Back to Bandcamp: November 21, 2015

Here's your weekly roundup of indie releases:

Turia - Dor
(http://montturia.bandcamp.com/releases)

It speaks volumes for the integrity of these Netherlanders that they opted not to market Dor under the much maligned (and frankly, deeply cynical) female-fronted label. I supposed I've just ruined that for them by mentioning it, but it's the thought that counts.

There are no frills or gimmicks on this atmospheric black metal debut. Frantic blast beats and dense, repetitive riffs drive most of the record, uniting with vocalist T's harsh screams for a bleak and gloomy listening experience. While Turia's raw and earnest performance sets Dor apart from other atmospheric projects on tracks like "Ascese," it's also the band's greatest weakness: Dor lacks variety. Apart from the ambient ending of "Halsstarig de Dood Tegemoet," every track on the record follows essentially the same style and structure—slight variations to a melancholy progression over rapid and cacophonous percussion. Otherwise, its a strong debut, and certainly a worthwhile listen for atmospheric black metal fans.

Recommended.

møl - II
(https://moeldk.bandcamp.com/album/ii)

The term "hipster metal" probably gets tossed around a bit too much. That said, møl's II is triumphant, shoegazy Deafheaven worship of the most unabashed kind. There's not the slightest hint of grimness on this EP; these five Danes play high-energy glasses-and-short-sleeves black metal of the most egregious kind, and they're damn good at it. If huge, soaring melodies and bright, clean production are your thing, you can't do much better than møl's hum-along choruses. If uplifting progressions and bassists wearing baha hoodies make you run for your treasured 1996 cassette of Filosofem, you'll probably hate this slightly less than you hate Hunter Hunt-Hendrix. To each their own.

Recommended.

Akvan - بلک متال آریایی
(https://akvan.bandcamp.com/album/-)

Ready for this?

Akvan play True Ayran black metal; that is, black metal inspired by the music and culture of Iran. If you like your black metal subversive, you can't do much better than this middle finger to racism and Islamaphobia. If you like your black metal folksy, then you'll enjoy Akvan's masterful incorporation of Iranian instruments and scales into traditional black metal aggression, especially on the second track. بلک متال آریایی  runs less than 15 minutes, but it's a quality EP hinting at even greater things to come from this Persian solo project. Good luck telling your friends what your favorite track is.

Recommended.