Incarrion - Into the Exposed Abyss

Worthy tech death because it's deliberately abstract and weird. Yes, it obviously follows the mold of late Gorguts, but manages to be superior by dropping the navel-gazing conservatory aspects of "Obscura" in favor of a sort of Malignancy-style dementedness. It's tempered by its substantial atmosphere, which is sort of ominously grim and Lovecraftian; it's like diving into the Marianas Trench on acid and feeling the breathing of something enormous below you. Highly recommended.

The bassist was also nice enough to email me about a review I did for this EP. Give this a DL and check out what might have been.

http://www.mediafire.com/?aqqji1xbvrnl7s4

Midwynter - Four Seasons of Frost

Fairly technical, very melodic, slightly folky, lightly orchestral black metal from Colorado. The sort of thing that viciously demands your attention to fully appreciate it. Shifting textures, brilliant introductions of new melodic motifs- it's advanced listening that can easily be shrugged off if not given the necessary time. Very worthwhile. If anyone knows where I can find a copy of this band's self-released full-length, let me know- it seems lost to time.

http://www.mediafire.com/?3uydlje562bvrei