Modest Machine

Formed in early 2007, Moorpark, California's Black Sheep Wall play an aggressively heavy blend of down-tempo, sludge, and doom metal. Characterized by the monumental amount of anger, disgust, and desperation in their music, Black Sheep Wall have earned themselves a cult following since the release of their debut, I Am God Songs, in 2008. The album, which features artwork by Admiral Angry mastermind Daniel Kraus, is an exhausting collage of down tuned guitars, dissonant vocals, and pounding drum beats. Although not overly technical or entirely perfect, I Am God Songs is a fantastic record that leaves the listener in awe of its punishing sounds and raw emotions.

Download: Black Sheep Wall - I Am God Songs (2008)

Fog Cutter

Recently signed to Phil Anselmo's Housecore Records, New Orleans, Louisiana sludge/doom outfit haarp are set to release their debut full-length, The Filth, in November 2010. In the meantime, here are the band's demo EP's from 2007 and 2009, along with their 2009 split with fellow Louisiana band, Thou.

Download: haarp - Demo I (2007)

Download: haarp - Demo II (2009)

Download: haarp/Thou - Reincarnation Prayer Split (2009)

Circling The Drain

Formed in 2004, Los Angeles, California's Admiral Angry play an aggressively bottom heavy blend of sludge and doom metal. While their name may evoke visions of a cartoon villain in a pirate costume chasing around Scooby Doo and the Gang, Admiral Angry's sound is far more violent and disturbing than their name lets on. One listen to their debut full - length, Buster, and you realize that this band is more like the sonic equivalent of a rabid beast that would abduct the aforementioned cartoon heroes, force them to live in a well in his basement, and piss on them until they drown. A majority of the band's work was orchestrated by lead guitarist Daniel Kraus (aka THE Admiral), who passed away tragically in February of 2009 after a lifelong bout with Cystic Fibrosis. After his passing, the remaining members of the band decided to return to the studio to finish recording the EP that they had been working on with Kraus before he died. The result of these sessions is A Fire To Burn Down The World, a one track, 23 minute long assault on the listener's aural sensibilities. Although the band claim to have enough material written to complete at least one more album, it remains unclear whether or not they will continue to record under the Admiral Angry moniker, or if they will go their separate ways and move on to new projects.

Download: Admiral Angry - Buster (2008)

Download: Admiral Angry - A Fire To Burn Down The World (2010)

*** If you enjoy what you hear, please make an effort to buy a copy, as the band have decided to donate all proceeds from the sale of their music to Cystic Fibrosis research ***

Tarpit Carnivore

Formed in 2004 by ex-Floor frontman Steve Brooks, Miami, Florida's Torche play a unique blend of poppy metal and sludgy stoner rock. Rounded out by bassist Jonathan Nunez, touring guitarist Howard Johnston, and drummer Rick Smith (ex- Shitstorm), Torche have taken the metal underground by storm since their inception. Although, according to Brooks, they don't consider themselves a metal band, Torche have toured with many bands whose names are instantly recognizable to fans in the metal underground, such as Isis, Baroness, Black Cobra, Harvey Milk, and Boris. The band's second full-length, Meanderthal, was released in April of 2008 and was met with critical acclaim, ranked by Decibel Magazine as #1 on their list of the Top 40 Extreme Albums Of 2008. The band's latest effort, an 8 song EP titled Songs For Singles, was released on September 21, 2010. Although not as heavy or as memorable as Meanderthal, Songs For Singles is still miles ahead of the garbage that many consider to be good music these days. I doubt this EP will earn any Record Of The Year nods, but it should certainly be considered for your Top Ten.

Download: Torche - Demo (2005)

Download: Torche - S/T (2005)

Download: Torche - In Return (2007)

Download: Torche - Meanderthal (2008)

Download: Torche - Healer/Across The Shields EP (2009)

Download: Torche/Boris - Chapter Ahead Being Fake (2009)

Download: Torche - Songs For Singles EP (2010)

Forsaken

     Whoa... It's been a while since I updated this thing. I went from posting at least once a day to not posting anything at all. I guess I've just been busy with school, work, birthdays, anniversaries, football season, etc. It's hard to keep a blog fresh by yourself when you have a life, I suppose. Anyway, to make a long story short (too late!), I'm back now. Did you miss me? Don't lie to me, fuckers, I know you did. Now that we've gotten the pleasantries out of the way, let's get back to business...

