乐队名称：Eluvium
提供专辑：2010 Similes
音乐风格：氛围/实验/后摇
所在国籍：美国
推荐指数：★★★★☆

专辑介绍：美国实验氛围单人团Eluvium的最新专辑，依然如2007年的作品《Copia》那般有股触动人心的力量。I am a fan of Eluvium, and decided to create this myspace page for anyone who loves his music. I am not affiliated with Matthew in any way, I’m just a fan. With that being said, here’s a quick overview from Temporary Residence: Born in Tennessee and raised in Louisville, KY, Matthew Cooper relocated to Portland, OR several years back and has since spent many a night holed up in his house transforming the vibrations in his brain into sweeping walls of elegant noise. With a depth ranging from fragile to glacial, he takes dense layers of guitars and pianos and builds them into an awe-inspiring fortress around himself. Resting comfortably and confidently in the spirits of Brian Eno’s most accomplished ambient pieces, Eluvium is a freakishly beautiful affair. If it was ever possible for a warm gust of wind to send chills through every bone in your body, then Eluvium is that warm wind. The long-awaited follow-up to the acclaimed Copia, Eluvium takes a courageous creative leap with Similes, an 8-song album featuring three key musical elements previously uncharted by Eluvium: percussion, a verse-chorus song structure, and singing. For a celebrated experimental musician, it was just about the bravest and scariest direction to go. In this way, Similes is the most truly experimental Eluvium album yet…

乐队名称：Mistur
提供专辑：2009 Attende
音乐风格：维金黑金属
所在国籍：挪威
推荐指数：★★★★☆

专辑介绍：2009年终回顾精选合辑-史诗维金系列已经发布，点击查看。Mistur是一支2003年成立的挪威维京黑金属团。2005年一张Demo《Skoddefjellet》横空出世，好评如潮。又于08年随著名制作人Thorbjorn Akkerhaugen（曾担任Emperor、Zyklon 、Windir唱片制作人）录制新砖《Attende》，已在近日发布，效果出奇的令人满意。专辑共7首歌，一气呵成，毫不拖泥带水。值得一提的是，乐队主音吉他手Stian Bakketeig 也是Windir前吉他手，因此不少riif、solo多多少少有着Windir的影子，不同的是，Mistur更加注重交响元素，大大增加了氛围和史诗味道。此外，最令人难忘的便是乐队对钢琴出色的运用。本来因为钢琴自身的特殊性而在维京及黑金属中是极其少见的，然而在Mistur的恢弘战歌中，温文尔雅的钢琴却一点也不显得突兀、多余，反而因表现方式的多彩多样而让整张专辑更加炫目，比如《Svartsyn》中钢琴搭配女声吟唱，又或者《Skoddefjellet》开篇与管弦的交相辉映，《Attende》开篇的solo等等，都令人印象极其深刻。不得不佩服Mistur，将残暴、沉郁、壮丽平衡得如此完美。最后，不得不提下封面设计——Kris Verwimp，大名鼎鼎的比利时黑暗大师，长年享誉极端金属界，黑死类专辑artwork专业户，与之合作过的乐队个个如雷贯耳，如Marduk、Enthroned、Immortal、Enslaved、Absu、Thyrfing、Morbid、Ancient Rites、Nevermore、Moonsorrow、Old Man’s Child、Arch Enemy等等。对于他的作品，还是引用他自己的话最合适——并不细致入微，但是具有震撼人心的效果，朴素而有气魄。

