Univers Zero - Heresie [1979]

Genre: Avant-prog/RIO/zeuhl

Format/bitrate: .mp3 v0

Some of you probably already have this, but those who don't need to be exposed to it.

"La Faulx" opens with a sinister, dissonant drone that establishes the gloomy, vaguely threatening mood that runs throughout the entirety of Heresie. Through Heresie's three, mostly instrumental extended pieces ("La Faulx" incorporates sinister chanting in an apparently unknown language), which run for over fifty minutes, the then-five-piece ensemble, using a mixture of classical and rock instrumentation, explores a substantial variety of different textures and techniques running from drone to technical mayhem, but the overall atmosphere never subsides. Many critics have called this the darkest album ever recorded in any genre; while I can think of a few others that would rival it, it certainly belongs on a list of music's most sinister moments. Fans of more experimental black metal acts such as Deathspell Omega, Blut aus Nord, The Axis of Perdition, and Gnaw Their Tongues may enjoy this, and for fans of avant-garde music and progressive rock this will be essential listening. Strongly recommended.

Posted on Behalf of Cassandra-Leo

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Magma - K.A. (2004)

I know most of you grimtards are familiar with Magma, but from what I can tell this little gem has managed to slip under the radar. Maybe because it's about three decades removed from the band's golden era, but rest assured this album is amazing.

Mediafire

Eskaton - 4 Visions (1979)

More Zeuhl for you. I don't find this quite as strong as the magnificant Magma, which would be their most obvious reference point for sound. Though I'm far from experienced in the genre, from what I've heard many non-Magma Zeuhl bands deign not to imitate Magma's vocal style directly, but Eskaton certainly doesn't care in that respect. The music itself is far more minimalistic, with spacey keyboards replacing many instances of electric piano, and an overall confined atmosphere that creates an otherworldly listening experience. Highly recommended, though if you're entirely new to Zeuhl you may wish to track down some of the works of Magma and Christian Vander before venturing further into the boundless territories of Avant-Prog.

Mediafire: Part 1, Part 2

Shub-Niggurath [France] - Les morts vont vite (1986)

This ain't the Mexican death metal band, but an actually quite awesome Avant-Prog band from France. This album is all kinds of amazing, featuring tons of strange quasi-melodies, unearthly chanting vocals and some great percussive sections. It has a shitload of atmosphere, the demented, Obscura-esque kind atmosphere that gives the album a strangely alluring aspect. Highly recommended for progheads, but it's also a great transition record (at least for me it was).

Megaupload (sorry for the lix.in, not my idea)

Oh, and thanks to Adam (AGreenman) for giving me the rec ;)