The Best Debut Album
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A massive melodic black metal debut with a gloomy atmosphere and hints of dark folk, Restoration is at times reminiscent of Agalloch and Woods Of Ypres, but with a more progressive approach that allows each track to build momentum before ending with intense bursts of energy. Amiensus put their technical songwriting ability and precise instrumentation to the test with this debut, an extremely mature release that hints at a very promising future for these young Americans.
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Anciients employ an extremely varied and eclectic mix of styles, from blues rock to black metal, that combine together so effortlessly to form what is without a doubt not only one of the best progressive metal albums of 2013, but one of the best debuts of the year to boot. Heart Of Oak is as unique & ambitious as it is memorable, and will undoubtedly be a hit with any fans of progressive, expansive music.
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Iceland's Carpe Noctem have created something truly remarkable here. From the artwork to the lyrics & music itself, everything has been carefully woven together to create a conceptual debut album that is as haunting as it is hypnotizing. In Terra Profugus takes you on a beautiful yet nightmarish journey by employing such fantastic songwriting skills that suck you in, and wrapping it all up in an intense intoxicating atmosphere that never lets you go.
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Prepare yourself for an epic rage of furious thunder. Alestorm's captain, Christopher Bowes, takes a break from the high seas to bring you Gloryhammer, a mighty, glorious agglomeration of all your favorite power metal clichés, from dragons to epic battles to evil, undead unicorns. Tales From The Kingdom Of Fife is packed with cheese, but don't let that stop you from thoroughly enjoying this bombastic wall of keyboards and sing-along choruses. Perhaps it isn't wholly original, but it is catchy and fun.
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Dirty old-school death metal with a cold, dark atmosphere that will sound familiar to those fans of early-to-mid nineties death metal, without ever suffering from hero-worship. Lantern actually do a very good job at sounding fresh & innovative, making Below one of the best death metal albums of the year. Not bad for a debut!
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This first album by Lascaille's Shroud shines in particular for the immensity of ideas and influences shown, that don't compromise the phenomenal strength and coherence of the whole. Interval 01: Parallel Infinities - The Inner Universe is extreme progressive metal at its best, but let's go beyond genre labels and just ensure one thing: you have never listened to something like this.
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A mesmerizing and sophisticated debut album, Tempest is as professional sounding as it is masterfully produced. In a genre where bands aren't always praised for their use of melody, Lycus manage to incorporate melodic elements into their otherwise completely oppressive and burdensome sound. This is a beautiful and even calming extreme doom release - nuanced, but without stepping away entirely from the minimalism so often associated with doom.
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Regarde Les Hommes Tomber create some impressive music by taking an enthralling post-meets-sludge approach, then fusing in sporadic bursts of full-tilt, kit pounding black metal fury. Or, at other points, after mood is established, flowing into mid-paced, kit pounding sludge fury.
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Now the Hutt families of Tatooine have another soundtrack option for their get-togethers than listening to ham-handed Bith blow on wannabe clarinets; they have Born Of Slime, a release with some of the most otherworldly melodies and chunkiest grooves of any album from 2013. Is it black? Is it sludge? Is it death? Nah, it's peecha wahnjee kohkpa tahng nahngee toochantkee troi--it's Slugdge.
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The Indonesian metal scene may be more known for its brutal death metal but Vallendusk prove the scene has a lot more to offer by serving us up this seriously high quality atmospheric black metal album. Unlike the majority of bands in this genre that operate with a more depressive mid-tempo sound, Vallendusk differentiate themselves by employing a faster & more upbeat tempo with undoubted post & folk influences. Whether it's the melodic hooks or acoustic folk passages, this record will grip you throughout. If epic, melody-driven atmospheric black metal is your thing, we seriously suggest you give this a spin.
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