Artuma
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09.27.21 2021-22 NHL season: Kracking new ice02.12.21 ALL Cult of Luna songs ranked
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Artuma's Top 200: 100-51

sorry that it took a little longer this time around, i was real fucking wasted for the whole weekend. also didn't have time to proofread many of these. anyway, stay tuned.
50Drudkh
Blood in Our Wells

#100: As far as atmospheric black metal goes, Drudkh and especially their fourth
full-length, Blood in Our Wells, stands as an essential listen for anyone who is new
to the genre. Blood in Our Wells is a really pleasing listen, as the black metal
tendencies are relatively accessible, and the album's evident Slavonic folk elements
are extremely intriguing and appropriate. Blood in Our Wells is full of emotions and
raw metal, yet "Eternity" shows a more rocking-out side of the band, which feels
always fresh.
49Burzum
Filosofem

#99: Filosofem is quite often overshadowed by Varg Vikernes' magnum opus, Hvis
lyset tar oss, but it isn't without its merits at all. Admittedly, Filosofem has a
blatantly poor production, but that's not a weakness in the slightest. The muddy
and raw sound suits perfectly for the album, and makes it really mysterious and
effective, while featuring some of the best melodies Varg has ever created.
However, it's the 25-minute ambient song in the middle of the album that divides
the listeners' opinions. It is placed so that it completely cuts the flow Filosofem
otherwise has, which makes it a really odd track, but as the song consists of an
insanely repetitive three-chord "melody," which might seem pointless, but given full
attention it will take you in a trance without a question. Filosofem is a perfect
example of Varg Vikernes' genius (and lunatic) mind.
48Radiohead
Kid A

#98: Kid A was a phenomenon of its own. About everything about Radiohead's
surprising move with it and its influence on modern music has been said, and its
merits are hard not to notice. As I am a fan of Radiohead, it might seem weird to
have this (let's face it) masterpiece so low on my list. Its abstract lyrics fit
perfectly on the experimental electronic arrangements and sampling, yet it is still
occasionally centered around infectious melodies. The magical "Everything in Its
Place," the noisy rocking out on "The National Anthem," and the dark, stripped-out
ballad "How to Disappear Completely" are just some of the examples of perfection
shown on Kid A. However, tracks like "In Limbo" and "Morning Bell" just never hit me,
and even though Kid A is a modern music classic, I really feel it still could be even
better.
47The Dillinger Escape Plan
Calculating Infinity

#97: Calculating Infinity simply hits with a huge bang. It is something unlike
anything else ever made in the "core" scene, and shows the massive amount of
talent the musicians of The Dillinger Escape Plan have. It is easily one of the most
technical and eccentric metalcore albums ever made, and is definitely one of the
most essential albums in the genre. With all the odd time signatures, ferocious
riffage and experimental songwriting, the album also features the passionate vocals
of Dimitri Minakakis which hit with full intensity and rawness.
46Neurosis
A Sun That Never Sets

#96: The sludge metal giants Neurosis are well-known for their musical evolution
that lasted for over ten years. A Sun That Never Sets is one part of this, and
expands upon the sound of their previous effort, Times of Grace. It is lighter than
its predecessor, which leads up to more mature songwriting. A Sun That Never Sets
is a beautiful and varied effort, yet it still has the band's signature heaviness and
density. The culmination of the album is heard in the epic closer, "Stones from the
Sky," which starts with Swans-esque darkness and builds up to feature one of
airiest and best riffs the band has ever made.
45The Dear Hunter
Act II: The Meaning of, & All Things Regarding Ms. Leading

#95: Act II is the realization of all the potential Casey Crescenzo has as a
songwriter. It is a gigantic rock opera full of twists and turns for its whole 76-
minute runtime, and not a single minute feels unnecessary. The songs are incredibly
ambitious and diverse, never predictable, yet infectiously catchy. One of the
biggest strengths of the album is also Casey's amazing voice, which he uses wisely,
sometimes with heartbreaking sensitiveness and sometimes with hard-hitting, crispy
intensity.
44Hammock
Stranded Under Endless Sky

