TheSpirit
Brandon N.
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Reviews 157
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Album Ratings 3120
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Last Active 08-23-21 9:34 pm
Joined 10-13-09

Forum Posts 747
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Average Rating: 3.62
Rating Variance: 0.40
Objectivity Score: 69%
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5.0 classic
100 Gecs 1000 gecs
Addaura Addaura
Another band coming from the Cascadian black metal scene, Addaura's debut demo is a masterful exercise is slightly folk tinged black metal. Featuring the excellent shriek of female vocalist Chantal, amazing atmospheres and non-traditional black metal lyrical fare, this is a release that is not only worth your time but leaving you hungry for more.
Akasha Canticles of the Sepulchral Deity
I really didn?t think anything would dethrone Sinmara so quickly as my favorite black metal so far this year, but the new Akasha seriously gives them a run for their money. I guess this is more aligned with my tastes in black metal nowadays - raw, punky, and melodic - but I think even without it catering my preferences this is an incredibly strong effort.
All That Remains The Fall of Ideals
Angelcorpse The Inexorable
Arcana Coelestia Le Mirage de L’idéal
Arch Enemy Burning Bridges
Ariana Grande Thank U, Next
Ariana Grande positions
positions is Ariana's most understated and least immediate release yet. The sparsity in arrangement feels like a natural progression from thank u, next and much like that album, positions pits Ari's surprising existential awareness against more common pop topics. This will take you a few listens, but it is ultimately one of her most rewarding records.
Arizmenda Within the Vacuum of Infinity...
Arizmenda Stillbirth in the Temple of Venus
Arizmenda's third full-length is undoubtedly the Southern California's strongest collection of songs as of yet. While the previous two releases seemed to be the product of free-flowing jam sessions, the songwriting here proves to be decidedly deliberate, providing more consciously structured pieces. As a result, the songs while more streamlined, are also more memorable. The band hasn't abandoned their now signature brand of discordance, but this time around there is also palpable sense of melody embedded within the tracks. This easily could have been a misstep considering the raw nature of the band, but they incorporate this new element into their patented sound seamlessly, simultaneously staying true to their roots, while treading new ground. Overall, this is an excellent release and recommended for fans of raw, atmospheric black metal.
Ash Borer Ash Borer
Attack Attack! (US) Someday Came Suddenly
Axis of Advance Strike
Azarath Blasphemers' Maledictions
After a few weeks of thorough and intense listening, Azarath's Blasphemer's Malediction has so far definitely has earned the top stop in my top albums of the year without a second thought or question. In a super aggressive blackened death metal style somewhat comparable to a band like Weapon, Azarath (who have been around since 1998) have really created a special album with Blasphemer's Malediction. With a certain emphasis definitely placed on the more deathy side of Azarath's playing, Blasphemer's Malediction is a goldmine of crushing headbang inducing riffery. There still is some pretty obvious black metal vibes though with a lot of melancholy-filled atmospheric chord formations and tremolo picked sections. Despite all positive aspects of the guitar's rhythm side, where guitarist BartBomiej "Bart" Szudek (ex-Cenotaph) really shines is in his lead playing; going for both intense shred licks ("Supreme Reign of Tiamat") and even some melodic, more atmospheric formations ("Under the Will of the Lord") his playing is both diverse, tasteful and a huge element to what makes this album enjoyable.rThe vocals (courtesy of also bassist/singer Necrosodom) are harsh and phglemy, taking a middle stance inbetween black metal's screeches and death metal's gutturals. Drummer Inferno (of Behemoth) is pretty incredible, pulling of some truly speedy and militant blast beats while also slowing it up nicely at times to complement the more atmospheric sections ("The Abjection"). Overall this album just fucking rapes faces and is highly recommended.
Backyard Mortuary Lure of the Occult
Another band in the OSDM revivalist movement, Backyard Mortuary play super thick death metal with hints of doom and blackened death metal. This shit is fucking stellar and my favorite death metal album this year.
Black Swan (USA-NY) Black Swan (In 8 Movements)
Easily the best ambient album from last year, Black Swan is a literal descent into hell; majestic, orchestrated themes may open this monolithic album but as each track passes, an anxious dissonance takes hold, it's grip getting ever tighter with each passing movement. No, Black Swan doesn't have a happy ending; as "Pt. VII"'s deceivingly joyous melodies fade into a noisy stupor, the claustrophobia of "Pt. VIII" drags us into the pit once again. Harrowing, immersible and all so impressive Black Swan is an extremely personal record that creates different experience for each listener, one that surely won't be forgotten anytime soon.
Black Swan (USA-NY) The Quiet Divide
Much thanks to sources who I will not name here, I have luckily gotten to listen to the follow-up of one of my favorite ambient album ever and let me tell you, I'm not disappointed in the least; following where the last years s/t left off, The Quiet Divide is the album that all of us Black Swan fans were waiting for. Like Black Swan (In 8 Movements), The Quiet Divide's first (and title-track) The Quiet Divide is an example of pure orchestral based ambient bliss, once again conjuring melodies and harmonies that will hit you at your core. A reminder that Black Swan isn't all just about beautiful atmospheric landscapes, tracks like "Chaos Reigns" and "The Bleeding Heats Alliance (Phase 3)" recall the cold, noise filled drones of the previous album with an even darker edge. Overall, The Quiet Divide proves to be an effort that is more than worthy to follow Black Swan's amazing debut; taking the formula of old and intensifying it tenfold, The Quiet Divide is an improved version of an already impressive formula that will sweep you off your feet.
Blink-182 blink-182
Breaking Benjamin We Are Not Alone
Breaking Benjamin Phobia
Burzum Hvis Lyset Tar Oss
Burzum Burzum
Carcass Necroticism: Descanting the Insalubrious
Carcass Symphonies of Sickness
Casualties of Cool Casualties of Cool
Children of Bodom Follow the Reaper
Children of Bodom Something Wild
Easily the most underrated Children of Bodom. It?s pretty clear -based on how eccentric it is musically and the more streamlined songwriting they would display on subsequent albums - that this is Bodom still gestating, but there is something so endearing about the youthful ambition it radiates, even if it does come across a bit unfocused at times; it?s all part of the charm. Potential just oozes throughout its seven tracks, an unspoken promise that would be fulfilled throughout their future records. It?s amalgam of death, black, heavy, and neo-classical metal(s) still feels fresh and exciting 23 years later, and in my humble this is one of the best debuts albums in extreme music history, ranking up there with Iron Maiden, Metallica, and any other ?classic? metal band. rTl:dr - this fucking slaps.
Children of Bodom Hatebreeder
Converge Axe to Fall
Convulsing Grievous
One of the most dynamic death metal albums I?ve ever listened to.
Cradle of Filth Midian
I've always felt like Midian's status as black sheep of CoF's discography has been understated. Bringing back original guitarist Paul Allender along with his obsession with other forms of extremity, Midian is a masterpiece of a blackened death metal album, bathed in gothic glory, blood, and vampyric sensuality. Dusk and Cruelty were also inexcusably classic albums, but it was Midian that truly opened the doors of success for Cradle of Filth.
Cradle of Filth Dusk... and Her Embrace
Cradle of Filth Cruelty and the Beast
Cradle of Filth Hammer of the Witches
Simultaneously overblown and tasteful, Hammer of the Witches is ACTUALLY Cradle of Filth's best album since Midian. No longer using their symphonics as a crutch for weak songwriting, the skill of new axe-slingers Richard Shaw and Marek 'Ashok' ?merda make this one of Cradle's most guitar dominated albums to date. Of course the band still has an affinity for grand orchestrations, but their incorporation is more thoughtfully done, accentuating the other instruments instead of suffocating them. As if these other factors weren't enough, Dani sounds at the top of his game here, his vocals seemingly revitalized by band's new blood. Even Cradle haters may have a tough time scoffing at this one.
Cradle of Filth Dusk and Her Embrace - The Original Sin
Cradle of Filth Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness of Decay
Absolutely amazing album and the perfect continuation of the sound they introduced with Hammer. They brought
back some classic Filthisms without sounding stale and dated. And this could honestly be Dani's best album
vocally, he kills it.
Daft Punk Random Access Memories
Dance Gavin Dance Downtown Battle Mountain
Dance Gavin Dance Happiness
Dance Gavin Dance Downtown Battle Mountain II
Dance Gavin Dance Acceptance Speech
sometimes, i stand in front of my mirror with nothing but a dgd shirt on, cup my nuts, squeeze them tight and try to sing just like tillian
Dance Gavin Dance Instant Gratification
Dance Gavin Dance Mothership
COCAINEEEEE CRINGE-FESTTTTTrAfter IG I was genuinely worried that Tilian-era wouldn't be able to top what's been their best album since Happiness, but it seems my fears have been allayed, because Mothership is easily not just one of their best of this iteration, but the one of the best in the band's discography. They've become more concise without sacrificing the technical chaos we've come to expect from them. Tilian is still probably their most polarizing vocalist, but he's never shined brighter than he does here. He can be soulful like Jonny, funky like Kurt, and poppy like nobody else has been before. Fucking great.
Dance Gavin Dance Acceptance Speech 2.0
I really didn?t think a remix would make this album so much better.... I was wrong.
Dance Gavin Dance Downtown Battle Mountain II (Instrumental)
Dark Watcher Dark Watcher
Darkest Hour Deliver Us
Darkthrone A Blaze in the Northern Sky
Darkthrone Transilvanian Hunger
Darkthrone Under a Funeral Moon
Darkthrone Panzerfaust
Deafheaven Sunbather
what if the album title is "sun bat her" and we are all wrong and stupid
Def Leppard Hysteria
Dimmu Borgir Death Cult Armageddon
Dimmu Borgir Enthrone Darkness Triumphant
Eighteen Visions Vanity
Eighteen Visions Until the Ink Runs Out
Eighteen Visions The Best of Eighteen Visions
A collection of re-recorded songs from Lifeless, ]Time Is Yesterday Killed, and No Time For Love, The Best of Eighteen Visions is a shining example of why Eighteen Visions were one of the best metalcore bands of the early 2000's. With an improved production and the same unwavering enthusiasm, 18v relentless rips through 11 tracks of devastating metalcore that emphasize mosh-worthy riffage, whirlwind drumming and psychotic vocals.
Entombed Left Hand Path
Entombed Clandestine
Falls of Rauros Patterns in Mythology
This is the type of album where words fail to do it justice.
False Portent
False's newest effort Portent is a modern incarnation of Emperor's symphonic bombast filtered through 25
years of black metal evolution and supplemented by USBM's knack for twisting genre staples into something new
and previously unheard. And to be honest, there really is nothing that sounds like False; Portent takes all the
conventions of overly pompous black metal - orchestral backdrops, furious blasting, winding tremolo guitars - and
whips it all together into a maelstrom of melody and chaos. Thanks to their roots in the Minnesota DIY and
hardcore scenes, there is a underlying punk pastiche that makes the record feel real and grounded despite its
potential to burst through the stratosphere. In a year where black metal is dominating (especially the black metal
coming from the band's label, Gilead Media) False matches their peers' excellence and raises the bar for
everyone else.
Grand Belial's Key Judeobeast Assassination
He Is Legend I Am Hollywood
He Is Legend Suck Out The Poison
Horrendous Idol
Immolation Dawn of Possession
Their best album IMMO.... DO YOU FUCKING SEE WHAT I DID THERE?
Immolation Close to a World Below
Immortal Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism
Iron Maiden Iron Maiden
Undoubtedly Iron Maiden's magnum opus; amazing energy, great musicianship and a raw factor that is unfortunately absent with Dickinson era albums. "Prowler" remains to be the best song the band ever wrote.
Jellyfish Spilt Milk
Judas Iscariot The Cold Earth Slept Below
Killswitch Engage Alive or Just Breathing
Killswitch Engage The End of Heartache
Killswitch Engage As Daylight Dies
Malfet The Snaking Path
Malfet The Way to Avalon
Malfet The Glimmering
If there's one not terrible thing that has come from Coronavirus, it was that it indirectly caused
Malfet's The Glimmering, a two song EP that was originally meant to be exclusive to the
unfortunately now cancelled Northeast Dungeon Siege, to be released.These two tracks are leftovers
from the Californian dungeon master's debut The Snaking Path, but they in no way feel like
afterthoughts, or inferior the tracks featured on that album; once again, Malfet delivers absolute
perfection. Both songs ("The Glimmering" and "Dim Arbours") are drenched in medieval melodies,
exuding wistful nostalgia and playful, folksy charm. They are excellent additions to his steadily
growing catalog and absolutely essential listening to any dungeon synth fans, newcomer and
veterans alike.
Malfet Alban Arthan
Metallica Ride the Lightning
Metallica Live Shit: Binge & Purge
Miles Paralysis Miles Paralysis
Morbid Angel Altars of Madness
Morbid Angel Blessed Are the Sick
Morbid Angel Covenant
Motley Crue Shout at the Devil
Motley Crue Too Fast for Love
Motley Crue Motley Crue
Motley Crue Decade of Decadence
Neckbeard Deathcamp SO MUCH FOR THE TOLERANT LEFT
Obliteration Black Death Horizon
rating classic to remind myself to get this also fu sputnik i dont need yr 50 chrctrs
Odz Manouk Odz Manouk
Old Nick A New Generation Of Vampiric Conspiracies
I don?t know what Old Nick are drinking but I would love some. They are consistently amazing, not only in terms
of quality but in terms of how they effortlessly incorporate weird, sound silly effects into black metal that actually
enhances the music. Even without, their raw yet captivatingly melodic black metal is enough to stand out. Just a
crazy good ,innovative band and one act that I believe will be the future of black metal.
Panopticon Panopticon
Panopticon Collapse
Pearl Jam Ten
Pestilence Consuming Impulse
Idk, probably one of the best death metal albums ever
Pierce the Veil Collide with the Sky
Prosanctus Inferi Noctambulous Jaws Within Sempiternal Night
Since its release in 2013, Prosanctus Inferi's diabolical sophomore effort Noctambulous Jaws Within Sempiternal Night has been a favorite of mine, but thanks to their recent announcement of an upcoming third album, Hypnotic Blood Art (release date TBA), I've dug back into Noctambulous... in a way that I haven't in a long time. I still find it the ultimate culmination of black and death metal; Jake Kohn's spits bile with every blasphemous word, his delivery reminiscent of the vaunted Peter Helmkamp in its guttural rasp. Musically, Noctambulous... is easily the group's most muscular and death metal-oriented outing to date, however it still oozes a charred and blackened atmosphere. In many ways, it's very similar to early Morbid Angel, rife with Azagthothian off-kilteredness and an underlying sense of esoterica. When it comes to war metal that isn't completely Blasphemy inspired, Prosanctus Inferi's Noctambulous Jaws Within Sempiternal Night is the best you're going to get.
Queensryche Operation: Mindcrime
Rhinocervs RH-08 "Untitled 1 & 2"
Rhinocervs Odour of Dust and Rot
Roadrunner United The All-Star Sessions
Sacramentary Abolishment River of Corticone
After fifteen years, The River Corticone is an album that by all means, is the definition of being completely and utterly underrated. Superbly written blacked death metal that succeeds in being both primal and astoundingly mature AT THE SAME TIME.
Secret Band Secret Band EP (Remastered)
Senses Fail Let It Enfold You
Shadows Fall The War Within
When Shadows Fall released The War Within, it was just another album, albeit a great one but there was nothing overtly special about it; it didn't make any crazy cultural impact, it wasn't the most original album and it wasn't even the best album of the year... but it will forever remain a life-changing release for me. You see, this is the first record I bought with screamed vocals, a decision that changed my musical life. From this point on there were no more boundaries, no more caps to what I could listen to. This album opened my mind to world of extreme metal and will forever and always remain a milestone in my musical development.
Skid Row (US) Skid Row
Slipknot Slipknot
Slipknot Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses
I was a relative latecomer to the Slipknot boom of the late 90?s/early 2000?s and didn?t formally get into them until Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verse. That being said, my opinion on the best Slipknot album often teeters between the aforementioned and their debut which is a force of nature unto itself. Iowa is of course also very good, but the anger on that record never felt as visceral to me as the self-titled or the heaviness as effective as it is on Vol. 3. More often than not, I lean on The Subliminal Verse as my favorite because it?s this unique intersection of death, nu, progressive, and alternative metal(s) with a very twisted and sinister pop sensibility. The guitars often twist and contort familiar riffs into unfamiliar shapes, and Corey?s gnarled, worn vocals only lend to their emotive prowess. Rick Rubin?s production is clean yet gritty and gifts the record with an atmospheric quality that?s absent from the rest of their discography. However, the star of this record was always Joey; his drumming here groovy yet technical, showing he knows restraint, but will never fail to let the chaos take over when it needs to. For all their angst and rage, Slipknot?s self-titled and Iowa are still very much a nu-metal records, taking cues from Korn, the Deftones, and all that came before them, while Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verse established Slipknot as a transcendent metal entity without knowledge or care of boundaries.
Slipknot Vol.3: The Subliminal Verses [Reissue]
Soundtrack (Film) Sucker Punch
Holy shit if watching this movie already made me wanna bang emily browning this just ... sets me offf
Still Remains Of Love and Lunacy
Summoning Stronghold
Sweven (SWE) The Eternal Resonance
The Black Crowes Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Twilight Circle Tliltic Tlapoyauak
This just reaffirms why The Black Twilight Circle are the most important thing in black metal today. It's amazing to see the growth in the returning bands - Arizmenda's track might just be the best thing they've ever done. Axeman's song could be one of the best black metal songs EVER. Even the newer bands manage to pull their own weight. Kampilan rocks the foundation with their thundering brand of filthy death/doom while In Lakech Ala Kin triumphantly represent the disturbed brand of atmospheric black metal The Black Twilight Circle has become known for. Seriously, any and every black metal fan needs to get their hands ALL OVER THIS. Hopefully, this is a prelude to a whole slew of releases from this enigmatic group of bands, and if it is, the underground has a lot to look forward to.
The Devil Wears Prada Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord
The Hope and the Failure The Lights Are on But This Dance Never Ends
Ugh this is like the best screamo album of all time, it's so fucking amazing ughaldfkajdf
The Offspring Smash
The Offspring Ixnay on the Hombre
The Speed of Sound in Seawater Red Version
Thorns Grymyrk
We wouldn?t have black metal as we know it today without this demo.
Tukaaria Raw to the Rapine
Ulver Kveldssanger
Van Halen Van Halen
William Fitzsimmons The Sparrow and the Crow
Wolves in the Throne Room Diadem of 12 Stars
Yellow Eyes Rare Field Ceiling
Now that I've finally gotten to take a good listen, Rare Field Ceiling is officially my rblack metal AOTY so far. It's such a nuanced piece of music that brims with classic black rmetal energy while maintaining the individualistic flair that sets Yellow Eyes a step rabove their contemporaries. Most of all, you can feel the passion it took them to rcultivate this album, as it's imbued in every riff and necrotic snarl. It is a shining rexample of modern black metal, setting a standard that won't soon be beaten.

4.5 superb
A Day To Remember Homesick
A Day To Remember What Separates Me from You
I don't know what it is; perhaps the way they integrated an all time low type pop punk sound (that didn't suck) and heavier sections with overall more personality (particularly because of vocalist jeremy mckinnon's INCREDIBLY improved screams) and definite shift from their previous metalcore styled breakdowns to straight hardcore breakdowns, but ehhh I'm listening to to album A LOOOOOOOOOOOT! Ahhh, i'm so gay for liking this.
A Lot Like Birds DIVISI
Abyssal (UK) Antikatastaseis
Accidental Suicide Deceased
Accidental Suicide was the purest distillation of filth to ever terrorize early 90's death/doom
fans. While Autopsy regaled subterranean citizens with sewage-soaked arias, Accidental Suicide
delved even further below, erecting Deceased, a monument of such putridity and rot that
stands to this day, dissuading the squeamish from experiencing its rancid visage. This is death
metal in its most raw form.
Alda A Distant Fire
Anagnorisis Overton Trees
Anathema Judgement
Andavald Undir Skyggðarhaldi
This year for black metal is what last year was for death metal. There is not a day that goes by that I don?t discover something killer. In particular the Icelandic scene. I?ve waxed on about it a lot recently, but it just keeps delivering and at an inhuman pace. My latest discovery is the band Anvald. They definitely have elements of the Reykjavk sound, but instead of the usual blastbeat intensity they slow things down to a crawl, allowing their creepy, dissonant sounds to worm their way into your head and make camp. Highly recommended.
Arch Enemy Anthems of Rebellion
Arch Enemy Burning Japan Live 1999
Arghoslent Hornets of the Pogrom
Ariana Grande Dangerous Woman
Ariana Grande Sweetener
ARTS Vault of Heaven
Modern raw black metal done right. Apocalyptic, misanthropic, this shit is about as true as it gets.
Ash Borer and Fell Voices Split
Asking Alexandria Stand Up and Scream
Avenged Sevenfold Waking the Fallen
Avenger Shadows of the Damned
Axis of Light Axis of Light
Axis of Light are an incredibly consistent and reliable band. For 8 years now they have been
conjuring melodic yet warped raw black metal that is beautiful but often obscured by the lo-
fidelity of their production. Their first full-length doesn't change that formula much, but
refines it; the riffs are more triumphant, and the production while still grating and
appropriately "under" is a just a touch clearer. It lacks the pretenses of more cerebral, heady
black metal to focus on the basics and in the end succeeds in its efforts as a simplistic,
straightforward black metal banger.
Azarath Diabolic Impious Evil
Chaotic and brutal Immolation inspired death metal from these amazing Polish blasphemers.
Beheat Gorum de Mentheurd Portraits
Bestial Warlust Vengeance War Til Death
Bestial Warlust Blood & Valour
Bilmuri EGGY POCKET
Blink-182 Take Off Your Pants and Jacket
Blink-182 Dude Ranch
Blink-182 Enema of the State
Blood Incantation Starspawn
Well, this is really good.
Bluetile Lounge Lowercase
I must say my first experience with slowcore has been a pleasant one thanks to Bluetile Lounge; Lowercase easily deserves its title as a quintessential album for the genre. Slow, minimalistic compositions that still manage to carry a whopping amount of emotion, Lowercase is a phenomenal album that is recommended to anyone.
Bluetile Lounge Half-Cut
Brand of Sacrifice Interstice
Brand of Sacrifice God Hand
Breaking Benjamin Saturate
Brides Of Destruction Here Come The Brides
Brutally Deceased Satanic Corpse
Buckethead Population Override
Buckethead Colma
Buckethead Electric Tears
Buckethead The Dragons Of Eden
Buckethead Shadows Between The Sky
A definite comeback from his last two releases, Shadows Between The Sky sees Buckethead delve into his most melodic territory since Electric Tears. Great melodies, quality playing and song-writing that slays for days
Burial Invocation Abiogenesis
This year has been a blockbuster year for death metal, and yet Burial Invocation sit on the top of
heap; gathering eclecticisms that span from death metal's ragged roots to the transcendental
technicality of today, Abiogenesis is the culmination of the underground's unwavering 35 year
obsession to out-extreme itself.
Burzum Det Som Engang Var
Burzum Burzum/Aske
Cara Neir Sublimation Therapy
2012 is the year of Cara Neir; after an awesome split with the blackened crust unit Ramlord, these crazy Texans return with an EP that is easily one of the best to come out in extreme metal each year. Although most of the tracks barely scrape past the one minute mark, it totally works in the band's favor. It's actually quite remarkable to see how they can do so much in such a short amount of time. So fucking good.
Cara Neir Part III / Part IV
This band can do no wrong. Fitting of a title calling back to their first two albums (I/II),
III/IV is the ultimate culmination of their sonic history, a piece that honors their roots as well
as the diversity they?ve explored in their decade long career.
Carcass Swansong
Charles Bronson Complete Discocrappy
Children of Bodom Hate Crew Deathroll
Children of Bodom Are You Dead Yet?
Circle of Ouroborus Armon Keitaalla
Cirrhus Cirrhus LP
Cirrhus Identical Hallways
Recorded in 2011 but not seeing the light of day until 2017, Identical Hallways is a euphoric journey led by one of the United States' best black metal bands. The production is raw, but not enough to veil Cirrhus' black metal dirge. The music is sharp but melodic, and oddly nostalgic; it feels comforting in a way, which may be odds with black metal ethos, but Cirrhus have never been afraid to blur the lines. If you can get over the production (which in my opinion works wonderfully with the music), you won't be disappointed by giving this a listen.
Clandestine Blaze Falling Monuments
Along with Paracletus, Mikko Aspa has had his hands in two of 2010 best black metal albums. Cold, unrelenting yet containing enough melody to ensnare the attention of both black metal veterans and newcomers, Falling Monuments is not a black metal record that breaks any new ground but is just a black metal record that kicks copious amounts of ass.
Converge You Fail Me
Converge All We Love We Leave Behind
Counterparts Nothing Left to Love
Cradle of Filth Nymphetamine
Cradle of Filth Vempire or Dark Faerytales in Phalluste
Dance Gavin Dance Artificial Selection
Dangers Messy, Isn't It?
Darkest Hour Undoing Ruin
Daughters Daughters
Deceased Fearless Undead Machines
The culmination of the changes started on The Blueprints for Madness, the sci-fi themed classic Fearless Undead Machines displays Deceased fully embracing their thrash and progressive influences, dropping all elements of death metal vocally and implementing a sound that many would call their best. Replacing aggression for dynamics, Fearless Undead Machine is nowhere near as angry as the band's earlier albums but with incorporation of more melody as well as their obviously heightened songwriting skills, Deceased more than make up for the largely diminished trait of old. An album to check out if you are looking for something other than your run of the mill standard death metal.
Deceased Luck of the Corpse
Before mostly abandoning death metal on subsequent releases, Deceased first album Luck of the Corpse is an early death/thrash classic. Capitalizing on King Fowley's excellent gutturals and creative drum patterns as well as the beefed up thrash inspired guitar riffs, Luck of the Corpse is truly a standout release within death metal's formative years.
Dephosphorus Night Sky Transform
Holy fuck. I've really never enjoyed Dephosporus until
now; Night Sky Transform changed my opinion on the
band within its first thirty seconds. This record is just
massive, a superb juxtaposition of black metal
coldness and punk attitude. With that combination of
personalities, sonically the album ranges from
astoundingly fast to awesomely groovy allowing the
band's grindier side to take precedence with elements
of black metal resonating within its distant cousin.
Dephosphorus go about playing blackened grind on
their own terms, a bold move that has seemed to have
paid off in dividends here.
Diocletian Gesundrian
Disemballerina Undertaker
Dissection Storm of the Light's Bane
Dominus Xul To the Glory of the Ancient Ones
Drowning the Light Varcolaci Rising
As one of the most prolific artists in modern black metal, Drowning the Light strides and progress are noticeable with every album he releases. Varcolaci Rising is no exception, and it seems like Azorgh has his raw and romantic brand of black metal down to a science. The material here is very straightforward and full of strong melodies, making each track an absolute earworm, and the album as a whole, worthwhile.
El-Ahrairah El-Ahrairah 2009 Demo
El-Ahrairah Demo MMXII
El-Ahrairah El-Ahrairah
It should be celebrated that El-Ahriarah created a raw black metal album that breaks the rules. With touches of
experimentalism littered throughout the course of this album, it's a record that is so many things at once, but still
feels unified under a singular vision. It's melodic, it's punk-y, it has a million different kinds of bells-and-whistles,
and they all come together to make this album one of the best black metal records of the year.
Electrocution Inside the Unreal
Electrocution played technical death metal before it was really called technical death metal; instead of all the gravity blasting, sweep abusing shit that comes out now, Inside the Unreal was old-school death metal with an extra technical edge. Still full of great, thick riffage, Electrocution literally played circles around everyone else but never come off as over the top; the balance between standard death metal elements and added instrumental ability here is perfect, allowing for this album to be remembered in the classic status it so rightfully deserves.
Emarosa Relativity
Enslaved Vikingligr Veldi
Enslaved Mardraum - Beyond the Within
Enslaved Axioma Ethica Odini
Axioma Ethica Odini is without a doubt the ultimate culmination of Enslaved's previous efforts; retaining the progressing rock elements of their last three albums while boosting the black metal elements that remained strangely absent, Axioma Ethica Odini is undoubtedly Enslaved's masterpiece album.
Escape the Fate There's No Sympathy for the Dead
Exhumation (GR) Dance Across the Past
Fall Out Boy Take This to Your Grave
Fell Voices 2010 Tour CD-R
Fell Voices Untitled
Fief I​-​IV
Four Year Strong Rise Or Die Trying
Funebrarum The Sleep of Morbid Dreams
charles rules
Ghastly (FIN) Death Velour
Ghosts and Vodka Addicts and Drunks
Gonemage Mystical Extraction
Even going into this record knowing what it would sound like, I was still very much floored by
Gonemage’s debut album. Continuing in the spirit of Cara Neir’s last outing, Mystical Extraction
is the dungeon crawler alternative to Phase Out’s platformer black metal. Imagine if Bergtatt-era
Ulver and Castlevania’s Symphony of the Night soundtrack sired a child that was raised by
Dillinger Escape Plan and Slowdive and you’re halfway to understanding what Mystical Extraction
sounds like. Nothing here seems cobbled together though, with multi-instrumentalist/vocalist
Galimgim carefully curating elements from the aforementioned genres and sculpting them in ways
that feel fresh yet nostalgic all at once. Black metal and video games both share a certain
reverence for the past, but if Mystical Extraction is any indication, they’ve always had more in
common than we ever thought.
Gorephilia In The Eye Of Nothing
The nexus between Azagthothian eccentricity and Finnish absurdity, Gorephilia's third album In The Eye of Nothing is a frequently off-kilter death metal record that embraces dynamicism as much as it does brutality. It touches on so many things that make death metal great; speed, atmosphere, groove all have their part to play here, and Gorephilia's execution is near flawless at every turn. This is what death metal should sound like in 2020.
Gospel The Moon Is a Dead World
Grinning Death's Head Blood War
Guidelines S/T_EP
Hadez Aquelarre
Horribly underrated early black/death album that like most extreme metal from South America has very noticeable thrash influences as well. With a sense of minimalism that carries on from the riffs to the suitably dry production, Aquelarre's bare-bones approach is always effective, whether the band be performing their high-speed tremolo picked riffs or delving into the depths of doom with simple yet crushing chords and a funeral crawl pace. Also packed full of leads that range from absolute whammy-bar shred to creepier, more atmospheric lines, the lack of atmosphere from the production is more than made up for with a myriad of different yet equally terrifying guitar textures. To complete this near perfect package are the vocals, a great mash-up of hoarse gutturals and raspy high pitched screeches. Overall an album that is highly developed despite its simplistic presentation, Aquelarre to this day, still deserves to be a more recognized album within death and black metal's formative years.
He Is Legend White Bat
Heinali And Matt Finney Town Line EP
Heinali And Matt Finney Lemonade
Heinali And Matt Finney Conjoined
WTF TOO MUCH GOOD MUSIC. Conjoined is better than it's predecessors and they are already both in my top 25 of the year!
HIM Venus Doom
I Set My Friends On Fire You Can't Spell Slaughter Without Laughter
Ignite Our Darkest Days
Immolation Here in After
Immortal At the Heart of Winter
Iron Maiden Killers
Iron Maiden Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Jellyroll Rockheads Kill Trend Thrash
Jordablod Promo
Jordablod is both raw and progressive. They are certainly ugly, evil, and everything you want black metal to be, but there is a sense of class to them as well that is generally lost on their peers. Overall, really fucking good.
Kathaaria The Complex Void of Negativity
Kekht Arakh Pale Swordsman
Killswitch Engage Disarm the Descent
"Why do you guys keep rating an album WITHOUT listening to it in it's entirety? It hasn't came out yet, it hasn't leaked, so who already rated this as "Classic", "Superb" or anything else is a moron." Yeah, okay, THEY are the morons...
Kurt Travis Split EP
L.A. Guns Tales From The Strip
Lace Shawl The Secret Botanist
Lamp of Murmuur Cursed Deambulations of the Nocturnal Entities
Lamp of Murmuur The Burning Spears Of Crimson Agony
Lamp of Murmuur Heir of Ecliptical Romanticism
Lamp of Murmuur Submission and Slavery
Lamp of Murmuur always delivers. The projects newest full-length weaves sections of storming Pacific Northwestern black metal with razor sharp thrash riffage and an underlying, goth-y/post-punk atmosphere that helps tie it all together. Just fantastic.
Lampir The Alchemy of Cursed Blood
Raw and punky black metal from Perverse Homage records. Evokes familiar USBM acts like Furdidurke, Grand Mood, and the CW Productions line-up albeit with a more black metal feel.
Lampir Awaiting the Predatory Dreamscape
Lana Del Rey Born to Die
Last Days These Places Are Now Ruins
Liquicity Escapism 3
Liturgy H.A.Q.Q.
We laughed at transcendental black metal in 2011, but it looks like Liturgy are the ones having
the last laugh now. H.A.Q.Q. is an excellent record that reconciles black metal with Hunter-
Hendrix's more cerebral approach and abstract tendencies to create something very new and
exciting.
Liturgy Origin of the Alimonies
Lord Snow Sovngarde
Lord Snow Solitude
Lugubrum De Vette Cuecken
Machine Head Burn My Eyes
Majestic Mass Savage Empire of Death
rThis record seriously came out of nowhere and is fantastic. It sounds like if The Doors and Celtic Frost had a baby who grew up listening to nothing but The Cult Is Alive-era Darkthrone. It?s an odd mix, but overall the album is as good as it is eccentric.
Manchester Orchestra A Black Mile to the Surface
Mare Cognitum Solar Paroxysm
Mefitis Emberdawn
Megadeth So Far, So Good... So What!
Mercyful Fate Melissa
Metallica Kill 'Em All
Miserere Luminis Miserere Luminis
Misery Signals Mirrors
Miss Fortune A Spark To Believe
Motley Crue Red, White, & Crue
Muse Absolution
My Chemical Romance Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
Necros Christos Domedon Doxomedon
Necros Christos final album evokes the malevolence of 80's black/death metal while being
played with modern intensity. At a whopping 27 tracks, the many interludes while
interesting in of themselves, do hinder the immersion and flow of the otherwise
synergetic extreme metal experience. It really is unfortunate that Necros Christos is
breaking up, however leaving us with their best effort is nothing to mope around about.
Nocturnal Blood Devastated Graves...
Nocturnal Triumph Into Light's Graven Womb
It's pretty rare that I am completely floored by something, but this is one of the best black metal albums I've heard in a long time. It has this unidentifiable quality about it, this aura of mysticism and magic that reminds me of black metal's second wave. It has that same classic feeling, effortlessly. The production is perfectly bad, and together with the grand, sweeping melodies, creates a euphoric listening experience that's rare to come by. Recommended.
Obituary Cause of Death
Obsequiae The Palms Of Sorrowed Kings
Offenbarung Jaguar Levitation
Old Nick Iam Vampire Castle
Order From Chaos Stillbirth Machine
Panopticon Roads to the North
Panopticon Autumn Eternal
Panopticon The Scars of Man on the Once Nameless Wilderness
This will need a few listens to really nail down feelings, but initial thoughts are this is very good. The production is grainier enough to appease raw(er) black metal fans but textured enough for dynamicism to thrive. The music is loud, bombastic, and grand but unlike other symphonic or orchestral black metal acts, Austin is able to imbue a small-town, folksy charm that makes the added atmosphere feel more like a call home than ostentatious embellishment. His ear for melody is second to none and it's nice to see that his standards haven't dropped after 10+ years of doing this. r**haven't listened to the folk/country side yet, but excited to
Panopticon/Nechochwen Panopticon / Nechochwen
Pentatonix PTX Vol. II
For the longest time I thought a cappella was cheesy without redemption (and maybe it is) but Pentatonix is the sound of its future
Pentatonix PTX, Vol. 1
Plainwords Overgrow to Overthrow
Poison Ruin Poison Ruin
Portal Seepia
Although easily the band's most "conventional" release, Portal's first demented album, Seepia is still a sick and twisted listening experience. Performed in filth ridden production, Seepia shows Portal playing more riff oriented blackened death while still beginning to exhibit some of the claustrophobic and dense atmospheres that would take precedence on later albums. They might have not have found their feet yet, but Seepia is still an incredible album and "Glumurphonel" is still one of the group's best songs to date.
Portal Outre
Portal Swarth
Portal ION
This album is so antithetical. They've finally removed all the murk that was shrouding their rsound, and yet I found this easily the most challenging Portal record to sit through. I feel like rmy mind was constantly struggling to keep up with all their technical aerobics. Ultimately though, rthe struggle made it so much more of a rewarding listen.
Rebel Wizard Magickal Mystical Indifference
I?ve always enjoyed the majority of his material, but Rebel Wizard has easily become my favorite Nekrasov
project. His newest album under that guise, Magickal Mystical Indifference, is stunningly good. The way he
combines punk driven black metal and classic heavy metal is such a wonderful collision of sound, offering both
the grounded rawness in the former while still indulging larger than life qualities of the latter. It?s undoubtedly
heavy but when he hits a melody, he hits it hard. That?s not even mentioning the guitar hero-esque solos he lays
down throughout. This is just so good. Recommended.
Reel Big Fish Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live
Remete (AUS) Into Endless Night
Remete continues to be one of the only worthwhile cold and blizzardous black metal band worth investing in. This album rages with the tempest of only the fiercest winter storm yet the underlying ambience remains surprisingly soothing. It's a beautiful album and at this point D has cemented himself as a one-man wunderkind on par with Austin Lunn, M. Rekevics, and any other black metal visionary that's debuted in the last decade.
Rhinocervs RH02
Rhinocervs RH-07
Rhinocervs RH-11
Rhinocervs RH-08
RVIVR The Beauty Between
holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit
Rx Bandits Gemini, Her Majesty
This is just so ridiculously catchy. Perfect summer album.
Sacramentary Abolishment The Distracting Stone
Sallow Moth / Vmthanaachth Sallow Moth / Vmthanaachth
Sanguine Relic Divine Stygianism: The Bliss in Torment
Saor Forgotten Paths
Secret Band LP2
Seether Disclaimer II
Senses Fail Renacer
Album should have been called "Yes, We Lift"
Shataan War Cry Lament
Underrated so hard. Musically this is a fantastic combination of psychedelic, dark folk, and black that easily sets the band apart. The vocals get some take some getting used to but Damn when it finally hits you, it really hits you
Shinedown The Sound of Madness
Sigh Imaginary Sonicscape
Slavehouse / Krukh / Kostnatění / Sainte Marie des Loups / Torment Is Flesh
Sleeping With Sirens If You Were a Movie, This Would Be Your Soundtrack
Slipknot Iowa
Solstice (USA-FL) Solstice
FUCKING EXCELLENT RECORD. It's beyond me how these guys didn't up blow up with the rest of Floridian death metal scene in the early 90's, Solstice's first self-titled effort easily holds its ground against any classic produced from that time period. This album is basically just the complete package; absolutely crushing guitar riffs, killer solos, (two guest solos from the famous James Murphy!) along with great, technical drumming and some vocals that actually manage to stand out from the pack. Highly recommended!
Someplace To Hide Shouting, "Saintly Not Ghostly!"
Spiritbox Spiritbox
Spite Extreme Wing Vltra
Symphony X Paradise Lost
The Color Morale My Devil In Your Eyes
The Electric Boa Candy Coated Cyanide
The hard rock hometown heroes of Philadelphia, The Electric Boa's debut album, Candy Coated Cyanide is easily one of the best and unique straight up rock albums to come out in the last decade. With The Rolling Stones swagger, The Black Crowes unabashed love for the blues and the modern edge of Buckcherry (without the suck!) The Electric Boa is simply put, one of kind. As if all those factors wasn't enough, when you add lead songwriter and crooner John "Higgsy" Higginbottom and all his eccentricities, you get an album that that is truly memorable and instantly enjoyable. Super highly recommended, this is definitely an album that deserves to be heard by ANYONE.
The Push Kings Far Places
The Spirit Of Iuvenium Bequeath Thy Grievous Loss
The Spirit of Iuvenium's debut dropping on the eve of autumn's yearly reprisal must have been intentional; Bequeath Thy Grievous Loss rolls in with gothic splendor and the same feeling of ravishing decay fall evokes. Elements of dungeon synth, dark wave, and neo-classical provide a backdrop for album's themes - tainted purity, lost love, madness, and obsession - the ideal canvas for its tragic inclinations.
The Strokes Angles
The Toll (USA) The Toll
The Wallflowers Bringing Down the Horse
The Weeknd House of Balloons
The Word Alive The Word Alive
Thorngoth Leere
Hell yeah had to bump rating up! Album fucking rules face and is a great example of a modern take on traditional black metal. EPIC AS SHIT. In my top ten of the year.
Tides of Man Dreamhouse
Times of Grace The Hymn of a Broken Man
Tina Dico Tina Dickow w/ Danish National Chamber Orchestra
Toil Relics of Decaying Splendor
Trachimbrod A Collection of Hidden Sketches
Trha Novej kalhnjënnp
The second release and first EP this year by this mysterious one-man black metal entity, Novej kalhnjnnp may adhere to the tried and trve frostbitten atmosphere black metal's foundation was built upon, but nobody can accuse of them of not doing it their own way; the wintrous maelstrom Trh whips up throughout these three tracks is completely unique to them. The way riffs can bounce from blizzardous mysticism to stomping punk fervor, the way ethereal keys frame its metallic brethren to give order to the chaos, and so many more small elements work to give Trh a feeling of uniqueness despite their dedication to this 30+ year old craft. Highly, HIGHLY recommended.
Trha Ihum Jolhduc
Trha Endlhëtonëg
This record evokes a very strong feeling of nostalgia in me. Part of this is due to the typical black metal instrumentation, buried under the static and buzz of the familiarly raw production, but most of it is thanks to the synths, which for this Trha album have stolen the focus from the guitars and shrieks. They're ethereal, with a magic to them that makes me long for a time I thought I've long since forgotten. I don't want to say black metal rarely gets emotional -that would be a lie- but rarely does it get this emotional.
Trivium Ascendancy
Trophy Scars Never Born, Never Dead
Ulcerate Stare Into Death and Be Still
how tf they expect me to be still with all these good riffs?
Ulver Nattens Madrigal
Uncanny Splenium For Nyktophobia
Underoath The Changing of Times
Underoath Define the Great Line
Unholy Vampyric Slaughter Sect The World Trapped in Vampyric Sway
Verwustung When Light Broke the Stars, Humanity Rejected Us
Viggo Mortensen Pandemoniumfromamerica
Violent Dirge Craving
For those of you who love Cynic but wish that they were heavier, Violent Dirge's second album, Craving is the perfect album for you; still achieving that uber technical jazziness while also having a foundation more firmly placed in the death metal camp, Craving is the answer to all of you who have asked themselves "What if?".
Vlad Tepes/Belketre March To The Black Holocaust
While the Black Legions had some good material,this split remains to be one of the best albums released from the group.
Volahn Dimensiones del Trance Kosmico
Volahn Aq Ab Al
Absolutely fantastic black metal courtesy of The Black Twilight Circle. Very much inspired by their Aztec roots, the Spanish influenced music certainly sets Volahn apart from their contemporaries in the best way possible. Add in the impressive musicianship and sweeping melodic breaks and you have all the ingredients for an excellent album.
Weeping Sores False Confession
The album cover and review I read earlier (which is on Invisible Oranges and written by Langdon Hickman who is
one of my favorite metal reviewers) convinced me to check this out and I?m so glad I did. It has a gothic feel in a
Peaceville Three kind of way, but still has moments where it bares its teeth. The pacing is really compelling, and
doesn’t really ascribe to the usual death/doom paradigm as far as its division of faster/slower segments. My
favorite part is definitely the violin, performed by Gina Eygenhuysen of Tchornoborg. It gives the already
impressive atmosphere even more depth, doesn?t detract from the metallic instrumentation, and offers some
gorgeous melodies in its own right. Overall this is just really solid, and feels fresh while still providing all the
familiar thrills of extreme music.
With the End in Mind Unraveling; Arising
It's been a long time since I've been so genuinely floored by a black metal album, and the last place I expected it to come from was Cascadia. That scene may be dead, but apparently With the End In Mind didn't get the memo. The juxtaposition of the naturalistic timbre of the aforementioned movement and winsome dolor of post-black metal is executed so tactfully throughout, bringing to light the strengths of both scenes without their flaws anywhere in sight. The pristine production can't belie how raw the sentiment underneath is, and waves of despair slice through your gut like jagged, but fine shards of glass. Superficially beautiful, but emotionally tormented, Unraveling; Arising is truly a special album.
With the End in Mind Tides of Fire
As one of the only Cascadian black metal bands to make it out of the 2010's, With the End in Mind enters this new decade with their finest work yet, Tides of Fire. It's not an album that traverses new ground, but rather doubles down on what the project does best; euphoric swells of melodic black metal riffage, doom-ridden spoken word ruminations, cooing folk passages, and atmosphere that drops you right in the Pacific Northwest. As someone who waited four years for this release, I am more than satisfied with the final product.
Woe Quietly, Undramatically
Zella Day Zella Day
Zwarte Drakk Demo I
THIS IS WHAT RAW BLACK METAL SHOULD SOUND LIKE.

