Top 50 Metal Albums of 2015 - Part 1

It's been another great year for all metals. I found this out through interning at Nuclear Blast Records and expanding my journalistic skills into the realms of interviewing bands I've admired for a long time. Notable interviews included Dani Filth, Alan Averill (Primordial) and Dylan Desmond (Bell Witch).

But let's not forget the amazingly diverse output of many a good metal band in the past 12 months. These are the best records I've compiled from my works with the Independent Voice Ezine, Metal-Rules.com and the London Metal Monthly.

So without further ado, ladies and gentlemen and third gender, I give you the Top 50 Best Metal Albums of 2015.



50. Mord'A'Stigmata - Our Hearts Slow Down

We Begin the countdown with a nice piece of avant-garde Black Metal from a young Polish group who mix in a good level of Darkwave and arthouse atmosphere to put Alejandro Jodorowsky to shame.

49.  Nyseius - De Divinatione Daemonum

France is really going up in the world of Black Metal. Groups like Alcest and Deathspell Omega are giving it a good name and are paving the way for groups like Nyseius. Whom I didn't quite enjoy when I reviewed them, but listening back several times, I can see there's much potential.

48. Gra/Gnosis of the Witch - Split

A beautiful blend of dark spirituality and ghostly Scandinavian folk legends only a split between one distinct Swedish outfit and a new American band can offer.

47. Hagl - Lenket Til Livet 

Norway never ceases to amaze me with its biggest cultural export. This is the album you'd have if Abbath had ditched Immortal and I and began making Gothic Black Metal.  A ghostly romantic edge infused with all the rawness and melodies any Emperor or Tsjuder fan would love to hear.

46. Deletere - De Ritibus Morbiferis

Another nation I've discovered with an amazing output of metal in recent years is Canada. From the nation which gave us gold like Dark Forest and Woods of Ypres comes Deletere, a band who pack more than enough morbidity into their blackened symphonies.

45. Paradise Lost -The Plague Within

The fathers of British Gothic Metal certainly haven't mellowed in their 27 year history. They've led a fruitful and diverse career experimenting with electronica and darkwave and bridging the gap between gothic and doom metal. So here's to their latest offering with many a memorable piece to play again and again.

44. Serpentine Creation - The Fiery Winds of Armageddon

I haven't heard much of the Bulgarian metal sound, but this veteran band have given me a healthy dose of hope for this up and coming nation. Plenty of post-apocalypse themed blasts to please your love of The Last of Us and Children of Men.

43. Opus Inferii - Ancient Mysteries Unveiled

One thing which stood out most this year was the number of South American bands I reviewed. And not knowing much about Brazil's contribution to the world of Black Metal, apart from Mystifier, Opus Inferii have shown metal is no stranger to said nation.

42. Eadem - Hekserij

Another Portuguese speaking band, this time from the language's homeland. Eadem are capable of emulating the classic Norwegian sound to the extent you'd believe them to be from said part of Europe. Euro metal at its finest.

41.  Thulcandra - Ascension Lost

This is what you get if you take every cliche of European Death Metal and Melodic DM and mashed it together with much care and attention. Blending the finer things can produce the best of the best or the lowest of the low. Thulcandra however, have made one very impressive album worthy of ownership if you like travelling the European continent every summer to the big festivals.

40.  Kerker - A Dime for the Bleak Faces

 
Black Metal is one very obscure genre of music. And when you come across a band who have kept their obscurity to a tee with next to no social media presence, you wonder whether or not this band is worth maintaining such status. In the case of this German outfit, the answer's a definite yes.

39.  Hateful Desolation - Withering in Dust

Made up of an international line up containg members from far and wide as Italy and Egypt, Hateful Desolation bring a wide talent range to the saturated world of DSBM. One of those bands who might save said genre from a big fall from grace.

38.  Balmog - Necroangels' Revelations

Now this is a re-release from all the way back in 2010. But it's a damn good one for it showcases the extremities of satanic black metal all the way from the Catholic stronghold that is Spain.

37. Predatory Light - MMXIV

This one was also released last year, but was certainly worthy of a review in 2015 as it gave hope to all those old school kids who like their demo tapes recorded on cassette. This is a blackened doom metal outfit who deliver their music at a pace like a horror film with decent jump scares.

