Madder Mortem is the larger than life avant garde juggernaut that seemingly everyone with half an inkling of a taste for this music enjoys, or at least appreciates. Madder Mortem is simply one of those bands that brings out the best in their own music, as well as each of their listeners. When Dream and Day Collide, the new EP, is no different in the wave of euphoria it creates with it’s wacky worlds each track creates. While there are only 3 original songs, this is a fantastic mini-album that I can’t stop playing.

Where Dream and Day Collide is best reflected in the oddities of the roaring 20’s big band inspired moments in each of these songs combined with sudden bursts of chaotic metal riffs, all topped with the whimsical voice of Agnete M. Kirkevaag who at first you might not think would have the ability to break out when the energy explodes, but Agnete keeps up with each and every metal riff, and every undertow created by the alternative whatevers that pop up all over the place.

If this were a full length, it would be receiving a damn good review, but this is simply an EP, thus, only a taste. Where Dream And Day Collide is a single off of the previously released Eight Ways (which is a fantastic album), but the other songs are original to this release, so Madder Mortem fans must take note of this, because each track brings new life to this ever evolving Norwegian project.

1.    Where Dream And Day Collide (Single Version)
2.    Jitterheart
3.    The Purest Strain
4.    Quietude
5.    Where Dream And Day Collide (Album Version)

Agnete M. Kirkevaag – Vocals
BP M. Kirkevaag – Guitar
Odd Eivind Ebbesen – Guitar
Tormod Langøien Moseng – Bass
Mads Solås – Drums

Peaceville Records

http://www.myspace.com/maddermortem

Haken, in the grand tradition of their prog forefathers, is an English band that takes great pride in evading the ordinary. Their debut album Aquarius may have strong similarities to metal Circus Maximus and rock Spock’s Beard, but they still supremely original with their own edge that can’t be classified under either the rock or metal umbrella, and really, most great progsters can do the same without making it sound forced, instead just running where their creative center takes them. Aquarius is a great piece of prog, one that sings a breath of freshness to an English scene that in many respects, has been chasing after their American counterparts for inspiration for a number of years.

Aquarius switches from almost doom and goth laden riffs to happy, 70’s inspired progressive pop funk with ease, and I think that’s their telltale sign of greatness. A perfect example of these wonderful transitions is in the song “Streams” which showcases a pillowy ease which eventually bleeds into a dark, brooding, menacing sound, which then cascades into a lofty, curious careless vibe. This is the story of this album, one that can only inspire those who are fans of this type of music.

Haken isn’t an original concept as I have stated, but their craft is unquestionably authentic and pure to the innocent and inventive spririt of progressive rock based music. Be prepared for anything when listening to Aquarius, because Haken are likely to throw just about anything at you in as tasteful of a way as possible. I highly recommend!

VERY GOOD

Similar Artists: Dream Theater, Circus Maximus, Sp0ck’s Beard, Jupiter Society

Ross Jennings : Vocals
Tom Maclean : Bass
Richard Henshall : Guitar, Keyboard
Ray Hearne : Drums
Charlie Griffiths : Guitar
Diego Tejeida : Keyboard

http://www.myspace.com/hakenmusic

Pink Floyd, Opeth, and Tool have all arguably made their own masterpiece albums. The Unravelling cite these bands and more as inspiration, and I believe, strive to make a masterpiece of their own. This band is often referred to as progressive metal. I take that as ‘this is a band that refuses to focus on a single musical style to make their music’. Though 13 Arcane Hymns is no masterpiece, The Unravelling have created an album that shows a lot of promise, and which kept me interested from beginning to end.

It’s refreshing to be introduced to another good progressive band that has a lot of potential. The band’s website claims their new album is a concept album concerning themes of being buried alive, and surviving the ordeal. At first, 13 Arcane Hymns is heavy on the industrial sound, but the album slowly shifts into a highly-progressive and experimental album. It reminds me of some of the rock/metal operas I’ve listened to by Ayreon and others. There are also some traces of Mike Patton’s handy work. “Last Rights Protest” has an interesting rhythm, and “Where Will It End?” has some pretty cool transitions that work well together.

Overall, this is an album you should check out if you like any of the bands mentioned above, or if you’re into the progressive metal/rock sound in general. But more importantly if you don’t check out this album, keep an out for their future projects.

GOOD

Top Tracks: Last Rights Protest, Where Will It End, Arjuna

Similar Artists: Pink Floyd, Mr. Bungle

Gustavo De Beauville – composer, producer
Steve Moore – lyrics, vocals

www.theunravellingmusic.com

Review by NATE

Sweden’s Svarti Loghin is some of the most original metal music I have heard in a long time, and that’s saying a lot in this day in age where for every blink, there is a new artists producing something new. Svarti Loghin’s Drifting Through the Void, the band’s second full length effort, is black metal in heaviness, but echoes a new approach with 80’s-90’s era British Shoegazing. Unlike the post rock/post metal outfits such as Isis and Pelican though, and even fellow blackened avent garder’s in Alcest, Svarti Loghin’s take hasn’t really been done before.

