their sound, making it more popular for some wider range of listeners. Today, they sound like a crossover of every genre they get in touch with.

dreDDup was formed 4th of June 1997 in the small city of Novi Sad Located in Serbia (Europe). In the beginning the whole band were two punk guys who began to experiment with electronic music. They DIY produced their first demo 'BDTP' in late 1997. and their first demo album 'Abnormal Waltz' in late 1998. During the late 1990s dreDDup were part of what was known as the post- industrial / noise influenced band but their sound changed rapidly - finally gathering it all under the label of industrial / crossover. Many DIY cassette EP's and demo soundscapes were recorded in that period but were never officially released. Live performances took place and members changed.

Exploring the dark sides of the human mind and the distorted production of truthful industrial crossover music, they've released their first official album 6 years later. 'Mr Bordnead's Feast' (2004) saw the addition of violins, keyboards, female back vocals and live instruments. It sounded more mainstream and commercial but band did it with a purpose to get the attention from the Serbian media. More innovative than old demos , yet retaining all the key elements of the early era, 'Mr Borndead's Feast' was slightly darker, although a long way off the intense darkness of the first two demos. This album talked about the past and the bloody feast of the close minded. 2004's showed a band continuing to expand and redefine their sound and purpose. A substantial increase in live performances - once an unheard of rarity - has lead to much greater recognition by a new generation of fans.

In 2005, Holland music label MoocSound Records , released their 'Mr Borndead's Feast' album in digipack format. Band than produced several videoclips and entirely dislocated their sound from the other surrounding bands. dreDDup's next release came in august 16th. 2007, when they released their second album - 'Future Porn Machine'. Following the footsteps of 'Mr.Borndeads Feast' this new album sounded more darker and more industrial rock than the previous one leaving the production rough. The main concept of this album was the pornographic future, where art = pornography = art where machines are replaced by humans. "Insurrection Records" from Belgrade recognized this band's music and agreed to release this album. dreDDup than finally abandoned that mainstream sound and went back to the basics of their music leaving the old work behind. After this move, they finally got the recognition by the wider audience. It continued by making the official remixes for Nine Inch Nails and re-relase of their old demo album 'Abnormal Waltz' on CD for 9 foreign labels.

In 2008, the band was included in much of the foreign music compilations. Third album 'El Conquistadors' was than finished in late 2008. This album was meant to be totally different from their previous ones. The new dreDDup sound followed more post- industrial sound and less melodies, including some very dark vocals and music that brought new dark energy in their live performances. It's concept was to bring the old sound from the 80's back to life. All 15 tracks are for the "chosen ones" only and band decided to release a bonus DVD with it. DVD contains "Industrial Renaissance" 40 min documentary about the band and 50 min live video of the dreDDup show "Live in 219". This album was the last one in time trilogy and is talking about the present tense and human inner boundaries. Album was officially released for Insurrection Records on March the 6th 2009.

Although primarily a musical group, dreDDup has sometimes worked in other media. In their early years, they've produced several works of video art., film soundtracks and theatre music. Collaboration with many underground acts and artists also took place in their career.

They are currently on tour and working on their new fourth coming album which is about to be released in the beginning of 2011. This will also be the last dreDDup album.

Official site
MySpace
Buy

Ruined Machines

Artist: Ruined Machines
Album: The Grasping Hands Of Possibility
Label: Self Released
Year: 2007





Tracklist:
01. Hardly a Place of Honor
02. Earth's Best Kept Secret
03. The Grasping Hands of Possibility
04. Of Aries & Aquarius
05. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
06. Hidden Paths to the Core
07. Your Morphing Mindset
08. Deep Thought & Deep Space
09. Miss Television Intelligence

Download

Ruined Machines are an experimental, instrumental rock band out of Linden, New Jersey, formed July 21, 2006. With influences ranging from post- and space-rock bands such as Red Sparowes and Explosions in the Sky, hard rock and metal acts like CKY and Hopesfall, and even classic rock outfits like Queen and Pink Floyd, Ruined Machines make use of mellow, atmospheric sounds as well as heavy rock guitar solos to make their sound more creative and enjoyable to listen to.


Artist: Ruined Machines
Album: Paths to a Digital Dawn
Label: Self Released
Year: 2008






Tracklist:
01. Good Morning
02. Her Eyes Hold Poison
03. Paths to a Digital Dawn
04. A Milestone, Your Every Step
05. You Can't Tell Time in the Dark
06. Cathedrals Underground
07. The Broken Lullaby
08. Barriers

Download

"An album doesn't start from the exact time you lay down the first track of the first song the first time. It starts way beforehand. It takes a lot of mental power, a lot of brainstorming, preparing... pressing and obsessing. It takes gathering all of the emotions you've gone through, all the experiences you've had, all the love and hate you felt up until the time that that album is completed.

