BurzumIt's a bit late, I know, but fuck it. 2009 has been an excellent year all-around for metal, be it black or white, death or kike. It's been a difficult task of ranking 10 albums, since I need to make a top for The Truly Grim Metal Paradigm. You might wonder about the lack of order, but that's because I started writing them down in the way they came to mind, and I think that's a good indicator of their quality and staying power.
Bottom line: I wrote them in the order they sprung to mind, I ranked them for the AotY contest at TTGMPoDDaEFB. Might be a bit anti-climactic, but that's life. That said, let's get this show on the road:
1. Tribulation - The Horror
Coming out of the fucking blue from Avrika, Sweden, these fuckers kick so much ass they probably get discounts at steel-toe boot stores. This is death/thrash of the highest order (think Merciless), they pack more riffs in a song than some bands in their entire catalogue. Not to mention that they're also great songwriters, keeping the tracks diverse to prevent boredom from setting in - check out the doomy part that leads into a bitching solo in "Curse of Ressurection" or that monstrous fucking thrash break in the middle of "Sacrilegious Darkness".
These guys manage to do something pretty rare for their genre: make an album feel cohesive, almost epic in it's narrative structure. Most tracks end with a little dark piano bit, leading into the next song, making this feel like more than a collection of demo tracks.
We've got competent musicianship, blistering neck-breaking speed, and more riffs than you can shake a Tier 7 Dragonbone Greatsword at, all packed into a nice little cohesive package. This is why Tribulation's "The Horror" gets the #1 place from me.
2. Slough Feg - Ape Uprising!
The highly expected 7th album from heavy metal juggernauts Slough Feg delivered in spades. It's a little more metal-oriented than Hardworlder (which had a bit of a hard rock edge) but still has enough riffs for you to choke on. The highlight of the album is the epic "Ape Uprising", the longest song they've ever done, and I have to say, I hope they crank out more stuff like this! Sure, it feels a bit inflated, but I dare you to pick a single riff which could be excluded. Not to mention that the last minute and a half is probably the thrashiest they've ever been.
The rest of the tracks manage to hold their own, Simeon Manifesto being a fantastic sing-along song, Shakedown at the 6 is a fantastic speedy number, etc. In short, Slough Feg do what they do best, and this is an extremely worthy addition to their discography. Almost picked this as my album of the year, but there are some minor pacing issues, and the awesomeness of Tribulation could not have been denied.
3. The Ruins of Beverast - Foulest Semen of a Sheltered Elite
Alexander von Meilenwald is a man that likes to keep his work unpredictable. After releasing the experimental "Unlock The Shrine", he followed it up with the more epic lo-fi "Rain On The Impure". Both being excellent albums, I was curious as to what he'll do next.
Well, this new one seems like a combination of the first two preceding it. It has the production, doom passages and album structure (songs sandwiched between ambient interludes) of the debut and the epic, ethereal, cavernous feeling of the second.
As is typical of him, Alexander showcases excellent songwriting abilities. The album's almost 80 minutes long, and there's rarely a dull moment to be had. What is unique to this album is that he seems to have flirted with the death/doom side of things. Throathy death growls seem to predominate the vocal side, and, well...I don't think anyone can argue against the huge doom influence present in the long, slow sections.
It is not an album for everyone, but who cares? Haterz be hatin', ballerz be ballin', and ol' Alex here is definitely a baller, doing his own thing without giving a fuck what people think. Also, I must point out the fact that the riff section found in Arcane Pharmakon Messiah at about 6:50-8:15 is the most blunt lead-pipe-wound-to-the-head-inducing foot-stomping teeth-smashing piece of music laid on audio this year. Get it for that, at least.
4. Goreaphobia - Mortal Repulsion
Who's the fag that called death metal generic music? With roots going back to '88, no one could call Philadelphia's Goreaphobia newcomers to the musical scene. What you can't also call them is "generic". Sharing a few members with Incantation and Absu, these guys play death metal in the olden vein without being redundant about it.
There are no high-speed blasturbation sections here, there's mostly a mid-pace, with quite a few doomy moments and interludes which add to the overall atmosphere of CREEPY. This harkens back to the day in which death metal was evil, demonical, otherworldly, not some wankery that sounds like it could be used in a Matchbox commercial.