乐队名称：The American Dollar
提供专辑：2010 Atlas
音乐风格：后摇/氛围/实验
所在国籍：美国
推荐指数：★★★★☆

专辑介绍：The American Dollar至2006年发行第一张专辑以来，便以每年一张新作的高产速度让我们应接不暇着，到今年已经整整发行了五张作品了。他们似乎从来都是不安于循规蹈矩的，每一张作品的风格几乎都在转变，而每次听他们的新作都会有一种不一样的体验，事实这也让我对他们的音乐越来越捉摸不清了。不过令人欣慰的是，在继上一张纯氛围化的数字唱片《Ambient One》之后，The American Dollar在这张新作中终于算是来了一次小小的回归，带着一张融合着动听器乐旋律和温暖氛围的迷人作品回到了我们面前。于是，我们终于又能听到有如《The Technicolour Sleep》里的那种久违的声音了。不过可惜的是，当初那种惊艳和明媚的感觉却已经很难再寻找到了。哎，真是令人无限怀念。”The imagery is heavy, and were this a film score, it would be the one for human nature. The song-to-song transitions and sweeping crescendos are often that grab listeners by the heartstrings to draw them in towards complete bliss – the album begins with the two part tracks “The Slow Wait,” and its effects are just that. Riddled with sadness and joy, there are points of light that poke through very dark undertones as you pass from tracks 1 through 11. With guitar stylings comparable to Bloc Party, the organ influence of Pink Floyd carries the album across. “The Slow Wait Part 2” is breath-taking, but like the debut albums from Interpol or Sigur Ros, the songs create a cohesion when heard from front to back. Long drives, late nights, and many other moments that are affected by the music that accompanies them, The American Dollar is a necessity to one’s personal soundtrack.”

乐队名称：Arthemesia
提供专辑：2009 a.O.a
音乐风格：旋律黑金属
所在国籍：芬兰
推荐指数：★★★★☆

专辑介绍：Arthemesia是来自芬兰的一支全明星阵容的旋律黑金属乐团，成立时间已近十五年之久，不过迄今为止仅发行了两张正式作品。乐团2001年的第一张专辑《Devs Iratvs》是旋律黑金属经典之作，而这张新专《a.O.a》在口碑和质量上似乎都要稍显得逊色一些。为什么称Arthemesia为一支全明星阵容乐团，相信大家看看乐团的成员名单便能明白了。这支乐团的主要成员其实只有三名，却有着众多客座乐手的参与，而不管是主要成员还是客座成员几乎都是重量级的，其中每个成员都参与着芬兰的一线大牌乐团计划：Cadacross, Ensiferum, Moonsorrow, October Falls，Korpiklaani,Wintersun,Swallow the Sun．这样一个超级组合到底能做到什么样的东西来，大家听听便知道了。And so the accumulation of records that could be categorised under ‘interesting’ continues. Another band of which I previously did not even know the name, “a.O.a.” is the second release by the Finn’s Arthemesia. As is the norm, the constituents of this part black metal, part ambient and part pagan/viking project exhibit an incestuous relationship with other bands from the country – you’ll find members of Ensiferum, Moonsorrow and even Lordi here, and that’s just in the current band members. Though not evident in the words you’ll actually hear or understand in listening to “a.O.a.”, the topics of shamanism, magic(k) and occultism have had a baring on the music as in songs like the title track and “Patheme” spirited leads counteract against atmospheric keyboard sounds and a variety of different vocal styles to create an album much deeper than most bland BM affairs.

乐队名称：Nahemah
提供专辑：2009 A New Constellation
音乐风格：前卫旋死
所在国籍：西班牙
推荐指数：★★★★★

专辑介绍：Nahemah这支前卫旋死乐团09年的新专是让我印象极其深刻的一张，他们在大多数同类旋死乐团中显得非常不局一格，作品的编排融合了大量氛围化的迷幻色彩，时而歇厮底里时而浪漫飘逸的独特气质非常让人沉迷。这种前卫型乐团一直是我极其欣赏和乐意推荐的类型，希望也能合乎大家的口味。注：2009年终回顾精选合辑-旋死系列二已经发布，点击查看完整信息及下载地址。Increase the ambient and post rock influences in Opeth, reduce the aggression, shorten track lengths, and this is what you get. The delicate use of guitars, the clean vocals following and hiding behind the dominating growls, the beautiful use of keyboards, the extremely matured and polished production which adds grace to the already magnificent instrumental arrangements, and an equal amount of professionalism shown with the drums; there are a lot of things about this band that need praise and attention. Unlike Farmakon, who shamelessly rip off Opeth’s music, these guys just use the formula created by them but write their own music and give it enough touches of originality and flavour to stun a first time listener.The band manages to keep the listener’s interest throughout by constantly delivering fresh melodic tunes. Each song is different and has something completely new to offer.