 36. Katavasia - Sacriligious Testament

Greek metal is something I've caught onto a lot this year. I even went for a whole month of listening to nothing but Greek bands as an homage to my fatherland and its output of the greatest music ever concoted. And this group are no exception. Delivering a rich range of occult themed blasts to put Rotting Christ to shame.

35.  Mortis Mutilati - Melopee Funebre

Another French band who introduced me to the term: Taphophilia, the love of viewing and examining graveyards. As someone who has spent most of their life persuing such a hobby, it was no wonder I'd find the works of this one man group who fuses classical strings and pianos conjuring up many images of renowned resting places like Highgate etc.

34. Hope Drone - Cloak of Ash

 
This album, all the way from a land down under, really isn't for the faint hearted. With the opening track clocking in at just over 20 minutes, this is something you must sit down and listen to from start to finish. But I can assure you this post black metal symphony is worth every second, for it'll take you all the way to another world and bring you back down before you know it.

33. Klamm - Ernte

A keen mix of black metal and traditional German folk music capable of putting Primordial and Heidevolk to shame. Very enjoyable.

 32. Carma - Carma

Doom Metal has never impressed me as much as other sub-genres. But one I've come to love a heck of a lot is Funeral Doom. Imagine a long sorrowful funeral procession wandering slowly towards a cemetery carrying burning torches and that's the drone of Funeral Doom in a nutshell. Such a personification is available on this debut from Portuguese outfit Carma.

31.  Kalmen - Course Hex

Germany really gave a good output this year. Another wonderful mix of psychedelia and doom metal. Imagine escaping into another dimension accompanied by psychedelic godfather Jim Morrison and a large stash of all thing hallucinagenic.

30.  Profezia - Black Misanthroic Elite Moon Anthem

Another re-release from way back in 2008. And probably the wackiest title I've come across all year. With that aside, this record will show you just how strong the Italian black metal community is and that it has plenty of staying power to remain strong for generations.

29.  Frustration - Humanity Through the Madness

Another Italian band. This time one who fuses all things Crust Punk and proto Thrash Metal to give us the ultimate roller coaster thrill ride into the minds of a deranged hobo who's life has fallen to drugs and the impending doom approaches faster and faster like a punk rock riff.

28. Mgla - Exercises in Futility

Poland is no stranger to the world of Black Metal with amazing groups like Behemoth and Vader putting the excellent country on the map. There are many people who think Polish people coming to Britain is a bad thing, but if they bring such amazing music like this band then they can come and stay forever. Just like anyone else in the world. All humanity should be free to roam and take with it its amazing works like trve black metal.

27. Heidevolk - Velua

Viking metal with plenty of melodic death and folk fusions to keep you happy as you down pint after pint of mead next to a camp fire. One truly upbeat band who'll  make you feel better come rain or shine.

26. Ghost - Meliora

And finally, an album which seems to have divided this band's fanbase. I've heard many call this piece a sell out, but personally I think it's awesome. Ghost have always felt like a band to blast out of the car when belting down the motorway and this album is no exception. Imagine a very heavy Abba influenced Swedish band who have an interest in the esoteric.

So there you have it, the first half of the Top 50 Albums of this year. I'll see you all on New Years Eve for the finalists. Merry Xmas.
 

Nuclear Blast Internship Diary - Day 5

Monday 2 November 2015

So far today, it's been slow.

I knew there were going to be days like this - as there is in every job, no matter how much you love it.

This last week has immersed me in the world of music journalism and PR, and I felt I went right to the heart of the UK alternative scene at the wekeend. I spent it over my friend Jo's apartment, she's the editor of the Metal-Rules.com UK site and the Independent Voice Ezine - she's the lady who got me involved in everything I do and I pretty much owe her my career.

I can't think of anyone more important to my professional life. Being a very experienced member of the metal and Gothic world, I felt I learnt a lot about how said worlds have changed in my lifetime, and where music might go in the future.

And today, all can see that the music industry is still alive and well, employing many good people. But the face of it is certaon;y changing.

