I've been a little underwhelmed with what I've tried from the metal pool this year, but I haven't tried nearly everything that the DLA has posted. What releases are your favorites so far and what would you recommend spending time with? I've really enjoyed the new Centurian album and obviously the new MBV album but that's about it so far. Highly anticipating some new releases in April/May, but until then I'm wondering if I've missed something.

I like Funebrarum's debut a lot, but I don't see a ton of worth in their 2nd album...am I missing something? Seems like Incantation crossed with Swedeath that's a little too suffocating for listening.

Edit: This DOES sound better on good headphones than it did on my car speakers at least...

Comparison to Onward To Golgotha is just downright unfair. But it's not really far from Diabolical Conquest...aka a fun listen at times but nothing more really.

Looks like Birth A.D. are now streaming the title track for the upcoming album "I Blame You" - if this track and the interview (which implies it will include re-recorded Stillbirth tracks - "DRI style") are any indication, I expect this to be the album of the year.

http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/templateid/4838

http://stenchofishtar.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/interview-birth-a-d/

Way too many unimportant releases but I always like the idea of cataloging the canon.

Quote from: Parasite on September 06, 2012, 11:52:14 PM

So what albums did you get rid of?

Basically anything that wouldn’t qualify as classic/near-classic status after a certain point. I simply don’t have time for anything less these days. Of particular note would be the first two by Napalm Death, post-Legion Deicide, Summoning (minus their 3 best works), post-In the Nightside Eclipse Emperor, Krieg and any French LLN bands etc. One might add that some of these are ok but when I only listen to 1-2 albums every couple of days it’s naturally not going to be sub-par stuff (if metal at all). Other stuff like early Napalm Death was enjoyed at the time but now seems thoroughly transient (Oddly enough I still get a lot out of Ildjarn).

So why do I torture myself with a trip into the city, knowing I’ll have to endure interaction with the most appalling examples of hipsters and other neurotics, in the end getting maybe $30 total for these little treasures I collected in my teens (obviously before internet eliminated the risk of chance-buying). Well, perhaps I’m lazy and impatient, not being bothered to list them on discogs.com, getting rid of one at a time over the span of several months (or years more likely). But I also need space in my CD rack to put something better.

I also hope these albums might serve as a stepping stone to the person that buys them, or that by chance they would trace it back to better works if they find something in it.

Which 3 Summoning's would you consider the worthy ones? I assume Nightshade Forests for sure but feel the other two could go anyway between Dol Guldur, Stronghold, Minas Morgul, or Oath Bound.

What does everyone think of Lunar Aurora - Andacht?