*shels - Discography

 *shels was created on 2003 on England by singer/songwriter Mehdi Safa and drummer Tom Harriman, former Mahumodo members. They've released their albums under the shelsmusic label, which was created by Safa and features other interesting acts from the post metal and post rock british scene. They've also made up a partnership with Undergroove for their two full-length albums. They've been described as a super ground since most of their members also played on different bands, including Safa and Harriman themselves as stated above.

Latitudes - Discography

 

Latitudes was formed in England in 2006. Their debut full-length, Agonist, is one of the most essential post metal albums released in the last 10 years, although they're a relatively unknown band. They offer an approach similar to the more famous Russian Circles, but heavier and more dense. All of their albums were received with well deserved good reviews, especially their last masterpiece "Old Sunlight".

Their current line-up includes bassis Jon Lyon, drummer Mike Davies, guitarist Tim Blyth, guitarist Adam Crowley (who previously played on Gilla Bruja) and vocalist Adam Symonds (who also played on Eden Maine). They also had a keyboardist who later left the band. Rich Harper.

It's very interesting to see how Latitudes performs a very dense and catchy metal that isn't completely unaccessible. Their sound is very similar to Russian Circles and early Callisto, but pretty original on its own. Their music is mostly instrumental, but vocals were added in a few songs, such as "Body Within a Body" from Old Sunlight, that captures perfectly everything Latitudes is about: heaviness, atmosphere and density.

My starting point was Agonist, which remains my favorite, but since all of their records are top-tier i recommend listening in cronological order.

2007 - Bleak Epiphanies in Slow Motion (EP)

Shelsmusic

1 - Dreamland Precipice

2 - A Falling Mute

3 - Black Epiphany in Slow Motion

4 - Your Death-Mash Became Mine

5 - We Met Today & Will Never Meet Again

57,6 MB - 320 Kbps

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2009 - Agonist

Shelsmusic

1 - Myth Cathexis

2 - Antechamver

3 - Fluxes of the Womb

4 - Steppe & Veld

5 - Braille

6 - Hunting Dance

7 - Agonist

92,9 MB - 320 Kbps

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2012 - Individuation

Shelsmusic

1 - Hyperstatic Forge

2 - Imitation Ruin

3 - Vortice of Malady

4 - Isleward

5 - Metabolic Pathways

6 - The Glacial Body

8 - Individuation (Telos)

133,7 MB - 320 Kbps

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2016 - Old Sunlight

Debemur Morti Productions

1 - Ordalian

2 - Body Within a Body

3 - Amnio

4 - Gyre

5 - In Rushes Bound

6 - Altarpieces

7 - Quandary

94,3 MB - 320 Kbps

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Lasse Stewart.

Frames - Discography

I stumbled upon this band accidently, when searching for something about another band, the irish act The Frames, and this one band is very impressive. It seems fitting that a post-rock band from a heavy metal label (SPV) would be posted in this blog. But after you hear their work you may ask yourself how in the actual fuck Frames has gotten into SPV, and well... so did i. Frames was born in Germany in 2007, and in 2014 they toured with the prominent post-rock act Maybeshewill, leaving two albums and one EP before the members started working on side projects.

The band consists of Jonas Meyer (guitar), Manuel Schönfeld (keyboard), Hajo Cirksena (bass) and Kiryll Kulakowski (drummer). Hajo currently works with Eliane Oesch in a pop project called Lorraine. Cornelius, who backed Manuel in live shows, also works on a band called The Aqualung. Much ironically, there's a prog band called Aqualung as well.

The band's sound incorporates the melodic post-rock approach of Maybeshewill and early Mogwai, along with complex songwriting that granted them the label of neo prog by some critics, but there's more to Frames than just that. Their sound is far more romantic, calm and soothing than what you'd find in a prog rock band in the 2010's. Although their songs are carefully crafted in a very meticulous production and composition, the band manages to execute a very sentimental soundscape. 

The band's discography currently consists of the CXXIV EP and full-length Mosaik and In Via. Their last album, In Via, was released in 2012, and since then they've toured throughout 2013 and 2014, promising to work on their third full-length later. However, they stated on their site that it was planned to be released on 2015. Well, it's 2017 and no signal of new album. Very sad.

