The Berzerker

I first became aware of this band in 7th or 8th grade because I came across an insanely morbid and violent video for their song "Forever".  It was a little fucking much for me as a 13 year old but I eventually revisited it and fell in love.  Their sound is all around POWERFUL.  With intense, manic industrial elements creating the sound of being caught in the gears of a mechanical hell.  The drums pound with extreme speed, the vocals are delightfully grotesque, and the machine like instrumentals create a truly extreme experience that gets the heart racing and adrenaline pumping.

                              

Artist: The Berzerker
Album: The Berzerker
Song: Forever
Genre: industrial/grindcore/death metal

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Zion Train

To truly feel like a Jamaican, roll a fatty, crack a Red Stripe, and blast Zion Train with full bass.  This is the kind of music you would hear the real people of Jamaica listen to.  Its absolutely perfect to listen to when you're stoned and need to drive to Wawa late at night for your sorely needed munchies.

Artist:  Zion Train
Album:  Dub Revolutionaries: The Very Best Of Zion Train
Song:  Fox
Genre:  dub/reggae

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Mr. Woodnote

I got filled with a lot of excitement and joy right once Mr. Woodnote's saxophone run dub ran through my ears.  All done by one genius of a man, its phat ass beats are done beat box style with jazzy saxophone jamming over deep dub bass lines with the occasional Rastafarian singer/rapper.  This is something to absolutely be bumped obnoxiously in your car.

 

Artist: Mr. Woodnote

Album: Winter of Woodshed

Song: woodshed (ft lilrhys)

genre: dub/jazz/hip-hop

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Burning Love

Burning Love; stoner drenched hardcore punk with a rock n roll vibe.  What more is there to say?

Artist: Burning Love
Album: Rotten Thing to Say
Song: Broken Glass
Genre: Hardcore Punk/Stoner metal

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Rosetta

Post-metal has been fascinating me lately; the combination of the dynamic soundscapes and textures of post-rock with the balls of sludge.  Hailing from creative hub that is Philadelphia,  Rosetta creates a sound that is beautiful, heavy, emotionally charged and coarse which calls for a very interesting listen.

Artist: Rosetta
Album: A Determinism of Morality
Song: Revolve
Genre: post-metal/sludge

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Implosive Disgorgence

From the second this came on my heart started to race and it slammed me with that beautiful feeling metal throws at you.  This shit is fast as fuck grinding as it pleases then falling into slams that just make you want to fucking break something.  I  really just want to throw my computer at the wall right now.  This will be a beautiful find for anyone who appreciates death metal and/or grindcore!

Artist: Implosive Disgorgence
Album: Confined to Torment
Title: Confined to Torment
Genre: death metal/grindcore/slam

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Mykki Blanco

Now, usually I stray away from most modern rap;  I was never fond of the type of people its associated with (wide brim hats, studded earings, douche) but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy rap, it just has to have a certain respectability to it which is growing harder and harder to come by.  Mykki Blanco is pretty hardcore for my tastes, but to me he reminds me of the Ol' Dirty Bastard of this generation.  I first came across him by seeing him live with Death Grips, and he most certainly fit in with the extremeness and experimental nature of Death Grips.  His beats at points can sound like it has influence of noise and hardcore techno (gabber and such).  His vocals grabbed me right away and automatically garnered respect from his completely unique voice that sounds nothing like the 80% of rappers today who sound like they're still in high school.  In a way his voice is almost like Ol' Dirty Bastard's,  except completely his own.  Oh yea one more thing; he dresses up in drag sometimes just because hes that badass.

Artist: Mykki Blanco
Album: Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince
Title: Riot
Genre: experimental rap/hip-hop/noise-hop

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Bardo Pond

Psychedelia has always been a huge interest of mine; its flows freely without feeling the need to conform to societies standards, echoing the revolution our elders started with the hippie movement.  Bardo Pond is a Philadelphia psychedelic space rock band that has a sound similar to Pink Floyd but soaked in acid with a post rock/"acid rock"/noise sound that is endlessly entertaining, much like their discography.  This band is perfect to throw on when your mind is a million miles away.

