Sci-fi black metal rules. This has been established over the course of Servile Sect’s unimpeachable discography. Following up on their recent LP, Svrrender is a continuation of their astral journey into the buzzing void, once again released on the Handmade Birds label. There’s also a new split tape available from Sadness Saturn and Golden Raven, aka the two founding members of Servile Sect, equally essential and considerably more limited at only 100 copies. Both pre-orders are currently live at handmadebirds.com.

I’ve been sitting on this one for about two weeks now. Flipping the 12 minute tape over and over again in my deck, trying to come to terms with this insane two-person metal onslaught. Needless to say, the Undermine EP is a focused and aggressive battery on the senses, not for the weak of heart or those of a feeble constitution. DIY photocopied booklet, patch and pin make this pretty much one of the best tapes I have bought this year. Snake, bandolier and candles not included. Show support at humantrafficking.bigcartel.com.

Dethroned Emperor-Pollution Zones by HUMANTRAFFICKING

Dethroned Emperor-Population Control pt 2 by HUMANTRAFFICKING

I can’t think of many better ways to start this day then by listening to the stream of this new two-track EP from brunch haus superstar Nicolas Jaar. If you are as instantly enamored as we were upon first listening (and why wouldn’t you be?), you’ll be glad to know that you can pick this 10″ up from the folks at beta.forcedexposure.com.

NICOLAS JAAR / Don’t break my love EP by Clown & Sunset

We picked this up from Ajna Offensive not too long ago. Not really knowing what to expect at first, but this has since gotten many repeat spins. Second wave black metal done right, with plenty of occult rock vibes for good measure. Cut loud and clear at 45rpm and spread across four sides of vinyl for optimal fidelity. Winter time is black metal time: shop-hellsheadbangers.com.

If you’ve ever wanted anything from Immune, or just want some great music, be sure to hit up their Black Friday sale. They’re blowing out single LPs for $8, double LPs for $12, and CDs for $7. So much good stuff, seriously. Visit ImmuneRecordings.net.

Don’t know about you guys, but I’m starting to feel the frosts of winter here – and it’s making me think it might be time to file away all these drunken, sweaty death metal records and start listening to some good old grim and frost-bitten black metal. Blut Aus Nord is right in the middle of releasing a trilogy of LPs, and the second in the 777 series, The Desanctification, is nothing short of the excellence you’ve come to expect from this project. It’s not as scathing as Sect(s) but it is no less impressive. Epic, melodic and downright devilish. This trilogy promises to be a defining chapter in the Blut Aus Nord legacy. You can pick up a pre-order for the newest, as well as a copy of the previous installation, at ominous-domain.com.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The French label Radar Swarm has released a new split LP between Midwest drone hero Expo 70 and Altaïr Temple. Justin’s side was recorded at the same time as the Death Voyage sessions (the cassette version of which was released on Sweat Lodge Guru). You can order from the label at radar.swarm.free.fr or if you live in North American, pick up a copy direct from the man himself at exposeventy.com. Listen to Altaïr Temple’s side below.

New directions in sound from Geoff Mullen. In a scene filled with unconventional noise, Mr. Mullen always seems to be able to speak with a singular and unique voice, standing quite distinguished from the hordes of new-age synth revivalists and electric guitar droners. Don’t expect anything that you have heard before. This limited edition LP is available for $18 direct from relrecords.net.

Geoff Mullen – Accidental Guitars by rel records

Wow. $70 for a 3xLP is always a dubious proposition. It depends mostly upon how much you love said band and especially, said album. Luckily this is easily one of the best feel-good psych albums of our generation… but why the exorbitant price tag? Well, it is the Holidays. And also, this is imported all the way from Dungen’s homeland. And also, according to the label release – this is the only proper analogue pressing of this amazing album as all previous versions were created using a digital master. Well fuck me sideways. If you own the 2xLP version of this album, it does sound a bit “tinny” – I’d be interested to hear a side-by-side. This is limited to 1,000 pieces and also comes with the hard-to-find 12″ EP Tyst Minut. Spend your Holiday bonus at beta.forcedexposure.com or subliminalsounds.se.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Meanwhile, across the ocean, experimental bass music continues to bloom into strange, new percussive mutations. Pinch and Shackleton have dropped plenty of speaker rattling cuts on various 12″ platters, now they combine their tectonic force onto a killer 2xLP for Honest Jon’s. Peculiar dubs, my friends. Very peculiar. Pick up a copy at beta.forcedexposure.com.

The motorik pulse of the early electronic underground seems to be slowly creeping back onto the dirty floors and darkened rooms where it was born. Container sneaks straight banging techno back onto your turntable platter, right back where it belongs. These guys have a long ways to go to reach the levels of the old masters, but I won’t complain if things continue to shake out this way – there’s plenty of fantastic drone out there – bring back some beats. You can pick up this most recent edition from the Spectrum Spools label at experimedia.net. Already sold out at the source.

“Protrusion” by Container by spectrumspools

UPDATE: Some copies listed in the most recent distro update at hells-headbangers.com.

Vinyl pressing of this heavy and cryptic album from these Houston, Texas bonesplitters, which is unfortunately only available to order from Europe at this time. And that’s the only way you will get the die-hard version with sticker, poster and t-shirt. So look sharp, collectors. The entire pressing is limited to 500, so hopefully a few will crawl across the seas to North America to infest the turntable platters of a whole new continent. For now you can order from shop.obscure-abhorrence.com. Definitely one of the most desirable death metal albums from this fine year.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The only thing more exciting than a new Profound Lore release is when said release finally gets a vinyl pressing.We’ve been rocking out to the black magic vibes of these Salt Lake City occult practitioners since early Spring but this type of female-fronted rock music absolutely needs to be blasted on an analog sound system. Beautiful artwork, gatefold sleeve, two heavy vinyl platters – you need this in your collection right now. Limited clear vinyl is disappearing, only black will remain soon: subrosathings.bigcartel.com.

UPDATE: Clear vinyl still available from profoundlorerecords.com.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Blackest Rainbow has posted a new round of pre-orders. All of them are excellent, as usual. I am, of course, thrilled to see at least one Natural Snow Building’s related release – a new LP from Isengrind! But that shouldn’t overshadow excellent new experimental work from Ben Nash and a collaborative effort from Chris Forsyth and Koen Holtkamp (who also plays in Mountains). Top that all off with a new issue of the Menagerie ‘zine + LP and it’s truly an impressive, and wallet-draining, batch! Pre-order at blackest-rainbow.moonfruit.com or wring your hands anxiously like me, waiting for it to show up in some US distros.

Brad Rose’s Charlatan project is one of our favorite. Minimal and melodic electronic music just sounds so good on analog. Another winning edition from Aguirre records, who show no signs of slowing down – taking the tape scene zeitgeist into the world of vinyl. You can order from the label, aguirrerecords.com, or pre-order from experimedia.net in the US.