Shock Mountain

This has been out for a while now, and knowing the blogosphere’s obsission (with good cause) with Nadja, you’ve probably seen it around a fair amount of times. If you don’t have it yet, I highly recommend you pick it up now. For a while, Nadja have been power hitters in the world of drone and sludge, and A Storm of Light have been up-and-comers in the scene, riding on the support of groups such as Battle of Mice, Red Sparowes, and Neurosis. Creepy cult drone/doom combine to form one of the most beautiful and powerful releases of 2009. Plus, the packing on this release is absolutely gorgeous. I urge you to drop the $20, especially because Robotic Empire is one of the best/my favorite labels out there.

Nadja’s MySpace

A Storm of Light’s MySpace

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-McKenna

Earth: what a band. Pioneers of the whole “doom/drone” style, Earth seems to be overlooked by one of their most devoted followers: Greg Anderson and Stephen O’Malley of Sunn O))). Much like their more-recognizable followers, Earth craft mammoth drones with skyscrapers of earthquake guitars, all played at a painstakingly slow pace. Since their 1990 formation, Earth has altered their sound, keeping them at the forefront of a genre they helped create. Initially crafting deafeningly dense walls of muddy guitar drones, Earth took their music in a new direction with the album Hex; or Printing in the Infernal Method, which drew influence from country music, Cormac McCarthy and William Blake. That sound was continued with their latest album, 2008’s The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull, which added a heavy psychedelic sound to the mix as well. If you enjoy these, be sure to check out the live album Sunn Amps and Smashed Guitars, which includes a track featuring Kurt Cobain, a fan of the band and friend to frontman Dylan Carlson. Sure, I know Earth isn’t for everyone, but for those willing to dabble will certainly find an interesting listen from a band with plenty of depth to their consistent catalog.

Earth 2: Special Low-Frequency Edition

Phase 3: Thrones and Dominions

Pentastar: In The Style of Demons

Hex; Or Printing in the Infernal Method

The Bees Made Honey In The Lion’s Skull

MySpace

-Max

The latest from drone/doom outfit Nadja completely blew me away. While I’m not a huge fan of the drone-y doom groups, I really enjoy Nadja for some reason and this latest release solidifies my enjoyment. An album of covers, drawing from songs by My Bloody Valentine, Swans, Elliott Smith, Slayer, The Cure, A-Ha, as well as a handful of others, this album draws all its source material out, turning each track into a shoegazing, atmospheric drone track, while still retaining a trace of the original. I’ll admit that I was nervous upon the start of the first track (My Bloody Valentine’s “Only Shallow”), worried that the Canadian duo would butcher one of my favorites, but I ended up being incredibly pleased at the result. While the diversity in the track selection might initially suggest a “joke” record, the quality of each song proves that Nadja is serious business.

MySpace

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Also, before you leave, take a second to check out the new blog from my friend Audrey, Thunder Jolt! Not only does she have impeccable taste, but she has already shared a ton of great music with me, so I know you’re all in for a treat. Thanks yall!

-Max