This album, as each one before it, is a product of my heart and soul; it's the creation of a mind and its pair of hands. It's the aural representation of sadness and happiness and everything in between. Loneliness, pain, pleasure, shock, fear, worry, anxiety, hunger, despair, boredom, regret, wonder, disappointment, pride... It's all in there.

An album is a journal entry as well as its creator's masterpiece at its time of completion.
I work with the tools I have to paint on an infinite canvas. I am an artist. I am a musician. Each album i've written reflects the changes i've gone through, and in turn the album changes me once it's complete.
The new album, "Pressure & Obsession", tells a fictional story through music, but at the same time, largely reflects exactly what's been through my head, in my heart and in front of my eyes this whole time. It's as heartfelt as can be. It is my vent, it is my release. It is what i haven't expressed through words. It is an extension of my self. It is everything about me."

-Joseph Kenyon, Ruined Machines.

Official site
MySpace

The Atomic Bomb Audition - Light Will Remain

Artist: The Atomic Bomb Audition
Album: Light Will Remain
Label: Self Released
Year: 2008

Tracklist:
01. Tracing The Ecliptic
02. Copernicus Apogee
03. Copernicus Perigee
04. The Fifth Wizard
05. We Speak To The Revelator
06. You Are The Sun & The Moon
07. Reseda Books Of Blood

Download

With roots set in the convergent space between doom metal. film music, and apocalyptic comedy, The Atomic Bomb Audution has fashioned its own expansive voice. The Bay Area quartet consructs deafeningly loud yet meticulously detailed sound worlds using a film director's sense of scene, each element chosen to serve the whole. The sound is 21st Century post-metal amalgam of myriad elements: excoriating guitars, haunting bowed contrabass, Moog synth trickery, thunderous percussion mosaics, feedback melodicisms, dulcet gamelan, and moon-governed anthemic crescendos among much else. With pieces clocking from ten to twenty minutes, the band elaborates a wide arc of deliberate sonic architecture through theme and variation rather than indulging in explanatory jams. Sounding at times like Neurosis interpreting the Cure's Disintegration, their artistic touchstones include The Melvins, Mullholland Dr. Bohren und der Club of Gore, Jerry Goldsmith, Bill Hicks, Brian Eno and Pink Floyd's Animals; artists who know how to navigate a wide field of influences with originality and aplomb.

Their 2nd full lenght album, Light Will Remain, is an immense work that represents the band at their creative apex. The album is an evocative document of the art of memory and the evolving significance of events through time. The desire to illuminate and darken aspects of our psychic apparatus based on the indeterminate verity of belief and sense drives this collection of narratives. Peaks of crushing psychedelic metal are buried under ebbs of seasick chords and gently whirring vibraphone. A stoic black hole guitar and bass maw repels celestial debris of processed percussion and voice towards the horizon. The band forges sound like aural filmmakers evoking wavws of synaesthetic images.

Formed in 2004, The Atomic Bomb Audition has performed in clubs, warehouses, galleries, co-ops, and colleges in the Bay Area and throughout the Western Seaboard. They have shared stages with host of ungodly talents including Sir Richard Bishop (Sun City Girls), GIRTH, Gregg Kowalsky, Barn Owl, Lesbian, Wah Wah Exit Wound, Jesse Quattro (Secret Chiefs 3), Dysrhythmia, Aspects of Physics, New Thrill Parade and diminished Men among others. They have collaborated live and on record with Braden Diotte (Tarantula Hawk), Jesse Quattro, avant-garde percussionist Shayna Dunkelman and folk singer Erika Pipkin. The band has completed several tours of the West Coast, and continues to perform live in support of Light Will Remain. (-taken from the band's press report)

The Atomic Bomb Audition are:

Alee Karim - guitar/vox

Brian Gleeson - drums/vox

Jason Hoopes - bass/vox

The Norman Conquest - electronics/vox

Official site
MySpace

Rosa Parks - Rosa Parks EP

Artist: Rosa Parks
Album: Rosa Parks EP
Label: Self Released
Year: 2009

Tracklist:
01. Fanum
02. XX
03. God Spent The Weekend On Earth

Download

Rosa Park is a four-piece group hailing from Győr, Hungary. They took their name from Rosa Lee Parks, a civil rights activist who was born and lived in the U.S.
Rosa Park were formed in 2007 and this EP is "celebrating", in a way,  their first two years of being together. I found the music wonderful and easy to listen to. It creates a nice atmosphere similar to "Explosions In The Sky", "Caspian", Scraps Of Tape and the likes...

