Hexvessel - Kindred

Monday, new week and it's time to present "Record Of The Week".

"Kindred" is the 5th album by the British/Finish psychedelic forest folk-rockers HEXVESSEL. The album was released on April 17 on Svart Records. The band was formed by English/Irish singer/songwriter Mat McNerney in 2009 after he moved to Finland. Also known for his work with BEASTMILK (now known as GRAVE PLEASURES), THE DEATHTRIP, guest spots with CARPENTER BRUT and ME & THAT MAN and his earlier work with Norwegian Black Metal bands CODE & DØDHEIMSGARD, McNerney is a both highly eclectic and critically acclaimed musical artist. Across the years, it is McNerney’s work with HEXVESSEL which has been his most brave, exploratory, honest, and impossible to categorize, unique and idiosyncratic in a world all of their own.

The album was made in their original studio in Tampere, Finland, where they recorded their cult classic "No Holier Temple". It was mastered by John Davis (THE KILLERS / GORILLAZ / LED ZEPPELIN / LANA DEL REY) in the UK. Adorned by cover artwork by artists Thomas Hooper (who has worked for NEUROSIS, CONVERGE and DOOMRIDERS) and Richey Beckett (who has created work for METALLICA, FOO FIGHTERS, ROBERT PLANT)

"Kindred" is a nature-mystic opus that is taking a darker and more esoteric path, the album sees HEXVESSEL re-forge their eclectic melting cauldron or "Vessel" of sound into a potent "Hex" of spell-binding songcraft. Through "Kindred’s" 10 song rites of passage, folk roots with an occult undercurrent with a dark earthen balladry reminiscent of early NICK CAVE and the doom-laden atmospheres of DEAD CAN DANCE.

With magnificent and spooky guitars does the album opens up a delicious piece in "Billion Year Old Being", before the march takes its steps towards the unknown of progressive folkish psych-rock where the structures harken back to KING CRIMSON. Followed by the groovy 60's feel in "Demian" and a cover of COILs "Fire Of The Mind" live from a mental institution and delve into the Druidic sacrificial swamps with songs like "Bog Bodies", which conjures the deep Lynchian night with muted trumpet and foggy Rhodes piano. "Sic Luceat Lux" is an instrumental experimental piece that marks that we are halfway thru in its own way and opens up the doors for "Phaedra", a dark piece about decorating the heroin with blood, until it's time for a short interlude "Family" that opens up for "Kindred Moon", a heartfelt tune with a quirky melody of piano chords and strings. "Magical & Damned" is a spellbinding beauty with a warm and tender feeling and excellent vocals that follow up with the closing acoustic lullaby "Joy Of Sacrifice". "Kindred" is a well-cooked mix of psychedelic progressive rock and folk roots. It's an album that calls you on a journey, both intimate and richly enlightening. The album is filled up with a great deal of passion and spirit that makes it so easy to fall in love with.

Sum: A magical, damned dark sweet record.

HEXVESSEL is: 

 Mathew Kvohst McNerney - Vocals, Guitar 

Kimmo Helén - Piano, Keys, Viola, Violin, Trumpet, Backing Vocals 

Jukka Rämänen - Drums, Percussion, Bass guitar 

Jesse Heikkinen - Lead guitar, Acoustic guitars & 12-string guitars, Backing Vocals 

Ville Hakonen - Bass 

Marja Konttinen - Backing Vocals

Today's tune "Phaedra" is taken from the album "Kindred", released April the 17th, 2020, enjoy!



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Blood Incantation - Inner Paths (To Outer Space)

2019 is getting closer to an end and I know you guys are waiting for the "Topp 50" and the "Best Of 2019", as I am out on holiday and had some limited access to the whole wide web and not so much time to work out anything until the last few days where I have spent serval hours figuring out the list that will be presented on New Year's Eve and the "Best of 2019" the day after. But a little sneak preview today on the best Cover Art of 2019.