One is hard pressed to find flaws with this, but some people might find the 50 minute length hard to swallow for a death metal record. Still, they're 50 minutes filled with class.
8. Candlemass - Death Magic Doom
As every metalhead worth his salt, I worship at the altar of Messiah Marcolin and consider "Nightfall" to be one of the best trad doom albums ever recorded (with "Bewitched" surely being the best video ever made). Sadly, I never followed their work after "Tales of Creation", believing that without Marcolin they would not be the same.
A few months ago, I saw that they launched a new album, and being on a huge Candlemass binge, I said "why not?" and gave it a chance.
Holy fuck.
Even if they don't sound like the same band that recorded Epicus Doomicus, what is on offer here is extremely worthwhile. Sure, the pace may flirt with speed metal at times, and Rob Lowe is not as over-the-top as Marco, but each and every song is bloody great, and there are even a few doom classics to be had, such as The Bleeding Baroness, My Funeral Dreams or The Hammer of Doom.
I should probably check out King of the Grey Isles, too, but for now this album is still going strong after tons of listens. It may not be the Candlemass of old, but fuck it if they're not producing excellent stuff here.
7. Excoriate - On Pestilent Winds...
After Tribulation, this is the band that kicked my ass to hell and back the most this year. Imagine early Bestial Devastation-era Sepultura with Martin van Drunen on vocals. Wet yet?
Playing a hellish breed of thrashing death metal somewhat akin to Pestilence's "Consuming Impulse", there's not a lot of things these guys don't get right - from the perfect drum sound, the great musicianship down to the old school production - in fact, the only thing these guys don't get right is the length. Excluding the Sepultura cover and the intro, this has only 5 tracks. Nothing can stop you from pressing the "Play" button again, but goddammit, I want more. Sadly, this band is now split up, and stuff like The Black Dahlia Murder continues to release albums. Is there any justice in the world?
5. Leeches of Lore - Leeches of Lore
"What the fuck is up with that album cover?" you may ask. Fuck if I know. "What genre do these guys play?" - the same answer applies. The entire thing is a melting pot of thrash metal, country, sludge, psychedelic and substance abuse.
The end result is the most unique metal album out this year. At their core, these guys are a bunch of goofy stoners, so don't expect any thrash like Vio-Lence or angry sludge like Dystopia, just go with the flow and enjoy it for the distorted piece of mindfuckery it is.
6. Beherit - Engram
Fuck Beherit? Fuck you, Zewe!
After a huge hiatus from the music business, these legends return, polarising the metal world with "Engram". Sure, it's nothing like their older stuff, but that's why CDs don't disintegrate after spinning them once, so you can listen to your favorite stuff whenever you feel like it.
It's an evolution in their sound, being post-black metal without resorting to post-rock gimmicks, fusing their ambient era underneath their black metal one. It's excellently structured, with the thrashy black metal bits being the meat between the longer, more ambient labia which envelop the album.
I didn't have any expectations for it, heck, I didn't even know they were putting something new out, so perhaps that's why I wasn't disappointed. Well, more good music for me to appreciate.
9. Arckanum - ÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞ (Thurisaz x11)
My previous exposure to Arckanum was through their '96 album Kuntgother or something, which featured an extremely bad production, IMO. I saw people praising their new one, so I figured I'd give them another shot.
Well, not only is the production heavily improved, but this shit is ridiculously good! More so than it's title! Riff after riff after beautiful riff, Arckanum manage to craft a concept album that is neither faux-epic, nor hippie cascadian black metal.
I could say this is "raw" black metal, but only by virtue of not having keyboards. Its diverse songwriting and ingenious musicianship are traits not often associated with "raw black metal", and melody is a definite presence here.
If you've been meaning to get into them, this album is an excellent starting point.
10. Splatter Whore - City of The Sleazehounds
Whoa nelly, did this one sucker-punch me in the kisser or what? Labeled as "goregrind" or "pornogrind" I was expecting some early Carcass or Gut worship. What I got was closer to acts such as GBH or Malignant Tumour. Grind'n'roll with a heavy dose of punk/crossover and a downright uncanny sense of melody and penchant for soloing that leans towards the metal side.
