Seer: "Vol. III & IV: Cult of the Void"

Half great, half boring, all hard to determine

Seer is one of those bands that for all intents and purposes combines countless stylings together to form something unique. And true to this, Volumes III and IV are works that manage to sound completely new and incredibly well-known at the same time through just eight songs.

Obliveon: "From This Day Forward"

The forgotten classic, or just a cheap imitation?

Chances are that if you're into death metal you've probably heard (and perhaps even enjoyed) the mind boggling madness of Atheist's Unquestionable Presence, Nocturnus' The Key or Death's Spiritual Healing. All classics within the genre, all from that damned year 1990. But how about From This Day Forward by Canada's Obliveon?

Black Mountain: "IV"

The prominent Canadian band continues to experiment, but seem to have written their master thesis

With a few albums behind them, Black Mountain have never shyed away from blurring the already undefinable lines between drugged out indie rock and finicky stoner rock. Their latest effort, the fourth album IV, again shows that the group are constantly experimenting with their sound, while the half-psychedelic ramblings which is the core of their style remains largely the same.

The Souljazz Orchestra: "Resistance"

Warm tunes from the cold north

Afrobeat, as the style is so affectionately called, has really been gaining speed these last few years. Not only that, but the overall quality of the groups is also at an exceptionally high level. Having released a steady stream of retro keyboards and daring brass since 2005, The Souljazz Orchestra from Canada aren't exactly newcomers to the international afrobeat dancefloor. Their style revels in a luscious spread of genres rooted in jazz, Resistance being their latest majestic offering of engaging rhythms.

Neige et Noirceur: "Les Ténèbres modernes"

The ground trembles with every lumbering step from Neige et Noirceur

Neige et Noirceur is arguably among one of the better known Quebecois black metal bands, and is - of course - shrouded in a degree of mystery. The sole member, Zifond, has previously called himself Spiritus, but by now goes by the name Sion Daus. Since the creation of Neige et Noirceur in 2005, Zifond has conceived an abundance of releases losely tied together under the black metal category.

Forteresse: "Thèmes pour la rébellion"

News from Canada's prime metal export bodes well

It's time to dust off the accent button on your keyboard, the Canadian black metal scene is stirring once again! Athros, Moribond and company return with another dose of black metal from the northern hemisphere, fully five years since their last album.

From their debut in 2006 until the release of the critiqued fourth album Crépuscule d'Octobre in 2011, Forteresse had a long streak of releases coming out at regular intervals. But apart from a single track, Wendigo, on the 2014 split with three other Canadian black metal acts, the Québécois separatists have been laying suspiciously low.

Durvasag: "EP Promo 2012"

Canadian thrashers return with renewed effort

Though blackened Canadian thrashers Durvasag ultimately failed to impress with their 2011 demo, Pure Fucking Thrash!, their 2012 EP shows greater promise and a degree of growth within the band. Where the first demo was produced by lead singer Mark Arruda, the EP is instead produced by Mario Rafael, lending the two compositions a greater deal of personality.

Haiduk: "Spellbook"

Howling cyclone of riffs and melodies

One man bands have been shaping the black metal genre for years, prime examples being artists like Burzum or Arckanum. The basic concept is, by now, a mainstay within the genre. Cue Haiduk, a one-man project conceived and carried out by Luka Milojica, who has since 2009 been combining elements of black and death metal in a powerful mix, forged in the sub-zero melting pot of Canada.

Morgue of Saints: "Sleep/Death"

Lamentations of the downtrodden legions of doom

From the vast nature of Canada comes Morgue of Saints, a band created by Elliot C as an outlet for his own droning, ambient doom tendencies. The album in question, Sleep/Death, is a three track conceptual piece that slowly sways back and forth among a myriad of influences, currents and styles.

From minimalistic drones in the style of early Earth, to heavy ambient funerals, Sleep/Death has a little bit of everything in the spectrum of gloomy, downtrodden processions. Through droning, bass-heavy guitars and atmospheric moods, Morgue of Saints invokes several moments of experimenting noise and horrifically cinematic doom.

Wendess: "Nuée Noire"

Immersing themselves in the shadows cast by their predecessors the band emerges victorious

The branch of black metal that usually deals in plus ten minutes tracks, long stretches of highly distorted tremolo riffs, reverbed vocals and monotonous drumming is in some circles frowned upon as an "easy" modus operandi in terms of songwriting. Some bands make it work, and some don't.

Durvasag: "Pure Fucking Thrash!"

Tempers run high in the garage it seems

Thrash and black metal have gone hand in hand more or less since the beginning with Venom's "Black Metal" and Hellhammer's thrashy proto-black metal style. The Canadian band Durvasag follow up on this early trend with their first release, the 2011 demo "Pure Fucking Thrash!".

Ancient Obliteration: "A Menacing Reality"

Engaging thrashy death from space

One way to stand out is adding uncanny elements, foreign bodies that at first might not feel like they fit. There's always been a fair share of bands or groups with varying types of gimmicks that often serve as placeholders for actual talent or interesting songwriting. Ancient Obliteration, a metal quartet from Canada, is a band that can be said to completely disregard tradition and the conventions of heavy metal. With a handful of released under their belt they're out to prove that alien components aren't principally useless gimmicks.

Gatling: "Absolute"

Breezing over the heavy and light-hearted

Obviously not all bands are wholeheartedly metal or solely rock based. There are countless bands in the borderlands between the two, often mixing them to a point where metal or rock is completely indistinguishable from each other. The American group Gatling provides a good example of a mix between progressive rock elements mixed with modern heavy metal parts. Their 3-track EP "Absolute" brings to mind newer Katatonia albums although there's a more assertive presence of shoegazing passages.

Burning Caskets: "To Burn a False Prophet"

Giving Six Feet Under a run for their money

Death metal obviously has a lot of history, all things considered. You can find just about any fusion of death metal without much effort, and the death metal scene is probably one of the most active to this day. As such newcomers have a lot to prove, and standing out is tough in any genre.

Kon Hex: "Magnetic Sun"

Black hole mantras for patient initiates

Drone, the genre of the masters of patience. There's nothing like it to remind you of your cosmic insignificance in the grand scheme of things. If you're listening in, you had better be prepared for tracks longer than most people's attention span. To some it is ambient background music, to some an active journey, a hymn set to the rumbling of the universe.