4.0 excellent
*shels Sea of the Dying Dhow
0 (Null) Entity
100 Gecs 1000 Gecs and the Tree of Clues
1349 Hellfire
1349 Massive Cauldron of Chaos
200 Stab Wounds Piles of Festering Decomposition
A Day To Remember Common Courtesy
A Lot Like Birds Conversation Piece
A Pregnant Light The Feast of Clipped Wings
Raw and punked up black metal from Colloquial Sound Recordings that gets better with every listen.
A Pregnant Light Live to Tell
A Pregnant Light Stars Will Fall
A Pregnant Light Before I Came
A Skylit Drive Wires...and the Concept of Breathing
A Static Lullaby Rattlesnake!
Aakon Keetreh Dans La Foret
Excellent dark ambient from the ex-Belketre frontman Lord Aakon Keetreh. A dark melancholic atmosphere supplemented by eerie chants, moody guitar and LLN style production.
Abigail Williams Walk Beyond The Dark
Walk Beyond The Dark is very impressive. It?s an adventurous , atmospheric/quasi-symphonic black metal album that is equally as intricate as it is bombastic. There?s a subtle complexity throughout, with each nuance exuding a vibrancy even as they weave themselves into the album?s greater tapestry, culminating in a multilayered record with depth to add to its unbridled grandiosity. Abigail Williams should be proud of this one.
Abominable Putridity The Anomalies of Artificial Origin
Okay so this is a lot better than I initially gave it credit for.
Absum/Odz Manouk Rotting Esophagus
Abuse. Abuse
Abyssal (UK) A Beacon In The Husk
Abyssal and Carcinoma Apanthropinization
Two UK black/death metal bands just tearing it the fuck up. This is a great release.
Acephalix Deathless Master
Acherontas Faustian Ethos
Acheulean Forests Of Faerie
Addaura Burning for the Ancient
Addaura's first full-length album is a more than worthy effort; Burning for the Ancient is a bit more "Wolves In The Throne Room" than the material on the band's 2010 demo, but the group also greatly explores (and expands on) some of the more distinguished moments present on their previous release, intelligently using the awesome range of new vocalist Ryan to lead the charge. Sometimes the songs do drag just a bit, but overall the band manages to keep the songs interesting throughout their average thirteen and a half minute runtimes. This isn't quite as good as I think Addaura are really capable of creating, but on its own merit Burning for the Ancient is still a very good release.
Addaura ...And The Lamps Expire
Coming three years after their full-length debut, ...And The Lamps Expire sees Addaura starting to shed their Cascadian black metal roots in favor of beginning to search for an identity of their own. This release is very much a transitory effort, but the two tracks here are still excellent. There is noticeable reduction of WIITR-worship, and bit more experimentation, especially in the song's arrangements. By breaking up the long(er)-winded black metal sections with minimal folk breaks, creates an excellent sense of dynamics, and though both "Amid the Tumult..." and "The Sun Shines To-day Also" are about ten minutes each, they certainly don't feel that long. Hopefully the band continues to explore their sound, because this could very much be the beginning of a great career.
Aeon Spoke Aeon Spoke
Aeon Spoke Above the Buried Cry
Aethyrvorous Demo
AG Form Commons
Against Me! White Crosses
Agressor Neverending Destiny
Aguynguerran Perverting the Nazarene Cult
Aguynguerran's first full-length is not one to be underestimated; combining black metal with elements of melodic death metal, Perverting the Nazarene Cult features awesome riffs, great solos and some surprisingly catchy moments. Great record for both hardcore and newer fans of the black metal.
Ajuna Prisoners of the Sun
Akasha Consuming The Soul
vampyric american black metal that takes cues from punk-era darkthrone, early bathory/venom, and the theatrics of cradle of filth
Akatharsia Demo
Aksumite Tormented By Blessings Abundant
Alkymist (CAN) Wreckage of the Raging World
All That Remains ...For We Are Many
Regaining their senses after the mediocre Overcome, on ...For We Are Many All That Remains not only thankfully reintroduces melodeath back into the fold, but metalcore producer extraordinaire Adam D. also makes the welcome return back as producer. Almost like the jump from This Darkened Heart to The Fall of Ideals, compared to Overcome the band has definitely made large strides of improvement; although still inferior to The Fall of Ideals, ...For We Are many is easily the band's next best effort and the true follow-up to their best album. Once again boosting a perfectly clear production, All That Remains once again seems alive; Labonte has discarded the overly processed, robotic vocal approach of the last album opting for a more organic effort that not only suits him, but the band better overall. "Some of the People, All of the Time" represents not only a great performance by him (where he shows great variety in his screamed vocals and comes up with a great chorus melody) but the rest of the band also once again seems lively. Bringing back a guitar style that more strongly follows The Fall of Ideals aesthetic, Herbert and Martin great some ridiculously heavy guitar lines as well as stirringly melodic ones. Herbert's trademark solo style is more intact here as well, with the solos in songs such as "Faithless" and "The Waiting One" easily holding up amongst his classic solos of old. Hopefully this is a trend that will follow ATR until their next album, where they may regain their titles as kings of modern metalcore. ...For We Are Many has gotten my hopes up, now lets hope they deliver.
Altar of Plagues White Tomb
Altarage The Approaching Roar
Alter Bridge Blackbird
Alvvays Alvvays
Amon Amarth Surtur Rising
Babyss - 5 Classic :Dark Tranquility - Skydancer/Of Chaos and Eternal Light, Dark Tranquility - The Gallery, Dimmu Borgir - Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, Keep of Kalessin - Kolossus,Ordo Draconis - Camera Obscura Pt. 1 ,Radiohead - OK Computer, Rhapsody of Fire - Symphony of Enchanted Lands, Septic Flesh - The Ophidian Wheel, Septic Flesh - Mystic Places Of Dawn, Septic Flesh - Esoptron, Septic Flesh - A Fallen Temple, Sonata Arctica - Winterheart's Guild, Sonata Arctica - Reckoning Night
An Isolated Mind I'm Losing Myself
Atmospheric death metal has always felt like one of those more head cannon-y sub-genres. It's without clear-cut parameters to truly define what it is, and for that reason you have everything from Australian instrument-torturers Portal to Finnish filth-lords Desolate Shrine -two very different sounding projects- performing what could in essence be called atmospheric death metal. It's one of those "you know it when you hear it" types, where the finer details don't matter as much as the finished product. rThe reason I bring all of this up, is another project, the incomparably weird An Isolated Mind, seem to fall within this vague and nebulous extreme metal genre. Exuding a stifling sense of psychedelia and featuring a range of oddities - everything from jazzy saxophone interludes to moments of ambient claustrophobia - I'm Losing Myself does its name justice with its variation without ever becoming too overbearing or experimental for its own good. The balance struck between straightforward and atmospheric, dissonant and melody is incredibly well-executed, offering a multi-faceted approach that begs repeated listens. This is very fucking good, and highly recommended for fans of Cynic, Gorguts, Portal, and anything in-between. r
Anal Vomit Demonic Flagellations
It's fairly obvious that whoever rated this album 1 only did so based on the bands ridiculous name --yes while Anal Vomit is truly an awful name, the band plays black/death metal so well they deserve to get away with it.
Angelcorpse Hammer of Gods
After spending the better part of his youth in the legendary Order From Chaos, in 1995 Peter Helmkamp formed what would become his most recognized project and arguably one of the greatest blackened death metal bands of all time, Angelcorpse. With Helmkamp performing bass and vocals, guitarists Bill Taylor and Gene Palubicki and John Longstreth on drums, the group's first album Hammer of Gods was not the best this band would craft but set them on a path that would see them achieve great heights in years to come. Combining Morbid Angel's unorthodox guitar madness with black metal's unrelenting speed and Helmkamp's clever wordplay, Hammer of Gods put Angelcorpse on the map, securing a place in the annals of hell for this truly blaspheming band.
Anhedonist/Spectral Voice Abject Darkness/Ineffable Winds
Antediluvian Under Wing of Asael
Filthy blackened death metal from Canada; these guys combine the occult atmosphere of band's like Portal with some older school sensibilities to create a truly terrifying album with Under Wing of Asael.
Antediluvian Through the Cervix of Hawaah
I had the highest hopes for this album and needless to say, it fully delivered
Anti Toxin Demo
Combining elements of punk, hardcore and thrash, Anti Toxin played fast and fun crossover that slays for days.
Anti Toxin The Tower
Antiklesis Antiklesis
DsO and Ampere influenced screamo. If that doesn't pique your interest, nothing will.
Apoptygma Berzerk Welcome To Earth
Aqualung Magnetic North
Arch Enemy Stigmata
Arizmenda Without Circumference Nor Center
Stylistically very similar to Within the Vacuum of Infinity, Without Circumference Nor Center continues to follow Arizmenda in creating disturbingly dark atmospheric black metal. With the shortest song clocking in at a lengthy seven minutes, the highly engaging sonic beating the band delivers definitely justifies such long pieces; from the amount of riffs, to the tempo changes, to even the ever so subtle psychedelic influences, the bands unwavering technique ensnares your attention, only releasing its grip in the albums dying moments. While structurally dissonance is the very foundation the album was built upon, its the melody that really separates Arzimenda from their peers with guitarist Juan Cabello imbuing fierce tremolo picked lines with haunting melodies and absolutely thriving during the albums cleaner sections.rHonestly, this is an album with an infinite amount of admirable qualities, but for the sake of this not turning into a full review and giving you the chance to read the other albums I have on the list Ill just close with this statement: Without Circumference Nor Center is definitely a challenging listen, but youll find that if you give it the time it deserves, the feeling once finishing it is immensely gratifying and fulfilling hence why it deserves not only the accolades it has received here, but almost everywhere else on the internet.r
Arizmenda Beneath This Reality of Flesh
I've never had more mixed emotions about how to feel about an album. I want to love it so much because it's Arizmenda, and there are certainly some fantastic moments, but it seems like something is missing.
Arizmenda Despairs Depths Descended
Arkhtinn 最初の災害
Arnaut Pavle Demo Tape MMXIII
Riffy riffy black metally goodnessy
Arnaut Pavle Arnaut Pavle
As I Lay Dying An Ocean Between Us
As I Lay Dying The Powerless Rise
Ascended Dead / Evil Priest Nexus of the Black Flame / Revealing My Obscurity
Aseitas False Peace
Ash Borer 2009 Demo
Ash Borer Tour Rehearsal Demo
Ashdautas Where the Sun is Silent...
Aspid Extravasation
Assorted Heap Mindwaves
Mindwaves by Assorted Heap is quite the thrash album; beefing up their sound to incorporate more elements from the then newly found death metal scene, Assorted Heap played a form of highly technical death/thrash that really emphasized the latter. Great riffs, great drumming, songs like "Mindwaves" display the band at their heaviest while tracks like "Holy Ground" reveal the band's keen sense of melody, an often hidden element that does wonders when revealed. Overall, Mindwaves is an incredibly solid piece of extreme metal, a must have for all fans.
At Dusk / Sacerdos At Dusk / Sacerdos
Ataraxy Where All Hope Fades
Attrition (CANADA) Vengeance
Aucun Demo I
Autokrator Hammer Of The Heretics
Avenged Sevenfold Avenged Sevenfold
Aves Aves
An instrumental post-rock/punk band with black metal influences, Aves first rarely delves deep into the latter genre, leaving way for wondrous jangly guitar riffs, feel good basslines and programmed drumming actually that doesn't take an ounce out of the record's overall enjoyability. There is some truly beautiful work to be had on this.
Awenden Golden Hour
Axis of Advance The List
Axis of Advance Obey
Axis of Advance Purify
Axis of Light By the Hands of the Consuming Fire
Combining epic, sweeping raw black metal with hardcore undertones, Axis of Light's debut album By The Hands of Consuming Fire is a very powerful 2012 release
Azath Demo 2018
Azoic Gateways
Labyrinth like blackened death metal that takes cues from Ulcerate and Deathspell Omega. Frightening atmospheric and disappointingly underrated.
Bacchus Bacchus
Bad Dream Demonstration
Bad Meets Evil Hell: The Sequel
Although I'm not really much of a rap fan, Bad Meets Evil is an album that I'm attracted to a lot of the time because of it's sheer intensity; while "intensity" may see like a strange word to use, there is an aggression here that really transcends music and is I think the reason as to why I enjoy the album so much.
Banished Deliver Me Unto Pain
The more I listen to this the more it grows on me - great old school styled death metal with flourishes of the classic New York slamming. Definitely a great and overlooked album and definitely something that grows on you.
Baphomet (NY) The Dead Shall Inherit
Baring Teeth Atrophy
A great combination of technical prowess and atmosphere.
Basalte Vertige
Basmu Infernal Circles of the Sabbat
Basmu Enshrined In Eternity
Battlemaster Warthirsting & Winterbound
Blackened death metal with an emphasis on technical instrumentation, Battlemaster may come off as a bit cheesy at times, but at the end of the day these guys are a tight unit with some good songs.
Batushka Litourgiya
Bea5t Empathy Is a Gift
Beach Pneumatic Beach Pneumatic
Beats Antique Collide
yooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
Begrime Exemious Impending Funeral of Man
Beheaded Perpetual Mockery
Although generally only labelled as "brutal death metal" Beheaded on Perpetual Mockery are actually so much more than then that; incorporating a whopping amount of technical prowess into what is more aggressive than average death metal, Beheaded succeeds in being both unrelentingly heavy and appropriately melodic. Definitely a great start to what would prove to be a fruitful career.
Behemoth I Loved You at Your Darkest
I Loved You At Your Darkness sees Behemoth stripping their sound down to the bare essentials, creating their most atmospheric and melodic effort to date, as well as their most "black metal" album in 20 years. There is definitely something compelling about the more streamlined sound, but at times it feels TOO bare and some of the ideas are certainly ones anyone who has been listening to black metal for more than a day have heard before. That being said, this is still a very enjoyable record and I can see it growing with repeated listens. These back-to-basics records can usually go either way, but this one definitely falls in favor of Behemoth.
Belketre Ambre Zuèrkl Vuorhdrévarvtre
Bergtatt Labyrinthine Subterranean Passages
Bhang Khang 2011 Demo
Bilmuri Banana
Birthplace Ameliorate
Black Breath Sentenced To Life
Dark and sinister hardcore with touches of Swedish death metal and crust. All around awesome
Black Cilice Transfixion of Spirits
Black Curse Endless Wound
Black Everest/Captain, Your Ship is Sinking Split
Black Freighter Graves And Monuments
Holy shit, how was this not heard before? Fucking AMAZING blackened sludge. Tons of great riffs, great vocals and most importantly great fucking songs, Graves and Monuments is a hidden gem of 2010 that definitely deserves an unearthing.
Black Mass (UK) Of First and Last Things
Black Swan (USA-NY) Evolution
Bleeding Through The Truth
Bleeding Through Declaration
Bleeding Through Love Will Kill All
Am I crazy in thinking this may be one of Bleeding Through's best efforts? It's
been six year since their supposed-to-be finale The Great Fire, and ironically
enough if there was ever a fire burning, Love Will Kill All sees it at its
brightest. Symphonic elegance supplements brutal hardcore breakdowns, bloody screeches
lead into melodious choruses, and man, if some of Brandan's best one-liners are not on
this records. This isn't just an excellent return to form, it's one of Bleeding Through's
strongest efforts in general.
Blink-182 The Mark, Tom and Travis Show
Blink-182 Neighborhoods
Blood Fortress Our Vvampyric Mother Bounded to the Earth
Blood Revolt Indoctrine
Blut Aus Nord 777 - Sect(s)
The Paracletus of 2011. Don't get me wrong, this is in no way a carbon copy of DsO's last album; 777 is black metal at its most haunting, combining eerie atmospheres with labyrinths of dissonant riffage and somber melodies to create a nightmarish album of epic proportions. Unorthodox in about every way possible, 777 doesn't make sense at all, but it's the album's unpredictability along with its genius crafting that will make it one of the better black metal albums of this year.
Blut Aus Nord Hallucinogen
Bone Awl Meaningless Leaning Mess
Bone Awl An Obelisk Marks the Line
Arriving a whole 13 years after their debut record, An Obelisk Marks the Line is the second full-length album from blackened punk pioneers Bone Awl, and a piece well worth the wait. While the enigmatic duo have steadily been releasing material of great quality in the form of EPs, splits, and demos throughout the years since Meaningless Leaning Mess there's an obvious uptick in the caliber music here, fitting for a collection of songs that now comprises their second full-length album. Of course, being Bone Awl, one shouldn't expect a giant stylistic shift away from the black metal and punk hybrid they've been peddling for the better part of twenty years now, but when it comes to this style of music, nobody does it better, a point that An Obelisk Marks the Line drives home time and time again throughout the span of its half an hour runtime.
Boreal The Battle of Vosad (2020)
Bosse-de-Nage All Fours
Botanist VI: Flora
Boys of Fall Thank You and Goodbye
Brand of Sacrifice Lifeblood
Breaking Benjamin Dear Agony
Bring Me The Horizon Count Your Blessings
Brutality Screams of Anguish
Buckethead The Cuckoo Clocks of Hell
Buckethead Giant Robot
Buckethead The Elephant Man's Alarm Clock
Buckethead Pepper's Ghost
Buckethead Bucketheadland 2
Buckethead Ghost Host
Buckethead Chicken Noodles
Buckethead Chicken Noodles II
Bull of Apis Bull of Bronze Offerings of Flesh and Gold
Bullets And Octane In the Mouth of the Young
Bullets And Octane The Revelry
Bullets And Octane Bullets And Octane
Burden of a Day Blessed Be Our Ever After
Burn Down Rome Devotion
Burzum Belus
Cadence Fox Metaphors for the Decline of Humanity
Candelabrum Portals
Cannibal Corpse Violence Unimagined
Cannibal Corpse spent so long being death metal's resident whipping boys and yet here they are, 30-something years later, at the top of their game and one of the best modern -old school or new school- death metal acts going. Talk about the sound of perseverance.
Cantique Lepreux Paysages Polaires
I find that the winds of icy and frostbitten black metal don't sting me like they used to; they've
been blowing so hard for so long that I've become acclimated to the chill and yet, Paysages
Polaires is cold enough to make my teeth chatter. Cantique Lepreux has found new ways to make
frigid temperatures exciting again and my body literally can't stop moving as a result.
Capharnaum Reality Only Fantasized
Capital Lights This Is An Outrage!
Captain, We're Sinking The Animals Are Out
Cara Neir Stagnant Perceptions
This album is awesome. If you disagree you are entitled but prepare for a shunning.
Cara Neir Portals to a Better, Dead World
Cara Neir The Overwatch
Totally differing from the black metal/screamo of Portals to a Better, Dead World, Cara Neir's newest EP The
Overwatch, returns to the more succinct compositions of Sublimaton Therapy, all while continuing to expand
their already diverse sound. It's a mixture of all their influences, yet it still wears the unmistakeable Cara Neir
brand,
and it's easily one of their most enjoyable releases to date. Recommended.
Cara Neir/Ramlord Split
I haven't listened to the Ramlord side of this yet but the Cara Neir side is fucking phenomenal. By far their most post-rock/screamo set of songs to date, it's amazing how well they can pull off black metal with all these difference nuances
Cara Neir/Wildspeaker Guilt and His Reflection
Musically, Guilt and His Reflection is one of the most interesting things I've heard all year. It defies categorization; Cara Neir is seamlessly avant-garde, metal, screamo, hardcore, and many other things. Wildspeaker is a bit more straightforward, but their blend of black metal/hardcore/post- is equally as compelling. The vocals on both sides are furious and vitriol-filled, with Chris' rasps and shouts feeling schizophrenic and harrowing (perfect for the split's concept) and Natalie's sounding like a more black metal influenced Jacob Bannon. There is a concept strewn across all the songs, revolving around cannibalism in a post-apocalyptic world, and the mental/physical effects it has on the story's main character. This shit is fucking tight.
Carcass Heartwork
Carcass Reek of Putrefaction
Carrion of Torrent Inituum Calamitatis Regni
Carved Cross Demo III
Carved Cross Carved Cross
Carved Cross The Yawning Abyss of Perdition
Carved Cross Sapped of Strength, Left to Wither and Fade Away
Carved Cross Severance of Disparity in Absolute Acrimony
This is perhaps is Carved Cross’ best record. The core tenants of their sound - minimalism, repetition, and
obscenely raw production- are intact, but there’s is more melody and atmosphere present than ever before.
These additions are obviously not exceedingly groundbreaking, but when working in tandem with the
idiosyncrasies Carved Cross have been peddling since their debut in 2012, elevates their particularly raw brand
of black metal rto the next level of quality.
Carved Cross Lamentations
Carved Cross/Malphas Split
Castlefield The Mascot EP
Cathedrals in the Night Demo I
Catholic Girls Distant
Cauteror They Fell
Cease Upon the Capitol Untitled
Cedamus Song of the Forest
Celestial Key Immortal Crown
Cer Dialectic Enigma
Chaos Moon Eschaton Mémoire
Chaotian Where Gods Excarnate
Chapel of Disease ...And As We Have Seen The Storm
Chapel of Disease have managed to graft depth, dimension, and death metal together into a seamless package. I'm fucking here for it.
Charts and Maps Dead Horse
Jazzy post-rock woooooooooooooooooooooooooo omg orgasm
Children of Bodom Tokyo Warhearts
Children of Bodom Hexed
Chronaexus Algedonic Awakening
Chthe'ilist Le Dernier Crépuscule
Church Whip Psychedelic Nightmare
Cinderella Night Songs
Circle of Ouroborus Kuuhun Kahlittu
Circle of Ouroborus Viimeinen Juoksu
Circle Takes the Square As the Roots Undo
Cirrhus Cirrhus
Cirrhus Unimpeachable Madness
City Hunter Deep Blood
Clandestine Blaze Fist of the Northern Destroyer
Clandestine Blaze Night Of The Unholy Flame
Clandestine Blaze Secrets of Laceration
Coast Coast
Converge Petitioning the Empty Sky
Converge Jane Doe
i bet half of you didn't even listen to this and rated 5
Converge When Forever Comes Crashing
Converge No Heroes
Converge The Dusk in Us
Converge are about to put The D in Us
Cornerwrithe I Am All Saints Defiled
Corubo Ajuricaba
Before Volahn and the Black Twilight Circle, there was Corubo. Formed in Brazil during the late 90's, Corubo was one of the first acts to hail themselves as "Indigenous Black Metal", a descriptor that can be felt throughout every facet of their music. As their first full-length in 10 years, Ajuricaba is a glorious comeback that features everything you would expect of a band so entrenched in their culture; battle-worn howls, war-flute cries, and a paradigm-shifting "humid" take on the usual frigid black metal atmosphere. Recommended chaos.
Cosmic Church Täyttymys
Cosmic Church/Keres Lucifer Returns to Heaven
Cosmic Putrefaction At the Threshold of the Greatest Chasm
Cosmic Putrefaction is one of several solo projects of Italian multi-instrumentalist G.G., and though I have yet to hear those other works, Cosmic Putrefaction is good enough to the point where I think I'll need to investigate this backlog. What initially jolted my interest was the fact that Brendan Sloan of Convulsing -easily one of my favorite contemporary extreme metal acts- was providing the majority of the vocals for this album; however what keeps me coming back is the entire package. It's an album that certainly lives up to its name, exuding a certain celestial quality from it's off-kilter onslaught. In a lot of ways it reminds of me a modernized version of Blessed Are The Sick-era Morbid Angel, with a very Azagthothian feel to how G.G. pairs stuttered, thrashy riffage together with more conventional death metal fare. Brendan unsurprisingly delivers a performance on par with the work in his own band, with his guttural lows feral but also wielding a good deal of emotion. Overall this album is a successful experiment, one that I hope comes together again to give us more excellent death metal.
Cosmic Putrefaction The Horizons Towards Which Splendour Withers
Counterparts You're Not You Anymore
Cradle of Filth Damnation and a Day
Cradle of Filth The Principle of Evil Made Flesh
Cradle of Filth Lovecraft & Witch Hearts
Cradle of Filth Thornography
Crazy Lixx Loud Minority
Creeping Death Wretched Illusions
Crooked Necks Alright Is Exactly What It Isn't
This is an album I've been waiting a long time for - I've been a fan of this band since their days as Frail, and even though the majority of the bands black metal influence has been thrown to the wayside, they've definitely proven themselves here as a solid post-punk/shoegaze project. Glistening melodies coupled with jubilant bass-lines, Crooked Necks creates music that sticks with you, crafting melodies that will speak to your soul and raise spirits even in their darkest hours. The music is truly beautiful, and the raw production edge (one of the few black metal remnants the band contains) only adds to the amazing atmosphere. Like I said, I've been waiting a long time for this -- I'm glad I wasn't disappointed.
Cruciamentum Engulfed In Desolation
Haven't listened to this but If Hyperion says it's good you should pretty much know that it's going to kick copious amounts ass.
Cruciamentum Charnel Passages
Cruentus (ITA) In Myself
Cryptic Shift Visitations from Enceladus
Cryptic Shift / Replicant / Inoculation / Astral Tomb Chasm of Aeons
Cryptophobism Demo '98
CW Productions Even Biology Is Revolting Despite ItsNaturalAppeal
CW Productions is a paragon of raw and punk-y USBM so it (almost) goes without saying that a compilation of new material from the entirety of its roster is ESSENTIAL.
Cynic Focus
Cynic Traced in Air
D.R.I. Dealing with It!
Dagorath Evil Is the Spirit
Dakhma (SUI) Hamkar Atonement
Damian Valles Bow Echoes
Dance Gavin Dance Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean
Dance Gavin Dance Dance Gavin Dance
Dark Watcher Hymns Of A Godless Land
Black metal with a western twang is still a sub-genre that's finding its footing, but between
Wayfarer's excellent 2020 release A Romance with Violence and now Dark Watcher's superb
Hymns of a Godless Land, it finally feels like this niche is being fleshed out the way it
should be. What Dark Watcher does - perhaps even better than their contemporaries - is creating a
stirring cinematic feeling to their music that show ascribes to both the prairie gunslinger and
raw black metal components of their music. In theory, these two entities should be in competition
with each other, but thanks to the keen and studied ear of main composer/guitarist Hodag, it feels
like black metal should've started wearing spurs long ago. Though only 3 songs long, Hymns of a
Godless Land proves that Dark Watcher has all the makings of a western classic and I for one
am excited to see what these Stetson-wearing trailblazers will do next.
Darkest Hour Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation
Darkest Hour So Sedated, So Secure (Re-Issue)
Darkseid The Three Mothers
Obscure death metal from France, Darkseid was a great little band that only put out The Three Mothers concept demo in 1996 before completely dropping off the face of the Earth. Pretty different from anything that was going on in the United States or any other country for that matter, Darkseid played a catchy yet heavy form of death metal with some interesting experimental tendencies. Unlike most other death metal, Darkseid's standard tuned guitar may have sacrificed them some of the sheer heaviness of their peers, but it certainly helped when it came to creating some of the unorthodox guitar lines the album is centered on. The gutturals are also pretty great, containing a nice hoarseness that helps the singer from being just another death metal vocalist. Overall a great, interesting listen.
Darkthrone The Cult Is Alive
Das Oath Das Oath
Das Plague Das Plague
David Tagg Pentecost
Dawn Ray'd Behold Sedition Plainsong
De Magia Veterum Naked Swords Into The Womb Of The Enemy
Deafheaven Demo
Deafheaven New Bermuda
new ber muda
Deafheaven Infinite Granite
Deafheaven are literally queer-coded (nice haircuts) and have a disability (used to play black metal) and that's the majority of the reason why ya'll don't like them.
Death Human
Death Fortress Triumph Of The Undying
Death Fortress Reign of the Unending
Death From Above 1979 The Physical World
Deathspell Omega Paracletus
Deathspell Omega The Furnaces of Palingenesia
Please check out my right wing Deathspell Omega cover project Deathspell O-MAGA
Decapitated Winds of Creation
Decapitated Organic Hallucinosis
Decapitated Nihility
Deceased The Blueprint For Madness
Generally seen as a weaker album in Deceased's early discography, The Blueprint For Madness is very much the interim album between the band's two best known releases. However that in no way means The Blueprint for Madness doesn't contain quite a bit of excellent material itself; introducing the progressive elements the band would later capitalize on, here is where Deceased started showing their true ingenuity, fusing the raw direction of their past with more melodic qualities, such as tuneful solos and even some really awesome Maiden inspired harmonies. At the end of the day, The Blueprint For Madness is an underrated album within the Deceased catalog.
Deceased Surreal Overdose
Deceased Ghostly White
Decrepitaph Profane Doctrines Unburied
Defaced Creation Serenity in Chaos
Swedish death metal with an extra technical edge to it making for a very successful album
Deicide The Stench of Redemption
There are very few bands that have been able to pull a late game comeback; Megadeth came back roaring with 2009?s Endgame, Cradle of Filth reinvented themselves with 2015?s Hammer of the Witches, and OSDM stalwarts Deicide coincidentally pulled a miracle out of nowhere when they released The Stench of Redemption in 2005 after a near decade of phoning it in. Much like the other examples it was a changing of the guard that breathed new life into this husk of a band. Legends Jack Owen (of Cannibal Corpse fame) and Ralph Santolla (RIP) joined the group after the exit of the bug-eyed Hoffman brothers, and completely reinvigorated the project. By adding just the smallest dose of melody alongside classic, unrelenting death metal riffage, Deicide -for a short moment in time- climbed their way out of irrelevance and managed to position themselves on top the death metal heap once again. If you kept reading and made it to this part, do yourself a favor and just listen, you won?t regret it.
Del Paxton Worst. Summer. Ever.
Delice Sillage
Demilich Nespithe
Demon Hunter Storm the Gates of Hell
Departure Chandelier Antichrist Rise to Power
Dernier Martyr/Lifeless Sorrow/All The Cold The Plague of Our Lands
Desolate Shrine Tenebrous Towers
Desolate Shrine popped up in the atmospheric death metal boom of the 2010's, but definitely stand out from the sea of Incantation emulators. They are atmospheric in a more traditional sense, with purposeful breaks separating the bouts of punk-y death metal savagery straight out of Stockholm.
Despondent Moon Invoking the Freezing Mist
DevilDriver The Fury of Our Maker's Hand
Dimmu Borgir Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia
Dimmu Borgir Stormblåst
Dir Yassin Discography
Disaffected Vast
Disaffected are a Portuguese progressive death metal band that throughout their cumulative 20 year career have only released one truly worthwhile album, Vast. an impressive concoction of atmosphere, jazz fusion, and death metal.
Dissection The Somberlain
Dissection Reinkaos
Dissection Live Rebirth
Dodenbezweerder Zwarte Sluiers
Dodsengel Mirium Occultum
a new take on classic norweigan black metal that for the most part, works well
Dodsrit Mortal Coil
Rising from the ashes of dark hardcore act Totem Skin, Ddsrit is the project of ex-Totem Skin guitarist Christoffer ster and the logical progression of his former band?s sound. Their third album Mortal Coil explores the vast expanses of post-black metal and continues ster?s habit of fostering multifaceted extreme metal records. Now joined by a 3 new full-time members, Mortal Coil is easily Ddsrit?s most nuanced effort to date, their combination of shoegaze, hardcore, and black metal not exactly groundbreaking but effective nonetheless. The record?s melodic core is the main selling point here, and whether in the form of harmonized leads or octave chords their exuberance can?t be denied. If you?re searching for black metal record that honors the genre?s frostbitten roots but also isn?t afraid to venture out into sun, Mortal Coil is for you.
Dommedagssalme Division
Donovan Wolfington Stop Breathing
HEY THIS IS CATCHY
Dotzd Fantasia
DragonForce Valley of the Damned
DragonForce Sonic Firestorm
DragonForce Inhuman Rampage
Drastus Serpent's Chalice - Materia Prima
Dressed In Streams Dressed In Streams
Dressed In Streams Azad Hind
Dressed In Streams The Search for Blood
Dressed In Streams Swaraj: or, "Self Rule"
Drowning the Light The Fading Rays Of The Sun
Drowning the Light The Serpents Reign
Drowning the Light The Blood Of The Ancients
Drowning the Light Oceans of Eternity
Despite being one of the most inconsistent black metal musicians in previous years, Azgorh has since become a fairly strong force within the genre; the quality of the music has improved greatly, and in turn, Drowning The Light's popularity has deservedly soared. This is some top-notch atmospheric black metal, complete with all the recently great melodic choices that have made the past few DTL releases worthwhile.
Drowning the Light From the Abyss
Drowning The Light continue to get better. Each song has a "special" something that makes it memorable.
Drowning the Light The Vampire Cipher
Drowning the Light Cursed Below the Waves
Azgorh's newest album explores the deepest and darkest depths of the ocean without the losing
blackened melodicism his recent records have exuded so effortlessly.
Drowning The Light/Acherontas Drowning the Light/Acherontas
Hailing from Australia (Drowning The Light) and Greece (Acherontas) respectfully, both bands play a raw, majestic form of atmospheric black metal. Acherontas provides a more harsh yet melodic approach while Drowning the Light adds the perfect amount of keyboard atmospherics to match their almost equally as scathing approach. Although only 2 songs long, this is split recommended to anyone.
Drowning The Light/Circle of Ouroborus Moonflares
Drowning The Virgin Silence Beneath The Sulfur Sky
Dungeon Serpent World of Sorrows
Probably the best melodeath I've heard it years. Not overly saccharine but melodic enough for the hooks to embed themselves. The production is gritty and sounds like a long lost early 90's demo. Great riffs and vocals.
Dunnock Little Stories Told By Ghosts
Dystopia Na! Syklus
Eigenlicht Sacral Regicide
Hellenic inspired black metal from Washington. Really fucking awesome stuff.
Eighteen Visions Obsession
Eighteen Visions Yesterday Is Time Killed
Eighteen Visions Lifeless
Eighteen Visions XVIII
XVIII sounds like the forgotten child of Until the Ink Runs Out and Vanity, and I am not complaining one bit.
Eighteen Visions Inferno
After their redemptive come back with XVIII, Eighteen Visions continue to impress with their post-reunion material; Inferno is everything and more a fan of the band could want. Recalling their Until the Ink Runs Out while downtuning to acquiesce with the modern standard for "heavy", Inferno is chock full of skronky riffs, heart-racing breakdowns, and enough movie samples to satisfy any cinephile. This isn't even mentioning how great James sounds, as the vocalist provides perhaps his best performance yet. This release just proves Eighteen Visions is here to stay, and honestly, I am too.
Eithel Sirion Misanthropic Spheres of Damnation
El-Ahrairah The Blessing
Elegiac Black Clouds of War
Em Dath Rir The First Demonstration
Emarosa Emarosa
Emarosa Versus
Emarosa Peach Club
This is what pop rock should sound like.
Empire of Hate Visions of A Better Time
Encoffination O Hell, Shine In Thy Whited Sepulchres
Engraved Before The Tales
Unlike much of modern melodeath which comes of as generic and uninspired, Engraved's demo 1995 is a true marriage of original death metal stylings and epic melodies. Backed by a truly fitting muddy production, this demo features some great, downtuned riffs, excellent guttural vocals and great, classic metal inspired melodies.
Enslaved Frost
Enslaved Below the Lights
Enslaved Eld
Enslaved Monumension
Enslaved Vertebrae
Epheles Je Suis Autrefois
These french black metal veterans just don't know how to make a bad album
Erraunt The Portent
Eructation 1992 Demo
Eructation The Fumes of Putrefaction (1992-1995)
Escalator Demo
Escape the Fate Dying Is Your Latest Fashion
Esoctrilihum Inhüma
Delving further into the hellish chasms he excavated earlier this year on Pandaemorthium, Esoctrilihum is back for his second full-length of the year, Inhu?ma, an all-around more visceral and haunting experience in cavernous black/death metal. Showing slight leaps in sophistication only lends to making this experience more harrowing as if darkness itself manifested consciousness and is intent on casting your soul into diabolical inferno.
Esoctrilihum Eternity Of Shaog
Esoctrilihum Dy'th Requiem for the Serpent Telepath
Eterna Rovina Monolito
Eternal Fortress Enchanted Woods of Sorrow
Exalted Eyes Rolled Back
Excellent punk influenced black metal EP. Fast, chaotic yet still extremely catchy and lots of fun. Although it is truly a shame this is EP is so short (only two songs), one thing it does for sure is make you want to check out the band's back catalog as well as get you excited for future material. Awesome.
Exhumation (GR) Seas of Eternal Silence
Exoto Carnival of Souls
Face the Rail Face the Rail
Faceless Burial Multiversal Abattoir
Failures Failures
Fallen Christ Abduction Ritual
Fanebærer / Carved Cross Fanebærer / Carved Cross
Father Befouled Revulsion of Seraphic Grace
Fell Voices Fell Voices
Feminazgul No Dawn for Men
The new Feminazgl record, No Dawn For Men is an incredible achievement of progressive, feminist black metal. Although I appreciated the concept of their previous album The Age of Men is Over, more than I necessarily appreciated the music (it was absolutely fine, just nothing to write home about), No Dawn For Men sees both elements in fine form. It has that lo-fi grit common to raw(er) black metal, yet melodically it adheres closer to post-black metal, employing wave after wave of uplifting tremolo riffage. There's a very pronounced orchestral/atmospheric element present throughout as well, which only serves to further bolster the already impressive and beautiful music created by the more "traditional" instrumentals. From start to finish this record is a win and highly recommended.
Fief III
Fief IV
Fields of Mildew Fields of Mildew
Fields of Mildew self-titled album is definitely one of my favorite releases of 2015; distributed by Fallow Field, but neither black metal or power electronics, Fields of Mildew is stirring, lo-fi folk of the highest caliber. Consisting of only guitars and vocals, whoever is behind Fields of Mildew is quite adept at creating despondent, yet beautiful melodies. Recommended.
Fire In The Cave Fire In the Cave
Firebird No. 3
Firehouse Firehouse
Firnglow A Long Awaited Presence
Forest Mysticism Forest Mysticism
Forest Mysticism Demo Collection (2006-2011)
Forest Mysticism Hearken
Forest Mysticism's second demo was one of my first experiences with raw music, and it
changed the way I saw black metal. Unfortunately, as a side project of Australian
mastermind D, leader of Woods of Desolation, Grey Waters, etc... Forest Mysticism offered
sparse material until recently. It's not as beautifully under-produced as his demos but
it's still super melodic and wondrous atmospheric black metal with some slight folk
elements thrown in for good measure.
Forest Mysticism/Larmes d'Hivers Blood of the Woodland/The Fall of Autumn
Forest Mysticism/Runespell Wandering Forlorn
Forest of Grey Crypsis
Cascadian black metal with a more progressive slant, not relying on repetition as much as adventurousness.
Foret D'Hiver La Fin Du Monde
Forgotten Spell Desecrated, Decayed and Still Holy
Forgotten Spell The Necromancer Demo
Four Year Strong It's Our Time
Frameworks Small Victories
Frontier Demo
Hailing from Massachusetts, Frontier plays a form of modern black metal with slight "post" influences. Everything from the instrumentals to the vocals are top notch. Definitely a band to look out for.
Fuath I
Funebre Children of the Scorn
Funereal Presence Achatius
Furdidurke November 2005 Rehearsal
Furdidurke Furdidurke
Furdidurke Native
Gabestok Tre
Gabestok Én Gang Rådden, Altid Rådden
GARDSGHASTR Slit Throat Requiem
Garroted Of Damnation and Abyssal Terrors
Gauche (AUS) Siesta Cinema
Gaunt Demo
Ghastly (FIN) Mercurial Passages
Ghâsh / Marunata / Dreamshift / A Light in the Dark Colors of the Mind
Post-black metal as a whole may be tired, played-out and for the most part boring, but this split
featuring four new(er) post-black metal bands somehow isn't.
GHOSTEMANE N/O/I/S/E
Glossolalia Gold in the Throat
God Forbid IV: Constitution of Treason
God Macabre The Winterlong
The Winterlong is an album that was released in 1993 and was (for the most part) forgotten.
Thankfully, some denizen of the late 2000's blogspot scene was also a collector of obscure Swedish
OSDM and uploaded it to their site or it may have remained gone forever. Since then the album has
rightfully gained a cult following and status as an un(der)heralded *classic* of that famed scene,
a fine example of the then burgeoning movement that's so fondly remembered today.
Goodbye World At Death's Door
Gorephilia Ascend to Chaos
Gorephilia Embodiment of Death
Gorephilia Severed Monolith
Grand Mood Final Urge To March
Taking cues from their contemporaries Cirrhus and Furdidurke, Grand Mood were a short-lived raw black metal/punk band that released this solitary demo in 2011. Able to conjure galloping black metal melodies with a raucous punk stomp, it's truly a shame this band called it quits after only one, excellent tape. They could have gone on to do great things.
Green Day American Idiot
Grinning Death's Head Black Sun Rising
When you listen to Grinning Death's Head, you pretty much know what you expect: dirty and disgusting blackened punk reminiscent of Bone Awl. And yes, while they certainly recall the aforementioned kings of black punk -most bands in the genre do- honestly, they do it much better. Grinning Death's Head always manage to imbue destructive grooves into their four chord mayhem, creating music that is equal parts devastating, and catchy. Black Sun Rising is undoubtedly one of their strongest efforts, and an essential of the blackened punk genre.
Grinning Death's Head Cataclysm
Grogaldr Illness Unto the Womb of Spirit
Grot (US) Hymns of the Woodland
Guidelines Rules of the Sife
Gutter Instinct Heirs of Sisyphus
Haapoja Haapoja
Hagetisse The Seven Sorrows of the Virgin
Hallow Hallow
An album based upon paintings by Mark McCoy, it is a great combination of black metal and noise
Happy Particles Under Sleeping Waves
Hate Eternal Phoenix Amongst The Ashes
Haunter (USA-TX) Sacramental Death Qualia
Haust Ride The Relapse
Havukruunu Uinuos Syomein Sota
Haxanu Snare of All Salvation
Häresie Häresie
He Is Legend 91025
He Is Legend few
Heart on My Sleeve Blood Is Not Thicker Than Wine
Great dynamic screamo EP from this year; catchy, fun and played with tons of emotion, this simple yet striking EP would be a great listen to for anyone
Heart on My Sleeve Stand​ ​by, We're Going In For Life
Heavy Weather/The Hope and the Failure Split
Never thought I would see The Hope and The Failure release a new song, but all I can say is THANK FUCK THEY DID. Their ability write genuinely heartbreaking screamo hasn't diminished one bit. The music is wonderfully dynamic and Ina sounds fantastic. Heavy Weather's track is also just killer. The melodic depth it has is incredible. Damn, this split is good.
Heinali And Matt Finney Aint No Night
Hellacaust Disgust
Hellacaust put thrash, death and black metal into a blender, spice it up with some punk attitude and serve it cold. Riffs, voKILLS and blasphemy, this album has it all.
Heretoir Existenz
Heretoir The Circle
Hexis XI
Grim and hateful hardcore with strong as balls black metal influences
HIM Love Metal
Himelvaruwe Zwaluwenvesting
Himelvaruwe Het Onkenbare
Himelvaruwe Hemelpoort
Hinterlandt Sollbruchstelle
Hooded Menace Fulfill the Curse
Horrid Cross Demo II
Horrified (UK) Allure of the Fallen
Occupying a space between early American old-school death metal and early Somberlain-era Dissection, Horrified recreate and expand on a sound that is rarely, if ever touched on. It's atmospheric and melodic without sacrificing bestial brutality, cleanly played without ditching some extreme metal sloppiness, and overall just contains very strong individual songs. Recommended.
House of Atreus From the Madness of Ixion
Argohslent-y melodic death metal courtesy of Iron Bonehead. Though it?s worship of the aforementioned band is fairly blatant, they?re definitely not the worst melodeath act to imitate.
How to Destroy Angels Welcome Oblivion
Hwwauoch Hwwauoch
This is one of the eeriest albums I've heard all year; it's like listening to Portal in the vacuum
of space, if that vacuum was always blasting horror movie soundtracks.
Hyperdontia Nexus of Teeth
I Have Dreams Three Days 'Til Christmas
I See Stars Digital Renegade
IDYLLS Farewell All Joy
Ildjarn Forest Poetry
Immolation Failures for Gods
Immortal Pure Holocaust
Immortal Battles in the North
Immortalis Indicium De Mortuis
Impetigo Horror Of The Zombies
Impetuous Ritual Relentless Execution of Ceremonial Excrescence
Imynvokad Tongues of Death
Extra melancholic raw black metal that constantly straddles between clean picked sections of pure dissonance and coldly melodic yet churning tremolo picked riffs of epic proportions. Either way, win.
In This Moment The Dream
Incursus Incursus
Deeply inspired by early Norwegian black metal, Incursus' debut EP is two songs of raw, hateful black metal. Backed by a fitting murky production, this USBM knows how to bring the kvlt.
Inearthed Implosion Of Heaven
Inearthed Shining
Inferi (USA) Revenant
This album reminds of what it felt like when I was first getting into extreme metal. Of course
jaded old me has a few gripes (vocals), but this is a fun and adventurous album filled with
stellar playing, exciting songs, and great energy.
Infernum (Norway) Livael-Itu
Innards I've Lost Everything
Inquisition Obscure Verses for the Multiverse
Into Eternity The Scattering of Ashes
Iron Maiden Somewhere in Time
Iron Maiden The Number of the Beast
Iron Maiden Piece of Mind
Irrwisch Irrwisch
Isenordal/Void Omnia Split
A record like this will help remind how expansive and diverse black metal can be.
Ithaca The Language of Injury
Ives Abandon
Iwrestledabearonce Iwrestledabearonce
Ixachitlan Eagle, Quetzal, and Condor
Je Suis Le Petit Chevalier Tropical Malady
Jesse Barrera Love In Technicolor
shameless radio pop that somehow never made it on the radio. stupid, cliched, catchy and just fun fun fun. the type of album you sit back and enjoy not over analyze
Johnny Truant In the Library of Horrific Events
Jordablod The Cabinet of Numinous Song
Judas Iscariot An Ancient Starry Sky
Judas Iscariot's long lost album, An Ancient Starry Night was meant to be released in 1998, but pushed aside in favor of releasing his seminal Heaven In Flames record. Thankfully unearthed by Akhenaten's recent Judas Iscariot reissue campaign, it's reassuring that the first new JI material in almost two decades was recorded in the band's prime, and should stand as another worthy addition to the Judas Iscariot canon.
Jute Gyte Birefringence
Jute Gyte may be the most singularly innovative black metal act in the last decade. Rising from the crudity of normal raw black metal fare, his microtonal assault is as vicious as it is cerebral, elevating the genre beyond the blunt primitivity of his peers.
Kaatayra Só Quem Viu o Relâmpago à Sua Direita Sabe
Kaffaljidhma III
Kaleikr Heart of Lead
Kallathon Before Drifting into the Abyss
Kallathon/Blue Hummingbird on the Left Camino de Guerra
Kaonashi Why Did You Do It?
One of the most exciting metalcore bands around today.
Kato Buried With The Rain
Kerasphorus Cloven Hooves at the Holocaust Dawn
Cloven Hooves At The Holocaust Dawn maybe the more polished alternative to the likes of Diocletian or Father Befouled, but Kerasphorus are still every bit as aggressive as their fellow black death/bands as their first and only release displays really enjoyable, if not standard blackened death metal with some awesome riffs at times.
Kerasphorus Necronaut
Kerasphorus Kerasphorus
King Apathy Eine Momentaufnahme - Der Rest ist nur Einsamkeit
King Apathy The Elk
Knockout Kid Manic
Kommodus One Thousand Years of the Wolf (demo)
Kommodus From the Ashes of Empire (demo)
Kommodus An Imperial Sun Rises (demo)
Kommodus Kommodus
Korgonthurus Kuolleestasyntynyt
Korpsånd An Introduction to the New Wave of DKBM
Krabathor Cool Mortification
Old school death metal from the Czech Republic with experimental and thrash influences aka FUCKING OWNS.
Krampusnacht Krampusnacht
Christmas music in the key of HELL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Krypts Open the Crypt
Excellent old-school styled death metal from Finland. Well produced, well-written this band has a great future ahead of them.
Krypts Cadaver Circulation
Kuxan Suum Kinich Ahau
Kuxan Suum Kuxan Suum
Another project of Eduardo Ramirez (Volahn, Axeman, etc...), Kuxan Suum is the manifestation of Ramirez's desire to blend psychedelic elements with raw black metal. The result is a resounding success, as the two tracks here "Kinich Ahau" and "Principle of Harmonic Resonance" are excellent examples of progressive, forward-thinking black metal that never loses sight of its bestial roots.
Kvelgeyst Alkahest
L'Acephale L’Acephale
L.A. Guns LA Guns
La Dispute Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair
La Torture des Tenebres Civilization Is the Tomb of Our Noble Gods
La Torture des Tenebres IV - Memoirs of a Machine Girl
One of the best black metal/noise fusions I've ever heard. The noise elements usually take precedence, but you can always feel the elements of black metal pulsating underneath the cacophony of static. Surprisingly melodic at times, and very palatable given its abrasiveness.
Lamp of Murmuur Thunder Vigil and Ecstasy
Lamp of Murmuur Melancholy Howls in Ceremonial Penitence
Lamp of Murmuur Chasing The Path Of The Hidden Master
Lamp of Murmuur Punishment and Devotion
A day after releasing arguably his best material yet with Submission and Slavery, M. drops Punishment and Devotion, an EP consisting of two songs written and recorded during the S&S sessions that were taken off that record for conceptual reasons. While this makes them leftovers, they aren't "leftovers", as both tracks maintain the high quality experimental black metal Lamp of Murmuur is coming to be known for. A cursory listen makes it easy to determine why they were left off; aggressive and unrelenting, "As My Pain Contorts In The Dionysiac Vortex" and "Forever Bound To The Will Of The Spectres" are much heavier cuts than their sister material, maintaining a crude hardcore edge while also delivering the blackened finesse that's become something of a calling card for the band. Very good.
Lamp of Murmuur/Dai Ichi Virgin Womb Of Eternal Black Terror
Lampir Demo III
lastletters From Her to Here
What first drew me to lastletters. was the album cover for From Her to Here and what kept me coming back was the music. The melodies here resonate strongly and thanks to the more straightforward structuring of the songs (akin to melodic hardcore) they are super effective. Vocally, the screams here are typical of the genre but amazing nonetheless; literally cracking with passion, when lyrics like "We?ll always be a part of something greater than this, something real, and I can feel it now" , not only do you pay attention, you relate, something that just makes the EP all the more enjoyable. lastletters. have made a super enjoyable release with From Her to Here and are definitely a band to keep an eye on
Le Kraken Exalt
Leper End Progress
While black metal/crust punk and ska seem like genre's that would never mesh together well, Leper does a great job of successfully integrating these influences into burst of intense, great music. Diverse and fun, this album deserves more attention.
letlive. The Blackest Beautiful
life (USA-TX) demo 2
life (USA-TX) demo 3
Light of the Morning Star Nocta
Limbonic Art Promo 1995 [Demo]
Linkin Park Meteora
Liquicity Escapism 4
Another great DnB compilation from the Netherlands based label, Liquicity. The line-up for this one is particularly sick, featuring staples as Feint, Dualistic, Nymfo, and the almighty Ramses B. Ranging from pump-up tracks to pieces of pure atmospheric transcendence, there is no escape from the good vibes once this badboi gets started.
Long Live Nothing Long Live Nothing
Lord Snow Lord Snow
Lord Snow SHADOWMARKS
Loss of Self Twelve Minutes
Lothric Adversarial Light
Very good straightforward black metal with a melodic twist.
Lugubrum Albino de Congo
Lykotonon Only Our Eyes Are Alive
black/death metal from members of wayfarer and blood incantation? yes please
Machine Head The Blackening
Machinemade God Masked
Mahumodo Waves
Maleficentt Night of the Crimson Stars
ManBearPig Ruined Emo
Maneskygge untitled
There's black metal that attempts to achieve a chill through their music, and black metal
that attempts to achieve a chill through their production; M�neskygge is the latter, and
the tempest it conjures throughout its sole untitled full-length is cold enough to leave
you teeth chattering. There's an odd beauty to the harshness, and the though the
production could not be any rawer, it's a surprisingly listenable experience. With summer
quick approaching, this blizzardous album is the perfect tool to combat the oncoming
heat-wave.
Maneskygge untitled mmxix
Mangled State Pain Incarnate
Maquahuitl At the Altar of Mictlampa
Marina Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land
Martire Martire
Released in 1991 by Dominator Records, the Martire EP was the first official release from this unknown Australian horde. While the earlier songs on the EP definitely accentuate the band's love for black metal, as the record progresses the band begins to reveal their knack for creating sick and twisted death metal, with tons of awesome riffs and great, technical instrumentation intertwined with black metal's ferocity. The vocals in particular really stood out to me with vocalist/guitarist Vince Feleppa providing screeches suitably spawned from hell. Overall a great EP that definitely comes recommended!rFun Fact: This band also features members of Mournful Congregation and Portal, and while Martire definitely has (well had) a sound of their own, this should reassure you that the quality is nothing less than exceptional.
Marunata Dernieres Reminscences
Alongside the Pale?s s/t EP, this is one of best post-black metal releases of the year.
Mayhem Chimera
Me and Mark Me and Mark
Mefitis Offscourings
Megadeth Rust in Peace
Megadeth Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
Megadeth Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!
Megadeth The System Has Failed
The System Has Failed is the perfect interim Megadeth album; somewhere in between their more commercial oriented route and the overtly technical thrash they began with, The System Has Failed does not only hints at once was and will be, but in itself is a great addition to the Megadeth discography.
Metallica Garage Inc.
Miasmatic Necrosis Apex Profane
I'm a sucker for any kind of Reek of Putrefaction/Symphonies of Sickness-era Carcass worship, and it just so happens that Miasmatic Necrosis do this kind of death/goregrind very well. The riffs are sharp and clean but with a healthy respect for the violence of old school gore, and the pitchshifted vokills are a great throwback to the late 80's/early 90's scene. The band also have their own inherent weirdness, which adds to the appeal and makes it their despite the obvious homage to the genre greats.
microcosmys / La Torture des Ténèbres The Gods Themselves
Misericordia (RUS) The Microbiological Revolution
Misery Signals Of Malice and the Magnum Heart
Misery Signals Controller
Misfits American Psycho
Mister Heavenly Out of Love
Misthyrming Algleymi
The only word that comes to mind when listening to this is ?triumphant?.
Mizmor Yodh
One of the most dense, challenging, and ultimately rewarding albums I've listened to this year. As a combination of black metal, drone, and doom, there is a lot to digest here, and to be honest it isn't easy. Not one track falls under the 10 minute mark, and there are many layers of music to dig through. However, the depth makes this release come alive, and the dichotomy of slow churn and blistering rampage is utilized here at its best. This is daunting and horrifying, but gorgeous and wondrous within the same breadth. It's an album that thrives on contrasts, with each opposing section accentuating the strengths of the other. Yodh was meticulously constructed, and I recommend you listen to it with the same attention to detail, because if you do, you'll be richly rewarded with an excellent album.
Mizmor Cairn
When I listen to this record, I don't feel like I have a Cairn the world.
Mom Jeans. best buds
Monomakh MMXII
Monvment I
Morbid Angel Formulas Fatal to the Flesh
Morbid Angel Domination
Morbid Angel Gateways to Annihilation
Morbus Chron Sweven
Morgue Eroded Thoughts
Mors Atra Crucis I
Mortespermia CCCXXXIII
With bands like Mortespermia, it's pretty easy to be dismissive at first glance. As a Brazilian bedroom black metal project featuring sloppy playing, ear-torturing production and just a general amateurishness, CCCXXXIII's first impression isn't very flattering. The second and third impressions go down much better. As it turns out, Mortespermia is much more than meets the eye. From punk-y to atmospheric, straightforward to nuanced, CCCXXXIII is a surprisingly diverse yet cohesive piece of raw black metal. There are so many unexpected twists and turns throughout, whether it be the jolting bursts of melody or the odd shapes and phrases Grim summons out of his guitar. It has a very endearing kitsch quality about it, much like their forebears Hellhammer. Not everyone while get this or appreciate it, but this release is highly recommended to black metal fans entrenched in the rawer side of the genre.
Mother Love Bone Apple
Motley Crue Dr. Feelgood
Motley Crue New Tattoo
Motley Crue Theatre of Pain
Mr Twin Sister Mr Twin Sister
Mutilated by Zombies Scripts of Anguish
My Chemical Romance The Black Parade
Nameless Coyote Devoured by the Swirling Night
Nameless Coyote Blood Moon
Nan Elmoth Void Serpent
Napalm Death From Enslavement to Obliteration
Naphobia Of Hell
More overlooked Floridian death metal, Of Hell Naphobia's only full-length album is played in the style of most United States based OSDM bands, meaning there are few things you can automatically guess about whats in store you when listening to this record; uber technical instrumentation, a pace almost too fast to follow, and great production values. Naphobia didn't stray from any formulas but rather just put their heart into perfecting one, making for a great performance by all the group's members. Of Hell is plain and simple incredibly solid from start to finish, and if you can't take my word for it, take it from Chuck Schuldiner and Gene Hoglan two death metal luminaries that wouldn't ever waste their precious time guesting on an album that didn't offer anything but the best.
Níedgedál MMXV
Originally recorded in 2015 but not released until March of this year, Nedgedl's MMXV is a collection of "pagan" folk hymns; essentially a fusion of traditional, Nordic folk with ambient and splash of dungeon synth. It's a beautiful release, as gentle guitar licks meet with airy, atmospheric keys to create something that sounds personal even as underlying soundscape continues to expand. I was really surprised by how good this was.
Necrot Mortal
Nekrasov Lust of Consciousness
Nembrionic Psycho One Hundred
Death/grind that focuses much more on the death aspects of the music, Nembrionic delivers both deliciously crunchy riffs and enjoyably primal grind riffs along with an overall great instrumental delivery. Featuring a great production that no doubt helped the band give a more dense, well-structured performance, Psycho One Hundred is another fantastic slice of Dutch death metal heaven.
Neon Trees Habits
Nevermore This Godless Endeavor
Nietzu Submersion
Night's Threshold Deep Within The Night
Noctivago III
Nocturnal Blood True Spirit of Old
SATANS HARDS
Nokturnel Nothing But Hatred
Obituary Slowly We Rot
Obliteration Cenotaph Obscure
Obliti Devoravit Obliti Devoravit
Obliti Devoravit O.D.
Obskuritatem U Kraljevstvu Mrtvih...
There's a quantifiable difference between bands that can evoke the sound of classic 90's Norwegian BM and bands that can evoke the feeing of it; Obskuritatem are certainly the latter.
Occelensbrigg The Quest for Star Mountain
Odz Manouk/Tukaaria Split
Of Feather and Bone Bestial Hymns of Perversion
Offenbarung Manifestus
Old Nick Forest of Grief
Old Nick The Night Of The Ambush . . .
Opeth Orchid
Order From Chaos An Ending In Fire
Ordrhein Atavism
Ornamental Headpiece Masks of Ash
Orrery Nine Odes to Oblivion
Orth Ano Kato
Burping voKILLZ in addition to some prime old school tech death metal goodness
Orth Feed The Flames
Orth were a criminally underrated German death metal that existed for a relatively scant 9-10
year period between 1991-2000. Why underrated? First would have to be the insane musicality
the band displayed throughout their only 2 LPs, Ano Kato, released in 1995 and Feed the
Flames, released in 2000. Even for a death metal band, the technicality was off the charts and
in some ways could be considered tech death, though instead of mindless sweeping and uber-
sterile production standards, remained true to classic old school death metal-isms. The second
factor would be Johannes Dimou croaked vocals which were eerily similar to the amphibious
gutturals of Demilich vocalist Antti Boman. Unfortunately these two traits didn't earn Orth
any lasting popularity or allegiances, but the duo of albums we were left should quench
anyone's thirst for quality and relatively unknown OSDM.
Ossuarium Living Tomb
Our Place of Worship is Silence The Embodiment of Hate
Outer Heaven Realms Of Eternal Decay
Pandiscordian Necrogenesis Outer Supernal
Black metal should always strive to be the pinnacle of extremity in music - whether through
atmosphere, instrumentation, ideals, or any other medium - and the unorthodoxy of Pandiscordian
Necrogenesis certainly provides another worthy effort in the genre's well-established canon of
boundary pushing. Each track from this project is completely improvised, with sole member
Ephemeral Domignostika recording guitars, drums, and vocals, simultaneously. It would be comical,
but the end product Outer Supernal is nothing to laugh about. Raw black metal itself has the
undeserved connotation of being a mindless vociferation of unlistenable noise but it's projects
like this that exhibit it has the potential to transcend the stigma that it's the talentless
wasteland of a genre outliers misunderstand it to be.
Panopticon On the Subject of Mortality
Panopticon's already well established awesomeness + shoegaze influences = EVEN MORE AWESOMENESS
Panopticon Social Disservices
Panopticon Kentucky
Panopticon The Crescendo of Dusk
While both the title track and "The Labyrinth" match the quality of the respective albums they were originally composed for, it takes only a cursory listen to The Crescendo of Dusk to deduce that these two songs were somehow made to be packaged together.
Panopticon .​.​.​And Again into the Light
Panopticon/Vestiges Split
I won't even try to deny that I'm a huge Panopticon fanboy. That being said, I wasn't a huge fan of his two releases, which to me just seemed a bit by the numbers. This split returns to A's exploration of post-rock and shoegaze, and it is easily his most successful fusion of the two so far. Beautiful melodies coupled with pained barks and an entrancing atmosphere make his two songs here essential to any fan of his work so far. Honesty, I often forget to praise Vestiges, but they do an excellent job here as well, contributing only one song but it's epic as hell.
Panopticon/Wheels Within Wheels II
Haven't heard Wheels Within Wheels side yet but Panopticon's side was so fucking impressive, WWW could literally have recorded themselves taking wet shits and I still would still rate this a 4.5.
Pantheon I Worlds I Create
Paramore Riot!
Paramore After Laughter
Pathologist Putrefactive and Cadaverous Odes About Necroticism
If you ever find yourself wanting another Symphonies of Sickness-era Carcass album, look no further than Pathologist's putrid and puke-inducing debut.
Paul Travis Braille
Paysage d'Hiver Im Wald
Peaking Lights Imaginary Falcons
Penance Stare Scrying
Penance Stare's first album Scrying is a filthy juxtaposition of blackgaze, dark wave, and shoegaze elements. The addition of electronics and their cold mechanicalism piercing through the gritty production and thick tremolos adds a certain detachment from humanity to the overall sound, a sensation that at times is legitimately frightening. As a one-women project ELN's vision for Penance Stare is single-minded and executed with tunnel vision, a dedicated that in this case pays off beautifully.
Pensees Nocturnes Vacuum
Pensees Nocturnes Grotesque
Generally 'sophisticated" and "black metal" are never mentioned in the same sentence, yet with Pensees Nocturne's Grotesque the band brings a certain level of refinement that the genre overall could use.
Pentatonix Pentatonix
Petrine Cross Centuries of August
Pharmacist Medical Renditions of Grinding Decomposition
Pissmoon/Carrion of Orgy Pissmoon/Carrion of Orgy
Planks The Darkest of Grays
Planks Funeral Mouth
Portal Avow
Avow, more like "a wow! this is really good!" amirite?