It's definately the biggest surprise of the year, alongside Leeches of Lore, and it's extremely catchy to boot!
If you feel like thrashing out, playing air guitar or are in need of some party metal, give this one a shot and you will not be disappointed. They're more fun than a barrel of monkeys on cocaine. The only flaws I can find are production-wise, sounding a bit uneven here and there, but I didn't expect these guys to have been signed onto Nuclear Blast.
If my top 10 were a top 20, these albums would follow:
11. Tormented - Rotten Death
3rd biggest asskicker of the year, after Tribulation and Excoriate, with extra-catchy choruses!
12. Claws - Absorbed in the Nethervoid
Excellent Crematory (Swe) worship band by none other than Lasse of Phlegethon.
13. Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Agorapocalypse
A pure shot of hate, straight through your broken nose.
14. Asphyx - Death...The Brutal Way!
Does what it says on the tin. \m/
15. Master's Hammer - Mantras
A fair bit experimental, and I think they're using a drum machine, but still pretty good.
16. Church of Misery - Housese of the Unholy
Trad/Psych/Stoner Doom from Japan, their previous one was slightly better.
Also, I AM A BLOOOOOOOOOODSUUUUCKIIIIIIING FREAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKK!
17. Infinitum Obscure - Sub Atris Caelis
Sinuous Mexican death metal, with slight The Chasm similarities
18. Giant Squid - The Ichthyologist
More mellow and laid-back than their last one, and with greater usage of classical instruments.
19. Ignivomous - Death Transmutation
Noneuclidian Death Metal straight up from R'lyeh.
20. Nokturnal Mortum - The Voice of Steel
I'm as surprised as you are to see this here, but it's actually very good! Lots of diversity.
Top EPs/Demos:
1. innsmouth - The Arrival of Shub-Niggurath
If they'll never release anything ever again, I'll torch an Australian orphanage. It's the gloomiest, most spacious piece of blackened death metal I've ever heard, and it would have been in my top 3 things released this year, had I not separated the EPs from the LPs.
2. Urfaust - Einsiedler
The first song is the most heart-touching and depressive thing recorded this year, without being some sort of dsbm wank. Also, it sounds like lounge.
3. Cruciamentum - Convocation of Crawling Chaos
Like a friend said, this band can come to your house, masturbate on your children and wipe their dicks on your new curtains, you couldn't say anything to them! They just rule that hard! Dark, crawling death metal from the crypts of London.
4. Ascended - Temple of Dark Offerings
Finnish death metal with a doom edge and really great songwriting.
5. Acid Witch - The Witch House
Two extra tracks, in the style of their LP. More is always good when it comes to Acid Witch!
6. Sororicide - Deathless
Almost shat my pants when I saw these guys release something new that manages to sound like it was recorded in the early '90s. Here's to hoping they put out a new LP somewhere in the future, too.
7. Wrath of the Weak - Persse
The track "Tomorrow never knows" makes this little EP extremely worthwhile, there's a certain charm to that droning piece of fuzz.
Honorable mentions:
Festered - Flesh Perversion
Fondlecorpse - Creaturegore
Fukpig - Spewings from a Selfish Nation
Gravehill - Rites of the Pentagram
Heaven and Hell - The Devil You Know
Horrific - Your Worst Nightmare
Immortal - All Shall Fall
Impetuous Ritual - Relentless Execration of Ceremonial Excrescence
Lie In Ruins - Swallowed by the Void
Maim - From the Womb to the Tomb
Njiqahdda - Yrg Alms
Obliteration - Nekropsalms
Oranssi Pazuzu - Muukalainen Puhuu
Pÿlon - Doom
Denial - Catacombs of the Grotesque
Stabat Mater - Stabat Mater
Sun of the Blind - Skullreader
Morne - Untold Wait
Napalm Death - Time Waits For No Slave
maudlin of the Well - Part The Second
Hellwitch - Omnipotent Convocation
Blut aus Nord - Memoria Vetusta II
Black Pyramid - Black Pyramid
Funebrarum - The Sleep of Morbid Dreams
Cobalt - Gin
Revolting - Dreadful Pleasures
Dishonorable mentions:
Wolves in the Throne Room - Black Cascade
The best thing they've ever done was their first full-length, and even that had pacing issues and a solo directly lifted from Burzum's "Key To The Gate". Their second album was some Drudkh-worship that attracted them a huge following, and now they barf onto the musical scene with this shitty, boring, recycled attempt of an album. Has the fame gone to your head or has smoking too much weed made you lazy, guys?
