Sab's cute 2016 list
Lunatic year, strange highs and strange lows. Same for music, I heard a lot of great stuff but we lost legends. Albums are grouped by rating but not ranked, except 1 is 1. I'm only adding the things I liked for positive vibes and stuff. Albums with little/no description are albums where genre+rating are enough. I'm only adding albums that I've listened to enough to form an opinion. For example I checked Harmonium's L'heptade XL but I didn't find the time to explore well such an album, I only know that it rules. You can always order my ratings by release date if you want to see them all. (∩ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)⊃━☆ﾟ. ･ ｡ﾟ |
| 66 |  | Axel Rudi Pell
Game of Sins
3.0
Heavy metal
I'm a fan of Pell and I thought this was good, but nothing more, see my review. At least it brought the band to Italy for the first time in 10 years, and boy they ruled the night. |
| 65 |  | Abbath
Abbath
3.0
Black metal |
| 64 |  | Exumer
The Raging Tides
3.0
Thrash metal |
| 63 |  | Grand Magus
Sword Songs
3.0
Epic manly heavy metal for vikings or something
The two bonus tracks make it a 3, otherwise I'm not 100% sure. That's because the album is really short and verges on simplicity, so my opinion swings depending on my mood for that stuff. "Forged in Iron - Crowned in Steel" is probably my favorite track, cute throwback to the doom style. Also cover artwork is sweet |
| 62 |  | RUFUS
Bloom
3.0
Electropop??? Synthpop? Tropical something?? Idk what this is since the genre's really not my territory. But I really enjoyed it for what it is. Until the sun needs to riiiiiise |
| 61 |  | Rage
The Devil Strikes Again
3.0
Thrashy heavy/power metal
A throwback release aimed to sound like 90s Rage. So no more proggy symphonic stuff. It's good fun in its simplicity but I hope Peavy still has some ambition left for the band. On a sidenote my favorite track "Into the Fire" is a bonus track, in an album that suffers from lack of variety. Goddamnit guys |
| 60 |  | Anvil
Anvil Is Anvil
3.0
Heavy metal that goes hard
The album title says it all. It's Anvil, the dudes rule and they can play. But it's nothing too special if you aren't interested in this "old" stuff. |
| 59 |  | Ravensire
The Cycle Never Ends
3.0
Epic metal
I think it lacks on replayability but it's good stuff. Also artwork slays |
| 58 |  | Perfume
Cosmic Explorer
3.0
J-pop, electronic side
A cool release. This "Star Train" is GOAT |
| 57 |  | Game Over
Crimes Against Reality
3.0
Thrash metal |
| 56 |  | Lascar
Absence
3.0
Blackgaze
Nothing too special and probably a bit closer to a 2.5, but it's good soothing background music. Vocals reminds me of Burzum. Sounds just like the artwork suggests. |
| 55 |  | Myrath
Legacy
3.0
Pop metal really / some middle eastern influence (Tunisian band)
It seems this band started as some kind of "middle eastern Dream Theater", as some say. However they apparently went down a poppy route, and I can totally believe it, because Legacy (basically a s/t, "myrath" means "legacy") is really a pop(metal) album. It's full of catchy stuff and a few great cuts, but I'd say it's flawed by nature: it grew off quickly. The single "Believer" and especially "Nobody Lives" are keepers though. |
| 54 |  | Schizo
Rotten Spiral
3.0
Thrash metal with a modern groovy approach and some blast beats left from the band's grindy past
See my review. It's definitely their worst, I see it as kinda rushed and transitional. On the positive side I got to see them live and it grinded my skull in the best way possible. Front row too... STOP THIS AUTOPSYYYYYYY m/
Distruzione were one of the opening acts m/ m/ m/ |
| 53 |  | Il Castello di Atlante
Arx Atlantis
3.0
Prog rock
A bit of a let down. "Non Ho Mai Imparato" hits me personally and is one of my favorite songs of the year. Sadly I feel the rest doesn't really compare. Still it's cool to see the Castle still standing strong since 1974. |
| 52 |  | Metal Church
XI
3.0
Thrash(y) metal |
| 51 |  | Esperanza Spalding
Emily's D+Evolution
3.0
Jazz fusion / soul
Some tracks I really like, others much less. I expected to dig it a lot more. |
| 50 |  | BABYMETAL
Metal Resistance
3.0
J-pop goes metal and triggers those who take themselves too seriously. "Amore" is beaut |
| 49 |  | Fire!
