Hunab Ku- The Gaze Inward

Artist: Hunab Ku
Album: The Gaze Inward (purchase)
Year Released: 2007
Country: USA
Label: Black Sheep Records
Genre(s): mathcore, ambient, glitch

Hunab Ku is a band that was thrusted into my sphere of existence through another amazing, mind-bending band: Polkadot Cadaver a.k.a. Dog Fashion Disco 2: Judgement Day. After that kind of endorsement, I had to check out Hunab Ku, and I ended up downloading their album without hearing any of their music. All I can say is this: be ready for an intense ride. Hunab Ku basically pummels you with ridiculous mathcore riffage and insane vocals, then transports you to abrasive soundscapes that both attack and relax at the same time. Mix that with some totally bizarre influences and other equally impressive and original songs and bam!: The Gaze Inward.

Link: http://lix.in/600546e3

Monotonix- Monotonix

Artist: Monotonix
Album: Monotonix
Year Released: 2007
Country: Israel
Label: Drag City Records
Genre(s): rock, experimental, psychedelic

Monotonix are the greatest rock band of all time. This bassless trio is rock at its finest, and every note on this record proves that statement. I've never seen them live, but the stories I have heard about it are INSANE. Apparently they played a show last year outside a coffee shop in the biggest intersection of Tel-Aviv. Get this: near the end of the show, they took their PA, guitar amp, and set of drums into the middle of the intersection and played a song, with the singer reportedly jumping on top of cars and singing. Fuck what any other band may claim; Monotonix is by far the heaviest, most intense group I have ever heard. Here's to many, many more albums.

Link: http://lix.in/06e2860d

Atlantis- Carpe Omnium

Artist: Atlantis
Album: Carpe Omnium (purchase)
Year Released: 2007
Country: Netherlands
Label: Field
Genre(s): Post-rock, psychedelic, industrial

Atlantis is a band that is not as well-known as they should be, as they unfortunately share their name with a bunch of other shitfest bands. HOWEVER, here at Lumberjacks Anonymous, we post music that sucks less than other music, which is why I'm posting Carpe Omnium. This album has great soundscapes, many of them uncharacteristically dark for traditional post-rock. They have an industrial element that evokes post-apocalyptic images (for me at least). Think the future scenes from The Terminator. Yeah. Awesome, right? Get it.

Link: http://lix.in/17ddeca4

Fall of Efrafa- Owlsa

Artist: Fall of Efrafa
Album: Owlsa (purchase)
Year Released: 2006
Country: UK
Label: Halo of Flies
Genre(s): crust, neocrust, symphonic crust, hardcore

Fall of Efrafa bends the rules of modern d-beat hardcore- they have epic songs filled with build ups, ridiculous intensity, and all the kickass cello parts you could ever want in a crust band. That's right, they use a fucking cello. I swear Fall of Efrafa knows more about music theory than any other crust band out there, and it shows. From the quietest strumming of a lone guitar to the loudest screams of the insane gang vocals they feature(check the end of "Last But Not Least"), this album doesn't waste one second in putting you into musical heaven.

Link: megaupload

Kashiwa Daisuke- Program Music I

Artist: Kashiwa Daisuke
Album: Program Music I (purchase)
Year Released: 2007
Country: Japan
Label: Noble
Genre(s): Electronic, post-rock, ambient

Wow. Kashiwa Daisuke, from Japan, released a really good album last year, and here it is- Program Music I. The only way I can think of to describe this is very glitchy post-rock. Kashiwa Daisuke does a lot of experimenting with electronics, and the composition is fanfuckingtastic. This 2 song 1 hour album is worth several listens. This is what people are talking about when they refer to "good shit". Listen.

Link: http://lix.in/72a45847

Boris- Soundtrack from Film "Mabuta No Ura"

Artist: Boris
Album: Soundtrack from Film "Mabuta No Ura" (purchase)
Year Released: 2005
Country: Japan
Label: Essence
Genre(s): Drone, stoner, psychedelic

All of Boris' albums are completely different from one another, and all of them are great, so it was difficult deciding which one to post first. I picked Mabuta No Ura because it really shows their variety and creativity, and it's one of my favorites. This is the soundtrack to a non-existent film concocted by this Japanese experimental trio. This is for all music fans, and if you don't like this album, try some of their others. They have an incredibly rich discography with tons of variety.

Link: http://lix.in/717a8887

Irepress- Samus Octology

Artist: Irepress
Album: Samus Octology (purchase)
Year Released: 2005/2007
Country: USA
Label: Translation Loss
Genre(s): metal, post-rock, math rock

My love for instrumental music is pretty much summed up by this album- Samus Octology is chock full of epic melodies, interesting rhythms, and nonstop quality musicianship. Also, you should definitely check out their myspace page for directions on how to sync up their album to The Goonies.