To be honest, the Shoegaze/post rock craze these days is not my cup of tea. Yes, there are many talented groups that comprise this retro-90’s feel, but the post-”insert genre here” thing is already getting a bit tiresome, esspecially now that it has seeped into the world of doom metal. However, the executing of a post-black metal type of deal, is interesting, but I can’t say that I am really all that enthralled by it despite taking a dramatic stance against the status quo.

Drifting Through the Void’s biggest drawback is it’s attempt at linking laid back rock n roll stylings with under-produced black metal. As I said, this makes for damn original music, but in my mind, it clashes instead of meshing. Now, perhaps the ultimate goal of the band was to create this exact juxtaposition, but I don’t understand the benefit of doing so. Can you imagine combining hip hop with neo-classical? It would sound like shit, no matter how talented the artists involved are, because those two types of music come from completely different soundcapes. While Drifting Through the Void isn’t shit in any way, it definitely isn’t very inviting. Hearing original scores may attract the artists in us all, and I certainly encourage people to check this one out, but I don’t buy into it.

NOT BAD

1.    Red Sun Sets
2.    Kosmik Tomhet
3.    Odelagd Framtid
4.    Drifting Through the Void
5.    Nightsky Interlude
6.    Bury My Heart in These Starlit Waters
7.    Planet Caravan (Black Sabbath cover)
8.    Stargazer

S.L. – Guitars, vocals and keyboards
Raymond N. – Bass
Emil – Drums and percussion

ATMF Records

http://www.myspace.com/svartiloghin

Review by CODY

Inspired by the beauty of Oregon’s Agalloch and Kayo Dot, France’s own Les Discrets bring the formulation of darkness, fascination and subtle indie melodies to the forefront of an already complex blackened goth metal album. Septembre Et Ses Dernieres Pensees isn’t a ruckus of a record, it’s art personified, and every once and awhile metal requires a “take 5″ as a reference point on the extreme scale that this music consists of.

Sung entirely in French, Les Discrets is a band that is true to themselves, and is not in this game for marketing potential. Are they almost certain to make waves in the underground scene? Absolutely, but the ultimate goal is clear–to make as complete a sound scape as one band possibly can, and these guys have obtained that task with flying colors. Very few albums can evoke such certain emotions and thoughts, but Septembre… brings the subtle power and nuance to make a breathtaking display of three dimensional life to mere music. While there are no obvious flaws in Les Discrets’ execution, I can’t help but make comparisons to Agalloch (whom have clearly set the bar for atmospheric metal over the last decade), to which the Frenchmen come up just a tad short. Obviously when you are dealing with the levels of complexity that these two bands write in, it’s hard to justify one being better than the other, but there is a certain level of soul that I think Agalloch possesses more of. Again though, this isn’t necessarily a fault, but I would feel remiss if I didn’t make certain comparisons and contrasts to a band that holds the eye of the metal community.

Septembre Et Ses Dernieres Pensees is a foreboding, yet playful take on melody vs. melancholy, and it really is a delight to listen to (in a room that is as dark as you can possibly make it with great speakers turned up to a good volume, but not too loud as to drown out the subtleties in the music). If thoughtful music isn’t in your aural vernacular, than steer clear, but for the rest of you who clamor to music that is just a tad above the rest, then feast your ears on one of 2010’s best efforts.

VERY GOOD

Similar Artists: Agalloch, U2, Kayo Dot, Arcana

Fursy Teyssier – Bass Guitar, Vocals
Winterhalter – Drums
A. Hadorn – Vocals

Prophecy Productions

http://www.myspace.com/lesdiscrets

Review by CODY

You know those albums that you listen to, that seem sophisticated enough that you should like it (at least in an artistic sense), but no matter how hard you try, or how many times you listen to it, you still think it’s pretty awful? That is how I feel about My Own Private Alaska’s Amen, an album that is, first and foremost, a post-rock album set in a post-realist world, which ultimately is what I don’t “get” about this album. What is the focus? The intention of creating such indiscriminate art? Excuse my ignorance, and if you wish to cuss me out in the comments section please feel free, but I don’t want to go looking for enjoyment in my music, I want it to come naturally.

