Obsidian Kingdom

Obsidian Kingdom are a Barcelona based band with black metal roots.  What sprouts beyond that, is a sombre and unique amalgamation of electronic, acoustic, rock/folk music with diverse vocalization, and above all solid song structure that doesn't adhere to any blueprint.  Simply put, I was blown away on first listen.

I went in reverse with their discography, starting with their latest remix album 'Torn & Burnt', an electronic/dub/hip-hop/IDM reworking of much of their 2012 BM album 'Mantiis'.  Anyone reading 'black metal' alongside dub/hip-hop/IDM would likely throw their Burzum mugs at the wall, and myself I was baffled the same, but the remixes handled by Oktopus (Dälek), Subheim, Poordream, Necro Deathmort, Jr Morgue, Drumcorps, Larvae and Mothboy really made me rethink electronic music and black metal in general, if not for the wonderful surprise that the merger is a lot better than one would think.

For the potential purists, their 2012 framework 'Mantiis' has to be the most overlooked BM/metal work of last/this year.  I'm not entirely in the thick of it (BM), but I've ventured deep enough to know that this entry is entirely special, and paired with their remix album, Obsidian Kingdom are a truly unique and enjoyable contribution to either side of the coin.

Speaking of coin, if you dig this, help keep the word going -- all their stuff can be downloaded for free but these are seriously sweet.

Mantiis [2012]

 

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Torn & Burnt [2013]

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Hosewheel - Violet Frost

Some beat-driven keyboard tunes by myself under the moniker of Hosewheel.  Was the last set of keyboard songs I recorded before my PA was stolen; fairly sure these are the only songs under Hosewheel I played through an external speaker.  It still sounds like a robot is inside the tracks with the all-familiar clicking and loading sounds of my laptop, no doubt bogged down by the audio/visual bathhouse on my desktop (literally recorded through my laptop's mic).  With the speaker though the bass is deep enough to sometimes fool you into thinking its actual drum tracks/separate instruments.

I say "beat driven" cuz this is my most temperate release in terms of playing keys, as I realize(d) I have more an ear for beats and loops than I do actually playing the keyboard.  I chose to upload these because I went back to them recently and genuinely surprised myself with some of the things I did -- I'm truly happy with them, and half of them sound like actual songs for one-take improvs.
 

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Terror Green - The 1995 Demo EP

Terror Green is an underground Brooklyn rapper whose 1995 Demo EP has resurfaced as record label Heavy Jewelz has re-released the EP (with the help of collaborator D.J. Nastee).  His track "45 Stitches" got some airplay when the demo came out, now hopefully more light will be shown on the EP's other gems.  Fairly difficult to find info on him, other than this informative blog backstory, which alludes that Terror Green is still at it.  
Hopefully now it won't take another decade to find his return.

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Gallops - Yours Sincerely, Dr. Hardcore

Now defunct Welsh math-rock group.  Sounds like early Battles in some respects, but definitely their own refined sound.  2012's 'Yours Sincerely, Dr. Hardcore' was their only full-length and final release before their announced split earlier this year.

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Fura - Fura

Fura was founded in late 2008 when 4 musicians from around the world decided to combine their artistic creativity resulting in a musical experiment with a sound that is similar to a ferret (fura in catalan): they could sleep many hours, entering in a state of absolute calm, to become a very active and curious animal.
They relased their first EP called “Mustela Putorius” on November 2010.

Big shout-out to Fura for passing this new (September) self-titled release to me -- some of the best instrumental post/math rock I've heard.  In my ongoing sandwich metaphors, this six song album opens and closes with two tasty tracks each, where the middle-meat isn't quite as eccentric but none the less filling.  Great drumming and rhythms, sharp and accentuated guitars, and that over empowering post-rock vibe that doesn't try too hard to be EPIC, but is.  Personal favorite is "Sibil·la", but anyone looking for some fresh instrumental/post rock sounds should definitely bring Fura into the fold.  The cover-art is pretty slick too.

http://furaband.com/
http://fura.bandcamp.com

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Black Einstein - Whatever Happened To Major Tom?

Black Einstein, aka C-Swing, are the brain-frames of English hip-hop/R&B/soul/dance/jazz/funk/*insert genre*/electronic/rock producer Colin Emmanuel.  Longtime producer of UK hip-hop legend Braintax (and even involved with KRS-One stateside), Colin Emmanuel produces tracks that glow through the speakers; a whirlwind of layered sound strata that seamlessly blends the aforementioned genres and moment to moment displays his virtuoso of their convergence.  