Link: http://lix.in/2337770a

Envy- Abyssal

Artist: Envy
Album: Abyssal (purchase)
Year Released: 2007
Country: Japan
Label: Sonzai
Genre(s): Screamo, hardcore, post-rock

Envy is a fantastic band and Abyssal is a fantastic (mini) album. Screamo: check, post-rock: check, awesome: check. Abyssal is my favorite release of theirs thus far, and they have a very rich discography. Envy really nailed this one, listen.

Link: http://lix.in/d657f0ac

Dälek-Abandoned Language

Artist: Dälek
Album: Abandoned Language (purchase)
Year Released: 2007
Country: USA
Label: Ipecac Recordings
Genre(s): hip hop, alternative hip hop, ambient, post-rock

Looking for a breath of fresh, non-ringtone hip hop? If so, Dälek is that sweet breath. Coming from Newark, NJ, Dälek is an extremely original, true hip hop group. Layers upon layers of tasteful, melodic textures mix with intelligent lyrics that cover just about every social and political subject you can think of. While abrasive at first, this release has proven to be an extremely fruitful and interesting collection of awe-inspiring compositions that at once entrance and engage the listener.

Link: http://lix.in/c72f04c0

Giants Will Fall- A State of Nervous Excitement EP

Artist: Giants Will Fall
Album: A Nervous State of Excitement EP
Year Released: 2006
Country: UK
Label: Stooge Records
Genre(s): Post-rock, electronic, instrumental

Giants Will Fall, from Exeter, is a lesser known but awesome band that combines post-rock with electronic music. For fans of 65daysofstatic, Maybeshewill, and good music in general, Giants Will Fall's debut EP, A State of Nervous Excitement, is a must-have. We haven't seen anything from these guys in awhile and information about them is hard to come by, but I'm hoping they'll get big enough to put out some more material.

Link: http://lix.in/76d4df9c

Neurosis- A Sun That Never Sets

Artist: Neurosis
Album: A Sun That Never Sets (purchase)
Year Released: 2001
Country: USA
Label: Relapse
Genre(s): Sludge, doom metal, experimental

I had a very difficult time deciding which Neurosis album to post. They're all unique and all great in their own way. In the end, I decided on A Sun That Never Sets because I feel that it's the album that best captures the essence of Neurosis. The best description of this album can probably be found by listening to the album itself, and do not judge it based on the genres before listening. Neurosis is my favorite band of all time, and has the most distinctive sound of any band I know. This album is a god damn masterpiece, and if you don't know Neurosis, I highly recommend giving this one a chance.

Link: http://lix.in/7ecfe3c5

Nadja- Truth Becomes Death

Artist: Nadja
Album: Truth Becomes Death (purchase)
Year Released: 2005
Country: Canada
Label: Alien8
Genre(s): Drone, ambient, doom

When most people think of drone, they think of Sunn O))) and Earth. When I first listened to Truth Becomes Death, I came to the stunning realization that there is much, much more to the genre, and Canada's Nadja brings it. This album consists of long, droning, repetitive riffs that build-up and capture the listener. I couldn't believe how well this 3 song, 51 minute album held my attention, and pretty soon I was addicted. Droning and ambient walls of sound are built to epic proportions in Truth Becomes Death. This is a duo that knows how to churn out a fantastic drone experience.

Link: http://lix.in/2b4a7133

Deaf Center- Pale Ravine

Artist: Deaf Center
Album: Pale Ravine (purchase)
Year Released: 2005
Country: Norway
Label: Type Records
Genre(s): ambient, noise

Last year, while searching for a more interesting ambient/noise project, I stumbled upon Norway's very own Deaf Center. Pale Ravine has just about everything you could want in an ambient release: the minimalist piano work, the layered keyboards, the atmospheric nature/percussion sounds- and even better, these aspects exceed the quality of a lot of other ambient projects. Halfway between the abstractions of Lotus Eaters and the melodic, calculated works of Eluvium, Deaf Center displays uniqueness in a style many artists are afraid to experiment with.

Link: http://lix.in/333598ff

The Pirate Ship Quintet- The Pirate Ship Quintet EP

Artist: The Pirate Ship Quintet
Album: The Pirate Ship Quintet EP (purchase)
Year Released: 2007
Country: UK
Label: Sound Devastation
Genre(s): Post-rock, instrumental


The Pirate Ship Quintet is the best band I have ever heard in my entire life that uses trumpets. What you'll get with England's The Pirate Ship Quintet is a pretty standard post-rock structure executed incredibly well. This EP consists of long build-ups to fantastic ambient explosions. The addition of cello, and especially trumpet, to their line-up gives them a distinctive sound that you're sure to appreciate. I can't stop listening to this release, and I expect great things from these guys in the future.