#94: Hammock's debut EP isn't a long one, yet it manages to hit all the right notes
and is, due to its short length, also a really accessible post-rock record for
beginners. Basically, Stranded Under Endless Sky showcases everything that was
later perfected on Hammock's debut LP, Kenotic, as it doesn't rely on big climaxes,
but more on the sheer beauty and hopeful feel executed through pure ambience.
43Sunny Day Real Estate
How It Feels to Be Something On

#93: It is clear that Sunny Day Real Estate's debut album, Diary, was their magnum
opus and one of the most influential emo albums of the 90s, but it is interesting
how they managed to match up its quality after all the chaos and break-ups that
had plagued the band. How It Feels to Be Something On is an emo masterpiece with
its melancholic sound and Jeremy Enigk's passionate vocals but also extremely
mature musicianship and songwriting. It is not as intense as the band's previous
efforts but this is where SDRE reached their atmospheric top and wrote some of
their best and most heartfelt songs, possibly the best example of which is the
opener, "Pillars."
42Yo La Tengo
I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One

#92: I think it's quite safe to say Yo La Tengo are easily one of the most creative
indie acts of all time, having released almost 15 full-length albums on their over 20-
year-long career and experimenting with diverse sounds to create some very
intriguing indie rock. Their eighth album, I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One, could
really be described as the epitome of their sound. Almost everything that the band
has succeeded in during their career can be found on this lo-fi indie masterpiece
that perfectly showcases the band's ability to write catchy rock tunes
("Sugarcube"), dreamy nocturnal beauty ("Green Arrow"), melancholic indie pop
("Shadows") and experimental psychedelic compositions ("Spec Bebop").
41Kayo Dot
Choirs of the Eye

#91: Choirs of the Eye isn't an album for everyone. It requires full patience to
completely click as it is an extremely complex and genre-bending work of art. Choirs
could possibly be described as the definition of "post-everything," since its musical
range varies from post-rock to modern classical music to gut-wrenching heaviness
and four of the album's five songs surpass the 10-minute mark. All this leads up to
a beautiful, progressive masterpiece without any flaws.
40Paysage d'Hiver
Paysage d'Hiver

#90: The self-titled album by Paysage d'Hiver, a one-man atmospheric black metal
act, shows that winter doesn't always need to look beautiful. It is pretty much the
musical equivalent of the darkness of winter, as the muddy melodies are highly
melancholic and gloomy, creating a painfully cold atmosphere. With the addition of
Wintherr's evil shrieks and the raw and inaccessible production, it is clear that
Paysage d'Hiver is an album made for the darkest moments of the winter.
39Interpol
Turn On the Bright Lights

#89: It is not a miracle that following the release of their debut album, Turn on the
Bright Lights, Interpol were hailed as "the modern-day Joy Division." They basically
brought the melancholic post-punk atmosphere and sound to the new millennium
and the vocalist sounded frigtheningly much like Ian Curtis. However, Turn on the
Bright Lights avoids becoming too similar to their obvious influence. Despite its bleak
tone and atmosphere, Turn on the Bright Lights is remarkably catchy as well,
featuring hit songs like "Obstacle 1" and devastating sadness like "Leif Erikson."
38Pavement
Slanted and Enchanted

#88: Pavement's debut album Slanted and Enchanted was a real indie rock
phenomenon. It appeals with its easy-going pop tunes mixed with the raw lo-fi
production and Steve Malkmus' attractively off-key singing. Slanted and Enchanted
is simply one of the most carelessly fun albums I've ever listened to, which is why I
can always go back to it and just jam this album. In fact, the obvious flaws of it
are possibly its biggest strength.
37Laura Stevenson
Sit Resist

#87: It is a difficult task not to fall in love with Laura Stevenson. Her vocals are
incredibly cute and emotional and the music backing her beautiful voice is emotional
and relatively catchy. The album succeeds the most on songs like "8:08," which
features a gorgeous, soaring indie rock melody and Laura's attractive singing, taking
the song into completely new heights. Sit Resist is an album that feels always so
warm.
36Husker Du
Zen Arcade

