Backlog Jams
I figured since I'm gonna be stuck inside for a while, now is as good of a time as any to check out all the stuff that I've come across over the last few months (in no particular order). |
| 1 |  | Dawn
Slaughtersun (Crown of the Triarchy)
Verdict: Pretty solid, even though it has a tendency to drag at points. 3.5/5 |
| 2 |  | Urn
Iron Will of Power |
| 3 |  | Jun Fukamachi
Starview HCT-5808
Verdict: It has it's moments, but it feels too all over the place. |
| 4 |  | Dalek
Absence
Verdict: The soundtrack to a dystopian future, or rather present in light of recent events. 4/5
Edit: Bumped from a 3.5 to 4. |
| 5 |  | Drastus
La Croix de Sang
Ment to check this out when it first released, but life got in the way.
Verdict: Went in one ear and out the other 2.5/5 |
| 6 |  | Nine Inch Nails
Pretty Hate Machine
Verdict: Pretty enjoyable, though frontloaded. 3.5/5 |
| 7 |  | The Great Old Ones
Cosmicism
Verdict: Quality Lovecraftian atmospheric BM which manages to encapsulate the feeling of being stuck in a chaotic universe with malevolent entities. Nyarlathotep is a massive closer. 4/5 |
| 8 |  | Caladan Brood
Echoes Of Battle
Verdict: Some Summoning styled BM. It's alright heavy on the keys (as I would expect). 3/5 |
| 9 |  | Spawn of Possession
Incurso
Rec'd by Space Jester
Verdict: It's ok. It's has it's moments, but I feel like the riffs on this at points are spliced together somewhat carelessly. 3/5 |
| 10 |  | Teddy Pendergrass
TP
Never really listened to much R&B. Might as well start now.
Verdict: It's pretty enjoyable. Teddy's vocals are solid. 3.5/5 |
| 11 |  | The Meads of Asphodel
Sonderkommando |
| 12 |  | The Ruins Of Beverast
Exuvia
Verdict: Took a few listens to click, and when it did I wasn't disappointed. Melienwald manages to create a compelling mystical atmosphere through the use of guitar melodies, samples, and vocal styles ranging from deep growls to cleans, in addition to some interspersed female vocals. 4/5 |
| 13 |  | Znowhite
Act Of God
The cover on this is silly.
Verdict: Eh. This has some cool moments on it, but I just felt that it blended together for the most part. 3/5 |
| 14 |  | Ulver
Messe I.X-VI.X
I've listened to this once or twice in passing, but never gave it a full on listen.
Verdict: Not as solid as Shadows, but still worth checking. 3.5/5 |
| 15 |  | Human Remains
Using Sickness as a Hero
Verdict: One of the more out there Death Metal releases with riffs that sound like they're being played on a polka and vocals that sound like a more tortured Chuck Schuldiner. Makes for a weird but good time. 4/5 |
| 16 |  | Saul Williams
The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust |
| 17 |  | Bloodbath
Nightmares Made Flesh
Verdict: Relatively by the numbers DM. It's enjoyable for what it is. Eaten is catchy as hell. 3/5 |
| 18 |  | Nocturnus
The Key
Verdict: One of the first DM albums to incorporate keyboards into their sound, and it works quite well. The inclusion of keyboards feels natural without it coming off as gimmicky. It has some really wild guitar solos and quality drum work courtesy of Mike Browning. 4/5 |
| 19 |  | Exlimitir
It Weighed Itself In Silver
Demilich worship. Apparently this guy has a ton of different aliases according to rym.
Verdict: It's pretty solid for what it is. My main grip is that the vocals are mixed really low. 3.5/5 |
| 20 |  | Darkthrone
Old Star
Verdict: Black metal that pulls quite a bit of heavy metal with some doom in the mix. It's alright. 3/5 |
| 21 |  | Omar S
Just Ask the Lonely
Verdict: Some enjoyable House beats even if its a bit minimal at points. 3.5/5 |
| 22 |  | Carnage
Dark Recollections
Verdict: The predecessor to Dismember. While the songwriting isn't as refined as Like an Everflowing Stream, it's still an enjoyable listen. Worth checking out if you wanna see the groundwork laid for what would eventually become Dismember. 3.5/5 |
| 23 |  | Pyrrhon
What Passes for Survival
Verdict: DM in a similar vein to stuff like Artificial Brain and Ulcerate with some Mathcore influence mixed in. It feels erratic at points, but its cool. 3/5 |
| 24 |  | Mystifier
Goetia
Verdict: Run of the mill BM. Has it's moments, but didn't really stand out too much. 3/5 |
| 25 |  | Sudan Archives
Sink |
| 26 |  | Imperial Triumphant
Alphaville
Verdict: Who knew Jazz and Black Metal could work so well? 4/5 |
| 27 |  | Teebs
Ardour
Verdict: It's very lush. The second half dips in quality a bit, but all in all, it's an enjoyable listen. 4/5 |
| 28 |  | Immortal
At the Heart of Winter
Verdict: I put off listening to this for months, that was a mistake. This riffs are catchy and they manage to be both raw and epic at the same time. Special mention goes to At The Heart of Winter. 4/5 |
| 29 |  | Darkspace
Dark Space II
I checked Darkspace I out some months back, and while I liked the sound they went for, I wasn't particularly impressed by the songwriting.