sorry
Porter Robinson Nurture
Pretty Little Flower Devious Persecution And Wholesale Slaughter
Profanatica Sickened By Holy Host
It's good to see that after twenty two years the original black metal band is still playing by the rules they themselves set so long ago - Profanatica doesn't play to please the fans, they don't play to please the critics, they play because they genuinely love to create some of the most crude and simplistic black metal racket to ever exist. Sickened By Holy Host is one of the band's best releases yet.
Profetus The Sadness Of Time Passing
Prosanctus Inferi Sacreligious Desecration In Excelsis
Although most days I prefer their full-length, Prosanctus Inferi's first demo is absolute descent into hell; spawning riffs of pure malevolence, choking with its conjuration of a thick, stifling and ever so tangible atmosphere and battering with an assaulting percussive performance, Sacrilegious Desecration In Excelsis is more than just music, it's a ritualistic satanic journey from which there may be no return. Listen at your own risk.
Prosanctus Inferi Pandemonic Ululations of Vesperic...
Probably the best black/death metal release from last year
Proscription Conduit
Pyrrhon Abscess Time
Qrixkuor Three Devils Dance
Radiohead OK Computer
Raspberry Bulbs Before The Age Of Mirrors
Rational Animals Bock Rock Parade
Reactor (CH) The Tribunal Above
Rebel Wizard Voluptuous Worship of Rapture and Response
Reel Big Fish Why Do They Rock So Hard?
Reel Big Fish Turn the Radio Off
Reflux The Illusion Of Democracy
Rehashed Rehashed Demo
Hardcore and thrash metal combo that maintains a contain stream of unbridled aggression. Great riffs, awesome vokillz and overall just good vibes this album is fun as it is dangerous.
Reka I
Reka II
Revenant Prophecies of a Dying World
Revenant Marquis​/​Lamp of Murmuur Revenant Marquis​/​Lamp of Murmuur
Lamp of Murmuur and Revenant Marquis are both bands that could be classified as raw black metal, yet their sounds exist on two opposites ends of the spectrum; the former revels in tradition, imbuing their music with wintry mysticism and icy ambiance reminiscent of the classics but with an undeniably modern twist. The latter deconstructs black metal, sifting through its base elements and using its most terrifying devices to craft their abstract and insanity-inducing blackened fervor. Their pairing - while odd at first glance - makes for a great combination, displaying two of black metal's most promising young acts and the diversity that can still be found within the genre.
Revenge (CAN) Infiltration.Downfall.Death
Revenge (CAN) Triumph.Genocide.Antichrist
Revenge (CAN) Victory.Intolerance.Mastery
Revenge (CAN) Scum.Collapse.Eradication
Hailing from the same lineage as famed blackened blasphemers such as Angelcorpse and Order From Chaos, Revenge has always been one of the best blackened death metal groups around; fourth full-length album Scum.Collapse.Eradication solidifies this as the band continues to purvey some of the most vile and wretched music to grace this earth.
Rhinocervs RH01
Rhinocervs RH-12
Rhinocervs RH-13
Ripped to Shreds 埋葬
Rites of Thy Degringolade The Caryatid
Rites of Thy Degringolade Totality
Rites of Thy Degringolade An Ode To Sin
Ritual Necromancy Oath of the Abyss
Ritual Necromancy Disinterred Horror
Roanoke Beautiful People
Wow, this is some REALLY fantastic stuff
Rose Kemp Golden Shroud
Sacramental Blood Ternion Demonarchy
Sacriphyx The Western Front
Sadness (USA) Circle of Veins
Saidan Jigoku: Spiraling Chasms Of The Blackest Hell
Sainte Marie des Loups Sainte Marie des Loups
A monumental slab of blackened filth that evokes aged and odious antiquity; listening feels like unearthing an ancient artifact that will corrupt your soul by runtimes end.
Sainte Marie des Loups Funérailles de feu
Sallow Moth The Larval Hope
Salvation (USA) Mortality Interactions
Salvation's second full-length is a definite step-up from their already impressive debut, containing more even more aggression, more demonic shrieks courtesy of vocalist Adis and even more buzzed out hardcore riffs. Raw but still catchy as fuck, Mortality Interactions is a fantastic and unique hardcore gem from last year.
Sanctum On The Horizon
Sanguine Relic The Essence of Eternity's Despair
Saor Aura
Sarcophagus For We... Who Are Consumed by the Darkness
Scorched (USA-DE) Ecliptic Butchery
Scraps Aaargh!
French hardcore styled after Japanese hardcore that rules
Sectioned (Death Metal) Purulent Reality
I somehow forgot about this. Sectioned is a UK based death metal band who takes a feather out of Benediction and Bolt Thrower's mid-paced cap. It's decidedly old-school, and rife with melody la Vital Remains; sparse and effective. Recommended. The heavier parts are exactly original, but they are damn memorable. Don't let the fact I forgot about this fool you; I'm just kinda dumb. This is worth checking out.
Seether Karma And Effect
While Disclaimer was more natural in the band's raw mongrel rock, its follow-up Karma and Effect takes the unexpected route in being MUCH heavier than its predecessor. Impressively forsaking an attempt to go more mainstream, Seether's second effort is heavily influenced by metal and benefits greatly from it. For a "mainstream" rock band, these guys sure can write some motherfucking riffs. Great shit.
Sen Deni No More
Another great example of post-rock infused screamo, Belarus's own Sen Deni create very captivating songs with overflowing amounts of emotion. From faster paced sections with bright and blissful powerchord assaults to beautiful clean interludes, Sen Deni isn't reinventing the wheel whatsoever but they rule just the same.
Sen Deni письма
Senses Fail From the Depths of Dreams
Senses Fail Life Is Not a Waiting Room
Senses Fail The Fire
Senses Fail If There Is Light, It Will Find You
Sepsism Distorting the Mortal Visage
Septage Septic Decadence
Sepulcher Panoptic Horror
Sequestered Keep The Vale of Ruined Towers
Sermon of Flames I Have Seen the Light, and It Was Repulsive
Serpent Column Mirror In Darkness
Mirror in Darkness is another fine example of 2019 black metal. Serpent Column's sole member
Theophonos manages to conjure a maelstrom of music that is simultaneously chaotic and tempered.
There are obvious odes to other dissonance dominated black metal like Deathspell Omega or
Suffering Hour, as well as a spastic energy that exudes the electricity of post-hardcore. That
combination along with some well placed and powerful melodies makes Serpent Column's newest one to
look out for.
Serpent Column Kathodos
Kathodos sees Serpent Column at their most straightforward yet, distilling the best parts of melody and chaos to create an album that excels at both.
Serpentine Dominion Serpentine Dominion
Seven Sisters Of Sleep Seven Sisters of Sleep
Sexdrome Grown Younger
Sexdrome On What Draw
Shades Of Vrsaj'kett Perishing Embers of a Funeral Pyre
Shades Of Vrsaj'kett What Lies Beneath Gravel & Soot
Shadows Fall The Art of Balance
Shataan Weigh Of The Wolf
After War Cry Lament (which I loved), Shataan have steadily been going downhill; certainly nothing they released was bad, but couldn't compare to their first demo. Weigh of the Wolf absolutely does. His fusion of black metal and psychedelic (with some slight, surprising, and welcome hints of surf rock) has never sounded better than it does here. It's melodic, raw, catchy, and offensive all at once. The bass in particular steals the show, taking a prominent role and bouncing around all over the place. Great album with thought-provoking lyrics.
Shikari 1999 - 2003
Shining (SWE) I - Within Deep Dark Chambers
Shining (SWE) IV - The Eerie Cold
Shining (SWE) II - Livets Andhallplats
Shinki Chen Shinki Chen and his Friends
Siberian Hell Sounds/Convulsing Split
interesting split between two bands that approach black metal in completely different ways
Sickening Gore Destructive Reality
Sigh Scorn Defeat
Sigh Heir to Despair
Silent Thunder Usurping The Hall Of Might And Splendour
Sinmara Aphotic Womb
Sinmara Hvísl Stjarnanna
Based on the tracks available, this album should be amazing. "Crimson Stars" is particularly
fantastic; the riffs have this majestic yet dark melodicism about them. It? gorgeous with a sense
tension, a pretty thrilling combo. It definitely has that DsO quality inherent to the
Icelandic scene but repurposed into something uplifting. There's really not much else to say at
this point other than I am super excited for the whole thing to come out.