Krallice - Dimensional Bleedthrough
Krallice would be a fun listen once in a while, if it weren't for their annoying fanbase, consisting of mathcore fans that barely listen to any black metal, yet insist this is black metal. It's a sad thing to see hipsters in black metal. I'm gonna say "black metal" a few more times, since I believe this paragraph needs more of it. Black metal black metal black metal black metal black metal.
Pestilence - Resurrection Macabre
What the hell can be said about this that hasn't already been said?
Amesoeurs - Amesoeurs
Boring and emotionless pseudo post-punk black metal, I expected much more following the Ruines Humaines EP. Good thing they've split up now.
Peste Noire - Ballade to a cunt
I thought it would have been hard to out-suck the low point which was Folkfuck Folie. Well, leave it up to Peste Noire to prove me wrong! After an intro which somewhat resembles the Imperial March from Star Wars, the torture begins. Baudelaire himself would succumb to such horror. Noisy, sloppy "black" metal guitars playing what sounds like corrupted medieval melodies over shitty, scrambled drums, and an extremely horrible wall of voices, all topped off with an abysmal production.
I think they were going for some sort of folky, even post-punk-ish approach on this album, but everything is just a huge goddamn clusterfuck. Did they get drunk and decided to play some nationalist french music?
Sadly, Peste Noire will never return to the awesome sound of Sanie des siecles, but sadder still, some people claim this to be a work of transcending brilliance.
I've listened to some pretty lo-fi filthy shit in my life, but nothing could have ever prepared me for the sound of vomiting kittens these pretentios fucking art fags present as "music". Fuck the french. Fuck the hipsters that think this is "cool". Fuck people in general. Nothing makes me rage so much as this piece of shit. And I don't even think that was their intention.
FUCK.
Bottom line: I wrote them in the order they sprung to mind, I ranked them for the AotY contest at TTGMPoDDaEFB. Might be a bit anti-climactic, but that's life. That said, let's get this show on the road:
1. Tribulation - The Horror
Coming out of the fucking blue from Avrika, Sweden, these fuckers kick so much ass they probably get discounts at steel-toe boot stores. This is death/thrash of the highest order (think Merciless), they pack more riffs in a song than some bands in their entire catalogue. Not to mention that they're also great songwriters, keeping the tracks diverse to prevent boredom from setting in - check out the doomy part that leads into a bitching solo in "Curse of Ressurection" or that monstrous fucking thrash break in the middle of "Sacrilegious Darkness".
These guys manage to do something pretty rare for their genre: make an album feel cohesive, almost epic in it's narrative structure. Most tracks end with a little dark piano bit, leading into the next song, making this feel like more than a collection of demo tracks.
We've got competent musicianship, blistering neck-breaking speed, and more riffs than you can shake a Tier 7 Dragonbone Greatsword at, all packed into a nice little cohesive package. This is why Tribulation's "The Horror" gets the #1 place from me.
2. Slough Feg - Ape Uprising!
The highly expected 7th album from heavy metal juggernauts Slough Feg delivered in spades. It's a little more metal-oriented than Hardworlder (which had a bit of a hard rock edge) but still has enough riffs for you to choke on. The highlight of the album is the epic "Ape Uprising", the longest song they've ever done, and I have to say, I hope they crank out more stuff like this! Sure, it feels a bit inflated, but I dare you to pick a single riff which could be excluded. Not to mention that the last minute and a half is probably the thrashiest they've ever been.
The rest of the tracks manage to hold their own, Simeon Manifesto being a fantastic sing-along song, Shakedown at the 6 is a fantastic speedy number, etc. In short, Slough Feg do what they do best, and this is an extremely worthy addition to their discography. Almost picked this as my album of the year, but there are some minor pacing issues, and the awesomeness of Tribulation could not have been denied.