She Sleeps, She Sleeps
3.0
Dark jazz
It wants to create an unsettling and heavy atmosphere but, while I consider it a good album, I think it comes off as slightly boring if not in the right mood. As in it fails to bring me in the needed mood, a thing that albums like B&DCoG's Sunset Mission do without any help from me. It feels constricted by invisible chains as if they didn't know if they wanted to do something crazy or not. The title track for example doesn't really go anywhere in particular. First track rules. |
| 48 |  | Autolux
Pussy's Dead
3.0
Noise pop? Idk not my territory [2] but I can dig it |
| 47 |  | Steve Porcaro
Someday / Somehow
3.0
80s pop
Keyboardist and founding member of Toto, Steve Porcaro was interested in making a solo record since the 80s. He finally did, and I'm glad of it. It's a good pop album, even if some tracks get a bit tedious. "Back to You" is one of my favorite songs of 2016, and features all the three Porcaro brothers playing together because it's an oldie that finally saw the light. That's quite emotional... stay with us Steve, as long as you can. RIP Jeff and Mike |
| 46 |  | Show Me A Dinosaur
Show Me A Dinosaur
3.0
Blackgaze
I don't think it's particularly special but it's a solid offering. "Gone" is my favorite. |
| 45 |  | Wo Fat
Midnight Cometh
3.0
Stoner/psych metal |
| 44 |  | Sodom
Decision Day
3.0
Thrash with some black-ish feel |
| 43 |  | Thenighttimeproject
Thenighttimeproject
3.0
Uhm, it's like a non-metal version of recent Katatonia with an occasional electronic beat and a singer that seems like a fusion between Jonas Renkse and Maynard James Keenan. The Katatonia comparison is obvious, because this is a new project by Fredrik Norrman. It's cool, a more intimate version of Katatonia. But it doesn't feel realized enough, closer to a demo of ideas than an LP in spirit. "Caustic Reflection" and "The Annual Loss" are great songs, I have expectations for this band. |
| 42 |  | Anderson/Stolt
Invention of Knowledge
3.0
Prog rock
Jon Anderson and Roine Stolt join to create what seemed a return to Yes' past of epic tracks. The result is a bit of a disappointment. There's too much Anderson, too much big lyrics, not enough instrumental passages to let us breathe and give more depths to the music. |
| 41 |  | Kansas
The Prelude Implicit
3.0
Prog AOR
It's a cool surprise. Kansas in 2016 is enjoyable. Gotta say I'm not too big on the vocals, they sound a bit overproduced to me. That said he seems to have the same voice during live shows (checked some videos), so I guess he just doesn't rub me in the best way. |
| 40 |  | Opeth
Sorceress
3.0
Prog rock/metal
Bad production aside, Sorceress is an enjoyable effort. But really, from Opeth I'd like more. There's more character than in Pale Communion, but now we have to work on replayability. Generally there's too much alternation between great and forgettable moments. It's a good album though, I don't want to bash it too much. |
| 39 |  | Plini
Handmade Cities
3.0
Elevator metal that manages to not suck |
| 38 |  | High Spirits
Motivator
3.0
Speed/heavy metal
Title says it all, Half a hour of uplifting fun. |
| 37 |  | Sonata Arctica
The Ninth Hour
3.0
Power metal
Don't be fooled by the two singles, which also open the album. This is the closer the band have been to their classic sound in, well, more than a decade. In fact, The Ninth Hour can be seen as the sequel to Reckoning Night, which it also recalls through "White Pearl, Black Oceans Part II". Also, a few tracks see double bass galloping really close to albums like Silence, see "Rise a Night" for reference. All in all I don't think this is a particularly impressive album (try to digest all of its 62 minutes and tell me), but surely a step in a direction that can appeal to every kind of fan. |