Edit: Listened, and the rest of the album is amazing. Strikes an amazing balance between melody
and maelstrom.
Six Brew Bantha Six Brew Bantha
Skagos Ast
Skaphe Skáphe³
Skeletal Remains Devouring Mortality
Skeletal Remains The Entombment of Chaos
Comparing this to Blood Incantation is a weird choice, as they are high-minded prog influenced DM & this is clearly an ode to the more visceral, brutal style of DM coming out in the late 80's/early 90's. And they do it well to boot! Need more listens to solidify a rating but this is good!
Skid Row (US) Slave to the Grind
Slayer Hell Awaits
Sleepwalker Sleepwalker
Sleepwalker 2010 Tour CD-R
Sleepwalker follow up their excellent first demo with something a bit more experimental this time around, throwing in dashes of drone into their already slick combination of black metal, post-rock and shoegaze.
Sleepwalkers (JPN) 一期一会
Slipknot Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat.
Slipknot Disasterpieces
Soilwork Stabbing the Drama
Sorrow Plagues/De La Nostalgie/Elderwind/Dreams of Nature Mater Natura Excelsa Split
Spiral Staircase Cellar Dream
Spirals Spirals
Spirit Possession 2020 Demo
Spirit Possession Spirit Possession
Spite Extreme Wing Non dvcor, dvco
Sport Colors
SQRM Rodeo
rSQRM have always confounded me. Even to this day - 9 years after the release of their last album - I was never able to place whether they were cerebral hardcore deconstructionists or noisy hardcore savages. I've always preferred to believe the former; that their cover, a miserable clown, was some kind of cynical commentary on the state of happy-go-lucky hardcore. Or perhaps it's just a teaser of the misery in store for all those who listen? I guess I'll never REALLY know if SQRM is as subversive as I want them to be, but what I can tell you is Rodeo, their sophomore and final effort, is one of the most disgusting, sludgy, and filthy slabs of hardcore I've ever heard. Oscillating between noisy half-tempo dirges and near powerviolence bouts of aggression, SQRM's schizophrenic assault corrodes your mind until you feel as insane as the music portrays itself to be. In the middle of the bedlam stands front man Tony P., feverishly yelling lines of lunacy like "I'M A FUCKING FREAK, SPIT ON ME", further cementing the band's commitment to their uber-negative, self-deprecating style of hardcore. For me, Rodeo still feels like a fresh if not absolutely vile take on the genre, with SQRM feeding you a palate cleanser of dirt and Clozapine while they convulse in the corner.
Standing Far Quod Sacrum Scriptum
Stone Sour Come What(ever) May
Stortregn Impermanence
Strigoii The Oldest of Blood
Stygian Obsession Form is Void
Sum 41 Does This Look Infected?
Sum 41 Chuck
Sum 41 All Killer No Filler
Summoning Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame
Sump Autumn Blood
Sump Taken Dead
Surgeon (PHL) Beast of Light
If Children of Bodom and Cradle of Filth had a baby together and it listened to Dream Theater but only gleaned the important parts, it would sound like this. I don't know this is pretty diverse, but it's good as hell.
Svavelvinter Mörkrets Tid
Christian lvestam?s of Scar Symmetry has a new band it rules. It?s more sci-fi melodic death metal and it definitely has some bite. As per usual Christian sounds awesome.r
Svrm За Смертю
Svrm голод
Talvihorros Let Us Be Thankful We Have Commerce
Tanpopo Crisis Millennium Flower
Tau Tau Eyelids
Holy shit i don't like this electro bullshit pop shit generally but this is really good
Taut Fantasty Mapped In Blood
Tawny Peaks Tawny Peaks
Tenebrae in Perpetuum L'Eterno Maligno Silenzio
In essence Tenebrae in Perpetuum is the manifestation of true black metal; high pitched shrieked vocals, repetitive, tremolo picked guitar chords and quite the sinister atmosphere are all staples of the band's sound and of course the genre yet Tenebrae In Perpetuum seems to add just the perfect amount of odds and ends to raise this album above a good portion of the genres other practitioners
Terzij de Horde A Rage of Rapture Against the Dying of Light
Tevlo/Veela Icy Love EP
2016 has been a great year for Veela. Finally making a comeback after a few years of reduced output, her releases this year have all been fantastic and this is no exception. A more "pop" oriented release, her collaboration with fellow electronic vocalist/producer Tevlo is an extremely fun, and oftentimes sexy release. The production in particular is sleek and sharp, and the don't even get me started on the hooks. Each of the three tracks has its own flavor, making it easy to revisit time and again.
Thangorodrim Akallabêth
The 1975 I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It
The Bad Form No More Neo No Wave
The Black Twilight Circle Worship Black Twilight
The Black Twilight Circle Desert Dances and Serpent Sermons
where did my review for this go ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
The Buttertones Buttertones
The Cancer Kids The Possible Dream
Thrashcore that doesn't pull any punches. Violent, spastic chaotic, The Cancer Kids play one of hardcore's most visceral sub-genres a brimming energy that is nothing less than awe-inspiring
The Chronicles of Israfel Starborn, Tome I
The Color Morale We All Have Demons
The Consequence The Consequence
The Devil Wears Prada Plagues
The Devil's Blood The Time Of No Time Evermore
Fucking awesome occult rock that sounds like it come out in 1969
The Haunting Presence The Haunting Presence (II)
Assuming I'm rating the right one (because this band has no less than three separate self-titled releases) The Haunting Presence's most recent effort is their best yet. First listens show how talented THP is at creating completely bestial and brutalizing blackened death metal; further listening reveals how well constructed these songs actually are. THP has been creating music like this for some time now under one moniker or another; first Nocturnal Blood, now this, so his craft has naturally gotten better with time. This collection of songs are not only just aggressive bursts of metallic violence, but they perfectly capture the oppressive atmosphere a lot of music in the vein lacks.
The Lion's Daughter Shame On Us All
The Mausoleums Blackened Fawns Cleanse the Earth With Fire
The Offspring The Offspring
The Offspring Americana
GIVE IT TO ME BABY, UN HUNH UN HUNH! GIVE IT TO ME BABY, UN HUNH UN HUNH!
The Offspring Greatest Hits
The Offspring Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
In reality, Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace isn't too different from The Offspring's past releases; sure, there some minor kinks to their same patented formula, what would you expect from this twenty some odd year old punk band? The same damn catchy albums they have producing throughout their career.
The Rosebuds Sand + Silence
The Speed of Sound in Seawater Blue Version
The Speed of Sound in Seawater Underwater Tell Each Other Secrets
Following up the superb Red Version, Underwater Tell Each Other Secrets is stylistically a return to the math-rock oriented approach of their debut Blue Version while keeping the sugary sweet vocal harmonies of Red Version. Just like everything this band has done, this album rules fucking hard and is highly recommended to the world.
The Stalin STOP JAP
The Starting Line Say It Like You Mean It
The Strokes The New Abnormal
The Tidal Sleep The Tidal Sleep
The True Werwolf Devil Crisis
The Veils Total Depravity
The Venus De Melos Fatty
I absolutely love this. It's like The Speed of Sound in Seawater, but more noodle-y and also more poppy. Love love love love it.
The Wonder Years Suburbia I've Given You All and Now I'm Nothing
This Gift Is A Curse A Throne of Ash
Threnos By Blood and By Earth
The often uncredited beginners of the Cascadian black metal scene, Threnos was around long enough only to put out one release but it really fucking ruled.
Thy Heart, Thine Kingdom In the Garden of Somer
Tilian Material Me
Tilian The Skeptic
Timeghoul Panaramic Twilight
Timeghoul Tumultuous Travelings
Timeghoul 1992-1994 Discography
I don't remember which label decided to do this, but whoever it was obviously pays keen attention to metal blogs -- this band's two demos have been posted quite a few times in the past few months. Really unique and individual death metal, this awesome release offers the chance for people to own a physical copy of previously rare material.
Tiny Hawks Fingers Become Bridges
Tiny Hawks People Without End
Tiny Moving Parts This Couch Is Long & Full of Friendship
Tiny Moving Parts Swell
this their best
Tomb Mold Manor of Infinite Forms
Torchlight The Long Quest
Tormentor Anno Domini
It's hard to call anything "essential" anymore, but if you're a fan of black metal and even only
peripherally interested in its culture and history, Anno Domini is an important album to
experience. Its forward-thinking compositions completely belie the fact that it originally
released in 1988, as even today the songs feel relevant. It's no surprise that Norway's fledgling
black metal scene gravitated towards this underrated monolith; it's now more than 30 years later,
we've pulled back the layers of black metal, and yet this still exudes such an alluring and unique
mysticism. Definitely recommended for extreme metal fans.
Torture Chain Mountains of Hate
Torture Chain Wasting Syndrome
Towergeist Towergeist II
Trha Nvenlanëg
Triangulum / El​-​Ahrairah Triangulum / El​-​Ahrairah
Tristengrav II - Nychavgé
Triumvir Foul Urine of Abomination
Trivium Shogun
Turpitude Brume hiémale
Raw, melodic, and surprisingly dense black metal from Quebec. There is great depth of sound that only furthers to enhance the already wondrous melodies heard here.
Tyrannus The Warden
Following the awesome Black Sun, The Warden is more noisy and dirty and dungeon synth, this time with an emphasis on melody that takes it to a brand new level.
Tyrannus Storm Empress
Ulcerate The Destroyers of All
Ulver Bergtatt - Et eeventyr i 5 capitler
Ulver The Assassination of Julius Caesar
Undead Creep The Ever-Burning Torch
One of the most underrated Swede-styled death metal albums since the OSDM revival started in (or around) 2009. Though Italian, on The Ever-Burning Torch Undead Creep captured the rampant aggression and hardcore undertones that made Stockholm a death metal mecca in the early 90's in a way that sounds genuine enough to pass as a long lost treasure from that time.
Undeath Lesions of a Different Kind
Underoath Cries of the Past
Underoath Act of Depression
Unearth The Oncoming Storm
Unfun Caroline
Unreqvited Empathica
Unsacred Where The Light Dims
As blackened hardcore/crust becomes a more prevalent trend in music more and more bands continue to show just how far and how interesting this newfound genre can be taken.
Upir / Celestial Sword Journeying Through Nameless Wilderness - A Pilgrim
Ur Pale Water Tombs & Crimson Horizons
Ur Pale Crystal Waves Orchestra
Unsurprisingly epic nautical themed dungeon synth. For a second release of the year, this is quite good.
Utred Sovereign
Utumno Across the Horizon
Valac Burning Dawn of Vengeance
Valac / Crucifixion Bell Corrupted Spells of Perpetual Suffering
Valdrin Effigy Of Nightmares
Valkyrie (CAN) Valkyrie
An amazing folk album a truly elusive American group; epic yet serene the band's keen sense of melody and dynamics makes this relatively short demo a real pleasure.
Vanhelgd Deimos Sanktuarium
Vanum Ageless Fire
Various Artists Odour of Dust and Rot
Various Artists (Metal) Mater Natura Excelsa
Vasaeleth Crypt Born & Tethered To Ruin
Vassafor To the Death
Vastum Orificial Purge
Vastum/Spectral Voice Split
Veela 2233
Vegas Martyrs Harlot Widow
Veins Veins
Venom Prison Samsara
This album is crazy good. It unites mid-aughts -core intensity with visceral flashes of OSDM but isn?t afraid to use melody as an accent to the chaos. This feels nostalgic and new at the same time, an interesting sensation I recommend everyone tries at least once to find.
Verheerer Maltrér
Verwustung Beyond The Watercolor Sunset, We Feel New Life
amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing amazing
Victory Over The Sun Nowherer
This is very good and more palatable than most of Jute Gyte's material.
Vilkacis Beyond the Mortal Gate
Violent Ends Black Moon
Void Eater III
Void Prayer Stillbirth from the Psychotic Void
Void Prayer The Grandiose Return to the Void
Volahn El Tigre del Sur
Volahn/Xaxamatza Gods of Pandemonium
Vortex of End In Satan and Plutonium We Trust
Vouna Vouna
Vous Autres Champ du Sang
Vreid V
I can't really say I was ever a particularly huge fan of Vreid before, but with the excellence of V, the Norwegian based black metal band has definitely sparked my interest. 9 tracks, of scathing yet melodic black metal composed with a refined edge that never fails to impress, V is an extremely dynamic record that will hold your interest till the end. Harboring a welcome display of modest technical ability, Vreid's amazing instrumentation varies in all sorts of things, tempo, aggression etc... but one thing that remains consistent throughout all the music's various incarnations is the fact that Vreid has crafted a black metal album that will both please the fans of old and gain the band many legions of basement dwelling trolls anew.
Vual To End All Life
Wake Devouring Ruin
Wampyric Rites Demo II
Wampyric Rites .​.​.​In The Desolate Forest of Eternity
Wampyric Rites Reflections Of A Frostbitten Moon
Throughout 2019 Ecuador's Wampyric Rites has proven to be one of the most enigmatic and prolific black metal acts in the scene today, reveling in his obscurity while rapidly deploying new releases with each being a marked improvement on the last. Reflections Of A Frostbitten Moon is his best and most mature effort to date, a wonderful piece of black metal that balances ghoulish melodies and esoteric atmospheres to create an album that exudes pure necrotic ecstasy
War Hungry War Hungry
There's no denying that this Wilkes-Barre based hardcore unit has a lot going on for them; from crushing hardcore riffs, balls to the wall thrash breakdowns and just an overall great sense of songwriting, War Hungry's debut album is pretty spectacular. Imagine a more intense Corrosion of Conformity and you're halfway to what these guys sound like.
Warmoon Lord Burning Banners of the Funereal War
Warthog Exterminate Me
Weak Teeth What a Plague You Are
Weakling Dead as Dreams
Weapon From The Devil's Tomb
There must of have been something in the water during 2010 because the amount of black/death releases that ruled seemed to raise exponentially during that time, which of course, was when Weapon released From The Devil's Tomb; more heavily emphasizing their death metal upbringing's, From The Devil's Tomb has awesome riffs, devilish vocals and ridiculously shredding solos, just about everything a black/death fan would need.
Wednesday 13 Transylvania 90210
White Wolves Kommando Black Metal Resistance
White Wolves Kommando Our Empire of Shadows
William Fitzsimmons Lions
The album will probably be a 4/5 but his beard 5/5 all day.
Wilsumnes Upon the Altar of Sacrificial Blood
Winter Dust Existence
Witch In Her Tomb Witch In Her Tomb
Witch Ripper Witch Ripper
Witchcraft (Hun) Carpathian Fire
Witchcraft play a formed of traditional second wave black metal and they do it right; buzzing guitars, necro vocals and a filthy production the band could easily be confused for any of the original Norwegian black metal bands during their prime. Mixing the typical Darkthrone-esque droning guitar lines with little specks of melody, Carpathian Fire is a straight up great black metal album.
Witches Moon The Rock House
Witches Moon An Olde Goat's Game of Stars
With the End in Mind Thresholder
Woe A Spell For The Death Of Man
Wolves in the Throne Room Wolves in the Throne Room
Woman Is The Earth Dust of Forever
Wombripper Macabre Melodies
World Untouched By Mankind The Forests Are Old With Grief
Xandelyer Upheaval Of Medieval Darkness (demo)
This reminds me of Odz Manouk with a stronger emphasis on melody. It's dark and twisted but also beautiful and engaging. One of my favorites from this year.
Xazraug Unsympathetic Empyrean
xLESIONSx Tired of Being Pushed Around and Told Just What To
Sludgy, crusty, and powerviolent hardcore from members of black metal bands At Dusk and Nan Elmoth. It's another killer release from Pacific Threnodies.
Yellow Eyes Sick With Bloom
Yellow Eyes Immersion Trench Reverie
Yellow Swans At All Ends
Yellow Swans Going Places

