Nachtmystium - Instinct: Decay

Another masterpiece, although I do not like Eternal Ground, but everything else on this album.

Facts:
• released 2006
• 42:55, 10 songs
• VBR between 188 and 227 kBit/s

Highlights: A Seed for Suffering, Here's To Hoping, Chosen By No One

In case you like, this page is your friend.

Nachtmystium - Doomsday Derelicts

I don't really need to comment this piece of awesomeness.

Facts:
• released 2009
• 16:36, 4 songs
• VBR between 262 and 303 kBit/s

Buy this EP here.

Nachtmystium - Worldfall

As great as the cover art is depicted here, the music is, well, actually the music is way better than this ... unconventional cover.
Who cares, these 5 tracks are so impressive, this is the first time I'm glad they're releasing a new record almost every year!

Facts:
• released 2008
• 26:14, 5 songs
• fixed bitrate of 160 kBit/s

There are no real "highlights" as every song is fucking great. Moreover, the lyrics printed on the back of their Nachtdemon merchandise are from the song Depravity.

In case you like, this way: link.

Jex Thoth - Jex Thoth

Not many bands are unique like Jex Thoth are. Named after their singer Jessica Thoth, they create a dense atmosphere of how the 70s and 80s must have felt musically - great.

Expect slow, sabbath-ish passages but also typical metal elements like Isis use with their latest release, Wavering Radiant (already posted here).

Facts:
• released 2008
• 50:57, 12 tracks
• VBR between 144 and 179 kBit/s

Highlights: Nothing Left To Die, Son of Yule

In case you like, buy here.

Isis - Panopticon

When I first listened to it, I thought it wasn't something special. I've now heard it about 8 times completely and still don't know what's so special about it, it is just indescribable, something on it's own, something new whilst being 6 years old. Looks like I can't grew old of this, so it must be somewhat good.

Facts:
• released 2004
• 59:02, 7 tracks
• fixed bitrate of 320 kBit/s

Highlight: So Did We, Altered Course

In case you like, buy here.

Agalloch - The Mantle

I'm not quite sure what I'd be now if I had discovered this album years ago and not just this winter. This album catches all sadness and melancholy and moreover, is partially acoustic. It is easily my favorite record of Agalloch, but we will see what this year brings.

Facts:
• released 2002
• 1:08:31, 9 tracks
• fixed bitrate of 192 kBit/s

Highlight: ... And The Great Cold Death Of The Earth

In case you like, buy here.
If you don't, F.O.A.D. ;)

Isis - Wavering Radiant

Sadly, the good-bye full-length album of the american band Isis. It's strange, sometimes you discover bands just right after they disbanded and existed for more than a decade. Maybe it was the right decision, quitting now, because, well, you know, missing the point where your music gets worse is always bad (see AC/DC, Metallica and Slayer for example).

Wavering Radiant is not an album you can compare with anything, it stands for itself and can't be really described despite of being classified as Atmospheric Sludge Metal (even tough many don't know what Sludge is).

Highlights (yes, I think I'll continue contributing my highlights, perhaps somebody wants to give it a listen first on youtube):
Stone To Wake A Serpent & Threshold of Transformation

Facts:
• released 2009
• 54:05 length, 7 tracks
• VBR between 190 and 210 kBit/s
• no cliché japanese bonus track, but here on youtube.

In case you like, buy here.

Nachtmystium - Assassins: Black Meddle Pt. 1

While we're at it, here the Black Meddle Pt. I (remember Addicts: Black Mettle Pt. II a few weeks ago). It's not that far away, musically, from Pt. II and quite ... I'd say, happy, not melancholic as Pt. II was.

Personal favorite: Ghost of Grace and Your True Enemy.

Facts:
• released 2008
• 45:05 length, 10 tracks
• fixed bitrate of 256 kBit/s

In case you like, buy here.

Update 10-3-10: Now coded in 256 kBit/s!

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"!

Agalloch - Ashes Against The Grain

Yes, just another download link for this quite popular album, at least for those, who like Agalloch.

Nevertheless, for "newcomers", Agalloch are a Atmospheric Folk/Dark Metal-Band from the States, formed in 1995. They're playing quite melancholic and I'd say soft melodies for metal, but this mixture with the partially screamed vocals make up a lot!

It's music for rather calm hours in the evening for example, but fits also very good in the morning.

Some download facts:

• released 2006
• 59:49 minutes, 8 tracks
• fixed bitrate of 192 kBit/s
• no bonus track (as I don't own the lim. edition)

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