Addaura - Demo (2010)

Hailing from Seattle, Washington (USA), is Addaura.

If you've followed my blog at all, you may have noticed I like to explore "What's in a word", as it were. In this case, as far as I could find, Addaura, could refer to a small fishing village in Italy, though, something of note that may be of some reference here, is the Grotta dell Addaura. It's basically some very famous prehistoric rock art. Follow links for more detail.


Addaura are another promising Cascadian BM band, not necessarily displaying a unique character to pull them away from the crowd of Cascadian BM bands around, yet, they do not disappoint. What they do, they do it well. Really, for a demo, this is a quality release. Better than most demos I hear. I hope the hints of a more individual character here are explored to their full potential in the future.

A full-length is definitely something to look out for from these guys.

Album Name: Demo

Band: Addaura

Genre: Black Metal

Year: 2010

Country: USA

Track Listing:

1.	White Deer	09:29
2.	Bereavement	07:46
3.	Through the Rain	08:38
4.	Ochre and Ore	10:43
		36:36

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Ash Borer - Self-Titled (2011)

Here's the much anticipated first full-length from Ash Borer.


Self-Titled is Ash Borer finally realising the mastery of sound they first truly displayed in their unforgettable split with Fell Voices. It was from that point, I thought this band had some real potential, and that I would not be disappointed by the eventual manifestation of a full-length release.

Simply put, it's an amazing release, the best of their stuff to date, and not worth missing.

Album Name: Self-Titled

Band: Ash Borer

Genre: Black Metal

Year: 2011

Country: USA

Track Listing:

1.	In the Midst of Life, We Are in Death	12:09
2.	Rest, You Are the Lightning	07:57
3.	My Curse Was Raised in the Darkness Against a Doomsday Silence	19:39
		39:45

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Blut Aus Nord - 777 Sect(s) (2011)

And a new one from Blut Aus Nord.



After some variation and experimentation with their music in their previous years, such as it's relation to BM and other musical elements, this release is somewhat a return to their BM roots. More specifically, this album has been compared to being akin to The Work Which Transforms God. In my opinion, that was the album that made it for me. They have other notable albums, with their own character, but none, until recently, had been able to match the immensity of the darkness within.

777 Sect(s) is all that, and yet more. To me, there is more consistency in the musical expression, where The Work Which Transforms God may lose my attention, 777 Sect(s) has found the missing link to sustain the vortex that is the reality that such BM would bind me.

If you don't understand my convoluted jibber-jabber, then maybe you should check it out yourself, and hear what a masterpiece truly is.

Also one of my albums of the year.

Album Name: 777 Sect(s)
Band: Blut Aus Nord
Genre: Black Metal
Year: 2011
Country:
Track Listing:

1.	Epitome I	07:57
2.	Epitome II	06:51
3.	Epitome III	04:52
4.	Epitome IV	11:52
5.	Epitome V	06:23
6.	Epitome VI	07:31
Total playing time		45:26

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Alda - Demo (2009), Self-Titled (2009), : tahoma : (2011)

Alda, from Tacoma, Washington (USA).

Meaning of the Name 'ALDA'

• Meaning: Old German feminine form of Aldo and Otto, "Old; prosperous." Variants include Aldabella, Aldea, Aldina, Aldine, Aldona, Aleda, Alida, Alyda.
• Origin: German
• Gender: Female

- Quote here.


Alda is a Cascadian BM band that has been around for a few years now, has a few releases (one of which is quite recent), however, never really took my attention beyond being another Cascadian BM band.

Their first two releases are examples of this. And essentially, they became a band that I put to the side and forgot about.

However, these feelings suddenly changed when I came upon their latest release, : tahoma : (obviously a geographical reference here, being that Tahoma is, according to wikipedia, the original form of Tacoma, the city of which this band originates, or may refer to Mount Tahoma, etc). Honestly, given my previous impressions, I didn't expect much. But this latest release was a complete break from their previous material. As opposed to their other music, this album is an eloquent interwoven eclectic auditory nirvana. Still Cascadian BM, but with lengthier metal passages that keep you captivated, rather than strained, with a strong emphasis on a lighter folk element with clean vocals. These latter parts, are almost meditative, and indeed, a beautiful balance of the darker and lighter elements has been found here.

: tahoma : is quite the surprise, but it is worth it, and one not to miss.

One of my favourite albums of the year.

Album Name: Demo

Band: Alda

Genre: Black Metal

Year: 2009

Country: USA

Track Listing:

1.	The Seed and the Hailstone	03:53
2.	The Evergreen Womb	06:11
3.	Fimbulwinter	05:31
		15:35

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Album Name: Self-Titled
Band: Alda

Genre: Black Metal

Year: 2009

Country: USA

Track Listing:

1.	Scattered On the Wind	05:16
2.	Fimbulwinter	05:08
3.	The Seed and the Hailstone	04:07
4.	Vale	06:22
5.	Venom in the Waters	04:43
6.	The Evergreen Womb	06:24
		32:00

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Album Name: : tahoma :
Band: Alda

Genre: Black Metal

Year: 2011

Country: USA

Track Listing:

1.	In the Wake of an Iron Wind	11:58
2.	Adrift	08:41
3.	Tearing of the Weave	08:24
4.	Shadow of the Mountain	11:17
5.	Wandering Spirit	14:11
		54:31

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DOWNLOAD (via bandcamp)