AaronIsCrunchy's 2015 thus far
While going through this, I've been surprised how much I've actually listened to (3+ listens I can count as that I suppose) from this year so far. |
| 1 |  | Liturgy
The Ark Work
Horrible. I like the individual ideas on this but it's just a mess when put together. Hoped after a few listens this would make sense a little but... no. 1.4/5.0 (black metal/fucking shit) |
| 2 |  | Utstott
Hjorungavagr
Wanted to like this, but it's way too long and things like 'battle noises' over the top of the music are just offputting. Some good moments though. 2.4/5.0 (Folk/Viking Metal) |
| 3 |  | Sea Witch
The Blackened Sea
Needs vocals really to push it to the next level; No Honour is a great track but the first two in particular are just too uneventful to really make it. 2.6/5.0 (Funeral Doom/Instrumental) |
| 4 |  | Wiegedood
De Doden Hebben Het Goed
Vicious black metal that while aggressive, needs some variation. 2.9/5.0 |
| 5 |  | Crooked Sun
Sick Songs
The vocals take a bit of getting used to, but this little EP really isn't all that bad. Fairly chilled listen. 3.2/5.0 (Acoustic/Lo-Fi) |
| 6 |  | Sulphur Aeon
Gateway to the Antisphere
Another one I wanted to like more than I did, but this dragged on a wee bit too long for me and some of the riffs didn't hit as hard as I think they were expected to. Not bad though. (Death metal) 3.2/5.0 |
| 7 |  | Chorea Huntington
Haunting Memory
Straight-up, no-nonsense, basic-as-it-comes punk, shouting about everything from the way Amazon treats its workers to raising awareness of Huntington's Disease. Doesn't set the world alight but surprisingly fun to listen to. (Anarcho-punk) 3.3/5.0 |
| 8 |  | A Slow Descent
Sorry, We're Closed
A different angle from his previous stuff, Judio's latest one is a bit patchy in the first half, but gets going in the second enough to make it a pretty good listen. 3.4/5.0 (Ambient/electronic) |
| 9 |  | Jute Gyte
Ship of Theseus
Nothing new from Jute Gyte (as far as they're concerned), but their fairly unique brand of buzzsaw microtonal black metal is still enough to raise a few armhairs in the right setting. 3.4/5.0 (Microtonal BM) |
| 10 |  | Doda Lov
Allt Vi Har Kvar
Swedish screamo EP, over too quickly but what's here is certainly solid. A slightly more brittle Vi Som Alskade would be my closest approximation. 3.6/5.0 (Screamo/hardcore) |
| 11 |  | Mais Valia
Mais Valia
Has creepy goats on the cover. Instrumental riff-laden fuzzy rock from Brazil, occasionally wears a bit but generally speaking loads of fun to listen to. 3.6/5.0 (Instrumental/Experimental Rock) |
| 12 |  | Abominor
Opus: Decay
Icelandic black metal that's akin to jumping into an abyss. Only two tracks and just over 21 minutes, could happily listen to more of this. 3.6/5.0 (Black metal) |
| 13 |  | Venomspitter
Venomspitter
Really awesome powerviolence record, punches in the gut then leaves (though not before closer Monument grinds up what's left.) Hurts through crappy headphones though. 3.6/5.0 (Powerviolence) |
| 14 |  | Obsequiae
Aria of Vernal Tombs
Black metal with a medieval theme that doesn't feel forced? Don't mind if I do. 3.7/5.0 (Black metal/medieval) |
| 15 |  | A Forest of Stars
Beware the Sword You Cannot See
Sadly the weakest of what they've made so far, this is still a solid release from the Leeds-based band. A manic, eclectic blend of thick black metal and street-performer. 3.7/5.0 (Black metal/???) |
| 16 |  | Red Giant (USA-NJ)
Drones
Cool trip-hop with really awesome lead vocals - the second 2 of the 4 tracks both feature guest vocals that aren't quite as stunning, but certainly add to the laid-back feel. Short but it is an EP. 3.7/5.0 (Trip hop) |
| 17 |  | Rorcal
La Femme sans Tete
Trying something new with the first track being a purely ambient one, the latter two bring the sludge in the way we're accustomed to from the Swiss. 3.8/5.0 (Sludge/ambient) |
| 18 |  | Lost Salt Blood Purges
The Voids We All Long For
A mixture of acoustic, noise and occasional glorious droning vocals, despite being long (64+ minutes) this is an engaging, atmospheric listen throughout. Well worth devoting the tie to. 3.9/5.0 (Ambient/noise) |
| 19 |  | Ethereal Shroud
They Became the Falling Ash
Really neat funeral doom/black metal, the emotional aspect of this album is particularly impressive. Haven't listened to this enough as things stand. 4.0/5.0 (BM/Doom) |
| 20 |  | Misthyrming
Söngvar elds og óreiðu
A winding, suffocating slab of black metal from Iceland (again) that takes a good few listens to sink in effectively. 4.0/5.0 (Black metal) |
| 21 |  | The Decemberists
What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World
A fantastic listen almost right the way through (there is a slight dip in the later-mid section), this indie folk album suits summery weather as well as dreary rain. Vocals are amazing as well. 4.1/5.0 (Indie folk) |
| 22 |  | Soley
Ask The Deep
More from Iceland, but this time more in the vein of Bjork. Really like the vaguely dark feeling throughout. 4.1/5.0 (Pop) |
| 23 |  | Torn From Earth
Loss
Sludgy goodness from Hungary, can't quite figure out why this one has stood out for me but it has. 4.1/5.0 (Sludge) |
| 24 |  | Thurm
Thurm
Blackened hardcore with things to say about slavery, whale hunting and the child sex industry... Which of course counts for shit if the music isn't good. This goes so, so hard, with vicious-as-holy-fuck vocals and equally nasty riffing. 4.2/5.0 (Blackened hardcore) |
| 25 |  | Thou/The Body
You, Whom I Have Always Hated
As good as it was always going to be. 4.3/5.0 (Sludge) |
| 26 |  | Desolate Shrine
The Heart of the Netherworld
Grown on me like some kind of polyp, with riffs for days and an atmosphere thicker than my thighs. Could be AOTY by the time December comes around. 4.4/5.0 (Death metal) |
| 27 |  | Archivist
Archivist
With members of Fall of Efrafa this was always going to be good, but this is a 65 minute post-black metal masterpiece from start to finish. 4.4/5.0 (Post/black metal) |
| 28 |  | Bell Witch
Four Phantoms
The usage of the 6-string bass en lieu of a guitar works fantastically to create motifs, bowel-shattering lows and enough variation throughout to make this an 'easy' listen throughout. 4.6/5.0 (Funeral doom) |
| 29 |  | Downfall of Nur
Umbras de Barbagia
Trying to figure out if this album might be perfect. The progression in the songs is perfect, the instrumentation is perfect (that bagpipe...), and the howling, tortured screams set into the background are perfect. Can't give it 5.0/5.0 simply on principle, but it's near as fucking dammit. 4.9/5.0 (Black metal) |
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