Peace, love and death metal

This is just something I’ve had in my draft posts for about a month and a half (I hope the links are still alive). I think it’s suitable to post this today as it is the shortest day of the year. Here it’s a bit more than just an hour of light, more like five hours of light, but still - it’s December 22nd and there’s hardly any snow anywhere. I call that darkness. Hyvää joulua, siis.

One Starving Day
1: “Black Star Aeon” mp3
Absinthe (Provisoire)
2: “Love Song For A Dutch Bitch” (edit) mp3
Transmission0
3: “Journey” mp3
Giant
4: “Calvin” mp3
Omega Massif
5: “Unter Null” mp3
And Machine Said… Behold
6: “At The Hands Of Loss” mp3
Mouth Of The Architect
7: “At Arm’s Lenght” mp3
Icos
8: “In Repose” mp3
Kenoma
9: “1913″ mp3

Last year I spent huge time for posting my top 25 records of 2005, now I’ll keep it short. Not that this year was any different if comparing quality, maybe 2006 was even better. At least it feels like that now, just ask me again at this time next year. Anyway, here’s my top 10 for 2006:

1. Stamina - Uudet kymmenen käskyä
- They made the best record of 2005. After this sophomore release, I’ve felt no need to get back to their debut. This is just so good. Brilliant.

2. PMMP - Leskiäidin tyttäret
- This might just riding with the hype. Anyway, I’ve always respected energy in the music that is supposed to be energetic.

3. Slayer - Christ Illusion
- A lovely return. Usually I fell asleep while listening to music; this was kind of album that made me get up in the middle of the night for one or two more listenings.

4. Plain Fade - Aure
5. Giraffe - Giraffe
- And these were the albums I loved to fell asleep with.

6. Cult Of Luna - Somewhere Along The Highway
7. Raised Fist - Sound of the Republic
8. C.Aarmé - Vita
9. Callisto - Noir
10. Tony Naima & The Bitters - Dismember

Plain Fade - “Datura” mp3 

Plain Fade, a band responsible for the 4th or 5th best album of the year, give away their old demos for free downloading. Explore.

Especially the five-year old Peel Your Urge demo gives nice perspective to from where the band is coming. Oh well, not really, since the great Aure album is coming straight out of nothing, it’s so pure in its detailed audio bliss.

“Datura” was first time posted to this blog at October 20th 2004, which I feel is somehow cool. Although I wasn’t a Plain Fade pioneer even at the time.

Johnny Superhero - “The Morning I Slept In” mp3

Finnish readers who read Rumba magazine should know Johnny S. as they were interviewed in the demo band section (#22/06). They are indie rock old school (eeh?) with songs easy to love. If you’re at least a bit interested, they make it easy for you: Finally Nowhere album is available for free download - and if you feel like buying it, it’s just €5.

Sara Lunden - “The View” mp3

Swedes Please describes this as “noiry”. If that’s a real word, I agree.