     Scion and Adult Swim recently partnered (along with various other record labels) to put together "Metal Swim", a compilation of rare and unreleased tracks by some of the best and brightest bands in the metal underground. Featuring appearances by bands such as Zoroaster, Kylesa, Jesu, Black Tusk, and Torche, "Metal Swim" showcases everything from stoner rock and sludge to headbanging thrash.  In an effort to help these bands gain exposure, Adult Swim and Scion have posted the compilation online for free, and since free music is what we do around here, I figured I would post the link here. Enjoy!

Download: Adult Swim Presents - Metal Swim (2010)

Swallow The Anchor

Formed in 2006, Lafayette, Louisiana's The Devil And The Sea play a particularly bruising brand of rock-tinged doom metal. Rapidly interchanging discordant textures with lurid sludge grooves, The Devil And The Sea craft songs that slowly build into a wall of sound and then explode with bone shattering force. Drawing comparisons to bands like Cavity, Mastodon, and Pelican, The Devil And The Sea take their sound into often unexplored territory, playing basic rhythms without ever coming off as overly repetitious or dull. While they primarily play stoner rock mixed with elements of sludge and doom, this Louisiana trio stays away from the typical "sound like Sabbath" approach that so many bands in their genre adhere to. After signing with Acerbic Noise Development in 2008, the band released their debut full-length, Heart vs. Spine, in 2009. This album finds the band perfecting the art of all that is grimy, slimy, rude, and obscene, and was described by Hellridemusic.com as "a triumph of a record".

Download: The Devil And The Sea - Heart vs. Spine (2009)

Spirit Molecule

Formed in the summer of 2003 by former members of Terminal Doom Explosion, Zoroaster have spent the last seven years rampaging across the country with bands such as Gojira, Mastodon, and Black Tusk. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, this three-piece doom/metal outfit have developed a sound that has been described as "menacing" and "unrelenting". Comprised of Bassist/Guitarist/Vocalist Brent Anderson, Guitarist/Vocalist Will Flore, and Drummer Rod Flore, Zoroaster draw influence from legendary sludge, metal, and doom acts of yore, such as Celtic Frost, Venom, Godflesh, and Black Sabbath. Mixed in throughout their oppressively heavy sound are experimental and psychedelic elements reminiscent of Melvins and Pink Floyd, adding to the overall sonic experience that the band themselves describe as "a dinosaur taking a shit."

Download: Zoroaster - S/T (2005)

Download: Zoroaster - Dog Magic (2007)

Download: Zoroaster - Voice Of Saturn (2009)

Download: Zoroaster - Matador (2010)

War, Wisdom, And Rhyme

Formed in 2003, Savannah, Georgia's Baroness was founded by former members of punk/metal outfit Johnny Welfare And The Paychecks. With a diverse sound that spans everything from prog to sludge, Baroness have developed a sound that appeals to more than just run-of-the-mill metal fans. From 2004-2007, the band recorded and released three EP's, titled First, Second, and A Grey Sigh In A Flower Husk (split with Unpersons). After signing to Relapse records in 2007, Baroness began recording their first full-length, Red Album. Recorded at The Jam Room Studio in Columbia, South Carolina, Red Album finds the band expanding upon their sonic vision, combining colossal riffs and haunting vocals with melodic accents and intelligent guitar work, and was named by Revolver Magazine as 2007's Album Of The Year. Playing almost 250 shows a year, the band have criss-crossed the US three times, the UK and Europe twice, and have played at multiple international music festivals such as SXSW, MacRock, and ZXZW in the Netherlands. Their second full -length, Blue Record, was recorded at The Track Studio in Plano, Texas in early 2009, and was released on Relapse Records in October of the same year. Blue Record debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart and was named Decibel Magazine's #1 Record Of 2009.