| 36 |  | Yanagi Nagi
Follow My Tracks
3.0
J-pop
Less ambitious than past releases, and it's felt in how much more "standard j-pop/rock stuff" the music feels. Nervertheless it's Yanagi Nagi, so it's all cool. |
| 35 |  | Witchwood
Handful of Stars
3.0
Jethro Tull + Deep Purple
It's derivative, but that doesn't make it bad. There are some great moments, especially the long title track. Admittedly though, the new tracks are really only three, and I'm not too crazy for "Mother". The title track is an edited version of the same track appeared on the band's debut. The two covers are pleasant but I'd say a 'good' rating is fair for this release. |
| 34 |  | Emily Jane White
They Moved in Shadow All Together
3.0
Chamber folk / ethereal pop
Late find. "Behind the Glass" is stunning but the rest grew off a bit quickly. Too homogeneous maybe. Nevertheless, a good album. I'll explore her works sooner or later. |
| 33 |  | Thank You Scientist
Stranger Heads Prevail
3.0
Jazz fusion / whatever this whiney rock thing is called
Great stuff but listening to this album feels like swallowing an entire cake. Taken indivudually most of the tracks would lead to a 3.5 at least but as a whole it's close to unsustainable. It's a shame. Why must everything be longer than a hour these days goddamnit. Faves: "Rube Goldberg Variations", "Caverns", "A Wolf in Cheap Clothing". |
| 32 |  | Venomous Concept
Kick Me Silly - VC III
3.5
Grindcore / hardcore |
| 31 |  | Borknagar
Winter Thrice
3.5
Prog metal / black metal influence
Great vocal works by different persons (Garm guests!), but perhaps there are too many vocals throughout the album because it ends up feeling bloated. They're a real pleasure to listen to, but it could have been even better. "The Rhymes of the Mountain" and "Panorama" are my faves. |
| 30 |  | Steven Wilson
4 1/2
3.5
Prog rock |
| 29 |  | Magnum
Sacred Blood "Divine" Lies
3.5
AOR (proggy kinda ish)
It doesn't break any ground but it is accurately built to be as enjoyable as possible. It succeeds. It isn't complex but it isn't painfully straightforward either, and it works nicely as a full listen as it fulfilled greatly the task of accompanying my movements for quite some days. The title track, "Afraid of the Night" and "Quiet Rhapsody" are my faves. Catley, with his 68 years, offers a very strong vocal performance that always saves the day. |
| 28 |  | Gehennah
Too Loud to Live, Too Drunk to Die
3.5
Lemmy is smiling. |
| 27 |  | Death Angel
The Evil Divide
3.5
Thrash metal
Another great addition to a great discography. The first half really slaps, "Father of Lies" has that "proggy" dynamic that characterizes the band's finest moments. I hope they'll move (back) in that direction. "Lost" rules, a lot. |
| 26 |  | The Black Queen
Fever Daydream
3.5
Synthpop
You could say I listened to this album at the right moment, but I really dig it. "Ice to Never" has such a huge hook. My other highlights are "That Death Cannot Touch" and "Taman Shud". |
| 25 |  | Fates Warning
Theories of Flight
3.5
Prog metal
I'm not super crazy about the shorter tracks, as things like "Seven Stars" don't possess that much of an identity. But overall it's a great album, sustained by the epics, by catchiness, and by the absolutely stunning opener "From the Rooftops". |
| 24 |  | Le Orme
Felona e/and Sorona (2016)
3.5
Prog rock
Le Orme's 50th anniversary (1966!). Different arrangements, live drums and re-recorded vocals give F&S a new life in 2016, offered again in both English and Italian language. A must hear for those who loved the original album. |
