:Golgatha: - The Waste Land (re-release) [2009]

1. Purification
2. Vortex of Life (V.2)
3. Eternal Kali Yuga
4. Transmutation (V.2)
5. The End (V.2)
6. Shadowland
7. Echoes from the Past
8. Prayer (V.2)
9. Agonia / Invasion (V.2)
10. The Clash (V.2)
11. Ruins
12. Room 101
13. March and Elegy (V.2)
14. Waste Land - Cactus Land
Bonus tracks
15. In the Crystal Cage (from In the Crystal Cage compilation, 2005)
16. Shred Your Skin (from SAW II soundtrack, 2006)

The German ritual-folk-formation :Golgatha: was founded in 2004 by Christoph Donarski. The first full length album ‘Waste Land’ after two compilation tracks appeared in an edition of 100 hand-numbered CD-rs. Published by the musician himself it shed first light on things to come. ‘Waste Land’ is the rare prequel to the acclaimed and successful 2008-album ‘Sang Graal’ (with Dawn & Dusk Entwined) and is itself inspired by T. S. Eliot’s enigmatic grail-poem ‘The Waste Land’ which works as a key metaphor for a spiritually dying world.
On “Waste Land” sinister and pessimistic soundscapes unfold and spread fragmented allusions and remarks on spiritual death and cultural clash. The symbolic name of :Golgatha: - which is the execution hill in Jerusalem where Jesus had been crucified - was never more fitting than in this early apocalyptic soundtrack for an Inner Cinema, carried by ritual drums, dark drones, mysterious sounds and sacred voices.
For this re-release the original sound was totally re-mastered and appears more powerful than ever before. The original artwork is added by bleak photos from the same era to complete the image. This CD contains two original versions of tracks later remixed by Dawn & Dusk Entwined for ‘Sang Graal’. Bonus tracks: two combined tracks from ‘In the Crystal Cage’-compilation (2004) and ‘Shred your skin’ from the SAW II-soundtrack by Charlie Clouser (Trisol).

‘Waste Land’ is a terrifying soundtrack for the Kali Yuga, the darkest of ages.

www.myspace.com/schaedelstaette

http://linksave.in/14610060864b3be3e81ae23
Apple Lossless

Tor Lundvall - Yule (EP) [2006]

1 Busy Station
2 The Train Home
3 Christmas Eve
4 12:00 AM
5 Snowy Morning
6 Yule Song
7 Fading Light
8 January
9 White On Grey
10 The Falling Snow (Full-Length Version)

http://www.torlundvall.com/

http://linksave.in/8367188954b3689b384ca7
FLAC (lossless)

Thomas Köner - Unerforschtes Gebiet [2001]

1 Unerforschtes Gebiet A
2 Unerforschtes Gebiet B
3 Les Sœurs Lumière

Unerforschtes Gebiet is the seventh solo album from German ambient music producer, Thomas Köner. Originally released in 2001 only as a limited number picture disc LP (700 numbered copies; repressed in 2004, this time not individually numbered). Re-released on CD in 2003.

"Unerforschtes Gebiet" is German for "unexplored area".

www.myspace.com/thomaskoner

http://linksave.in/11122073044b2d5217a1619
Apple Lossless

Neun Welten - Destrunken [2009]

1. Frosthauch
2. Destrunken I
3. Destrunken II
4. Jarknez
5. Weites End
6. Ewig Ruh
7. Dämmerung
8. Schein
9. Der stille See
10. Tau

Three years after their first album "Vergessene Pfade," Neun Welten again elicit their natural folk sounds out of the dark depths of the forests and into the light of the music world. It now becomes clear that the mythologically named band's decision to take their time to work on "Destrunken" — the successor to their highly acclaimed debut — was more than right. With "Destrunken" — an imaginary word solely designed to inspire multiple associations and emotions —, these nature mystics offer a sophomore of impressive coherence and characteristic compositions, delighting and enchanting their listeners once more with mystical and melancholic folk odes.