BLOOD INCANTATIONs "Hidden History Of The Human Race" have the best artwork for a 2019 album release, it's featuring a classic 1970s artwork by Sci-Fi god Bruce Pennington, promises to be both a meditative inquiry on the Mystery & Nature of human consciousness and a dynamic foray into the realms of progressive, brutal & atmospheric death metal, as revealed by BLOOD INCANTATION.

The Denver, Colorado’s cosmic death metal band BLOOD INCANTATION have joined forces with Century Media Records to release the band’s much anticipated second studio album, "Hidden History Of The Human Race", outside of North America, Mexico and Canada. Dark Descent Records will be handling the American release and the album was released worldwide on November 22nd, 2019.

With "Hidden History Of The Human Race", BLOOD INCANTATION presents the successor to one of the most talked-about death metal debuts in recent years, 2016’s "Starspawn". A cerebral whirlwind of intense and otherworldly atmospheric death metal, "Starspawn" took the underground death metal world by storm and is about to be topped by the quartet’s second offering. BLOOD INCANTATION has excelled themselves at crafting a dynamic foray into the realms of progressive, brutal & strangely melodic death metal, all recorded analog at World Famous Studios. Accompanied by stunning artwork.

BLOOD INCANTATION was formed in 2011. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Paul Riedl, guitarist Morris Kolontyrsky, drummer Isaac Faulk and bassist Jeff Barrett.

Today's tune "Inner Paths (To Outer Space)" is taken from "Hidden History Of The Human Race". BLOOD INCANTATION says the following about "Inner Paths (To Outer Space)’": "The tune is a meditative journey through the inner cosmos of the human mind. We improvised this track on psychedelics over a period of several months, allowing it to grow and evolve as it chose. The atmosphere is meant to allow the listener time and space to explore their own thoughts and go on their own journey before the epic brutality of the album returns for the final track.”
Enjoy!



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Official Blood Incantation Bigcartel

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Smoulder - Sword Woman

The Canadian doom rockers SMOULDER have released their debut full-length album "Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring". Released by Cruz del Sur Music. Music is classic doom and old school heavy metal, with a fantasy theme with Mythical & Magical world in their lyrics. The sound brings the mind to bands like KHEMMIS and SOLITUDE AETERNUS but with female vocals.

The album was recorded at The Lincoln County Social Club & Swift Road Studios. Mixed and Mastered by Arthur Rizk. Cover Art by Michael Whelan

SMOULDER consists of:

Bass | Adam

Guitars | Collin

Vocals | Sarah Ann

Drums | Kevin

Guitars | Vincent

Today's tune "Sword Woman", taken from the debut album "Times of Obscene Evil & Wild Daring", video is a fan cut video by "Hundra".



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Official Smoulder Bandcamp

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Baroness - Borderlines

The Philadelphia-based progressive metal band BARONESS has returned with a tourniquet and a new lead single "Borderlines", taken from the forthcoming album "Gold & Grey", see the tune below.

The new single sounds great, a takeoff from "Purple" (2015). The Video is spacy and trippy, six-minute riff-beast with great soaring harmonized vocals.

Gold & Grey is due June 14 via Baroness' own Abraxan Hymns label and with a stunning cover painting.

"Borderlines" marks the bands first new material since Gleason took over for Pete Adams following his departure in 2017. The new album was recorded in upstate New York with famed FLAMING LIPS prog-fuzz producer Dave Fridmann. (Fridmann also produced the last BARONESS album, 2015’s "Purple".)

BARONESS recently embarked on a massive co-headlining tour with fellow boundary-pushing rockers DEAFHEAVEN.

Enjoy today's tune!