| 23 |  | Diamond Head
Diamond Head
3.5
Heavy metal
Another surprise, Diamonds Head's self-titled rocks very hard. Riffs aren't the only offering, and tracks like "Blood on My Hands" present a dynamic structure with some calm interludes. "Diamonds" is beyond catchy, great pick for a singer too. |
| 22 |  | Perturbator
The Uncanny Valley
3.5
Synthwave |
| 21 |  | Snarky Puppy
Culcha Vulcha
3.5
Jazz fusion |
| 20 |  | Billy Talent
Afraid of Heights
3.5
Alt rock
A big missfire in the forgettable "Louder than the DJ" but most of the rest is really great. After a messy Dead Silence BT found inspiration again and returned to the sound of the trilogy. "Ghost Ship of Cannibal Rats" is up there with their best songs, and the lengthy "Rabbit Down the Hole" further shows a band still in possess of their spark. |
| 19 |  | Messa
Belfry
3.5
Fuzzy doom metal with clean female vocals and an occult feel |
| 18 |  | Eglise
Église
3.5
Hardcore / sludgy / slaps pre hard, monolithic feel |
| 17 |  | Richard Bona and Mandekan Cubano
Heritage
3.5
Afro-jazz / world
Bassist/singer Richard Bona is one of my new discoveries. This collaboration is a real pleasure to the ear, "Muntula Moto" is endlessly replayable. I missed a live show near me, it would have likely ruled. |
| 16 |  | Ulver
ATGCLVLSSCAP
3.5
Experimental (yes I have no idea what to write)
Only negative thing is that I'm not too crazy for the reworking of "Nowhere/Catastrophe" because I madly love the original. |
| 15 |  | An Autumn For Crippled Children
Eternal
3.5
Blackgaze
See my review. Probably their weakest overall but still great. "Swallowed by Night’s Despair" is so good. |
| 14 |  | Toto
Live At Montreux 1991
3.5
Balls heavy hard rock, some AOR ballads, a furious jazz fusion piece and some blues
Toto is a band for which I'm almost as excited for a live album as I am for a full-length. This old show comemmorates the last tour with Jeff and Mike Porcaro. RIP [2] |
| 13 |  | Usurpress
The Regal Tribe
3.5
Death metal
Really tight, I love how the tracks flow into each other. "Throwing the Gift Away" is my favorite track, those clean vocals weren't expected. |
| 12 |  | Watchtower
Concepts of Math: Book One
3.5
Thrash/prog metal
Hopefully a teaser for an even better LP to come. |
| 11 |  | Avenged Sevenfold
The Stage
3.5
Heavy/prog metal
A7X's most ambitious release and their first shot at a concept album, based around artificial intelligence. It's too long, Shadows' vocals aren't always the best and the mix is gross (though big props for being crankable). But it works. Not in the best way possible, but it works. A lot of great stuff to find; my highlights are "Sunny Disposition", "Fermi Paradox" and "God Damn". A section of the almost 16 minutes long closer "Exist" vaguely reminds me of Camel, so there's also that. I'm eager to see what the band will do in the future. In the meantime, I guess I'll catch another live show. Citing a comment I read elsewhere from a DT fan: "I'm a long time Dream Theater fanboy and I can't believe that this year A7X managed to release a better prog metal album". |
| 10 |  | Khemmis
Hunted
3.5
Doom metal
Great stuff, though I'm not sure if it's better than the debut. The warm clean vocals make the album for me, with "Candlelight" being pleasantly emotive and later detouring into funeral doom territory. |
| 9 |  | Numenorean
Home
3.5
Blackgaze without that much gaze
Solid dynamic long tracks that often incorporate melodic guitar playing with some interesting emotional results like in "Devour" and "Thirst". |
| 8 |  | Stimming
Alpe Lusia
3.5
House?