#86: Zen Arcade is without a doubt one of the most important hardcore punk
albums of all time. Most of its importance relies on how vastly ambitious and
experimental the album was considering that it was released in the first half of the
80s. Zen Arcade is an extremely diverse double album, which features a great
setting of top-notch 80s hardcore, pure rage, easy-going punk and even
psychedelia with a flawless execution.
35Modest Mouse
The Lonesome Crowded West

#85: The incredible amount of pure talent that the members of Modest Mouse had
back in the 90s couldn't have got a better realization than The Lonesome Crowded
West. They have their own eccentric sound and style that is both fun and
thoughtful, and The Lonesome Crowded West shows the sense of perfect execution
Modest Mouse had, while its follow-up, The Moon & Antarctica, was a lot more
atmospheric. The Lonesome Crowded West is full of classic indie rock tunes, the
frontman Isaac Brock's fantastic lyrics and peculiar voice shine as much as ever,
and Jeremiah Green provides some of the best drumming performances the genre
has seen.
34Godspeed You! Black Emperor
F#A# (Infinity)

#84: F#A# (Infinity) is far from being just an everyday album. Just like Godspeed
You! Black Emperor's other music, it is droning, climactic, ambitious, and all the
three compositions on the album are over 10 minutes long. There is just one thing
that separates it from their other albums: it is not just a challenging yet beautiful
album with long build-ups and massive climaxes. It is an experience. Of course, it
needs a lot of patience and concentration, but you will be rewarded for it.
33Botch
We Are the Romans

#83: Even though Botch made it pretty clear on their debut album, American
Nervoso, that they are in the scene to break every single door in front of them,
their massive amount of potential wasn't fully realized until they released We Are
the Romans. It was a groundbreaking metalcore album with its relentless hardcore
attitude, face-melting heaviness, gloomy atmosphere and technicality that had
never been heard before in metalcore. We Are the Romans is probably the most
influential album in mathcore, and was highly instrumental in creating the genre.
32Ulver
Nattens Madrigal

#82: Ulver's last album in their "black metal trilogy" was without a doubt the most
inaccessible of the three. As Bergtatt was a combination of the raw black metal
sound and Norwegian folk, Kveldssanger focused fully on the folk side. Nattens
Madrigal takes the other prominent style on Bergtatt, and the result is a relentless
and extremely raw black metal album. It is pretty much the epitome of the classic
2nd wave black metal sound, featuring an incredibly poor production, shrieking
vocals, tremolo-picking guitars and blast beats. However, it is brilliant in every way.
The riffs are memorable, the mood is creepily dark, and overall the album sounds
like a musical embodiment of the evil. Nattens Madrigal is black metal perfection,
even though it's definitely not for everyone's ear.
31Dream Theater
Awake

#81: Awake is a lot different than the other Dream Theater albums. While they
have always been known for their shameless instrumental wankery, odd time
signatures and epic riffage, Awake shows another side of the band. The
instrumental showing off is a lot more controlled than on any of their other records,
and the mood of the album is considerably darker. It allows the band to present
their songwriting at its most cohesive and create a great atmosphere throughout
the album. There are still progressive metal epics like "Scarred," but Awake also
features some of the most beautiful songs Dream Theater has ever made, the best
of which is the painfully bleak piano-centered ballad, "Space-Dye Vest."
30maudlin of the Well
Bath

#80: Experimenting with a lot of different styles and genres couldn't possibly have
a better outcome than Bath. It is arguably maudlin of the Well's magnum opus, and
is not hailed as one for no reason. Bath is an incredibly varied effort featuring a
unique blend of heavy progressive metal, acoustic folk elements, and a wide range
of orchestral instrumentation. Toby Driver uses his signature voice very well, as the
vocals range from the high, subtle cleans to brutal death metal growling. Bath may
not be the most accessible listen but it's certainly one of the most intriguing and
succeeds in every level. An essential listen for any progressive metal fan.
29Andrew Jackson Jihad
People Who Can Eat People Are the Luckiest People

