We’re six months in and this is the best we heard so far. In random order that is.

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Kull – Exile
Basically the return of Bal-Sagoth with another vocalist, this is a glorious return to form for the Maudling brothers (RP – SftDS review).
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Damien Jurado – In the Shape of a Storm
An acoustic guitar and a voice. It seems simple enough. With it, Jurado creates an almost perfect harmonic yet sober tension. Amazing listen (WRM – SftDS review).
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Cellar Darling – The Spell
Cellar Darling’s sophomore effort is a wonderfully intricate concept album that is both easily accessible and remarkably deep (RP – SftDS review).
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The Brian Jonestown Massacre – The Brian Jonestown Massacre
BJM’s eighteenth psychedelic rock album turns out to be a grower. Maybe, just maybe it’s still on our list at the end of the year (WRM – SftDS review).
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Mägo de Oz – Ira Dei
Ira Dei brings you two discs full of Spanish folk metal where one might have sufficed, but who are we to complain about when the music is this good (RP – SftDS review)?
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Pedro The Lion – Phoenix
Just a compelling story about a depressed lion called Pedro who finally sees his own flaws in life and rises up like a phoenix. *ROAR* (WRM – SftDS review).
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Rotting Christ – The Heretics
If you can listen past all the rhyming of fire to desire and vice versa, The Heretics is a good yet predictable record for the legendary Greeks (RP – SftDS review).
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Motorpsycho – The Crucible
The Crucible is Motorpsycho’s statement telling us that they will keep on pushing forward the standards they set for themselves thirty years ago (WRM – SftDS review).
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Ancient Bards – Origine – The Black Crystal Sword Saga Part 2
Properly symphonic power metal cheddar from Italy, just the way we like it. With a bigger and more bombastic sound, the cheese is strong in this one (RP – SftDS review).
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Bill Callahan – Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest
Bill Callahan not only made a circle when he got married, his son was born and mother died but also made one with this record and gave it to us (WRM – SftDS review).
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Take care,
Wander Meulemans & Ralph Plug – 270619

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