Eventually I caved and bought the album from iTunes. After a few spins I liked what I heard, but wasn’t blown away. It was good, but not quite as mind altering as I was expecting it to be. Then around the fourth or fifth listen something clicked and all the hidden layers of the album started to reveal themselves. It was at that moment that I knew what everyone was talking about.

If you already are one of the converted, then you likely know the band have a new album called Sunbather dropping on June 11th via Deathwish Inc. and they posted a track from it called “Dream House” last week.

 
There’s been a ton of buzz about Sunbather over the past couple of weeks, which has escalated even more now that everyone has heard “Dream House”. A large number of people have been commenting on how they didn’t get the band before, but after checking out “Dream House” they have a newfound appreciation for them. I also read a post at Metal Sucks complimenting the production of the track and how much better it sounds compared to Roads to Judah. I found that kind of odd. I’m quite picky myself when it comes to production values and I’ve never had a problem with how Roads to Judah sounds. Plus I don’t find that “Dream House” sounds that much different than Roads to Judah. Maybe I need new headphones.

No matter what, I’m glad people are digging it. Deafheaven are certainly deserving of the phase and I’m really looking forward to hearing the rest of the album next month.

If you fall under the category of people who haven’t seen the band live, someone was nice enough to record some quality multi camera footage at the Entrench record release show in the band’s hometown of Winnipeg. Links to each of the songs from the show are below for your clicking convenience.

“Mako Shark/The Promises of God”
“No; I’m in Control”
“The Hammer Party/The Goat”
“Counter Culture Complex”
“The Terror Pulse”
“Never Was”
“Your Heartwarming Story Makes Me Sick”
“Book of Muscle”

Now hurry up and come back to Halifax so I can have my head crushed again.

Measurements of Sound – Volume 08 Track Listing:

00:00:00 Buried at Sea – “Ghost – Part I”
00:12:33 Cough – “Athame”
00:31:04 Moss – “Ritus”
00:35:08 Indian – “Guiltless”
00:43:06 Unearthly Trance – “Scarlet”
00:50:05 Buried at Sea – “Ghost – Part II”
00:54:31 Locrian – “The Crystal World”
01:00:09 Ufomammut – “Sulphurdew”
01:12:24 Thou – “Cold World”
01:18:08 Graves at Sea – “Pariah”
01:28:39 Monarch! – “Blood Seeress”
01:41:06 Boris – “Ganbou-Ki”
01:56:45 Buried at Sea – “Ghost – Part III”

For a couple of years I’ve wanted to do a podcast built around Buried at Sea’s nearly 30 minute track “Ghost”. Even though I highly recommend experiencing it as a whole, I’ve always heard it as three separate movements that are connected as a single track. This gave me the idea to split it into three pieces and expand on them to create a podcast.

I’ve made a few attempts at doing this since coming up with the idea, but could never find the right mix of tracks to compliment “Ghost”. Until a couple of weeks ago when I heard the Cough/Windhand split Reflection of the Negative. Specifically the Cough track “Athame”. It was exactly the inspiration I was looking for and within a couple days the beast you see before you fell into place.

I have lots of other ideas or themes for future podcasts that I’ve been mulling over for a while now. Some of them will see the light of day, while others won’t. But that’s okay, I know the ones that are meant to be will happen when the timing is right or I hear something that starts the ball rolling. This is exactly why there is no rhyme or reason when it comes to how often you will see a new podcast on this website. They will appear when they are meant to be and not a second sooner. For now, I hope you enjoy this one and keep it away from small children. It will crush their fingers.

The main feature on the Fire Was Born is a full live concert filmed in London that perfectly captures the band at their prime while touring in support of their Eternal Kingdom album.

Whenever I watch Fire Was Born I keep coming back to one track again and again – “Dark City, Dead Man”. It pretty much encompasses everything I love about Cult of Luna over a sprawling fourteen plus minutes. I won’t bore you with trying to describe what is so great about the track – or Cult of Luna for that matter. Just watch the clip and you’ll see.