#79: Andrew Jackson Jihad might seem like some random drunken guys playing fun
folk-punk, but they are a lot more. Their music is fun as hell, but the lyrical content
is something completely different, and People Who Can Eat People is the perfect
example of the genius of Andrew Jackson Jihad. The catchy acoustic punk melodies
are accompanied by drums, various folk instruments and the often off-key vocals
by Sean Bonnette. Even though the whole album is seeping optimism, the lyrics deal
with severe issues. They are intelligent and parodical, and really shows that Andrew
Jackson Jihad are serious.
28The Veils
Nux Vomica

#78: The Veils are one of those indie bands who get way too little recognition. Nux
Vomica is easily their best album, and full of memorable indie rock tunes and catchy
melodies, but the biggest appeal in the band is their charismatic frontman. Finn
Andrews is the real soul of the band with his passionate and deep vocal delivery.
Nux Vomica is catchy, fun, soulful and easily likeable. It's a must listen for anyone
who likes indie rock.
27At the Drive-In
Relationship of Command

#77: Relationship of Command is pretty much the perfect post-hardcore album. It is
musically incredibly diverse, combining punk energy with the heaviness of metal and
virtuosity of progressive rock to create one of the milestones in modern rock music.
Cedric Bixler's vocals are unique and intense, reminiscent to Zack de la Rocha of
Rage Against the Machine. Relationship of Command is a one hell of a ride for its
whole running time and is always able to captivate your full attention. It is simply
the pinnacle of post-hardcore and could serve as a representative album for the
rock music of the turn of the millennium.
26Oceansize
Frames

#76: Oceansize were arguably one of the best modern progressive rock bands
around before their break-up, and Frames is the best the band could offer. The
intriguing progressive song structures, bleak atmosphere, epic climaxes (especially
in the closer, "The Frame") and undeniable musical talent are just a few elements
that make Frames such a masterpiece. Their artistic sense is absolutely top-notch
and it shows. The album has a relatively dark mood throughout even though it feels
always fresh and airy, but the ultimate peak on the band's dark side is reached on
the 10-minute, excruciatingly slow doom track, "An Old Friend of the Christy's."
25Isis
Oceanic

#75: There aren't many albums titled as aptly as Oceanic, as it is one of the most
massive and dense albums I've ever heard. The songs grow easily to monstrous
lengths, and the changes between hard-hitting heavy sections and lightening soft
sections are nothing short of sheer perfection. The riffs on Oceanic are better than
on any other Isis album, and make sure that this is one of the most enjoyable post-
metal albums you'll ever hear. Besides that, the atmospheres are as huge and the
harsh vocals as mind-crushing as ever.
24Gospel
The Moon Is a Dead World

#74: Gospel were really one of its kind. They released only one album before fading
out, and that album stands as one of the most eccentric screamo albums ever
made. The excellent screaming vocals, emotional lyrics and hardcore attitude is
accompanied by the band's virtuosic technicality and progressive songwriting. It is
obvious that the members of Gospel can play their instruments but they never show
off. In fact, even though The Moon Is a Dead World is an extremely ambitious
record, the band also shows some genuine modesty in their execution. It is a dark,
intense and dense emotional adventure, and the band stays as a big mystery in the
history of screamo.
23Agalloch
Ashes Against the Grain

#73: As The Mantle showed a more atmospheric approach by Agalloch, Ashes
Against the Grain goes more metal. Agalloch's sound is easily noticeable as they
play a unique kind of metal, combining black metal, folk, atmospheric metal and
progressive metal to create absolutely breathtaking music. Ashes Against the Grain
is perhaps the heaviest and most riff-centered of Agalloch's five full-length albums,
and is a clear success at this approach. The album has a bleak, wintery tone
throughout, and even though Ashes isn't a necessarily atmospheric album, the
band's sense of creating cold soundscapes shines through. John Haughm's excellent
harsh vocals are definitely more evident here than on The Mantle, which suits to
the darkness of the album. Ashes provides some of the best riffs and greatest
compositions the band has ever made, and is an essential listen for anyone who is
interested in the band.
22Pink Floyd
Meddle

