Renowned for their visceral blend of black metal and epic post-rock, Ireland’s Altar of Plagues released their first full-length album White Tomb on Profound Lore after a pair of well-regarded EPs. The critically acclaimed debut immediately resonated with fans of Isis, Wolves in the Throne Room and Agalloch, landing on many year-end lists and establishing the band as a force to be reckoned with. Not content to rest on their laurels, the band stepped it up a notch, doing tour runs in Europe and pulling off a very successful six-week jaunt across the United States. Altar of Plagues’ sophomore album is one of the most anticipated extreme metal releases of 2011. With Mammal, the band delivers their bleakest, most punishing work to date—a milestone of post-black metal that towers over all others in the genre. Comprised of four extended, time-stretching tracks, Mammal is a forward-thinking exploration of new realms in experimental and ambient music. The band has pushed their sound to a new level, and this is their masterpiece.