Arche's 50 from '17
Hope you've all had a great 2017, and here's to a great 2018! |
| 1 |  | Havukruunu
Kelle Surut Soi
A gorgeous lump of consistent, superbly constructed pagan-black metal, Kelle Surut Soi has probably provided one of the most fun experiences I've had with BM... ever, really. And it's got the most metal usage of sleigh bells I've ever heard. Cracking stuff.
Best tracks: Vainajain Valot // Myrskynkantaja // Kelle Surut Soi
https://naturmachtproductions.bandcamp.com/album/kelle-surut-soi |
| 2 |  | The Smith Street Band
More Scared of You Than You Are of Me
With only the odd lyrical mishap (the mid-section of Song For You...), More Scared of You... has arguably become my favourite Smithies cut. A sparkling mix of pissy rock numbers (Suffer, 25, Death to the Lads) and more moving fare (Run Into The World, Laughing [Or Pretending to Laugh]), I think the balance here is pretty spot on.
Best tracks: Run Into The World // Shine // Suffer
https://open.spotify.com/album/4eUc9rqW8ofV8xQah4QOsH |
| 3 |  | Amenra
Mass VI
Dunno if 'enjoyable' is quite the right word to describe Mass VI, but 'intense' more than suffices. Could possibly do without the Belgian poetry, but they're small enough in the grand scheme of things that they're not so much of a problem. Overall, a desperate, crushing take on post-metal - what Amenra do best.
Best tracks: Diaken // Children of the Eye // Plus Près De Toi
https://amenra.bandcamp.com/album/mass-vi |
| 4 |  | Cranial
Dark Towers, Bright Lights
Unsurprisingly coming out of Omega Massif's ashes, Cranial is some really rather splendid sludge/post-metal. Focusing more on dropkicking the listener than dealing with pretty foibles, there's nevertheless some wonderful trackwriting here and - gasp - vocals.
Best tracks: Towers // Bright // Lights
https://momentofcollapserecords.bandcamp.com/album/dark-towers-bright-lights |
| 5 |  | World Narcosis
Lyruljóra
A real left-fielder for me this year, 'Lyruljóra' is a wonderful piece of Icelandic grind/black metal/punk/stuff. Surprisingly catchy (or at least, as catchy as something of this ilk can be), 'open' and with a wonderful drum performance, World Narcosis are something a little different from the blackened depths of Iceland.
Best tracks: Depra // Óður Óður // Bráð Bráð
https://worldnarcosis.bandcamp.com/album/lyrulj-ra |
| 6 |  | Sachiel
Human Instrumentality
I've got no idea what happens in Neon Genesis Evangelion so I couldn't possibly talk about the content, but good GOD this thing rips. Noisy grind/pv/black stuff with little in the way of subtlety, but... eh. There's a bit at the end of Sonozaki which sounds like machine gun fire.
Best tracks: Sonozaki // The Manifestation of Phantasmagoria // Tar Mouth
https://sachiel01.bandcamp.com/album/human-instrumentality |
| 7 |  | Tchornobog
Tchornobog
Tchornobog's premise may be a little eyebrow-arching, but it's a bloody good time. While largely consisting of cloudy death metal and a little bit of BM, there's enough jazz and (I think?) Middle Eastern influence here that, in all, it's a great listen.
Best tracks: II: Hallucinatory Black Breath of Possession (Mountain-Eye Amalgamation) // III: Non-Existence's Warmth (Infinite Natality Psychosis) // IIII: Here, At The Disposition of Time (Inverting A Solar Giant)
https://markovsoroka.bandcamp.com/album/tchornobog |
| 8 |  | Hell (USA)
Hell
There's a very real bluesy/classic rock lilt to Hell's s/t, but hidden under a mire of fuzz and ugly shrieks/howls. That album art really seems kinda indicative.
Best tracks: SubOdin // Machitikos // Victus
https://loweryourhead.bandcamp.com/album/hell-full-length |
| 9 |  | Alter
Pendulum
Heavily taking a leaf out of Have A Nice Life's book, Alter get away with it by being pretty excellent at doing so. The drum performance on The Storm is grand.
Best tracks: Momentary Life // Pendulum // The Storm
https://aalterr.bandcamp.com/album/pendulum |
| 10 |  | I Hate Models
Totsuka no Tsurugi
A striking balancing act between the miserable/waylaid and the carefree, Totsuka no Tsurugi is probably my favourite cut from one of my favourite techno producers at the moment.
