Dead Prez - Let's Get Free

Artist: Dead Prez
Album: Let's Get Free
Genre: Revolutionary Hip-Hop
Year: 2000
Origin: USA

Dead Prez is a revolutionary hip-hop duo, with an extra emphasis on the 'revolutionary'. These guys are very angry about things as they are in the US, and they mean to do something about it. This is probably the most 'serious' rap music I have ever heard. They aren't against having a good time, as can be seen in the slightly more upbeat songs "Mind Sex" and "Happiness", but the lyrics are thoughtful and the focus on revolutionary social change is always clear.

I'm not sure how I feel about the "Revolutionary But Gangsta" stuff they have made more recently. I understand about solidarity with the oppressed and all that, but on this album they made a big point about mainstream rap culture being counterrevolutionary, and I'm worried that they might be moving toward that. It seems that they release an album every election year, so the new one should be out soon.

Anyway, this here is one of my favorite hip-hop albums; I highly recommend it.

artist site

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Sin Dios - Ruido Anticapitalista & Alerta Antifascista

Artist: Sin Dios
Album: Ruido Anticapitalista & Alerta Antifascista
Genre: Anarcho-punk
Year: 1991 & 1993
Origin: Spain

This is a reissue album comprised of two eps from Madrid squatter punks Sin Dios. I don't understand much Spanish, but from their name ("Without God") and the album titles, I can guess the lyrical content pretty easily. The songs are everything you could hope for from a good anarcho-punk band: fast, short, angry and inspiring.

band site

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Aarni - Bathos

Artist: Aarni
Album: Bathos
Genre: Doom Metal / Psychedelic Rock
Year: 2004
Origin: Finland

Aarni is a funeral doom metal band that has mostly abandoned the genre in favor of experimental, psychedelic melodies and strange sound combinations. As you listen to this album the first time, you will never be sure what's going to come next, but you know it will be interesting. All instruments are played by Master Warjomaa, including the prominent flute; the other band members listed on the website and album notes do not have a physical existence. As well as being musically unexpected, Aarni makes lyrics in a ridiculous variety of languages and topics. And the cd case for Bathos is really neat if you decide to purchase it. I also recommend Aarni's split with Umbra Nihil, which is a bit more in the funeral doom tradition.

band site

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Nae'blis - Beyond the Light

Artist: Nae'blis
Album: Beyond the Light
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Year: 2004
Origin: Sweden

Beyond the Light is the first full length release from the Swedish one-man black metal project Nae'blis. It doesn't really compare to the masterpiece of depressive black metal that is Sketches of Reality (which is also posted on this blog) or the split with Dominion, but I had to have anything I could find by this artist. And you should still download this, because it's a high quality atmospheric black metal album, and a prelude to the greatness to come.

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power metal mix

It's not an album this time, just a collection of a few great power metal songs I uploaded for someone. And sharing is caring, so here it is. Note: if you haven't heard these, you should, power metal fan or not.

songs:
Rhapsody - Holy Thunderforce
Black Abyss - Time
Blind Guardian - Into the Storm
Stratovarius - Black Diamond
Wizard - Witch of the Enchanted Forest

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Ska-P - Lágrimas y Gozos

Artist: Ska-P
Album: Lágrimas y Gozos
Genre: I'm gonna let you guess on this one
Year: 2008
Origin: Spain

This is the newest release from the slightly pop-y Spanish ska punk band Ska-p. I've only listened to it once so far, but I think it's a quality album. The first track, Ni Fu Ni Fa is especially fun to listen to. The band's typical leftist political stance seems to be present, though I don't know enough Spanish to be sure. I wish I knew why that cat has a boomerang.

band site (be warned: it plays music automatically. I hate that shit.)

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Panopticon - Panopticon

Artist: Panopticon
Album: Panopticon
Genre: Black Metal
Year: 2008
Origin: USA

Panopticon is a one-man black metal project from Kentucky. He is part of the new and growing (I hope!) RABM scene (red & anarchist black metal). He makes his anarchist philosophy clear in Flag Burner, Torch Bearer, ...Speaking..., and I, Hedonist, not to mention the quote in the intro track, which I'm pretty sure is from Emma Goldman. I've heard some people say that it's ridiculous for a black metal band to have leftist politics, but I really don't see a good reason for that. Black metal was not political in the beginning, the nationalists weren't present until more recently. I think the only reason fascism has been so common in black metal is for the shock value; I guess Satanism just wasn't evil enough anymore. And in fact anarchism is much more in line with black metal's rebellion against modern society. Anyway, the music on this album is quite good atmospheric metal, regardless of the politics. The last track is a cover of I.C.B.M. by the crust punk legends Amebix.

"Tonight all flags must burn, in place of steeples.
Autonomy must return into the hands of the people. "
- Flag Burner, Torch Bearer

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NOTE: this one's not on mediafire, so when the link expires, leave me a comment so I can re-upload.