Download: Baroness - First (2004)

Download: Baroness - Second (2005)

Download: Baroness - A Grey Sigh In A Flower Husk (2007)

Download: Baroness - Red Album (2007)

Download: Baroness - Blue Record (2009)

Waiting For The Moon To Speak

Described as everything from sludge to math metal, Cleveland, Ohio's Keelhaul have been pushing the boundaries of genre classification since 1997. Comprised of guitarist and vocalist Chris Smith (Integrity, Terminal Lovers, False Hope), bassist and vocalist Aaron Dallison (Escalation Anger, Ringworm, Abdullah, State Of Conviction), guitarist Dana Embrose (Suicide King, False Hope), and drummer Will Scharf (Craw), Keelhaul have carved a niche for themselves among fans of bands such as Mastodon, Isis, and Knut. Asked to describe their sound, members of the band have been known to respond with answers like, "Annoying" and "Post hardcore progressive acid rock". After a self imposed hiatus from 2004-2008, the band entered the studio to record their latest effort, "Keelhaul's Triumphant Return To Obscurity", which was released on Hydra Head records in 2009.

Download: Keelhaul - S/T (1998)

Download: Keelhaul - Keelhaul II (2001)

Download: Keelhaul - Subject To Change Without Notice (2003)

Download: Keelhaul - Keelhaul's Triumphant Return To Obscurity (2009)

Slugs In A Salt Circle

Formed in 2004 by former members of Will Haven and Oddman, Sacramento, California's Abominable Iron Sloth have masterminded their sound into a devastatingly heavy mix of sludge, doom, and hardcore. Described by lead vocalist and guitarist Justin Godfrey as, "Old nihilistic punk mixed with doom" AIS are a Molotov cocktail of a band, ready to incinerate your eardrums and leave you in the burn unit at your local ER. The band creates this sound with a relatively minimal approach, fusing filthy guitars, primal drum pounding, and unnerving vocals that convey true horror. Originally featuring three former members of Will Haven (Jeff Irwin, Mitch Wheeler, and Mike Martin), Abominable Iron Sloth is now comprised of Godfrey, bassist Aubrey Debauchery, and drummer Andre Sanabria. After releasing their self-titled debut on Goodfellow Records in 2006, the band developed a cult following and signed to Black Market Activities to release their sophomore effort, "The Id Will Overcome" in April of 2010.

Download: Abominable Iron Sloth - S/T (2006)

Download: Abominable Iron Sloth - The Id Will Overcome (2010)

Negative Reversal

Formed in 2001 by vocalist/guitarist Jason Landrian (formerly of Cavity) and drummer Rafeal Martinez, two piece sludge/doom outfit Black Cobra have slowly developed into a vicious, super distorted heavy metal machine. Drawing comparisons to bands like Mastodon and High On Fire, the duo are known for the intensity of their live shows, as well as the amount of sound they generate with just one guitar and one set of drums.

Download: Black Cobra - S/T EP (2004)

Download: Black Cobra - Bestial (2006)

Download: Black Cobra/Eternal Elysium - Split (2007)

Download: Black Cobra - Feather And Stone (2007)

Download: Black Cobra - Chronomega (2009)

Septic Werewolves

Originally from Wilmington, North Carolina (also known as Cape Fear), Sourvein was formed in 1993 by vocalist T-Roy Medlin. Self described as "MDC meets My War-era Black Flag meets Melvins", the band embarked on the "30 Days Of Roadkill Tour" in 1994, sharing the stage with the likes of Anal Cunt, Eyehategod, and Buzzoven. Two years later, T-Roy joined Buzzoven as a full time member, providing samples and background vocals up until the band's demise in 1998. After moving to New York City, Medlin began jamming with Liz Buckingham, who was at the time a member of New York crust/doom frontrunners 13. In late 1998, the duo moved to New Orleans to regroup, and once there they continued to tour and record, working with various bass players and drummers along the way, including a short stint with Jimmy Bower (Eyehategod, Crowbar, Down). In 2001, just two months after releasing their debut album on Man's Ruin Records, the label folded. In spite of this setback, the band continued to tour, soon building a reputation for themselves, not only with fans but also with local police. Shut down more than once for disturbing the peace, it is said that they are even banned from playing in Medlin's hometown, Cape Fear. Now signed to Southern Lord, Sourvein continue to tour relentlessly and are set to release a new album in the Fall of 2010.

