The Seven Sisters of Sleep/Shaman's Owl 10" is fucking great

Last week CVLT NATION tipped me off to the new 10" split between Seven Sisters of Sleep and Shaman's Owl, and I can't stop listening to it. This thing is filled to the brim with crushing doom. Seven Sisters of Sleep have been around for a few years, and play a sort of doom hybrid; it's equal parts stoner, death, and funeral, and the vocals range from hardcore style yells to down and dirty death rattles. Shaman's Owl play oppressive desert tinged doom that's sounds like Ahab covering YOB. Feast of Tentacles is handling the physical release and are taking pre-orders here.This is easily one of the best doom releases of the year, so grab a copy because these things won't last long.

Station Dysthymia

Station Dysthymia have been around since '07 and have one self-released album under their belts, but their 2013 album Overhead, Without Any Fuss, the Stars Were Going Out was the first I had heard of them.  Released on Solitude Productions and mastered by Esoteric fame Greg Chandler, Overhead is a crushingly grandiose album, but not for the fainthearted, or those with short attention spans.  While the album is very diverse stylistically -- from ufomammut-esque psychadelic stoner riffs to funeral doom -- it takes some patience to get there.

The album itself gets its name from the last sentence of the short story The Nine Billion Names of God by Arthur C Clarke, whose premise revolves around the end of the universe.  The atmosphere that Station Dysthymia have created on this album seems particularly well in sync with the concept: crushing solitude, free from melodrama or pretense, as the stars go out around you.

Some shit you should probably be listening to...

In an effort to keep you up to date on the goings-on of the metal world I have graciously compiled a list of recent releases for you. You're welcome. Doom, and death, and all the rest.

Jex Thoth - Blood Moon Rise (I Hate) Jex has become something of an institution in the world of psychedelic doom/occult rock, and her latest album is on par with her previous output. It's not overly complicated, but it's pretty fucking great.

Lantern - Below (Dark Descent Records) Lantern hail from Finland and play atmospheric death metal. Their first official full-length is an oppressive slab of blackened death that will put a smile on your demented face.

Bone Sickness - Alone in the Grave (20 Buck Spin) Bone Sickness play super charged death/grind filled with with unabashed Repulsion worship. That's not a bad thing. Check out their new EP here.

Lycus - Tempest (20 Buck Spin) I fucking loved Lycus' 2011 demo. It was a refreshing take on funeral doom that rivaled the best in the genre. Earlier this year Lycus released their debut full-length via 20 Buck Spin and it fucking crushes! Seriously, get this record. It's one of the best releases this year. You can listen to the entire album here.

That's all for now folks. Stay tuned for more.

XOXO.

Royal Talons

Royal Talons of Denver Colorado have just released their debut ep on Handshake Inc, although the songs had technically already been released on the bands own bandcamp page back in 2011. Overall its a phenomenal sludge/stoner release that is massively big sounding. While at times I wish they wouldn't succumb to the temptation to rely on guitar effects and stick to their expansive riffing, the huge sound and trio of vocals makes for a pretty rad sounding album.


Royal Talons - "Shark Skull"

Download at Handshake Inc's bandcamp and name your price