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

Sonic Scapes & Weedy Grooves

Belzebong - [2011] Sonic Scapes & Weedy Grooves

Ho-ly-shit. Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit.
I struggle to find words that can do justice in describing Belzebong's 'Sonic Scapes & Weedy Grooves'. Lured into a false sense of security by the first few seconds of the opening track, you're soon to have your head pummeled into your toes, your toes pummeled into your arse, and your arse pummeled into a fine paste. The distortion on the guitars (and bass) sounds like a motherfucking chainsaw, carving its way through your body.
Dem riffs. DEM FUCKING RIFFS. Even if you don't like marijuana, if you like groovy, spacious, and heavy music, you will love this band. If you like marijuana, you will fucking love this band.
The artwork for this band is awesome too.
Check out the album art in high resolution, and this badass piece of art in super high res.

Stream the entire album for free on Bandcamp.
Follow them on Facebook for any updates (they mentioned plans for vinyl).
Download it here.

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/