Fyrnask

You know what black metal needed?  Germans.  Check out the full on sonic assault of "Vigil" from one man band Fyrnask's sophomore effort "Eldir Nott."  The whole thing is cold and chilling and ominous.  Think Blut Aus Nord or Wolves in the Throne Room.  Also, i can't understand a word being screamed, and as this black metal created by a mysterious German guy, i hope i haven't just posted something abhorrent.  Get it on Temple of Torturous.

Lustre

Because metal is beautiful and so are you, here's a cut from Swedish one man band Lustre's new album "Wonder."  "Green Worlds" is part classical composition, part sweeping ambience, and part fuzzy, droning guitars.  It's wonderful and beautiful and solid proof that any and every genre should be as malleable as possible.  Listen below and look for the album from Nordvis Produktions.

Sensum and Clunch

I'm just never going to jump on board with the cassette tape revival that's rising like a phoenix in the underground, but Austin's Holodeck Records just keeps putting them out...and goddammit, they're good.  Their latest release comes from Sensum and Clunch, and the duo's self-titled EP is four glorious tracks of synthesizer soundscapes (it's like they want me to buy it or something).  Awesome stuff.  Take a listen to "Stealing Reason" below and get the tape or download here.

World's Fair

Here's a new track from Queens hip-hop collective World's Fair.  "Sammy Sosa" comes from the upcoming "Bastards of the Party" LP out next week on Fool's Gold.  The jam is a slow, at times foreboding, tune that hangs in the air like so much pot smoke.  I dig it and you should too.  Listen and download below.

Tony Molina

Historically i post a lot of really long songs.  I love sprawling, epic tracks, but every now and then it's refreshing to kick in a little brevity with some nice power pop.  San Francisco's Tony Molina delivers with "Breakin Up," a new track off of his upcoming "Six Tracks EP" on Matador.  Think Dinosaur Jr, but a little less fuzzy or Guided By Voices, but a little less lo-fi.  Excellent and fun stuff.  Listen below.

R. Lee Dockery

I would be remiss if i didn't throw up a little promotion for my friend R. Lee Dockery and his latest release...get ready for it...it's a mouthful, "Wishing Light Are On the Rise, That of the Flying, Cannot the Long Time Not Put & the Flight Not to Append the Foreign Body."  Whoo.  Long titles aside, the cassette, soon to be released on Marmara Records, is an oozing, crawling work of drone, ambient tones, and at times, some almost sinister vibes.  This is music to lie on your back for.  Take a listen to album opener "Monk Shoot Monk" below and get the cassette next month (it's super limited, so act fast).

FIDLAR covers Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds

While i have no idea what the image above is supposed to mean, the foul mouthed, beer swilling kids of FIDLAR have recorded a nice, stomping version of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds' creepy murder song "Red Right Hand."  It works nicely.  Listen below, and check out the band's tumbler page.

'Drumgasm'

Three drummers.  35+ minutes.  Percussion only.  Drumgasm.  Not for the casual listener or faint at heart, but three awesome drummers, Janet Weiss (Quasi, Sleater-Kinney, Wild Flag), Matt Cameron (Soundgarden, Pearl Jam), and Zach Hill (Hella, Death Grips) combine their collective talents to create a sprawling, intense ode to the drums.  Get it now on Jackpot Records and watch the amusing trailer for the album below.

Kyson

I've always been a fan of trippy electronic music, and Berlin by way of Australia producer/musician Kyson serves it up just right.  Check out "How Long" from his upcoming "The Water's Way" LP on Friends of Friends.  It pulses and oozes its way into a blissful crescendo, finally fading away in a sea of computer bleeps and tics.

M. Geddes Gengras

I don't know why it's taken me so long to get around to writing about M. Geddes Gengras.  Ambient tracks.  Drone.  Analog synthesizers.  A collaborative album with Sun Araw.  I really should have touched on this guy a long time ago.  Anyway, the LA musician just released a compilation of different instrumental tracks that he's recorded over the years, and it's lovely.  Listen to "Resistor" below and look for "Collected Works Vol. 1: The Moog Years" on Umor Rex.