With its elegiac chords, 'Frosthauch' introduces the new album, which by virtue of its emotional depth could manage to bridge the gap left by Empyrium. Like this project that unfortunately called it a day, Neun Welten base their compositions on primordial folk roots, but complete their melancholic, crepuscular song material with numerous details, ideas, and unexpected turns, thus weaving an atmospheric density that simply renders it impossible to not take notice. A prime example for that is the two-part title track many will know from their tours with Tenhi and Dornenreich: 'Destrunken I & II' offer a dramatic build-up and oppressive intensity you rarely find in other folk bands.

"Destrunken" is topped of by a masterful artwork courtesy of Fursy Teyssier (Alcest, Les Discrets, Amesoeurs), designed on the basis of the music to perfectly complement the album's various moods on the visual level.

Empyrium may have left a legacy that's hard to match, yet "Destrunken" proves that their loss is not irretrievable, despite the sheer genius of the creators of Empyrium — this album is a sophomore somewhere between folk, classical music, and wonderful settings of nature, raising a worthy monument to the world beyond the cities. An acoustic hike through the forest you won't forget. In perpetuity woods.

http://www.myspace.com/neunwelten

http://linksave.in/11733863064b26b9ad002f1
FLAC (lossless)

Tony Wakeford - Not All of Me Will Die [2009]

1 Non Omnias Moriar
2 2
3 Fullness of August
4 4
5 5
6 6

Tony Wakeford is an artist who needs no real further introduction. When simply evoking his involvement in legendary bands like Death In June, Current 93, Nurse With Wound and of course his very own brainchild Sol Invictus this musician simply deserves his rank of cult musician from the neo-folk and industrial scene. Tony Wakeford has also released several albums under his own name and with this "Not All Of Me Will Die". This new opus commemorates the life and work of the Polish-Ukrainian Jewish poetess Zuzanna Ginczanka, who was executed by the Gestapo in Kraków in 1944. The lyrics have been taken from the work of Ginczanka adding a very sensitive touch to the work of Wakeford. Musical wise Tony Wakeford moves in between soundtrack compositions and his beloved neo-folk influences. The music and the spoken vocals by Susan Matthews give an extra visual strength to the entity. It's very poignant while the use of several classical instruments like violin, flute or yet clarinet reinforces the sensibility of the songs. Tony Wakeford invited a huge number of contributors to his work like members of Orchestra Noir, Zunroyz andSol Invictus . "Not All Of Me Will Die" is one more accomplishment in the long career of Wakeford who always finds new inspiration and more and more sensibility in his releases! The fans of the musician will be satisfied! - Sideline

http://www.myspace.com/tursa

http://linksave.in/15661618494b26b1754488d
Apple Lossless

Les Jumeaux Discordants - Les Jumeaux Discordants (EP) [2007]

1 Malédiction
2 Almus Spiritus
3 Betrayed Bride
4 Être
5 Le Destin
6 The White Room

Les Jumeaux Discordants is a project born in 2005
by the union of two pre-existent projects:
THE LAST HOUR by Roberto Del Vecchio and AIMAPROJECT.
The first is a strictly musical project; the second is born in 1996 and it works
in various expressive fields: poetry, photography, music and multimedia.
Aimaproject comes from neofolk and she works with many musical projects.
Les Jumeaux Discordants project presupposes a strong interaction between
poetry, image and music. There’s even a bent for the cinematographic transposition
of the visionary poems,about the various range of the human feelings.
Nevertheless, Les Jumeaux Discordants is ascension, it is the coscience of earthly,
a coscience which is turned to the overcoming of the human miseries,
made by the unique instruments which are still free: mind and spirit.

http://www.myspace.com/lesjumeauxdiscordants

http://linksave.in/20597195154b240a75544ab
Apple Lossless

Ben Frost - By The Throat [2009]

1 Killshot
2 The Carpathians
3 O God Protect Me
4 Híbakúsja
5 Untitled Transiet
6 Peter Venkman Pt I
7 Peter Venkman Pt II
8 Leo Needs a New Pair of Shoes
9 Through the Glass of the Roof
10 Through the Roof of Your Mouth
11 Through the Mouth of Your Eye

