My list of 2016 top records might look a bit long but not only I've had a lot of time to listen to new music this year (despite my everyday more complex and occupied life), in addition the fact is this has been an amazing year for music, especially if we're speaking about extreme Metal. And, to be honest, I always had a hard time picking only ten records. I had more or less good expectations for 2016 due to a few previously announced (or more or less expected) records, such as the new Irkallian Oracle, Urfaust, Krypts, Ulcerate or Inverloch albums, plus the fact that the darkest fields of the underground Metal spectrum have showed an impressive recovery in the last years in comparison to the previous decade. The first quarter of the year already showed us some good surprises, number one being Howls of Ebb second full-length, which has stood as my top 2016 record since it was released in April, and one of the most maniacal and original Death Metal releases in a while. The second one was Necromantic Worship second (and unfortunately final) demo, a pure delight for lovers of the old Greek sound. Also Iron Bonehead's tribute to Cold Meat Industry proved not only to be a great idea, but the good shape of the scene from down under, and has been frequently on my record player along this year.. The German label has actually taken a good part of my listening time with the challenging and growing new album from Bolzer, Shataan's impressive debut and Temple Nightside second full-length. Although their Irish counterpeers from Invictus Productions have stood close with Head of the Demon's sophomore album and Qrixquor's unrelenting first mini album. And if some of the mentioned names were not enough to make it clear that 2016 has been an amazing year for Death Metal, I could also name Grave Miasma, Ritual Chamber, Funebrarum and Blood Incantation. Although the best part of it all has been all the unexpected and almost non (or last minute) announced releases by bands such as Antaeus, Cult of Fire, Deathspell Omega, Dead Congregation, Teitanblood (yes, Noevdia has had some smartly planned impact on 2016) and, last but not less important, Cultes des Ghoules, which escalated up to the second position of my list with their masterful third album. On the less extreme or metallic side of things, Rome's 'The Hyperion Machine' has been an almost daily companion for my calmer moments, and for more introspective or melancholic states of mind Alaric and 40 Watt Sun's sophomore's have remained unsurpassed. Surprisingly, for the angriest or bleakest moments of this year I haven't found the best response in Metal but in stuff like Genocide Organ's latest masterpiece, The Body's yearly offering or Sex Prisoner and Column of Heaven's pissed-off grinding spits. Neurosis came back with a new album which was way more convincing than their previous effort, and classical Heavy Metal stood strong with the debut of Sumerlands and the fantastic return of Agatus. On the most experimental side of things there's also been some very good contributions, such as Virus and Aluk Todolo's new albums, but also Finland's Sink and their always progressing sound. Last, but not less important at all, there's been a bunch of great re-releases of albums that were very hard (ie. expensive) to find on vinyl or had never made it to this format, such as Morbid Angel and Enslaved's debuts, Abigor's rehashed version of their fifth album or Warlord two first records re-releases through High Roller Records. Although Neurosis vinyl and CD discography box was the most welcome of them all. So here's my final and much rethought list, which might change once I properly listen to the new Sacrificio, Bestial Raids, White Medal and Teitanblood records. Let's hope this new year keeps the same pace. So far