Link: http://lix.in/d3773aac

Tides- Resurface

Artist: Tides
Album: Resurface (purchase)
Year Released: 2005
Country: USA
Label: Teenage Disco Bloodbath
Genre(s): Post-rock, sludge, instrumental

One of my most favoritestest albums ever. Tides, from Providence, Rhode Island, delivers a heavy and contemplative journey on their debut release, Resurface. Combines the best of both worlds, utilizing the echoing atmospheres of post-rock and the face-crushing heaviness of their sludge influences, Resurface is the most kick-ass instrumental album of 2005. It sucks you in right away with "Resurface", and "Aurora" is as epic as the ocean. More recently, they've released their From Silence EP, which also kicks ass. This is a sick band with a knack for composition, 'nuff said.

Link: http://lix.in/b2997d6d

Majority Rule- Emergency Numbers

Artist: Majority Rule
Album: Emergency Numbers (purchase)
Year Released: 2003
Country: USA
Label: Robotic Empire
Genre(s): punk, hardcore, experimental

This is the second full length(?) release from Majority Rule, and although it only has 6 tracks, it packs a punch. Majority Rule's brand of hardcore is experimental in pretty much every aspect, including a fair amount of repetition and vocals that are out of this world. Truly an all around great release from a band that doesn't get enough credit from the hardcore scene.

Link: http://lix.in/933bebf8

Wolves In The Throne Room- Two Hunters

Artist: Wolves In The Throne Room
Album: Two Hunters (purchase)
Year Released: 2007
Country: USA
Label: Southern Lord
Genre(s): black metal, folk, post-rock

This is the band that breaks all of the black metal cliches- Wolves In The Throne Room is an American band, living on a farm in northern Washington, with lyrics focusing on the environment and "eco-feminism" rather than barely coherent ramblings about Satan and the end of the world. Yes, I know many may cry "WHERE IS TEH KVLT!!!1!!11!!" but the truth is, this is probably the best black metal release I've ever heard. The first track, "Dia Artio", shows off the band's ability to create beautiful, melancholic soundscapes that pull you in and don't let go until the end of the album. The second track, "Vastness and Sorrow", is the other half of their sound, wasting no time and getting right to the epic black metal that they're known for. The next track, "Cleansing", is more of a melding of the styles of the first two songs, blending a post-rock/doom atmosphere with the most well composed black metal you could ever imagine(including beautifully performed female vocals). The last track, "I Will Lay Down My Bones Among The Rocks And Roots", is a fitting end to the wondrous and extremely satisfying journey that is Two Hunters. Here's to hoping their next album is half as good as this one, as even that material would be better than 99% of the "black metal" out now.

Link: http://lix.in/fb98f877

Ganon- In The Dead of Sleep

Artist: Ganon
Album: In The Dead of Sleep (purchase)
Year Released: 2006
Country: USA
Label: Acerbic Noise Development
Genre(s): sludge, post-rock, doom

There's not much I can say about Ganon except HELL YES. From Michigan, crushing sludge meets psychedelic atmosphere in Ganon's debut album, In The Dead of Sleep. In my opinion, this is one of the best albums of 2006, and one of the best bands in their genre. They've also just released a new album entitled As Above, So Below. If you like this one, be sure to check out their new one as well.

Link: http://lix.in/922f6346

Isis- Panopticon

Artist: Isis
Album: Panopticon (purchase)
Year Released: 2004
Country: USA
Label: Hydrahead
Genre(s): atmospheric sludge, drone, doom, melodic sludge, post-rock

Ross: Well well well, here we are, our first post here at Lumberjacks Anonymous. I chose this to be the first album to be posted simply due to the fact that if you want to become a music enthusiast, you absolutely need this release. From the crushing beginning of "So Did We" to the last chord of "Grinning Mouths" this cd gives you some of the most interesting and original music you'll ever hear. Some people might say that Oceanic was Isis' first real musical breakthrough, but this was their first album that really got me into the whole sludge/post-rock/doom rock sound. If you don't like it at first, be sure to give it another try after a while, it's surely one of the best releases by one of the best bands out there right now.

Larry: Panopticon is arguably one the the greatest releases from Isis, one of the most talked about names in music in recent years. This album is the perfect transition between the massive Oceanic and their latest incarnation showcased on In The Absence of Truth. Isis originated their sound, and it has yet to be successfully duplicated. If you aren't familiar with Isis, download this album, you will not regret it.

Link: http://lix.in/ca0f2866