blackened something or other

Black metal was founded on hatred and youthful energy. Today, it's a different story altogether: sadness, suicide, despair. Of course, there are still misanthropes out there grinding their axes in hopes of nuclear war, but it's not really the direction in which metal is progressing. Today is about the bastard, crybaby children of Burzum. Anyway. If you are into bands like Hypothermia, Frail, Ameseours, etc, then Sieghetnar is your new band. Perhaps even a little less on the metal side and closer to ambiance and atmospherics. You might also notice that there aren't any vocals. If there are, they're buried pretty damn far in the mix. Either way, it's really an excellent record and worth investigating.

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If you, like me, tend to gravitate toward doom bands like Graves at Sea or Asunder (as opposed to Isis or something), you NEED to check this band out. Sorry for yelling, but it's true. Mournful Congregation from Australia is absolutely worth checking out. Why these guys aren't the next hype band on Southern Lord is beyond me. Definitely indebted to death metal, but this is pure, glorious doom. Cinematic without being too self-serious. Heavy, beautiful glacial doom. Probably will end up being my favorite in this genre for the year. I can feel it.

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