Altar of Plagues | White Tomb

Earth:
1 As A Womb - 12:03
2 As A Furnace - 15:00

Through The Collapse:
3 Watchers Restrained - 9:48
4 Gentian Truth - 13:10

Once again an album pops up with elements of post rock in a genre where it normally doesn't appear, this time in epic black metal. White Tomb is four monstrous songs full of emotional riffs. 'Watchers Restrained' even showcases gritty, low end doom. The atmosphere of this record is reminiscent to that of Wolves in the Throne Room's Two Hunters. Due to the post rock influence, it's also comparable to Agalloch's Ashes Against the Grain, though White Tomb is much darker. Another fantastic surprise album of 2009. Give it a shot.

Stand out track: 'Earth II - As A Furnace'

Logh | North (2007)

1. Saturday Nightmares
2. Weather Island
3. All the Trees
4. The Invitation
5. Death to My Hometown
6. The Black Box
7. Forest Eyes
8. Thieves in the Palace
9. Sometimes
10. A New Hope

Maybe there's reasons why I don't listen to this enough but this truly is one of the most beautifully depressing albums I've ever heard. It was one of my favorites of 2007 and then I somehow forgot about it and only just rediscovered its brilliance a few months ago. Tonight after listening to the band's debut I decided to re-listen to North again and it's gotten to that point where I just adore every song on the record. I highly recommend this CD to you if you want to listen to extremely nostalgic, melancholy, ambient, and straight up gorgeous pop songs.

Favorite tracks: "Weather Island", "The Invitation", "The Black Box"

Karnivool | Sound Awake

1. "Simple Boy" - 5:22
2. "Goliath" - 7:22
3. "New Day" - 10:02
4. "Set Fire to the Hive" - 4:29
5. "Umbra" - 3:00
6. "All I Know" - 4:50
7. "The Medicine Wears Off" - 4:00
8. "The Caudal Lure" - 1:12
9. "Illumine" - 5:10
10. "Deadman" - 10:52
11. "Change, Pt. II" - 12:24

Progressive metal/rock with a post rock influence? Count me in. This album rules. Very technical at times. Very pretty at other times. Never once boring. Check this out.

Highly Anticipated Release: Porcupine Tree | The Incident

Disc 1:

"The Incident" 1.

• I. Occam's Razor
• II. The Blind House
• III. Great Expectations
• IV. Kneel and Disconnect
• V. Drawing the Line
• VI. The Incident
• VII. Your Unpleasant Family
• VIII. The Yellow Windows of the Evening Train
• IX. Time Flies
• X. Degree Zero of Liberty
• XI. Octane Twisted
• XII. The Séance
• XIII. Circle of Manias
• XIV. I Drive the Hearse
  
  

Disc 2:

1. Flicker
2. Bonnie the Cat
3. Black Dahlia
4. Remember Me, Lover

ANOTHER one of my favorite bands of all time are coming out with a new album this year and it looks to be a HUGE one. Two discs, the first being one huge 55 minute song split up into 14 parts (which will be split up into tracks), and a four song second disc. The concept revolves around beginnings, and endings, and several different "incidents" weather they're personal incidents that's happened to Steven Wilson during his life, or ridiculous things we've seen in the news taken into a first person perspective to humanize what we'd only read or hear from news reporters. Wilson stated that the album is the darkest and most experimental Porcupine Tree CD yet.

The album comes out on September 21st. Get ready.

Anticipated Release: As Tall As Lions | You Can't Take It With You

1. Circles
2. Sixes & Sevens
3. You Can't Take It With You
4. Go Easy
5. Duermete
6. In Case of Rapture
7. We've Been Waitin'
8. Is This Tomorrow?
9. Sleepyhead
10. The Narrows
11. Lost My Mind

As Tall As Lions are finally back with a new record entitled You Can't Take It With You. It's their first album since the Self Titled from 2006. According to the band the new record has a much more live feel and upbeat feel to it. Judging from the new song they've just posted, it sounds very unique, and AWESOME. It's like Sigur Ros meets As Tall As Lions...

The record hits shelves on August 18th. Check out the new song "Circles" at www.myspace.com/astallaslions

Regina Spektor | Far

1. The Calculation
2. Eet
3. Blue Lips
4. Folding Chair
5. Machine
6. Laughing With
7. Human of the Year
8. Two Birds
9. Dance Anthem of the 80's
10. Genius Next Door
11. Wallet
12. One More Time With Feeling
13. Man of a Thousand Faces

Regina is back with her new record, Far. Her music gets better with each album, and it's no different this time around. Far is by far the most consistently fantastic album to come from her and it contains some of her best songs yet thus far such as "Eet", "Laughing With", and "Human of the Year".

Be sure to check out this album when it hits shelves on June 23rd.

Constants | The Foundation, The Machine, The Ascension

1. Genetics Like Chess Pieces
2. Damien
3. Those Who Came Before Pt I.
4. Those Who Came Before Pt II.
5. The Nameless
6. The Timeless
7. Identify the Indiscernibles
8. Eternal Reoccurrence
9. Abraxas Pt. I
9. Abraxas Pt. II
11. Ascension
12. ...Passage

Here is some top 10 of 2009 material. This album is a complete package of nostalgic atmosphere, blending emo, post-rock, and at times, surprising low end riffage. The production is extremely raw but essential for the band's style. It almost sounds like it was supposed to be released in the year 2000 or earlier. The vocals are emotional and honest and fit perfectly over the triumphant choruses.

Don't pass up this album. It's something different and it's fantastic.

Stand out tracks: Damien, The Nameless, Abraxas Pt I.

The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion is FINALLY here.

After 4 long years of waiting, dredg have finally released their highly anticipated record, The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion. You've heard it, and you like it, so do yourself and the band a favor and buy the record today.

Sam Fisher Is Back

Splinter Cell: Conviction

It comes out this fall.

Be prepared for numerous posts about how amazing this game is going to be until then.

Looking Forward...

Here are some of the things I am looking forward to for the remainder of this year. Some of these I am already losing my mind over.

Music:
New dredg album this month. (even though we've all heard this, and its greatness)
New Mars Volta album this month.
New Regina Spektor album this month.
New Porcupine Tree album in September.
New Katatonia album in October.
New Between The Buried And Me in November.
Possibly a new Novembre album by year's end.
Possibly a new Agalloch album by year's end.

Pretty sure I am missing something.

Again, hoping Envy breaks some news about a new album.

Games:
Prototype this month.
The Bigs 2 next month.
Batman: Arkham Asylum in September.
Modern Warfare 2 in November.
Left 4 Dead 2 in November.
SPLINTER CELL: CONVICTION sometime in Q3. (Splinter cell is probably tied amongst my favorite series of games, along with Mortal Kombat.)

Shows:
Isis on Wednesday. I saw them last week and it was probably in my top 3 shows of all time.
dredg - 3 TIMES in 10 DAYS, later in July. Will be amazing, and borderline stalker-esque.
HOPEFULLY Tool sometime later summer. They've posted dates everywhere but the north east, so I'm anticipating I will find out how broke I will be this summer in just a few weeks.

Movies:
Winnebago Man.

Books:
-yeah right.