Obligatory end-of-year music feature

Well, it's been a hell of a year. Unfortunately, I mean hell in the biblical sense. 2016 has been pretty much a giant dumpster fire of a year, and it simply can't die soon enough in my opinion. If nothing else, I at least have some free (or, rather, name your own price) music for your listening pleasure. The following records have no minimum price on Bandcamp, but I suggest you at least pay something instead of just leeching. People have to eat, and all that. Anyways, here're some free* tunes I've been listening to lately.




Ah, blackgaze. Astronoid's Air is basically what happens when you supply a black metal band with antidepressants and switch their vocalist out for a pop-punk singer. The result is something uplifting and surprisingly accessible, even for those who aren't fans of metal. Not only is this album available for no minimum price, it's also one of my favorite albums to come out of 2016. There aren't really any excuses for not checking it out.




The Armed is a bit of an odd band. First off, yes, the album is actually named Untitled. Second, The Armed released Untitled as actually free on Bandcamp instead of as a name your own price option. In other words, there isn't a way to really pay the band for the album. This is a fairly strange move to be honest. If they simply wanted their music to be accessible, they could just as well have chosen the name your own price option as that (strictly speaking) carries no obligation of paying anything at all. Instead, they went out of their way to NOT receive any money for their work. As an econ major I find this somewhat baffling, but hey, that's punk for you I suppose. In any event, The Armed's Untitled is a fantastic slab of hardcore and punk that seems straightforward but ultimately isn't. It's all fairly conventional until the song Dead Actress, but I'd rather not spoil it for you. Just give them a listen if you're in the mood for frenetic energy and youthful aggression. Being a fan of The Dillinger Escape Plan would also help, as The Armed can be quite similar at times.




Is it black metal? Is it death metal? They call themselves blackened death metal, but I'm not sure I see this as a death metal record as much as it is symphonic black metal. Whatever you call it, Hyperion's debut album Seraphical Euphony is bloody impressive. If it weren't for a less than optimal level of audio compression, Seraphical Euphony would be very nearly perfect in my opinion. As it stands, these Hyperion newcomers have still managed to knock the ball out of the park with this one. Black metal fans, sleep on this one at your own peril. It's yet another quality offering from 2016, a year that's been as good for metal as it has been shit for all else.

Hopefully this triple post helps make up for my rather spotty posting record during last semester. I look forward to 2016 being over with in a few days. Until then, Guitarman out.

Checking in

It's been a while since I've posted anything here, so I felt the need to check in. I'm currently in my senior year of college, so finals season has me quite thoroughly pinned down right about now. Thankfully, finals season ends on the 15th. After that, I will be largely freed of the obligations that are keeping me from sharing more music with you. Until then, I'll be over here cranking out papers 'til my hands bleed.

Guitarman out.