Isis guitarist Aaron Turner (who also heads his own Hydra Head Records imprint) picks a bunch of tracks that are currently doing the business for him. As you'd probably expect, there's a bunch of metal but also an eclectic range of other stuff. His band play ATP's Melvins/Mike Patton-curated Nightmare Before Christmas event on December 5/6/7 at Butlin's, Minehead

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1. Aura Noir 'Gaping Grave Awaits'

   Anything that reeks of retro these days is generally rehashed garbage, but this a nice breath of foul air when it comes to revisiting and expanding on old school metal, black and otherwise. (YouTube)

2. Megadeth 'Tornado Of Souls'

   Speaking of old school metal, this one just gets better and better with age - this gem is buried in the middle of the second side and is a killer.

   
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3. Einsturzende Neubauten 'Kollaps'

   A beautiful blend of the harsh and the melodic, something I'm always a sucker for. The simplicity and primitive approach are transcended by creative will. A wonderful birthday present from my girlfriend... (YouTube)

4. The Wu-Tang Clan 'Unpredictable'

   A lot of fans and press shit on this album. While it may not be classic Wu-Tang through and through, it is still an amazing piece of work. Killing RZA production which never fails to get the blood pumping.

   
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5. Prurient 'Lust End'

   Yet another one-two punch of melodic and harsh elements. Certainly not noise in the purest sense, but definitely noisy.... and the atmosphere is reminiscent of some of the best black metal in terms of mood.

6. Pierre Dubuisson Anything from Sept Regards Sur L`esprit De La Mort

Supposedly recordings of a funeral violinist from France from decades ago. Whether real or a hoax, this is some pretty melancholy and truly eerie music.

7. Neil Young 'Guitar Solo One'

   Simply some of the most beautiful music ever made with a guitar, or any other instrument for that matter. If I had to content myself with one album for the rest of my life it might be this one. (YouTube)

8. Angelo Badalamenti 'Theme From Twin Peaks'

   A great and fitting them from one of the more interesting TV shows to ever grace the airwaves. Though shamed by wayward episodes in the middle of its arc, the music was always a highlight. (YouTube)

9. Sun Kil Moon 'Heron Blue'

   An acoustic epic that evokes a feeling similar to that I experienced when I heard 'The Battle Of Evermore" for the first time 17 years ago. 7 minutes and 38 seconds of cascading guitars and melancholy vocals put to the best possible use. (YouTube)

10. Shannon Wright 'Don't You Doubt Me'

    This woman put on one of the best live shows I've seen in recent years, and I find I'm usually mostly unmoved by solo performers... a prejudice maybe, but one she certainly helped me overcome, at least temporarily. This is possibly the highlight of her last album. (YouTube)

11. Deathspell Omega 'Diabolus Absconditus'

    Usually comp tracks are a throwaway, an unwanted child of the grudging participant. This, however, is not only a great track, but one of DO's best - and that's saying a lot. Damaged, buzzing, ambient, blasting, intricate - 20 minutes of the best black metal in existence.

12. The Melvins 'Blood Witch'

    Some bands wither and fall into a black hole of suckdom when the get older. Others put 99% of bands who are 20 years their juniors to complete and utter shame. The Melvins belong to the latter category, and this track is surely proof of that.

    
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13. KTL 'Snow 2'

    One of the most aptly titled tracks in recent memory. Soft and frigid waves of white noise covering everything in a soft veil. Sounds like there's not much happening if you're not paying attention, and much is revealed upon closer listening - both effects are interesting and compelling.

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Previous Mixtapes:

• Soulsavers
• Emmy The Great
• Wild Beasts
• DiSsers' US election special
• Tilly And The Wall
• Okkervil River
• Laura Marling
• Kaiser Chiefs
• M83
• El Guincho
• Grammatics
• Trans AM
• Duncan Lloyd
• The Walkmen
• Cut Copy
  
• Late Of The Pier
• Gabriella Cilmi
• White Denim
• Gareth Los Campesinos!
• Barry Adamson
• Muscles and Bumblebeez (Modular special edition!)
• Lovvers
• Sebastien Tellier
• The Maccabees
• Foals
• MSTRKRFT