His 2006 solo album 'D'illusions of Grandeur' lead me to his Black Einstein project, specifically his David Bowie inspired 'Whatever Happened To Major Tom?' release from 2010.  The highlight for me is the "Space Oddity" semblance of "Common Ground", where Miss Baby Sol takes his grandiose production to all new levels of awesome, keeping the spirit of the song while somehow only directly taking the small guitar line or tone and making it a hybrid of amazing.  The rest can be said of the other tracks on the EP, like the hip-hop collaboration with UK/Braintax-ilk Mystro (whom also delivers an ill-verload scorcher on his solo album, "Heat"), flowing fast and hitting every nook of Emmanuel's top notch production.

Seriously overlooked or moreover understated, Colin Emmanuel is a name that should spring from any 'best producers' conversation, and undeniably among the most versatile.  His last release was in 2011 -- instrumentals to Braintax's final album -- and while Braintax might not re-emerge, I hope Black Einstein/C-Swing/Colin Emmanuel is just readying his next dynamic onslaught.

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RajStar - Rahman Noodles

Chicken Tikka meets Grits. Curry meets Steak. You get the idea. Rahman Noodles takes samples of AR Rahman’s work (i.e. Slumdog Millionaire, Bombay, etc.) and samples of various western musicians (i.e. Jay-Z, Michael Jackson), all taken completely apart and put back together, mixed with the finest of spices and elements of RajStar’s own production to bring you a completely unique sound…Rahman Noodles.


Some of the coolest mash ups I've heard in a long time, and the album opens with words of wisdom from Christopher Walken (not rly C-Walk tho) and Busta Rhymes.  The always-savage Alucard did the album artwork.

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'Of course I get my point across...I'm so Nash' /AGGGGGGG

Nice genuine mini-doc with Andre the Giant. 

Longevity

LAte to the party but far from tapped...

Ear goggles

Nonsun - Good Old Evil

Nonsun is a doom/drone/sludge/post metal band from Lviv, Ukraine. Formed in 2011 by Goatooth (guitars, bass, vocals) and Alpha (drums).  The four-track EP 'Good Old Evil' was their first release in December 2012.

This EP abandons you in a forest of feedback, pulls you into the droning ocean, and finally turns you into a giant riff-riding, meat-eating turtle.  The EP shifts styles and moods, heard instantly between the first two tracks; "Jesus' Age" is a dark and trudging doom-metal song held together by a coda of feedback, as "Rain Have Mercy" turns into a solo-swinging metal romp as if the band sprouted wings at the bottom of the sea.  "Message Of Nihil Carried By The Waves Of The Big Bang" starts with a droning bass heavy enough to knock the fillings out of your teeth, while concluding "Forgottten Is What Never Was" pulses a weary ascent to find what lies over Doom mountain.

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Richard Pickman, Durka Dubaholics Anonymous, For The Galaxy, Hail Zeon! - Adventures in Psychohistory: Part 1 Episode 1: The Galactic Fast One

"Milktoast Music is a group of artists who put together strange mixed genre music mostly relating to cult films and other media. On 1/28/13 we will release Adventures in Psychohistory Part 1 Episode 1: The Galactic Fast One which is the first of three releases featuring science fiction inspired music composed and mixed circa 2010-2012.

A science fiction inspired musical epic, chronicling mans life among the stars, androids and aliens. Featuring the Masters Of Space Opera: Durka Dubaholics Anonymous, Richard Pickman, Hail Zeon! and the return of For the Galaxy! A mix of several electronic genres, old movies and more.  Galactic Politics, War and Destiny. Episode 1 features space opera from as far back as 2010 and starts the epic that pits man against the future."

 

 MilkToast

 

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The Soft Breaking - Born Old

Born Old

"We're instrumental rock from South Florida, and Born Old is our debut album. Although there's a diversity of styles such as subtle and soft to loud distortions using electric electronic and acoustic instruments, we feel there's also a flow to the album as a whole. For brevity of musical description, some similar sounding music (not intended as comparisons, but rather as familiar references): Explosions In The Sky, Godflesh, Isis, Mogwai, Radiohead, Tool."

Really dug this once I let it get rolling; whether it was spastic tremolo guitar, an unexpected drum fill, or a song relayed over Morse code...this album kept me interested.  Nice to hear a sweeping post-rock vibe without the bass buried in the background.  The scattered electronic/effect touches throughout the album definitely add a lot, even with the occassional horn/strings rounding out their sound.

Good stuff, album is $9 but free to stream and definitely worth checking out one way or the other.  If you're in Florida and play music, they'd probably like to hear from you.



 

Lord By Fire - Relics

DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON THE BEAST