Best tracks: Eternal Loneliness // Heartbreaker // Demons from the Past
https://arts-records.bandcamp.com/album/totsuka-no-tsurugi |
| 11 |  | Adrift for Days
A Sleepless Grey
'Psychedelic doom', as the band put it. Probably a little less psych than their previous works, but compensated with additional sadness. A really lovely listen.
https://adriftfordays.bandcamp.com/album/a-sleepless-grey |
| 12 |  | Angles 9
Disappeared Behind the Sun
Experimental big-band stuff. Just missed out on Top 10 - energetic and pretty damn exciting.
https://open.spotify.com/album/0waUO5aFvi6QRglJrEzZht |
| 13 |  | Artificial Brain
Infrared Horizon
Marston-produced technical(?) death metal. Worn off a little since its release, but still a blast to listen to.
https://profoundlorerecords.bandcamp.com/album/infrared-horizon |
| 14 |  | Blood Freak
Total Destruction of the Human Form
Absolutely potty deathgrind.
https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/total-destruction-of-the-human-form |
| 15 |  | Boring Bathtimes
Loss
One-track ambient folk project that is really lovely to sit back and listen to on a grey afternoon.
https://boringbathtimes.bandcamp.com/album/loss |
| 16 |  | Chepang
A Tale Of Wildfire
Nepalese/American grindcore with superb drums.
https://chepang.bandcamp.com/album/dadhelo-a-tale-of-wildfire |
| 17 |  | Corrupt Moral Altar
Eunoia
Crust punk with a lovely early-90s guitar tone and beautiful snare sound.
https://corruptmoralaltar.bandcamp.com/ |
| 18 |  | Der Weg Einer Freiheit
Finisterre
Superbly composed, melancholic black metal.
https://derwegeinerfreiheit.bandcamp.com/album/finisterre |
| 19 |  | Drenches
Regen
Really cool German hardcore/crust album.
https://drenches.bandcamp.com/album/regen |
| 20 |  | esazlesa
Společnost psů
Pretty interesting Czech screamo that, by and large, stays away from the twinkles.
https://esazlesa.bandcamp.com/album/spole-nost-ps |
| 21 |  | Gjendod
Nedstigning
Unashamedly no-bullshit Norwegian black metal. Riffs, blasts, gnarled vocals, and that's about it.
https://hellthrasherproductions.bandcamp.com/album/nedstigning |
| 22 |  | I Hate Models
Absolution XXL
My love affair with I Hate Models: Part 2
https://soundcloud.com/ihatemodels/sets/absolution-xxl-voi007 |
| 23 |  | I Hate Models
State of Control
My love affair with I Hate Models: Part 3.
https://monnomblack.bandcamp.com/album/state-of-control-ep |
| 24 |  | IDLES
Brutalism
Super-pissed and almost unfairly catchy punk that is very, very British. 1049 Gotho is probably a top 10 track of the year for me.
https://open.spotify.com/album/4KKBC1uABloAIFc0TiUv5r |
| 25 |  | IDYLLS
The Barn
(Not to be confused with IDLES) A venture into noise rock for the hardcore punk/grind folks. Takes a bit of time to gel, but it's worth it.
https://idylls.bandcamp.com/album/the-barn |
| 26 |  | IU
Palette
Structuring issues aside, an absolutely gorgeous K-Pop/soul amalgam. 'Dlwlrma' is a special opener.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5V8n6fqyAPxvFTibPhQVcp |
| 27 |  | Kauan
Kaiho
Instantly fell in-love with this, and then kinda dropped off - and now I'm in love again. Kauan's have finally bid adieu to their metal past it seems, but Kaiho is a beautiful post-rock trip.
https://kauan.bandcamp.com/album/kaiho |
| 28 |  | Khmer
Larga Sombra
Spanish crust is always good, and this might top the lot. Awesome vocals.
https://khmer.bandcamp.com/album/larga-sombra-2 |
| 29 |  | LLNN / Wovoka
Marks / Traces
A fantastic split between hardcore sludge Danes LLNN and the more conventionally sludge-based Wovoka. Actually fits together, which is awesome for a split.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7XF8UD3rSQ |
| 30 |  | Loss
Horizonless
Gorgeous funeral doom release, with some amazing melodies.
https://loss.bandcamp.com/album/horizonless |
| 31 |  | Malmo
Manifesto della chimica romantica
Probably the most chilled post-rock album I've heard. More vocally driven than most in the genre... just a lovely, lovely time.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5j4MYXSzJqyLrICGcqXaaO |
| 32 |  | Natalia Lafourcade
Musas
Mexican folk with gorgeous vocals? That'll do!