#72: Meddle is an album often overshadowed by its successors, which is a shame
since it is a near-perfect album. Besides that, there is the same kind of story inside
the album. The album's other songs get easily overshadowed by its closer. It is
understandable though, since that closer happens to be arguably the greatest song
of all time, "Echoes." It is a 23-minute mammoth that takes literally every good
aspect in Pink Floyd and puts them together to create a one hell of a perfect
composition. However, it is noteworthy that "Echoes" is not the only song on the
album. "Fearless" is one of the most overlooked songs the band has ever made and
features one of the most memorable Pink Floyd melodies. The album has two filler
songs, but other than that, Meddle is full of classic Pink Floyd songs, and is
essential to anyone who likes the band.
21mewithoutYou
Brother, Sister

#71: On Brother, Sister mewithoutYou make a logical step musically, as the
atmospheric elements that were more evident on their previous effort, Catch for Us
the Foxes, than on their debut, play now a bigger role than ever. The eccentric
frontman Aaron Weiss uses now less of his shouting vocals to let his emotional
singing voice to fully shine. This is also the album where Weiss shows his
astonishing sense of songwriting better than on any other mewithoutYou album.
Brother, Sister is a journey through Weiss' mind, and that is a damn genius mind.
20Opeth
My Arms, Your Hearse

#70: My Arms, Your Hearse was the last album in the more raw-sounding era of
Opeth and is also the best of them. It provides a dark atmosphere and a gloomy
concept, accompanied by Opeth's signature sound and some of the best
songwriting the band has ever made. The production is considerably more lo-fi than
the later Opeth albums, which allows the album to be fascinatingly mysterious. The
riffs are as good as ever, the soft parts are tasty, and Mikael Ĺkerfeldt's vocals
shine as always. My Arms, Your Hearse is easily one of the best albums these
progressive metal behemoths have created.
19The Evpatoria Report
Golevka

#69: The Swiss post-rock group The Evpatoria Report didn't break any new ground
with their debut LP, Golevka, but it really is simply flawless. The build-ups never
overstay their welcome and the climaxes are huge and touching. Everything on the
album seems to make perfect sense, yet nothing becomes too predictable. There is
still one track that stands out more than the others: "Taijin Kyofusho." It is
arguably one of the best post-rock songs I've ever heard, with its beautiful, dark
melody, and two build-ups that result two gorgeous climaxes. "Taijin Kyofusho" is
the song that shows what this amazing band is capable of.
18Yes
Close to the Edge

#68: Few progressive rock albums were as important to the genre as Yes' magnum
opus, Close to the Edge. It is vastly ambitious, yet doesn't hold a single flaw during
its whole running time. The title track is arguably one of the best and most epic
progressive rock compositions of all time, and it is really hard to find any cons from
the remaining two songs either. Close to the Edge is prog perfection and easily the
one of the best the genre can offer.
17Rush
Moving Pictures

#67: I think quite many of you agree that Moving Pictures is the best progressive
rock album of the 80s. It is the indisputable technical talent and the magnificent
songwriting that make Moving Pictures as fantastic as it is. It also quite an
accessible one, and is essential for anyone is willing to get into progressive rock.
Moving Pictures is definitely a classic, featuring some of the most well-known
progressive rock songs ever made.
16Tool
Aenima

#66: The album that launched Tool to stardom wasn't the easiest one. Aenima is
extremely complex in terms of technicality and songwriting, and almost half of the
songs on it are basically interludes. However, the songs also have memorable riffs
and catchy choruses, which are able to capture the attention of people who are
not necessarily into progressive music. One of Aenima's biggest strengths is the
raging intensity Maynard James Keenan shows in his vocals and lyrics. The lyrics
are as intelligent as they are on Lateralus, but on Aenima they are less abstract
and focus on more down-to-earth issues with such aggression it is hard to top.
15Sigur Ros
Agaetis byrjun

#65: Agaetis byrjun shows everything that makes Sigur Rós such a unique band. It
is the perfect example of their gentle post-rock music with warm soundscapes.
Jónsi's beautiful falsetto voice is as soothing and beautiful as ever, and the
compositions are simply gorgeous. Agaetis Byrjun feels always captivating with its
memorable melodies, ethereal tone and hypnotically accessible nature. It is
arguably Sigur Rós' best studio work ever.
14Radiohead
In Rainbows

