A Cure For A Musical Famine
The best albums flying under the radar that I've come across in the past few months. |
| 1 |  | Panzerballett
Hart Genossen: Von Abba Bis Zappa
Superbly executed instrumental jazz metal that's begging to be heard by anyone looking for something that's definitely different. 4.5 |
| 2 |  | Urna
Sepulcrum
One of the best displays of black/funeral doom metal I've heard in a while. While they released their newest album "Iter Ad Lucem" earlier this year, "Sepulcrum" (released in 2006) is a better display of what this band is capable of. 4.5 |
| 3 |  | Sun of the Blind
Skullreader
Amazing atmospheric black metal from Zhaaral of Darkspace with all kinds of nightmarish musical ingredients mixed in. 4.5 |
| 4 |  | Profanum
Musaeum Esotericum
A very mature, well-produced, and classy showing of ambient/classical black metal. Dark and romantic, Musaeum Esotericum entrances the listener with the droning buzz of the guitars and infatuates him with the soothing, somber tone of the piano, the cello, and the violin. 4.5 |
| 5 |  | Pantheon I
Worlds I Create
Although "Worlds I Create" suffers from the "blast beat curse", it's still a very impressive exhibition of classically-influenced black metal with a good sense of balance. 4 |
| 6 |  | Hallowed Butchery
Funeral Rites for the Living
From the musical genius of Ryan Scott Fairfield (who?) and the cold wilderness of Kennebec County, Maine (where?) comes this incredible funeral doom/acoustic folk/experimental black metal EP. Think a combination of Esoteric and Agalloch. This release's only downfall is that it wasn't longer. 4 |
| 7 |  | Bliss of Flesh
Emaciated Diety
Blisteringly harsh, gritty French black/death metal. 4 |
| 8 |  | Geist
Galeere
Bitter, cold, and haunting atmospheric black metal from Germany. There's no shortage of ambiance in this fine musical interpretation of a ghost ship lost at sea. The beautiful yet melancholy oceanic tones throughout the record do well to sell the desperate, lonely feeling of drifting aimlessly in the open water. |
| 9 |  | Mistur
Attende
From the former lead guitarist of Windir and Cor Scorpii and the members of Windir-worshippers Sigtyr, comes this excellent Norwegian folk/black/viking metal debut. Fans of Vreid, Windir, Myrkgrav, Thyrfing, and Cor Scorpii will especially enjoy this one. That means you, Balls. 4 |
| 10 |  | Process of Guilt
Erosion
Another fine doom/death release from the most talented Portuguese doom metal act. I've struggled not to give this a 4.5 as it's quickly ascending my charts as my doom record of the year. 4 |
| 11 |  | Lord Mantis
Spawning the Nephilim
Dirty, dark, and sexy blackened sludge metal from Chicago. Interestingly enough, Lord Mantis shares their hometown with Lair of the Minotaur which is probably the most similar-sounding band, it's surprising they don't share any members. 4 |
| 12 |  | Cerebrum
Spectral Extravagance
A well-crafted progressive/technical death metal debut from this talented Greek band. 4 |
| 13 |  | Martyrdod
Sekt
Gross and sludgey blackened crust metal with some punk influences from Sweden. 4 |
| 14 |  | Sui Caedere
Threne
Incredibly depressing funeral black/doom metal so thick and hypnotizing that seems to lull the listener into a suicidal coma. 4 |
| 15 |  | Riger
Streyf
Fast-paced pagan black metal from Germany. 4 |
| 16 |  | Sights and Sounds
Monolith
Some of the best post hardcore I've listened to this year. Anyone who enjoyed Closure in Moscow's "First Temple" should look into this one. 4 |
| 17 |  | Myrkr
Black Illumination
Absolutely solid Swedish black metal-inspired Irish bm. Marduk and Sacramentum fans will enjoy this. 4 |
| 18 |  | Forsaken
After the Fall
Very well-done traditional doom metal a la Solitude Aeturnus from Malta. |
| 19 |  | Opus Nigrum
Journey In the Dark
Lush neoclassical dark ambient. For fans of Arcana, Dead Can Dance, etc. (fire, check this out). 4 |
| 20 | | Fall of Efrafa
Inle
Dark post metal with crust, hardcore, and sludge elements. 4 |
| 21 |  | Krilin
When The Time Comes, There Will Be No Time
More excellent post hardcore with some minor punk elements similar to earlier Thrice. |
| 22 |  | Iron Age
The Sleeping Eye
Very unorthodox thrash metal with psychadelic doom metal undertones. 4 |
| 23 |  | Ainulindale
The Lay of Leithian
