Martriden - Encounter the Monolith (2010)^{Release ID: 11581}

A very good black/death metal hybrid with some excellent musicianship on display. Martriden's sound is based more on the black metal model with death metal riffs used within the black metal context & plenty of melodic content. The drumming is very interesting & well done & the vocals follow a typically aggressive black metal style. There is definitely a progressive metal influence which is especially obvious in the 10 minute instrumental epic "Death & Transfiguration" which closes the album. The production is very good & allows Martriden's complexities to flourish. This album should appeal to a wide cross-section of the metal community.