Cathedral - The Guessing Game

Cathedral - The Guessing Game - two words: party music. I can't say it's bad, actually it's really good, but it's music you can play at a party (in contrast to bm) even with having people there that aren't familiar with metal in any way. At least I have the problem at some locations, if there's a song I know playing, I need to pay attention to it, whatever happens. But in this case, it simply rocks, literally, and you can play it without having the need to listen to it whilst being somewhere.

Facts:
• released 2010
• 1:24:50, 13 tracks (2 CD release)
• fixed bitrate of 320 kBit/s

In case you like (no, I actually don't copy & paste it even it would be worth the time I guess), click me.

Simple Existenz - Das Leben vor dem Tod

Listeners of Nagelfar are familiar with Zorn, having been a founding member, their guitarist from 1993 to 2002 and partially also bassist. Now, almost exactly 8 years after them disbanding, he releases his solo album Das Leben vor dem Tod which can be labeled Black Metal as well as Hard Rock.
Next to this, Jander (Nagelfar-vocalist on Hünengrab im Herbst) contributes his voice on the song Schaben (officially his first life sign since almost 11 years).

You should also take a look at the lyrics, they are one of the best I've read a long time.

Zorn also plays in EgoNoir, named 'Lethargie (bei 30 Grad)'.

Facts:
• released 2010
• 43:47, 8 tracks
• VBR between 191 and 241 kBit/s

Highlight: whole album

In case you like, buy here.


LINK REMOVED SINCE 27th OF OCTOBER, SAME REASON AS IT CAN BE READ ON THE NAGELFAR-DISCOGRAPHY PAGE!

Update: Nagelfar

Short notification about the edit of the Nagelfar-discography with one new song. See bottom for news.

Nachtmystium - Addicts: Black Meddle Pt. II

Really, if there's one thing I like at black metal, then its possibility of inventing new ways to sound like. Nachtmystium are doing exactly this. Electronic vocals, post-punk influences, some razor sharp riffs and a lot power was placed in their new album, Addicts: Black Meddle Pt. II. As many of you came on this blog through my last.fm profile, you've perhaps seen, that I'm also enjoying Pink Floyd a lot. The 'Meddle' in the album name is inspired by the Pink Floyd album, as stated by Blake Judd (mastermind of Nachtmystium). By the way, their album Assassins: Black Meddle Pt. 1 is also very good.

Facts:
• released 2010 (actually, not even a week ago)
• 48:01, 10 tracks
• fixed bitrate of 320 kBit/s
• black metal purists - stay away, this is something new you possibly can't handle

In case you like, you know where to click.

Update 10-3-10: Now coded in 320 kBit/s & including rare vinyl bonus track "Macrocosmic"!

Altar of Plagues - Tides

Another quite melancholic band, singing mainly about nature, are Altar of Plagues.
Beside of composing really long songs for the moderately fast black metal they're playing, their sound is very ... I'd say urban. Whenever I hear their tones, I imagine a metropolis with skyscrapers and so on. This is absolutely in contrast to their lyrics. They're about the decay of society and natures' process of reconquering what has been stolen by mankind.

Tides is a whole world in itself. Within 2 songs, 35:02 minutes long, you'll enter another world, dreaming of hope, but also hatred. These two songs can give you power, but also may crush your situation, depending on your mood.

Some download facts:

• released 2010
• 35:02 minutes, 2 tracks
• fixed bitrate of 320 kBit/s

Beside Tides, I can recommend their work of 2009, White Tomb.

As usual, don't forget erasing the album within 24 hours if you don't like it! Otherwise, you can buy it here.