One job I had to do, was look up proices of albums on iTunes. This was the first time I'd used that place in nearly 10 years. And I found most albums there were a lot cheaper than in places like HMV, which I can understand whn people say they download everything. I've always appreciated the physical side of music and would rather give money to the band/artist, so if I do buy anything physical these days I buy it straight through the bands' websites.

Mind you, because of people like Jo, I haven't bought any new music in the last two years. The perks of being a music journalist.

The other guys went into their weekly meeting in the afternoon so I listened to some In Solitude, Jo's favourite band. I'd seen them once at the Underworld but can't say I've properly sat down with one of their LPs. And I have to say their second album The World. The Flesh. The Devil. is excellent. A truly amazing piece of occult themed traditonal metal.

Imagine Jess and the Ancient Ones collaborating with Saxon.

I then stacked up several copies of the new Bury Tomorrow single, packaged then posted them on the way to the station.

It's been a rather slow day but one of the best weekends in a very long time.

Poetry: Eternity Excommunicated - Canto 2

6.      Time to run, time to fly, away from nestled parasites, into the crimson sky, away from the crowd, out on the run, terror trail behind us, hearts beating like a drum. I travel the stone road, forever I ponder, the trails ahead, what beings lie yonder. Acing the livery, whisking the strength, all passions I drink to, below all contempt. I cry for the brave, as the city walls fall, curse me my father, for I am the sin, ravens dine well on the flesh of thy men, while child of heart, cried wolf in undone.

7.   I watch from the vines, I stare from the shore, Under stones watered hither, I swim through times yore. Joining the dots, On the rocks down below, Eyes will uplift with the mind held above. Quicker than falcon, Thunder and Light, the whispers in darkness descend hence tonight.

8.      Olden ones stir, high priest shall devour, The loins of bright acolytes burn skilled depths of power. Awaken my warrior, awaken my bride, from slumber arise to stand elden trial.

9.      It grabs again, it’s on my mind, that chivalrous calling from the warrior’s side. Man lies in ashes, withered in dust, wounded by cupid’s prevalent lust. It had me whipped then cast into jail, so now I stem high and arise in denial. The vale of the time grows woodland a calling, whence I shall take flight when the dawn comes stained in mourning.

Poetry: Eternity Excommunicated - Canto 1.

   

1. Up high beyond the raging maelstrom,

In clouded beams I frown down to unfit earth.

Thine trees a wilt in dreams for the spring,

Retribution unearthed and bore berries of shame.

Again on the plains in flight of thine eyes,

Here lieth the sanctum of precious times now a dust.

Vacant of breath and razored at touch,

On knees of deceit I’ll cry for the rain.

Then cometh the stars in webbed navy gaze,

Dreaming for spectres passed on through the times.

In surrender of embers I stoke with my heart,

The tree of life tangles in roots of years lost.

2. The streams of earths bloodline shall trickle no more,

Hoed flesh has up mounted the maggot’s consul.

Apple core cinders in hungered up flames,

Streets crumble in danger as mater takes toll.

From Highgate to Menin all roots shall prevail,

Under vampyrus skies the crows will dine well.

Thine children of rivers on floodplains will drown,

On famished bleak soil the steel will rust brown.

 

3. I won’t walk there again, no I won’t let it grow,

If it can’t exist then let me now go.

Together in arms in the beds of bloodrose,

Smiles of my name they poured out the shame.

In flux of your eyes did me no reason to hope,

That someday the time would tick from clocks right,

Ending rides near on the wind for I slew time for the night.

4. Absolution be drawn on the canvas of eyes,

Retribution be flayed on the spine of the vain,

Be justice a game for the noble to play,

Fly phallus of strength to pervert dignity.

5.  I once dreamt a vision

  Of lust held abreast,

  Legged on heels of pure  vengeance

  To carry back to the west,

I pulled back the curtains

Of iron and steel,

Under flagless pride’s wonder

I walked them from pater to left.

Barbed into grief’s casket

On the altar of guilt,

The cries in the street shall seize my contempt.

Strung at dawn by the footmen,

And hung in damp red to dry,

Hearted pure blessed, one shall run for this life.