2009 - CXXIV (EP)

Self-released

1 - Ocean

2 - G

3 - Ruff

4 - Insomnia

5 - Compromise

6 - M

77,9 MB - 320 Kbps

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2010 - Mosaik

Hammerfall / SPV

1 - Intro

2 - The Beginning

3 - Agenda

4 - Transition

5 - Isp

6 - Insomnia

7 - Driving Head

8 - Intermission

9 - Horizon

10 - Audacity

11 - M

140,3 MB - 320 Kbps

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2012 - In Via

SPV GmbH

1 - Entrance

2 - Departure

3 - Encounter

4 - Calm Wisdom

5 - Stir

6 - Reflections

7 - Eris

8 - Don't Stay Here

9 - End of a Decade

10 - Coda

129,7 MB - 320 Kbps

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Lasse Stewart.

A Storm of Light - Desccography

A Storm of Light is one of the most powerful and heavy bands to come off the post metal thing. They were formed in 2007 in NYC, and this band incorporates a very dark and frightening sound, following the steps of Neurosis, but they rely in a fast-paced horror soundscape rather than a slow and nasty one. Their name can be related not to a shimmering, holy and never-ending salvation light from the heavens, but as a destructive ephemeral nuclear explosion that devastates everything in its way.

The band currently counts with Josh Graham (vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist, he also played on Neurosis, which explains why their sound draw so heavily from the one of Neurosis), Domenic Seita (bass and vocals) and drummer Billy Graves.

The lyrical themes include post-apocalyptic scenarios, often dystopias created by humanity themselves. Their latest album, Nations to Flames (2013), carries a concept that has been described by Graham as a possible future of human failure due to pollution and overpopulation. The cataclysm shows that humanity gave too much importance to things such as nationalism and religion when they were in fact just lies.

 

The band's first records are very doom metal influenced, atmospheric and pretty much like Neurosis, while they got progressively more fast and aggressive in the latter records. Nations to Flames and Forgive Us Our Trespasses are essentials to whom wants to discover the band.

2008 - And We Wept the Black Ocean Within

Neurot Recordings

1 - Adrift (The Albatross I)

2 - Vast and Endless

3 - Black Ocean

4 - Thunderhead

5 - Undertow (The Albatross II)

6 - Mass

7 - Leaden Tide

8 - Breach (The Albatross III)

9 - Descent

10 - Iron Heart

145 MB - 320 Kbps

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2009 - Forgive Us Our Trespasses

Neurot Recordings

1 - Alpha (Law of Nature Pt. 1)

2 - Amber Waves of Gray

3 - Tempest

4 - The Light in Their Eyes

5 - Trouble Is Near

6 - Arc of Failure (Law of Nature Pt. 2)

7 - Midnight

8 - Across the Wilderness

9 - Time Our Savior (Law of Nature Pt. 3)

10 - Omega

132,2 MB - 320 Kbps

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2011 - As the Valley of Death Becomes Us, Our Silver Memories Fade

Profound Lore Records

1 - Missing

2 - Collapse

3 - Black Wolves

4 - Destroyer

5 - Wretched Valley

6 - Silver

7 - Leave No Wounds

8 - Death's Need

9 - Wasteland

121,1 MB - 320 Kbps

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2013 - Nations to Flames

Southern Lord Records

1 - Fall

2 - Apostles of Hatred

3 - The Fire Sermon

4 - Omen

5 - Dead Flags

6 - All the Shining Lies

7 - Disintegrate

8 - Lifeless

9 - Soothsayer

10 - You Are the Hunted

11 - The Year Is One

118,3 MB - 320 Kbps

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Lasse Stewart.

Bloodlet - Discography

 Fact Magazine's despicable top 40 post metal records of all time has some hidden gems, such as Bloodlet's The Seraphim Fall from '98. Bloodlet is one of the most underrated bands in the scene, having their small rise and fall in late 90's and beginning of the 00's, having only three albums released. They were formed in Orlando, USA in '92 and split-up in 2003, a very short career that left behind some obscure albums for you to feed your inner hipster with.

Their line-up as of the moment they split was composed of vocalist Scott Angelacos, guitarist Matt Easley, bassist Thomas Crowther and drummer John Stewart. 

They were described as many genres, including metalcore, doom metal and thrash metal. However, their true nature was some angry guys shouting and slamming their instruments in full anguish, together with a production that added some sick effects to their studio work - sounds like Swans, but metal.

