Sulphur Aeon - Swallowed By The Ocean's Tide (2013)

German cultists Sulphur Aeon released their debut album, Swallowed By The Ocean's Tide, earlier this year. And man, does this thing rule. The album opens with Lovecraftian chanting, and fans of his works will recognise the eldritch abominations spewed throughout this record. Plunging us beneath the waves of the sea, the album drags us right into the heart of R'lyeh with horrid, dissonant riffs, punishing drums, and beastly vocals. The solos are atypically melodic in this album, but this is not a complaint. This is a pleasure for any fan of black/death metal, and doubly so for any Lovecraft fan (although the two are usually intertwined). Not one to miss for those looking to complete their 2013 collections.

"I'a, Cthulhu! I'a, Yog-Sothoth! I'a, Hastur! I'a, Shub-Niggurath!"

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Black Boned Angel - The End (2013)

Drone in it's self is a very difficult genre to get oneself immersed into because of it's natural lack in substance, most people are turned off by it. I don't really see that as the case for Black Boned Angel, the loud grinding distorted feedback and unsettling atmosphere (without the usual chanting) almost completely instrumental it gives this album quite a lot of substance in my opinion. There's several elements of noise influence throughout this album with hypnotic effects on the listener, the soundscape changes quite often which isn't particularly usual with Drone, which is why I see this as a more novice album despite the twenty minute lengths. Overall if you're trying to get into any type of drone sub genre such as Drone/Doom, Drone Ambient, etc. This album is a great place to start.

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Preteen Deathfuk - I Don't Remember (2013)

 Coming right out of the woodwork (well the United States underground Black Metal scene) Preteen Deathfuk's I Don't Remember is some of the most intense Blackened Crust/D-beat you'll ever have the exact pleasure of hearing. I started listening to the band earlier this year after finding a torrent for them, of course seeing the name Preteen Deathfuk drew me in, if that doesn't then I don't know what else would, this album is an instant cult classic. It's raw, brutal assault of blast-beat drumming and harsh recessed vocal gives the whole album all of the material needed to be an instant classic amongst any Blackened Crust aficionado. Not to mention their cover of Anal Cunt's I lit your baby on fire, is also noteworthy. (Note: There are two different alternative cover art designs for this album, I found this one more preferable).

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Altars - Paramnesia (2013)

Altars has been making quite a name for itself with the release of their debut record, Paramnesia. The Australian death metal outfit makes death metal with an old school vibe and hearkens to sounds of Immolation and Gorguts of old, whilst holding themselves on par with current death metal titans Ulcerate and Flourishing. Not much more can be said.


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Apocynthion - Sindereus Nuncius (2013)

Apocynthion is a prominent Black Metal/Shoegaze group formed out of Madrid, Spain in 2011. For starters this album is fantastic, every aspect of it completely encompasses and goes beyond the standard of 'Post-Black' Metal. The entire album consists of Doom, Post-Rock, Black Metal, and minor Post-Punk elements. It's definitely something worth listening to, and by far one of my favourite releases this year. Oh and the first track of the album "Tycho Magnetic Anomaly One" is an excerpt from "2001: A Space Odyssey".

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Calvaiire - Forceps (2013)

Coming to you from the nation of France, a place that has already given us raw fury and abrasive power in the form of a slew of great hardcore and screamo bands, is the four-piece mathcore band Calvaiire. Purity and authenticity are the name of the game when it comes to this album, as seen through the French song titles and lyrics, solemn album art, and unrelenting frenzy of energetic and heavy music. Every track is filled with this energy as it spills over into the next, until this short but strong release has left an impact that leaves you wanting more of the creative riffing, furious drumming, and unpolished vocals this fresh young band has to offer. Highly recommended for any fans of hardcore, crust, screamo, or mathcore.                        

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Beastmilk - Climax (2013)

Hailing from Finland, Beastmilk has made their entrance into the musical community quiet prominent with the release of their debut album Climax, which is nothing short of a masterpiece. Khvost's haunting vocals are that of a beautiful siren calling for you to listen again and again, to the point that you can't get enough and are begging for more. Climax is an album where you are surrounded by atmosphere, yet are given vast amounts of substance. Beastmilk are the product of post-punk's bright future, and make what's yet to come even brighter.


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Slutvomit - Swarming Darkness (2013)

Do you like your death metal lean? All the fat trimmed, all the gimmicks thrown out the window, all the bullshit out of sight? Then Slutvomit's debut, Swarming Darkness, is for you! The band plays a style of deathrash laced with black metal and I'll be damned if this doesn't make you want to bang your head and punch shit. This album doesn't fvkk around, it gets right down to brass tacks. With a slew of unstoppable riffs and shredding solos that just keep. on. coming., this album is for any extreme metal fan.

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Basarabian Hills - Spirit of The Native Land (2013)

Not many people prefer more Ambient orientated albums. Nonetheless This one-man Ambient/Atmospheric Black Metal project which was started in 2011 in Făleşt by only member whom goes under the pseudonym of 'Spirit of the Forest', definitely peaked my interest when I saw "Spirit of The Native Land" on one of my usual torrent sites. The whole album blends a wonderful ethereal feeling of solidarity and loneliness, it all blends into a nice mixture of depression and solitude, giving the listener the notion of being at one with nature. The overall experience is definitely worth it, if you're into tracks as long as 13:45, much of the album is instrumental and consists of minimal vocals (but hey it's ambient black metal what do you expect). All in all I put this album up there in the top ten of my AOTY list.

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