Nadja - Belles Bêtes

Artist: Nadja
Album: Belles Bêtes
Genre: Drone
Year: 2009
Origin: Canada

This is the latest (and my introductory) album by the Canadian drone duo known as Nadja. Sometimes drone can be like the noises your refrigerator makes when it gets old, and I admit that I've never been a big Sunn O))) fan. But this comes at the genre from a more relaxing, shoegazey angle.

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Trimonium / Plagued split

Artists: Trimonium & Plagued
Album: split ep
Genre: Black Metal
Year: 2007
Origin: Germany & Ireland

I originally searched out this album because it's the only release by Plagued, the one-man black metal project of Nemtheanga, the vocalist for the amazing Primordial and Void of Silence. I had never heard of Trimonium, despite having three full-length albums under their belts. Here each band provides one excellent 8-minute track of memorable pagan-style black metal. Of course Nemtheanga's voice is a haunting and wonderful highlight, though mostly in the traditional black metal growl. I could definitely wish for another Plagued album, and I think I will look into Trimonium's other works as well.

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Sylvester Anfang II - Sylvester Anfang II

Artist: Sylvester Anfang II
Album: Sylvester Anfang II
Genre: Psychedelic Rock
Year: 2009
Origin: Belgium

This band is a bit of a mystery to me. Apparently this is a new offshoot of the original Sylvester Anfang, who I am unfamiliar with. They claim to play "Funeral Folk" music, but really it is more along the lines of ambient, psychedelic krautrock. For the most part it is not as creepy as the album art would lead one to believe, sort of like a more-accessible, less-droning Aluk Todolo. Thanks to the nice woman on last.fm for the recommendation!

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