1996 - Entheogen

Victory Records

1 - Brainchild

2 - Something Wicked

3 - Annulment

4 - One and Only

5 - Shell

6 - CPAI-75

7 - The Triumph

8 - Eucharist

9 - 95

10 - CPAI-76

59,4 MB - 192 Kbps

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1998 - The Seraphim Fall

Victory Records

1 - Intro

2 - Whitney

3 - Dogman With Horns

4 - Sister Supreme

5 - Stew For the Murder Minded

6 - Shoot the Pig

7 - Seven Hours of Angel Food

8 - Seraphim

9 - Sourtooth Grin

10 - Incantations

11 - Your Hours

78,6 MB - 192 Kbps

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2002 - Three Humid Nights in the Cypress Trees

Victory Records

1 - Learn to Fly: Ascent

2 - The Way of the Leeches

3 - I Have Such a Hard Time Making New Friends

4 - Vision Quest

5 - Holy Rollin' Homicide

6 - Learn to Fly: Descent

7 - The Way of the Will

8 - Three Humid Nights in the Cypress Trees

9 - Worms

10 - Motel Surgery

11 - Learn to Fly: Impact

12 - The Way of the Knife

56,8 MB - 192 Kbps

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Lasse Stewart.

Talons - Discography

Talons is a six-piece instrumental band from Hereford, England, formed in 2004. They were formed as a reincarnation of the members' past band, Kites, with a slightly altered line-up. They're instrumental post rock with math rock and hardcore influences. The band's line-up has never suffered any change.

The band consists of two violinists (Reuben Brunt and Sam Little), two guitarists (Oliver Steels and Sam Jarvis), one bassist (Chris Hicks) and one drummer (Alex Macdougall).

The band signed contract with the recording company Big Scary Monsters in 2009, and released their debut, Hollow Realm, in the following year, after a compilation of their work before the debut. In 2014 they released their second album, New Topographics.

2010 - Commemorations

Big Scary Monsters Recording Company

1 - Comiserations Buff Orpington

2 - The Tragic Decline of Buff Orpington

3 - The Pearl

4 - Manatee

5 - Bethlehem

6 - Anthropods

7 - Trevelyan

8 - The Pearl (Richmanu Reconstruction)

92,1 MB - 320 Kbps

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2010 - Hollow Realm

 Big Scary Monsters Recording Company

1 - St. Mary Will Be the Death of Us All

2 - Peter Pan

3 - In the Shadows of Out Stilted Homes

4 - An Expected Future Event

5 - Isis

6 - Impala

7 - Great Railroads

8 - Hollow Depth

69,3 MB - 192 Kbps

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2014 - New Topographics

 Big Scary Monsters Recording Company

1 - Monuments

2 - Reverie

3 - Lunar Gloss

4 - The Wild Places

5 - Rituals

6 - The Dreams Have No Dream

7 - Stay Cold

8 - Petrovice

110 MB - 320 Kbps

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Lasse Stewart.

Russian Circles - Discography

Russian Circles is one of the most important bands from the post metal movement, they're a trio from Chicago, formed in 2004. Most of their work is instrumental, but the newer releases feature some vocals, most prominently on the 2013 album "Memorial", that features Chelsea Wolfe singing in the title track.

The band was formed by guitarist Mike Sullivan and bassist Colin DeKuiper, both former members of Dakota. They recruited drummer Dave Turncrantz, ex-Riddle of Steel. After the release of their debut, "Enter", Colin exit the band and was replaced by Brian Cook, who had already played in Botch.

Their sound is very similar to that of Pelican, though they have shorter and more straight-forward songs. Their songwriting is rather simple, dedicateed to being played by a single three-piece band, with minimalistic parts added together to increase the atmosphere. This is very noticeable on "Geneva", which features a lot of other instruments but has a very simple songwriting. Their sound relies on the post-rock maximum of "using rock instruments to make non rock music", but heavier and harsher. They stray away from conventional soundscapes to create straight-forward dynamic and progressive metal.

First two albums plus Empros are pretty good for Pelican fans. Geneva has more appeal to prog fans and the last two incorporate a lighter sound.

2006 - Enter

 Flameshovel Records

1 - Carpe

2 - Micah

3 - Death Rides a Horse

4 - Enter

5 - You Already Did

6 - New Macabre

101,2 MB - 320 Kbps

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2008 - Station

Suicide Squeeze Records

1 - Campaign

2 - Harper Lewis

3 - Station

4 - Verses

5 - Youngblood

6 - XAVII

98,7 MB - 320 Kbps

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2009 - Geneva

Suicide Squeeze Records

1 - Fathom

2 - Geneva

3 - Melee

4 - Hexed All

5 - Malko

6 - When the Mountain Comes to Muhammad

7 - Philos

103,2 MB - 320 Kbps

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2011 - Empros

Suicide Squeeze Records

1 - 309

2 - Mlàdek

3 - Schiphol

4 - Atackla

5 - Batu

6 - Praise Be Man

93,2 MB - 320 Kbps

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2013 - Memorial

Sargent House

1 - Memoriam

2 - Deficit

3 - 1777

4 - Cheyenne

5 - Burial 

6 - Ethel

 7 - Lebaron

8 - Memorial

106,9 MB - 320 Kbps

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2016 - Guidance

Sargent House

1 - Asa

2 - Vorel

3 - Mota

4 - Afrika

5 - Overboard

6 - Calla

 7 - Lisboa

96,9 MB - 320 Kbps

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Lasse Stewart.

