2017 End Of Year List Written In 2018 So What?
2017, You started pretty well, Then you sucked, Then came Roadburn, My haven. Then the realisation of a gambling addiction and the groundhog days of working in the middle of nowhere for 10 months of your year. Talking to yourself, Not knowing what day it is, Removed from social interaction that maybe effected my listening or made me line up with records I usually wouldn't. Maybe. I don't know. The best thing, as it is every year, was the ridiculous amounts of good music. No matter what highs or lows youre going through theres always music for the occasion. I don't know how anyone can cope without it. x |
| 20 |  | Dalek
Endangered Philosophies
It wasn't the old Dalek as the lead single and first track teased but in post Oktapus Dalek times its as good as its been. The beats are relatively laid back for Daleks standards but theres still enough going on to make it a great record and worthy Dalek one because no one does it like them/him.
https://youtu.be/5ZE3v6YhOco |
| 19 |  | Blanck Mass
World Eater
The only electronic record Ive REALLY, REALLY enjoyed this year. Which make me sad.
https://youtu.be/Gi8QMSMb-Bs |
| 18 |  | The Clearing Path
Watershed Between Firmament And The Realm of Hyper
One of 3 crazy dissonant metal records I loved but more on a black metal tip that a death metal one. The first 3 tracks are as good as ANY of that style of metal Ive heard all year. Shame the last track is a bit of a waste/Bore. Some real really clever ideas and some well mixed up melodic clean parts among the chaos which make it stand out all the more.
https://youtu.be/iolODvOddF0 |
| 17 |  | Planning for Burial
Below the House
A cold ass, depressive record. Another I seemed to line with this year. Its kind of sloppy and messy in parts but its endearing in its bleakness. Im obsessed with just staring at the cover of this while listening to it. Its so simple yet perfectly encapsulates the feeling of this great album.
https://youtu.be/PCa78dOSBSk |
| 16 |  | Atrium Carceri & Cities Last Broadcast
Black Corner Den
A Dark ambient Swedish cocktail by 2 of the absolute greats of the genre. Read the bandcamp for a real explanation. Arguable 2 of the most consistent artists around that scene. 'Exploring the opium dens at the end of the 19th century this album takes you deep into the soothing dreams of dead poets.' ....So there.
https://cryochamber.bandcamp.com/album/black-corner-den |
| 15 |  | Monarch (FRA)
Never Forever
I absolutely LOVE Monarch. I think theyre massively underrated. Their kind of drone-doom is not easily accessible but that makes it all the more special for me. The Kiss cover on this ALONE makes it top 15. One of my fave tracks of the year
https://profoundlorerecords.bandcamp.com/track/diamant-noir |
| 14 |  | Hell (USA)
Hell
The kings of Salem sludge. This was everything I hoped it would be. I still prefer 'III' in all honesty but no one does this type of Doom meets Sludge like the mighty Hell (maybe Thou) with that type of abrasiveness.Those Operation Wandering soul samples are crazy. I didn't even know about that shit.
https://youtu.be/Ud9ugr1nCWo?t=17m6s |
| 13 |  | Sunless
Urraca
A lot of band's walk the tech-death/Gorguts/dissonance path nowadays sounding painfully similar and some just do it right. 'Urraca' is it done right. Touches of Deathspell and Ulcerate (standard comparisons, sorry). Vox remind me of early 90s Death metal. Pestilence or some shit.
https://youtu.be/5VA0MVbFwLo |
| 12 |  | Armand Hammer
Rome
Quite simply 2 of my favourite MCs'. Elucid and Billy Woods are the perfect team. They compliment so well. I think Elucid is especially underrated as an MC, People who KNOW, KNOW who Billy Woods is. Another grower, I wasn't as enamoured with the beats as I was on 'Race Music'. They are less....kinda... 'out there' ,I find, yet the lyricism as ever by those two is sublime. Just a shame AM breakups didn't provide a few beats. Maybe next time.
https://youtu.be/iLcJrYZSraM |
| 11 |  | Chelsea Wolfe
Hiss Spun
Never really been a big Chelsea Wolfe fan. Seen her live and she was dope. But this really surprised me. You could say I enjoy this 'heavy' side of Chelsea but that would belittle her heaviness in general but as far as me being a more of a metal fan, you can get what I mean. This mix worked really well for me. Because I dont find a lot replay in her records. Added Aaron Turner is always a bonus.
https://youtu.be/RgAruEQJDhM |
| 10 |  | Omahara
Omahara
Instrumental drone from Tasmania on the superb Art As Catharsis label who had a stellar year. Meditative improvisation that borders on the psychedelic at times. I read a review where the word 'Landscape' was used a lot and that stuck with me. Its a landscape record. A landscape you can create psychologically and drift inward ( or outwards ) to the repetitiveness and the creation but theres more of a pay off with this kind of instrumental drone once they explode into 'jams'. Really great band.
https://omahara.bandcamp.com/ |
| 9 |  | Bedwetter
Volume 1: Flick Your Tongue Against Your Teeth...