3.5 great
I Am the Trireme St. Vitus Dance
Progressive extreme metal that's a bit wank-y but not without some stellar moments. Errs on the side of black metal at times.
Jawcen Canto De Lejos
1349 The Infernal Pathway
1914 The Blind Leading the Blind
A Continent Named Coma Removal of Thorns
A Day To Remember And Their Name Was Treason
A Day To Remember For Those Who Have Heart
A Letter for Carmilla Coffin
I'm not completely sure how I feel about this album. It's frantic, hurried, and carries a decidedly gothic tone than most dungeon synth. There's something very unsettling and foreboding about Coffin, like the hair-raising sensation one might get walking down a dark, candlelight hallway with the feeling of something or someone trailing just behind.
A Lot Like Birds No Place
i kind of wish i didnt like these guys just so i could call them "a lot like turds"
A Pregnant Light Broken Play
A Pregnant Light I and I
A Pregnant Light You Cannot Pour From An Empty Vessel
A Pregnant Light Kiss Me Thru the Phone
A Pregnant Light Knots & Crosses
A Thorn For Every Heart Things Aren't So Beautiful Now
slaps
Abhorrence (FIN) Vulgar Necrolatry
Abominable Putridity Parasitic Metamorphosis Manifestation
This isn't nearly as good as The Anomalies of Artificial Origin but it isn't a disappointment either; Angel is a serviceable replacement for Matti and the increase in more traditional death metal sections helps contrast and emphasize the slammier moments. Was it worth the 9 year wait? No, probably not, but it's good enough and tbh it's just nice to have AP around again.
Absence of Dawn And the Sun is Fading...
When one is listening to Absence of Dawn's sole demo release, And The Sun Is Fading... a feeling of lost potential cannot help but to be had; while the band certainly portrays a fair amount of talent, whether it be in their harmonized guitar lines or the sporadically used keyboard embellishments, it always seems like they are capable of more. Perhaps better vocals and a cleaner production (the one heard is thin, stale and lifeless) could of made this a classic release.
Absum Purgatoire 2007-2009
Absurd Existence Silence
Acephalix Interminable Night
Acheulean Forests The Enchantment
Acousmatic Hate Acousmatic Hate
Acualli Pact Of Possession
Acualli/The Haunting Presence Transform With Limitless Will
Ad Nauseam Imperative Imperceptible Impulse
Adema Planets
Adema Kill the Headlights
Adema Insomniac's Dream
This is a 3.5 for "Immortal" alone. That song is a classic and could literally be put on an album with complete shit **cough** this **cough** and the record would still be a STRONG 3.5.
Adversarial All Idols Fall Before the Hammer
Adverso Descent
Adzalaan Into Vermilion Mirrors
Aerosols 3rd 7"
Aeviterne Sireless
Agatus Dawn of Martyrdom
Much like the other bands in Hellenic black metal's first wave Agatus does not carry the rawness that was common in most 90's black metal; instead the band concentrates on a mid-tempo pace and elegant keyboard arrangements. Not as fierce as their Norwegian counterparts yet still a great album and worth checking out, especially if new to the genre.
Agraceful The Great I Am
Aguynguerran Horde Of The Antichrist
Delving much further into the roots of black metal then their 2009 full-length, Hordes of the Antichrist is still an above average black metal demo
Airs A Left Turn At Happiness
Airs Adore
Discarding almost all traces of their 'blackgaze' past, Airs new shoegaze/indie rock direction actually makes them a band worth mention. Richly atmospheric, Airs dreamy soundscapes are absolutely beautiful, punctuated by at times intense drumming and soothing vocals. Some black metal elements remain but perfectly fit into the new aesthetic the band has created for themselves. Yeah, you want this.
Akasha/Unrest Vibrations of Love and Hate
I haven't heard the Unrest side, but Akasha's brims with that same punk influenced black metal energy that occupied their full-length from earlier this year.
Akatharsia No Generation Without Corruption
Akitsa Credo
Another slice of raw and uncompromising Quebecois black metal from this Canadian duo.
Aksumite The Gleam of Wetted Lips
Aksumite Miserable Mentor
Akth Ganaheth From the Cursed Glades
Akurazbrukk Demo II
Alesana On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax
Alioth Channeling Unclean Spirits
All That Remains This Darkened Heart
All That Remains Behind Silence and Solitude
Alluring Alluring
Alruna Relieving the Altar
Altar Of Gore Demo
Altar Of Gore Obscure & Obscene Gods
Alter Bridge One Day Remains
American Violate and Control
An Autumn For Crippled Children As The Morning Dawns We Close Our Eyes
Anagnorisis Peripeteia
Haven't listened to these guys since Overton Trees, but on a first listen this is really great. The melodic parts are especially impressive and a bit unexpected as times, which for a black metal album is rare these days. I expect my rating to go up in time.
Ancestors (Black Metal) I
Ancestors (Black Metal) II
Ancestors (Black Metal) III
Ancestors (Black Metal) In Death
Anchor Recovery
Ancient Morass Bog Barrow
Ancient Morass / Rosicrucianism Ancient Morass / Rosicrucianism
Ancient Relic Demo
ANCST Ghosts of the Timeless Void
A seamless and energetic combination of black/death/crust that barrels forward so quickly you'll be gasping for air to keep up.
ANCST Celestial
Andeis Servants of the Cold Night
Andres (USA-CA) Heroes, Villains, and all that Jazz
Angelcorpse Exterminate
Antediluvian Revelations in Excrement
Antediluvian λόγος
Antediluvian Primeval Cyclical Catastrophism
Anthrax Spreading the Disease
Anthrax Among the Living
Anthrax State of Euphoria
Anti-God Hand Wretch
Antichrist (Canada) Sacrament of Blood
Anubi Kai pilnaties akis uzmerks Mirtis
Apocalypse Command Abyss Fiend of Darkness
Apostate (FIN) Flight of the Halycon
Appalachian Terror Unit Armageddon Won't Be Brought By Gods...
APS (FL) Acrimonious Spiritual Provocation
Arcane Cavern Sorcery of Chaos
Arcane Cavern really put the dungeon in dungeon synth. Adopting the pensive droning of dark ambient, Sorcery of Chaos drags out the torture, embellishing long drawn out notes more than than usual DS tinkering.
Arch Enemy War Eternal
I never understood this irrational contempt aimed at this album; it's easily one of their best
since the Liiva era. It's breaks free from the rinse and repeat formula every album since Wages of
Sin was bound to and dips its toes in the chaos that made the first three AE albums classic. Sure,
there are a few standard tracks, but there's also a palpable energy and excitement that up to this
point, had long since been lost.
Archaic Malign Omnis Incursio Infernalis Adversarii
Archgoat The Light-Devouring Darkness
On a first listen this is good if not standard blackened death. As per usual the faster moments are a bit monotonous but the slower sections are groovy and great.
Archgoat The Luciferian Crown
Archivist Triumvirate
Ares Kingdom Return to Dust
Death/thrash from former members of legendary blackened death band Order From Chaos - as expected it's not as good as the fellows past endeavors but it's still pretty good.
Arkhtinn VI
Arktika Symmetry
Arktika's second full-length is hit or miss - while some melodies really break through, there are times where this becomes a bit stale and lifeless. However, it is definitely more good than bad and the second half is inarguably solid.
Armored Saint Symbol of Salvation
Arms Like Yours .Architect.
Army Of The Pharaohs Ritual Of Battle
Arnor All Eyes to the Frontline
Ars Magna Umbrae Lunar Ascension
Arthedain Infernal Cadence of the Desolate
Artifex Pereo Passengers
ARTS Graveside Summoning
Asagraum Potestas Magicum Diaboli
Ascended Dead Abhorrent Manifestation
Ashdautas Shadow Plays of Grief and Pain
Ashen Chalice Spells Of Eternal Sleep Guide Us Towards The Cask
Ashen Chalice Wounds of Obliterated Souls
Ashen Chalice Kada Postanemo Pepeo, Kada Prihvatimo Smrt
Ashen Chalice Gdje sva srca gore
Ashen Chalice/La Torture des ténèbres Ashen Chalice / La Torture des ténèbres
Aspbergers/1984 Split
Aspergillum Aspergillum
Asphyxia (IRL) Conflagration
Assault Assault Demo
An amazing gem from the Japanese hardcore scene. Crossover influenced hardcore with an extra metal edge, Assault skillfully cross speedy hardcore with breakneck thrash influenced guitars and traditional Japanese style hardcore vocals. While this already makes for a great album, Assault don't stop there; adding elements of emo to the formula, the Assault demo carries a certain sense of melody and dynamics that is sure to captivate all who listen.
At the Gates Slaughter of the Soul
Atreyu A Death-Grip on Yesterday
Attack Attack! (US) Attack Attack! (Deluxe Reissue)
AUM Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum
Aurum Nephilim Genus Ab Inferno
Auspicium Here Is No Heaven
Autophagy Demo
Autopsy The Headless Ritual
In tribute to Sodom, the original OSDM band.
Avenged Sevenfold City of Evil
Avenged Sevenfold Nightmare
Avulsed Eminence in Putresence
Avzhia The Key of Throne
Axeman Arrive
Axis of Despair Contempt for Man
Axis Of Light/Death Fortress Split
Aylwin The Arch Holder
Ayyur The Lunatic Creature
Azarath In Extremis
Azelisassath Evil Manifestations Against Mankind
Azelisassath Past Times of Eternal Downfall
Óreiða Óreiða
Ûkcheânsâlâwit Tekipuk
Bael Deathly Pale
Balmog Vacvvm
Balrog [FRA] The Shadow and the Flame
Baptists Baptists
Baptists Bushcraft
Barus Drowned
Basmu Black Sorcery From Within Arcane Caverns
Basmu VVitchblood
Bastard Priest Merciless Insane Death
Batilda January 2014
Batushka Panihida
Baume Les Années Décapitées
Bedsore Hypnagogic Hallucinations
Before Their Eyes Before Their Eyes
Although not an overtly distinctive band, Before Their Eyes' first album is nonetheless a very enjoyable modern post-hardcore release; the vocals may be a bit iffy at times (mostly the screams) but overall the band can write a good hook and does have some pretty interesting guitar-work. Nothing too spectacular, Before Their Eyes is a fun listen and easily the band's best work.
Beheat Gorum de Mentheurd Beheat Gorum de Mentheurd
Beheat Gorum de Mentheurd/Downward Beheat Gorum de Mentheurd vs. Downward
One experimental black metal artist meets a dungeon synth artist to create a surprisingly cohesive piece of music
Behezael DEMO MMXX
Beltez Exiled, Punished...Rejected
Benighted In Sodom Do Not Go Gently Into That Good Night
Bent Spear Escalation
Bilmuri wet milk
Birkabein Land der ewigen Nacht
The sole demo from members of Old Pagan and Grausamkeit, Land Der Ewigen Nacht is a low-fi atmospheric black metal gem. Packed with raw and hateful guitars mixed with majestic keyboard embellishments this demo will make you wish the project stayed together.
Black Beasts II
Black Earth (ESP) Diagrams of a Hidden Order
Black Kirin Nanking Massacre
Despite its penchant for attracting basement-dwelling purists who preach genre rigidity, extreme metal has always thrived on the invitation of varying cultural elements to expand and broaden it's borders. Melding melodic death metal with their homegrown Chinese operatic and folk influences, Black Kirin has created an album that is identifiably melodeath while also celebrating their colorful heritage.
Black Magick SS Kaleidoscope Dreams
Black Spirit In a Vortex to the Infinite Night
Black Spirit Behind the Light That Fades
Blackstar Barbed Wire Soul
Taking off from where Swansong left off, Barbed Wire Soul is a completely successful venture into "death'n'roll" .
Blasphemous Degradation Sulphuric Alchemy
Blasphemy Fallen Angel of Doom
Bleachers Strange Desire
Blink-182 Buddha
Blink-182 Nine
I want to hate Nine, but it's honestly very difficult; as an album that battles between rclassic blink-isms and the the post-Neighborhoods uber-pop they've pursuing since Tom's rdeparture and California was released in 2016, there are moments strewn throughout that rremind me why I love this band's back catalog, but possibly even more that just make me scratch rmy head. I suppose I will take that as a win however, not outright hating a new blink-182 in 2019.
Blitzgeist Ritual Magic
Blood Chalice Sepulchral Chants of Self​-​Destruction
Blood Spore Fungal Warfare Upon All Life
Bloodsoaked Necrovoid Demo I
Blue Hummingbird On The Left Bloodflower
One of the Black Twilight Circle's newest acquisitions, Blue Hummingbird onn the Left forsakes the often atmospheric playing of their fellow inductees, playing a rawer form of black metal with crust and thrash influences. With lyrical themes centered upon Mexican Nationalism and Huitzilopochtli War Culture, Blue Hummingbird on the Left is certainly a fun, quick listen to energetic raw black metal. Oh and did I mention the flute playing?
Blue Hummingbird On The Left Atl Tlachinolli
A great album, but still a bit disappointing. They overuse the echo effect on the vocals, making them feel more comical than warlike. Musically, they excel at crafting compelling black/death metal when compared to their peers, but it pales in comparison to their own earlier work. I know I'm being picky, and overall this is a solid effort, but I've come to expect more from Volahn and the BTC at this point.
Blurr Thrower Les Avatars du Vide
Body Void Ruins
Bog Body Through the Burial Bog
Bolt Thrower Realm of Chaos
Book Of Sand Occult Anarchist Propaganda
Bookakee Ignominies
Melodic tech death with some very progressive elements and zany vocals
Borda's Rope Across the Black Deltaruin
Boreal Decay Paranoia Ensues Within the Dark Yukon Wilderness
Boreal Decay Dommagedda
Borknagar Epic
Bosse-de-Nage Further Still
Botanist Ecosystem
Breaking Benjamin So Cold
Breaking Benjamin Dark Before Dawn
Bring Me The Horizon This Is What the Edge of Your Seat Was Made For
Broadway Kingdoms
Buckethead Inbred Mountain
Buckethead Bucketheadland
Buckethead Kaleidoscalp
Buckethead Bermuda Triangle
Buckethead Crime Slunk Scene
Buckethead Monsters & Robots
Buckethead Day of the Robot
Buckethead Funnel Weaver
Buckethead Clockunwise
Buckethead A Real Diamond In The Rough
Built on Secrets Reflections
Bullet For My Valentine The Poison
Burden of a Day OneOneThousand
Burial Invocation Rituals of the Grotesque
Burial Rites Crawling Christ
Burn in Silence Angel Maker
Burning Apparition of the Master Demo
Burzum Umskiptar
This album is actually really good, I don't know what you are being faggots about. Varg still shows he has plenty of spark left and compared to other modern black metal, this album actually stands out quite a bit. A return to grace for black metal's most controversial figure.
Byyrth Echoes From The Seven Blood Caves
Cabal Midian
Like his original band, Killjoy's (RIP) post-Necrophagia project Cabal and their 1990 effort Midian was an amalgam of the then fledgling death metal genre and thrash's more established sound. Most of the music errs on the side of the latter, but you'd have to be deaf to miss the bits of tremolo guitar and guttural vocals that went on to define the former.
Cadaver Dog Cadaver Dog
Cadaver Dog Dying Breed
Caina Gentle Illness
Cake Pop Cake Pop 2
Calques Civilizing
Cannibal Corpse Eaten Back to Life
Capital Lights Rhythm N Moves
Cara Neir Part I / Part II
Cara Neir Perpetual Despair Is the Human Condition
Cara Neir Phase Out
Carcass Surgical Steel
Okay so this sucks.
Cardi B Invasion of Privacy
Cardi B gets the cocktail of genuine and bombastic juusst right on her debut LP and the result is absolutely delicious.
Carpe Noctem Vitrun
Carved Cross Futile Reflections of a Failed Existence
Exceedingly raw black metal from Australia. Brings the kvlt.
Carved Cross Demo II
Carved Cross Embittered Amidst the Ashes
Castle of Purity Castle of Purity
Caustic Vomit Festering Odes to Deformity
Caveman Cult Supremacia Primordial
Cavernus Non Omnis Moriar
Celeste Animale(s)
Celestial Bodies Spit Forth From Chaos
Celestial Conjuration Demo II
Celestial Sanctuary Soul Diminished
Cemetary An Evil Shade of Grey
Cenotaphe Empyrée
Cenotaphe Monte Verità
Cerebral Rot Odious Descent Into Decay
Cerebral Rot Spewing Purulence
Cerekloth In the Midst of Life We Are In Death
Cerekloth Pandemonium Prayers
Champagne Colored Cars Champagne Colored Cars EP
Chaos Echoes Mouvement
Charnel Altar Demo
Charnel Oubliette I
Children of Bodom Trashed, Lost & Strungout
Children of Bodom Chaos Ridden Years - Stockholm Knockout
Children of Bodom Halo of Blood
Chrome Waves Chrome Waves
Chthe'ilist Passage Into the Xexanotth
CHVRCHES The Bones of What You Believe
CIORAN Bestiale Battito Divino
Circle of Despair Untitled
Circle of Ouroborus/Crooked Necks Ruins of Resurrection
Cirrhus 2008 Demo
Cirrhus Promo 2012
Cirrhus/Eunuch Split
Cist The Frozen Casket
I don't think I would blame anyone who has mistaken Cist as a band lost in time; the first time I listened to this demo, I could have sworn it was released anywhere from 1988-1992. Turns out, I was only 30ish years off the mark. For anyone who loves the classic riff'n'gore of early Death and/or Pestilence, don't skip this.
Civilized Chopping Block
Another Youth Attack! banger. Hardcore is very formulaic, and the YA! brand even moreso, but there's little denying the power and aggression that seemingly each of their bands comes equipped with.
Clair Cassis Clair Cassis II
Clandestine Blaze City Of Slaughter
Clandestine Blaze Tranquility Of Death
Clikatat Ikatowi Orchestrated and Conducted By
Coffin Rot Coffin Rot (demo)
Coffin Rot/Molder Coffin Rot/Molder
Cogs and Sprockets The Black Friday EP
Eleven songs, four minutes, DO THE FUCKING MATH. Grinds your face in harder than I grind your mom every night of the week.
Coldworld Autumn
Overall this album is great, but it has the nasty tendency to drag. The more repetitive parts are an obvious weakness, and more plodding sections are tedious to sit through. However, when it all comes together (which is quite frequently) Autumn can be truly magnificent.
Colors Palindromes
Conducting from the Grave When Legends Become Dust
Conjurer (UK) Mire
Conqueror War Cult Supremacy
Consolation Stahlplaat
Convictions Hope for the Broken
Cornigr Relics of Inner War
Corpsessed Abysmal Thresholds
Cosmovore Into the Necrosphere
Coughs Secret Passage
Cradle of Filth From the Cradle to Enslave
Cradle of Filth Live Bait for the Dead
Cradle of Filth Bitter Suites to Succubi
Cradle of Filth Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder
Craft Total Soul Rape
Craven Idol Ethereal Altars
Crawl/Leviathan CRAWL/LVTHN
Eerie black metal and a nice piece of work from Levithan in particular.
Crebain Nachtkrieg
Nachtkrieg is a great release. Some cool riffs, great ideas and decent musicianship all guarantee that. Bearing that in mind why is it only great? It seems that sole member Ancalagon The Black (lol) cannot exactly decide which form of black metal to be. DSBM one song, old school the next, there is certain inconsistency that bogs down the quality of this demo. Oh and the vocals suck.
Credo Quia Absurdum Carmina Absurda
Creepmime Shadows
Is it just me or does a lot of quality death metal come out of the Netherlands? Creepmime is yet another great Dutch act that on their first full-length, Shadows, combines murky old school death metal with lurching doom metal also throwing in some classic metal inspired melodies and some uber technical moments.
Crowhurst III
Crowning Funeral Designs
Cruciamentum Paradise Envenomed
Cruentare Ius cruentationis / Mazhar aether
Crusty Old Toad Turn People Into Food
Cry of the Afflicted The Unveiling
Csejthe L'Horreur De Čachtice
Culture Shock (CO) Culture Shock
Curta'n Wall Curta'n Wall
Curved Blade / Pâlemort At the Bottom of the Hourglass / Vision d’une ère
Dads American Radass (This Is Important)
Dai-ichi Dai-ichi
Damezumari No Hugging, No Learning
Dammerfarben Im Abendrot
Dammerfarben do the whole melodic/folk black metal thing right for the most part -- they never get overly cheesy with folk melodies and overall I'm a big fan of the clean interludes on this album. That being said the songs often feel as they never end and theRE is a lot of similarity between the songs "heavier" sections.
Danny Worsnop Shades Of Blue
Very good, catchy, blues rock with some soul influences thrown in for good measure. Danny is an understandably divisive figure in modern rock, but his vocal talents seem irrefutable, especially after the display he puts on here.
Dark Doom Echoes
Dark/Light Kill Some Time
Really fun pop-punk with a myriad of different influences stretching from the 60's to now
Darkest Hour So Sedated, So Secure
Darkest Hour The Mark of the Judas
Darklord Symphony Satanikka
Coming from the Australian underground Darklord combines brutal and intense death metal with symphonic black metal, an unlikely mixture and proves to be quite successful thanks to the great execution of the band. Aside from the heavy use of symphonic elements (which actually doesn't come across as TOO cheesy) the also makes frequent use of neoclassical elements within their songs, especially in the guitar solos. Overall a good record if you don't mind lots of keyboards.
Darkthrone Sardonic Wrath
Darkthrone Total Death
Darkthrone Soulside Journey
Darkthrone Goatlord
Darkthrone Ravishing Grimness
Darkthrone Hate Them
Darkthrone Circle the Wagons
Darkthrone Old Star
Dawn Treader Post Mortem
De Aphelium Sprungen Ur Lust
Dead Moon Temple Ænigmasólvoid
Dead To A Dying World Elegy
Deafheaven Roads to Judah
Deafheaven Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
ordrinarrycrorrruptrhumranlrove
Death Angel Killing Season
Deathspell Omega The Synarchy of Molten Bones
Deathwomb Moonless Night Sacraments
Decapitated The Negation
Defacement Deviant
Defacement Defacement
Deiquisitor Downfall of the Apostates
Deletere Per Aspera ad Pestilentiam
Deletere De Horae Leprae
Demented Ted Promises Impure
Demonic Sacrifice Enter the Realm of Pure Darkness
The first and only album by death metallers Demonic Sacrifice, Enter the Realm of Pure Darkness has a distinctly New York feel; miasmatic production, almost comically guttural vocals, and touch of hardcore influence. Like Malevolent Creation, Morpheus Descends, and Banished/Baphomet, Demonic Sacrifice are uber rhythmic, preferring decomposing breakdowns over absolute speed and technicality (though those elements are present as well). As far as death metal goes, you won't many albums catchier than this that still ooze madness and malice.
Demonical Death Infernal
This is pretty great stuff. These guys and Entrails seem to be doing a decent job at reviving the swedish sound
Deogen The Endless Black Shadows of Abyss
Deorc Weg The Forlorn Cold of Ages
Departures When Losing Everything Is Everything You Wanted
Depths Above Ex Nihilo
Descompasso MMXVIII
Desecresy The Mortal Horizon
Desolate Shrine Deliverance From The Godless Void
Despondent Moon A Spectral Descent
Destruktor Nailed
Devil's Dung Devil's Dung
Another one of Mark McCoy's one-off black metal projects (this time featuring Dominick Fernow of Ash Pool, Em Dath Rir, Vegas Martyrs, etc..), Devil's Dung play a mean brand of raw black metal that is poorly produced and sloppy but enjoyable and genuine nonetheless. Black metal was never meant to be perfect and this "mess" of an album perfectly demonstrates how mistake filled black metal can still make the above average cut.
DevilDriver DevilDriver
DevilDriver The Last Kind Words
DevilDriver Pray for Villains
Devotee Grey Metal
Devouring Ghost Devouring Ghost
The latest project of Mark McCoy explores the realm of stripped down raw black metal and chilling minimal ambient works. It's certainly nothing ground-breaking, and hearkens back to the Norse black metal of yore, but it is enjoyable all the same.
Devouring Star The Arteries of Heresy
Dimmu Borgir Spiritual Black Dimensions
Diocletian War of All Against All
Dire Omen Formless Fire Embodied
Disequilibrium Material Substratum
Disequilibrium Hyperalgesia
Disgrace (FIN) Debts of God
Disgusted Geist Reign of Enthrallment
Disma Towards the Megalith
Dispirit Enantiodromian Birth
Disthory Perfidia y Obito
What happens when you mix Discharge with Bathory... DISTHORY
Disturbed Ten Thousand Fists
Djevel Tanker som rir natten
This album is actually beautiful.
Doctor Livingstone Trimphus Haeretici
Dodsengel Interequinox
Doja Cat Hot Pink
Dolorvotre Dolorvotre
Domains Sinister Ceremonies
Dommedagssalme Terra
Doom Formation Definition of Evil
Doth Datura Wrightii
DragonForce Maximum Overload
Drast DOR
Drastus La Croix de Sang
Draugsol Volaða Land
Dreams of the Drowned Dreams of the Drowned I
Drekavac Grave Dirt and Blood
Drenglyndr Blade And Honour
Drop Dead, Gorgeous In Vogue
Dross I & II
Drowning the Light A Pact With Madness
Drowning the Light An Alignment of Dead Stars
Drowning the Light 06/06/06 It Begins Here...
Drowning the Light A World Long Dead
Drowning the Light Through The Noose of Existence
Drowning the Light To The End Of Time
Drowning the Light Of Celtic Blood & Satanic Pride
Drowning the Light Catacombs of Blood
Drowning the Light Paradise Slaves
Damnnnnnn, Drowning The Light! Back at it again w/the romantic, melodic, and raw black metal!
Drowning the Light A Gleam in the Eye of Set
Drowning the Light/Empire of Tharaphita Path of the Old Lunar Cult Empire
Drudkh They Often See Dreams About The Spring
DSKNT PhSPHR Entropy
Dua Lipa Future Nostalgia
Dunnock Only Coming Up Twice
Dwalin The Fall of Gondolin
Dwalin does justice to the fabled grandeur of the great Elven Kingdom of Gondolin, realm of Turgon, Lord of Nevrast, King of Gondolin, Lord of the House of the King, High King of the oldor.
Echtra BardO
Cascadian black metal auteur Echtra returns with his first album in five years, a devastating statement of anxiety inducing atmosphere, harrowing doom, and otherworldly black metal.
Ectoplasma Cavern Of Foul Unbeings
Edasi Horror Movie
Eerified Catacomb / Icon of Curse Eerified Catacomb / Icon of Curse
Eidola Degeneraterra
Well fuck me, this rules.
Eidola To Speak, To Listen
Eighteen Visions Eighteen Visions
Ein Entropie
Elegiac Thirst for Vengeance
Ella Mai Ella Mai
Ellende Lebensnehmer
Ellorsith Orbhàis
This feels like wintry death metal, and I absolutely dig the crap out of it.
Embers Shadows
Embodied Spectre La Vall
Embra Abjection
Enbilulugugal Offerings to Curlyton
Raw and noisy USBM from the genre's resident pervertor of convention.
End Times Descension
Engulfed Engulfed in Obscurity
Enisum Seasons Of Desolation
Enon Chapel Enon Chapel
Meghan Wood (Crown of Asteria, Iarnvidgur) and Balan (Palace of Worms, Botanist, Ordo Obsidium) get together and write an album about Jack the Ripper with musical influences from Ildjarn, Bone Awl, Cult of Daath, Les Legions Noire, and The Black Twilight Circle. This didn't even stand a chance of being bad.
Enshroud Demo IV
Enshroud The Emergence of Crawling Shadows That Lurk Within
Enshroud Demo II
Enslaved Ruun
Enslaved Blodhemn
Ensnared Inimicus Generis Humani
Entrails (SWE) The Tomb Awaits
I probably like this more than I should but there is something about Entrails no-deviation Swedish death metal sound that inspires me; everything here is run of mill, but who says that's such a bad thing?
Entrancement Demo I
Entropy Created Consciousness Impressions of the Morning Star
Entsetzlich Tormentous Lamentations
Eosphoros Eosphoros
Epheles Les Anges de la derniere Scene
Eroded (JPN) IN
Erosion (CAN) Maximum Suffering
Erythrite Throne Call of the Northern Moon
Along with Witches Moon and Wamypric Rites, Erythrite Throne is another prolific yet enigmatic entity dedicated to conjuring nearly unlistenable raw and blackened hymns.
Esoctrilihum Pandaemorthium
Esoctrilihum The Telluric Ashes of the Ö Vrth Immemorial Gods
Designed to fit between their charnel sophomore album Pandaemorthium and the blackened necromancy of Inhu?ma, The Telluric Ashes of the O? Vrth Immemorial Gods bends together neanderthalic barbism with celestial mysticism to create a piece that bridges the gap between the two periods, but more importantly, stands as a testament to the power these disparities have when masterfully strewn together.
Esoctrilihum F'htansg
Esoteric A Pyrrhic Existence
Estuarine Sic Erat Scriptum
Jazzy blackened death experi-metal?
Eterna Rovina Observer
Eternity Forever Fantasy
Definitely not bad, but "Fantasy" and "Letting Go" were the highlights off this and I've already played them to the
point of exhaustion. Hopefully an LP yields some more consistent fare.
Evaporated Sores Ulcerous Dimensions
Evilfeast Elegies of the Stellar Wind
Execration (NOR) Odes Of The Occult
Exeloume Fairytale of Perversion
Exoto A Thousand Dreams Ago
Extremity Coffin Birth
Eye of Solitude Sui Caedere
Eye of Solitude Canto III
F45.2 Parasitosis
F45.2 Bromosis
Faceless Burial Speciation
Faceless Entity In Via ad Nusquam
Failures Decline And Fall
Faith No More The Real Thing
Falaise My Endless Immensity
Falaise A Place I Don't Belong To
Fall Out Boy Infinity on High
Falling in Reverse The Drug in Me Is You
Falling in Reverse Fashionably Late
False Hunger
False Lives Demo
Famous Last Words Pick Your Poison
These guys may be doing that whole dancey metalcore stuff but hey, it's catchy. We can't be looking for serious music all the time, and during those off times when you need a little brevity, this is a fun little EP that is pretty easily enjoyable.
Fatal FE Transfornation
What the hell? A trance influenced post-hardcore band that actually doesn't completely suck, in fact actually rules quite a bit. Fail Emotions display a much higher level of technicality than some of their contemporaries that they manage to perfectly weave in and out in-between swathes of frisky, danceable electronica fun. The vocals are heavily autotuned but the band still pulls them off in style, juxtaposing the extremely commercial production technique against harsh screams and screeches.
Father Befouled Morbid Destitution of Covenant
There is a lot of Incantation worship that goes on these days, and these guys plain and simple do it without much deviance. Good thing Incantation rules or these guys would be in trouble.
Father Befouled Desolate Gods
At this point, Father Befouled do Incantation better than Incantation.
Fellwinter Loyalty, Honor, Darkness
Femacoffin Demo 2013
Feminazgul/Awenden Feminazgul/Awenden Split
Fit for an Autopsy The Sea of Tragic Beasts
FKJ French Kiwi Juice
Flail Flail
Flail Dying Embers to Coldening Coals
Fless Frenzied Bloodlust Underneath a Black Moon
Fluisteraars/Turia De Oord
Foothill Roots Nature Resonates (demo)
I was expecting a black/folk metal album, but was instead surprised by raggedy and raw black metal with an excellent backdrop of an atmosphere. Excited to see what else this band does.
Forests Spending Eternity In A Japanese Convenience Store
Forges Forges
Forhist Forhist
Fosso Solo Amargo
Four Year Strong Enemy of the World
Foxtails III
Fugitive Wizard Extorris Magus Chapter I
Fugitive Wizard Extorris Magus Chapter II
Fugitive Wizard Extorris Magus Chapter III
Fugitive Wizard Obscuri Æternum
Fuming Mouth The Grand Descent
fun. Aim and Ignite
Funeral Altar Demo V
Funeral Chic Hatred Swarm
Funeral Chic Superstition
Funerary Temple / Nihil Invocation Occult Longing for the Essence
Funereum Re Velatio
I'm usually not a fan of melodic death/doom, but Re-Velatio is pretty great. They are bit heavy-handed on the atmospherics, but overall the incorporation of synthesizers is pretty well done, and the addition of clean, female vocals is a nice fit. Nothing groud-breaking, but well done nonetheless.
Furze The Presence​.​.​.
Galvanizer Prying Sight Of Imperception
Garden of Silence Demo 92
Gatecreeper An Unexpected Reality
Although their previous material is far from bad, I don't particularly feel they've earned the near universal acclaim heaped upon them since Deserted. That being said, An Unexpected Reality is a welcome improvement on Gatecreepers "stadium death metal" (their words, not mine) aesthetic; the choice to more heavily embrace their hardcore roots has imbued their music the energy and punchiness that their previous material lacks. However, closing death/doom track "Emptiness" can't be overlooked either, as it might be the best song here. They would do well in the future to either fully tread the path of hardcore influence or doom inspiration, not the plodding middle ground they've been exploring for the last decade.
Gaylord The Black Metal Scene Needs To Be Destroyed
Göden Beyond Darkness
Geheimnisvoll Venomous Sorcery Through Hidden Darkness
Ghash Goat
The production leaves much to be desired, but as far as post-black metal goes, one of the more original offerings I've heard recently.
Ghost (POL) The Lost of Mercy
Old school death/doom that fucking slays. RIFFS RIFFS RIFFS.
GHOSTEMANE Hexada
I genuinely don't understand the disdain for this guy; His trap rap atmospheres conjure up the
same obscure mysticism that was floating over Norway in early 90's: his delivery is smooth, his
voice is different, and his flow is pretty great. Maybe I can't get over the distinct black metal-
ness of this, but I like it.
Glaare To Deaf and Day
Glencove Anaphoric State
Gloria's Garden Gloria's Garden
Gnaw Their Tongues Kapmeswonden en Haatliederen
Gnaw Their Tongues An Eternity Of Suffering, An Eternity Of Pain
Goath II. Opposition
Golgothan Remains Perverse Offerings To The Void
Goodbye To Sleep I Lost You In The Cold
This is honestly good as fuck. Sometimes I forget we have a lot of homegrown talent around here. Bump this!
Gorephilia/Undergang Split
Gothayr The Trial for the Black Sun (Chapter of Ariosophic
Very raw and cryptic industrial black metal from this Portuguese entity. More than overtly electronic flourishes, the industrial influences feel like they come more from the cold mechanicalism that is always slinking away in the background. The whole thing feels a satanic ritual recorded in an abandoned steel factory, closed for years due to the unfortunate on-site deaths of its working crew. Even for fans of raw black metal this is trying listen, but the feeling of reward is unmatched when it finally clicks. Raw, minimalistic and haunting, this is an album that will keep you up at night.
Grafvolludr Promo 2014
Grandmother Grandmother
Grave Dust Pale Hand
Grave Miasma Odori Sepulcrorum
Grave Miasma Endless Pilgrimage
Grave Miasma Abyss of Wrathful Deities
Grave Revelations Echoing Graves
Grave Upheaval (untitled)
Gravehill The Unchaste, the Profane, & the Wicked
Gravewards Ruinous Ensoulment
Grógaldr Demo I: Malignant Channelings
Grógaldr Demo II: Deviant Masque of the Wraith
Grógaldr/Äkth Gánahëth Grógaldr/Äkth Gánahëth
Griefloss Griefloss
Grima Will of the Primordial
Grinning Death's Head Demo
Although it's not quite as developed as their later releases, Grinning Death's Head premier release is one of the most fun black metal/punk hybrids I've heard. Despite the fact that it's essentially total Bone Awl worship, Grinning Death's Head generally do it better than the blackened punk forefathers. Listen to "Prey" and try not to bob your head... You can't, right?
Grinning Death's Head No Afterlife
Grizelda War Held In Motion
Grob Metanoia
Raw black metal with some really wonderful rtouches of melody. The vocals are rparticularly deranged which makes the rcontrast all the more potent. Feels very rauthentic and "old school" without also rfeeling dated or stale. r
Grogaldr Demo I: Malignant Channelings
Grogaldr Demo II: Deviant Masque of the Wraith
Grogaldr/Kommodus Howling Sanguine Triumph
Gyibaaw Ancestral War Hymns
Gyibaaw is a pretty vicious little number from Canada who like their contemporaries Mitochondrion, Portal and Antediluvian delve deep into blackened death metal. Unbashedly chaotic, Ancestral War Hynms often times feels like it's exploding into seven different directions at once, but at close inspection you can really have nothing but respect for these Canadian metallers. Overall the songwriting is much more intricate than one can tell at first glace. This is superb debut and I expect great things from this blackened death crew.
Haenesy/Moondweller Earth and Space
Hagzissa They Ride Along
Hail Conjurer Carnal Light
Hail the Sun Wake
Hajduk Кръв
Hajduk Природа
Hajduk Свобода
Hand of Glory/Witchmoon Hand of Glory/Witchmoon
Hands Like Houses Ground Dweller
Hands of Thieves Feasting on Dark Intentions
Hanternoz Au Fleuve de Loire
Hardware Hardware
Generally I would stick far away from industrial death metal (because most of it just plain sucks) however when it comes to Mexico's Hardware, I'll make an exception. Calling their keyboard infected brand of extremity "cyber death metal", Hardware ridiculously titled self-created genre actually does take on a life of its own in the hands of these Mexican banditos. Like most demos the production values for this release are pretty abysmal but the band kills it, blasting away squeaky tremolo picked lines and double bass rhythms while being backed by the unique keyboard atmospherics that create some pretty melancholic tones. It's not perfect and sometimes the band does seem a little less inspired as compared to other times, but overall this is an interesting release from the Mexican and 90's death metal scenes for sure.
Hate Eternal Upon Desolate Sands
Hath Of Rot And Ruin
Havohej Table of Uncreation
Heads For The Dead Serpent's Curse
Hecatomb Horrid Invocations
Hellhammer Satanic Rites
Hellkvlt Mexica Males Antiguos
Well, this was a pleasant surprise. Hailing from Mexico (duh), Hellkvlt Mexica eschew the usual war metal delivery of their country for a more unique black/death metal approach. Consisting of sinister free-flowing instrumentation, the music here is disjointed, but in a good way? I don't know, it's actually pretty hard to describe, but it's fucking good, so listen to it.
Henbane Vildfaren Og Jagtet
Here I Come Falling Oh Grave, Where Is Thy Victory
Heretoir Heretoir
Yeah uhhhhh so this pretty much sucks and your soundoff is too short

