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