2016 Anticipated Albums
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1.
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Borknagar - Winter Thrice
Here's the first new album of 2016 I've had a chance to listen to. It features three guests on vocals ICS Vortex, Vintersorg, and Garm (who is releasing another album with Ulver this month as well). Right from the get-go, the music rushes through the speakers like a blizzard storm. The vocals throughout are excellent and the musicianship is very solid black/folk metal with elements of progressive metal. I don't have much to say about this album except to check it out, it's definitely worth a listen. |
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2.
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Ulver - ATGCLVLSSCAP
Here is what should be one of the more fascinating releases to come out in the year 2016. Ulver has come back with an album full of new material for all of us to enjoy (or so you might think). The material on this album is actually created out of live multitrack performances of older songs ("Moody Styx" using samples from "Doom Sticks" for example) along with improvisational soundscapes. Some might complain about this move and say it's a sign of declining originality (a'la AC/DC), but in this case it is executed brilliantly and shows that this band knows how to read between the lines and reinterpret new meaning from old works, thus breathing new life into them in the process. This band never fails to create something new and interesting (even out of something that's been done before). I highly recommend this one. |
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3.
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Ihsahn - Arktis.
Probably the most diverse metal album that one will hear this year, Ihsahn (formerly of Emperor, in case you didn't already know) excels as usual in fusing multiple different genres (jazz, classical, progressive rock, black metal, etc.) together and creating music that is truly his own with Arktis.. This album has a number of standouts like "In The Vaults." "Until I Too Dissolve," "Frail," and "Crooked Red Line" to engage the listener and encourage repeated listens. I recommend getting the deluxe edition in order to get the mostly spoken word "Til Tor Ulven," very haunting bonus song. Definitely worth picking up if you like the more advant-garde variety of metal music. |
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4.
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Katatonia - The Fall Of Hearts
Katatonia returns with perhaps their most ambitious and daring album to date. They continue with many of the same elements that have defined some of their previous works, while also cranking it up to 11 and expanding even further with their signature dark/gothic metal sound. Jonas and Anders are on top of their game while the other members also bring a lot to the table and contribute to a great listening experience. I enjoy the longer album length because it allows these songs even more room to breathe and expand into more fully realized compositions. There is a great mix of harder, riff-heavy songs like "Passer" and "Serac," along with softer lush ballads like "Decima" and "Pale Flag." This album only gets better with repeated listens and it could be among my all-time favorite Katatonia albums in time. Probably the best album I'll hear all year. |
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5.
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Opeth - Sorceress
I think it's safe to say that Opeth's new strictly progressive rock style is here to stay and we won't be hearing any more death metal vocals any time soon. Fortunately for me anyway, I really enjoy this direction that Mike and the boys have embraced and forged on with. There's some elements like in the title track that remind me of Mastodon even and there are a few songs that sound just as heavy as their older death metal work (like Chrysalis and Strange Brew) only with purely clean vocals sung throughout. There are some beautiful acoustic songs like "Will of the Wisp" and "Sorceress 2" that make this album for me. All-in-all, I'm happy with the results and this is probably their best post-death metal album for me. |
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6.
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Meshuggah - The Violent Sleep Of Reason
Meshuggah returns after four years with their latest thrasher and brings back more of the robotic, mechanic textures of albums like ObZen and Chaosphere after the more organically produced Koloss. It takes a few listens to get into, but once you do, there are some strong highlights throughout this record. Some of my favorite songs on here are "Stifled," "Clockworks," "Our Rage Won't Die," and the title track. Meshuggah never disappoints! The guitar picks that come with the album are really cool by the way. ;) |
Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
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