As Gergő wrote in his message, the band is inspired by underground clubs, friends, hunger, history of injustice, melancholic moments.

Band Members Are:

Gergő – Guitar
Flo – Bass
Laci – Drums
Ádám – Guitar


Well done Gergő, well done Rosa Parks!!

Official site
MySpace

Képzelt Város - Mit Nekem

Artist: Képzelt Város
Album: Mit Nekem
Label: Major
Year: 2009








Tracklist:
01. Sol
02. D2
03. Papírhajó
04. Zuhanó
05. Sergei6
06. White Noise
07. Hercules
08. Futok

Download

Official site
MySpace

Fall Of Efrafa - Inle

Artist: Fall Of Efrafa 
Album: Inle 
Label: Halo of Flies, Sound Devastation, Alerta Antifascista Records, Behind the Scenes Records
Year: 2009

Tracklist:
01. Simulacrum
02. Fu Inle
03. Republic Of Heaven
04. The Burial
05. Woundwort
06. The Sky Suspended
07. Warren Of Snares

Download

Fall of Efrafa proves further that there is still a great deal of inventiveness in existence within the underground music scene by basing the entire concept (from band name, to topical song material, to artwork) around a singular work of literature by exploring the themes and moods and the mythology within Watership Down. Inle is the final installment in a trilogy of albums by this U.K. act and impressively lives up to its moniker (in Watership Down the black rabbit of Inle is the Grim Reaper of the world in the book) by bringing an end to the cycle for the band.

Fall of Efrafa demonstrates an exceptional skill with manipulating soft to loud and loud to soft dynamics while at the same time imbuing their music with a spatial depth that mixes harsh distortion with pleasant melodies. Coarse vocals contrast with music well and adds another element to the band's overall sound. Still, the one aspect of Fall of Efrafa that is most impressive on Inle is the exceptional compositional quality of their songs; the songs flow well and do not wear at all, even with some tracks that easily break the fifteen minute mark, possibly due to the music having a narrative quality itself, like it is speaking to the listener. The tension builds and falls only to start the process all over again as the songs roll in a wholly natural and organic manner that is evident from the very beginning with “Simulacrum,” and while the band somehow marries the different musical motifs (imagine if Neurosis got together with Godspeed You! Black Emperor and created a kind of amalgam of their unmistakable styles) to create their sound. Powerful sounding guitars and percussion combine with impassioned vocals and excellent song composition to provide an engaging and oft times exciting listen, and without a single weak track to be found on Inle, the album captures one's imagination.

I truly am taken aback by Inle from Fall of Efrafa, due in no small part to its breadth and scope. The whole album is impressive with little detail, if any, left out of the release from the music from the composition to the overall sound to the lyrical narrative to the packaging. The best way to experience Inle is to sit with the record on the turntable and the stereo turned up loud enough to force out any type of interruption; have the lyric sheet out so that you might follow along with the story, and just absorb the entire atmosphere that emanates around you while you listen.
-by  scenepointblanc.com 


Official site

MySpace
Buy

Sihr - Beneath The Twelve Mile Zone

Artist: Sihr

Album: Beneath The Twelve Mile Zone

Label: Self Released

Year: 2009







Tracklist:
01. Russian Legs
02. Comes With The Territory
03. Working With Knots
04. Running Wild
05. Unbecoming Misdeeds
06. Kumari Kandam

Download

Sihr are heavy, sludgy, fuzzed out metal with elements of experimental noise, progressive, psychedelia and stoner groves. For fans of Neurosis, Electric Wizard, Mastodon, Melvins, Clutch, Bongzilla, Intronaut, Big Business, Kylesa, Minsk, Young Windows, Cursed, The Sword, Mouth Of The Architect, Hawkwind, Ufomammut, 35007 etc.

Official Site
MySpace

Rising Winter - In Times Of Great Storm

Artist: Rising Winter

Album: In Times Of Great Storm

Label: Self Released

Year: 2009







Tracklist:
01. H0st
02. Remnants Of Society
03. New World Rising
04. pH45
05. Another Empty Shell
06. Hyperborea
07. Rural
08. In Times Of Great Storm
09. Upon The Winter Way
10. Rebirth
11. Where Moment Lasts Eternity

Download

Formed in January 2009, with the idea of playing rock music, Rising Winter has achieved much in past couple of months. From its very beginning band was meant to be international project, a collaboration of musicians from around the world. Line ups came and went and recording became more or less a problem. Also due multiple composers band had too much space between sounds of the songs. From 18 composed songs, only 10 were selected for debut album “In Times Of Great Storm” which is finished recording and its being slowly prepared for mixing. Band decided to release the album as internet release.
Concerning the band line up, band is open to collaborate with session musicians but there are four permanent members in line up at this time – Nordawn, Dušan, Mathijs, Igor and Marko. The line-up is working on the second album whose recording is expected to start in October 2009. Much more work will be dedicated to it. Meanwhile work on small EP called “Svet U Ogledalu” is in progress. EP will be sang in Serbian and also available for free download when completed.

