Garden Of Shadows - Oracle Moon (2000)

Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Country: United States

Oracle Moon is, bar none, the best melodic death metal album to come out of the United States. It combines slight hints of progressive death metal with a seemingly endless plethora of melodies and leads which are downright brilliant. Seven tracks of ecstasy for those out there who enjoy their death metal really melodic and absolutely loaded with atmosphere. This is one which won't be replicated. Ever.

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Dark Tranquillity Stream "We Are The Void"

Gothenburg's premier melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity are streaming their new album We Are The Void here on their myspace.

To see my impression of the album take a look at the review I wrote for Sputnikmusic.

A Forest Of Stars - The Corpse Of Rebirth (2008)

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: United Kingdom

A fantastic concept album surrounding the creation story from this relatively new band from the UK. The vocals might take some getting used to, being of the high-pitched, wailing SDBM flavour, but the music here will grow like a motherfucking bean stalk.

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Dismember - Like An Ever Flowing Stream (1991)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: Sweden

Swedish death metal at it's very finest. Easily one of the best albums to come out of the scene and one of the best death metal albums ever. So either get this album, or go suck a cock. Hopefully the former seems like a better idea.

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Nightbringer - Death And The Black Work (2008)

Genre: Black Metal
Country: United States

Awesome raw black metal from Colorado. Should pique your interest if you enjoy loads and loads of tremolo picked riffs and blast beats.

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Estatic Fear - A Sombre Dance (1999)

Genre: Symphonic/Melodic Doom/Death Metal
Country: Austria

Putting a genre to this is album is quite simply impossible. A wonderful combination of symphonic doom metal with loads of melody and a bit of a death metal tinge to it. Angelic female vocals and awesome harsh vocals which sound quite a bit like Mirrorthrone. Except this isn't a waste of time. Just a fantastic and mesmerizing record which flies amazingly under the radar.

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Behemoth - And The Forests Dream Eternally (1994)

Genre: Black Metal
Country: Poland

Yeah, I know, I don't believe it either. Behemoth actually put out an album which warrants more than one listen. Pretty insane, but with 1994's And The Forests Dream Eternally Behemoth bring a slew of good riffs and a whole lot of Bathory tribute to what I consider to be their best release. Fuck that blackened death metal shit they spew out today, this is where Behemoth should of stayed.

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Darkthrone - Panzerfaust (1995)

Genre: Black Metal
Country: Norway

Besides having the most kvlt album art ever the music is pretty krieg, especially when you consider how grim the atmosphere is and how the morbid guitars buzz around in the dark, ominous production before proceeding to deliver an unholy load onto your face. But don't worry, it will blend right in with that corpsepaint you're wearing.

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Ensiferum - Ensiferum (2001)

Genre: Folk Metal
Country: Finland

Far and away Ensiferum's best record, this is the epitome of folk metal as I think of it. Insanely catchy riffs, awesome solos, epic atmospheres, and memorable choruses will have you floored. Nothing in the genre will top this.

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Aldebaran - Dwellers In Twilight (2007)

Genre: Sludge/Doom Metal
Country: United States

Counts as one serving of your daily recommended Sludge intake. Also contains vitamin Doom for bone strength.... because you're gonna fucking need it when Aldebaran steamroll right on over you.

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Arghoslent - Galloping Through The Battle Ruins (1998)

Genre: Death Metal
Country: United States

It doesn't matter if you agree with their ideologies, because the music of Arghoslent speaks for itself. Now, quit being a sensitive little pussy and stop bitching about the lyrics. Instead, focus on the monumental pile of riffs which is about to cock slap you across your politically-correct face.

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Agalloch - The Mantle (2002)

Genre: Atmospheric Folk/Black Metal
Country: United States

The brilliant melting of neofolk, black metal, and post-rock culminates on what many consider to be Agalloch's finest performance, something which speaks volumes considering everything this band has done has been of near-classic stature. One of those albums which you can just put on repeat all day and let the hours simply slip through your fingers.

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Lustmord - Heresy (1990)

Genre: Dark Ambient
Country: United Kingdom

Brian Williams and his project Lustmord are often credited with founding the dark ambient genre. His downright eerie atmospheres which consist of both computer-aided ambiance and real-world samplings from such locales as graveyards, caves, crypts, and abandoned mines make the music come alive in an almost supernatural way.

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