there's already a few very promising announcements. Have a very good beginning of 2017 and thanks for reading Gia Thanatos. EXTREME METAL 1. Howls of Ebb – Cursus Impasse: The Pendlomic Vows (Nuclear War Now! Productions) 2. Cultes des Ghoules – Coven (Hell’s Headbangers/Under the Sign of Garazel) 3. Bolzer – Hero (Iron Bonehead Productions) 4. Irkallian Oracle – Apollyon (Nuclear War Now! Productions) 5. Deathspell Omega – The Synarchy of Molten Bones (Norma Evangelium Diaboli) 6. Head Of The Demon – Sathanas Trismegistos (Invictus Productions) 7. Ulcerate – Shrines of Paralysis (Relapse Records) 8. Inverloch – Distance | Collapsed (Relapse Records) 9. V/A – Ancient Meat Revived (A tribute to Cold Meat Industry) (Iron Bonehead Productions) 10. Qrixkuor – Three Devils Dance (Invictus Productions) 11. Urfaust – Empty Space Mediation (Ván Records) 12. Dead Congregation – Sombre Doom (Norma Evangelium Diaboli) 13. Shataan – Weigh of the Wolf (Iron Bonehead Productions) 14. Terra Tenebrosa – The Reverses (Debemur Morti Productions) 15. Antaeus – Condemnation (Norma Evangelium Diaboli) 16. Cult of Fire – Life, Sex & Death (Beyond Eyes Productions) 17. Necromantic Worship – The Calling (Nuclear War Now! Productions/New Era Productions) 18. Grave Miasma – Endless Pilgrimage (Sepulchral Voice Records) 19. Krypts – Remnants of Expansion (Dark Descent Records) 20. Funebrarum – Exhumation Of The Ancient (Doomentia Records) 21. Ritual Chamber – Obscurations (To Feast on the Seraphim) (Dark Descent Records) 22. Gevurah – Hallelujah! (Profound Lore Records) 23. Blood Incantation – Starspawn (Dark Descent Records) 24. Temple Nightside – The Hecatomb (Iron Bonehead Productions) 25. Autokrator – The Obedience to Authority (Godz ov War Productions/Larval Productions) OTHER 1. Rome – The Hyperion Machine (Trisol) 2. 40 Watt Sun – Wider Than The Sky (Svart Records) 3. Crippled Black Phoenix – Bronze (Season of Mist) 4. Agatus- The Eternalist (Hell’s Headbangers) 5. Alaric – End of Mirrors (Neurot Recordings) 6. Genocide Organ – Obituary of the Americas (Tesco) 7. Virus – Memento Collider (Karisma Records) 8. Aluk Todolo – Voix (Norma Evangelium Diaboli) 9. Neurosis – Fires Within Fires (Neurot Recordings) 10. Sumerlands – Sumerlands (Relapse Records) 11. No Future - Den sista blomsterkransen (Döda Barn) 12. Column of Heaven / Suffering Luna – Split (Nerve Altar) 13. The Body – No One Deserves Happiness (Thrill Jockey) 14. Sink – Ark of Contempt and Anger (Svart Records) 15. Sex Prisoner – Tannhäuser Gate (Deep Six Records) 16. Arms Race – New Wave of British Hardcore (La Vida es un Mus) 17. Private Pact – Purity (Mass Media Records) 18. Belgrado – Obraz (La Vida es un Mus) 19. Walk Back Pilgrim – Erra (Bestiarie Records) 20. Wagner Ödegård – Glømbd I Grifft + Nattslingor + Ur Törnedjupen + Øðe ( Ætergap Productions/Hibiskofon) RE-RELEASES
1. Neurosis – Strength & Vision Discography Vinyl+CD Box (Neurot Recordings) 2. Altars of Madness LP (Earache Records) 3. Enslaved – Vikingligr Veldi 2xLP (ByNorse Music) 4. Abigor – Quintessence 2xLP + 7" (Avantgarde Music) 5. Warlord – Deliver Us 3xLP / And The Cannons of Destruction Have Begun ... 3xLP (High Roller Records) 6. Agalloch – Pale Folklore 2xLP / The Mantle 2xLP / Ashes Against the Grain 2xLP (The End Records) 7. Dodheimsgard – Monumental Possession LP (Peaceville Records) 8. Akitsa – Goétie 2xLP (Hospital Productions) 9. Panphage – Genom Konst & Krig 2xCD (Ætergap Productions) 10. Bohren & Der Club of Gore – Black Earth 2xLP ([PIAS] Recordings)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
About ...Gia Thanatos is a webzine dedicated to music for the apocalyptic times. No matter the scene or genre it comes from, and mainly chosen according to its author's taste. Archives
June 2018
Categories
All
|