As mentioned on the top I found solace in a few albums that dealt with depression and the likes this year. Not because I had it but because I became aware of it. The boy LUM (as if Im ever going to stop calling him that) deals with it as good as anyone. Only shame is its not longer. But what it is is almost an extra 30 mins of 'Oblivion Access'
https://youtu.be/XEAHlg9LKBk |
| 8 |  | She The Throne
She The Throne
People might have heard me pimp the UK's From the kites of San Quentin's glorious, glitchy epicness. This is by 2/3rd's of that band. Its one you have to stick with for the rewards. The first 2 tracks are almost drone/dark ambient lo fi sampled passages. Theres Sprinkles of 80s horror-esque electronic scores and dark Portisheady vibes
( White Tiger) And heavy post dubstep kind of bass that hits out of nowhere. Lazers and shit. As with Kites, the haunting, Twisted female vox are the cherry on top. Don't bail out now. Surprise of the year.
https://thiscityisours.bandcamp.com/track/oligarch |
| 7 |  | Artificial Brain
Infrared Horizon
Black mirror should do an episode about Artificial Brain. They are surely all robots with extra fingers.
The Sci-Fi death metal kings got even better.
https://youtu.be/mxNkGupr4fg?t=17m4s |
| 6 |  | Northumbria
Markland
My favourite Dark Ambient release of the year. All though there many moments where 'Dark' isn't really apt Beautiful expansive compositions inspired by the Norse discovery of Canada the 2nd in a Trilogy. An album to get truly lost in. Makes me feel like Im wandering around, lost in the snow.
https://youtu.be/MiyuSyi4RKU |
| 5 |  | Throane
Plus Une Main A Mordre
Dehn Sora/ Treha Sektori - Artist/Musician/Genius. Everything the boy touches is gold. From artwork for Debemur Morti/Blut Aus Nord to his own droney,dark ambient releases under the latter. HIs suffocating black metal band Thoane's second record is as relentless as the first. Not classical BM in any form. Its thick and dense. All the claustrophobic beauty of the first record is here but with more ideas, More twists. Add CHVE (Amenra) vox on the final track and you're about ready to kill someone.
https://youtu.be/Gr8zrJL-GEc |
| 4 |  | Primitive Man
Caustic
To this day quite probably the heaviest thing I've ever seen live was Primitive man in a bar with out 40 people. They may as well have just been throwing boulders onto the floor. Theres nothing new per-se in what they do on here that they haven't done before but the utter never ending bludgeoning is just so damn ruthless. Theres passages that you just cannot screw your face up and go 'Urgggggggh' at the pure filth of it.
https://youtu.be/uKpf8qx52Bg |
| 3 |  | Elder (USA-MA)
Reflections of a Floating World
Elders now proggy take on their earlier Stoner/Doom base was well established on the mighty 'Lore' I love this just as much. 'Sanctuary' Is the Jam. We all know this. But some of the key sections are what stands this out for me. This is my jam. Psych proggy stoner greatness.
https://youtu.be/b5Yfbj5v9QA |
| 2 |  | Bell Witch
Mirror Reaper
I was blown away by this on my very first listen. Repeated listens revealed subtle nuances I miss from the time before. I can understand how people don't get (or like) this record but If you're going into a Funeral Doom record and complaining 'It sounds the same' after 10 mins in maybe its not for you. This turned out to be one of my favourite pieces of music for many years. The artwork is fantastic and the sample vocals from now deceased ex-drummer Adrian Guerra at the mid point of the journey just adds to the whole atmosphere of the album. Life and Death. Its not an easy sitting, Of course. But the best Funeral Doom rarely is. 'Mirror Reaper' is Esoteric level Funeral doom for me and a stunning Piece of music. I feel guilty leaving it in the 2 spot.
https://youtu.be/10q1ZJyLXFk |
| 1 |  | Amenra
Mass VI
I could write a book full of descriptions to try and get over what Amenra mean to me but it still wouldn't do it justice or relay how much deep seeded baggage and emotion I have tied up with this band. They invoke something so bleak and primal, yet s obvious and subtle that it brings out emotions like no other band for me. Theres is hope in the darkness but you have to find it, You have to earn it. I did initially have some hang ups about Mass 6 but they have faded away with repeated listens. 'Diaken' is now one of my favourite Amenra tracks. I almost put Bell Witch in first place but nothing pulls me in and pulls the demons out like Amenra do for me. Nothing compares to it. Mass VI is Amenra doing what they do but almost stepping out of their own shadows in a way. 'For hours, For Years'
https://youtu.be/UahZO6rVrDU |
|
