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I came late to the "party", when it came to knowing that one of my favorite bands had disbanded, for a second time(or the first, if you count the other one as a hiatus): Lunar Aurora.
After their critically acclaimed album, "Andacht" was released, the band had parted ways as well, so I figured anyone meant their "pause" while they were actually talking of a recent split-up.
One of the most magnificent gems of the German Black Metal-scene have closed the curtains.
But while it saddens me beyond measure, they have left a very impressive legacy that most atmospheric black metal acts would be jealous of; from the blistering riffing of Mond, the malevolent rollercoaster called Of Stargates and Bloodstained Spheres, the unstoppable beast they named Andacht and the mythical, ravenous atmosphere of Hoagascht(their farewell gesture, and my personal favorite for 2012, which will not likely be put from its "number one socket"), these legendary musicians have never failed to deliver.
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07.09.2012 - Trist ~ Sebevražední Andělé

Hoagascht by Lunar Aurora.

From the foreboding preludium called Im Gartn, unusual structure of Nachteule, the striking ambiance of Sterna and Beagliachda, robust sound of Habergoass, sheer power of Wedaleichtn, epic atmosphere of Geisterwoid, all the way to the final, transcendental tones of Reng, we are carried away through the otherwordly experience this magnificent, brand new album has to offer.

Definitely no need to say anything else, let the music do what it does best: tell a story. A good one.


Lunar Aurora, Trist, Paysage d'Hiver, Darkspace, Vinterriket

Music often channels the mental imagery and the listener's feelings are registered there accordingly. This is no different for the sub-sub-genre known as depressive Black Metal or DBM / DSBM for short, as the lyrics sometimes provoke gruesome images of rotting cadavers and desolate, abandoned places. The musicians, and more so the lyricist, has an even ambitious task of formulating music to make their message relevant within their select medium. Now this is a difficult task for DBM as any moderate success will be scrutinized, and their fans ridiculed, largely by a gang of total idiots posing as Internet warriors. One only has to read a Metal blog, or look around last.fm to see this childish behavior.

Now let's look at some great lyrics by the band Nocturnal Depression who achieve the effect of painting a picture in the mind's eye:

Some dead children with burnt skins
Are playing under a dead snow, wearing gas-masks
A heavy and suffocating atmosphere
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My 2012 Ratings for the albuns i've listened.

Please note that this ratings are based in my personal feelings and tastes, it's only my opinion.


http://gbimg.org/p.php?q=x8XVh Excellent / AOTY


Amberian Dawn - Circus Black (Gothic / Symphonic Metal)
Crimson Cult - Tales of Doom (Epic Heavy Metal / Power Metal)
Epica - Requiem for the Indifferent (Gothic / Symphonic Metal)
Make a Change... Kill Yourself - Fri (Depressive Black Metal)
Ne Obliviscaris - Portal Of I (Progressive / Avant-garde / Black Metal)
Sigh - In Somniphobia (Avant-garde Black Metal)
Therion - Les Fleurs Du Mal (Gothic / Symphonic Metal)
Xandria - Neverworld's End (Gothic / Symphonic Metal)


http://gbimg.org/p.php?q=TeDh8 Very Good


Aeon - Aeons Black (Death Metal)
Anaal Nathrakh - Vanitas (Black Metal / Grindcore)
Antestor - Omen (Black Metal)
As I Lay Dying - Awakened (Melodic Metalcore)
Asphyx - Deathhammer (Death Metal)
Barren Earth - The Devils Resolve (Progressive Melodic Death Metal)
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Just a list of Instrumental BM that I have.



While Sad Spirits Around Me Stroll
Skogyr
Rigid Horns
Poète Maudit
Aras
Trist (Ger) - Hin
Orrery - Nine Odes to Oblivion
De Mysteriium - Cold Days In Experience
Back In Black (Chn) - Back In Black
Blutklinge - Reflection of a Bleak Mind
Winter Depression (Ukr) - Твої Стомлені Очі

Haven't heard yet..:


Thorns - 1989-91 Rehearsals: The Trøndertun Tape / Grymyrk

Recommendations are most appreciated.

★★★★★- Perfection, all-time classic
★★★★½- Excellence, recommended to anyone
★★★★- Great, recommended to most
★★★½- Very good, enjoyable despite lacking outstanding qualities.
★★★- Decent, recommended to fans
★★½- Average, indifference
★★- Poor, recommended only to hardcore fans
★½- Bad, avoid
★- Terrible, please don't waste your time
½- An abomination to the ear

1349- Revelations of the Black Flame (black metal/dark ambient, ★★)

A Storm of Light / Nadja- Primitive North (atmospheric sludge/drone doom metal, ★★★/★★★½)
Abigail- Sweet Baby Metal Slut (black/thrash metal, ★★½)
Absu- Absu (black/thrash metal, ★★★½)
Achokarlos- Forget All You Know (progressive/technical death metal, ★★★
ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE & THE MELTING PARAISO U.F.O- Lord of the Underground: Vishnu and the Magic Elixir (psychedelic rock, ★★★½)
Adrenicide- Kill (crossover thrash, ★★★/★★★½)
Ahab- The Divinity of Oceans (funeral doom metal, ★★★½/★★★★)
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It has been almost two years since I wrote the first issue of Oneiroscopy. Since then I've always meant to write more, but other things happened, as they generally do. In that time I've unearthed new wonders and rediscovered old ones, and it's probably fair to say I have a backlog of pieces I'd like to feature here. For now, here are two, and also a quiet resolution to write more in the near future.

Jakob - Solace

Sometimes, albeit rarely, I find something that blows me away at the first listen. When I come across new music I'll put it on, generally while I'm doing something else, and then after a couple of repeats I'll start to recognise the motifs and patterns which resonate with me. But every once in a while I'll find something so good that during that first listen it filters through everything else, and makes me close my eyes and lose myself in the moment. I feel refreshed, like I'm hearing music for the first time and discovering all the stirrings it creates in me.

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