Terhen-Eyes Unfolded
(Firebox Records, 2007)

Terhen play what you could call epic doom metal. The songs are quite lengthy, filled with melodic yet somber guitar riffs and extremely guttural vocals. It is a style that is slightly similar to Swallow the Sun, but Terhen is a bit slower and the songs are much lengthier.

If you like short and to the point songs, this one is definitely not for you. The album only has 5 songs and yet the album is almost 55 minutes long. The band also has an atmospheric edge which at times means the songs go for extended periods without vocals. These moments are typically much mellower taking a slight break from the distorted guitars and harsh vocals. If you want heaviness though it is indeed here and explored to great lengths.

The album is really made by is vocal approach. The gruff vocals are extremely effective and have a sound slightly similar to Dan Swano during his Edge of Sanity days. A slightly harsher approach is used from time to time as are female vocals. The experimentation is nice, but the mains style is certainly the growling and it is masterfully done.

This is a heavy and diverse doom album with memorable riffs, powerful vocals and a unique take on the genre. If you like Swallow the Sun, chances are youll like Terhen. All fans of doom will want to check this out.

Dimentianon/Rigor Sardonicous-Split CD
(Largactyl Records, 2007)

Dimentianon opens this split album with three songs of unique and energetic black metal music. I find that the drumming is more in a grindcore style and it adds a great deal of energy to the music. The drum beats change often and the fills are played with an incredibly amount of energy. The guitar riffs are a combination of melodic mid-tempo riffs and tremolo picked faster riffs. There are elements that are typical of the genre, but the overall approach of the band is quite unique.

Rigor Sardonicous are much much different with their slow doom metal approach. The guitar riffs move at a snails pace while the drums pound along with simple yet effective beats courtesy of a drum machine if Im not mistaken. Top it off with a processed gurgled vocal approach and you have an evil take on the doom metal genre. The band does kick up the tempo from time to time giving the music an old school death metal feel during those parts. The bands approach is unique and somewhat reminds me of Mortician gone doom metal.

With three songs from each band the album is just under the 40 minute mark. Each band has a unique sound yet I could see fans of one liking the other quite easily. If you enjoy extreme music both bands will appeal to you for different reasons. Dimentianon has a unique take on the black metal genre while Rigor Sardonicous brings a unique slant to the doom genre.

Sear Bliss-The Arcane Odyssey
(Candlelight Records, 2007)

Sear Bliss are one of those bands that are slightly different but is hard to pinpoint why exactly. The band is most easily associated with the black metal genre, but this certainly isnt typical of said genre. The band moves at more of a thrash tempo with riffs that alternate between melodic sections and quick picking.

The most unique aspect of the band is the use of horns. It adds a very unique layer to the music and certainly is not common in black metal. Acoustic passages are also used quite often and the approach of the band is much grander than some black metal bands. The band isnt afraid to take chances and rarely does the band settle for anything typical. The album has unique ideas in each song, which helps make the album feel very complete. There is a flow to the album, which helps it sound more like a cohesive piece of music rather then 8 songs thrown together and called an album.

What really stands out is the variation of the tempos used. Unlike most black metal, blast beats are not very common with this album. It gives the album a chance to breath and the songs never become dull due to the monotonous use of the blast beat.

If you like black metal this is an essential purchase. It pushes the genre in unique and surprising directions without losing any power or impact. With unique riffs and creative songwriting, Sear Bliss proves that there is still room for creativity in the black metal genre.

Matadors-Flame the Whispers
(Devil Doll Records, 2007)

With thick power chord riffs, energetic drumming and vocals that hit somewhere in between Elvis and 70s rock, Matadors have a raucous approach to rock n roll that could somewhat be summed up as a cross between The Hellacopters and Danko Jones.

There is a slightly classic rock feel to some of the riffs with nods to everything from Kiss to the MC5. The band does indeed sound modern though and doesnt sound dated or forced like many of the bands who draw influence from older music. There is a slight country feel used in a few songs which fits well with the bands slightly bluesy feel in some of the riffs. The band really just pays homage to kick ass rock of the past and succeeds because of it.