Official Site
MySpace

A Backward Glance On a Travel Road - A Backward Glance On a Travel Road

Artist: A Backward Glance On a Travel Road

Album: A Backward Glance On a Travel Road

Label: Self Released

Year: 2009

Tracklist:

01. Regular Barbary
02. Falling
03. Johny Got His Gun
04. In Absentia part I
05. In Absentia part II
06. Hier Régnant Désert
07. Approximativement Moi

Download

As a musician and producer, I find it truly amazing to be introduced to something new that touches my mind so intensely, I not only hear the music, but I also feel and see the music. A Backward Glance on a Travel Road, or ABGOATR, is a project born of the group Hypno5e. Knowing the work of gifted, multi-instrumentalist Emmanuel Jessua and drummer Thibault Lamy, my first thoughts predicted pieces of intense, powerful progressive metal that the band Hypno5e master. I would have welcomed a new record of equivalent weight, but I was encouraged by this album’s alternative beginnings.

A dark mix of progressive rock, experimental landscapes, and unique emotional texture, infused with multiple layers of ethnic styles, instrumental arrangements and moments of vocal majesty, A Backward Glance on a Travel Road is not music for your average listener. It contains some moments of heartfelt sincerity that mercilessly pull on your hearts strings, and in the same moment, can send dark, threatening visions of evil though your mind seamlessly. Without a true category which to be placed, this collection can only be looked at as beautiful unique, art form from the minds of true innovators.

"Regular Barbary", hypnotic and desperate, takes some illusive vocal samples and intertwines them with colorful acoustic guitar to add a perfect level of dramatic appeal. This is beyond a song or a just a good tune. It is too grand to be attached to such a small label. A sonic painting would be a much more accurate description. The middle-eastern and Spanish influences make this piece live beyond ones hearing. The second, "Falling" expands on the same architecture and fills you with a feeling of sadness and dread, but somehow holds you comfortably as the voices sore. Again, the brush strokes paint a very powerful picture if you are listening carefully. It makes you visualize more than just listen. Threatening at times, but consistently beautiful.

The classically, progressive influences come out clearly within "Johnny got his gun". It is horror, sadness, gloom, and a touching stroke of pleasurable pain set carefully between each and every one of its notes. Clearly an experimental homage to both Dalton Trumbo's 1939 novel of the same name, and Metallica's "One," the overall production, use of dynamics and chanting of "S.O.S. help me" makes a truly frightening and brilliant ending to the song. The beginning cascade of "In Absentia part 1" floats down softly, but darkly. The overall shapes and musical arrangement achieved in this composition is tight and warming. Again, it is an audible, but truly visual experience if your ears are tuned carefully.

As the remaining half, "In Absentia part 2" reaches for your senses, it's mood follows an upward motion like ascending slowly to the light from a deep, dark pool. There is still an underlying coat of darkness but you can feel it climb to something powerful and bright. "Hier Regnant Desert," a rhythmically aggressive ride away from the heavier textures and space of the earlier pieces, it latches on and pulls you down a road of tight, thumps and clicks joined by the same mystical phrasing that makes the other pieces so inviting. By the time the vocal cadence appears, you are held captive. These musical journeys are full of change, adventure and stories waiting to be written. It has beautiful breath and stamina which over powers you by its conclusion. "Approximativement Moi" wraps up the piece with less detail but with huge scope and depth. Soundscapes with obvious restraint, its tone and ambient quality is fitting to end a great album of pure, human emotion. (-by Bryon Turcotte)

Official Site
MySpace

Free Download/Donate

Caravels - The Earthling Sessions

Artist: Caravels

Album: The Earthling Sessions

Label: Self Release

Year: 2009






Tracklist:
01. Dark Obsession
02. Snake Plissken
03. Flawless Victory

Download

Caravels is 5-piece band from Las Vegas, Nevada, who play a unique brand of progressive hardcore, owing just as much debt to early screamo acts (Portraits of Past, City of Caterpillar) as they do to Botch and These Arms Are Snakes.

MySpace