Grate year fo Grate Metal
10.
Wędrowcy~Tułacze~Zbiegi - Marynistyka
Suchego Lądu
The big surprise for me was this enigmatic
curiosity out of Poland, whose translation means Wandered Exiles Fugitives…post-punk/black-ish/jazznoir-experimental….expertly
assembled by Sars from that other hot Polish band Furia ( who happened to put out
my fav release of 2016-17). A reviewer on band camp described it as the “In the
court of the Crimson King of Post-punk…and really could you think of anything
more perfect than that??!
9. Dreams of the Drowned - I
It’s been a while since I’ve
heard anything out of the Dreams of the Drowned camp, thankfully the weird
metal gods have answered the collective prayers of dozens if not hundreds of avant-garde
enthusiasts and delivered a beayootiful Voivodian blastbeat crooning meisterpeace.
Complete with a Dodheimsgard cover….the pedigree comes full circle!
8. Laetitia in Holocaust - Fauci Tra Fauci
Italian black metal that is self -described as an odd mix of Ved Buens Ende and Spite Extreme Wing, jagged and melodic compositions
that are constantly engaging you with their twists and turns …plus great use of
fretless bass…really neat.
7. Departure Chandelier - Antichrist Rise to Power
Akista + Dom Fenrow + French
Legion + haphazard playing = absolute genius…way better than it ought to be and
tastier than a trunk full of boston baked beans.
6. Howling Sycamore - Seven Pathways to Annihilation
I think this second from the avant garde
supergroup (Watchtower, Ephel Duath, Alkaloid) has slipped under a lot of
people's radar…for shame, because if anything this is a jump forward from their already impressive debut.
5. LuZi - LuZi
An absolute masterpiece of
outsider Italian one-man black metal bands…dissonant leads, Folkish melodies, flutes,
recorders, tin cans, groans, drones, babbling brooks and twinkling keys…A raw
Pagan experiment in madness that is an absolute delight!
Back after 8 years and the
dynamic duo are sounding better than ever. I dare say that Winter Ethereal is
on par with some of the early Fates Warning material.
3. Laster - Het wassen oog
Absolutely dreamy smoky Dutch post-black metal…the sound Enslaved really should have morphed into post-Ruun.
2. Coral Cross - 002
Jorge Elbrecht continues to
be one of my favorite musical artists … he’s been scratching my psychedelic
metal itch for quite a few years now and Coral Cross’s enchantingly psychotropic
take on black metal is giving me more relief than a squirt of gold bond extra
medicated.
1. Rainer Landfermann - Mein Wort in deiner Dunkelheit
Short, and oh so sweet. Mean
and Lean as a 2 dollar steak. A stunning mix of his work in Pavor, Bethlehem
and beyond Mr. Landfermann is the wild child auteur that metal doesn’t deserve
but absolutely needs!
Bethlehem – Lebe dich leer, Blackdeath –Phantasmhassgorie, Kaviar Kavalier - Hotel Intkontinental, Torche - Admission, Nullentropy – The Singularity Recital, Carcariass – Planet Chaos, Enthroned – Cold Black Suns, !T.O.O.H.! – Komous EP, Fen – The Dead Light, Liturgy – H.A.Q.Q., Duster – s/t, Mystal Tree – New Growth, Helheim - Rignir, Primeval Well – s/t, S.U.P. - Dissymmetry, Mystifier – Protogoni Mavri Magiki Dynasteia, Kvelgeyst - Alkahest, Matmos – Plastic Anniversary, Funeral Oration – Eliphas Love, Cave Blind – Sword of Power, Striborg – In Deep Contemplation, Nocturnus AD - Paradox, Blut Aus Nord - Hallucinogen, Mayhem - Daemon, Cave Blind – Sword of Dreams, Methanol Dreams – Cursed Eternally, Pensees Nocturnes – Grand Guignol Orchestra, Dawn of Nil – Cultivating Ruins, Bergraven – Det framlidnaminnet, Slagmaur - Wildkatze, Hornwood Fell – Damno Lumina Nocte, The Projectionist – Visions from the Nighthag Part 2, Umbrtka – Kominy smrti, Choronzon – Egregore Manifest Destiny, Waxen – Blasphemer in Celestial Courts, Tyranni - Baron Av Ayoghetens Smärta, Faunus – When Eerie Whispers Bridge Human Fate, Mesarthim – Ghost Condensate, Tragediens Trone – s/t, Non Opus Dei - Glod, Castle ov yester – Echoes FromHobgoblin Ha’
