Cynic - Focus [1993]

If you haven't heard of Cynic or this album even, you deserve to be shot. I'm not a huge prog person. I dig the obscure and intense kind of prog stuff. This is just mellow metal to listen to when relaxed. But I love it. This album has some death metal influences too but not enough to be a straight up technical death metal album. Cynic are a progressive metal/jazz fusion band from Miami, Florida and have been around since 1987. They broke up in 1994 and recently reformed in 2006. They've got two albums, this one and "Traced In Air". Personally, I prefer this one but a lot of people I've talked to like Traced the most. They started out with two thrash metal demos but became this instead and as much as I love thrash metal, I'm glad they chose to do this.

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Digable Planets - Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) [1993]

Redoing this because that was fucking pathetic. I discovered this group recently through the movie "Freedom Writers" which used the song "The Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" in the soundtrack and I dug it quite a bit so I checked it out on YouTube with some other songs like "Nickel Bags" and damn, it's fucking good. Check this out if you dig jazzy/alternative East Coast hip-hop like A Tribe Called Quest. Digable Planets are from Brooklyn, New York but each member is from a different location. Butterfly being from Seattle, Ladybug from Washington, D.C. and Doodlebug from Philadelphia. They began in 1992, have two albums, Reachin' and "Blowout Comb". They broke up in 1995 but reformed in 2005 and are still going strong.

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The Ghost of a Thousand - This is Where the Fight Begins [2007]

The Ghost of a Thousand are a five-piece hardcore/punk (not hardcore punk) band from Bristol, UK who have unfortunately been riding in the shadow of Gallows for quite some time. In my opinion, they sound similar to Gallows but ten thousand times better. This album was probably the one I listened to the most last year and I still give it the occasional spin every now and then. It's aggressive, pissed off and should be more known than fucking Gallows. It's definitely not like the other stuff I've posted here but I don't give a fuck, it's damn good.

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Skull Fist - Heavier Than Metal EP [2010]

Good old school styled heavy metal here! Skull Fist's new EP is an onslaught of catchy heavy metal. The band is fronted by Jackie Slaughter who used to live in my boring ass city with no music scene at all. Literally. We gave Shania Twain to the world, c'mon. They're from Toronto and have been around since 2006. They've released one demo and this EP. Haven't listened to the demo, but this is fucking gold. For sure check it out if you're down with the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal and that shit.

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Black Sun - Sacred Eternal Eclipse [2006]

This album is the epitome of "holy fuck." Monstrous, noisy and sludgy as all hell. This album is a slow and droning swirl of chaos. They're like a slower Godflesh, really. You can't find very much of their stuff on the internet (I'm surprised I found this) and it's a fucking shame because these guys are awesome! They need to be heard and get their name out there. Black Sun are a three man sludge/noise/doom metal project from Glasgow, Scotland and have been around since 2003. They've released six albums and I've only listened to this one. I've found their new one and will be giving it a spin soon. Hopefully, I can order their other albums because fuck me, they're awesome. I suggest you check this out if you dig Godflesh for sure. God damn.

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Acid Witch - Witchtanic Hellucinations [2008]

I don't listen to enough death/doom because a lot of it doesn't appeal to me. Usually just Autopsy, Asphyx and the like but this band fucking kills. Razorback released death/doom band Acid Witch slaughters your ears with crushing riffs and horrifying vocals in the vein of Impetigo. Slow, droning, doom fucking metal. Their lyrics are usually pertaining to witches and horror and featured Lasse Pyykkö who is the mastermind behind bands like Vacant Coffin, Hooded Menace and Claws (also on Razorback). The band is no longer on Razorback but have moved to Hells Headbangers (who are equally badass) and I have no idea if there's news of a new full length yet. I fucking hope so.

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Jekylnhyde - Jekylnhyde [2008]

Fucking chaos. This album is a progressive rock album. But this isn't Rush or Dream Theater we're talking about. Opposite. I don't know how to explain the sound, it's very very unique. If I were to try and compare them to anything it'd be Psyopus but even that's far fetched. They're on par with the chaos of Psyopus but they aren't just progressive technical wank. Definitely hard to classify this. Pretty fucking cool stuff. I had to buy this off the iTunes store because I couldn't find it anywhere online so hey, at least I'm supporting them in a way. And I'm getting their name out. I wish I could have this album on CD. Jekylnhyde are a two man project who play very mathy progressive rock/avant-garde. They're from Doylestown, Pennsylvania and have released two full lengths; their self-titled, and Anatomic Bomb. I prefer this one but I haven't given the other as much of a listen. Great stuff.

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Byla - Byla [2005]

So I don't listen to too much ambient/drone stuff but I figured I'd check this out a while ago because it had Colin Marston (Behold... the Arctopus, Gorguts, Dysrhythmia, Krallice) behind it. I downloaded the album, listened to it and I was blown away. Great stuff to listen to while stoned or if you're looking to fall asleep. So calming yet so monstrous in a way. Byla are from Brooklyn, New York and are made up of Colin Marston and Kevin Hufnagel (Dysrhythmia). They've released two full lengths; this one and a collaboration with Jarboe (Swans). I haven't listened to the other album so I can't say if it's good. I've heard a lot of people complain about it. Anyway, enjoy this album for a soothing sound if you're looking to relax.

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Anvil - Metal On Metal [1982]

I love Anvil. Amazing Canadian heavy metal. This is obviously my favourite release. I suggest you check them out if you haven't already and if you dig classics such as this. They're from Toronto, Ontario and have been around since 1981. They've released thirteen full length albums and have only been signed recently. Everything they've done since 1981 has come out of their own pockets. You should also watch Anvil: The Story of Anvil. It's a terrific documentary on the band.

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