Artist: Bardo Pond

Album: Amanita

Song: Limerick

Genre: Psychedelic rock/jam/noise

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Andy Stott

Dub is a genre that has always fascinated me and left me in a daze.  The heavy booming basslines and almost dark ambient like atmosphere of Andy Stott grabbed me right away.  His sound would fit right into the scenes created by Brainfeeder and Ninjatune.

Artist: Andy Stott
Album: We Stay Together
Title: Cherry Eye
Genre: IDM, Dub

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Day of Less

To commemorate Gaza further,  I am sharing pre-Gaza, Day of Less.  Has the masterful vocalist of Gaza along with other members making a brutal take on post-hardcore.

Artist: Day of Less
Album: Porcaria
Song: Birds and Windows

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Pilot This Plane Down

Sadly, Gaza is no more, but no need to fret;  they're not wasting their talents!  A post-metal band stemmed off of Gaza named Pilot This Plane Down and it carries that brutality of Gaza but yet it has those beautiful soundscapes of Isis.

Artist: Pilot this Plane Down

Album: Airs

Song: Airs I

ENJOY Glory of the World

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Minsk

I recently realized that pretty much all the metal I’ve been listening to is either rooted in death metal, grindcore, and/or hardcore, which I absolutely love, but I’ve been yearning for metal that you can get lost in like post-rock and psychedelic influenced music.  That’s why I’ve delved into the post-metal, progressive and sludge scenes (which often overlap) finding some absolutely beautiful bands new and older bands I’ve forgotten about.  Minsk is pretty much exactly what I’ve been looking for.  A lot of great elements can be found in their songs; the use of tribal percussion which is always a draw for me,  hazy, psychedelic riffs that have you drift through the songs, and sludgetastic heaviness breaking in leaving you pretty damn fulfilled music wise. In other terms, its like Tool and Neurosis banged under the mescaline sun.   

Artist: Minsk

Album: The Ritual Fires of Abandonment

Song: Embers

Genre: post-metal/progressive/psychedelic

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Destroyer Destroyer

This band reaches new depths of brutality in mathcore.  When I first gave them a listen,  the first thing that stuck out for me is the inhuman vocals reaching piercing high screams that are bound to have chills run down your spine.   Crushing detuned 7 string guitars, polyrhythmic drumming and slamming chaos make this band a must have for all grindcore/mathcore enthusiasts.

Artist: Destroyer Destroyer
Album: Littered with Arrows
Song: We've Been Had v2
Genre: mathcore/grindcore

ENJOY

Phoenix Bodies/Tyranny of Shaw

This split is extremely short consisting of four songs all two minutes and under; the raw chaotic intensity is like being shot in the head with a powerviolence bullet.   This shit is absolutely furious with a driving intensity that thrashes you about with cut throat vocals fast as fuck drums                                                           Artist: Phoenix Bodies

 Artist: Tyranny of Shaw

                                                                                        Genre: powerviolence/grindcore/screamo

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Upsilon Acrux

There are a lot of math rock bands out there that are very similar in nature; Upsilon Acrux is not one of those bands.  Described as “brutal prog” (not sure what exactly that means but it definitely fits), Upsilon Acrux take the math rock aesthetics and makes them completely their own.  In one song, you will hear various genres of influence and unique sounds created from all the instruments presented (guitar, synth, bass, drums) creating a thoroughly entertaining experience with new things to be noticed with each listen.  Despite the complex poly-rhythms and abrupt changes, it all some how flows together beautifully creating unconventional melodies sure to please.  

Artist: Upsilon Acrux

Album: Live set

Song: Live set

Genre: math rock/progressive

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Gang Gang Dance

I am thoroughly excited that I came across this band.  A whole discography to explore of avant-garde noisy beauty.  It truly is a difficult task classifying this band or let alone describing them.  There's so much going on and there songs/albums are so different from each other.  If anything, this music is adventurous.   In the experience of a song, you don't know where the path leads, but you're intrigued.  At points its something you don't understand; odd instrumentation that can't be identified and noises floating through, but then you find yourself back to familiarity floating in the Pink Floydian space rock grooves laid before you.

