Kingdok's 2015
Definitely enjoyed 2015, some great expected albums as well as some awesome surprises! |
| 1 |  | Down I Go
You're Lucky God, That I Cannot Reach You
A band that got better with every release before splitting after the phenomenal Gods ep, reunited thanks to a fan letter and a kickstarter. The album is a truly individual mix of technical post-hardcore and jazzy horns that works so well together, including some clean vocals for the first time without holding back on the brutality. An amazing album, with any luck it won't be the last.
Best track: Of Marbendill |
| 2 |  | Enter Shikari
The Mindsweep
A storming comeback after the damp squib of Flash Flood. Focused, energised and exciting, Shikari's best since their awesome debut.
Best track: There's A Price On Your Head |
| 3 |  | Dog Fashion Disco
Ad Nauseam
Took a few listens to sink its hooks in, but quickly grew to such an extent that I would consider it on a par with the almighty Adultery. The concise track listing works in its favour, making it a more cohesive whole than last year's Sweet Nothings, and in all honesty Baby Bones is for me the best track the band have recorded.
Best track: Baby Bones |
| 4 |  | Therapy?
Disquiet
Not as consistent a listen as most T? albums, although a decent T? album still makes for a great listen any time. The first two tracks set the bar supremely high, setting up hopes, but they are followed by a couple of weaker tracks which the album doesn't really recover from until the last. However, whilst not quite reaching those highs again, some extremely strong material still pummels through!
Best track: Tides |
| 5 |  | Outside The Coma
The Battle Of Being
Seems to have slipped in completely under the radar, Mikee Goodman's side project becomes the first SikTh side project release, bizarrely in the same year that SikTh finally reform. His unique stylings marry very well with the clean female vox, and Kieron Pepper shows that his time with The Prodigy really taught him some serious drum programming skills.
Best track: Scarf |
| 6 |  | Fear Factory
Genexus
FF finally release an album that can be mentioned in the same breath as Demanufacture. Whilst (obviously) not as tremendous an album as that, this is the first album from them that has impressed me from the first to last song.
Best track: Regenerate |
| 7 |  | Faith No More
Sol Invictus
The least surprising thing about FNM's return to recording was the fact that Sol Invictus is not like anything else in their discography. Has a properly mature sound that they seemed to try for with Album Of The Year, and shows that after all these years they still have the taste for great songs.
Best track: Motherfucker |
| 8 |  | Nekrogoblikon
Heavy Meta
A long way short of the masterful Stench, tho that's no real criticism. A good attempt to branch out their typical melodeath sound, and while it works in places it unfortunately works against creating a cohesive flow to the album. Not as big a fan of the vocals this time round either.
Best track: Bring Us More |
| 9 |  | The Ongoing Concept
Handmade
Having been generally unimpressed with Saloon, it was only the concept(!) of a band making their own instruments that brought me back to TOC. The sound these guys create is a mighty beast, and while all of the songs remain impressive, they can sometimes blur into each other a liitle too much.
Best track: Amends |
| 10 |  | bansheebeat
Lumine
Spiral Power left me a little cold, so I wasn't expecting big things. However, repeated listens really reveals the album's depths, making this my most impressive electronic album of 2015, ahead of Caravan Palace.
Best track: Shinsekai |
|
