Government Alpha & Brianvdp - The Oranda Nippon Conspiracy [2012]

Released on J. Randall (of Agoraphobic Nosebleed fame)'s already legendary Grindcore Karaoke label, this collaborative work between Japanese harsh noise maestro Yasutoshi Mashida and Dutch graphic designer Brianvdp is a well-structured work of nicely textured noise. It's also comparatively accessible compared to much other noise and indeed most of Government Alpha's body of work, mainly because it is restricted to 42 minutes in length and thus doesn't quite have the same monolithic feel to it as even slightly longer works like Spontaneous Combustion (which clocks in at just eight minutes longer), but also because it is a little more varied in its approach than much noise, and therefore is borderline memorable in parts. Still completely amelodic, chances are if you come to this blog for metal you wouldn't enjoy this. Keep an open mind.

320 kbps (FLAC available from the bandcamp)

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Dodecahedron - Dodecahedron [2012]

The blogosphere has been ablaze of late with praise for this album. Black metal as a whole is a fairly straightforward proposition; you get distortion, riffs and harsh vocals, but the new breed has been trying to change that. The likes of Deathspell Omega, Blut Aus Nord and Nightbringer have been bringing complexity and atmosphere to black metal in a way that wasn't previously used, and here, I have a strong suspicion that Dodecahedron have taken great steps towards the next level again. It's still very close to the likes of Deathspell Omega, but there is that little something extra, especially in the epic closing trilogy 'View From Hverfell' - it's complex, yet still recognizably coherent, and it's harsh, yet crisp and clean in both its playing and production. It's been bandied around the internet for a while now, but if you don't already have this album, here's another sterling recommendation.

192 kbps

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Dead Head - Dream Deceiver [1993]

Dead Head are one of the bands who the thrash world just seemed to overlook a little. Whilst the likes of Thanatos get far more praise than their work's due, Dead Head here created a classic death/thrash album and rarely get mentioned. The great thing about this album is that they're not afraid to vary the speed a little; and the variations work. Take, for instance, the song 'I Or The Needle'. A slow burner of the type that not many will be used to in the thrash, but it also happens to be one of the best songs on the album. Of course, there's also hyper-aggressive deathrash in abundance, and the delightful balance here between the two extremes makes the album extremely satisfying.

320 kbps

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Re-upload: Battered Intestine - Hacksaw Brainsurgery [2008]

Okay, I admit it before you download and listen to this; this isn't very good. It's just generic goregrind with nothing really to set it apart. I'm only really posting it because I'd already uploaded it and I thought that I may as well.

Re-upload notes: Re-upping on request, I still don't like it.

320 kbps

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Hail Of Bullets - ...Of Frost And War [2008]

Hail Of Bullets. Essentially a Dutch DM supergroup - and there's nothing wrong with one of those, save perhaps their morbid fixation with various wars. This, however, is new OSDM as it should be written - it hails very strongly back to Asphyx (as it should), and combines hooks with grinding riffs and the slow news of your imminent demise.

~220 kbps VBR

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Carach Angren - Death Came Through A Phantom Ship [2010]

Despite the insanely cheesy cover art, this is symphonic black metal done well, not done Dimmu. It is incredibly clean in its production, and I won't deny that that does harm the album a little, but its other qualities (more than capable musicianship coupled with great songwriting and a good sense of when symphonic elements should fuck right off) make this an album worth listening to. That said, if you find Emperor to be overly bombastic, stay the hell away from this.

320 kbps

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Prostitute Disfigurement - Deeds Of Derangement [2003]

This is the sort of brutal death metal that I am most likely to enjoy. It is not slamming, rather, it is rather technical, and very melodic for BDM. There are also *hooks* in the songs, and even some repeated motifs that could be called choruses. Nonetheless, it's a quality album, although it's far from my favourite.

Similar artists: Gorgasm, Origin, Hour Of Penance

320 kbps

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Pestilence - Doctrine [2011]

After the frankly lacklustre 'Resurrection Macabre', very few people expected Pestilence to unleash a follow up of any quality. But this is quite good. By no means is it up to the level of 'Consuming Impulse' or 'Malleus Maleficarum', but it is quite a rocker in itself.

320 kbps

Link taken down. Comment to see a reupload!

Pestilence - Consuming Impulse [1989]

The Dutch do death metal. Fact. For anyone who was disappointed with 'Spheres' (I'm undecided myself), this is the perfect solace. The outrageous, ridiculous artwork belies some top-quality death/thrash.

320 kbps

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Hail Of Bullets - On Divine Winds [2010]

When it comes to death metal, don't fuck with the Dutch. I'm not sure whether I mentioned in my earlier Aspyhx posts the sheer quality of Van Drunen's vocals, but they fit here with the themes of war perfectly, combining with the instrumentation to create a full-blooded death metal onslaught.

320 kbps

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Asphyx - The Rack [1991]

Loads of great death metal has come from the Netherlands over the years, and this release is where it started, also giving now renowned and prolific vocalist Martin Van Drunen his start. Classic album.

320 kbps

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