Ben Frost's 2007 album Theory Of Machines caused quite a stir within the electronic music community, shattering genre conventions with its deft conflation of intensely dark metal, academic electroacoustics and blissful, drone-weaving modern classical touches. By The Throat takes these same principles and develops them into something altogether grander. This is an album of contradictions: during the opening piece 'Killshot', you'll be exposed to music that's both viscerally hard on the ears and achingly beautiful, combining gracefully cinematic dulcimer melodies and mesmeric swells of noise that swirl amid a sea of nerve-shredding electronics. The track segues into a dirge of howling wolves with 'The Carpathians', a piece of doom-laden menace that competes with the grimmest moments of SunnO))) or KTL in terms of intensity. We're only a couple of tracks in so far, but already this is shaping up to be pretty special. Despite opening with a tuneful flurry of string plucks, 'Hibakusja' soon reveals a darker side, collapsing into a horrifying mess of respiratory unpleasantness, as if soundtracking a drowning man trying to keep afloat - the field recordings of someone desperately drawing breath take on a creepily emotive timbre once immersed in serrated noise signals and melancholy string arpeggios. This is no easy ride, yet despite the disturbing undercurrents and horror soundtrack tactics this album never ceases to sound beautiful. Co-produced by Frost and the dependably excellent Valgeir Sigursson, By The Throat also owes some of its sonic prowess to contributions from Amiina, The Arcade Fire's Jeremy Gara and fellow Bedroom Community star Nico Muhly. This formidable and far-reaching body of work might be one of 2009's most singularly impressive listening experiences, and very likely the only record you'll hear this year whose repertoire consists of both luscious classical chamber compositions and the hunting calls of killer whales... A very high recommendation. - Boomkat

http://www.myspace.com/theghostofbenfrost

http://linksave.in/13571594574b22e70f6fecf
Apple Lossless

raison d'être - The Stains of the Embodied Sacrifice [2009]

1. If It Bears Thorns Its End Is To Be Burned
2. Withstand The Fire
3. The Spirit Will Not Share The Guilt
4. Desecrated By The Blood
5. Purified With Fire
6. Without The Shedding There Is No Forgiveness
7. Death In The Body But Made Allive By The Spirit
8. The Temple Is Eternal Sacred

The Stains of the Embodied Sacrifice' is not only vibrating on the surface of your skin. It is alive and breathing, a creature with a knife that cut deep wounds in your body while your soul shatters for air. It is a psychosomatic and transgressive disease opressed by a compulsive behaviour manifested in dualities - the one of your body and mind - and states of metamorphoses - mind becomes flesh become wounds become fluids become stains. Play it loud if you want to become the martyr. Play it low if you are the innocent victim. There are no levels in-between. Violent and intense, it is a hell of an ordeal. But withstand and you are promised bliss.

http://raisondetre.coldmeat.se/



High-profile release, so grab it quickly before CMI comes after me.

http://linksave.in/15048930844b21737bc6e70
FLAC (lossless)

Anduin - Abandoned In Sleep [2009]

The Equal Of God
Contents Of A Black Box
Our Future Is A Debt
Hands Behind A Curtain
Autumn Looming
Octagonal Forms
Lovers In Transit
A Light In The Darkness
Labyrinthian Void
Into Abandon
Filed Away
Black River

*THE LATEST IN A LONG LINE OF INCREDIBLE DARK AMBIENT ALBUMS RELEASED THIS YEAR - HARROWING TEXTURES AND GHOSTLY LOCATION RECORDINGS PLAYING TRICKS WITH YOUR PERCEPTION AND SLOWLY PULLING YOU INTO AN INCREDIBLY IMMERSIVE WORLD OF LAYERED SOUNDS* For his second album Jonathan Lee draws on two years of recording and performance - and it's not just his own material that's used for the record either. 'Abandoned In Sleep' features studio recordings, sample edits and collaborative work with artists including Xela, Jasper TX, Svarte Greiner, Stephen Vitiello and Gareth Davis among others. This album is all about dark, nocturnal ambience and combines a variety of half-dreamed soundscapes together for every track: Xela's falsetto murmurings clash with deep synth swells and scratchy, rhythmically organised field recordings on 'The Equal Of God', before distant footsteps and what sounds like a Doppler effected harmonica drape 'Contents Of A Black Box' in a kind of doomy, sub-bass buffeted blues feel. Chugging drones and low frequency bowed strings arise on 'Our Future Is A Debt', lacing the soundscape with rattling sonic detritus. Rumbling and layered bass exercises tend to be at the heart of this record, and there's none more haunting than 'Autumn Looming', an album highlight that plays to Anduin's greatest strengths - jostling rhythmic loops made from interrupted electronics and clattering incidental sounds merging into a sludgy dark ambience that punds irregularly with thunderous bass drum hits, making for one of the most sonically rich entries on the album. More haunting still is the Dag Rosenqvist-aided 'Labyrinthian Void', an all-encompassing turbine hum of low-end presence mixed in with shoots of distortion and squeaky door hinges. The CD edition comes with a further two bonus cuts: 'Filed Away' (an installation for Manchester's Startrunning) and 'Black River', a live performance with Svarte Greiner that closes the album with an immense nightmarish exchange of tones - like ships' horns sounding off through fog. A quietly epic, dense and harrowing sonic experience - do not miss. - Boomkat

