Anton Kabanen left the band, the last album failed to move me at all, and I thought I had grown tired of Battle Beast. When I learned that they were playing seven of these ten songs on tour, I knew that something had to be up. Turns out they had every reason to be that confident in Bringer Of Pain, which is in my eyes the most consistent and natural-sounding album Battle Beast has ever released.

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ScreamingSteelUS

Whoredom Rife's debut album Dommedagskvad contains seven tracks, mostly clocking around 6 minutes, and that makes it a fun and easy listening. So, prepare your body for the Norwegian Black Metal, which is highly melodic. True believers shouldn't be disappointed. Terratur Possessions does it again.

Picked by:

Paz

Are you ready for some top notch death doom? If so, you need to hear this debut full-length by the Dutch Façade. Loathe maybe isn't a groundbreaking material but it has everything that we love in this genre. The album's cover is also one of the best achievements this year. Don't miss it!

Picked by: Thumbs up:

Paz Marcel Hubregtse

Some of you might think that Venenum has no strong competitors in the death metal category this year, but here come the French Necroblood to prove you wrong. 10 tracks of truly evilish DM should remind you of the early works of Immolation and Convulse. So, do not expect any progressive vibes here. It's pure old school fun!

Picked by:

Paz

In 2015, Belgian Bathsheba with their two-track EP, The Sleepless Gods, showed some great potential for the future. Two years after, the full-length has finally been released. Servus, as it is called, didn't disappoint and even exceed all the expectations. Michelle Nocon's haunting vocals are strong as ever, the riffs are heavy & memorable, and an occasional saxophone licks ("Ain Soph") just complete the whole musical experience. Servus definitely going to be a strong contender for doom metal album of the year.

Picked by:

Paz

I rather enjoyed Darkness Sustains The Silence's excellent mixing of doom, trad, death and stoner riffs to create an album that I continue to enjoy years later. Now they're back, tossing a fistful of grunge into the mix. Among The Ruins has a lot of the swell things I enjoyed so much topped off with an Alice In Chains vibe. Maybe a little less harsh, but (insert Alice In Betelgeuze joke here)'s Among The Ruins is a very enjoyable album.

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BitterCOld

Miasma, the debut full-length from the Warsaw-based sextet ROSK is a prime example of post-black metal done right. We get a decent dose of emotions with excellent centering between clean & harsh vocals. Of course, there is no lack of heavier parts and tremolo picking guitars. Everybody will find something to enjoy. This is just another proof that Polish metal is currently at the top.

Picked by: Thumbs up:

Paz Dream Taster, BloodTears

Raging torrent of black metal vaguely in the vein of Darkspace. Five unrelenting tracks combining breakneck pace, tragic harmonies, shrieked but buried vocals before the bottom drops out into more ambient territory. Maybe the aftermath of being sucked through the black hole? Another "One time at Bandcamp..." find.

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BitterCOld

The year 2016 showed us that some old American thrash bands still have it in them. Kreator shows us that 2017 in Europe will not be worse. "Gods of Violence" is simply excellent.

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Daniell Dream Taster, ScreamingSteelUS, D.T. Metal, Darkside Momo

With the departure of Jo Amore from the band, who better than to take up the reins than one of the best vocalists out there, Magali Luyten (Beautiful Sin, Virus IV)? Like injecting a new level of venom into a snake that's already bitten you once, Dead Sun wastes no time diving straight for your wrist in tracks like "Serpentine" and "Ikarus," leaving your fist only one option: to be raised in the air!

Listen here and Listen here

Picked by: Thumbs up:

Jason W. Dream Taster, Milena

Remember Taranis? Then you should remember the name Attila Bakos (presented in Hungary's traditional name orientation for this release). If you read any interviews with him post Kingdom's release, then you know he promised to make more music, but in a much less extreme format than Taranis.

This is that release. Imagine an entire album in the style of the melodic/non-extreme moments of Kingdom, with lyrics in Hungarian, and you get Aranyhajnal. And the artwork is, of course, just as epic as Kingdom's since it's the same artist.

Bandcamp

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psykometal Dream Taster, BloodTears

A great comp, mixing in some of my fave Discos Macarras artists (Tort, Santo Rostro), newer faves (Rosy Finch) and new tunes (well, to me) altogether. Love what DM has been putting out and this is a great starting point to check out their stable.

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BitterCOld

Wowzerz! It is as if Church Of Misery distilled mid-90s Cathedral down to my favorite bits, only with better vocals, to lay down one swell album.

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BitterCOld Auntie Sahar, Marcel Hubregtse, Nefarious, Abattoir, X-Ray Rod, BloodTears, ScreamingSteelUS

In a year with many strong prog releases, one of the outsiders is Oddland's Origin. A tinge of Pain Of Salvation's Daniel Gildenlöw on the vocals can only be a good thing, and the technical prowess adds to the melodic nuances of the music. Edgy, powerful and masterfully heavy, the Finns carve their own path with this new album. Seemingly accessible, Origin reveals exceptional layers throughout.

Full album on Bandcamp.

Picked by: Thumbs up:

BloodTears Nefarious

Dark Tranquillity are on a forward momentum again. Their best since Character, no less.



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Darkside Momo BloodTears, Daniell, Marcel Hubregtse, psykometal, Dream Taster, Ag Fox, Starvynth