https://open.spotify.com/album/30isRfL4u7fowKgTVsydDt |
| 33 |  | Nokturnal Mortum
Verity
Very good folk metal from a band I'm still discovering in full.
https://nokturnalmortum1.bandcamp.com/album/verity |
| 34 |  | ostraca
last
Desperate emoviolence/screamo stuff. Vocals are awesome, but the guitars are what make this for me - every progression is bleak as hell.
https://ostraca.bandcamp.com/album/last |
| 35 |  | Porter Ricks
Anguilla Electrica
Another one that just missed the top 10 - interesting IDM/techno release that seems to decompose as it goes on.
https://open.spotify.com/album/2o85UJN4OVHjQZiwdba9Qy |
| 36 |  | Potence
L'Amour Au Temps De La Peste
Awesome black/crust album with harrowing vocals.
https://potence.bandcamp.com/album/lamour-au-temps-de-la-peste |
| 37 |  | Ryuichi Sakamoto
Async
Every time I listen to this, I'm like 'why don't I listen to this more often?' Neat ambient/electronic stuff that sits very nicely in the skull.
https://open.spotify.com/album/2535QNWIvsIszI8AglJQO4 |
| 38 |  | S.O.N.S
Shimokitazawa One Night Stand
Sterling acid-house(?) EP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw9dRbgfWfY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2Tj0_-sGuQ |
| 39 |  | Schwefelgelb
Dahinter das Gesicht
Industrial techno with just the right level of gutpunch in the kick drum.
https://schwefelgelb.bandcamp.com/album/dahinter-das-gesicht |
| 40 |  | Scuba Death
The Worm at the Core
Minimal techno that plays with intensity in interesting ways.
https://open.spotify.com/album/4xROYRhcQtUDAoHjwopC6R |
| 41 |  | Sielunvihollinen
Ruhonkantaja
Piiiiiiiisssed blackpunk from Finland. These guys have never not been a good time.
https://sielunvihollinen.bandcamp.com/album/ruhonkantaja |
| 42 |  | The Great Old Ones
EOD: A Tale of Dark Legacy
Took me FOREVER to check this, but I'm glad I did. Dense, exploring black metal from the French, that continues their 'do no wrong' status.
https://thegreatoldonessom.bandcamp.com/album/eod-a-tale-of-dark-legacy |
| 43 |  | The Hyacinth Act
The Warm Embrace of the Bitter Cold
Interesting electronic/techno release that flits between whimsy and sternness almost at will. Very danceable.
https://hyacinth.bandcamp.com/album/the-warm-embrace-of-the-bitter-cold |
| 44 |  | The War on Drugs
A Deeper Understanding
A slight disappointment, I wonder sometimes whether I've not 'got' this as much as I expected something from it - 'Lost in the Dream' I went in blind, and it slowly welded to my brain. Regardless, 'Thinking of a Place' is track of the year, if not the decade.
https://open.spotify.com/album/4TkmrrpjlPoCPpGyDN3rkF |
| 45 |  | Tomb Mold
Primordial Malignity
Grimy, mucky OSDM that eats, shoots and leaves. I love it.
https://bloodharvestrecords.bandcamp.com/album/primordial-malignity-12lp-cd |
| 46 |  | Tricot
3
Super janky math-rock/pop from the Kyoto trio. A lot of fun.
https://topshelfrecords.bandcamp.com/album/3 |
| 47 |  | Turia
Dede Kondre
Maybe the best black metal atmosphere of the year, even if Havukruunu stomps it for out-and-out enjoyability. Dede Kondre feels like a fog demon, shrieks dissolving into indistinguishable ambience. Not very fun, but a great listen.
https://montturia.bandcamp.com/album/dede-kondre |
| 48 |  | Ungfell
Tôtbringære
In my defending of this as 'not a Peste Noire clone', my oversight is that it is, indeed, quite a bit like Peste Noire. The shrieks on this thing though.
https://ungfell.bandcamp.com/album/t-tbring-re |
| 49 |  | Wode
Servants of the Countercosmos
An unrelenting barrage of blackened riffs.
https://avantgardemusic.bandcamp.com/album/servants-of-the-countercosmos |
| 50 |  | Yowie
Synchromysticism
Brutal prog that is excellent time and time again.
https://skingraftrecords.bandcamp.com/album/synchromysticism |
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