Download: Sourvein - Salvation (2000)

Download: Sourvein - Will To Mangle (2002)

Download: Sourvein - Emerald Vulture (2005)

Download: Sourvein/Rabies Castle - Split 7" (2005)

Download: Sourvein/Church Of Misery - Split (2006)

Download: Sourvein - Ghetto Angel (2008)

Download: Sourvein - Imperial Bastard (2008)

Disciples Of An Expanding Sun

Female fronted, two-piece, sludge metal duo Jucifer got their start in 1993 when lead guitarist and vocalist Amber Valentine and her then - boyfriend, now - husband and drummer Edgar Livengood began writing together. The duo, according to Valentine, coined their name from a statement heard during the OJ Simpson murder trials: "If he's guilty, then he's the devil and The Juice is Lucifer." Admittedly "nomadic in nature", Valentine and Livengood travel in an RV and prefer to tour constantly. Known for the extreme volume at which they play, Jucifer have become notorious for the "intensity" of their live shows. Since their formation, the duo have released a total of nine albums and EP's, often drawing comparisons to bands like Portishead, Black Sabbath, and Melvins.  Now a part of the Relapse Records family, Jucifer have recently released their latest effort, Throned In Blood. Paying tribute to doom metal classics with tracks like "Contempt", "Work Will Make Us Free," and the title track, the album also features elements of sludge with songs like "Hiroshima" and even battle metal with "Spoils To The Conqueror". The closing track, "Armageddon", offers the album's only moment of tranquility, as it is more of a Celtic folk tune than anything else. All in all, Throned In Blood is a well constructed and unique album, and a great addition to any Jucifer fan's library.

Download: Jucifer - Throned In Blood (2010)

Electric Flower

Formed in 1982, Montesano, Washington's Melvins have established themselves as innovators of genres such as grunge, sludge, and doom. Within their dark, slow, oppressively heavy sound, one can discern influence from bands like Flipper, Black Sabbath, and "My War"-era Black Flag, but pegging them into any one genre would prove to be an exercise in futility. The band's bizarre sense of humor, idiosyncratic approach, and constant experimentation have made any kind of neat categorization difficult. Never finding, and most likely never seeking, any kind of great mainstream success, Melvins have continued to tour and release albums at a steady rate. This year marks the release of the band's TWENTIETH studio album, The Bride Screamed Murder. While the album is most certainly a departure from their earlier work, it is a must have for any Melvins fan. After all, isn't progression what Melvins are all about? Standout tracks include "I'll Finish You Off", "The Water Glass", and "Evil New War God".

Download: Melvins - The Bride Screamed Murder (2010)

A Passing Thought To The Contrary

Formed in late 2005 by bassist Matt Woods, guitarist Adam Wentworth, and drummer Alex Garcia - Rivera, Boston's Bloodhorse have carved a niche for themselves among fans of bands such as Sleep, Candlemass, and Kyuss. After one self-released EP and two years of playing shows, the band signed with Philadelphia based label Translation Loss Records to release their self - titled EP in 2007. Standout tracks include "Son Of Man", "I'm Burned", and "The Goat". In May 2009, the band released their first full-length,  Horizoner, also on Translation Loss Records. The sounds of Horizoner continue to reverberate from the speakers with a power that is not easily matched, and (in my humble opinion) Horizoner remains one of the best and most underrated albums of 2009. Standout tracks include "The Old Man", "In Horror", and "A Passing Thought To The Contrary."

Download: Bloodhorse - EP (2007)

Download: Bloodhorse - Horizoner (2009)