Artist: Gang Gang Dance
Album: God's Money
Song: A) Glory in Itself B) Egyptian
Genre: avant-garde/noise rock

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The Abominable Iron Sloth

Everything about The Abominable Iron Sloth is heavy; even the name provokes dirty, heavy, sludgy mental imagery. This band doesn't fuck around; they immediately throws you in a groove filled, bottom-heavy sludgefest with the vocalist bringing it over the top with his relentlessly aggressive vocals sounding like his throat is about to rip open.

 

Artist: The Abominable Iron Sloth

Album: The Abominable Iron Sloth

Song: Hats Made of Veal and That New Car Scent

Genre: Sludge/hardcore/doom

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JJ DOOM

Fucking MF DOOM.  A genius hidden behind the ominous metal mask, i.e. Metal Face DOOM, King Geedorah, Viktor Vaughn, Metal Fingers, etc... now has a new moniker being JJ DOOM, a collaboration between producer Jneiro Jarel (JJ) and MF DOOM.    DOOM's unmistakable flow is just as bad-ass as ever if not at its peak and the instrumentals are perfectly fitting for his style.  His 2009 album, Born Like This turned out to be one of, if not my favorite album of his career, but now with Key to the Kuffs released I might have to name a new favorite.

Artist: JJ DOOM
Album: Key to the Kuffs
Song: Bite the Thong
Genre: rap/hip-hop

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Illogic & Blockhead

Illogic is one of the most talented and intelligent rappers out there in the scene today, which is seemingly over run by dip shits.  Blockhead is an extremely inventive instrumental hip-hop artist who has been featured on Adult Swim's late night psychedelic fest,  Off the Air.  The two collaborated to release a cd of enriching instrumentals with polyrhythmic/intellectual raps layed over them to create a thoroughly entertaining and exciting experience. 

 

Artist: Illogic & Blockhead

Album: Capture the Sun

Song: Atlantis Depth

Genre: rap/hip-hop 

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Shabazz Palaces

Truely a unique and mindbending rap experience.  They have more of a modern sound, but the lyricist/vocalist Ishmael Butler is actually from an early 90's rap group, Digable Planets, and the percussionist uses instrumentation from Zimbabwe.  The outcome is an intelligent, trippy album that you can't help but get lost in.

Artist:   Shabazz Palaces

Album: Black Up

Song:   An echo from the hosts that profess infinitum 

Genre: Rap; Hip-Hop; Psychedelic

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TOKiMONSTA

Like this new IDM infused instrumental Hip-Hop scene (often showcased in Adult Swim's bumps) thats been popularized by the likes of Flying Lotus and Daedelus?  We'll TOKiMONSTA is a unique and a great player in this movement.  Her psychedelic drenched, experimental hip-hop is packed full of booming bass, light textures and grooves to get you hooked.

Artist: TOKiMONSTA

Album: Half Shadows

Song: Soul to Seoul

Genre: experimental hip-hop/electronic

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Monster Rally

Monster Rally sounds nothing like you would think a band named Monster Rally would sound.  Its a strange and beautiful concoction of lo-fi instrumental ambient/hip-hop and tropical pop sure to please as you're hazily roaming  the shore environment being kissed by the ocean air in search for some ice cream.

Artist: Monster Rally
Album: Beyond the Sea
Song: Lava Flows
Genre: chillwave/hip-hop/tropical

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BANDCAMP

Hayworth

These Rhode Island gentlemen spit fucking venom. The vocalist must've blown out his vocals after this album, they're at such a beautiful/discordant high pitch it sends shivers down ones spine.  The instrumentals are equally impressive using extremely complex time signatures, sporadic changes in tempo leading from blast beat grinding to beatdown slamming.  There is absolutely beauty in chaos.

Artist: Hayworth

Album: I Now Pronounce You Fucked and Depressed

Song: Fuck Church

Genre: mathcore/grindcore

ENJOY   I Now Pronounce You Fucked and Depressed

ENJOY   License to Bill

MYSPACE

Kiss Kiss Fantastic

Really catchy, hazed dream pop that just makes your mind wonder elsewhere in a state of bliss and nostalgia.  Fun fact:  the band members have never met in person before; they just send each other ideas back and forth via internet.

