Thε Cαrs - Hεαrtbεαt City (1984)

The only album by these guys I don't despise or feel indifferent towards, which should tell you quite a bit right there. Love how over-the-fuckin'-top the production sounds too: I could eat my crumbly yet delicious chocolate chewies off it and probably not leave a trace.

You can't go on thinking nothing's wrong, so swipe this up and dust off your disco pants.

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Bαthoяy - S/T (1984)

Although unable to break completely away from its crust punk meets thrash heritage (a conundrum shared by such bands as Venom and Hellhammer), this classic first wave black metal debut was a scum-soaked revelation upon its release and still sounds class today. Hail!!

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Cαmεl - Brεαthlεss (1978)

Psychedelic dalliances, jazzy chops and a left-turn pop sensibility come together brilliantly on this late-to-the-party slice of progressive rock, and in its brightest moments it matches this band's earlier classics in the genre peak-for-peak and pound for pound.

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Mαнαvisнnu Orchεstrα - Apocαlypsε (1974)

Unfairly lambasted in its own time and overshadowed in popular consciousness by MO's previous two masterpieces (The Inner Mounting Flame and Birds Of Fire respectively), Apocalypse witnessed a completely new lineup (Jean-Luc Ponty on violin!!!!!) behind guitarist John McLaughlin executing a strange, yet beautiful mixture of classical orchestration into this band's signature hellfire brand of jazz fusion.

Falling into a more atmospheric subtext of the then-gathering-speed of Third Stream groups, this was indeed a true classic of the 70's. People just didn't realize it until that decade was gathering dust in Father Time's old sock drawer.

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Thε Chαmεlεons - Script Of Thε Bridgε (1985)

Post-punk at its most droll, cynical and, against all expectations, pure. Perhaps a tad haunting too - these songs creep down from the sky like a long-limbed cloud.

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Clαzziquαi - Coloя Youя Soul (2005)

While your weeaboo friends might be obsessed with J-Pop and some of Asia's more mainstream exports, I doubt they're familiar with this dreamy little Korean pet project, contemporary jazz-coast pop with hip-hop touches courtesy of duo Clazziquai.

Too smooth and dynamic for your local supermarket and too legitimate and well executed to be appreciated by the Pitchfork hipsters, I think the best of you might reap some real reward from this series of serenade.

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Iroи Sαvior - Battεring Rαm (2004)

Being a great thrashy-speed metal band is a bloody, vicious business: you need power, the riffs, the acceleration of a creative mind and hand, and a knack for performance that goes beyond what is expected.

Iron Savior are one of those bands ladies and gents, and this is one of their best records in an entire discography of unbridled balls-to-the-wall excellence.

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