8 years later edit: Budgie was right.
Hermodr A Realm Reborn
Hermodr Forest Sky
Hexis/As We Draw/Euglena Split
A great release by three up and coming post-hardcore bands, the Hexis/As We Draw/Euglena split very much offers a look into the darker side of the aforementioned genre. While As We Draw and Euglena sprinkle in elements of post-metal to make their songs extra epic, Hexis's contributions dabble in the realm of black metal giving the album a nice sense of diversity. Although there are still some things that could be worked on, these three bands hint here that they just may have some pretty bright futures ahead of them.
Hierophant (IT) Great Mother: Holy Monster
HIM Razorblade Romance
HIM Dark Light
Himelvaruwe Het Ondenkbare
Himsa Hail Horror
Hissing Permanent Destitution
Between this and Infernal Coil, you don?t really need that much more dirty af blackened grinding death metal this year.
Hopelorn Golden Fields Black Wings
Horda Profana Beyond the Boundaries of Death
Horna Kuolleiden Kuu
I've always been skeptical of Horna, but this is very good. Captures of the essence of pure black metal without feeling like a rehash.
Hornet Murmuration Affirmation of Antipathy
Horrid Cross Demo III
Huata Atavist of Mann
Hulder Embraced by Darkness Mysts
Hwwauoch Into the Labyrinth of Consciousness
Hyperdontia Excreted From The Flesh
I Myrkri Drivende i Dødens Æter
I See Stars New Demons
Iarnvidjur èlègies
Iced Earth Something Wicked This Way Comes
Ifernach Waqan
Ignivomous Contragenesis
Illapa Lascivo Culto Solar
Illapa Deshonestos y Hechiceros
Illkynja Sæti Sálarinnar
Immolation Unholy Cult
Immolation Harnessing Ruin
Immolation Majesty and Decay
my cat has a bruise on it's right eye. because i kicked it. oh and yeah the album rules.
Immortal Sons of Northern Darkness
Immortal Blizzard Beasts
Impetuous Ritual Blight Upon Martyred Sentience
Imprecation Damnatio ad Bestias
In Flames The Jester Race
In Flames Clayman
In Flames Come Clarity
In Flames A Sense of Purpose
In Love With A Ghost Healing
In Tormentata Quiete In Tormentata Quiete
Inarborat Wisdom Sans Words
Incarpathia Lost
I'm not a deathcore fan by any standards; even the mere mention of the genre sickens me basically. That being said, I love this album. Taking minimal doses of deathcore and combining it with melodic death metal, this US based quintet has released one of the best deathcore EPs there is; and nobody knows about it.
Infernal Coil Within a World Forgotten
Infernal Conjuration Infernale Metallum Mortis
Inferno Requiem Gloomy Night Stories
Inferno Requiem Nuwa
Inferno Requiem Shanhai
Inisans Transition
Inje Demo
Innumerable Forms Punishment in Flesh
Inoculation Celestial Putridity
Internal Rot Grieving Birth
Invocation Spells Spread Cruelty in the Abyss
Irksvm Moribund
Iron Maiden Powerslave
Iron Maiden Fear of the Dark
Iron Maiden The X Factor
Iron Maiden Brave New World
Iron Maiden Virtual XI
Iron Maiden A Matter of Life and Death
Isenordal Spectral Embrace
Issues Issues
Istapp Blekinge
It Dies Today The Caitiff Choir
Ives Burial of the Modernized Soulless
Iwrestledabearonce It's All Happening
Μνήμα Spectres of Oblivion
Μνήμα Gathering Sorcery to the Eternal Portals of the Pa
Μνήμα Flesh Prison
Jackman Bad Intentions
Jaeger Jaeger
Jellyroll Rockheads Wake Up, Music
John Frum A Stirring In The Noos
Jordablod Upon My Cremation Pyre
Jordablod play a more progressive form of black metal that doesn't feel progressive. It's expansive, playful, and colorful while retaining that core black metal feel of nihilism.
Junior Beef Junior Beef EP
Jute Gyte Mitrealität
K.F.R. Scriptures of Death
Kabexnuv Dzyan
Exceedingly raw black metal that will make you rethink listening to it once or twice along the way. Worth the ride overall, though.
Kaffaljidhma IV
Kalmankantaja Ruumiinvaellus
Kalmankantaja Kaski
Kalmankantaja Korpi
Katharsis Fourth Reich
Katharsis Kruzifixxion
Kaznaxtheh / Funeral Altar / Obsidian Grave / Megalith Grave Remnants of Sacrificial Perversion
Khrysos Anthemon Khrysos Nunaat
Originally released in 1998 but re-released this year with 1996's Remembrance, Khrysos Nunaat legitimately sounds Something Wild-era Children of Bodom if they had really embraced the more eccentric sounds they featured on that album. It's very good and a lot of fun.
Kids Luv Cops James Skips Graduation Practice
Killswitch Engage Killswitch Engage
King Apathy Wounds
Kneel (San Francisco) Infinite Worship, Slaves Eternal
Kombat (TX) New Dimensions of Pain
Kommodus Will To Dominate All Life (demo)
Koreltsak The Moon In Our Hearts
Kortirion Helcaraxë
Kosmogyr Eviternity
Krallice Wolf
Krieg The Isolationist
Although they aren't really apparent until a few listens in, there are some very fine moments on this album. One of the more underrated black metal albums of the past few years.
Krisiun AssasiNation
Although this is a bit repetitive , Krisiun make it work
Krolok Flying Above Ancient Ruins
Krukh Безглуздість!
Krummholz Rooted in Despair
Krypts Krypts
Krypts Remnants of Expansion
Kudlaakh Deepest Regions of Naught
Kyte Dead Waves
L.A. Guns Cocked & Loaded
La Luna Always Already
Laere Solve
Lamb of God Sacrament
Lament in Winter's Night / Night's Threshold Night's Threshold / Lament in Winter's Night
Lamentum The Suffering Stature
Lampir / Gormanudr Lampir / Gormanudr
Lampir/Flešš Lampir/Flešš
Lantern (FIN) Lost Paragraphs
Lantern (FIN) Dimensions
Laster Ons Vrije Fatum
Laster Het wassen oog
Lathliss Demo II
Le'Vampyric Vampyric Castle
Lecherous Nocturne Occultaclysmic
Leichengott Cyrograf
Leichengott Ostrza
Leper Embarrassed to Be Human
Les Discrets Septembre Et Ses Dernières Pensées
Lewis Grant Make Me Scared Again
Lie in Ruins Demise
Finnish kings of deathly sewer metal are back at it and dirty as ever.
life (USA-TX) demo
life (USA-TX) four
Lindow Moss 1st
Lindow Moss Seconds to Kill: Council Estate Druidry
Linkin Park Hybrid Theory
Lipitoare/Enshroud Lipitoare/Enshroud
Liturgy Aesthethica
Lizards Have Personalities Snows of Kilimanjaro
Lizards Have Personalities/Book Of Caverns Split
LLNN Deads
Lodge of the Empty Bed Pacta Sunt Servanda
Lorem Ipsum Que restera t​-​il ?
Lorna Shore Flesh Coffin
Loss of Self Demo
Lostprophets Liberation Transmission
Lotus Thief Gramarye
lovechild In Heaven, Everything is Fine
Low Double Negative
lowmeninyellowcoats summerdemo'17
Luciation Infernalistic Flames of Luciftias
Machine Head The Burning Red
Machine Head The More Things Change...
Mahr Antelux
Mahr Soulmare I
Mahr Soulmare II
Makrothumia The Rit of Individuation
Malefic Sorcery Under the Hammer of the Banished Gods
Malevolum Veritas et Violentiam
Malicious Intent Under The Shine Of The Ripping Sickle
Malignant (USA) Purity Through Putrefaction
Malignant Altar Retribution of Jealous Gods
Malthusian Below the Hengiform
Malthusian Across Deaths
Man's Gin Rebellion Hymns
Mannequin Pussy Patience
Marid V V V V V V V
Maroon 5 Songs About Jane
Marunata Réminiscence
post-black metal that escapes most of the usual post-black trappings
Masachist Death March Fury
Massive Retaliation Arms of the War God
Mastication 1991 Demo
Mata Mata Mata Mata
Mayhem De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
Mayhem Grand Declaration of War
Mayhem Deathcrush
Mayhem Ordo ad Chao
Megadeth Countdown to Extinction
Meillä Oli Vain Yö Mustan Metallin Muistelot
Melissa (NY) Melissa
Menestrel La Poésie des Temps Jadis
Menestrel Le Secret du Sage
Merkury Mori Otis
Mesarthim .- -​.​.​. .​.​. . -. -​.​-​. .
Very keyboard-saturated atmospheric black metal. That being said, the synth work never feels overdone. This was created with the express purpose to have that element be the most prominent. It creates a beautiful, celestial, and wonder-filled album. It gets a bit repetitive at times, but overall it's very enjoyable.
Mesarthim The Degenerate Era
Mesarthim Vacuum Solution
No matter how many times a band or album in this style appears, the collision of black metal and trance music will never cease to amaze me. On one hand, this fusion would see the corpses of Dead and Euronymous churn in their grave; on the other, isn?t this type of sonic rebellion what black metal is about? And now that Violet Cold are out of the picture for the foreseeable future, Mesarthim have usurped their LED-lit throne as the new sovereigns of danceable black metal magic. Though they certainly have the catalog to back up their claim to the crown, one need look no further than the Australian duo?s latest EP, Vacuum Solution, which is perhaps their most thorough examination of EDM influenced black metal yet. At their best, they make it sound like these two genres need each other and even at their worst the songs are still good enough to wring some enjoyment out of. Haters gonna hate, but given the globe?s current state of affairs, maybe some black metal to shake your ass to isn?t the worst thing in the world.
Messiah In The Abyss Genocidal Journey
Metallica Master of Puppets
Metallica ...And Justice for All
Metallica The $5.98 E.P.: Garage Days Re-Revisited
Metallica S&M
Mgla With Hearts Toward None
Miasmal Miasmal
Milumet Myth Is The Womb Which Fact Must Pass
Milumet Blood Songs
Miscarriage (USA) FUCKING DISGUSTING
Misertus Daydream
Misery Signals Absent Light
Misfits Famous Monsters
Mists of Antiquity Before the Dawn of a Noble Age
Mitochondrion Parasignosis
Is it just me or does this album get a little longer each listen?
Mizmor Mishlei
Mo'ynoq Dreaming in a Dead Language
Mol JORD
Monarque Jusqu'à la Mort
Mons Veneris Deathbringer
Monstrosity The Passage of Existence
Not many OSDM bands can still shred this hard in 2018. As someone who has never really listened to Monstrosity before, this has me psyched to check out their previous material. Seems like it?s generally considered to be better than this - and this kills - so I?m sure I?m in for a treat.
MooM Third EP
Morbid Angel Kingdoms Disdained
Morbosidad Muerte de Cristo en Golgota
Mord'A'Stigmata Dreams of Quiet Places
Mordicus Dances from Left
Morir Morir
Morrow (UK) Fallow
Mortiferum Disgorged From Psychotic Depths
Mortuous Through Wilderness
Moss Upon The Skull In Vengeful Reverence
Mossen Thee Knoweth Nay Apparition?
Motley Crue Generation Swine
Motley Crue Girls, Girls, Girls
Motley Crue Saints of Los Angeles
Mourning Forest Au Coeur de l'Ombre
Mrakobes (Мракобес) Мракобес
Muknal CN-22
One of the weaker bands to come from Crepsculo Negro but these guys are still pretty good
Munn Selbstmordwald
Muse Showbiz
Muse Origin of Symmetry
Muse Black Holes & Revelations
My Purest Heart For You A Heart Worth Violence
Mylingar Döda Drömmar
Mylingar Döda Själar
Mystagogue And The Darkness Was Cast Out Into The Wilderness
Mystifier The World Is So Good That Who Made It Doesn't Live
Nachtgeist Void
Nachtlich Nachtlich
Nachtlich Bygone Winds of a Black Curse
Nader Sadek In the Flesh
Nails Abandon All Life
Napalm Death Scum
Narrows Painted
Natural Law Slump
Modern hardcore that still recalls the genres classic elements, Natural Law are loud, fast, dirty and they don't even give a fuck.
Naturgeist Reinvigorated Terror
Nächtlich Nächtlich
Nächtlich The Third Coming
Necrodeus Womb of Sathanas
Necropanther Necropanther
Necros Christos Doom of the Occult
Necrotic Mutation The Realm of Human Illusions
Nefarious Spirit / Void Prayer Nefarious Spirit / Void Prayer
Nekros Manteia Deus Otiosus
Night Verses Into the Vanishing Light
Night's Threshold Boundless Evil
Nightfucker Nightfucker
Nihil Invocation The Valleys Green and Journeys Mourned
Nihil Invocation Furthering the Depth of Lucid Madness
Nihil Invocation / Nyctophilia Season of the Purest Decay
Nihilifer Subterfacto.declive
Cavernous blackened death metal draped in occult robes and with hell in its eyes.
Nimbifer Demo I
Nine Inch Nails Hesitation Marks
Ninkharsag The Dread March Of Solemn Gods
If you told me that these were recently unearthed and remastered Dissection tracks, I would have no choice but to believe you.
No Age Snares Like A Haircut
Noctambulist Atmospheres of Desolation
Nocturnal Blood Nocturnal Cruxifictions
Nocturnal Blood Invocation of Spirits
NOFX Wolves in Wolves' Clothing
Noose Rot The Creeping Unknown
Nortt Endeligt
Notches High Speed Crimes
Really endearing pop-punk with an emphasis on PUNK. It's fuzzed out, sloppy, catchy, energetic, and loads of fun.
Nusquama Horizon Ontheemt
Nyctophilia Dwelling in the Fullmoon Light
NyreDolk Demo
NyreDolk Indebrændt
Oath of Cruelty Summary Execution At Dawn
Obituary The End Complete
Obolus (US) Lament
Occelensbrigg The Cosmic Winter State (demo)
Occelensbrigg / Spiral Staircase Occelensbrigg/Spiral Staircase
October Fall A Season in Hell
Odinsgoat Datura
Of Feather and Bone Sulfuric Disintegration
Of Mice and Men The Flood
Coming off an average debut album, the departure (and subsequent rejoining) of the ever controversial Austin Carlile, Of Mice & Men have still managed to overcome all their trials and tribulations to craft a modern post-hardcore album that is actually worth giving a damn over; more creative song-writing, better instrumentals and with Shayley Bourget's soaring vocals taking more precedence than seen before, Of Mice & Men are a band that is well on their way to some well-deserved success.
Old Graves This Ruin Beneath Snowfall
Old Nick Flying Ointment
Old Nick Witch Of The Northern Vill
Old Nick Witch Lymph
Old Nick Curse of the Lock Master
Old Nick Haunted Loom!!!
Old Nick The Vanitous Specter
Old Tower The Rise of the Specter
Old Tower Ruination, the New Dawn Cometh
Old Tower Drachenblut
Old Witch Come Mourning Come
Olivia Rodrigo SOUR
Opeth Blackwater Park
Opeth Watershed
Opeth In Cauda Venenum
Order From Chaos Dawn Bringer
Orgy of Carrion Everlasting Blood Of Night
Orgy of Carrion Perverse Homage to the Rotting Divine
Orgy of Carrion Obscured Ceremonies Under Hell Moon
Orgy of Carrion Hymns Of Melancholic Violence And Plague
Orgy of Carrion Blood Washed Away the Grave Purity
Ossa Coronata Ander Lant
Ossaert Bedehuis
Ostraca / Flesh Born Faces of the Moving Year
Oubliette (USA-TN) The Passage
Outre-Tombe Nécrovortex
P.L.F. Jackhammering Deathblow Of Nightmarish Trepidation
P.L.F./Incinerated Split
Pa Vesh En Pyrefication
Pale Pale
Palisades I'm Not Dying Today
Palisades Palisades
Pandiscordian Necrogenesis Eigenwelt
Pandiscordian Necrogenesis Elohim Glowing Bile
Pandiscordian Necrogenesis Immortal Initiation
Panic! at the Disco Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!
years later and i still cant get over the fact they passed on the name panic! at the discoteca
Panopticon/Lake of Blood Split
Pantheist Pantheist
Paragon Impure To Gaius
This shit is fucking intense. Raw as fuck, dissonant as anything, there is literally nothing accessible about this album. And I love it.
Paragon Impure Sade
Paralysis (USA-LA) Patrons Of The Dark
Parkway Drive Killing with a Smile
Pathology The Time of Great Purification
I am generally not a fan of brutal death metal at all but fuck this is really good. I think the main reason I enjoy it so much is because everything from the riffs to the vocals are extremely reminiscent of Abominable Putridity
Paysage d'Hiver/Lunar Aurora Split
Penance Stare House of Bastet
Pendragon (US) Uther
Pendragon (US) Morgana
Pensees Nocturnes Ceci est de la musique
This could very well be my black metal album of the year; retaining the strong yet tasteful use of symphonic and theatrical elements, Pensees Nocturnes 2011 release sees sole member Vaerohn not only mustering truly impressive atmospheric backdrops but also adding much more bite to the bands brand of avant-garde black metal. And while Vaerohn easily proves himself to be a truly awe-inspiring multi-instrumentalist he also conjures one hell of a hoarse wail, the perfect type of vocals to accompany an album that is just drench in melancholy. Fucking recommended.
Perverse Homage/Hatework Häretischer Kreis
Petrification Hollow of the Void
Petrine Cross Demo
Phlebotomized Preach Eternal Gospels
Pierce the Veil Selfish Machines
Plague (GR) Portraits of Mind
Plague Rider Rhizome
Ploertendoder / Cancriculus Ploertendoder / Cancriculus
Poison Ruin Poison Ruin LP
Poppy I Disagree
Even for Poppy the move into metal was a turn of unexpected turn of events, one that she's
masterfully manipulated into a victory. She built on the rejection of expectations with a
very solid set of songs that delve heavily into nu-metal, metalcore, and industrial metal
territory, very much seizing upon the late 90's revival zeitgeist that's permeated the underground
metal scene while also infusing the music with her typical pop infectiousness and trademarked
oddity.
Portal Vexovoid
Portrayal of Guilt Suffering is a Gift
Portrayal of Guilt/Soft Kill Split
Pouya The South Got Something To Say
PRECARIA, DEATHSPIRAL OF INHERITED SUFFERING and DOMINUS IRA Metamorphosphoros
Pretty Little Flower Ultimate Whirlwind of Incineration
Fuck bitches and listen to P.L.F.
Primitive Warfare Primitive Warfare
Prison Suicide 2016 Demo
Five minute long hardcore demo from Colloquial Sound Recordings. Nothing fancy, just an absolutely ripping release that's tons of fun.
Prison Suicide Prison Suicide (II)
Prison Suicide nets Colloquial Sound Records another great release.
Proclamation Nether Tombs of Abaddon
Profanatica Disgusting Blasphemies Against God
Profanatica is all about the blasphemy; decrying religion at almost every chance they get, if any devout Catholic heard a minute of their 2010 opus Disgusting Blasphemies Against God (or even just heard the title) they would probably declare some sort of Armageddon warning. Musically, the band plays a pretty raw form of black metal, yet nothing really new. Definintely more enjoyable when in a certain mood, yet for the most part this is just another average black metal release with above average lyrics of blasphemy.
Profanatica Putrescence of... aka As Tears of Blood Stain the
Profanatica The Curling Flame of Blasphemy
Well, it's definitely a Profanatica record
Profanatica Rotting Incarnation of God
Profane Congregation/Grave Grave Revelations / Profane Congregation
Profane Order Tightened Noose of Sanctimony
Prosanctus Inferi Red Streams of Flesh
Prosanctus Inferi Pulpit Sycophants
After a six-year silence, I was worried they had died an innocuous death, but luckily I was wrong; they are alive, kicking, and gearing up for the release of a new album entitled Hypnotic Blood Art (release date TBA). It would seem Pulpit Sycophants a demo that has so far only been released via Youtube, consists of rough versions of this upcoming full-length. Despite their being incomplete, the material on Pulpit Sycophants is impressive nonetheless, and seems to hint at the band returning to the bestial and crude blackened death metal they wielded on their earlier releases like Pandemonic Ululations of Vesperic Palpitation. Despite my love for their last record Noctambulous Jaws Within Sempiternal Night and its more pronounced death metal influence, I am still very much looking forward to what's coming next. r
Pseudogod Deathwomb Catechesis
Psychic Blood Autumn Curses
Psycroptic The Scepter of the Ancients
Puce Mary Rubber Therapy
Pulchra Morte Divina Autem et Aniles
Evoking the morbid grandiosity of the "The Peaceville Three" (Paradise Lost, Anathema, My Dying Bride) Pulchra Morte's debut album Divina Autem et Aniles hearkens back to the gothic death/doom sound of the early 90's British metal scene, uniting melody and chaos in an unholy matrimony.
Pulczesar Pulczesar
Pure Wrath Sempiternal Wisdom
Purgatorial Blue Flame Choir of Nosferatu
Push Over Demo
Putrefiance Demo 2018
Pyre of Black Roses Demo II
Question Reflections of the Void
Raat (IN) Ashen
Ragana and Thou Let Our Names Be Forgotten
Rahu Caput Draconis
Ratt Out of the Cellar
Ravachol Great Moments in the Void
Raw Nerve Nervous Habits
A great tape by another great Youth Attack! hardcore band. I wonder how long until it's too trendy to like any YA! bands and we are all forced to ignore their consistent brilliance.
Rebel Wizard Triumph of Gloom
Redwood Hill Ender
Reeking Nightshade Within the Effulgence of the Moon
Reel Big Fish Everything Sucks
Remete (AUS) Forgotten Aura (demo)
The second new black metal project from D. of Woods of Desolation. Instrumental black metal with a focus on grand melodies and an overall lax atmosphere. The lack of vocals hinders it slightly, but it still remains fairly compelling.
Remete (AUS) The Winter Silence
Respire Denouement
Revenant Marquis Polterngeyst
Revenant Marquis Youth In Ribbons
Reverorum Ib Malacht Im Ra Distare Summum Soveris Seris Vas innoble
Rhinocervs RH-14
Rhinocervs RH-15
Rhinocervs RH-16
Ride for Revenge Sinking The Song
Rietas Vaikainen - Demo MMXX
Ringare Under Pale Moon
Ringare Where Cold Dwells And Winter Once Lay
Ringare Sorrow Befell
Masterminded by one man black metal auteur Alex Poole, Ringare's newest demo Sorrow Befell is an impressive display of Summoning-esque bombast filtered through the structure of more typical atmospheric black metal. The result is a terrifyingly immersive piece of work to lose yourself in.
Ripped to Shreds 魔經 - Demon Scriptures
Rites of Thy Degringolade Totalitys Commad
Rites of Thy Degringolade The Blade Philosophical
It's hard to find an apt descriptor for The Blade Philosophical; if I could think of one, it would be something like Morbid Angel meets Deathspell Omega.
Roman Cross Make Graves the Home of Men
Roman Master The Basilisk
Rome Hero Foxes 18 Summers
Rotted Remains Rotted Remains
Rotting Sky Sedation
Ruin Lust Choir Of Babel
Ruminations Rehersal Demo
Runemagick Into Desolate Realms
Runespell Voice of Opprobrium
Rx Bandits Mandala
S H R I E K I N G Let The Galaxy Burn
Sacred Son Arthurian Catacombs
Sacrilegious Crown Sacrilegious Crown
Sacrilegious Crown Flagellated Temple
Sacrilegious Crown Plenilunium Cult
Sacrilegious Crown / Illuminated Manuscripts Meditations on the Revenant Enigma
Sadness (USA) I want to be there
Sadness (USA) Alluring the distant eye
Sael The Sixth Extinction
Sallow II: Corpses and Ruins
Sallow play of a very modern form of classic black metal; it's cold, unforgiving, aggressive, and evocative of an assailing winter tempest. Every once in a while they will have a brilliant moment -each track has at least one or two - but as whole, this is standard black metal brought to you by a band that has yet to unlock their true potential.
Saltas Currents
Saltas Parasites
Salvaticus Hidden Manna
Salvation (USA) Of Unforgiving Wind
Uber aggressive buzzed out hardcore from Pennsylvania.
Salvation (USA) House of the Beating Hell
A part of the Youth Attack! music conglomerate, Philadelphia's Salvation have been releasing great and seriously moody hardcore since 2009 with the release of their debut album, Of Unforgiving Wind. Seemingly at odds with the sheer violence of their first album (and sophomore effort, Mortality Interactions) Salvation's latest EP shows the band paying more attention to detail, crafting a set of songs that may lack their previous aggression but more than makes up for it with their obviously more thoughtful compositions. House of the Beating Hell is still very much a Salvation release, but it is easily their most mature to date.
Sanguine Eagle Shores of Avarice
Sanguine Moon What Shadows Once Hid...
What Shadows Once Hid... feels legitimately frightening. It's build-up of distorted ambiance rumbling below mysterious chants and foreboding euphoria creates an uncomfortable yet oddly enjoyable tension.
Sans Ami Sans Ami
Sargeist Unbound
I?ve never been a huge Sargeist fan but this is really good, super melodic and icy black metal. I need to give props to the production too, it?s the perfect combination of clean and chaotic.
Sargeist/Drowning the Light Crimson Wine/As the Blood Flows On...
Sarr Ávitun
Really euphoric atmospheric black metal with palpably agonizing howls.
Satyr of Solitude Demo I
Satyr of Solitude Tree of Contemplation
Scar Symmetry Symmetric in Design
Scar Symmetry Pitch Black Progress
Scar Symmetry Holographic Universe
Scarlxrd Dxxm II
Sceptical Schizo Sceptical Schizo
Scythe Lore Through the Mausoleums of Man
Seagraves Weight of the World
Secret Creation Holding My Carrot
Secret Creation Bye Bye Bunny
Sectioned (Death Metal) Elme
Infusing elements of old school death metal with elements of thrash and even black metal, Sectioned's Elme is a competent excursion into realms of (slightly) experimental black metal. Fast riffs, excellent vocals and some pretty cool song-writing this album doesn't come highly recommended, but recommended nonetheless.
Seether Disclaimer
Sejr Demo
SELVA Doma
Senses Fail From The Depths Of Dreams (2019)
It's a bit jarring to heard versions of these songs after 17 years of growing up with the originals, but overall From The Depths of Dreams is a fun little release, if not just a bit kitschy. While I appreciate some of the added elements - mostly backing vocals - the actual production sounds really awful and plastic. It saps a bit of the genuity the original version thrives on. However, Buddy sounds really good and I don't mind his improved voice singing out some of my all time favorite Senses Fail melodies/lyrics. Recommended for people who won't take this too seriously.
Septulchu Food For Moloch
Sequestered Keep Wandering Far
Serpent Column Endless Detainment
Serum Dreg Lustful Vengeance
Sexdrome Sexdrome
Shadow Of Intent Melancholy
Shaolin Finger Jabb Santa Maria Powerviolence
No holds barred, female fronted powerviolence that absolutely rips. Also the song titles are actually pretty funny.
Shark Bait/Adaje Split
Shataan Earth
Shataan was always an outlier in the BTC, so it wasn?t very surprising when they struck out on their own a few years ago, branching away from Crepsculo Negro and black metal altogether. Their latest, Earth, still has some remnants of that era, but is moreso a cultivation of the previously sidelined psychedelic, freak folk, and rock elements that were present in their music. For me, Shataan was one of the most exciting Black Twilight bands because these influences were lurking in the background and on Earth, where they?re finally in the limelight, they are definitely done with justice.
Shining (SWE) III - Angst, Självdestruktivitetens Emissarie
Shizune Shizune
Shyy/... The Path Toward Forgetfulness
A release between two bands that are arguably some of the better groups from the shoegazing black metal pool, The Path Towards Forgetfulness has some pretty glaring errors but overall is an extremely enjoyable listen. Although they have received much more attention, Shyy is easily the weaker band here, creating two decent songs that have more in common with straightforward indie but definitely get their vocal style from shoegaze. ... on the other hand (yes, the name of the band is "...") create three completely entrancing pieces which if honestly had been by themselves would have made for an excellent demo/EP. The songs transition beautifully from more depressive black metal sections (which are actually wonderfully done) to clean vocal driven shoegaze dreamfests. Definitely a band to look for, if these songs are any indication, this band will do great things on future releases.
Sickness (Finland) Nidus Diaboli
Siege Column Inferno Deathpassion
SiFulan Desolate
Sigh Gallows Gallery
Sigh Infidel Art
Sigh Ghastly Funeral Theatre
Silent Civilian Rebirth of the Temple
Sinat Hinam Sinat Hinam
Black metal influenced crust punk from Israel. Thick murky guitars that swap between simpler crust punk lines, tremolo picked guitar and classic metal inspired passages Sinat Hinam is heavy, pounding and passionate crust that doesn't hold anything back
Sinmara Within the Weaves of Infinity
Icelandic black metal has been all the rage the last few years, and it's really not hard to see why; twisting, cavernous, and more aggressive, there is a certain magic that Icelandic BM and by extension, Sinmara, have in spades. Eerily melodic at times, the dichotomy of DsO-esque cacophony and cold, frozen harmony are well-representing throughout, creating excellent and contrasting counterpoints. A dense, but thoroughly enjoyable listen.r
Sista Sekunden Aldras Med Stil
Sixx:A.M. This Is Gonna Hurt
Mainstream rock that isn't embarrassing to listen to. We all knew Sixx:A.M. would make this album, an album that further propels their burgeoning mainstream sound but it's so damn catchy who cares if there's little to no substance to be found here? Great vocals, catchy melodies and surprisingly solid instrumentation This is Gonna Hurt continues Sixx:A.M.'s hot-streak of writing awesome modern rock records.
Skaphe and Wormlust Kosmískur Hryllingur
Skid Row (US) Subhuman Race
Skravl En Higen mod Tilintetgørelsen
Skrawl Nil (demo)
Skullcrush Visions of the Firestorm Eclipse
Sky Eats Airplane Everything Perfect on the Wrong Day
Slaegt Ildsvanger
Slave House Taste In Pain
Sleeping Village Fragments
Slipknot 9.0: Live
Slithering Decay Demo 2018
Slowly Building Weapons Sunbirds
Smash Mouth Smash Mouth
Soker Tilflukt The Dark Woods of Sorrow
Solipsism (AUS) Whispering to the Strange (demo)
Sonne Adam Transformation
Sorcier Des Glaces Sorcier Des Glaces
Spectral Lore and Mare Cognitum Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine
Spectral Lore/Jute Gyte Helian
Spiral Staircase/Disequilibrium In the Scrying House / Fungal Growth Adorning Tree
Spiritbox Eternal Blue
Spite (USA-NY) Antimoshiach
Starcave Nebula / Eerified Catacomb Starcave Nebula / Eerified Catacomb
Starless Domain EOS
State Faults Clairvoyant
Static-X Start a War
Staurophagia Sacrifice of the Wind
Stellar Descent Cycles of Life
Still Remains Ceasing to Breathe
Stone Sour Stone Sour
Stygiofilia Barren Crops of Heavenly Deception
Subdued Torment & Torture
Suffering Hour Dwell
What even is this?
Sugartown Cabaret The First Time I Lost The Road Map
Sugartown Cabaret Beyond Foam
Suicide Nation (USA-AZ) Suicide Nation
Sulphur Aeon The Scythe Of Cosmic Chaos
Summoning Oath Bound
Summoning Dol Guldur
Summoning Minas Morgul
Summoning With Doom We Come
There is something off about the production that stops this from feeling as euphoric and grandiose as it should. It's a shame, this is some of their most interesting work in a while.
Sump Demo
Superfruit Future Friends - Part Two
Svalbard When I Die, Will I Get Better?
As far as competency goes, there are few bands who can do it like Svalbard; over their relatively
short career they've consistently released high-caliber material. When I Die, Will I Get
Better? is no different, and again the band impresses with their shoegazing hardcore flavor.
My only gripe is that it feels so familiar, just another attempt of a sound that's been
circulating throughout the metal/hardcore underground for the last decade. In some ways it feels
dirty to dock this hardworking band points because of the honesty and integrity that comes through
in their music, but there were definitely a few points across these 8 tracks where my mind
wandered into "been there, done that" territory.
Svartidaudi Revelations Of The Red Sword
I'm giving the benefit of the doubt that Revelations of the Red Sword will grow on me. The
band's hesitation to commit to either a wholly melodic or wholly chaotic sound stifles their
potential. It's not that they have to fully commit either, but there's a palpable sense of
uncertainty present, hanging over their tortured instrumentals just as much as the occult
atmosphere they're trying to curate. This is me being a bit harsh however, as this is overall a
very enjoyable listen. Guitars twist and wind at their own volition to create forms of diabolical
splendor while Sturla howls incantations of infernal damnation as if he were the mouth of Satan
itself. Despite its few flaws Revelations of the Red Sword is the soundtrack to calamity,
and a worthy follow-up to the ever-esteemed efforts of Flesh Cathedral
Svrm Останнє Сонце
Svrm Лихиї вітри стогнуть без упину
Svrm Згарище
Svrm Занепад
SVRM are a Ukrainian blackgaze project formed in 2015 that sounds like Deafheaven if they had
embraced their hardcore/skramz roots, instead of embracing alternative/shoegaze. It would be
reductive to simply cast them as a DFHVN clone though, as the project does provide some
interesting idiosyncrasies of its own, such as some folk interludes and an all around more
atmospheric approach despite the very pronounced sense of urgency their music also exudes. Still,
reductive or not, this is recommended listening for DFHVN fans, Bosse-de-Nage fans, or anyone else
whose developed a taste for skramzy, post-black metal.
Swamp Temple/Sinister Tradition Gods Of A Dying Sun
Sylvania Ave. In A Day
Symptom Opulent Atrocity
System of a Down System of a Down
System of a Down Toxicity
Taphos Come Ethereal Somberness
Tebotjf Pronounced "Tee​-​bot​-​jeff"
Temple Desecration Whirlwinds of Fathomless Chaos
Temple Nightside Pillars of Damnation
Tennis Cape Dory
Terrorizer World Downfall
Testament The Formation of Damnation
Thangorodrim Gil-Estel
The Afterimage Lumière
Dance Gavin Dance licks meets Misery Signals' brutality and djentin' rhythms... cool beans.
The Atlas Moth The Old Believer
The Color Morale Know Hope
The Color Morale Desolate Divine
Leading up to the release of this album I was kind of worried; the past two albums have seen the band
deteriorating at an alarming rate, and based on the pre-release singles, it seemed they like so many others in the
current crop of post-hardcore, had abandoned their "heavier" roots. Fortunately, Desolate Divine proved my
expectations wrong. The ratio of singing to screaming is certainly tipped in the favor of the former, but as usual,
Garrett's soulful croon is a joy to experience. The heavier parts are a bit dialed in, but their sparsity and
placement make them effective, and Mike Honson taking over harsh vocals was an excellent decision. His voice
is nasty and guttural without going too far, a great compliment to the -core aspects. Surprisingly solid.
The Devil Wears Prada With Roots Above and Branches Below
The Devil Wears Prada Dead Throne
The Embers of Tara Realm of Sleep
The Gates Of Sinn The Great Sabbath (demo)
The Great Old Ones Al Azif
The Offspring Ignition
The Offspring Conspiracy of One
The Offspring Baghdad
The Offspring Club Me
The Offspring A Piece of Americana
The Physics House Band Mercury Fountain
The Speed of Sound in Seawater First Contact
The Strokes Comedown Machine
The Tidal Sleep Four Song EP
The Weeknd Starboy
You don't have to runnnnnnn I know what you can doooooo
The Word Alive Deceiver
band was much better with mabbitt and you're just kidding yourselfs if you think otherwise