#64: In Rainbows is easily one of the most gorgeous pieces of music Radiohead has
ever created. The opener, "15 Step" recalls the band's electronic era, but the rest
of the album has its fair share of beautiful rock compositions, and songs such as
"Nude," "Weird Fishes," and "Videotape" hold heartbreaking melodies and Thom
Yorke's ethereal voice at its best. "Reckoner" might be the greatest song the band
has ever made, with its gorgeous guitar melody, Yorke's beautiful falsetto,
enjoyable drumming, and an astounding slow part in the middle of the song. The
more rocking songs on the album are also great, but hold it from being the perfect
Radiohead album.
13Pavement
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

#63: Pavement's sympathetic debut, Slanted and Enchanted provided some of the
sweetest indie rock tunes of the 90s combined with its raw production, and
garnered the band a cult following. Obviously, its follow-up had massive
expectations, but Crooked Rain manages to live up to those. It is a change in sound
for Pavement, as the lo-fi production that dominated Slanted and Enchanted had
now been traded to a more accessible one. Nevertheless, Crooked Rain keeps the
easy-going indie rock style and provides a more accessible listen, as well as some
of their best songs ever which makes it arguably even better than their phenomenal
debut.
12Wolves in the Throne Room
Two Hunters

#62: Two Hunters is one of the most sprawling black metal albums I've ever heard.
It perfectly combines the beautiful, woodsy atmospheres and raging black metal.
Their sense of ambience is amazing, and the black metal parts on the album are
some of the most memorable ever, and as the changes between the album's two
most notable styles are close to perfect, you got an astonishing atmospheric black
metal record in your hands. The album's epic 18-minute closer is pure black metal
perfection in every way and shows exactly what the whole album is all about. It
also features one of the most gorgeous climaxes ever heard in the genre.
11Have a Nice Life
Deathconsciousness

#61: There are not many albums as diverse as Have a Nice Life's debut album,
Deathconsciousness. It is a double album containing industrial music, drone,
shoegaze, and even black metal, which might sound like a complete mess of an
album. But no, Deathconsciousness is always a blissful, enjoyable and beautiful
journey that couldn't have a better ending. The closer, "Earthmover," is an epic
that could well be hailed as the greatest song of our generation. It is a song so
monolithic and touching that its title feels like an understatement.
10Sunny Day Real Estate
Diary

#60: It is safe to say that Diary was one of the most important albums for the 2nd
wave emo music, as its influence is widely noticed. It also one of the best emo
albums ever made. The melodies change between loud and soft, just as Jeremy
Enigk's vague, sometimes even tiresome vocals, and the lyrical content is full of
emotion. Diary is full of some of the most well-known and melancholic indie rock
based emo tunes that will never be forgotten.
9Alice in Chains
Dirt

#59: What makes Dirt to stand out in the 90s popular grunge scene more than its
contemporaries is purely its nature. It is incredibly melancholic and bleak, expressed
through distorted guitars, dark lyrics, sludgy riffage and Layne Staley's phenomenal,
deep voice. The songs are undoubtedly catchy and memorable, and there is not a
single flaw in the whole album. Dirt is grunge at its best.
8Converge
Petitioning the Empty Sky

#58: During the release of Petitioning the Empty Sky, Converge were still just
growing stars in the underground punk scene, as their style was easily noticeable
yet their debut album, Halo in a Haystack, left a lot to desire. On Petitioning the
Empty Sky, Converge expand their hardcore punk style to create one of the most
crushing albums in the genre. The fantastic metal riffs kick ass, Jacob Bannon's
vocals are extremely violent, and the band shows tremendous amount of technical
skill. Still, if the debut doesn't count, this is Converge at their most hardcore, which
makes it sound like relentless punching in the face one after another, even though
the second to last song, "Farewell Note to This City" is considerably softer than the
other songs on the album. Also, "The Saddest Day" is an absolutely phenomenal
song and a perfect opener for the album, as contains the best riffage the band has
ever shown and makes it sure that Converge is not just fucking around.
7Oathbreaker
Eros|Anteros

