o'brother - The Death of Day

Sometimes an album will hit you in just the right way so that it knocks the breath from your lungs. This is what happened to me upon hearing o'brother, The Death of Day. It's a relatively short listen, clocking in at just about 30 minutes with 5 tracks.

o'brother on Facebook

o'brother on Myspace

-Travis

Mastodon: Crack the Skye

Mastodon is easily the best concept metal band in my opinion. Each album tells a very in depth story, but not near as in depth as Crack the Skye. This album is named after Brann Dailor's, the drummer, sister who OD'd. Her name was Skye. Also Brent Hinds went into a coma after a little scuffle with SOAD's own Shavo Odadjin and during his coma he explained that he had an "out of body experience", which helped create this masterpiece of an album. Mastodon took a turn for the best with this album with sweet jam sessions and lengthy tracks. It's a must have for the collection.

Experience Crack the Skye.




Follow Mastodon on Facebook.
 on Myspace. 
   Check out the official site.

Download a two song sampler from Crack The Skye here.

-Travis

Reka: I & II

I discovered Reka a few months back and have fallen completely in love with every track! Reka was formed in Moscow, Russia. The music they play is a mixture between ambient and post-metal riffs along with a brutal screaming lead vocalist that just adds to every track. The album titles are only named with Roman numerals, I (blue cover) and II (red cover). When played back-to-back the albums run smoothly together as if they were one CD. I caught wind that they are planning on releasing a anthology with these two albums as the first two CDs. Both albums were released this year. So if you love to fucking rock out to some good metal and can dig some quite times at the perfect moment, then get this shit fo'sho!

-Travis

English Translations of the Tracks

Tracklist: I
01. Life Long Tragedy
02. Dead City
03. At Midnight Sharp
04. Egocentrism
05. Oh, Brave New World

Tracklist: II
01. Flooded Lazaretto
02. The Master of Flies
03. Threads
04. Asperger Syndrome

Download Reka I & II RIGHT NOW!

Periphery: Self-titled

This band......let me tell you what, they rock my socks off! Periphery are a six piece prog-metal band from Maryland. Crazy solos, brutal screams, some synth work and wondrous rhythms. The debut album, Periphery, was released this year and  is one of the best metal albums I myself have heard this year. Every song on this album throws you something new each time. If you are a fan of The Human Abstract or Meshuggah you should probably give Periphery a shot.

-Travis

Want the album? It's right here!

Schwarzenator - Conan

What happens when some guys get together to write a prog-metal song about Arnold Schwarzenegger's Conan the Barbarian? This is what you get. The first bit it sung through the perspective of Conan, then it goes into something else... If I were more familiar with Conan, I might be able to give some commentary on what the hell is going on, but no such luck. Anyway. It's initially bizarre, but grows it on you quickly. These guys are really talented, and I'm stoked to hear more strange Schwarzenegger themed metal in the future.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCyNpiJgQlg

-Ben