Svart Records unveils “Sutra”, the new album from grand master avant-garde overlords Yakuza. Formed in 1999, Chicago based heavy hybridizers Yakuza, are in a genre all of its own, which Pitchfork describe as a “a specialized and strange alloy”. So eclectic and hard to pigeon-hole, their music has been described over the years as everything from avant-garde metal, progressive metal, alternative metal to experimental rock, jazz metal, art metal and post-metal. Incorporating psychedelic rock jams that sprawl into heavy, sludging Doom with jazz influences, while also incorporating breakneck grind riffs and grooves, makes Yakuza’s new album “Sutra” a long awaited and insanely enjoyable feast of frequencies.

"Ascension" is a compilation of the band's extremely limited and impossible to get self-released EPs "Wisdom Calls For Sacrifice" & "Winter Solstice II" along with two exclusive bonus tracks (Pentagram's "Be Forewarned" and a rare live version of "Algiz").
The Flight of Sleipnir was formed in the winter of 2007 by David Csicsely and Clayton Cushman. The project stemmed from a desire to explore ethereal and progressive sounds with lyrics that explore the rich literature of ancient Scandinavia. Keeping elements of their other projects and building a foundation upon doom and vintage metal, they released the demo "Wisdom Calls For Sacrifice" in 2008…

Coming from a Black Metal background, their first full length, while already hinting at their fable for Doom Metal and Progressive Rock, shows yet more focus toward the Viking Metal elements in their unique style. The rich songs on this album incorporate the powerful, aggressive potential of their Black Metal roots with their trademark clean male vocals and melodic lead and acoustic guitars into a seamless whole, an album that effortlessly floats between powerfully pounding parts and a relaxed Viking-like campfire atmosphere, with additional progressive elements fit in wherever they add to the wonderful mix. In short, The Flight Of Sleipnir showed right from the start what gifted musicians they are and any fan of their later efforts will certainly love "Algiz + Berkanan" as well.

The Flight of Sleipnir sound has always been quite distinct, the first amongst it’s central tenets is a mid-fi approach. It’s not lo-fi and it’s not polished, it retains that little bit of scratch-and-pop, moderate-levels-of-production edge. This is still the case with “EoN”, and with the first distorted guitar tone that is not that distorted or fuzzed but still so, you know you’re treading familiar waters (if you’ve listened to “Lore”, that is.) That is a definite plus for The Flight of Sleipnir in general, that they have their identity grounded. One more thing: The Flight of Sleipnir has gone softer. Not soft, period, but noticeably softer: there are more acoustic songs, more clean vocals, more atmospheric/acoustic/soft passages.

The Flight Of Sleipnir is an American band formed in the winter of 2007 by David Csicsely (Acheronian Dirge, Nexhymn, ex-Throcult) and Clayton Cushman (Acheronian Dirge, ex-Throcult). The project stemmed from a desire to explore ethereal and progressive sounds with lyrics that explore the rich literature of ancient Scandinavia.
Don't let that Electric Wizard or The Sword-like cover art and font lettering on the album cover fool you, this album is not true stoner/doom metal. There's a guitar solo in the first song (and in a couple other places too) that is pretty doom metal-ish but that's about it as Lore by The Flight of Sleipnir is more a down tempo-ed progressive folk rock/metal album that draws strong influence from High on Fire, Ulver, Moonsorrow and latter Enslaved… with a catch. That's a pretty interesting draw and it works…

Although the British band Anathema left their traditional death metal sound behind on The Silent Enigma with guitarist Vincent Cavanagh taking over vocals duties from growler Darren White, the dark themes continue. Shifting their morbid focus from God-bashing and destruction, the chaps focus on suicide and the meaningless of life. The blistering guitars have been replaced by atmospheric keyboards making this come off as a twisted combination of Pink Floyd and Peter Gabriel, and there is even some spoken poetry here. As a whole, Anathema has proven that they are an original band, not content to repeat history. Unfortunately, there is a place in this world for such dark subject matter, and for those who care, Eternity fits the bill.