Some good shit from the 2020 shitshow
10. Kekal - Quantum Resolution
I've always enjoyed the weirdness of Kekal, but they've really nailed it on this one. It's like the perfect mutant crossover between Holocaust's Hypnosis of Birds and a black-metabolized Angel Rat.
9. Afterbirth - Four Dimensional Flesh
Idiosyncratic and highly enjoyable death metal with hooks for aeons.
8. Laetitia in Holocaust - Heritage
DAT FRETLESS BASSSSSS is BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMBBBBBBBB
7. Ifernach - The Green Enchanted Forest of the Druid Wizard
Flowing rabid Quebecois black metal in the most hermetic of Burzum traditions. The self-titled track might just be my tune of the year.
6. Odraza - Rzezcom
This is absolutely great and perhaps the biggest surprise album of 2020 for me. Odraza create strident, ritualistic black metal with that distinct Polish black metal feel. Furia definitely springs to mind, but so does Mayhem's Chimera and even some swampy death metal ala Phazm. A hidden gem in the funderground.
5. Creature - Ex Cathedra
Orchestrated zaniness makes for a delightfully fun and challenging listen drawing on the very best traditions of French weirdos.
If the bastard child of KC's Larks Tongues and Mayhem's GDOW doesn't sound good to you then go ahead and get the bullsac. Seriously though, Origin of the Alimonies is probably the most creatively unified piece of work from HHH's singular avant-calssical, djenty, white light aura'd headspace. I can't wait to see where they go from here...
3. !T.O.O.H.! - Free Speech
The brothers Schizoid and Humanoid are back with a concentrated blast of tunes that mix Rad a Trest's ingenuity with the obtuse production styles of Democratic Solutions. Obligatory and Obliteratory.
2. Ynkleudherhenavogyon - Arvor Mysteri
As delightfully atmospheric as it is unpronounceable. Mysterious obscure German nihilistic perfection.
1. Titan Mountain - Monumental Furious Shadow Metal
Demented Genius? Bizarro Savant? Yes, Nazgrim is back after more than a decade with his indomitably befuddling kitchen sink symphonic/plunderphonic Polish pagan metal project Titan Mountain. This is basically untouchable if you want technical well composed twisting metal with a touch of the bizarre, and if you don't listen to Titan Mountain....you ain't bizarre.
No Joy – Motherhood, Phantom Spire – Heart of Black, Blood of Gold, Inquisition - Black Mass for a Mass Grave, Wagner Ödegård - Om Kosmos och de Tolv Järtekn, Isengard - Vårjevndøgn, Sandworm – Revenge of Bygone Clans, Sophie Hunger – Halluzinationen, Stiny Plamenu – Zare zapalnych snur, Khtonikk Cerviiks – Æequiiziikum, Lyra Pramuk– Fountain, Mamaleek – Come and See, Head of the Demon – Deadly Black Doom, Odious Mortem - Synesthesia, Belore – Journey Through Mountains and Valleys, Cryptic Shift - Visitations From Enceladus, Esoctrilihum – Eternity of Shaog, Azure Emote - The Third Perspective, Iskalde Morket – Metaphysics of Mass Murder, Expander – Neuropunk Boostergang, Black Funeral – Scourge of Lamashtu, Behold The Arctopus – Hapeleptic Overtorve, Kaatayra - So Quem Viu o Relampago a Sua Direita Sabe, Spider God - Den Inre Borgen, Raspberry Bulbs - Before The Age Of Mirrors, Zvijer – Navia, Thy Catafalque – Naiv, Beherit – Bardo Exist, Paysage d'Hiver – Im Traum
