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