http://www.myspace.com/anduinore

*Link removed at request of SMTG Limited*

Want free exposure for your personal music project/band?

In the past I've received many emails from musicians asking me to listen to their work and then post it on the blog for promotion.
This is something I'm happy to do but most of the time I've been given either a myspace music page or some weird flash player somewhere on a music hosting site.
Half of the time the audio doesn't stream/download correctly or these pages get lost in the 100's of bookmarks I sift through every day.

Thanks to Megaupload's file box plug-in there's an easy way to send me your music directly for promotional purposes.
Just zip or RAR your album/demo and upload by clicking the "browse" button and finding the file on your computer.
Enter a short description and click "send".
Once the file is uploaded I will automatically be emailed the download link.
I will listen to every album/demo in it's entirety.
If the quality is good and the content appropriate for this blog, I'll glady post it here for everyone to see.
I'll post up a download link to your music, a link to your project's Myspace/blog/website and any other information you provide me with.
Small record label owners are also welcome to send me their releases for promotion on this blog.

*There are a few simple requirements*

• Any audio format is accepted, but the bit rate must be a minimum of 192 kbs.
Lossless audio is very much preferred, but not required.

• An HTML or text file with a link to your Myspace/blog/website must be provided.
A short bio would also be appreciated, if possible.

• Your music must fit with the overall theme of this blog.
Take a look around to see if your work would fit in well here.

Any submission that fails to meet the requirements above will be ignored.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.

• S.E •

Zelienople - Give It Up [2009]

1 Aging
2 Can't Stop
3 All I Want Is Calm
4 Water Saw
5 I Can Put All My Faith in Her
6 Little Lady Eyefull
7 Dust Bowl
8 All Planed

This unbelievable album from Chicago's Zelienople evokes the spirit of some of the most treasured music we've come to know over the years, fusing in elements of Talk Talk at their most washed-out, early Bark Psychosis, and the narcotic sweeps of Slowdive fused in with the smoky menace of Bohren & Der Club of Gore, Angelo Badalamenti, and the darkest nightscapes of David Lynch. Album opener "Aging" shrouds a veil of mystery over dusted instrumentation that's somehow both evocative of vast abandoned landscapes and the most intangible and detailed abstractions brought on by incurable insomnia. It's that 'epic' evocation of intimacy that's so distinctive about the whole album, utilising that same sumptuous, slowly-evolving methodology that defined the seminal 'Scum' EP Bark Psychosis released almost 20 years ago. 'Can't Stop' introduces skittering percussion and even hazier arrangements, building from a quietly menacing drone to an almost hallucinatory tapestry of sounds, but it's "I Can Put All My Faith in Her" that crafts the formula to its most affecting, narrowing itself to a focused acoustic arrangement that's more conventionally song-like, with all those enveloping signatures cleverly and gradually submerging you deeper into its murky waters. There's something unspeakably magical about the way this band somehow alchemise familiar components into this deep, almost haunting mass of sound, making for an album that's virtually impossible to categorise but which will no doubt end up taking up one of those hallowed spots in your collection reserved for the most special, moving records you feel the rest of the world just couldn't possibly understand. Immense. - Boomkat

http://www.myspace.com/zelienople

http://linksave.in/16695245514b15fe51365fc
FLAC (lossless)