3. The Ruins of Beverast - Foulest Semen of a Sheltered Elite
Alexander von Meilenwald is a man that likes to keep his work unpredictable. After releasing the experimental "Unlock The Shrine", he followed it up with the more epic lo-fi "Rain On The Impure". Both being excellent albums, I was curious as to what he'll do next.
Well, this new one seems like a combination of the first two preceding it. It has the production, doom passages and album structure (songs sandwiched between ambient interludes) of the debut and the epic, ethereal, cavernous feeling of the second.
As is typical of him, Alexander showcases excellent songwriting abilities. The album's almost 80 minutes long, and there's rarely a dull moment to be had. What is unique to this album is that he seems to have flirted with the death/doom side of things. Throathy death growls seem to predominate the vocal side, and, well...I don't think anyone can argue against the huge doom influence present in the long, slow sections.
It is not an album for everyone, but who cares? Haterz be hatin', ballerz be ballin', and ol' Alex here is definitely a baller, doing his own thing without giving a fuck what people think. Also, I must point out the fact that the riff section found in Arcane Pharmakon Messiah at about 6:50-8:15 is the most blunt lead-pipe-wound-to-the-head-inducing foot-stomping teeth-smashing piece of music laid on audio this year. Get it for that, at least.
4. Goreaphobia - Mortal Repulsion
Who's the fag that called death metal generic music? With roots going back to '88, no one could call Philadelphia's Goreaphobia newcomers to the musical scene. What you can't also call them is "generic". Sharing a few members with Incantation and Absu, these guys play death metal in the olden vein without being redundant about it.
There are no high-speed blasturbation sections here, there's mostly a mid-pace, with quite a few doomy moments and interludes which add to the overall atmosphere of CREEPY. This harkens back to the day in which death metal was evil, demonical, otherworldly, not some wankery that sounds like it could be used in a Matchbox commercial.
One is hard pressed to find flaws with this, but some people might find the 50 minute length hard to swallow for a death metal record. Still, they're 50 minutes filled with class.
8. Candlemass - Death Magic Doom
As every metalhead worth his salt, I worship at the altar of Messiah Marcolin and consider "Nightfall" to be one of the best trad doom albums ever recorded (with "Bewitched" surely being the best video ever made). Sadly, I never followed their work after "Tales of Creation", believing that without Marcolin they would not be the same.
A few months ago, I saw that they launched a new album, and being on a huge Candlemass binge, I said "why not?" and gave it a chance.
Holy fuck.
Even if they don't sound like the same band that recorded Epicus Doomicus, what is on offer here is extremely worthwhile. Sure, the pace may flirt with speed metal at times, and Rob Lowe is not as over-the-top as Marco, but each and every song is bloody great, and there are even a few doom classics to be had, such as The Bleeding Baroness, My Funeral Dreams or The Hammer of Doom.
I should probably check out King of the Grey Isles, too, but for now this album is still going strong after tons of listens. It may not be the Candlemass of old, but fuck it if they're not producing excellent stuff here.
7. Excoriate - On Pestilent Winds...
After Tribulation, this is the band that kicked my ass to hell and back the most this year. Imagine early Bestial Devastation-era Sepultura with Martin van Drunen on vocals. Wet yet?
Playing a hellish breed of thrashing death metal somewhat akin to Pestilence's "Consuming Impulse", there's not a lot of things these guys don't get right - from the perfect drum sound, the great musicianship down to the old school production - in fact, the only thing these guys don't get right is the length. Excluding the Sepultura cover and the intro, this has only 5 tracks. Nothing can stop you from pressing the "Play" button again, but goddammit, I want more. Sadly, this band is now split up, and stuff like The Black Dahlia Murder continues to release albums. Is there any justice in the world?
5. Leeches of Lore - Leeches of Lore
"What the fuck is up with that album cover?" you may ask. Fuck if I know. "What genre do these guys play?" - the same answer applies. The entire thing is a melting pot of thrash metal, country, sludge, psychedelic and substance abuse.
