• Patrick Saad’s Top Releases of March 2012

  • Barren Earth – The Devil’s Resolve

Recommended: Oriental Pyre and White Fields.

Barren Earth expand on their 2010 album “Curse Of The Red River” by adding more progressive elements to their gloomy Death Metal sound, with additional acoustic passages, clean vocals and a Nordic Folk melodic approach.

For fans of: Amorphis and Dark Tranquility.

  • Borknagar – Urd

Recommended: Epochalyspe and Roots.

Borknagar’s 9th album “Urd” is rich with stunning Black, Folk and Progressive Metal passages which have always been associated with the band, as well as their philosophical lyrical approach which in “Urd” is about life itself (“Urd” is the norn that weaves the lifeline of mankind). Expect blast beats alongside ICX Vortex / Vintersorg’s unique vocal combination, majestic melodic passages and great musicianship!

For fans of: Cronian and Vintersorg.

  • Karim Koreitem’s Top Release of March 2012

  • Sigh – In Somniphobia

Recommended: Far Beneath the In-Between and The Transfiguration Fear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrqzTjJ82PM

Once again, Japanese band Sigh delved deeper into experimenting with their music and the Avant-garde extreme Metal style they have been playing for a while now, and they delivered. In Somniphobia is the second album to feature Dr. Mikannibal (sax & vocals) since she joined in 2007. With growls on one end and saxophone solos on another, the songs on In Somniphobia go around the world and force you to join the ride. And what a weird ride it is. Hand claps, keyboard solos, 80’s heavy metal solos, percussion, whistling, you name it. There is also a nice progressive Rock feel in some riffing and synths. Cherry on the cake, album artwork is beautiful.  

Fun facts: 

– Sigh started as a Black Metal outfit and were first signed on Mayhem’s Euronymous’s label, Deathlike Silence Records.

– Dr. Mikannibal has a PhD in physics (hence the Dr.), and works as a scientist. Also, she records topless and enjoys eating bugs like cockroaches.

For fans of: Avant-Garde / Experimental Metal.

  • Rami Rouhana’s Top Release of March 2012

  • Enochian Theory – Life… And All It Entails

Recommended: Hz and The Fire Around The Lotus.

Enochian Theory have just amazed the progressive metal world with a great inspiring album , earning them a place amongst the biggest bands in the genre. The album is a mix of Death / Prog / Rock and Hints of Jazz with tracks that fail to look alike in everyway but succeed to grab the listeners attention everytime. The album is a hit when you just notice that you keep playing it again and again for weeks.

For fans of: Porcupine Tree, Opeth and Dark Suns.