Most people would not categorize Germany's Neun Welten as a metal band... and they would be right. Still, Neun Welten has appealed to the heavy metal community since their inception in 2005. Perhaps best described as instrumental folk music for metal-heads, by metal-heads, Neun Welten, whilst keeping in tact metal sensibilities offers listeners a break from the day to day sensory overload we sometimes put ourselves through.  Their latest album, "Destrunken", is for the most part exactly what fans  have come to expect from the band, which is not at all a bad thing. If you are suffering from 'beingstuckinarutitis', overloaded with sub par, filler bands you can't tell apart- then Neun Welten is just what the doctor ordered. Similar artists: Kauan, Tenhi.

 I can finally scratch While Heaven Wept off my list of "bands to check out" today, thanks in part to the urging of a reader who I talk music with, and them slowly climbing to the top of said list. The album I started with was the one I heard most about, 2009's 'Vast Oceans Lachrymose'. Traditional and artfully packaged doom, 'Vast Oceans Lachrymose', took absolutely no getting used to and its listener friendly, approachable styling doesn't seek to alienate fans of the band and genre alike, but reenforce them. While Heaven Wept was the perfect "hump-day buster" for me, so I share. Press play to hear 'Vessel' the fourth track on 'Vast Oceans Lachrymose', available here for just $9! 

 Though I have neglected to write about this German black metal outfit, Nocte Obducta’s albums Naktar: Teil 1 and 2 have been getting regular spins from me for sometime now. As a band, Nocte Obducta took a somewhat experimental approach to black metal, focusing on melody and technicality in lieu of traditional minimalism.

Born as Desihra, Nocte Obducta released their first full-length album in 1999 and six more since then. Much of the lyrical content of the band is rooted in traditional German poetry, nature and to some extent depression. In 2006 the band announced their split but released an album in 2008, mostly containing previously recorded drums and guitars. Nocte Obucta has, without ideology or prejudice, revolutionized black-metal- solidifying it once again, as many of the greats have before, an indefinable art medium. 

Today feels like an Agolloch kind of day. Around here its gloomy and cold, fog is leaking out of the nearby canyon and I’m tired. I am sorry to see that the band cut more than four minuets off the original song for this video- but it still has a wonderful feel about it. There hasn’t been much news from Agalloch since their 2008 split with The End Records, though the band says they are working on a new album for 2010 and have posted two European tour dates on their myspace page.

I wanted to take a moment here and share a band I have been listening to a lot of lately, and also give you all a preview of how the ‘call-outs’ are going to look from now. The format change comes in light of some other huge changes on the way that you better keep your eye out for, but we can’t yet divulge. Anyway, Dawn of Tears hails from Spain and has quietly rocked the melo-death scene since 1999. They released their debut album, ‘Descent’ in 2007, followed by the EP ‘Dark Chamber Litanies’ in 2009. Smart lyrics, fast-paced songs, and an emphasis on 'melodic' make Dawn of Tears a worthy listen for fans of the genre. Both albums are available for FREE download on their website, here. Click play for a preview of ‘Cadent Beating’ from 2009’s  ‘Dark Chamber Litanies’.

Asunder From: Oakland, CA   Discography: ‘A Clarion Call’ (2004), ‘Works Will Come Undone’ (2006)   Asunder is a funeral doom metal band formed in 1998 and currently signed to Profound Lore. Asunder is:   Dino Sommese- drums/vocals Geoff Evans- guitars John Gossard- guitars/vocals Salvador Raya- bass   Sadly its been over three years since Asunder has put out an album, but those who have heard past works know, Asunder is unchallenged in the world of funeral doom as one of the best the genre has to offer. 2006’s ‘Works Will Come Undone’ is a formative decent into twisted down-tempo soundscapes that leaves the listener catching their breath and asking for more.   For fans of: Corrupted, Graves At Sea   Links: http://www.myspace.com/totheendofdays  

Aeternitas From: Australia   Discography: ‘Holocaust Of Reason’ EP (2009)   Aeternitas is a symphonic metal band formed in early 2008. In late 2009, the band released their debut EP ‘Holocaust Of Reason’ recorded at Studio Anders Debeerz. Aeternitas is:   Sam Phillips- vocals Nathan Riedel- guitars Mitch Ketter- guitars Jay Coulter- drums Phil- keyboards   Aeternitas took it home when we asked our last.fm group members what  their favorite album of 2009 was. As a fairly young band, Aeternitas, since their inception, wowed audiences and open-minded critics alike. While I can’t pinpoint what it is exactly makes ‘Holocaust Of Reason’ so special, other than that it is refreshing... I can tell you that its worth more than the quick brush-over it has been given for the most part. This year’s ‘Best of ‘09’ lists were no more than underground popularity contests that, despite their contradicting nature, were pined over too long and suspiciously  bands like Aeternitas were absent. Despite not having the backing of a multi-million dollar label, Aeteritas put out one of the best albums of ’09.   Links: http://www.myspace.com/aeternitasmetal

Shades of Dusk From: Canada   Discography: ‘Caress The Despair’ (2006), ‘Quiescence’ (2008)   Shades of Dusk is a technical death-metal band currently signed to Prodisk Records. The bands lyrics typically deal with real-life experience and philosophy.   Shades of Dusk is: Joffrey Chouinard- vocals Louis-Philippe Leroux- guitar Julien Rodrigue- bass Sebastien Pilon- drums   Shades of Dusk have been a sort of sleeper-hit machine since their inception in 2006. Passing under even our own radar until last week when they came recommended to me from a reader on last.fm, the band has already released two full lengths and shared the stage with some impressive names. Melodic, fast and absent of those pesky breakdowns, Shades of Dusk is a far cry from many of the ‘core-acts’ they get lumped together with. Deathscript tested, Deathscript approved.   For fans of: Archons, Light This City   Links:   http://www.myspace.com/shadesofdusk

Orpheus From: Australia   Discography: “So It Begins” EP (2009)   Originally meant to be a side project, Orpheus is a melodic death-metal band formed in 2008 by Chris (guitar/vox) and Joao (guitar/backing vox). They self-released their debut EP, “So It Begins” in 2009 and announced they expect to release a full-length in the fall of 2101. Orpheus is:   Chris- guitar/vocals Joao- guitar/backing vocals Sasha- keyboards Milky- bass/backing vocals Matt-drums   Orpheus is another “we told you so” band. They have had a pretty monumental year with the release of their EP “So It Begins”, picking up MESA, Jackson and Seymour Duncan endorsements, and securing a supporting slot on Amon Amarth’s Melbourne show. Orpheus will not be slowed down, and their dedication and hard work shows through in everything they accomplish. Worthy of much more attention than this short call-out, we will have an album review up shortly and more through out the month of December.  For fans of: Dark Tranquility, Be’lakor.   Links: www.myspace.com/orpheusmetaloz