Pre-order/save 'Gold & Grey' here: http://smarturl.it/baroness-goldandgrey

Baroness on tour now: http://yourbaroness.com/tour

Tue, MAR 26 Metro Music Hall Salt Lake City, UT
Wed, MAR 27 The Ogden Theatre Denver, CO
Fri, MAR 29 Skyway Theatre Minneapolis, MN
Sat, MAR 30 The Sylvee Madison, WI
Sun, MAR 31 The Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL
Tue, APR 02 Danforth Music Hall Toronto, Canada
Wed, APR 03 Theatre Corona Montreal, Canada
Fri, APR 05 Starland Ballroom Sayreville, NJ
Sat, APR 06 The Palladium Worcester, MA
Sun, APR 07 Upstate Concert Hall Saratoga County, NY
Tue, APR 09 Agora Theater & Ballroom Cleveland, OH
Wed, APR 10 The Fillmore Silver Spring Silver Spring, MD
Fri, APR 12 Terminal 5 New York, NY
Sat, APR 13 Decibel Magazine's Metal and Beer Fest [April 13-14] Philadelphia, PA

More info @

Official Baroness Web

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Måneskjold - Solsejler

MÅNESKJOLD hails from the concrete of Copenhagen and the woods of North Sealand. The band was envisioned by frontman Rasmus Miehe Soerensen when he saw the word “Måneskjold” carved into an old oak tree. Or was it maybe graffiti on someone’s mailbox? Anyhow, the name seemed ideal for a sort of retro-futuristic spacepunk outfit. Thus, Måneskjold was created.

MÅNESKJOLD plays guitardriven fuzzmusic for the alienated youth of a premordial future. Space-rock is THE answer to the question concering life, universe & everything.

They released a Split single with DE FORBANDEDE where we find today's tune.

The tune is recorded live at DE FORBANDEDE in Odense. MÅNESKJOLD will soon enter the studio and working on their second full length album.

The Cover art for the EP is made by NMAAR.

Today's tune "Solsejler" is taken from the split EP with DE FORBANDEDE, released Oct 26th 2018, enjoy!



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Junipher Greene - Friendship

Sunday, time for a classic.

"Friendship" is a tune by the Norwegian progressive rock group JUNIPHER GREENE, taken from the debut album "Friendship", it was released in 1971, and is known as Norway's first "double" album. Manufacturers were the band itself, Nils Bjarne Kvam and Harald Are Lund. The album was 13 weeks on the VG list in 1971 and 1972, with number 8 the best place.

JUNIPHER GREENE was formed in Oslo, Norway in 1966 - Disbanded in 1983 - Reformed in 2008 for Live concerts.

The initial line-up included Bent ÅSERUD on guitars, keyboards, flute and vocals, Geir BØHREN on lead vocals, drums and sax, Helge GRØSLIE on keyboards, Freddy DAHL on guitar and vocals and Øyvind Vilbo on bass.

The album is known as the first double album in Norway history, and a poem in Norwegian music. In 2007, the album was voted the Norwegian rock album of Dagens Næringsliv. This made them to make a reissue on LP (Sandem Records) and made the band play their first concert in 25 years, August 31, 2007. They played as good as the entire album from beginning to end.

The re-release of Friendship

After the album's release in 1971, the original vinyl release with the foldout cover of Odd Nerdrum's painting has become a collector's object. A vinyl record in good condition may be worth a lot and it's on my want-list.

Enjoy today's tune "Friendship".

Audio & Video Remastered by BrunoSamppa, 2016, NRK1 6 September 1971 - "Flimra" series. NRK TV Studio, Oslo, Norway. The video clip includes all the parts in "Friendship", namely: Prelude: Take the Road Across the Bridge, a) Friendship, b) Interlude, c) Mountain Voices, d) Land Of The Foxes, e) Friendship That's Earned, f) Into The Cloudburst, g) Manitou's Skylands and Down To Earth, h) Friendship.



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Official Junipher Greene Web

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Red Scalp - Mantra Bufala

RED SCALP, the Indian stoner/doom band from Pleszew, Poland is a new finding from the Bandcamp surf.

