Life At These Speeds - s/t

Life At Theses Speeds were part of that spate of indie-influenced punk bands running around in the early-mid 2000s (Sinaloa, Stop It, Malady etc etc) and were criminally underrated. I think their discography should be state-issued to anybody thinking about starting an indie rock band. "See? You can do it and still have guts!" This is their first full length and the delivery is a little more aggressive than on subsequent outings, but the end product is great as always.
http://www.mediafire.com/?6vcuvrjen1a5b7s

Gonzalo Rubalcaba - Discovery: Live at Montreux

Unless you sit around listening to shitty street punk all day, you've probably heard a lot of very talented musicians. But how often do you hear a real virtuoso? Not just some guy who shreds on a guitar real good, but somebody that defies you to believe that they're even playing what they're playing? Gonzalo Rubalcaba is that dude. This is the then-27-year-old pianist's second public appearance in North America after being isolated in his native Cuba previously. This captures him playing in a trio with the ubiquitous Charlie Haden on bass and Paul Motian on drums, but the focus is on Rubalcaba all the way. By the time he finishes the first cut - Monk's "Well You Needn't" - you're left gasping for breath and grasping for adjectives at the sheer force of it all. He come out on FIRE, launching run after run with astonishing clarity and creativity, breaking out some Cuban rhythm and displaying classical delicacy where required. Unbelievable.
http://www.mediafire.com/?k7fr84w2jwow53x

Mayhem - Wolf's Lair Abyss

Wolf's Lair Abyss seems to get short shrift in the Mayhem discography, and understandably so. It was the follow-up to a record that couldn't possibly be followed up (De Mysteriis dom Sathanas) and preceded one that bitterly divided the band's fanbase (Grand Declaration of War). You can feel both of those albums trying to pull Wolf's Lair Abyss to their side. In the futuristic touches of the intro and the cold, mechanical production you can hear where the band is headed but in many of the riffs - most notably much of "Ancient Skin" - you can clearly hear where they have been. I think Wolf's Lair Abyss is better than just a transitional album though. As with every Mayhem release there is a lot of thought and creativity put into it and they have certainly never been afraid to take risks. Bonus points for a stellar layout on the CD from Mr. Stephen O'Malley himself.
http://www.mediafire.com/?niokmgga2xt4b8r

Channel - s/t 7"

Channel featured Nate Newton pre-Jesuit and pre-pre-Converge as well as Brian Benoit pre-Dillinger Escape Plan and played chunky, mid-paced hardcore in the vein of Groundwork and Chokehold. This is their first 7" from 1994. This is here more as a matter of historical curiosity than anything, but I wouldn't have posted it if it completely sucked. I think "Justice" in particular is a pretty solid jam.
WARNING: This record is '90s as hell.
http://www.mediafire.com/?zfjpb0k4ko65oi9

Urfaust - Verräterischer, Nichtswürdiger Geist

A strange entry from a strange band. Many prefer Urfaust's first LP, the excellent Geist ist Teufel, to this but I can't get this one into my ears enough right now. Urfaust play very simple, stripped down, melodic sort-of-folky Black Metal with mostly clean vocals that give way to strange howls and histrionics at points. The vocals may be a sticking point for many; IX's voice is very much unpolished but he's always in key. The drums can barely keep up with the simplest beats and there are some musical decisions that work but are kind of baffling (ie. the arpeggiated guitars for the entirety of "Verflucht das Blenden der Erscheinung"). Verräterischer, Nichtswürdiger Geist's four BM tracks are accompanied by 3 of the most sophisticated and well recorded classical pieces I've ever heard come out of a metal band. Unlike most would-be classical composers in metal, Urfaust veer away from too much obvious melody or soundtrackiness (that's a word now) and present largely minimal work somewhat in the vein of certain 20th Century works by guys like Giacinto Scelsi or Henryk Góreck. Not on the same level of sophistication obviously, but still... So you have this weird juxtaposition of very weird metal and weirdly brilliant classical music and it's not for everybody at ALL, but fuck if I can't stop listening to it.
http://www.mediafire.com/?hb3kk5ux354ap5l

Stars of the Lid - Live at Holy Trinity Church

I was rummaging in a hard drive for something else and found a few Stars of the Lid live sets that I don't remember ever downloading. How excellent! So here's one from Leeds in May of 2008. Graceful and sublime. Plus they open with a version of Arvo Part's "Fratres".
http://www.mediafire.com/?jh1ji1p9jr7d1tu

Jeniger - s/t LP

A bigtime grower. So at first I thought this was a decent melodic crust record, but as I listened more I realized it was way better than that: It's a fusion of that From Ashes Rise style with a fat dose of Uranus / '90s Bremen HC thrown in, and it's fucking potent. This made more sense when I found that Jeniger morphed into the most excellent Zeroid.
http://www.mediafire.com/?c8hfjo8poybyiqz

Force of Darkness - Darkness Revelation

A blistering black thrash assault from these Chilean masters! Think 'De Mysteriis...', Absu and Blasphemophagher duking it out with a touch of that special over-the-top South American evil. Strongly recommended. TOTAL SUPPORT!!! AAAAAAAAAARGH 666!!!!
http://www.mediafire.com/?eutlsuz4o95p21t

Lyle Lovett - I Love Everybody

It's okay if you're too cool to like Lyle Lovett. He's old and he puts stuff out on major labels and maybe your dad likes him or something. You're not missing out on much, just great songs with tasteful arrangements.
http://www.mediafire.com/?rdbpii885ngwwtz

VA - On the Powers of the Sphinx

A very interesting new comp LP from the Ajna Offensive. They still have a few left and have promised a CD version eventually, but here's my LP rip in the meantime.
Saturnalia Temple start things off a long flow of ritualistic, lo-fi subterranean DOOM.
Nightbringer follow them up by reminding us that they're probably the best BM band in the States right now.
Nihil Nocturne start the B Side with what to my ears is OK depressive BM. Not bad, some Wigrid-type moments, we'll see if it really sticks with me.
Aluk Todolo, who are basically the mighty Diamatregon playing different music under a different name, close the record off. I've enjoyed their hypnotic, repetitive black-kraut emissions for a while now and this might be the best song I've heard from them yet. Not for everybody, but heartily recommended.
http://www.mediafire.com/?o01sgi1y7zub3s1

Mind Eraser / Slang split 7"

The Slang side is one minute long and they spice up their ripping Japanese hardcore with just a touch of Swarm / LFD heaviness. They steal this one for me. Mind Eraser respond with two Mind Eraser songs. They're kind of in this zone now where you know exactly what you're getting when you buy their records, good though it is.
http://www.mediafire.com/?n8u3y1yvb8188en

Comets On Fire - Bong Voyage // collab w/ Burning Star Core

If you're only up on Comets On Fire's Sub Pop releases (which are great), these two limited-run LPs may come as a shock to the system. Actually, they're pretty much a shock to the system anyways. Both eschew the recent studio materials' polished bombast (yeah, I wrote that) for raw, unadulterated ROCKING. These are live/rehearsal quality recordings, but that does not prevent them from tearing a hole in your head.
Maximum volume yields maximum results.
Bong Voyage: http://www.mediafire.com/?qdsfym1z2iawcyc
Burning Star Core collab: http://www.mediafire.com/?7v0ll4649w19mxv