I was drawn in by the artwork, and partly by the Sputnik hype. I didn't expect to like it this much. It's a very relaxing and intimate listen, unexpectedly emotional, with great production. It lasts for a hour but surprisingly I'm not bothered at all. A surprise of 2016. Favorite tracks: "22 Degree Halo", "Tanz für Drei". |
| 7 |  | Motorpsycho
Here Be Monsters
4.0
Psych/prog rock
Excellent effort. "Big Black Dog" is terrific and it would raise the rating to 4.5 alone if not for the fact that in the end I feel like the record is slightly missing something, like it needed another meaty track to be really complete, even though the length is already 46 minutes. |
| 6 |  | Mad Fellaz
II
4.0
Prog rock / jazz fusion
A big band with many instruments, they adopt a twin guitar approach but don't refuse some flute and sax here and there. The first album was instrumental but this time they have a singer accompanying the music with some sweet female vocals. It's still mostly instrumental-driven though. The album is less jazzy than the debut, the heavy guitar riffs of "Moslem Sabbath" indicate a bigger focus on modern influences (this band cites as such anything from King Crimson to Opeth). One thing it shares with the debut is the length. Out of seven tracks, five are quite lengthy with three of them running for over 11 minutes. Thankfully diversity saves the album and the tracks feel shorter than what they are. Far from a sophomore slump, II confirms Mad Fellaz as a very promising rising star, it seems they are well received in Japan too. |
| 5 |  | Cuong Vu Trio and Pat Metheny
Cuong Vu Trio Meets Pat Metheny
4.0
Jazz fusion
Another quality release under Metheny's belt. The album features an excellent replay value due to its lunatic behavior. There's a trippy acid feel, and "Telescope" features an electric guitar passage that sounds almost shoegazy. |
| 4 |  | Mizmor
Yodh
4.0
Doom / black / drone / survival metal
Monstrous monolithic blackened doom metal with droning landscapes of utmost sorrow. Surprisingly clean production, it's ironically a pleasurable listen. The music is carried by strong vocals (obviously harsh) that recite some lyrics that are quite better than what one could imagine at first. I'm not going to lie, what kept me coming back to the album was the insane cover artwork, probably my favorite of 2016. Thankfully, it fits the music very well. |
| 3 |  | Klimt 1918
Sentimentale Jugend
4.0
Shoegaze / "Poisoned old pop music" (dream pop?) and post punk influence
See my review. Two albums, I prefer Sentimentale with "Belvedere" being one of my favorite songs of 2016. Sentimentale is a strong 4, Jugend is more of a 3.5 but with really strong peaks. The twin bundle contains a bonus track. An overall 4 seems just right. Possibly the band's greatest achievements, surely their most mature. A lot of influences going on, "Juvenile" could be a Joy Division song and "Take My Breath Away" is a cover of the pop hit from Top Gun. |
| 2 |  | Vektor
Terminal Redux
4.5
Thrash/black/prog metal
Admittedly I haven't listend to it as much as I should have (loudness didn't help), but each time I checked to see if it was really a 4.5 I always ended up with a yes. Slightly closer to a 4 maybe? The excellent concept is a boost. Sadly missed a live show near me, seems they played the entire album. |
| 1 |  | Katatonia
The Fall of Hearts
4.5
Somber prog metal
Who would have thought. After resting on their laurels a bit with DEK, Katatonia change line-up and release an album that's easily their best played, written and most musically mature yet, their first truly progressive album, one could say. A career defining work. Furthermore, the 5.1 DVD is the best sounding metal album I've heard in 2016, so check it instead of pretending to like the compressed CD. I could totally see myself 5ing this if it wasn't slightly bloated. Saw the band on the album's tour too. |
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