Queen Elephantine - Scarab (2013)

I've always been extra-busy, and this year wasn't anything different, so, I'd like to apologize from all the bands who have sent me review requests, including Queen Elephantine, the fabulous space rockers, who, being unaware of the fact that I've been a fan of their music for quite a long time, sent me an email about a year ago. Their most recent album, "Scarab", is also a terribly underrated one, probably because the stoner scene is more interested in horseshit like Kvelertak. In any case, if you're into the ritualistic drone and psychedelia of Expo '70, Harvestman, Bong, and Ginnungagap or the minimalist music of La Monte Young, Charlemagne Palestine, Popol Vuh, and everything in between, you're gonna adore Queen Elephantine.

They've slowly moved away from the drone doom conventions, and "Scarab" marks the pinnacle of their deviations, where the songs don't tend to follow a groove but an idea, precisely what makes the record a great example of experimental rock/metal as well. Yet to me it seems that there're more walls of limits left to be broken, and I believe if they can accept the fact that there won't be any difference in the level of attention they'll get if they break those as well, they'll make one of the most perfect avant rockers of the decade.

Voivod - Target Earth (2013)

First let me explain that I totally loved "Infini", so I'm not going to babble how this record is a comeback or anything. Voivod's latest offering "Target Earth" is about some new blood in their sound. With their new guitarist Daniel Mongrain (of the Canadian technical death metal band Martyr) they've basically achieved a progressive wholeness, just like they did years ago in "Killing Technology". I also don't think comparing it with "Dimension Hatröss" would be proper, because it has a lot more to do with dissonant, proggy structures rather than just angular thrashy riffage. Running over 56 minutes, it's a great chunk of thrash goodness to start the year with, and yes, it does raise the expectations for any other thrash/prog metal release after it.

Brutal Truth - End Time (2011)

After 2009's "Evolution Through Revolution", which was their first album in nearly ten years, and the release of Kevin Sharp's hardcore punk sideproject, Primate's EP, "Draw Back A Stump", earlier this year; grindcore veterans Brutal Truth are back mightier than before with 23 new tracks, as a full-length named "End Time". The record starts off similar to "Need To Control", with 'Malice', a slow-burner akin to 'Collapse', set to prepare the listener for the mass of supersonic grind to come; while it ends with 'Control Room', a harsh noise improvisation reminiscing the hidden track off "Sounds Of The Animal Kingdom", 'Prey'. Produced and most importantly crafted in a chunkier, heavier way compared to the crisp, swollen sound heard on "Evolution Through Revolution", "End Time" sees Brutal Truth move toward a more polished sound, just like Cripple Bastards, Phobia, and Napalm Death. And as suggested by the title, the lyrics mostly deal with the Hegelian concept of history and the end of it.

Four Hour Fogger - Dollars For Red Books (1999)

From around 1993 to 1999; while Brann and Bill were playing in Lethargy, the other two mastodudes were busy in Four Hour Fogger -- a band whose music can best be described as O.L.D. meeting Scratch Acid, judging by the tunes on their only release, 1999's "Dollars For Red Books".

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