Little by little more information has trickled out and this past week the band premiered “Merge” from their forthcoming debut.

As you will notice when listening to “Merge” its clear right off the bat that Distant Correspondent is a much different beast than David’s other band. Where Goes Cube can literally be a roaring beast, Distant Correspondent takes a more subdued approach. Distortion and pounding drums are traded in for subtle layers of guitar forming textures of sound that are nudged along by tasteful steady rhythms. All of which are perfectly complimented by the dreamy vocals of David and Edith Frost.

Keep an eye and an ear on the band via their profiles on Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter and Soundcloud. Details on their full length album should be surfacing soon, along with a music video for the track “Summit” that is in the works.

So these twenty albums might not be as eclectic as they have in previous years, but I can say with confidence they are all killer and no filler. I’ve spent countless hours (in some cases days) enjoying every single one of them. Don’t worry too much about reading my write-ups. If anything just check out the song clips/videos linked below and hopefully you might discover something you like. If you do, be sure to support the artists and buy their music, then spread the word.

01. Woods of Ypres – Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light

Anyone who knows me won’t be surprised to see Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light by Woods of Ypres at the top of this list. However there was a time a few weeks ago I thought that wasn’t going to be the case. It was in the top five, but not number one.

It’s been almost exactly a year since I first heard Woods 5 and I couldn’t even begin to guess how many times I’ve listened to it over the past twelve months. But like any album you love, eventually you’ll end up letting it sit for a bit. Which is what I had been doing the past couple of months. During that time I found myself branching out and enjoying some really great music by other artists. Along the way I think I sort of forgot how good Woods 5 was. Until last week.

To get this post in order I started revisiting the albums I was shortlisting and giving them each a few more listens. The first one I listened to was Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light and it’s been in constant rotation ever since. Everything I love about the album came flooding back to me immediately and I knew there was no way anything else was going to top it.

Woods of Ypres – Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light (MP3 Sample)

1. Adora Vivos
2. Silver
3. Kiss My Ashes (Goodbye) Part 2

It was quite a challenge to sum up my thoughts on the album when I reviewed it back in July. Read the review if you’d like, it should explain why Woods 5 stood out high above everything else that came out this year. But you’d be much better off to stop reading, shut out life’s distractions and listen to this. You won’t regret it.

Thank you David and Joel.

02. Horseback – Half Blood

I don’t know how music this creepy can be so damn relaxing to listen to. Yet here I am with my headphones on nodding along enthusiastically as Jenks Miller’s raspy vocals and dry bone riffs are pushed along by a steady driving rhythm. My co-workers just peeked over their monitors giving me that WTF look. I said nothing and turned on my speakers. Calm washed over the room and now we all nod in unison.

“Ahriman”

03. The Devil’s Blood – The Thousandfold Epicentre

I was going to be a smart ass and copy/paste some random satanic quote here. But I couldn’t find anything that sounded cool. So instead I poured blood over myself, went to the basement, put on The Thousandfold Epicentre and drew pentagrams on the floor. Okay, fine. I didn’t do that either. But thanks to the massive hooks and crafty songwriting of the Devil’s Blood, I have tricked many a Christian Solider into worshiping the southern lord this year. Hails.

“The Madness of Serpents”

04. Ufomammut – ORO: Opus Primum/Opus Alter

Ufomammut are on to some next level shit. I’ve been a fan of them for years, but with their last few albums they really have found their niche. Sonically they are hands down my favorite band. These guys just get it. Plain and simple. Technically ORO: Opus Primum/Opus Alter is two albums. Opus Primum being part one and Opus Alter part two. But I choose to digest this beast as a whole and I recommend you do the same.

“Oroborus”

05. Deftones – Koi No Yokan

I wanted to let you all know the Deftones will be doing a lunch and learn every second Thursday on how to age gracefully as a band. Future sessions will also be scheduled that touch on avoiding identity crises, bucking trends and how to churn out consistently strong music when you are 24 years into your career. Seriously, pay attention to this band. They are onto something.

