arf's march 2022 haul
The rules are simple: I listen to as many albums as possible, and report back to sputnik with a selection. Some will be new releases, some will be old stuff I'm discovering, some will be stuff I already know from long ago that I gave a proper listen again. Aside from personal favs, I'll try to avoid anything that's getting attention otherwise already. |
| 1 |  | Messa
Close
My AOTM pick for March. Doom metal with female vocals, on this album with middle eastern musical influences most prominently added to the mix. Very interesting sound, great songs. Can't wait to see them live.
[ doom metal ]
2022-03-11
https://messaproject.bandcamp.com/album/close |
| 2 |  | Ulk
Restoration Magic
Ulk had great atmosphere on previous records already, but this time he outdone himself also with composition. Wonderful offering that is up there with Jeremy Soule's soundtracks in quality.
[ dungeon synth / ambient ]
2022-03-24
https://ulkmusic.bandcamp.com/album/restoration-magic |
| 3 |  | Iomair
Fishing For An Apparition
Epic melodic progressive metal in the vein of Wilderun or Xanthochroid, with extra dash of jazz and (surprisingly) celtic punk. Quite diverse & each track is a banger.
[ progressive folk metal ]
2022-03-18
https://iomair.bandcamp.com/album/fishing-for-an-apparition |
| 4 |  | Nite
Voices of the Kronian Moon
I never thought adding harsh vocals and a little bit of black metal progressions into otherwise very traditional heavy metal can sound this good. Seems to be gaining momentum but since it's real good & doesn't have a review yet, let's give it a shout out.
[ blackened heavy metal ]
2022-03-25
https://nitemetal.bandcamp.com/album/voices-of-the-kronian-moon |
| 5 |  | Georgeson
The Solitude of an Endless Sky
Seven reveries for piano (and strings in some tracks, voice in the last one). Similar approach in songwriting to post-rock.
[ chamber neoclassical / ambient ]
2022-03-25
https://georgesonmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-solitude-of-an-endless-sky |
| 6 |  | Humanotone
A Flourishing Fall in a Grain of Sand
A quite complex stoner prog record, if you're the kind that is usually bored by generic stoner riffage but like the vibe, check this one out.
[ progressive stoner metal ]
2022-03-11
https://humanotone.bandcamp.com/album/a-flourishing-fall-in-a-grain-of-sand |
| 7 |  | Metadoom
The Swamp
Dank hypnotic instrumental jam. More on the traditional doom side musically than stoner metal, but each track is built around a single riff, more in a post-metal way than anything. All hail the hypnotoad!
[ doom metal ]
2022-03-06
https://metadoom.bandcamp.com/album/the-swamp |
| 8 |  | Stray Gods
Storm The Walls
Bob Katsionis writes an Iron Maiden album. Vocals do a quite good Bruce impression too. Not the most original of albums, but it's a banger, it nails its purpose.
[ heavy metal ]
2022-03-18
https://straygods666.bandcamp.com/album/storm-the-walls |
| 9 |  | Yin Yin
The Age of Aquarius
80s movie, somewhere in Thailand, drug-fueled adventures, some mystical story to tie everything together, Morricone-esque soundtrack. This is what Yin Yin's music is. Sophomore album.
[ psychedelic SEA disco ]
2022-03-04
https://yinyin.bandcamp.com/album/the-age-of-aquarius |
| 10 |  | Astral Tomb
Soulgazer
A very out-there album, that oscillates between (mostly) slow chugging death metal and space ambient. Kinda like Blood Incantation in concept, but chuggier.
[ cosmic death metal ]
2022-03-25
https://astraltomb.bandcamp.com/album/soulgazer |
| 11 |  | Yezdin
Modra veda
What happens when you take too much mushroom and try to make esoteric pagan metal on a console? Why, you get Yezdin. (Though I gotta say I liked the debut better. Is it getting old already?)
[ psychedelic pagan metal / chiptune ]
2022-03-22
https://yezdin.bandcamp.com/album/modra-veda |
| 12 |  | Shadow Universe
Subtle Realms, Subtle Worlds
Space-y piano/keys heavy post rock. Notably, track 4 features a trumpet that gives it some jazz-noir vibe. I wish I could hear more like that more often.
[ post-rock ]
2022-03-11
https://shadowuniverse.bandcamp.com/album/subtle-realms-subtle-worlds |
| 13 |  | Neurotech
Symphonies II
Neurotech released another batch of four "symphonies" - each of the tracks on here is exactly 10 minutes, combining trance-y electronics with symphonic metal.
[ trance / symphonic metal ]
2022-03-04
https://neurotech.bandcamp.com/album/symphonies-ii |
| 14 |  | Zguba
Znój
Catching up with records from February I didn't manage to listen until March, this ambient release surprised me with its dark yet ethereal sound, and thick tone clusters underlying simple melodic lines. Simply had to include it, even though I almost missed it last month.
[ ambient / drone ]
2022-02-22
https://zguba.bandcamp.com/album/zn-j |
| 15 |  | Fvrfvr
The Tower Of Doom
Heavy, dark dunegon synth with that old school game feel.
[ dungeon synth / chiptune ]
2022-02-22
https://fvrfvr.bandcamp.com/album/the-tower-of-doom |
| 16 |  | TissilaWen
Eylel
Acoustic Touareg "desert blues". Recent discovery, I like this genre a lot & this has quickly become one of my favourite albums.
[ tichoumaren ]
2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9tOe86aGyM |
| 17 |  | Ihor Cymbrows'kyj
Przyjdź aniele (Come, Angel)
A very unique record, lo-fi tape recording from 90s Eastern Europe featuring just Ihor and his poetry on piano and striking falsetto vocals. (On the last track he whips out the synth sound for extra 90s feel.)
[ singer-songwriter / impressionist ]
1996
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJxAX4MDwNU |
| 18 |  | Warning (GER)
Warning
Darth Vader makes a metal-disco album in the 80s? All around impressively eclectic album, especially when you consider that a lot of the "influences" you can hear in here could only come from genres that didn't exist yet...
[ doom disco ]
1982
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn0rqWI1iXo |
| 19 |  | Springtime (AUS)
Night Raver
Ah shit I forgot to put this one on this list. I thought it got more ratings... barely 15 so far? And it's been over a month. Ninja edit it is. Go spuds go listen to this, you won't regret it. EP of 3 songs but over 40 mins long? Yep.
[ art / noise rock ]
2022-03-02
https://spring-time.bandcamp.com/album/night-raver-ep |
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