 The band was formed in 2012. In 2014 they released their first EP called "EP no.1". The debut album "Rituals" was released in 2016 and the second "Lost Ghosts" came out 2017, were we find today's tune "Mantra Bufala".

RED SCALP plays doomish stoner rock Indianish spirit based on Sabbath legacy. They worship heavy riffs, old Indians rituals and fuzzy space sound. They are Space Indians.

The band consists of:

Dąbek (Goldfinger) - Guitar,
Jed (Scaramanga) - Guitar, Vocals,
Jankes (Hugo Drax) - Bass,
Bati (Dr. No) - Drums
WeedJan (Q) - Sax, Percussion, Backing Vocals

"Lost Ghosts" was recorded, mixed and mastered at Monochrom Studio by Satanic Audio and Daydreem Audio, Cover art by Jan Wawrzyniak.

Enjoy "Mantra Bufala"!




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Satyricon - Deep Calleth Upon Deep

Monday, new week, time to present "Record Of The Week"

"Deep Calleth Upon Deep" is the ninth opus by the Norwegian black metal duo SATYRICON.

The career path of band has been far and wide thru the years. Something that I always have seen as a positive thing and "Deep Calleth Upon Deep" is the next step in development, one that has become more mature and thoughtful. The album is well crafted and excellent executed album, even if the guys made a bold decision to step outside the comfort zone for most metal fans I almost sure that most of them will love this. “This is a new beginning, a new chapter. The rules of the game have changed.”

"Deep Calleth Upon Deep" is an emotionally and deep album, it oozes with sorrow, death and deeply hided aggression. The first tune that get's some air when the clear vinyl takes a spin is "Midnight Serpent", a heavy and fast piece in a more typical SATYRICON manners. Satyr spits and sputters and Forst moves forward like a maniac snowplow through the night and shows that he still can play the drums! "Blood Cracks Open the Ground" keeps the pace but takes a new turn with a progressive metal approach and where Frost get's to be in the center with his furious drumming, hell yeah the tune swings great. The title tune "Deep Calleth Upon Deep" is deep, black and heavy as we want it. "The Ghost Of Rome" is like a melodic explosion of black metal and progressive metal, suprb tune that will be glommed to your head forever! The frosty "To Your Brethren In The Dark" is the first single and today's tune, where the black metal hymns reminds us of the past. The wonderfully melodic monotonous sound lifts this tune to a new level and is one of the highlights on the album along with the gorgeous black metal masterpiece "Black Wings and Withering Gloom" that reflects the history of the band in a magical way. "Dissonant" does the band dip there black metal toes in a avant garde jazz territory and somehow they manage to keep the focus and creativity high and interesting. "Burial Rite" closes up the album with an progressive battery of constrained fury, repetitive riffing and heavy drumming.

The masters Satyr and Frost possess knowledge of deep truth and reality behind the darkest art of metal and have created an excellent album, don't miss it.

Recorded in Oslo, Norway and Vancouver, Canada, during the early months of 2017 and mixed in collaboration with esteemed studio guru Mike Fraser (who previously worked with the band on Now, Diabolical in 2006) . The front cover is an obscure drawing from 1898 by perhaps the greatest Norwegian artist of all time, Edvard Munch.

Today's tune "To Your Brethren In The Dark" is taken from "Deep Calleth Upon Deep". Video is Directed by LABAN, Featuring Tonya Cornelisse, Jesse Hotchkiss, Shawn Kathryn Kane, Diana Wyenn, Cameraman and Drone Operator: Jeff Morris, Editor: Brandon M. Kelly, Production Company: Plain Wood Productions.



More info @

Official Satyricon Web

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Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith

Monday, new week, well you know all what that means by now.

Today will I be a bit nostalgic, an album that made a big impact on me back in the days, a record that have so many spins that I think that I'm on the 3:rd copy of the same album already, that's allot. The album that I will introduce today is "Defenders of the Faith", the ninth studio album by British heavy metal band JUDAS PRIEST. A record that had three tracks that was released as singles: "Freewheel Burning", "Some Heads Are Gonna Roll" and "Love Bites".