#57: The Belgian metal band Oathbreaker expands upon the violent hardcore sound
that dominated their debut and creates a sludgy masterpiece with Eros|Anteros.
Their female frontman has an insanely good voice, as her cleans (that never play a
big role) are beautiful and her harsh vocals crushingly evil. The music behind her is
an intriguing and even catchy mixture of black metal (especially in the first couple
of songs), hardcore punk, and terrifying sludge metal. Eros|Anteros is extremely
intense, atmospheric, heavy and oddly enough, even catchy. It is an underrated
masterpiece and one of the absolute best albums of last year.
6dredg
El Cielo

#56: El Cielo is the atmospheric masterpiece that dredg haven't topped. As the
band is known for their style of alternative rock blended with progressive
songwriting, El Cielo is easily the most ambitious and artsy of all their releases. It is
a gorgeous piece of music, containing the best vocals Gavin Hayes has ever
produced and beautiful rock songs throughout. It is the pinnacle of their career and
a simply flawless effort. Songs like "Same Ol' Road" stand out with their memorable
melodies and the closer, "The Canyon Behind Her" is easily the most epic song
dredg has ever made, and ends up the album with a breathtaking climax.
5Porcupine Tree
Lightbulb Sun

#55: Lightbulb Sun was the last Porcupine Tree album before their breakthrough
with In Absentia, and is quite possibly their best as well. Much like its predecessor,
Stupid Dream, it is a mixture of their early, more experimental sound and their later,
more accessible sound. The first half of the album is the poppier one, featuring
some of the band's catchiest and most enjoyable tunes, while the second half is
leaning more to the experimental side of the band. This experimental side also
contains one of the best songs in their career: "Russia On Ice."
4Botch
An Anthology of Dead Ends

#54: As We Are the Romans was the album that made Botch famous in the 90s
metalcore scene, An Anthology of Dead Ends closes up their career with a sound
that expands upon We Are the Romans' influential mathcore sound and is easily the
band's most interesting album. The production is better than on WAtR, but
Anthology is also a lot more diverse. "Japam" and "Framce" are mathcore
masterpieces, but the most intriguing song on the album is the soft and hypnotic
"Afghamistam," which shows that Botch really want to experiment. An Anthology of
Dead Ends basically perfects the sound of We Are the Romans, and the album's
various experiments never fail.
3Deafheaven
Sunbather

#53: Sunbather mixes two of my well-loved genres, black metal and shoegaze, with
such perfection I've never heard before. It is epic and sprawling, atmospheric and
intense, raw yet accessible. An important thing in listening to the album is that it's
not black metal in its core. It is beautiful and melodic atmospheric metal, using the
black metal attributes as a twist to make the album even more effective and
energetic. Sunbather is a gorgeous piece of music, and its book ends are some of
the greatest musical achievements in the music of the 2010s. It is kind of a shame
that the band suddenly became so popular because they aren't meant for big
arenas.
2Fall of Efrafa
Inle

#52: Fall of Efrafa was a concept band that make three fantastic records to create
a coherent story. Inle is the last one of the three, and musically it combines the
crust punk style of their debut and the sludge metal style of its follow-up. It is also
arguably the best of their albums, since every single track on the album (without
the exception of one interlude) feels massive as hell. Inle is incredibly heavy and
epic, and it rivals any sludge metal record in terms of quality. It features multiple
masterpieces, and despite of its 80-minute running time it never becomes boring.
1Trespassers William
Different Stars

#51: Different Stars could well be described as the definitive dream pop album. It is
a light and atmospheric pop album, with a lot of accessible tunes, and it really is
some of the most ethereal music ever created. The album has a dreamy and
extremely melancholic tone to it, which allows the beautiful voice of the band's
female vocalist to shine. "Lie in the Sound" is possibly the most representative song
on the album, and also one the most beautiful and heartbreaking songs I've ever
heard.
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