“Rosemary”

06. Baroness – Yellow & Green

I don’t have a problem with the AC/DC formula. If you figured out something that works that well, then go ahead and make the same album over and over. But I also have a fondness for bands who want to push their sound in new directions. Baroness are definitely the latter. Never content to stay in one spot and become stagnant, the band hands down made their strongest statement to date with Yellow & Green. It also looks pretty.

“Eula”

07. Royal Thunder  – CVI

I was a fan of Royal Thunder’s self-titled EP and was confident the band would put out a solid follow-up. But CVI was one of the most pleasant surprises of the year. The album is a perfect example of a band taking huge strides as songwriters, honing in on their strong points and expanding their sound by just the right amount. They didn’t reinvent themselves, they just figured out what works and made it better. Much fucking better.

“Whispering World”

08. Kadavar – Kadavar

Judging by the photo on their album cover, Kadavar are oblivious to the fact that it is 2012 and listening the album only cements that even more. I can only assume this was recorded in Tony Iommi’s basement straight after a three day bender with Pentagram. Well maybe not, but until anyone tells me any different, I’m treating that is the stone cold truth. Inhale and worship the riff.

“Black Sun”

09. Alcest – Les Voyages de L’Âme

Parfois, il peut être difficile à mettre en mots ce que vous pensez d’un album. Surtout quand vous êtes en train de dire quelque chose d’intéressant vingtaine d’albums différents. J’ai donc décidé de sortir de ma zone de confort et écrire celui-ci en français. Cela seul suffisait de travail, je ne vais pas la peine d’aller sur comment super Les Voyages de L’Âme est. Je suppose que si vous êtes sur ce site et parler le français, vous avez probablement déjà tout savoir sur Alcest toute façon.

“Là Où Naissent Les Couleurs Nouvelles”

10. Ides of Gemini – Constantinople

According to Ides of Gemini it’s dark and cold in California. Or at least that’s the mood that is captured so eloquently on Constantinople through J. Bennett’s distant trancelike riffing, Sera Timms haunting vocals and Kelly Johnston’s subtle drum fills. There’s lots to dig into here and the band draws from a number of influences that compliment each other perfectly. With each repeat listen of Constantinople it climbs up this list one more notch. Nine more spins and it very well could have been sitting at the top of the pile.

“Resurrectionists”

11. Ancestors – In Dreams and Time

Last year Ancestors dropped a three song EP titled Invisible White. It was some mellow shit. The kind of mellow Ancestors occasionally drop in the middle some epic space rock jam that just finished burning off your eyebrows. Good news. They’re back to business with In Dreams and Time. Everything we all loved about their past two full lengths is here and accounted for. So bust out your space suit, get ready for liftoff and put something over your eyebrows.

“Corryvreckan”

12. Testament – Dark Roots of Earth

See that album cover? Metal as fuck, isn’t it? My theory is the cover came first, then the music. You always hear about the bar being set high for a new album. Usually it’s based on the band’s last recording, or in some cases their peers. But if this cover was created before the band started writing Dark Roots of Earth, then that bar was set pretty goddamned high. There is no way a band would put out something with that on the front and not have it blow your balls off. Don’t worry, my balls are okay. When I saw the album cover I held a plate in front of them for my first listen. The plate didn’t make it.

“A Day in the Death”

13. DZ Deathrays – Bloodstreams

This sounds pretty much like Death From Above 1979. Which is kind of odd because DZ Deathrays is a guitar/drum duo and not a bass/drum duo, yet they sound like a bass/drum duo. It doesn’t matter though because DFA1979 are so damn good that I’m not going to hate on any band that sounds like them. Especially when their songs are this good.