Amen isn’t really metal, but that is obviously not where it’s shortcomings come into view. My major issue with Amen is it’s lack of coherency. It’s very clear that MOPA were attempting to achieve a thoroughly engrossing experience by forcing the listener to throw out any pre-conceived notions of what “post-metal” and even screamo was meant to encapsulate. I don’t subscribe to the idea that Amen is some groundbreaking artistic challenge to the sensibilities of what hardcore and metal fans embrace, instead I cannot wrap my head around what the point was in writing this music which has no sense of emotion or charge. I feel like Amen packs us all into the family caravan, takes us on a roadtrip without telling us our destination, and then drops us off in some unknown location and speeds away. Once again, I get the concept of artistic license, but artistic license doesn’t prevent criticism, especially when there’s no ultimate persuasion to the music. Am I supposed to feel energized, cathartic, depressed, angry, happy by listening to Amen? Because all I felt was confusion and boredom.

I honestly don’t know who to suggest this album to, because it doesn’t fit into any tidy realm of heavy music. I suppose if you are into avant garde and screamo, you might find something suitably enjoyable in Amen, but I am going to recommend the average listener to sample with caution, but sample nonetheless, because my confusion and boredom might be your fascination and escape.

EH…

Similar Artists: A Backward Glance On A Travel Road, Sigur Ros, Mogwai, Mono

1. Anchorage
2. Just Like You and I
3. Ode to Silence
4. After You
5. Die For Me
6. Broken Army
7. My Girl
8. I Am An Island
9. Amen
10. Kill Me Twice
11. Page of A Dictionary

Tristan Mocquet – Piano
Matthew “Milka” Miegeville – Vocals
Yohan Hennequin – Drums

I Am Recordings

http://www.myspace.com/myownprivatealaska

Review by CODY

Earth have been finalizing material for their next full-length to be released on Southern Lord Recordings by early 2011, and will be showcasing some of these new songs on the tour. The Earthlineup on these dates shall consist of:

Dylan Carlson – Guitar
Adrienne Davies – Drums
Karl Blau – Bass
Lori Goldston – Cello

Wolves in the Throne Room have just completed their first Australian tour, alongside French doom unit Monarch!, and will appear alongside Shrinebuilder at a special one-off East Coast appearance in New York City this tonight.

EARTH / WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM / Lori Goldston April 2010 Tour:
4/14/2010 The Oak Street Speakeasy – Eugene, OR
4/15/2010 Noctrum – Eureka, CA
4/16/2010 Slim’s – San Francisco, CA
4/17/2010 Brookdale Lodge – Santa Cruz, CA
4/19/2010 Ché Café – San Diego, CA
4/20/2010 The EchoPlex – Los Angeles, CA
4/22/2010 Rotture – Portland, OR
4/23/2010 Neumo’s – Seattle, WA
4/24/2010 Capital Theatre – Olympia, WA with special guests Mount Eerie and Ô Paon

http://www.myspace.com/earthofficial

Alcest, hailing from France, are coming to the U.S. to give our atmospheric rock sensibilities a run for their money (I’m looking at you Sigur Ros, you weird bastards you). I for one hope to get a chance to see these guys for the sheer fascination I have for their ability to walk a thin line between U2 mainstream college rock and metal. Alcest will be playing the following dates with a number of bands, so please check out their Myspace for further details.

04-22 Québec, Quebec – Bar Octobre
04-23 Toronto, Ontario – Hard Luck Bar
04-24 Chicago, Illinois – Reggie’s Rock Club
04-25 Cleveland, Ohio – Beachland Tavern
04-26 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Rex Theater
04-27 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Kung Fu Necktie
04-28 New Haven, Connecticut – Cafe Nine
04-29 New York, New York – The Studio at Webster Hall
04-30 Montreal, Quebec – Underworld
05-01 Boston, Massachusetts – Unit 11

http://www.myspace.com/alcestmusic

Tracks for the new EP include:

1. Where Dream and Day Collide (single edit version)
2. Jitterheart
3. The Purest Strain
4. Quietude
5. Where Dream and Day Collide (album version)

Madder Mortem – Where Dream and Day Collide (from Eight Ways) from Peaceville Records on Vimeo.

The next step in the ongoing saga of modern rock instrumentalism takes the shape of Perth, Australia’s Tangled Thoughts of Leaving, but unlike the previous years’ incarnations which are largely metal acts going out and exploring the world around them, Tangles Thoughts of Leaving are more like bored jazz musicians who decided to try a little PCP for shits and giggles.

These Perthians…Perthites…Perthonians (???) have more to do with the likes of John Zorn than Animals as Leaders by playing experimental music that melds intense jazz, metal riffs, and electronica to create a sound that is all their own. Having released an EP as well as a split release, Tangled Thoughts of Leaving are already seamless artists with so much to offer to the music world. To the average listener, this stuff might seem a bit too disjointed and radical, but jazz aficionados, fans of Sigur Ros and avant garde metal can only be attracted to the ground swell of creativity that is Tangled Thoughts of Leaving. Challenge your tastes by going to check these guys out.

http://www.myspace.com/ttol