Oskoreien "s/t"

Oskoreien
s/t
Seventh Seal Records
(5)

This is probably one of the better tapes I have received in awhile. Really beautiful and dark black metal from California. With it's neofolk moments and it's intensely mournful chord progressions I would say this stands up there with the latest Agalloch record but with a hint of Godspeed You Black Emperor in it's crushingly sad guitar crescendos. Really excellent stuff here. I have said it before but I love when someone takes the format of cassette serious and releases some really excellent work. Oskoreien is the work of Jay M. Valena and it appears that he did everything on this record. He is obviously one of those guys that drives you crazy with his ability to play every instrument and do it really well. He can even sing. When he decides to really sing instead of his brutal scream it's not even a little annoying. I am sure this will end up getting picked up by Southern Lord soon and be released on vinyl but for the time being I would really recommend grabbing this. There is a deluxe version of the cassette that comes with a tshirt, a photo print and a download along with the cassette. Go get it. Seriously.