Breaking news

We're gonna start posting some obscure post-rock bands too because i'm struggling with finding this material, so i'm extending the blog's reach to include these obscure acts that deserve more recognition.

Just a reminder: we're posting obscure post-rock only. You can find GY!BE and Talk Talk anywhere, my goal is to get these bands to be more well-known and sharing material that's actually hard to find. I may include mainstream post-rock in the future, but only after i finish post-metal.

That's it folks, stay tuned for more sludgy muzak

Lasse Stewart.

Rosetta - Discography

 Rosetta is an american post metal band from Pennsylvania created in 2003 by four high school friends who had already had some experience in other bands. The band is very space rock influenced, having their lyrical themes revolving around astronomy subjects.

 Their formation line-up consisted of four members: Michael Armine (vocalist, keyboardist and synths), David Grossman (bassist), Bruce McMurtrie Jr (drummer) and J. Matthew Weed (guitar, violin and piano). In 2014 guitarist Eric Jernigan joined the band. The line-up hasn't changed since then.

Rosetta has released 6 albums so far, the first three were released under Translation Loss label, and the rest were self-released. Their debut, "The Galilean Satellites", is a two-disc album about a spaceman, which shows the band's spacial lyrics. It can be considered a concept album. since it tells the story of "a man who becomes dissatisfied with the world around him and leaves to find a place of solitude (Europa, one of the galilean satellites of Jupiter). However, upon reaching it, he realizes that he left behind things that were meaningful to him". The second disc is an ambient version of the first. The sound produced in this album would later also appear on "Wake/Lift" and further changed on "A Determinism of Morality". It's incredibly harsh, very agressive and abrasive, mixed together with a spacial and atmospheric feeling. On "A Determinism of Morality", the band expanded into a more progressive sound, maintaning that out-of-this-world and abrasive feeling from the first two albums. On their self-released albums, they incorporated drone influences, expanding their sound even further.

Their magnum opus is, in my opinion. The Galilean Satellites. The storyline is very interesting and makes it worth paying attention to the lyrics. A Determinism of Morality is better for prog death enthusiasts, and the last three have more appeal to drone fans.

2005 - The Galilean Satellites

Translation Loss Records

Disc 1

1 - Départe

2 - Europa

3 - Absent

4 - Itinérant

5 - Au Pays Natal

Disc 2

 

1 - Deneb

2 - Capella

3 - Beta Aquilae

4 - Ross 128

5 - Sol

270,5 MB - 320 Kbps

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2007 - Wake/Lift

Translation Loss Records

1 - Red In Tooth and Claw

2 - Lift (Part 1)

3 - Lift (Part 2)

4 - Lift (Part 3)

5 - Wake

6 - (Temet Nosce)

7 - Monument

157,1 MB - 320 Kbps

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2010 - A Determinism of Morality

Translation Loss Records

1 - Ayil

2 - Je N'en Connais Pas La Fin

3 - Blue Day For Croatoa

4 - Release

5 - Revolve

6 - Renew

7 - A Determinism of Morality

111,2 MB - 320 Kbps

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2013 - The Anesthete

Self-released

1 - Ryu / Tradition

2 - Fudo / The Immovable

3 - In & Yo / Dualities of the Way

4 - Oku / The Secrets

5 - Hodoku / Compassion

6 - Myo / The Miraculous

7 - Hara / The Center

8 - Ku / Emptiness

9 - Shugyo / Austerity

140,8 MB - 320 Kbps

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2015 - Quintessential Ephemera

Self-released

1 - After the Funeral

2 - (Untitled I)

3 - (Untitled II)

4 - (Untitled III)

5 - (Untitled IV)

6 - (Untitled V)

7 - (Untitled VI)

8 - (Untitled VII)

9 - Nothing in the Guise of Something

119 MB - 320 Kbps

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2017 - Utopioid

Self-released

1 - Amnion

2 - Intrapartum

3 - Neophyte Visionary

4 - King Ivory Tower

5 - 54543

6 - Détente

7 - Hypnagogic

8 - Qohelet

9 - Intramortem

143,2 MB - 320 Kbps

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Lasse Stewart.