Don't listen to Comatorium., he's putting Bring Me The Horizon on the end of his year list
Thecodontion Thecodontia (demo)
This Gift Is A Curse This Gift Is A Curse
This Station of Life Antithetic
Thormesis The Sixth
Threnodist The Vomitous Demo
Through the Eyes of the Dead Bloodlust
Tilian Future Friends
Time, The Valuator How Fleeting, How Fragile
thanks kmac2021
Titan (CAN) Burn
Todos Caeran After Dark
Tomb Mold Cerulean Salvation
Tomb Mold Planetary Clairvoyance
Torchlight Realms of Oblivion
Torso (FIN) Demonic Vomiting
Torture Chain Across Great Landscapes to a Legacy of Blood
Torture Rack Malefic Humiliation
Total Control Henge Beat
Totaled Lament
Towergeist Towergeist
Trautonist Ember
Trench Stench From Beyond the Beyond
Trist Dod Past Obtainment
Trivium Ember to Inferno
Trivium The Crusade
Truppensturm Salute to the Iron Emperors
Tuman Transylvanian Dreams
Turia Degen van licht
Twilight Trident Death Rattle
Typhoon (USA-OR) Offerings
Tyrannus Ruins
Tyrannus Black Sun (Demo)
Tyrannus Serpentslayer
Surprisingly docile release from Tyrannus, Serpentslayer is easily his most "traditional" dungeon synth album to date. It's a bit repetitive, but still has that medieval charm.
Tyrannus Flames of Tyranny
Tyrant Myst Tyrant Myst
Uada Cult of a Dying Sun
Ufesas Ufesas
Uhtceare El Genocidio Primordial Llevará El Nombre Infinito
Ulcerate Vermis
Ultar Pantheon MMXIX
Ulthar Cosmovore
Ulthar Providence
Ulvegr Vargkult
Un Sentiment
unable to fully embrace this happiness The Morning Sun and the End of the World
Unbegotten Manifestation
Unbirth Fleshforged Columns of Deceit
Under A Serpent Sun Under A Serpent Sun
I've only listened a few times so I'm trying to figure out how much I like this still, but on my
few initial playthroughs I am enjoying the hell out of this. It's a great throwback to early/mid
aughts melodic death metal influenced metal/death-core. In the spirit (hehe) of the recently
released Serpent Dungeon album, Under A Serpent (coincedence?) Sun has great riffs and does the
harmony thing without being overly saccharine. Also, the vocals recall a more palatable early-days
Oli Sykes, and if you're like me, you'll have a hard time not ruining your voice trying to scream
along to this. Possible bump to a 4 in the future.
Undercroft Twisted Souls
Undergang Misantropologi
Undergang Den dobbelte Grav
Underoath They're Only Chasing Safety
Underoath Ø (Disambiguation)
Undersave Sadistic Iterations... Tales of Mental Rearrangeme
Unfelled Beneath Distant Skies
One of two brand new projects from D of Woods of Desolation fame, Unfelled is pure atmospheric black metal bliss. Thick and enveloping atmosphere, whispered growls, and strong melodies make this a great, short release.
Unholy Vampyric Slaughter Sect Canticle Bound In Spirit-Faith In Vampyric Blood
Unholy Vampyric Slaughter Sect Order of the Rose Cross
Unreqvited Stars Wept to the Sea
Unreqvited has no trouble coming up with gorgeous pieces of orchestrated black metal, but if there's one thing he has yet to get down, it's restraint. Sometimes there's just too much going on.
Unreqvited Mosaic I: l'amour et l'ardeur
Unreqvited Mosaic II: la déteste et la détresse
Upir/Forgotten Tomb Upir / Forbidden Tomb
Ur Pale Sea Synth Ensemble
Utzalu The Loins of Repentance
blackened as all hell punk
V/A (TAS) Tasmania II
Vacuus Demo
Vacuus II
Valaraukar Demonian Abyssal Visions
Vanhelgd Temple of Phobos
The production is absolutely fantastic, but the songwriting is whatever. The songs just don't move at all.


Edit: okay Willie, I see you

Double edit: Okay, this is better than I initially gave it credit for.
Vanyar Abandoned
raw and epic black metal with a euphoric atmosphere
Veil II Negative Space
Venenum Trance of Death
Vengeance Sorcery Witchdance Rising
Venus Star Nigredo Expulsion
Vessel of Iniquity Void of Infinite Horror
Abyssal black metal that resides in a womb of static and noise.
Vetëvrakh Demo IV
vhmnt / blsphm vhmnt / blsphm
Victory Over The Sun A Tessitura of Transfiguration
Viggo Mortensen Intelligence Failure
Vigrid Throne of Forest
Awesome folk influences black metal with some classic metal influences
Vil / Infra / Aspergillum / Tarantula Nebula Presente, pasado y muerte
Vile Gash Agonized Corrosion
Vilkacis The Fever of War
Vilkacis / Turia Split
Vintr Drottning
Violet Cold Sommermorgen (Pt. I) - Innocence
Violet Cold Sommermorgen (Pt. II) - Joy
Violet Cold Sommermorgen (Pt. III) - Nostalgia
Violet Cold Empire of Love
Vital Remains Dechristianize
VOËMMR Sombr Moebrd
An acolyte of Portugal's Aldebaran Circle, Vommr's Sombr Moebrd upends the traditional black metal experience and lures you into a ritualistic bout of necrotic expression totally unique unto itself.
Void Eater II
Voidorror / Aspergillum Voidorror / Aspergillum
Voidsphere To Await | To Expect
Volahn / Blue Hummingbird On The Left Debajo del Simbolo del Sol
Volahn/Kallathon Disequilibrium of the Ecliptic Plane
Vomit Angel Imprint of Extinction
Vosbúð Almannagjá
Voyeur's Blood Voyeur's Blood
Vrasësimendur Demo I - Vrasëspërtkh Keqen
Vucub Cane Frozen Black Hallucinations
Vukari Aevum
Wall Painted Black Wintergaze
Philadelphian dungeon synth/ambient with a windy and winter-y atmosphere and black metal vocals howling in the background.
Wampyric Rites Antigua Esencia Astral
Wandering Anduin Wandering Anduin
Warthog Warthog II
We Came As Romans To Plant a Seed
Weald and Woe The Fate of Kings and Men
Weeping Nimbus Rehearsal MMXVII
Weezer Van Weezer
if you gave this anything below a 3 you're thinking about it entirely too hard
Welk Sein
wellspring iris's room
Werendia Werendia
Werendia Småland
Wet Petals s/t II
When Bitter Spring Sleeps/Panopticon Split
Whispering Oak Feast of the Warlords
Beautifully ethereal dungeon synth that reminds of green pastures and great rolling fields more than dank, wet chambers resting below castles.
White Medal Jorviking
White Ward Love Exchange Failure
White Wolves Kommando Dark Ages Return
Wilsumnes Onwards to the Great Darkness
Wilt (CAN) Ruin
Wintaar Songs of White Wilderness
This has been one of the better albums I've found to cool me down throughout this exceedingly hot summer. It's very typical atmospheric black metal but the melodies are nice and WV's vocals have a tortured element not too far way from Varg's.
Wintaar The Burialmoon Mist
Wintersun Wintersun
Wishfield Wishfield
Wist Fallacy of Being
Wist The Ambiguity of Reason
Wist Allegory of the Cave
Witch Claw Summoning of the Heksevin
Witch King Voice Of The Ossuary
Witches Moon A Swing of Sickle to Summers Dawn
Witches Moon Azazel Bedazzle
Witches Moon The Grim Botanical
Witches Moon The Womb of Those Whom Fall From Heaven
Witches Moon enters the new year on a high note with some quality dungeon synth.
Witches Moon A Storm of Golden Mare and Black Cauldron
Witches Moon at it again with their second release of the year. The Witch's mixture of dungeon synth and black metal is a bit more unorthodox than most, providing the nostalgic grandeur of the former while enabling the latter to flex its grim eccentricities. The production's vast feel gives him room to explore, and he doesn't take it for granted; each element whether it be a chime of synth or serpentine riff is given enough room to both flourish on its own and compliment each other part at play. Prolificity hasn't gotten in the way of good songwriting, as Witches Moon continues to provide quality and quantity in equal measure.
Witches Moon Bed of Hemlock, Sex with Angels
Witches Moon brews up another wicked but enjoyable dose of dungeon synth, folk, and metal.
Witches Moon Ouroboros Will Stray by the Light of the Milky Way
witchface Fryktelig For Alltid
Witchface are a bunch of Norwegian punks playing black metal, taking the decade-plus formula of Bone Awl and injecting some of that oddball Scandinavian charm to create something that's at once, familiar and fresh.
Woddrea Mylenstede Cwylmendeap
Unrepentantly raw black metal that pushes the boundaries of listenable music
Woe A Violent Dread
Woe, Is Me Number[s]
Wolf King Loyal to the Soil
Wolfheart Constellation of the Black Light
Wolves in the Throne Room Black Cascade
Wombripper From The Depths Of Flesh
Woods of Desolation Torn Beyond Reason
Worm (FL) Gloomlord
Wormhole The Weakest Among Us
Wotanorden The Hands of Faith
Wounds of Recollection You Were A Garden of Empyrean Light
Wrath of the Weak Alogon
Wrath of the Weak Wrath of the Weak
Wrath of the Weak Solace
Wreodan Heahl Laecig
Symphonic black metal has a certain negative connotation amongst the genre's more "elite" listeners (whatever
that means), but there are still some great acts of that variety out there: Wreodan Heahl is one of them. It's
medieval symphonic black metal in the vein of early Dimmu Borgir, and it absolutely slays. The orchestrations are
perfectly done, and the black metal segments are nice and cold, just like they should be.
Wretched Empires Bloom
Wrevelmoed Demo I
Wvnder Precipice
Xasthur Nocturnal Poisoning
Xavlegbmaofffassssit.... Gore 2.0
I honestly thought Acidic Vaginal Liquid Explosion Generated By Mass Amounts Of Filthy Fecal Fisting And Sadistic Septic Syphilic Sodomy Inside The Infected Maggot Infested Womb Of A Molested Nun Dying Under The Roof Of A Burning Church While A Priest Watches And Ejaculates In Immense Perverse Pleasure Over His First Fresh Fetus would be a one and done gag project, so I was fairly surprised to find Gore 2.0 while skimming through bandcamp. Even more surprising is how legitimately good this album is. Laying off the pure grinding discordance of their debut, Xavleg's second album toys with a melange of styles (death metal, goregrind, beach rock...?) skillfully but without sacrificing the joviality and carefree attitude of its predecessor. It's clear these dudes are still having fun, they've just become a lot more listenable while doing so.
XII Boar Beyond the Valley of The Triclops
Fucking raucous as fuck rock'n'roll. Heavy-hitting groove riffs, sludgy bass, and throat-shredding vocals for days. Great shit.
Yaldabaoth That Which Whets the Saccharine Palate
Yellow Eyes Silence Threads the Evening's Cloth
Yellow Eyes Hammer of Night
Yellow Eyes The Desert Mourns
Yellow Eyes Stillicide
Yellow Swans Being There
Yersinia Pestis (US) Finis Gloriae Mundi
Reminiscent of Sweden's burgeoning melodic death/black metal scene of the early 90's, Yersinia Pestis is six tracks of fairly solid extreme metal with enough aggression, melody, and buzzsaw guitar tone to satisfy both newcomers and older fans of the genre alike.
Yith Immemorial
Ynkleudherhenavogyon Honan Bleydh
You Plus Me Rose Ave.
YOUWRETCH YOUWRETCH
Heavy as shit hardcore that also has some awesome melodic flourishes
YOUWRETCH Sympathy Of Wolves
Zealot Cult Spiritual Sickness
Zealotry At the Nexus of All Stillborn Worlds
Zella Day Kicker
Zpektraellotaen Possessed by the Loathing Specters at Dawn / In Co
Zuriaake 深庭 | Resentment in the Ancient Courtyard

3.0 good
A Letter for Carmilla Lamentation
A Pregnant Light Devotion Unlaced
A Pregnant Light continue to perfect their own unique sect of underground extremity cutely nicknamed "purple metal", which is essentially melodic hardcore with a tinge of metal. I'll give it to Damian, each release under the APL moniker maintains a very genuine feel, however Devotion Unlaced lacks the teeth of their previous material which is a bit of a let-down. Nonetheless, this is a fairly enjoyable release with a few ear-worms to keep you coming bac
Aad Sleck Demonstration II
Abandon All Ships Geeving
Abduction (UK) A Crown of Curses
Abhomine Larvae Offal Swine
Abhomine Proselyte Parasite Plague
Abstracter Cinereous Incarnate
Absu Barathrum V.I.T.R.I.O.L.
Absurd Existence Anglewings
Playing melodic death/doom with a ton of gothic metal influences, Absurd Existence just comes off as a bit boring; sure, they can strike the occasional somber melody at times and are they the worst at what they do? Definitely not, but that still doesn't save Angelwings from being the first-class snooze of an album it is, devoid of anything worth note and full of things that have been done before and done better.
Abyssal Vacuum MMXVII
Act of Impalement Perdition Cult
Adversarial/Antediluvian Initiated in Impiety as Mysteries
Aevangelist Matricide in the Temple of Omega
Afsky Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død
Agalloch Ashes Against the Grain
Ahulabrum The Transitivity of Strangeness
The Transitivity of Strangeness isn't really an album you get on the first listen; a dark, murky production mixed with fast tremolo picked chords and strange (even for black metal) vocals, the first experience with this album may be enough for some. However, upon repeated listens one begins to strangely appreciate the how intense and fucked up the album really is. Musically nothing revolutionary, but an entertaining listen for those who truly enjoy raw black metal.
Akrotheism Law of Seven Deaths
Aksumite Self Interference
Alcest Écailles De Lune
This is a low 3.5. Seriously Ecailles De Lune (Pt.1) is mostly the only song I ever listen too. And generally when I do, I'm only doing it for the last two minutes of the song. But holy fuck, it's pretty epic. But yeah, expecting rating drop to 2.5 in (near) future.
Alcest Les Voyages De L'Âme
Alcest Shelter
Alcest Kodama
Alcest Spiritual Instinct
Alda Alda
Alder Deep Chapter 2: Kobolds, Goblins, Cretins, Fiends
All That Remains Overcome
Alle Totmachen! Demo I
Alle Totmachen! Demo 2
Alter Bridge AB III
Anaal Nathrakh In the Constellation of the Black Widow
Anthrax Return of the Killer A's
Anthrax Sound of White Noise
Apocalypse Command Damnation Scythes of Invincible Abomination
Another project spawning from the infamous Angelcorpse legacy, Apocalypse Command is certainly a competent project but does little to expand upon or even improve upon their now slightly worn black/death style, ultimately making DSoIA an enjoyable but predictable listen.
Arch Enemy Black Earth
Arch Enemy Wages of Sin
ARTS Thousand Wounds Of War
Aryan Rogue Reinrassig
As I Lay Dying Shadows Are Security
As I Lay Dying Awakened
As I Lay Dying Shaped by Fire
Asagraum Dawn of Infinite Fire
Ascension Under Ether
Ashen Chalice Ritual Under the Blackened Moon
Asking Alexandria From Death to Destiny
Asking Alexandria The Black
Asmodee (FRA-Pays de la Loire) Aequilanx
Asphyx The Rack
Asphyx Deathhammer
Aspyhx's Deathhammer is a good album but it's also a slight disappointment considering the high caliber work of the bands past.
At the Gates To Drink from the Night Itself
Atreyu Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses
Atreyu Lead Sails Paper Anchor
Attack Attack! (US) Attack Attack!
Attack Attack! (US) This Means War
Auld Ridge Ascetic Invocation
Automobile, Swift Enemy, Enemy
Avenged Sevenfold Diamonds in the Rough
Avslut Deceptis
I've only got one meager listen in, but I would expect to like this more as time goes on. This very much draws on the more mystical and malevolent side of black metal. It also has a surprising amount of low-end, but it doesn't slow down or trip up their blackened leanings. Not bad.
Azarath Saint Desecration
In 2011 Azarath released their best album, Blasphemers' Maledictions and set the bar incredibly high for future releases; a standard they have unfortunately yet to reach again. Follow-up In Extremis was a good albeit unimpressive record and Saint Desecration follows suit. There is nothing inherently wrong here, but it's nothing that hasn't been peddled ad nauseam by countless blackened death metal acts prior. New vocalist Skullripper does an admirable job picking up where Necrosodom left off and as result is easily the best thing about this record; his guttural incantations have power and presence. However unlike his predecessor, a strong vocal performance is where his meaningful contributions end. In the end though, he is the the most minor offender here, with the other members of the band - all of whom have been in the group for many years - unable to pick up the slack Necrosodom left in his wake. They have settled in a groove well below what we know they are capable of. At the end of the day, this is barely serviceable record performed by musicians who have done much better.
Azriel A Will Of Fire
slaps
Bagg Tussa баґґтусса
Bane (Srb) Chaos, Darkness & Emptiness
Belial Never Again
Belial 3
Belus Apophina
Boring USBM that aims for density but only achieves aimlessness.
Benthik Zone Via Cosmicam ad Europam ab Gelid Inferis
Bergwacht/Seelenlandschaft Waldpfad
Black Reaper (CHN) Celestial Descension
Dissection worship to the t(remolo). Some tracks extend to be a bit long, and when stretched too far you can start to see the cracks in their songwriting, but overall this is very competent. It's missing that undefinable aura that made Dissection a household name, yet it would still manage to scratch and satisfy someone with the Nodtveidt itch.
Black Tide Light From Above
Unless you're Helloween and you've just released Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. 1, playing the bastard child of power metal and thrash, speed metal has never really been the "cool" thing to do. Kind of makes you wonder what the teenage comprised Black Tide were (or weren't) thinking when they recorded Light From Above, a below par, mainstream marketed, speed metal album with tons of hair metal influence to boot. "Warrior of Time" slays and quartet shows technical promise, (especially singer/guitarist Gabriel Garcia pre-puberty) but when it come to songwriting, it's obvious these Miami natives still have a lot of growing up to do.
Blessthefall His Last Walk
Blink-182 Cheshire Cat
Blitzgeist Black Visions in the Moonlit Night
Blizzard (AR) Hateful Hymns of an Endless Winter
Bound Bible Demo II
Bound Bible is another Colloquial Sound Recordings project by Damian Masters. Like their previous effort, Demo 2 is very much standard USBM that doesn't really take any risks but is well executed. It's unlikely to compel you to keep coming back, but it's not bad by any stretch of the imagination, it just lacks, well, imagination.
Bovary Mes Racines dans le Désert
Breaking Benjamin Aurora
Bring Me The Horizon Suicide Season
Buckethead Enter the Chicken
Buckethead Somewhere Over the Slaughterhouse
Buckethead Kevin's Noodle House
Buckethead Cyborg Slunks
Buckethead Enter The Chicken (Reissue)
Buckethead Slaughterhouse on the Prairie
Buckethead Forensic Follies
Bullet For My Valentine Hand of Blood
Burzum Filosofem
Byzantine To Release Is to Resolve
Caarcrinolas The Egg
Cabal (DK) Mark Of Rot
Cabal may be a bit more atmospheric than their peers, but their dollar store menace can't cover up how bland the songwriting is.
Can Bardd Nature Stays Silent
Cancerian Moon Human Transmutation
Coming from the house of Bone Awl, bands like Cancerian Moon are an overstocked brand in black metal, however there is something to be admired in their delivery; they beat the shit out of their instruments. Even if it is your usual melange of Darkthrone meets Circle Jerks, the energy really translates.
Carcass Torn Arteries
Carly Rae Jepsen Emotion
Carved Cross Demo I
Celestial Conjuration Demo I
Centinex Reborn Through Flames
Combining the old school brutality of their previous efforts with a newfound sense of melody, Centinex's Reborn Through Flames is not your best or most original slab of Swedish death metal, but it certainly remains to be an enjoyable listen for all those who enjoy melodeath with some added bite.
Ciel Nordique II
Cinsera Coryphée
Coffinworm IV.I.VIII
Converge Beautiful Ruin
4 SONGS. 6 MINUTES. Now THAT'S H A R D C O R E
Corpsessed Corpsessed
Cradle of Filth Total Fucking Darkness
Csejthe La Mort du Prince Noir
Dafodil Pale Moonlight
Dagger Lust VT​-​XIX || Siege Bondage Adverse to the Godhea
Dance Gavin Dance Afterburner
I'm not sure what I expected from this, but I am happy with the end result. It's everything I want
from the band, with a few sonic twists and turns thrown in. I'm only on my 3rd listen, so it's
still all sinking in, but I'm enjoying this more immediately than I did ArSe, which took a bit
more time for me to really appreciate. I do think the next album will need to step out of the box
a bit more, but I'm fine with the half step forward here.