Verdict: A solid step up. The tracks here are more long form, but they all feel justified in their length. 4/5 |
| 30 |  | Darkspace
Dark Space III |
| 31 |  | Darkspace
Dark Space III I
Verdict: It's pretty good. 3.5/5
(I'll give this a proper write-up after I listen to the other two so I can better compare this to the others. |
| 32 |  | Gospel
The Moon Is a Dead World
Verdict: I didn't expect to like this so much on my first few spins. The guitar work is solid, there are quality basslines throughout, the drumming is great, and it has atmosphere in spades. I could easily see myself bumping this upon further listens. 4.5/5
Edit: Bumped from a 4 to a 4.5. |
| 33 |  | Esoctrilihum
Eternity Of Shaog
Verdict: Some surreal sounding black/death metal with plenty of melodies laced throughout. It's good stuff. Might bump in the future. 3.5/5. |
| 34 |  | Wormed
Krighsu
Verdict: Some tech death in a similar vein to stuff like Ulcerate and Artificial Brain. It's alright. 3/5 |
| 35 |  | Entombed
Left Hand Path
Verdict: Old school Swedish death metal. You can't go wrong with it. Has plenty of quaity riffs and a distinct sound thanks to the Boss HM2 pedal. 4/5. |
| 36 |  | In Flames
Whoracle
Verdict: A solid follow up to The Jester Race. Special mention goes to The Hive. 4/5 |
| 37 |  | Genghis Tron
Board Up the House
Verdict: Eh. This didn't really do much for me. 2.5/5 |
| 38 |  | Mare Cognitum
Luminiferous Aether
Verdict: I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Loved the melodic/melancholy riffs laced throughout.
Might bump it... 4/5 |
| 39 |  | Convulsing
Grievous
Verdict: Solid stuff in a similar vein to Ulcerate, but with more influence from Black Metal. Might bump my rating in the future... 4/5
Edit: Bumped from a 3.5 to a 4. |
| 40 |  | Protest the Hero
Palimpsest
Verdict: Wasn't too sold on this when I first heard it but I grew to enjoy it in due time. Rody's vocal work is on point, (even though his harsh vocals aren't as prominent), and there are catchy riffs throughout. Also, the lyrics referencing to various historical events are a nice touch. Rivet is such a great closer. 4/5 |
| 41 |  | Portal
Swarth
Verdict: I feel as if I'm being viciously attacked by a swarm of hornets listening to this. 4/5 |
| 42 |  | Horrendous
Anareta
Verdict: The songwriting is here is a bit more restrained in contrast to its predecessor Ecdysis with slower tempos. This does cause some of the longer songs tend to meander at points. Overall, it's a solid album that serves as a bridge between Idol and Ecdysis 3.5/5 |
| 43 |  | maudlin of the Well
Part the Second
Verdict: maudlin take their sound in a much more relaxed direction without trading what made them unique. While the surreal atmosphere is still there, the incorporation of the more non-traditional insturuments feels off. I'm also not too keen on the change in Driver's singing style. I hear this is a grower so I'll probably revisit it later. 3.5/5 |
| 44 |  | Believer
Dimensions
This and the next two were rec'd to me by Source. I didn't forget about them Source I promise lol |
| 45 |  | Believer
Sanity Obscure
Verdict: Pretty solid. The cover at the end is eh though. 3.5/5 |
| 46 |  | Anacrusis
Manic Impressions
Verdict: I don't know how to feel about this one honestly. It's not bad, but little stuck out to me while I listened to it. Maybe it needs a few more spins... For now, I'll leave it at a 3/5. |
| 47 |  | Opeth
In Cauda Venenum
Listened to this once and forgot about it for a while.
Verdict: It's enjoyable. 3.5/5 |
| 48 |  | Ulcerate
Stare Into Death and Be Still
Verdict: Ulcerate takes their signature sounds and adds some melody into the mix. I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't say it surpasses Shrines which is my personal favorite. A good starting point for anyone looking to get into Ulcerate. 3.5/5 |
| 49 |  | Odium (NOR)
The Sad Realm of the Stars
Verdict: Solid Symphonic BM with a spacey atmosphere that manages to get the balance between guitars and keys right. May bump my rating in the future. 3.5/5 |
| 50 |  | The Ruins Of Beverast
Rain Upon The Impure
I had a 50th album, but I deleted it by mistake somehow, so I'm putting this in place of what was here before.
Also because I need an excuse to listen to more Ruins of Beverast.
Verdict: It's solid. The atmosphere is much more oppressive and bleak in contrast to Exuvia, but still compelling all the same. 4/5 |
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