“Dollar Chills”

14. Torche – Harmonicraft

Despite a valiant effort by Torche to throw me off this killer album by confusing me with whatever the hell is going on in that album cover, I was not deterred. Heaps of praise has been given to pretty much every album Torche has released. But around here Harmonicraft is sitting high on the pedestal. Apparently they get their power from rainbows, waterfalls and mutant My Little Ponies.

“In Pieces”

15. Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!

I finally get it. I’ve had some of Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s other albums for a few years now, but they never really clicked. I’m not put off by long assed post rock, but holy crap, it seemed like it took forever for something to happen when I was listening to this band. But one listen to Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! and I now get it. Back catalogue rediscovery in full effect. Come back to Halifax!

“Mladic”

16. Black Breath – Sentenced to Life

Sentenced to Life didn’t grab me by the junk quite like 2010’s Heavy Breathing did. But this is still heavy as a bag of sand in the face swung by Entombed while Converge kick your legs out from under you. If that’s your kind of thing, then get on board and watch out for Swedish sandbaggers and sneaky American hardcore bands who will take the legs out from under you at any chance they’ll get.

“Home of the Grave”

17. Converge – All We Love We Leave Behind

I’m as surprised as you to see Converge this far down my list. Especially after they totally floored me with Axe to Fall in 2009. To be honest there’s nothing to dislike about All We Love We Leave Behind. If anything Converge just set the bar a little too high the last time around. However I do expect after spending some more time with this beast, I’ll look back and kick myself for not putting it at least in the top ten. Oh and in case you didn’t know, Ben Koller is hands down the best drummer in metal. Now you know.

“Trespasses”

18. Lantlôs – Agape

Even though Alcest mastermind Neige is also a member of Lantlôs, we’ll stick with writing this one in English. Plus I think Neige’s bandmate Herbst is German and I already used up all my Google Translate credits. So no German for you! Anyway, Agape brings more solid dark wave, post black metal to the party. If that sounds like your kind of party, then pull up a chair, dim the lights and let some seasonal affective disorder set in. Also, on the way to the party, pick up the deluxe version of Agape that includes the cover of “Where Have You Gone My Friend” by Asylum Party. Super dark, depressing and hauntingly beautiful all at once.

“Bloody Lips and Paper Skin”

19. Witchcraft – Legend

Unlike Kadavar, Witchcraft seem to be aware that it is 2012. Sort of. Yes, their sound is still firmly rooted in the 70’s, but when they hit the studio to record Legend, the band opted to forgo the vintage feel of their past albums. Despite this and a major lineup change, this is undeniably Witchcraft, just with a little more weight sonically. As always, quality stuff.

“White Light Suicide”

20. Turbonegro – Sexual Harassment

A little less homoerrotic and a little more gruff. Other than that not too much else has changed with the departure of Hank From Hell and the arrival of Tony “The Duke of Nothing” Sylvester behind the microphone at Turbojugend HQ. So don’t let the somewhat mixed reviews of Sexual Harassment deter you. This is not a misstep, but rather a rebirth and the party animals never sounded better.

“You Give Me Worms”

1. Baroness – Yellow & Green

I planned on putting some serious thought and consideration into what album cover stood out to me most in 2012. Everything was pretty much going according to plan until I added Yellow and Green by Baroness to the list. At that point it was pretty clear what would be sitting at the top spot.

In some ways it seemed a little too easy to select the work of Baroness singer/guitarist/artist John Dyer Baizley. But there was no way getting around it. The art he created for Yellow and Green accompanied by a beautiful new Baroness logo drawn by Aaron Horkey, is simply stunning.

In case it’s not already obvious to you by looking at the proof above, this album is one you need to be holding in your hands. A bunch of files downloaded from iTunes or wherever you kids get your music from now days just ain’t gonna’ cut it. Now go find a record store and get yourself a copy. For that matter, all ten of these albums sound as good as they look and are quite deserving of your heard earned cash. So feel free to start working your way through the list. Your eyes and ears will thank you.

