Ghost Bath - Moonlover
Northern Silence, 2015



Atmospheric black metal. Lots of dynamics in these songs as far as the music itself goes. They get compared to Deafheaven a lot, but I prefer this record myself. Not quite as feedback-driven. Though with the post-rock stuff happening, I can see why people would draw that conclusion.

These guys originally claimed to be from China, and their first album was put out by a Chinese label, but after this one was released someone outed them as being from Minot, North Dakota of all places.

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Ulver - Nattens madrigal – Aatte hymne til ulven i manden
Century Media, 1997



This is the second album in Ulver's so-called "black metal trilogy." The title roughly translates as "Madrigal of the Night – Eight Hymns to the Wolf in Man."

Even in the lo-fi domain of Norwegian black metal, Ulver's superior musicianship shines through. There are some awesome dynamics going on in all the buzzsaw guitars and blastbeats. In the video below, check out the guitar at the very beginning. That's an almost unheard of sense of tone in the scene at the time this was recorded and a subtle nod to traditional metal.





While Ulver has gone on to record a series of experimental album that range from traditional Norwegian folk music, collaborations with the likes of Sunn O))), weird electronica, and even an orchestral mass commissioned by the Norwegian ministry of culture, the early recordings like this one are a stark reminder of their deep roots in the Norse black metal scene since their founding in 1993.

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I followed Ulver up through the late 90s, but lost track after that. I need to catch up with all their stuff at some point. Admittedly, this one was never my favorite. Their first album, Bergtatt, is my favorite "black metal" album ever.

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Leviathan - Tentacles Of Whorror
Moribund Records, 2004



The second full length album from Leviathan after somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 demo releases, the last of which was given a reissue by Moribund as the band's official debut "The Tenth Sub Level Of Suicide."

Leviathan is a one man US black metal project by Jef Whitehead, performing under the moniker of Wrest. In my opinion, this is some of the best black metal around today. Everything he has put out is just outstanding, and shows a definite progression over the years instead of sticking to a stale formula.

This album in particular has a thick atmospheric vibe, bordering on claustrophobia. Every sound seems to be determinedly placed, one on top of the next until there's no room left to breathe. An interesting thing to note on this record is that the drums are not triggered. Whitehead began in music as a drummer, and it shows in the masterful blastbeats he lays down here.





Historical Note: If you ever played the old Nintendo game Skate Or Die 2, the skater pictured in the photo on the cover was none other than a young Jef Whitehead.

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Quote
Gordon Rekcikssa
Leviathan - Tentacles Of Whorror
Moribund Records, 2004

I only know of this band through the Vice Doc, "One Man Metal". Not really familiar with a lot of US black metal bands or too much after the Scandanavian 2nd wave. What album by Leviathan would you say is the best? I'll have to check out some of their stuff.

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