Antaeus - Blood Libels [2006]

All the good modern black metal seems to come from France, and this is no exception. Antaeus are quite well known, and are unfortunately 'On Hold' at the moment, according to the Metal Archives. This is just generally 'good fun'.

160 kbps

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Cannibal Corpse - Eaten Back To Life [1990]

Cannibal Corpse's debut from 1990, after forming from the ashes of Tirant Sin. On this, vocalist Chris Barnes uses much higher pitched vocals than on later releases, which are closer to standard thrash vocals - nonetheless, this is still death metal through and through.

128 kbps

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Cows - Taint Pluribus Taint Unum [1987]

This will probably be the only album today, but I assure you, it's a cracker. I chanced upon it on the excellent No Beast So Fierce blog on his 'Left Field Sundays' series, so plaudits there. It's really good noisy rawk. Hugely entertaining.

192 kbps

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Sunn O))) & Boris - Altar [2006]

This collaboration album from 2006 is, to my mind, Sunn O)))'s best work, and one could probably say the same for Boris. The album features just over 50 minutes of relaxing, and at times blissful drone.

~185 kbps VBR

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Carcass - Reek Of Putrefaction [1987]

Carcass' debut, after the 'Flesh Ripping Sonic Torment' demo, is pretty much the genesis and definition of goregrind at once. The production is a little hard to penetrate, but it is a great album from start to finish.

224 kbps

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Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith [1984]

This, I believe, is the last of the 'classic' era Priest albums for me to post (although I'm aware I haven't yet posted Rocka Rolla, and to me, that's an excellent album too). I'll get it in the air: the last two tracks suck. Blended into one, they use one riff and essentially end the album on a stadium-rock-esque low note. That said, the rest of the album is fan-bloody-tastic (repeat, it is a classic era Judas Priest album) - the tunes that Judas Priest are known for, and no low notes in the middle like British Steel.

192 kbps

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Lock Up - Hate Breeds Suffering [2002]

Lock Up is a grind supergroup, at the time of this release featuring Tomas Lindberg (At The Gates amongst others), Jesse Pintado (Brujeria, Napalm Death, Terrorizer) (R.I.P.), Shane Embury (don't ask), and Nick Barker (Brujeria, Cradle Of Filth, Dimmu Borgir). This is a fucking masterpiece of death/grind - one that was not matched by their previous, Pleasures Pave Sewers, or their new one, Necropolis Transparent (although both are excellent in their own right). Bile, riffs, and catchy (almost) vocal lines seethe through this piece. I thoroughly recommend it. And when have I ever let you down, faithful reader?

160 kbps

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