2. Testament – Dark Roots of Earth

3. Alcest – Les Voyages De L’Âme

4. Ufomammut – ORO: Opus Primum

5. Ufomammut – ORO: Opus Alter

6. Dawnbringer – Into the Lair of the Sun God

7. DZ Deathrays – Bloodstreams

8. Horseback – Half Blood

9. Blut Aus Nord – 777 Cosmosophy

10. Turbonegro – Sexual Harassment

The band also has a couple shows coming up. September 23^rd they play a free show at the Riverfront Park in Truro. Then on October 19^th they play at St. Matthew’s United Church in Halifax during the Halifax Pop Explosion. Get out and see these guys. They won’t disappoint.

Measurements of Sound – Volume 07 Track Listing:

00:00:00 Year of No Light – “Perséphone I”
00:11:22 Deafheaven – “Violet”
00:23:09 Alcest – “Écailles De Lune (II)”
00:32:54 Dreamless – “Nothing Irreparable Has Happened Here”
00:42:58 Airs – “Movement”
00:56:20 Whirr – “Hide”
00:59:31 Horseback – “Mithras”
01:04:35 Agalloch – “Black Lake Nidstang”
01:22:09 Lantlôs – “Where Have You Gone My Friend?”
01:27:16 Marriages – “Ten Tiny Fingers/Pelt”
01:35:24 To Blacken the Pages & Korperschwache – “Lovecraft”
01:43:43 Ides of Gemini – “One To Oneness”
01:47:47 Altar of Plagues – “Feather and Bone”
01:58:51 Year of No Light – “Abbesse”

Quite often I find myself reading about a band I’ve never heard before and imagining what they sound like. Sometimes what’s in my head is pretty close to how the bands actually sound. Other times I’m way off.

One example of where I was way off is My Bloody Valentine. I’ve heard lots about them over the years, but it was quite some time before I actually checked out their acclaimed Loveless album. I wouldn’t say I didn’t like what I heard, but it was definitely quite different than what I was expecting.

Prior to listening to My Bloody Valentine I constantly would listen to new artists and think to myself, “I bet this was influenced by My Bloody Valentine.” A statement purely driven by what I assumed My Bloody Valentine would sound like. I know – kind of a backwards system. But it still led me to discovering some great music and influencing the direction of this podcast along the way.

The first time I came across something that appeared to have a strong MBV influence was Year of No Light’s stunning Ausserwelt album. I was a fan of the band after hearing their previous release Nord, but was floored after hearing Ausserwelt. In fact Ausserwelt alone would be the springboard that pushed me in the direction of this podcast as well as looking for more artists exploring similar territory. Because of this it only seemed natural to bookend the podcast with two tracks from Ausserwelt – “Perséphone I” and “Abbesse”.

Not all of the tracks in this podcast are cut from the same cloth, but if you’ve seen my tweets while I was editing it, you would have seen my drop terms like feedback, darkwave, blastbeats and shimmering riffs. All of which creates the common thread that ties these songs and artists together. I hope you enjoy this one. I had lots of fun putting it together.

Horseback is easily one of my favorite discoveries over the last year when it comes to new music. Lots of praise has been given to their unique sound (think latter day Earth paired with Neil Young and topped off with black metal influenced vocals) and rightfully so. Have a listen to “Invokation” below or head over to their Bandcamp page to hear for yourself. Buy some stuff while you’re there too.

In addition to solid tunes, Horseback have some stunning album covers. Denis Forkas Kostromitin painted the covers for both Half Blood and The Gorgon Tongue: Impale Golden Horn + Forbidden Planet. Last year Decibel Magazine posted an in depth blog article where Denis explains the inspiration behind the artwork for The Gorgon Tongue: Impale Golden Horn + Forbidden Planet, as well as the evolution of how the painting came to be.

I haven’t been able to confirm if Denis is also responsible for creating the cover for Horseback’s 2010 album The Invisible Mountain. But none the less, it’s pretty damn handsome as well and definitely worthy of including in this post.

So to summarize; Horseback = good for your eyes and ears.