Three great bands there, I definitely need more Tenhi though, as all I have is the airut:ciwi EP. Anyway, on the topic of folk, I'm fucking dying to get a hold of a CD by one-man group called Vali (
http://www.myspace.com/valiband). I'd even be happy with a download but I can't even find that.
Abramelin - Aussie melodic(ish) brutal death metal. Album called 'Deadspeak' is fucking class.
Disgracefully overlooked band! Although I'd say the self-titled album was their finest.
Simon Dower had some excellent vocals, although I have no idea what he (or Tim Aldridge) is up to nowadays.
Recently I've been listening to:
Peste Noire - La Sanie des siècles - Panégyrique de la dégénérescence
http://www.myspace.com/pestenoire
Black metal band from France, an excellent album. One of the members is Neige from Alcest/Amesoeurs although this sounds very different.
Sturmpercht - Geister im Waldgeburg
http://www.myspace.com/sturmpercht
Austrian/Bavarian alpine-folk, ever so slightly tongue-in-cheek. Great variety on this album.
Sarah Blasko - What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have
http://www.myspace.com/sarahblasko
Not exactly metal nor underground, heh. Australian alterna-pop singer. Went to see her live about a week ago in a small coastal town, had a good time.
Mogwai - Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait
http://www.myspace.com/mogwai
Most of you probably know of this band, but their newest release (a soundtrack to a recent art-doco Zidane flick) is one of their best yet, IMO.
Silencer - Death, Pierce Me
http://www.myspace.com/silencerswe
The vocals are absolutely messed up but I love this album. You should see the looks on people's faces when you drive by playing this album with the windows down.
(Have a listen to the screams from 4:25 onwards in Sterile Nails and Thunderbowels). As much as I also like Shining, these guys make them look positively sensible.
And, whoever mentioned Portal...
I can't wait for Outre.