Jersey Shores

Akimbo - [2008] Jersey Shores

On this release, Seattle band Akimbo have slightly deviated from the sound they further established on 2006's "Forging Steel and Laying Stone" and now the sludge elements are beginning to take over the hardcore. I can't stress enough just how epic this album feels. Track 3, "Lester Stillwell" is definitely my favourite, a song with moments of the most serene calm, and others the most heartfelt anguish, all rolled into a 12 minute package of auditory satisfaction.

The songwriting on this record is both original and impressive, with many memorable guitar licks and rhythms, which is complimented by the overall warm tone.

I honestly struggle to define this album. While it's possible to pick elements from the music and identify them, to define the album as a whole is no easy task. The best I can come up with is "Experimental, sludge infused hardcore with elements of shark."

Direct this to your ear holes.

They have a blog http://livetocrush.blogspot.com/

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/akimbo

Icon

Lento - [2011] Icon

Lento are an instrumental 5 piece band from Italy (3 guitars, 1 bass, 1 drummer). This release incorporates elements of sludge, doom, hardcore and post-rock to deliver something truly powerful. The aggressive hardcore edge is obvious in many of the heavier tracks, lavished with thunderous riffage and earth-shattering drumming, which is definitely reinforced by the extra guitarist, creating a punishing tidal wave of sludge. The production on this album is fantastic, offering enough bass to massage your insides (as of this very moment, every cupboard in the room is rattling from the bass in the title track "Icon").

I wonder where you can download this...

Stream/download the album for free here: http://denovali.com/lento/

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/lento

Wake/Lift

Rosetta - [2007]Wake/Lift

Rosetta are an ambient sludge/post-metal outfit from Philadelphia. The music on the 64 minute 'Wake/Lift' (an album name surely made to fuck with my anal-retentive folder naming convention) ranges from turbo-fuzzed guitar tones, massive, crushing riffs with heavy and distorted screams, to some quite peaceful, calm interludes, with satisfyingly gratuitous amounts ambient noise and delay. Inspiration seems to be drawn from bands like Nerosis and Isis, particularly in the softer sections, and very much so with the drumming.
Some really beautiful progression in the longer tracks on this album, particularly the closing song 'Monument', where the first _ minutes (number omitted for your own good) are a cock-tease, eluding to the brilliance that is about to unfold.

Listen to this album loud, preferably with some good quality headphones/speakers.

Download this sucker here.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/rosetta
Official website: http://rosettaband.com/

Metridium Fields

Giant Squid - [2006] Metridium Fields

Giant Squid are an eerie sludge/doom/post rock band from San Fran, California.
The genre is actually really hard to define on 'Metridium Fields', but if you're a fan of any of the above, I recommend you check it out.
They utilise the almost haunting voice of (one of?) their female members and layer it with the sometimes nasally, sometimes soothing vocals of the frontman Aaron Gregory. Some really creepy keys are strewn through the record, along with some heavy riffage.
I'd describe the overall sound as sickly sweet, in the very best kind of way.
This album is actually an entire re-recording of their first release 'Metridium Field' (note: no 's' on the end) which is apparently quite a bit heavier.

Vocals aren't very loud in this vid, but fuck me, it's amazing:

Get this album.

You can also listen to ALL OF THEIR TRACKS FOR FREE on their Bandcamp.
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/giantsquid
Bandcamp: http://giantsquidlives.com/