"Defenders of the Faith" is one of the first real Heavy Metal album I bought as a kid, it's was so new, different, hard, fast and heavy. A record that was driven by constant aggression and power. I was familiar with "Breaking The Law", "United" and "Hell Bent For Leather" back then but this was something new, I remember that I was totally speckless and paralysed when the first spin was running on my own Sharp VZ-1500 stereo. A pretty cool thing that you could play both sides without lifting a finger, see picture below. (Had to google it as I don't find any picture of it now, mine was black)

Musically, it follows the same path as "Screaming for Vengeance", but here with more speed and fist-pumping midtempo grooves with a more commercial accessibility. It have the classic motorcycle-riding, leather-clad headbangers with speedy galloping riffs and pulse all through the album. The album contains many excellent tunes, to be honest, non are bad. All from the high-energy amazing album opener "Freewheel Burning" to "Jawbreaker" and then the terrific "Rock Hard Ride Free" and "The Sentinel" that have a bit more complex approach. The excellent and a bit confused tune "Love Bites" to cheesy S&M themed "Eat Me Alive", that still have the power to kick anyone of the bed. "Some Heads Are Gonna Roll" have a bit more darker feeling, a tune that ended up on the 2001 Clear Channel memorandum banned songs-list after 9/11. The half ballad "Night Comes Down" is a real beauty. Yes the lyrics is flimsy cock rock songs, but who cares, it's damn good.

Doug Johnson designed the cover art for "Defenders of the Faith", featuring a colourful, transformer-like beast/tank/thing that the band decided to baptized as the "Metallian".

Sum: "Defenders of the Faith" is a record that should be in every rockers record shelf, is the peak of the classic JUDAS PRIEST lineup with the most consistent songs, technical ability and authenticity.

Today's tune "Some Heads Are Gonna Roll" is taken from the "Record Of The Week" album Defenders of the Faith", released on 4 January 1984.



More info @

Official Judas Priest Web

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Black Sabbath - Paranoid

Sunday, time for a classic.

"Paranoid" is a song by the British rock band BLACK SABBATH, featured on their second album Paranoid (1970). It is the first single from the album, while the B-side is the song "The Wizard".

"Paranoid" was the first BLACK SABBATH single release, coming six months after their debut album was released. BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler (from Guitar World magazine, March 2004):

A lot of the "Paranoid" album was written around the time of our first album,"Black Sabbath". We recorded the whole thing in about 2 or 3 days, live in the studio. The song "Paranoid" was written as an afterthought. We basically needed a 3 minute filler for the album, and Tony came up with the riff. I quickly did the lyrics, and Ozzy was reading them as he was singing.

Paranoid was also used as the name of the album, and somewhat unusually, the word paranoid is never mentioned in the lyrics. Originally the band had wanted to call the album "War Pigs" after the song of the same name, but the record company persuaded them to use Paranoid instead because it was less offensive.

The original BLACK SABBATH recording has been used numerous times in various films and television shows including Sid & Nancy, Dazed and Confused, The Stoned Age, Any Given Sunday, Almost Famous, We Are Marshall, The Angry Birds Movie, and Suicide Squad. The song was used in the Sega Mega Drive game Rock n' Roll Racing in 1993.

Today's tune "Paranoid" is the title track taken from the second studio album, Released in September 1970, it was the band's only LP to top the UK Albums Chart until the release of 13 in 2013. "Paranoid" contains several of the band's signature songs, including "Iron Man", "War Pigs" and the title track, which was the band's only Top 20 hit, reaching number 4 in the UK charts. It is often regarded as one of the most quintessential and influential albums in heavy metal history.

The single was released in many Country's, many with their own covers, here is a few of them, enjoy the 70's art.

Today's video for "Paranoid" was filmed in Belgium 1970.



More info @

Official Black Sabbath Web

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