The Rock Blogger

Natural Snow Buildings. The Centauri Agent. 2010.

Yet another epic masterpiece from this prolific French duo. The Centauri Agent further develops the mystical psychedelic folk from their earlier work and stretches it out into an otherworldly dimension. Whereas their previous records incorporated chants and other organic accents, their latest work pushes into deep space, with sparse guitar work, airy drones and feather-light vocals that hover in the distance. An immense work that reveals more beautiful secrets with every listen.

Ulaan Khol. III. 2010.

Guitar driven space rock from Steven R. Smith that buzzes with intricate, psychedelic detail. Wild noodling, with breaks of ambient reverb, trace paths across an arid, sun-baked landscape as everything solid slowly melts. This is the desert, drenched with acid, then cracked and covered in dust.

Yellow Swans. Going Places. 2010.

A fascinating collection of drone pieces that takes oscillating synths, distorted guitars, and bursts of static to make something that sounds as natural as running water. Within the garbling, electronic chaos of this record lies a pulsating heart, providing a strong direction for each eclectic track.

Magnog. Magnog. 1996.

Extensive, fuzzed-out space-rock that weaves between cymbal crashes, ambient noise and shimmering tremolo riffs. Magnog were ahead of their time, finding a cosmic bridge between free-form interstellar jamming and the structured post-rock meditations that are commonplace today. Many wonderful moments, both sublime and cataclysmic, to be found here.

Selections for exploration, meditation, and self-imposed exile.

Fell Voices. Fell Voices 2009.

A terrific and obscure band from California whose members also produced the trance-inducing Sleepwalker project. Fell Voices’ stunning percussion, serpentine guitar work and cosmic drones provide for a deep and intensely rewarding listen. Finding a mystical space between the post-rock crescendos of Godspeed You Black Emperor and the raw catharsis of Wolves in the Throne Room, Fell Voices push black metal to transcendental heights. It encompasses everything great about black metal.

Negură Bunget - Vîrstele Pămîntului 2010.

A grandiose black metal album with progressive and folk elements that honors the pagan history and lore of Romania. Epic songs slowly build from sweeping acoustic melodies to dense tremolo riffing, accompanied by airy synths, cascading percussion and heartfelt vocals (both sung and screamed). An immensely detailed effort with eclectic uses of traditional folk instruments, densely layered progressions and a strong, romantic atmosphere.

Кrоdа - Towards the Firmaments - Verge of Life. 2005.

Ukraine’s Kroda provide spirited celebrations of nature and aggression with bombastic compositions full of caustic drum rolls, folk-tinged instrumentals and ghastly howls. Despite being more symphonic and upbeat than your average black metal band, Kroda are just as warlike as their country’s contemporaries, launching into their dirges with barbaric urgency.

Forgotten Woods - The Curse of Mankind. 1996.

An underrated classic of atmospheric black metal, The Curse of Mankind features gritty lo-fi production, wintry blast beats, maniacal shrieks and long, winding guitar passages. The kind of album that you can just leave on as you drift off into a trance, letting its organic texture seep into your brain.

Lönndom - Viddernas Tolv Kapitel. 2010.

Traditional and nostalgic acoustic folk from Sweden that holds a candle to Ulver’s Kveldssanger. The medieval melodies are hynoptic, coupled with crisp production and sublime vocal work. The sound of the mountain wind and the babble of rivers can be heard between the pristine ringing of guitar strings.