Artist: Kiss Kiss Fantastic

Album: The Red/Blue Shift

Song: Oh Carolina!

Genre: dream pop/shoegaze

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BANDCAMP

Holiday Shores

One of those bands that has a name totally appropriate for their delivered sound.  Holiday Shores is a hazy walk on the beach with nostalgia in mind teetering on dream territories.

Artist: Holiday Shores
Song: Airglow
Album: New Masses for Squaw Peak
Genre: dream pop/psychedelic/indie

 ENJOY

Body Cheetah

Hip-hop, indie, r&b, and psychedelia you say?  Body Cheetah is far to unique and badass to ignore; this guy is going places.

Artist: Body Cheetah
Song: Psychoswagger
Album: Blonde Bitches Ain't Free
Genre: experimental/hip-hop/indie

ENJOY   Ten Thousand Thunders
ENJOY   Blonde Bitches Ain't Free
BANDCAMP

Hello Ocho

I don't quite know how to describe Hello Ocho.  Its psychedelic, popy, experimental, folky, post-rock like but yet not.

Artist: Hello Ocho

Album: Hello Ocho

Song: Party on a Raincloud

Genre: psychedelic/experimental/folk

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BANDCAMP

Leon Sommer

Angelic guitar pluckings. dreamy reverb. Nostalgic synth. Leon Sommer.  Absolutely beautiful folkiness caught in a haze.

Artist: Leon Sommer

Album: No Suprises

Song: Wonder If

Genre: dream pop/folk

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BANDCAMP

The December Sound

Another band who has a perfectly fitting name; even the album cover captures their sound.  They certainly don't have a July type of sound.  Its spacey, droning, bleak but yet beautiful.  Truly an enchanting experience.

Artist: The December Sound

Album: The December Sound

Song: Never

Genre: shoegaze/psychedelic

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BANDCAMP

Dionaea

Post-rock mathcore?  It totally fucking works.  This is an extremely talented band from New Jersey making mainly instrumental music.  The technicality of it along with the energy they put in will have you stunned at points from what you are hearing.  They have the technical proficiency of Ion Dissonance with the beauty of Mogwai.

Artist: Dionaea

Album: Still

Song: Same Story

Genre: mathcore/post-rock

ENJOY

Dissever the Tyrant

I've been looking through my library for some bands that I had forgotten about that deserve to resurface.  I would put this band on to ignite the fire in everyone to burn an empire, shed some blood.  Well... push each other around in a playful but yet aggressive manor.  I haven't heard much more from this band except for this EP, but a brutal and slamming one it is.  

Artist: Dissever the Tyrant

Album: DEMO

Song: Voracity

Genre: slamming brutal death metal

ENJOY

Wintercoats

So happy I came across this up and coming artist. Wintercoats is the creation of Australian violinist James Wallace.  I am thoroughly impressed with this music; its dreamy, beautiful, yet uplifting music with lots of violin, an instrument I consider to be angelic and the most beautiful sounding of instruments along with the harp.

                                    

Artist: Wintercoats

Album: Cathedral EP

Song: Great Expectations/Cathedral (live)

Genre: dream pop/ambient/experimental

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BANDCAMP

dead in the dirt

Raw. Dirty. Grinding. Vicious. dead in the dirt. What a perfect name.

Artist: dead in the dirt

Album: Fear

Song: Fear

Genre: grindcore/crust

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BANDCAMP

The Townhouses

The Townhouses is straight up delightful and unique.  The last.fm profile has this to say about his sound, "He wistfully mixes Tropicalia, Gamelan, African and Ambient soundscapes to create an experimental collage of breezy summer vibes."  That is a bold and enticing description, and its a fairly accurate one.  I love the instruments he uses such as xylophone, chimes, violin, etc.. along with his calm, soothing guitar tone and use of beautiful piano.  Currently, all five of his releases can be found for download on his bandcamp.

Artist: The Townhouses

Album: Diaspora

Song: Talk

Genre: dream pop/chillwave/ambient

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BANDCAMP