Pyha-The Haunted House

Nope, Pyha is not the Pakistan Youth Hostels Association, but a young Korea fella. So young, that I've been told he was in junior high when he spewed out this noxious piece of fright. I've got a few friends living in Korea and I only hear about how much they love it and how they will never come back to America. I guess Pyha dwells in some nether region in the sewage and waste that my friends are never exposed to, only to pop the sewer grate to go to high school, and then return to his personal abyss. That, or he likes playing baseball and cartoons and candy and this is some demented split personality that he's still unaware even exists. Maybe it's just me, but listening to this kinda makes me sad.

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Abruptum-Orchestra of Dark

The gifts keep coming. And this one is for Ryan since I knows he loves metal and he also loves midgets (or is that just gnomes?). Either way, you gotta admit that a midget is a welcomed addition to any metal band. Just ask Accept or any of the bands Dio fronted. Sorry about the crap image buddy. This tape clearly isn't all that popular.

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Hypothermia-Kaffe & Blod

Well, let's try to get a little more metal in before the month's end. If you heard the Lifelover album posted last month, then this might be of interest as Hypothermia share band members. There's still the element of gloomy gothiness, but there's an added sense of improvisation that gives these 2 lengthy tracks an unexpected sound. Hmm...maybe like the Cure if they decided to become metal hippies with a 90s indie infatuation. Dunno if that makes sense.

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Nuit Noire-Fantomic Plenitude

Done praising Jesus yet? Want to punch your dad in the face? Gain 10 pounds eating bland holiday foods? Then it's probably a good time to return to some metal. In this instance, you're getting some pretty out there French weirdos. Describing their sound as "Faerical Blasting Punk" these people clearly shun the typical gloom & doom sourpussisms that can make black metal a drag. Yeah, they really sing about fairies. Is it okay for black metal to be fun?

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Mütiilation-Vampires Of Black Imperial Blood

Look how domestic black metal can be. Rather than opt for the standard, corpse painted dude alone in the woods, Mutiilation choose to show off their antiques collection. It really looks like they might start doing their taxes or something. Utterly ridiculous. Well, musically there's nothing tame here. Dark, buzzy black metal of the French persuasion. These dudes seem to resist happiness like lovers of hot and fresh pizza avoid the Noid. Matt, I know you love the Noid, but you're not going to like this. Just a heads up.

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Darkthrone-Transylvanian Hunger

Here's the test. Download this album. Play it. If you like it, you pass. If not, you do not like music. Soon, there will be a knock on your door. Whereupon a man shall remove your testicles. This will be well deserved.

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Ved Buens Ende-Written in Waters

Keeping it going. Here's an odd one. It definitely gets metal at times, but it's so much more than that. There's a strand of jazziness present, but don't work, the rooftop sax is kept in check. Hmm...what else is here. Prog? Yep, there's a bit of prog in there I believe. I'm guessing they've listen to the Cure as well. Might as well say folk too just for good measure. Ah, who cares. It's a weird, good album.

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Furze-UTD

I guess coming up with a child's name can be pretty difficult for expecting parents. You don't want to project to much, yet you want to ensure a sense of individuality within the child. There's also social conventions and expectations to consider. And anyone who's ever driven through Indiana is, I'm sure, aware of how horrendous a name can truly be once they are confronted by the massive Tom Raper billboards. What a strange coincide that Woe J. Reaper's (sole member of Furze) parents happened to hit on such a perfect name. I guess sometimes a name can truly determine one's path in life. Okay, now Tristram Shandy is starting to make sense.

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Undor

Ever wonder what a mummy fronted black metal band would sound like? Look no further. These German dudes sound like they raided some ancient tomb, removed the corpse, revived it weekend at bernie's style, and made it sing. This guy sounds as upset as I recently was when an entire jumbo box of nerds proved to have only one oversized nerd. What a gyp. Crazy ineptitude.

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Dead Raven Choir-My Firstborn Will Surely Be Blind

It's a grey, dull day around here. Thankfully, most of the students are out of town and you can actually drive now. But it's overcast and grim. Lots of leafless trees and barrenness. And this is the perfect soundtrack for such a day. Dead Raven Choir is basically one Polish dude (Smolken) who I think now lives in Texas (why?). There's a lot of droney cello, which perfectly fits the noisy grimness herein. And the song choices are fairly atypical. Fairport Convention, Townes Van Zandt, and I think even Neko Case (though I don't know that much about her). Definitely not your grandma's black metal.

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Ahulabrum-Magonia

Time for something local. As a whole, West Virginia has had a pretty poor music history. There's Hasil Adkins, Bill Withers, Frankie Yankovic, Th' Inbred, and a lot of bluegrass. Metal, not very much. Especially, bizzaro, droney, black metal where every song documents a historical alien abduction. Please come and play Morgantown Ahularbum.

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Xexyz-Primeval Mountain

The posts here won't all be metal, but I thought I'd up some things that my friends back home might enjoy. Again, this one also sounded like it would be a novelty record. Original 8-bit Nintendo music mixed with black metal could be really corny, but it somehow works. This one is for Tim and all the frustrations fighting the invisible boss in Rygar.

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