Tolkien-inspired neofolk/neoclassical ambient. 4 |
| 24 |  | Neila
Danza de Nieblas
Spanish sludge/post metal that shares some glaring similarities with Neurosis. 4 |
| 25 |  | Disparaged
The Wrath of God
Modern old school death metal for those who enjoyed Lay Down Rotten, Vomitory, and Monstrosity's latest releases. 4 |
| 26 |  | The Mire
Volume: I
Outstanding post metal with sludge and hardcore elements that shows immense potential from this UK band. Although this EP is only twelve minutes long, it's twelve minutes of post metal bliss. Anyone who considers themselves Baroness fans must check this out. 4 |
| 27 |  | Echidna
Insidious Awakening
A solid debut by a talented Portuguese melodic death/thrash metal band. Solo whores will especially enjoy this. 3.5 |
| 28 |  | Leshak
Chertovorot
Very headbangable Russian folk/melodic death metal with a strong hint of Koorpiklaani. 3.5 |
| 29 |  | Achilles
Hospice
Excellent hardcore-infused post metal with a superb vocal delivery. 3.5 |
| 30 |  | Keeper of Dreams
Taste Smashed to Pieces
Technical death/thrash metal with an old school vibe a la Death. 3.5 |
| 31 |  | Allvaters Zorn
Geburt
German folk/ambient black metal. Drudkh fans will find this an interesting listen. 3.5 |
| 32 |  | Fractal Gates
Altered State Of Consciousness
French progressive death metal relying heavily on the synth to produce a believable but forced-sounding celestial atmosphere. 3.5 |
| 33 |  | Sonneillon
Polymorphous
Well-executed and produced Polish symphonic/classical black metal that proves to be listenable only in small doses. 3.5 |
| 34 |  | Memory Driven
Relative Obscurity
Solid, dreary American progressive doom metal. 3.5 |
| 35 |  | Hand of Fatima
Obake
Instrumental post rock/post metal similar to Red Sparowes and Isis. 3.5 |
| 36 |  | ID:Vision
X-Ray Sun
The new EP from this Polish futuristic industrial blackened death metal band shows much promise for their next full length release and is a worthy follow-up to their superb debut "Plazmadchaos". 3.5 |
| 37 |  | Andacht
Chapter I
Atmospheric USBM with obvious influence from Darkspace and Vinterriket. 3.5 |
| 38 |  | Time of the Wolf
Time of the Wolf
Pretty good black/thrash metal from Washington D.C. Check this out if you like Aura Noir, Destroyer 666, etc. 3.5 |
| 39 |  | As You Drown
Reflection
Solid, catchy, and well-executed Swedish death metal. 3.5 |
| 40 |  | Hellveto
Od Poludnia Na Polnoc...
Though not as good as 2008's "Neoheresy", this orchestral folk/black metal solo project doesn't fail to add another worthy release to the Hellveto discography. 3.5 |
| 41 |  | Illdisposed
To Those Who Walk Behind Us
Another solid release from this Danish death metal band. Think a better version of Darkane. 3.5 |
| 42 |  | Aeternam
Disciples of the Unseen
Middle eastern melodic death/thrash metal from Canada. 3.5 |
| 43 |  | Xenolith
Obscure Reflections
Israeli progressive/melodic death metal. 3.5 |
| 44 |  | Persefone
Shin-Ken
One of my biggest disappointments of the year, Shin-Ken is definitely a solid progressive/symphonic death metal record but is no where near as good as their last release. Compared to "Core", Shin-Ken is a stale, uninspired, and recycled album that did nothing to introduce new ideas or display even 1% of the creativity that this band possesses. 3 |
| 45 |  | Satanochio
From Beyond
Well-produced experimental/symphonic black metal that ultimately suffers from a lack of direction. 3 |
| 46 |  | Hiss of Atrocities
Ritual of the Lost
The LA-based Hiss of Atrocities shows a lot of promise with their melodic death/thrash debut "Ritual of the Lost" but fails to deliver with an album devoid of any distinguishable tracks. 3 |
| 47 |  | After All
Cult of Sin
Satisfying for a while, but boring after a few listens, "Cult of Sin" is a decent display of modern old school thrash metal from a Belgian band that's been making music for over two decades. I expected better though. 3 |
| 48 |  | Rudra
Brahmavidya: Transcendental I
Vedic death/thrash metal that was a little disappointing after their previous releases, but still pretty solid. 3 |
| 49 |  | Requiem
Infiltrate...Obliterate...Dominate
Good, albeit relatively average Swiss death metal. 3 |
| 50 |  | Gravehill
Rites of the Pentagram
Decent blackened death/thrash metal from the US. 3 |
|
