Elder - Reflections
of a Floating World
I know everyone is all
pissed off at everything this year, and we'll get to that, but in the meantime,
Elder released another stunning, epic, monster of an album. Nick DiSalvo is one
of the best guitar players on the planet right now, and you should be listening
to this, even if you ignore the rest of my list (yeah, it's all metal again,
duh).
Heretoir - The Circle
This album is
perfectly composed from start to finish, with lavish production, plenty of
spiraling, shimmering guitar tones, and sweeping soundscapes. Leaning more into
the post-rock/shoegaze side of the black metal influenced scene. I fucking love
this album.
Power Trip -
Nightmare Logic
Are you super mad at
the world right now? I mean, who isn't? Power Trip's latest LP is the album for
you! This Texas-based band has perfected the crossover sound of 80s thrash,
hardcore, punk, etc. etc. This is a fist-pumping, circle-pitting,
beer-shotgunning, hard-partying, blow out your speakers kind of good time. They
put on an unmatched live show as well...
Vvilderness - Devour
the Sun
This album is
incredible, with some of the best moments of any album in 2017. Another one-man
post-rock/atmospheric black metal/ambient band, this album is also available in
instrumental form, if you're not a fan of metal vocals. The intro track
Starless Dark is hugely epic, with a theme that the album revisits several
times, the title track is full of great guitar leads, and New Earth mixes in
bagpipes over rolling drums and a big, emotional guitar section. I'm not sure
why I have this at number four.
Body Count -
Bloodlust
Are you still super
mad at the world, and ready to do something about it? Ice-T and Body Count have
dropped another pissed off, super political, heavy as fuck album. Remember the
uproar over Cop Killer? That was 25 years ago. Ice-T has never been one to hold
back, this album is the real deal.
Celephaïs - Monad
This is a fully
instrumental atmospheric black metal album, and it's really, really good. If
you're at all interested in what this black metal stuff is, but you can't deal
with the harsh vocals, this is the album to check out. The best review I've
seen for this, was a simple one liner: "THIS ALBUM MOVES MOUNTAINS."
Sorrow Plagues -
Homecoming
When Atmospheric Black
Metal steps into the light...a mix of post-rock, ambient, layered over
traditional black metal tremolo riffs and blast beats. A surprisingly warm
album full of great moments, all written and recorded by a one man band. He
even manages to pull off a saxophone on one track.
A Pale December - The
Shrine of Primal Fire
Italian project with
influences from Agalloch to In Flames, and everything from folky acoustic
interludes to Cascadian Black Metal. Lots of layers to dig into, this album is
definitely a grower.
Enisum - Seasons of
Desolation
Another Italian band,
probably the most traditional sounding black metal band on my list this year,
but they do mix in some other sounds and influences. Enisum has released three
really solid albums since 2014, these guys know what they're doing.
Air Raid - Across the
Line
Awesome full-on
commitment to the best of the 80s, with plenty of dueling guitar solos, leather
jackets and high tops. Hold the Flame was also released alongside the best
music video of 2017.
1 Comments:
I love that there is a shoegaze side to black metal. But listening to the album I get it.
It's becoming a tradition that I buy my one or two metal albums for the year after reading your list.
That works for me.
Post a Comment