乐队名称：Fimbulvet
提供专辑：2008 Album / 2009 EP
音乐风格：异教黑/史诗黑
所在国籍：德国
推荐指数：★★★★★

专辑介绍：Fimbulvet是来自德国的一支Pagan Black Metal乐团，成立四五年间已发行过两张正式专辑和若干EP和DEMO作品，喜欢上他们是从前段时间听到他们09年的这张EP作品《Kriegerwahn》开始的，流畅动听的旋律加上连贯的编排以及十足的史诗味道很值得细细回味。同时附上的还有乐团08年的正式专辑《Der Ruf in Goldene Hallen》，制作上虽然显得粗糙了一些，但也非常值得一听。Die Thüringer von Fimbulvet krebsen bereits seit geraumer Zeit durch den nationalen Underground, konnten sich zuletzt mit “Der Ruf in Goldene Hallen” auch überzeugend behaupten, sind aber anderthalb Jahre nach dem kleinen Erfolg des pr?chtigen Full-Length-Werkes immer noch auf der Suche nach dem endgültigen Bandsound. Dieser Umstand macht sich auf der neuen EP “Kriegerwahn” nun erneut bemerkbar, da Fimbulvet die ersuchte Homogenit?t zwanghaft erobern wollen, dafür aber noch in zu vielen Bereichen ackern.Dabei f?ngt das fünfteilige Mini-Konzept noch sehr euphorisch an: ‘Drakkarmannen’ steigt mit akustischem Intro und schleppender Hymnik ein und zeigt gerade im wechselnden Gesang eine Qualit?t, die sp?ter noch zum diskussionswürdigen Thema avanciert. Denn grunds?tzlich gilt für diese Platte: Je roher und aggressiver Musik und vor allem die Vocals sind, desto erhabener ist auch die Wirkung der Songs.

乐队名称：In Mourning
提供专辑：2008 Shrouded Divine
音乐风格：旋死/厄运金属
所在国籍：瑞典
推荐指数：★★★★★

专辑介绍：应朋友要求补充推荐瑞典前卫旋死乐团In Mourning的首张专辑，2008年度口碑极佳的旋死大作《Shrouded Divine》。This is a debut album!? What the fuck? It is probably the first time I have ever heard a debut album that sounded this great. The production even surprised me because of how good it was. It is hard to describe what genre this album is. I guess you can sort of say progressive/death metal but it is a mixture of so many things so I can’t just call them progressive/death. This may take a while to really get into, but once you get into it you’ll realize the beauty of this piece of art. At first, there is a slight chance you may think that ‘Shrouded Divine’ sounds too similar to Opeth albums but then again, once you listen to it very carefully you’ll notice that it is something totally original even though the Opeth influences are obvious enough at times. There are plenty of Opeth clones out there, surely these guys are just another one, right? Wrong. Sure, the vocalist sounds a hell of a lot like Akerfeldt, and sure, there is a huge progressive rock influence in their otherwise melodic death metal sound, but these guys are another breed of the progressive death metal style that you might be used to.