**mehhhhh (9/28/2020)
Dark New Day Twelve Year Silence
Darkest Hour Godless Prophets and The Migrant Flora
Even though the heaviness is a contrived effort after the mainstream inclinations of their last album, the new Darkest Hour is okay, even if it does sound like everything else Kurt Ballou produces. The melodic death metal influence is sorely missing though.
Darkthrone Plaguewielder
Darkthrone F.O.A.D.
Darkthrone Dark Thrones and Black Flags
Darkthrone Eternal Hails
LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Dead by April Worlds Collide
Deathless Marantha Nothing No One Never Everything
I honestly don't really know how to describe Deathless Marantha, other than monotone spoken word ramblings over pretty acoustic guitar playing. Damian Masters has a tendency to be a bit artsy, and here is no different. It verges on pretentiousness but the way he builds layer upon layer of melody on each other kind of distracts from the nonsensical bullshit that the lyrics comprise of.r
Deep Mountains Deep Mountains
Well, this certainly was a huge disappointment. While it has some pretty cool moments this is overall nothing really that special.
Deftones Ohms
Demoncy Faustian Dawn
Demoniac Stormblade
Demonical Chaos Manifesto
Deorc Weg Ninth Circle Of Despondency
Deorc Weg An Astral Tomb
Deorc Weg Shallow Graves EP
Departure Chandelier Dripping Papal Blood
Dephosphorus Impossible Orbits
More "astrogrind" from this Greek outfit. Nothing too out of the ordinary as far as grind goes, but the spacey textures make for a nice addition.
Der Weg Einer Freiheit Der Weg Einer Freiheit
Desolation Realm Desolation Realm
Devotee Faith of the Ancients
Dieux Des Cimetières Live By The Sword, Or Die By The Sword
Dimmu Borgir For All Tid
Dimmu Borgir Stormblåst MMV
Dimmu Borgir Eonian
What makes Eonian so frustrating is that there is some genuinely good material strewn between the rorchestral pomp and cheesy posturing. I think it's better than Abrahadabra, and it does feel rslightly more black metal (as promised), but it's pretty clear that Dimmu has lost sight of their rroots and is more content as a money-hungry symphonic caricature of a black metal group than a rband that actually cares about creating quality content.
Disassembled Portals to Decimation
Melodic/progressive death metal with a few decent enough moments to just barely scrape by. Album art is atrocious.
Discrucior Mundus Subterraneus
Disinter Desecrated
Death metal with little substance, Desecrated is a good album for a listen if you are in the mood for death metal that isn't trying to be overtly technical; angry, brutal but perhaps most importantly simple, Disinter craft some pretty cool moments but overall Desecrated won't be an album you'll be telling all your friends about.
Disturbed Indestructible
Dogman In Torment I Die
Dolmen Shrine 2020 Rehearsal
Dreamshade A Pale Blue Dot
?Nothing but the Truth? is the best melodeath inspired metalcore song to come out in the last decade.
Drenched/Skulls Monuments of Ancient Death
Drowning the Light The Masters Call
Drowning the Light The Weeping Moon
Drux Vinterstilla
Dry Insides Deformity
Dubuffet Batrakos
Eave Banners to the Moonswept
Ecloss Diluvienne
Edguy Rocket Ride
Elderwind The Colder The Night
this could be a lot better if they strived for a more guitar-oriented sound to match the brilliance and majesty of the keyboard playing
Elysian Blaze Cold Walls And Apparitions
End These Days Ambivalence
Engrossed Promo '18
Enslaved Isa
Enter Shikari Take to the Skies
ERRA ERRA
Esgaroth Hail Darkness
Instrumental melodic black metal with flourishes of symphonic pomp. It's actually pretty well balanced, and though the music is fairly conventional for the genre, it's still catchy with that touch of rough around the edges.
Ethicist II
Eye of Solitude The Deceit
Father Befouled Holy Rotten Blood
Feminazgul The Age of Men Is Over
It's easy to pass on the hilariously titled Feminazgul; you pretty much know it's rife with anti-patriarchal hymns
and other pro-feminine extremisms. But isn't that kind of black metal has always been about? Preaching ideals
whether satanic, naturalistic, or otherwise to their utmost degree? Musically, this record is far from perfect, but I
can't help but admire Margaret Killjoy's sense of defiance and her willingness to shift the black metal paradigm on
it's head for her own purposes.
Festerday Iihtallan
Fire from the Gods Narrative
Flourishing The Sum of All Fossils
Forþfæderasþrymcymeúpsprungennes Dark Druidic Folk Rites
Forlornd Eru Ilüvatar
Foxes (UK) Glorious
Foxes (UK) All I Need
Funeral For God Deus Mortuus Est
Fuvk Almost Tuesday
Gash Crossing the Lugubrious Plateau
Gatecreeper Deserted
Gevurah Sulphur Soul
Ghostbound All Is Phantom
Glorior Belli The Apostates
Glorious Depravity Ageless Violence
Gorillaz The Now Now
I listened to this in my office where people are generally pretty stingy about the music and nobody complained, so I guess that counts for something. Perfectly harmless pop album that's great for summer days.
Haenesy Mortals
Hagzissa Demo 2017
He Is Legend It Hates You
Hekate (Italy) The Forest Is Watching
Hekate (Italy) Haunted Soul Of The Witch
Heresiarch Death Ordinance
Blasphemy styled war metal with little to no surprises, but still solid enough to be enjoyable overall.
Hermodr Midnight Eclipse
His Statue Falls Collisions
Horrendous Anareta
Hrae þar Sem Skepnur Reika
Hypomanie A City In Mono
Hypomanie follow up their great She Couldn't Find a Flower, But There Was Snow with an album that isn't bad, but only leaves you wanting to explore the more developed pastures of Hypomanie's contemporaries. Musically more shoegaze with black metal influences, Hypomanie's purely instrumental sophomore effort has moments of body-shuddering beauty (a saving grace, no doubt) but ultimately those moments sparsity coupled with album's overall derivative nature that create what is a mostly dull listening experience, jam packed full of songs that bleed onto the next.
I Am King Onehundred
I See Stars 3D
I See Stars The End of the World Party
I See Stars Treehouse
Immolation Shadows in the Light
Immolation Atonement
Immortal Northern Chaos Gods
In Fear and Faith In Fear and Faith
In This Moment Beautiful Tragedy
In This Moment A Star-Crossed Wasteland
In Thoth In Thoth
Incantation Profane Nexus
Infant Annihilator The Elysian Grandeval Galèriarch
Inverted Tomb As Light Fades...
Iron Blood We Will Change
Iron Maiden Dance of Death
Iron Maiden No Prayer for the Dying
Isgalder To The Hall Of The Stars
Iskandr Euprosopon
Issues Black Diamonds
Issues Beautiful Oblivion
Beautiful Oblivion is a very *fine* album that furthers Issues evolution into a pop/90's
rock'n'b(?) band. However, the metamorphosis still feels incomplete. There is little cohesion
between the remaining vestiges of heavy, downtuned riffage, and their commitment to a more
straightforward radio-friendly sound. As a result, everything feels a too restrained, caught
between the two eras of Issues without an avenue to lean into its potential. I feel like in
retrospect, this and predecessor, Headspace, will be seen as solid, yet transitory efforts from a
band who went on do something really great.
It Dies Today Sirens
It Dies Today Lividity
Definitely doesn't hold up against It Dies Today's earlier matieral. While even Sirens was a little restrained at times, it fared much better than the pseudo metalcore assault on this album.
Jackman Demo 2010
Judecca Awakened By The Stench of the Dead
Raw, old-school death metal from Florida; crushing, fast, and of course mentioning Satan at almost every available chance possible, Judecca didn't quite posses the technical skill on their second demo to match most of their peers, but the primal intensity of "Awakened By The Stench of the Dead" is worth commending nonetheless.
Kalmankantaja Routamaa
Kashyyyk Demo
Killswitch Engage Killswitch Engage (2009)
kishote KALEIDOSKOP
Kolga Demo
A huge disappointment considering it's an Austin Lundr project. It's like a stripped down version of Panopticon's material on their second split with Wheels Within Wheels, and even though I loved that album, this is just a shadow of former glories.
komarov [UK] KOMAROV
Korhadt demo 1
Kwade Droes Kwade Droes
Labynkyr/JHAD Split
Lampir/Witchmoon Split
Lathliss Demo I
Les Discrets Virée Nocturne
Though I don't enjoy all of it, I have to acknowledge and commend Fursy for his ambition. It doesn't always work; "Capricorni.Virginis.Corvi" is a mess of jumbled percussion, glide guitar, and ethereal vocals with little in the way of cohesion. In his efforts of trying to break from his post-rock/shoegaze roots, he at times overdoes the experimentation. That being said, there are still a few inspired and well-executed moments stemming from that same ambition. Opener "Vire Nocturne" marries Massive Attack-esque trip-hop atmosphere and shoegaze melodies splendidly, creating a gray-colored soundscape filled with melancholy. At the very least, this EP will generate enough curiosity for the upcoming full-length.
Liar Liar Cross On Fire Exposed, Barren and Often Windswept
Libertin Homologous Avulsion
Light This City Facing The Thousand
Light This City Stormchaser
Liturgy of Desecration Traverese the Threshold of Blasphemia
As if the cover wasn't indication enough, Liturgy of Desecration's Traverese the Threshold of Blasphemia couldn't be anything other than war metal; seriously, the universe would risk collapse if an album cover and track names like "Anal Parturition of Theotokos" were featured on anything but some bestial black metal warfare. That being said, the Athens based band definitely err more towards the genre's death metal roots, vomiting forth some seriously gnarled tremolo riffage, ear piercing dive bombs, and uber-guttural vocals. It's all stuff we've heard before, but that doesn't impede on the competency in which these stereotypes are executed with.
Lord Snow winterhold
Love American Love American
Machine Head Through the Ashes of Empires
Mahria Mahria
overrated female fronted screamo say whatttttttttt -- seriously if a guy was doing the vocals chances are nobody would really give two hoots about this. the vocals aren't even that great anyway
Managarmr Colossus
Master's Hammer Fascinator
I haven't even listened to this yet, but preemptive 5 because it's goddamn Master's Hammer.
Maylene and the Sons of Disaster III
Megadeth Youthanasia
Megadeth Cryptic Writings
Megadeth United Abominations
Megadeth Endgame
Megalith Grave/Nihil Invocation Malicious Curses Reached in Drawing Night
Metallica Load
Mindbleeder Demo 6(66) - Birds of Rot and Anger
Moenos Call From The Grave
Moonknight Senmorta
Morbid Angel Abominations of Desolation
Morbid Art The Cult of Flesh
Morvunskar Im Angesicht des Abgrunds
On their debut EP, Germany's Morvunskar performs fairly straightforward atmospheric black metal with a melodic touch. Nothing to write home about, but nothing to scoff at either.
Motley Crue Carnival Of Sins Live
Mr Twin Sister Salt
Mvrdvrkvltvr Mauled By Savagery
Nahadoth Child of Star
Nahadoth Chameleon in Nightshadow
Nahadoth Necromancy, and other poems
Neckbeard Deathcamp White Nationalism is for Basement Dwelling Losers
Neckbeard Deathcamp/Gaylord United Antifascist Evil
Nightwish Dark Passion Play
Nigredo Flesh Torn - Spirit Pierced
Niteris Our Death, His Monument
Nocturnus AD Paradox
Nokturnal Mortum The Voice of Steel
Normakk Bael
Nuit Noire Black Form
Obscuring Veil Fleshvoid To Naught
Occulted Death Stance Some Things Are Eternal
Unbearably raw black metal from the masters, Legion Blotan.
Old Tower Stellary Wisdom
I'm still quite unsure how to feel about this release. "Deep Within My Somber Castle Halls" starts out creepily, building tension with every passing second. However, just when you truly start to immerse yourself in how haunting and unsettling it all is, the music fades out unceremoniously. As a whole, the song is comprised of four separate parts, crudely stitched together. It makes it difficult to really immerse yourself, the bread and butter of dungeon synth. The title track is what needs more investigation, but I can safely the last few minutes are some of the most beautiful, affecting music I've heard in a while.
Ophiolatry Anti-Evangelistic Process
Ossa Coronata A Candle
Othendara Dae of Nox
Paladin (USA) Ascension
Panphage Jord
Parasite Dreams Rehearsal Room Demos
Parkway Drive Deep Blue
Parkway Drive's latest offering may not be the most original piece of metalcore to date, but it still retains a certain sense of enjoyability thanks to some key riffs and melodies. Also, vocalist is a beast
Phalanx (USA-CA) Golden Horde
Phantom Spire Seven Relics
Phantom Spire Golden Messiah
Phobocosm Bringer Of Drought
not bad, but definitely not great either
Pierce the Veil A Flair for the Dramatic
Pissgrave Posthumous Humiliation
tfw the album art is more interesting than your music.
Portrayal of Guilt Portrayal of Guilt
Portrayal of Guilt Let Pain Be Your Guide
Post Malone beerbongs and bentleys
Preprophecy Season of Sorrows
Protector A Shedding of Skin
Pure Disgust Pure Disgust LP
Pyre of Black Roses Demo I
Real Friends Composure
Red (USA) End of Silence
Reel Big Fish Cheer Up!
Reel Big Fish We're Not Happy 'Till You're Not Happy
Reign in Blood Missa Pro Defunctis
Remmirath Polis Rouge
Rhizome (USA) Demo
Pissed-off female fronted hardcore from San Fransisco. Some genuinely catchy moments dispersed throughout the usually vicious hardcore fare.
Ripped to Shreds Eight Immortals Feast
Rivendell Farewell - The Last Dawn
Rivers Like Veins Z iskier srebrnych orszaków
Rotted Fumes DEMO MMXVIII
Ruined Families Blank Language
Sanguine Eagle Storm Mysticism
Satyr of Solitude Secret World
Seether Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces
Sen Deni Secret of the Sea
Senses Fail Pull the Thorns from Your Heart
I still need to listen to this 10-15 more times before I can rate this accurately, but as far as first listens go, this sounds like choppier version of Renacer. Sure, it's simultaneously their most technical and most ethereal, but it's also their most disjointed. Really hoping this grows on me.
Serpent Column Ornuthi Thalassa
Shadows Fall Fallout From The War
Sheidim Shrines of the Void
Shining (SWE) VII: Fodd Forlorare
Shylmagoghnar Transience
Sigh Hail Horror Hail
Sigh Scenario IV: Dread Dreams
Slaves Through Art We Are All Equals
Slayer Show No Mercy
Slayer South of Heaven
Slipknot All Hope Is Gone
Slipknot .5: The Gray Chapter
Slipknot We Are Not Your Kind
Smash Mouth Fush Yu Mang
Smash Mouth Astro Lounge
Sojourner The Shadowed Road
Solum Solum
Sorry... Failure Years of Neglect Apathy
Sparkle The Absurd World
Spawn of Possession Incurso
Srodek Forfall
Another band to incorporate a hefty does of alternative influences into their black metal sound, Srodek occasionally falls flat on their face thanks to ultra repetitive song structures and less than inspired melodies but overall deliver an enjoyable does of post-black metal fun.
Stalingrad Stalingrad
I have no qualms in saying that part of me likes this only because it's a project of YakNips, who overall, is a very cool dude. The other part of of me legitimately enjoys the rawness and the primitive bashing of the album's slower moments. However, this release as a whole is ruined by the production, which makes the guitar during the faster parts completely undecipherable.
Still Remains The Serpent
Stillness My Snow Princess
Stolas Stolas
Suhnopfer Nos Sombres Chapelles
Summoning Lugburz
Sun Kil Moon Benji
Tanpopo Crisis Everything Flows
Teitanblood The Baneful Choir
Terminal Conquest 2017 Demo
The 1975 A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships
The Apache Revolver The Midwinter
The Black Heart Rebellion Har Nevo
The Clearing Path Watershed Between Firmament And The Realm of Hyper
The Color Morale Hold On Pain Ends
The Devil Wears Prada The Act
A very fine album that is maybe a bit too self-indulgent.
The Devil Wears Prada ZII
The Devil Wears Prada's ZII is a lot like Zombieland: Double Tap; both are serviceable sequels about zombies that just don't quite capture the magic of the original.
The Dillinger Escape Plan Dissociation
The James Hunter Six Whatever It takes
The Offspring Splinter
The Speed of Sound in Seawater Acoustics
The Sword Age of Winters
The Wonder Years The Greatest Generation
The Word Alive Empire
The Word Alive Dark Matter
If The Word Alive and Breaking Benjamin had an illegitimate love-child who listened to djent and then formed a band, it would sound like this.
To Destroy A City Go Mirage
Todos Caeran Todos Caerán
Traveler (MO) Something Blue
good, genuine pop-punk. kinda sloppy in an endearing way.
Trna Earthcult
Troye Sivan Bloom
Twitching Tongues Gaining Purpose Through Passionate Hatred
Tyler, the Creator Call Me If You Get Lost
Tyrannus Forest of Sempiternal Night
Ulver Flowers of Evil
This was a struggle to sit through. Not bad, but in comparison to the sheer exuberance of Assassination of Julius Caesar this falls short.
Underdark/Antre Underdark​/​Antre Split
Unearth III: In the Eyes of Fire
Veldes Flameless
Vim Patior Magni Nominis Umbra
Violent Hammer Demo 2014 - More Victims
Violet Cold Magic Night
Violet Cold Noir Kid
I finally gave this album a listen and it's very interesting. The more melodious, soaring moments definitely cause my heart to flutter, but the implementation of EDM elements is not done quite as well as it could be, at least in terms of production. Coming up with a dance-y melody really isn't enough to sell electronic music, there needs to be layers and depth of sound. The EDM sections throughout this feel too thin, and amateurish. The potential is in plain view, but the execution to match it isn't quite there yet. Anyway, this is still very solid, and as always, it's nice to see musicians continue to push the boundaries of black metal.
Void Rot Descending Pillars
Vorash Exhumed Corpses
Vox Vocis Star Meissa
Vraeck Vergraeck Lehuien Gevlaekt
Vucub Cane The Transformation of Holy Water
Vucub Cane Eternal Hatred of the Human Race
Vukari Divination
The definition of middle-of-the-road; the black metal parts are fairly inoffensive and the shoegaze/post-rock parts aren't as gorgeous as one would hope. It's still not bad, but overall this release is just kind of ... there.
Weezer The Teal Album
Enjoyable, but doesn't really ... (s)teal the show.
Whirr Feels Like You
2 1 ratings and the whirrors are BESIDE themselves
White Lies Friends
White Wolves Kommando White Wolves Power
Winterblood (US) L'ingresso
Witches Moon Black Moon Kiss
Wold Screech Owl
Good idea Bulldog go right from listening to Gucci Mane to Wold and have some expectations of possibly liking it
Wolf and Bear Everything Is Going Grey
Worst Days Someone Has It Worse
Wristmeetrazor Misery Never Forgets
Xavlegbmaofffassssit.... Gore
Yard Boy Promo Tape
Ysengrin Initiatio
Zeal and Ardor Stranger Fruit
Zeal and Ardor should certainly be praised for their uniqueness of sound; what they're doing is
wholly original and unprecedented. Unfortunately, the disconnect between their various styles
makes for a jarring listen. Transitions simply don't exist here, haphazardly stitching together
pieces black metal, soul, and gospel into a Frankenstein-esque visage of incongruous limbs. Zeal
and Ardor are on to something, but Stranger Fruits feels like a band unsure of how bridge the gap
between vision and delivery.
Zeegang Een morgenstond, door mist verhuld
Zohamah Spread My Ashes

2.5 average
1349 Liberation
1349 Beyond the Apocalypse
Abandon All Ships Abandon All Ships!
Much like contemporaries Attack Attack! and This Romantic Tragedy, Abandon All Ships! often fall victim to the pitfalls that oft make their fellow bands near unlistenable; repetitive breakdowns, a lack of originality and a sever lack of musicianship among many other things. Although this short EP does feature a few bright moments, most of your time spent listening to this will make you wish you weren't.
Abigail Williams In the Absence of Light
Aksumite Vinegar Perimeter
All That Remains A War You Cannot Win
Alter Bridge Fortress
Ancalagon First Age : Entering Legenda
Animal Collective Feels
Ironically, feels is about the only thing this album doesn't give me.
Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion
Aosoth III - Violence & Variation
Arch Enemy Doomsday Machine
Arch Enemy Rise of the Tyrant
Astronoid Astronoid
Atreyu The Curse
Atreyu Visions
Atreyu Congregation of the Damned
Avenged Sevenfold Sounding the Seventh Trumpet
Basic Dungeon Tunnels & Treasures
Fitting squarely into video game soundtrack dungeon synth, the aim of Tunnels & Treasures is nostalgia, but it falls just short of the mark.
Basilisk A Joyless March Through The Cold-Lands
Breaking Benjamin Ember
Everyone is sounding off on how each BB album sounds the same. Just like they sounded off on the
last album. And the album before that. See? Coming up with original content is harder than you
think!
Bring Me The Horizon Amo
most of the these sound-offs are worse than the album art tbqh
Buckethead Island of Lost Minds
Buckethead Captain Eo's Voyage
Capitis Damnare Black Stigmatized
Childish Gambino Because the Internet
CKY An Answer Can Be Found
Cradle of Filth The Manticore and Other Horrors
Dayseeker Sleeptalk
Decubitus Codex Sinaiticus
Demoniac The Fire And The Wind
Dimmu Borgir In Sorte Diaboli
Disturbed The Sickness
Disturbed Believe
Djevel Dodssanger
Hailing from Norway, Djevel's allegiance to playing "trve" black metal is understood even if it is horribly generic; sure there are some cool twists every now and then, and vocalist Erlend Hjelvikbut (also of the ever popular Kvelertak) sounds pretty good, but overall Dodssanger is an average, second rate representation of everything glorious about 90's black metal
Dragged Into Sunlight Terminal Aggressor II
Epitaph Seeming Salvation
While Seeming Salvation is certainly not a horrible album when it really comes down to it their brand of Swedish death metal lacks a personality. Without the fair that led so many of their fellow countrymen to fame in the extreme metal underground, Epitaph's stagnant combination of thrash and death metal shows potential but just never quite gets a hold of utilizing it correctly
Favorite Weapon Sixty Saragossa
Four Year Strong Go Down In History
Makes me not want to take history class anymore. And I LOVED history class.
Four Year Strong Brain Pain
fun. Some Nights
Furze UTD
Gorguts Colored Sands
Hail the Sun New Age Filth
Donovan has literally been singing the same vocal melody, in the same cadence for 3 albums now but.... yeah, go off I guess?
Hoth Astral Necromancy
this would be better with some dirt, but it sounds like somebody scrubbed this thing top to bottom without leaving any of the precious filth this kind of music demands
Immortal Damned In Black
Imperium Dekadenz Dis Manibvs
Insomnium In the Halls of Awaiting
Jungle Rot Jungle Rot
Knocked Loose A Different Shade of Blue
OC metalcore w/o everything that made OC metalcore good.
Kvelertak Kvelertak
Light This City The Hero Cycle
Lord Mantis Death Mask
Machine Head Supercharger
Megadeth The World Needs a Hero
Megadeth Risk
Megadeth Th1rt3en
Metallica Metallica
Metallica Death Magnetic
Metro Station Metro Station
"Control" is such a fucking jammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Misery Signals Ultraviolet
Somewhere in Canada Karl is thinking, “I got fired for THIS?”
Mortualia Blood Of The Hermit
Upon reading other reviews comments on Mortualia's second full-length, i couldn't help but get excited; tales of great melodies and excellent atmospheres were abundant yet sadly, overexaggerated. Despite first song "Becoming Meaningless" because a great track of depressive black metal, the rest of the album suffers from too much repetition. Shautrag definitely has some great ideas, yet plays them out for too long, effectively killing the potential of the album.
Obscura Akróasis
Omnium Gatherum Grey Heavens
As far as melodic death metal in 2016, this isn't bad. You've heard this album before by a few different bands, but these guys do it with admirable enthusiasm and a surprise every now and then. The clean vocals seem thrown in a bit haphazardly, and only seem to work on the album's best track "Majesty and Silence", but they aren't too detrimental to the album's overall quality. Recommended for people who started listening to melodic death metal yesterday and Insomnium fans.
Oskoreien Oskoreien
holy overrated black metal album batman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Parkway Drive Horizons
Paysage d'Hiver Geister
Pierce the Veil Misadventures
Reka III
Royal Coda Royal Coda
Royal Coda Compassion
Scar Symmetry Dark Matter Dimensions
Shadows Fall Threads of Life
Simply Death Crucification
The best part of this demo are the vocals, which are reminiscent of Altars of Madness-era David Vincent. Otherwise Simply Death are simply put, not worth your time.
Slayer Reign in Blood
Svart Crown Witnessing The Fall
I don't see why everyone is fapping about this album it's pretty boring
Svartsot Mulmets Viser
One of those cheesy metal bands that blend folk, black and death metal; still boring, still monotonous and still really gay.
Tawny Peaks Harris Harris Harris EP
Underoath Lost in the Sound of Separation
Vastum Carnal Law
Watain Sworn to The Dark
Wilt (GER) Faces of the Grave
Wilt play barbaric German death metal that's very much informed by Swedeath, making for an overly-simplistic and amateurish take on the genre that most fans would be better left without.
Wolves in the Throne Room Celestite
Now that we know WIITR has a pair of celestits, maybe they can grow a pair of celesticals for their next album?

2.0 poor
Abbath Abbath
Ablaze My Sorrow If Emotions Still Burn
Agalloch The Serpent and the Sphere
Agnostic Front Victim in Pain
Altar of Plagues Mammal
Arch Enemy The Root of All Evil
Architects For Those That Wish to Exist
2 bleghs / 5
As I Lay Dying Frail Words Collapse
Atriarch Forever the End
this ish is zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
August Burns Red Constellations
August Burns Red Leveler
Auspicium Death Will Claim Us All
Be'lakor Of Breath and Bone
Before Their Eyes The Dawn of My Death
Between the Buried and Me The Great Misdirect
Born of Osiris The Discovery
Like a bad Meshuggah album with b-side Children of Bodom keyboard sections.
Buckethead Needle In A Slunk Stack
Bullet For My Valentine Scream Aim Fire
Bullet For My Valentine Fever
Castillo Castillo
A quaint hybrid of dungeon synth and 8-bit that is fine, but doesn't really create much of an atmosphere to invest in.
Cetăți dacice din Munții Orăștiei The Seventh Obsidian Fortress Of Ancient Dacian Ni
Though their existence fleeting, there's no denying the immeasurable influence Les Legions Noires
had on black metal; near thirty years later, and obscure internet denizens are still trying to
recreate the mysterious gothic black metal/ambient music that volatile French collective was known
to create. Most notably inspired by Lord Aakon Keetreh, Cet??i dacice din Mun?ii Or??tiei is a
French duo who conjure that same kind of old school horror movie soundtrack ambient, complete with
shards of dissonant guitar jangles and crackling vocals in the form of screeches and moans. Though
stylistically it would be near impossible to differentiate between this and the sonic filth LLN
produced, there was something special captured by LLN that's just not here. Imitation may be the
greatest form of flattery, but that doesn't mean it will be good.
Crossfade Crossfade
Decapitated Carnival Is Forever
Dimmu Borgir Abrahadabra
Emarosa 131
Endlosung/Morbus Mundi Endlosung / Morbus Mundi
A dual NSBM split masterminded by Boreas Meru, Endlosung / Morbus Mundi is a complete mess of a record. Endlosung's side manages to suffer from disgusting repetition (despite the fact the songs barely reach over a minute and half in length) and Morbus Mundi's side is 1) barely audible while still suffering from the same problems as Endlosung. Awful.
Hands Like Houses Unimagine
Hemlock (USA) Funeral Mask
When listening to first song on Funeral Mask "Frozen Tears" it seems that if anything Hemlock play a competent if slightly generic version of atmospheric black metal. However once second track "Way of the Wolf" begins it is increasingly apparent that Hemlock is nothing but a poor man's second wave of black metal rip-off. No originality, shitty musicianship and man, does that lead vocalist have a fucking annoying voice.
Horrenda Neronian Times
Immolation Kingdom of Conspiracy
This is going to be uncompromising .... ly average.
Immortal All Shall Fall
Insomnium Above the Weeping World
Killswitch Engage Incarnate
Lantlos Melting Sun
Light This City Remains Of The Gods
Light This City The Hero Cycle (Re-Issue)
Megadeth Super Collider
Megadeth Dystopia
Meshuggah obZen
Meshuggah Koloss
This album chug chug chug chug chug chug chug chug chug chugs a lot of dick
Metallica St. Anger
Metallica Reload
Mgla Age of Excuse
Boring, standard melodic black metal. They roughen up the edges a bit for that "kvlt" appeal, but the end result is something too boring and too safe.
Moonsorrow Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa
Goddamnit DarkNoctus, can you stop horribly overrated every piece of mediocre black metal garbage
Motley Crue Greatest Hits (1998)
Motley Crue 20th Century Masters
Mt. Meridian Emeritus
Muse The Resistance
Necromass Mysteria Mystica Zofiriana
After reading nothing but praise for Mysteria Mystica Zothyiana (a name that probably should have hinted me off) I can't but feel pretty disappointing after finally listening to the album. Sure, Necromass aren't horrible but they aren't so great either, creating an album full of worthless atmospherics, generic vocals and uninspired melodies.
Numenorean Adore
Reel Big Fish Monkeys for Nothin' and The Chimps...
Reel Big Fish Fame, Fortune and Fornication
Rishloo Feathergun
Rotting Christ Rituals
Ruined Families Ruined Families
The first song on this kicks ass, as a nice combination of hardcore and black metal, after that however everything is just grating.
Sanguisugabogg Tortured Whole
brutal death metal for brutal metal metal tourists. this is like going to philly and getting a
cheesesteak from genos or pats.
Senses Fail Still Searching
Slayer World Painted Blood
Snowing Fuck Your Emotional Bullshit
Snowing has potential; displaying an energetic performance, competent musicianship and a weird sense of honesty about them by all means they could go on to be great...once they dump their singer whose vocals literally make this near unlistenable.
System of a Down Steal This Album!
System of a Down Mezmerize
Taetre The Art
Taproot Plead the Fifth
Trivium In Waves
Trivium Silence in the Snow
Unearth Alive From The Apocalypse
Watain Casus Luciferi
Watain Lawless Darkness
Wrathprayer In Utter Darkness
Filth covered blackened death metal with a surprisingly strong amount of ambience. Of course this one thing does not make up for the rest of the album, which is actually pretty dull.
xSPONGEXCOREx How Tough Are Yah?
Young and in the Way When Life Comes to Death

1.5 very poor
An Autumn For Crippled Children Everything
Arsis Visitant
Book Of Sand The Face Of The Deep
Burzum Fallen
Children of Bodom Blooddrunk
Cradle of Filth Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa
Insomnium Since the Day It All Came Down
Insomnium Across the Dark
Pestilence Doctrine
RIP Pestilence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!r
System of a Down Hypnotize
Vektor / Cryptosis Transmissions Of Chaos (Split/EP)
Vranorod Vranorod
Awful combination of black metal with post rock and shoegaze influences. I repeat: AWFUL
Watain The Wild Hunt
Winds of Plague The Great Stone War
Witchcraft (Hun) Mortuus
A really disappointing release from what once a good band. Everything from the riffs to the vocals seem really contrived and overall this just doesn't hold the raw majesty of the bands first demos.
Young and in the Way I Am Not What I Am
This is so ridiculously boring

1.0 awful
A Day To Remember You're Welcome
Agalloch Marrow of the Spirit
Amon Amarth Berserker
Batushka HOSPODI
Before Their Eyes Untouchable
Burzum Thulêan Mysteries
Corey Taylor CMFT
As someone known for their boisterous personality, if there is one thing CMFT is lacking it's a voice; this sounds just like every other lead singer solo project ever.
Formorket Mane Absolute Fucking Darkness [Demo]
Greta Van Fleet Anthem of the Peaceful Army
Trying to pinpoint stolen or ripped riffs? Don?t you mean having them shoved in our faces for 45 minutes straight?
Harakiri for the Sky Maere
Iwrestledabearonce Ruining It for Everybody
r"to balance out the idiots giving this a 1."rYes because giving this a 5 is PURE GENIUS
Killswitch Engage Atonement
they call their new record atonement, yet they don't seem to feel so bad about releasing the same
album for the 4th time in a row
Linkin Park Live In Texas
Morbid Angel Illud Divinum Insanus - The Remixes
Nova Charisma Exposition I
literally sounds like everything else these two have done
Ov HELL The Underworld Regime
Scars on Broadway Scars on Broadway
Six Feet Under Graveyard Classics IV: The Number Of The Priest
Swallowed Whole Atrocity
ftw when the name of your album lives up its name
The Ghost Inside The Ghost Inside
Times of Grace Songs of Loss and Separation
Tool Fear Inoculum
Unexpect In a Flesh Aquarium
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