The album packs in 16 songs, all of which are consistent in sound but still manage to be varied. Fans of everything from The Hellacopters, to the Hives to Kiss or even Thin Lizzy will enjoy this band. Simply put, this rocks.

Quips-Take Two
(Translation Loss, 2007)

While I usually expect heavy bands from Translation Loss, this one really took me by surprise. Quips play a noisy and quirky form of rock with a sound that somewhat reminds me of a cross between Pinkerton era Weezer and Queens of the Stone Age. Throw in some Sub Pop styled indie rock and you have Quips.

What I really like about the album is just how much ground the band covers. Theyll use beautiful picked out chords in one song and tremolo laced twang in another. Each song has unique ideas while keeping somewhat consistent in approach.

The songs are also somewhat short with most being under three minutes. The songs never feel rushed though and a few songs are a bit longer at around 4 or 5 minutes. The shorter songs tend to pack a bit more punch while the longer songs allow the band to play around a bit more with atmosphere.

This certainly is different for Translation Loss, but it is a welcome change of pace. Fans of everything from Weezer to Nirvana to The Beatles should be able to enjoy this.

Rosetta-Wake/Lift
(Translation Loss, 2007)

Imagine two opposing sounds clashing, one beautiful and one harsh. The combination seems odd at first yet with each passing moment it makes more sense. That is essentially how you could describe the music of Rosetta. On one hand the band is beautiful with engrossing melodies and layers of guitars creating a rich orchestra of sound. Then you have the harsh side with gruff vocals and crushing guitars. It truly is a case of a musical beauty and the beast and it is a style that makes Rosetta hit the mark with flying colors with this album.

Not surprising with a band in this style is that the songs are quite lengthy. The opening song is over 11 minutes long although youd swear it was no longer than 5. The band keeps things moving at a quick pace and if this is an album you find boring you need to get your hearing checked I think. Rosetta manages to do more in minutes than some bands do with an entire album.

The production is very natural sounding allowing the album to be heavy and dense yet still have an organic and stripped down sound. There are a lot of layers being thrown at you and the recording allows them to be heard clearly. I like that the sound isnt suffocatingly heavy and the band lets the music breathe. This isnt typical heavy music, and this thankfully isnt a typical heavy production.

This is an exciting and experimental album that draws from the Isis school of metal yet manages to be a completely original band in the process. If you like depth and experimentation with your heaviness, Rosetta is definitely for you.

Monarch-Dead Men Tell No Tales
(Crucial Blast, 2007)

This is an odd double album that is slow, feedback soaked and features some incredibly lengthy songs. The opening song is over 26 minutes long and moves at a snails pace. This is a song that would test the endurance of even the most devout follower of doom. The song revolves around sustained heavy chords, spare drumming and throat tearing screams. This one just isnt for me though I think. I can enjoy what the band does, but the songs are a bit too long for me and they dont really seem to go anywhere. The band is more atmospheric I suppose and if you enjoy soundscapes youll probably enjoy this. It didnt strike a chord with me, but if you enjoy Sunn0 or Grief and like long songs, this may be right up your alley.

Baroness/Unpersons-A Grey Sigh in the Flower Husk
(At a Loss Recordings, 2007)

It is rare that an album is worth the asking price for one song alone, but with this split the first song by Baroness is so good that it makes this album pretty much a mandatory purchase. Baroness is one hell of a band, blending thrash, hardcore, doom and even Southern rock together. Think Slayer, Eyehategod, Neurosis and Lynard Skynard stitched together and brought to life. The two songs were actually recorded back in 2005 which makes me curious to hear newer recordings, if the band is indeed still together.

Unpersons are an extremely original band and one of my favorites on At A Loss. These tracks were recorded back in 2004 yet they still show the spastic and unpredictable cross between hardcore and doom Ive come to expect from the band. They almost sound like a cross between Kylesa, and Dead Kennedys to my ears, if that makes any sense whatsoever. They embrace the strange, the fast and the heavy, which makes for an odd yet exhilarating listen.

Both bands have a lot to offer and are quite different from each other. If you are a fan of the At a Loss roster, but havent heard either of these bands, now is the perfect time to correct that mistake.