The end result is the most unique metal album out this year. At their core, these guys are a bunch of goofy stoners, so don't expect any thrash like Vio-Lence or angry sludge like Dystopia, just go with the flow and enjoy it for the distorted piece of mindfuckery it is.
6. Beherit - Engram
Fuck Beherit? Fuck you, Zewe!
After a huge hiatus from the music business, these legends return, polarising the metal world with "Engram". Sure, it's nothing like their older stuff, but that's why CDs don't disintegrate after spinning them once, so you can listen to your favorite stuff whenever you feel like it.
It's an evolution in their sound, being post-black metal without resorting to post-rock gimmicks, fusing their ambient era underneath their black metal one. It's excellently structured, with the thrashy black metal bits being the meat between the longer, more ambient labia which envelop the album.
I didn't have any expectations for it, heck, I didn't even know they were putting something new out, so perhaps that's why I wasn't disappointed. Well, more good music for me to appreciate.
9. Arckanum - ÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞ (Thurisaz x11)
My previous exposure to Arckanum was through their '96 album Kuntgother or something, which featured an extremely bad production, IMO. I saw people praising their new one, so I figured I'd give them another shot.
Well, not only is the production heavily improved, but this shit is ridiculously good! More so than it's title! Riff after riff after beautiful riff, Arckanum manage to craft a concept album that is neither faux-epic, nor hippie cascadian black metal.
I could say this is "raw" black metal, but only by virtue of not having keyboards. Its diverse songwriting and ingenious musicianship are traits not often associated with "raw black metal", and melody is a definite presence here.
If you've been meaning to get into them, this album is an excellent starting point.
10. Splatter Whore - City of The Sleazehounds
Whoa nelly, did this one sucker-punch me in the kisser or what? Labeled as "goregrind" or "pornogrind" I was expecting some early Carcass or Gut worship. What I got was closer to acts such as GBH or Malignant Tumour. Grind'n'roll with a heavy dose of punk/crossover and a downright uncanny sense of melody and penchant for soloing that leans towards the metal side.
It's definately the biggest surprise of the year, alongside Leeches of Lore, and it's extremely catchy to boot!
If you feel like thrashing out, playing air guitar or are in need of some party metal, give this one a shot and you will not be disappointed. They're more fun than a barrel of monkeys on cocaine. The only flaws I can find are production-wise, sounding a bit uneven here and there, but I didn't expect these guys to have been signed onto Nuclear Blast.
If my top 10 were a top 20, these albums would follow:
11. Tormented - Rotten Death
3rd biggest asskicker of the year, after Tribulation and Excoriate, with extra-catchy choruses!
12. Claws - Absorbed in the Nethervoid
Excellent Crematory (Swe) worship band by none other than Lasse of Phlegethon.
13. Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Agorapocalypse
A pure shot of hate, straight through your broken nose.
14. Asphyx - Death...The Brutal Way!
Does what it says on the tin. \m/
15. Master's Hammer - Mantras
A fair bit experimental, and I think they're using a drum machine, but still pretty good.
16. Church of Misery - Housese of the Unholy
Trad/Psych/Stoner Doom from Japan, their previous one was slightly better.
Also, I AM A BLOOOOOOOOOODSUUUUCKIIIIIIING FREAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKK!
17. Infinitum Obscure - Sub Atris Caelis
Sinuous Mexican death metal, with slight The Chasm similarities
18. Giant Squid - The Ichthyologist
More mellow and laid-back than their last one, and with greater usage of classical instruments.
19. Ignivomous - Death Transmutation
Noneuclidian Death Metal straight up from R'lyeh.
20. Nokturnal Mortum - The Voice of Steel
I'm as surprised as you are to see this here, but it's actually very good! Lots of diversity.
Top EPs/Demos:
1. innsmouth - The Arrival of Shub-Niggurath
If they'll never release anything ever again, I'll torch an Australian orphanage. It's the gloomiest, most spacious piece of blackened death metal I've ever heard, and it would have been in my top 3 things released this year, had I not separated the EPs from the LPs.
2. Urfaust - Einsiedler
The first song is the most heart-touching and depressive thing recorded this year, without being some sort of dsbm wank. Also, it sounds like lounge.
