Favourite Albums Of 2010
Curious to see what are everyone's favourite releases of the year so far (with descriptions please). Still have a few months to go with some very promising upcoming stuff but nowt wrong with keeping a running total.
Some of the very best and most impressive I've heard so far in no order:
Demiurg - Slakthus Gamleby
Bloodbath meets Edge Of Sanity. Old school death metal with a progressive bent; plenty of synths and clean vocals and a pristine production.
TenHornedBeast - Hunts & Wars
Incredible war themed drone and dark ambient from England. Huge, ominous soundscapes of deathly nothingness.
Cathedral - The Guessing Game
In a complete change of pace Cathedral unleash two CD's worth of psychedelic stoner doom that would make a fitting soundtrack to The Wicker Man. A bit of a polarising number.
Winterfylleth - The Mercian Sphere
Continuing the trend of English pagan black metal, the newest release of this band merges a smattering of post-rock and more contemplative atmosphere to create a worthy sophomore record
Yakuza - Of Seismic Consequence
Everyone likes jazz and metal and Yakuza exemplify the sound of smoky jazz bars and harsh hardcore infused metal and the result is a complex and expansive musical journey.
Blut Aus Nord - What Once Was... Liber I
The ever revolving BaN strike again with death-infused primal black metal, all the while maintaining their own unique signature sound. I love BaN.
A Forest Of Stars - Opportunistic Thieves Of Spring
Another impressive follow up to a highly acclaimed album. Very sophisticated and unusual atmospheric black metal characterised by the use of violin in a most effective manner. Just as good as the debut.
Menace Ruine - Union Of Irreconcilables
Mixing neo-folk, drone and noise, Canadians Menace Ruine carve a bit of a niche for themselves in the construction of opposing genres. Not for everyone but interesting if nothing else.
Fear Factory - Mechanize
Possibly their greatest album since Demanufacture? Altogether great song writing and worth hearing for the track Christploitation which could mark the future of the band.
Ramesses - Take The Curse
Comprising ex members of Electric Wizard you'd expect something excellent from this. And excellent it is. Electric Wizard meets Acid Witch: thick black psychedelic sludge with a 70's horror movie theme.
Killing Joke - In Excelsis
Don't really know how I feel about this yet. I like it a lot but the change in sound from the previous albums threw me a little so reserving judgement until the full length
Castevet - Mounds Of Ash
Highly original extreme progressive metal mixing black metal, hardcore and some compelling rhythms make this a firm favourite of mine.
Valborg - Crown Of Sorrow
Haven't listened to this very much yet but I know I like it. Progressive death metal with a variety of other dark nuances thrown in.
Integrity - The Blackest Curse
Extremely angry metalcore, but not metalcore as most people know it. Proper hardcore brutality with a bunch of thrashy numbers and surprisingly complex.
Knut - Wonder
They've toned down the noise since Challenger but the technical prowess on display on this sludgy hardcore record is truly bewildering.
Luasa Raelon - Vampyr: Light Of The Beast
Crap album name, awesome pulsating dark ambient and death industrial from Coldspring.
Robedoor - Burners
One of the ultimate drone/noise monsters get back on form with a concoction of world music spliced with droning feedback. More levels than Tetris.
Some of the very best and most impressive I've heard so far in no order:
Demiurg - Slakthus Gamleby
Bloodbath meets Edge Of Sanity. Old school death metal with a progressive bent; plenty of synths and clean vocals and a pristine production.
TenHornedBeast - Hunts & Wars
Incredible war themed drone and dark ambient from England. Huge, ominous soundscapes of deathly nothingness.
Cathedral - The Guessing Game
In a complete change of pace Cathedral unleash two CD's worth of psychedelic stoner doom that would make a fitting soundtrack to The Wicker Man. A bit of a polarising number.
Winterfylleth - The Mercian Sphere
Continuing the trend of English pagan black metal, the newest release of this band merges a smattering of post-rock and more contemplative atmosphere to create a worthy sophomore record
Yakuza - Of Seismic Consequence
Everyone likes jazz and metal and Yakuza exemplify the sound of smoky jazz bars and harsh hardcore infused metal and the result is a complex and expansive musical journey.
Blut Aus Nord - What Once Was... Liber I
The ever revolving BaN strike again with death-infused primal black metal, all the while maintaining their own unique signature sound. I love BaN.
A Forest Of Stars - Opportunistic Thieves Of Spring
Another impressive follow up to a highly acclaimed album. Very sophisticated and unusual atmospheric black metal characterised by the use of violin in a most effective manner. Just as good as the debut.
Menace Ruine - Union Of Irreconcilables
Mixing neo-folk, drone and noise, Canadians Menace Ruine carve a bit of a niche for themselves in the construction of opposing genres. Not for everyone but interesting if nothing else.
Fear Factory - Mechanize
Possibly their greatest album since Demanufacture? Altogether great song writing and worth hearing for the track Christploitation which could mark the future of the band.
Ramesses - Take The Curse
Comprising ex members of Electric Wizard you'd expect something excellent from this. And excellent it is. Electric Wizard meets Acid Witch: thick black psychedelic sludge with a 70's horror movie theme.
Killing Joke - In Excelsis
Don't really know how I feel about this yet. I like it a lot but the change in sound from the previous albums threw me a little so reserving judgement until the full length
Castevet - Mounds Of Ash
Highly original extreme progressive metal mixing black metal, hardcore and some compelling rhythms make this a firm favourite of mine.
Valborg - Crown Of Sorrow
Haven't listened to this very much yet but I know I like it. Progressive death metal with a variety of other dark nuances thrown in.
Integrity - The Blackest Curse
Extremely angry metalcore, but not metalcore as most people know it. Proper hardcore brutality with a bunch of thrashy numbers and surprisingly complex.
Knut - Wonder
They've toned down the noise since Challenger but the technical prowess on display on this sludgy hardcore record is truly bewildering.
Luasa Raelon - Vampyr: Light Of The Beast
Crap album name, awesome pulsating dark ambient and death industrial from Coldspring.
Robedoor - Burners
One of the ultimate drone/noise monsters get back on form with a concoction of world music spliced with droning feedback. More levels than Tetris.
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