Atheist - Unquestionable Presence (1991, U.S.A.) Technical Death Metal

Completing the holy (unholy?) trinity of jazz influenced death metal is this gem of an album which is probably my favourite metal album to date. The band strikes a perfect balance between balls out technical prowess, thoughtful melody and death metal aggression. All the tracks here are winners and I've gone through phases where I could have said any individual track on the album is my favourite. That should give you some indication of the depth and quality of the writing of late bassist Roger Patterson. And certainly the writing and composition is everything here, it's clear the band took the time to painstakingly write proper tech songs as opposed to slapping some riffs together, plopping a solo near the end and calling it a day. Instrumentally these guys are wizards too, Steve Flynn's furious jazz fusion drumming is of particular highlight with Tony Choy's slap bass is not far behind and the solos of Rand Burkey and Frontman Kelly Shaefer are the icing on the tasty cake.

The technicality here reaches the perfect balance where it will satisfy you if you have a short attention span but you can still follow and enjoy the song fully which is quite a feat and most of the sections are quite addictive to boot. And in my opinion the level of technicality plotted against the level of addictiveness usually gives an appropriately mathematical description for the quality. This one is an essential Tech-Death album.

Track Listings

1. Mother Man (4:34)
2. Unquestionable Presence (4:07)
3. Your Life's Retribution (3:17)
4. Enthralled In Essence (3:38)
5. An Incarnation's Dream (4:53)
6. The Formative Years (3:30)
7. Brains (3:41)
8. And The Psychic Saw (4:45)

Total Time: 32:25

Download Here: (Atheist - Unquestionable Presence, V0)

Ashra - New Age of Earth (1977, Germany) Electronic Kraut/Ambient

Manuel Gottsching's first solo outing continuing the legacy of Ash Ra Tempel albeit in a much more spaced out and electronic domain more akin to Tangerine Dream. This album is awash with rich electronic tapestries, waves of undulating sound with gentle melodies bobbing up to the surface of the minimal but deep compositions. Sunrain sets the tone early with a fairly upbeat and genuinely content feel with masterfully composed incremental build-ups utilising a chord progression that strikes a great balance between tension and resolution. Ocean of tenderness slows things down and is a vast and uncharted sea and Deep Distance gives way to the darker, sadder nightdust capping the album off nicely. This is one of my favourite albums to go to sleep to, gently nurturing, safe, warm and beautiful I don't think I've ever made it to the end of the album without out peacefully drifiing off. Perfect chillout album.


Track Listings

1. Sunrain (7:26)
2. Ocean of Tenderness (12:36)
3. Deep Distance (5:46)
4. Nightdust (21:52)

Total Time: 47:40

Download Here: (Ashra - New Age of Earth, V0)

The Mars Volta - Tremulant EP (2002, U.S.A.) Pysch Rock

There goes my obscure music nerd cred! - A band that is on the charts these days? surely not? This is one of my favourite recordings, it caught me at a time when I was just starting to delve into prog and I loved it then and I still love it today.

The sound is remarkably different from modern day TMV. Here instead of 'angular' well produced hard rock we have a refreshingly gritty recording with a dark and genuine atmosphere. This is the distillation of a bunch of minds that had indulged liberally in all manner of psychedelic substances and had a pent up musical urge that needed to get out. 'Eunuch Provocateur' is easily the best song the band has ever recorded, the way it goes from subdued melancholy guitar to a trance inducing almost electronic drum beat is inspiring and the feverish chorus and complex melodies really set it apart as something quite special. Likewise the intensity of Opening track 'Cut That City' is both confronting and delightful and on the whole the three songs are undeniably cohesive in their construction perfectly tempering furious bursts of jagged riffing with mellow passages.

I only wish the band had have stuck with this style of music and recording for a while longer, oh well I should really be grateful they even recorded this guy in the first place. I guess that's the trade off with quitting drugs if you're a musician - on one hand you get your health back, on the other hand you'll never write music the same again.

Track Listings

1. Cut that City (5:44)
2. Concertina (4:54)
3. Eunuch Provocateur (8:48)

Total Time: 18:26

Download Here: (The Mars Volta - Tremulant EP, 192kbps)

Dark Angel - Darkness Descends (1986, U.S.A.) Thrash Metal

Coming from the golden year of thrash 1986 this is some brutal and surprisingly well produced thrash. When describing this album you only really need to say "Gene Hoglan" to grasp how punishing and ferocious Dark Angel's brand of thrash is. 'Hoggers' gives a drum clinic here, he hits harder, faster and plays more creative beats than just about any thrash drummer that was around at the time. Backed up by a great band Hoggers and co manage to deliver one of the most aggressive, adrenalin pumping thrash catharses there is.

Track Listing:

1.	Darkness Descends	05:53
2.	The Burning of Sodom	03:18
3.	Hunger of the Undead	04:19
4.	Merciless Death	04:08
5.	Death Is Certain (Life Is Not)	04:18
6.	Black Prophecies	08:34
7.	Perish in Flames	04:52
Total playing time		35:22

Download Here: (Dark Angel - Darkness Descends V0)

UPDATE: having some problems with this link, unfortunately it keeps on being removed from megaupload. I haven't received any requests to take it down so I'll look at uploading it again and using alternate hosting services when I have the time.

UPDATE: Got it working