3. Cruciamentum - Convocation of Crawling Chaos
Like a friend said, this band can come to your house, masturbate on your children and wipe their dicks on your new curtains, you couldn't say anything to them! They just rule that hard! Dark, crawling death metal from the crypts of London.
4. Ascended - Temple of Dark Offerings
Finnish death metal with a doom edge and really great songwriting.
5. Acid Witch - The Witch House
Two extra tracks, in the style of their LP. More is always good when it comes to Acid Witch!
6. Sororicide - Deathless
Almost shat my pants when I saw these guys release something new that manages to sound like it was recorded in the early '90s. Here's to hoping they put out a new LP somewhere in the future, too.
7. Wrath of the Weak - Persse
The track "Tomorrow never knows" makes this little EP extremely worthwhile, there's a certain charm to that droning piece of fuzz.
Honorable mentions:
Festered - Flesh Perversion
Fondlecorpse - Creaturegore
Fukpig - Spewings from a Selfish Nation
Gravehill - Rites of the Pentagram
Heaven and Hell - The Devil You Know
Horrific - Your Worst Nightmare
Immortal - All Shall Fall
Impetuous Ritual - Relentless Execration of Ceremonial Excrescence
Lie In Ruins - Swallowed by the Void
Maim - From the Womb to the Tomb
Njiqahdda - Yrg Alms
Obliteration - Nekropsalms
Oranssi Pazuzu - Muukalainen Puhuu
Pÿlon - Doom
Denial - Catacombs of the Grotesque
Stabat Mater - Stabat Mater
Sun of the Blind - Skullreader
Morne - Untold Wait
Napalm Death - Time Waits For No Slave
maudlin of the Well - Part The Second
Hellwitch - Omnipotent Convocation
Blut aus Nord - Memoria Vetusta II
Black Pyramid - Black Pyramid
Funebrarum - The Sleep of Morbid Dreams
Cobalt - Gin
Revolting - Dreadful Pleasures
Dishonorable mentions:
Wolves in the Throne Room - Black Cascade
The best thing they've ever done was their first full-length, and even that had pacing issues and a solo directly lifted from Burzum's "Key To The Gate". Their second album was some Drudkh-worship that attracted them a huge following, and now they barf onto the musical scene with this shitty, boring, recycled attempt of an album. Has the fame gone to your head or has smoking too much weed made you lazy, guys?
Krallice - Dimensional Bleedthrough
Krallice would be a fun listen once in a while, if it weren't for their annoying fanbase, consisting of mathcore fans that barely listen to any black metal, yet insist this is black metal. It's a sad thing to see hipsters in black metal. I'm gonna say "black metal" a few more times, since I believe this paragraph needs more of it. Black metal black metal black metal black metal black metal.
Pestilence - Resurrection Macabre
What the hell can be said about this that hasn't already been said?
Amesoeurs - Amesoeurs
Boring and emotionless pseudo post-punk black metal, I expected much more following the Ruines Humaines EP. Good thing they've split up now.
Peste Noire - Ballade to a cunt
I thought it would have been hard to out-suck the low point which was Folkfuck Folie. Well, leave it up to Peste Noire to prove me wrong! After an intro which somewhat resembles the Imperial March from Star Wars, the torture begins. Baudelaire himself would succumb to such horror. Noisy, sloppy "black" metal guitars playing what sounds like corrupted medieval melodies over shitty, scrambled drums, and an extremely horrible wall of voices, all topped off with an abysmal production.
I think they were going for some sort of folky, even post-punk-ish approach on this album, but everything is just a huge goddamn clusterfuck. Did they get drunk and decided to play some nationalist french music?
Sadly, Peste Noire will never return to the awesome sound of Sanie des siecles, but sadder still, some people claim this to be a work of transcending brilliance.
I've listened to some pretty lo-fi filthy shit in my life, but nothing could have ever prepared me for the sound of vomiting kittens these pretentios fucking art fags present as "music". Fuck the french. Fuck the hipsters that think this is "cool". Fuck people in general. Nothing makes me rage so much as this piece of shit. And I don't even think that was their intention.
FUCK.