乐队名称：John Garrison
提供专辑：2009 Departures
音乐风格：独立摇滚
所在国籍：英国
推荐指数：★★★★☆

专辑介绍：来自英伦摇滚乐团Budapest主唱John Garrison的个人专辑，这也是其前往美国发展之后发行的第二张正式作品。在这张专辑中，John Garrison完成了80%专辑中的乐器演奏，再次标杆了其出色的创作才能。深情忧伤英伦般的唱腔依然未变，John Garrison在这张专辑也融入了更多真实的生活感情和感受。注：2009年终回顾精选合辑-独立摇滚系列已经发布，点击查看完整信息及下载地址。The album title itself, “Departures,” is drawn from John Garrison’s personal experience as he leaves the musical comfort zone of London, and sets off on a personal journey to the big New York City. As with any artist who would venture out to a strange land to write and record an album, a lot of these songs (If not all) come fuelled with emotion and musical brilliance as Garrison himself seems to grow and experiment as a writer and artist.”Departures” is something of a musical diary of Garrison’s journey to the States, documented in a musical form. Tracks like ‘I Leave on Friday’ and ‘Lets Run’ stress the impact this personal adventure has made on his musical growth. This album is a great example of the acoustic based genre as a whole, offering soft and chilling compositions. John Garrisons mature approach to music is nothing short of impressive.

乐队名称：In Mourning
提供专辑：2010 Monolith
音乐风格：前卫旋死/厄运
所在国籍：瑞典
推荐指数：★★★★☆

专辑介绍：在2010年伊始，来自于瑞典的前卫旋死团In Mourning便带来了他们的第二张正式作品。乐团08年的首张专辑《Shrouded Divine》在MA上得到了超高的好评率，而这张新专辑依然保持着高水准和高质量，延续着第一张作品带来的精彩。这次乐团早期走的是歌特厄运金属的路线，后期才转型为一支旋死乐团。然而转型后的他们并没有步入主流旋死乐团的行列，细听下他们作品便能发现比一般主流旋死作品的创作手法要丰富许多，其中最有特色的便是融合着大量的厄运成份，为作品增添了一股非常沉重的阴郁和压抑之感。In Mourning’s Shrouded Divine comes as a shock for a few reasons: it’s a breath of fresh air, it’s an incredible, unique listen that doesn’t get old no matter how many times you play it, and it’s all that while being a debut. What we have here isn’t just another upstarting Opeth clone – indeed, In Mourning are far from it. While there’s definitely certain similarities, In Mourning carve a name for themselves in the Progressive Metal scene with this stunning and spectacular debut. The first thing noticed upon listening to Shrouded Divine, is that nothing else sounds quite like them. Sure, plenty of bands mix melody with doom/death riffs, but not in the same sense and style as In Mourning. The riffs themselves are often simple, but are utilized in such a way to make it seem not the case, and is done so brilliantly. They are never boring, nor generic sounding, and will more often than not become immediately stuck in your head after the first listen.

乐队名称：The Church
提供专辑：2002 After Everything Now This
音乐风格：独立摇滚
所在国籍：澳大利亚
推荐指数：★★★★★

专辑介绍：The Church乐队1980年成立于澳大利亚，核心人物是Steve Killey，Martin Willson-Piper和Peter Koppes。他们的第二支单曲“Unguarded moment(一不小心)”（出自首张专辑Of skin and heart）的发表,使他们浮出水面；而第六张专辑Starfish(海星)更使得他们获得世界性的成功，仅在美国的销量就逾百万。单曲“Under milky way(银河下)”占据美国牌行榜第30位。从此他们的演出总是座无虚席，在世界各地均获良好声誉。The Church独具特色，主唱Steve Killey的声音同他写的歌词一样具有梦幻色彩，Martin Willson-Piper和Peter Koppes的吉他交相辉映，乐队一度被歪曲地贴上音乐毒品的标签，但这正从另一方面说明了他们的声音和处理手法的多样性及带给听众强烈感受。这张2002年的专辑既有古典音乐的因素，又有现代音乐的自觉，是乐队历时3年穿越几大洲后，激情喷薄的伟大之作，极具个性。动听的bass，温暖的旋律，没有哗众取宠，也没有矫揉造作，有的只是温柔乐曲下的深厚实力。Few rock bands have adored and explored the orchestral vocabulary and singing ring of the electric guitar with the commitment and distinguished touch of the Church. For founding members singer-bassist Steve Kilbey and guitarists Peter Koppes and Marty Willson-Piper, the art of jangle has been a life’s work: After Everything Now This is the Australian group’s twelfth studio album since 1981 and true to precedent in its rippling gleam.