What the hell is Post Metal?

Excerpt from Wikipedia:

Post-metal is a music genre, a mixture between the genres of post-rock and heavy metal, with roots in progressive rock, progressive metal, shoegazing, and industrial music. It is broadly characterized by distorted guitar, heavy atmospherics, gradual evolution of song structure, and a minimal emphasis on vocals.

Hydra Head Records owner and Isis frontman Aaron Turner originally termed the genre "thinking man's metal", demonstrating the link with Avant-garde metal, by trying to move away from common metal conventions[1]. "Post-metal" is the favored name for a growing genre, one also referred to as "instro-metal",[2] "postcore", art metal,[1] metal-gaze,[3] and a great range of others.

The term "post-metal" was earlier used in the UK to describe another emergent genre of metal, at which time the genre now known as "post-metal" was referred to by various other names, most commonly "industrial soundscape music" and "soundscape metal". The term largely fell out of use with the rise of what was known as "post-metal" in the US, effectively seconding the term from the British bands.

Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_metal  (No, seriously, read the damn article.)

What's with the Progressive/Experimental/Sludge thing about?
Well, some people debate the very existence of Post Metal, and most Post Metal bands have been called one of these other genres at some point.

And the "FuckGenres" part?
I got annoyed trying to decide what to call the topic, because metal sub-genres are a pain in the ass. Oh, and the work "fuck" seems to get peoples attention. Yes, I'm an attention whore (Not exactly, but seriously, screw it).

So. . . what's this topic for?
This topic is for the discussion of what I like to call "good metal". In other words, this is a topic where I want people to talk about Post Metal or other odd, unheard-of sub-genres of metal. I, personally, don't like most traditional metal, and so I thought it would be fun to see if anybody else likes the same weird stuff I like, and maybe teach some of you to like, or at least appreciate, these unheard of (for the most part) band.


Ok, with that crap out of the way, here's a list of my favorite post metal band, with links to videos and to places where you can hear their music:

Isis - http://www.myspace.com/sgnl05
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWjhxnVcmgg - Holy Tears Music Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x7Ez7yCyA8&feature=related - Grinning Mouths (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EricOG-K2ZQ&feature=related - In Fiction (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPARHytjz84 - From Sinking (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gYmOGCdw9k&feature=related - The Beginning and the End (Live)

Cult of Luna - http://www.myspace.com/cultofluna
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TulnmeaObio&feature=related - Following Betalus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PZX7seCJ9o&feature=related - Curse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk5G6ZgoXc8&feature=related - Eternal Kingdom (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOKZ6AOZjQE&feature=related - Owlwoon (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsUDZcHc4oE - Finland (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3Tz_KUqp1g&feature=related - Echos (Live)

The Ocean - http://www.myspace.com/theoceancollective
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q45ZuNJdUWI&feature=related - Stenian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWNHkTk2YFA&feature=related - Orosirian (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYyGhXTAmbs - Queen of the Food Chain (Live)

Russian Circles - http://www.myspace.com/russiancircles
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzYW1pY3hFA&feature=related - Carpe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2-hJtJrXxc - Death Rides a Horse (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gBPTK59YTE&feature=related - Micah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmOR1I2Q-OI - Harper Lewis (Live)

Rosetta - http://www.myspace.com/rosetta
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKcr9VUTdJw&feature=related - Lift Part 1 (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afD_s1p2BMo&feature=related - Lift Part 3 (Part 2 is all ambiance, and I couldn't find it)

Red Sparowes - http://www.myspace.com/redsparowes
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IaKN3fSLcA - Interview/Live Performances thing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diMHtsrBiR0 - Alone and Unaware (Live)

Mouth of the Architect - http://www.myspace.com/mouthofthearchitect
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbzRVa3Ey28 - Quietly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l7bm_Uw2sI&feature=related - Rocking Chairs and Shotguns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2_6hM84scE - At Arms Length (Live)

Pelican - http://www.myspace.com/pelican
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUgOzLbPG1w&feature=related - City of Echoes (Live)

I like members who are new to me and the music forum in general but put alot of effort into their topics. Even though there is already a topic on Metal in this forum I might just merge the two.

I don't really think post-metal is a real genre (or even a sub-genre) but it kinda gets the point across I suppose.

Anyway all these bands are p.nice except Russian Circles. They are very, very average imo. Mouth of the Architect are decent but overrated and I don't dig Red Sparowes nearly as much as I used to. But The Ocean and ISIS in particular are really good. Sludge rocks.

Anyway I'll probably contribute more later since this topic is about metal other than boring thrash/NWOBHM/etc. :_)

shels is sick

im the shelsmaster and you know it

speaking of shels their new album was supposed to come out in april or something and there hasn't been any info on it

I'm still waiting on Ephel Duath's new album

Dude yeah, new Ephel Duath is taking forever.

The Painter's Palette is and will always remain as one of the best metal albums ever.

Dude yeah, new Ephel Duath is taking forever.

The Painter's Palette is and will always remain as one of the best metal albums ever.

yes yes yes
I wonder how this one is gonna sound now that theres only 3 members left.
woops
Derail

I've been meaning to check out rosetta for a while now, so far it sounds pretty ok.

Rosetta is an amazing band. Particularly their "new" album, Wake/Lift. Be sure to check that one out, it's one of my all time favorite albums. Like, ever.

Also, my band is playing with Rosetta (!) come April, down here in Salt Lake City. So, yeah

Yeah, Sunn O)))) is drone metal. It does, however, have ties to Post metal. A lot of post bands use lots of elements of drone (really distorted guitar, lots of feedback, textural undertones) in their music (I know my band does, as do most of the band I posted).

http://www.myspace.com/ephelduath

There's a new song 'Guardian' up there. They are saying they will put another song up soon. And the new album comes out on January 26th so it's not coming out this year.

Not sure what I think about Guardian yet to be honest! It's different. Would be cool if they got another clean vocalist like they had on The Painter's Palette though.

btw whoever wants good drone check out nadja

Guardian sounds different for sure. The vocals seems odd, man now I don't know what to think of the new album. The lead guitar part was pretty cool but other else then that, nothing is really getting my attention. Fuck I hope this album doesn't become a disappointment.

I'm pretty shocked to see that Neurosis hasn't been mentioned as they're pretty much the founders of "post-metal".

I should go on to say that you should check out the Neurot recording label and artists associated with it. There is some great stuff like the two projects Julie Christmas is associated with, Made Out of Babies and Battle of Mice. Both of those bands share members with both Neurosis and Red Sparowes.