Domenica 30 Gen 2011, 21:51
I was bored, procrastinating on university readings and essays so I decided to make this list. Looking back on it 2008 was such a sick year. This will be a little different just because it's in retrospect.
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1. Invincible - Shapeshifters
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Artist: Invincible
Album: Shapeshifters
Genre: Hip Hop/Rap
Region: USA
Truly inspiring. What an album!
This has easily climbed to the top of my favourite hip hop albums of all time, and is one of my favourite albums in general. Not only are the beats continuously excellent, fresh, and attention grabbing, so are the lyrics and overall theme: continuous change to meet challenges, not just expecting the outside to change but to learn from mistakes to change yourself. Creative, intelligent, relevant, sharp all the way through. The various topics covered range from the Israel-Palestinian conflict, "crabs-in-a-barrel" mentality fostered among rappers, community, empowerment, personal growth, gentrification, etc.
Killer flow, and she has mad presence. I've seen her live and met her multiple times, she's humble but serious about her music and beliefs. It really shows on this record. She knows how to control herself in terms of technique/rhymes and nothing feels forced, contrived or overly complex. Produced by Black Milk and Waajeed with guest appearances from Finale and others work well but are not overused, nor do they overshadow Invincible. It's shameful a talented artist like Invincible is largely ignored while douche chill inducing rappers gain fame from constant mediocre outputs.
This may be her only full length so far but she's been around for a while. I can't say enough positive things about this album. She easily destroys the majority rappers in the spotlight today. I won't say she's perfect because that wouldn't be beneficial to her or her listeners. There are a few very minute flaws but the pros make them practically insignificant. This is clear evidence that modern rap is not shit. No one should pass this up.
Samples:
No Easy Answers
Locusts
Sledgehammer!
2. Tesa - HeartBeatsFromTheSky
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Artist: Tesa
Album: HeartBeatsFromTheSky
Genre: Atmospheric Sludge/Post-Rock
Region: Latvia
Though they only have a few EPs outside of this record, holy shit it's fucking amazing. It gives me chills on every listen. Barely 30 minutes of noisy, melodic, heavy sludge/post-rock in the form of six tracks that bleed into each other seamlessly. Loads of delay and feedback, the album feels like it's telling a story beginning with one excellent tremolo riff and eventually ending in that same riff after an intense climax on the sixth track. There is sparse use of vocals and even when they're used, it's only a few words screamed in a hoarse voice that compliments the albums overall feel. I'm sweating after the last track closes.
Many dips and crescendos to be found here, this is definitely one my favourite sludge (or post-metal) albums outside of Men In Search Of The Perfect Weapon, and a few Amenra and Neurosis albums.
Samples:
3. Have A Nice Life - Deathconsciousness
Artist: Have A Nice Life
Album: Deathconsciousness
Genre: Industrial/Shoegaze/Drone/Experimental/Post-Punk
Region: USA
I shouldn't need to say a whole lot about this impressive slab of industrial, depressive, shoegaze influenced hipstergasmic music that hasn't already been said. Not only is the music within this double album varied, raw and wonderful, the concept permeating it is interesting and unique. Reading through the 70+ page booklet and listening to the depressive tunes one gets a good picture of what Deathconsciousness means. Awesome art as well that further compliments the whole theme.
There's a great mix of genres here and it can be a little taxing, but the result is quite unlike anything I've heard before. The closest thing I can compare it to is The Angelic Process but this still doesn't work as an adequate comparison. Vocals are a love or hate thing it seems, I love them as they're imperfect and sound genuine; no frills or bullshit. The Big Gloom is so damn heavy and I absolutely have to play it more then once every time I spin the album. It is rumored that Dan and Tim put this together with just $1000 in their own space, and having over 8 years of collaboration compiled then self released only adds to the greatness.
Heavy, honest, creative, and mysterious.
Samples:
The Big Gloom
Bloodhail
Earthmover
http://www.musicfearsatan.com/DSK/amenra_mass4_%28big%29.jpg
Artist: Amenra
Album: Mass IIII
Genre: Atmospheric Sludge
Region: Belgium
Amenra consistently puts out high quality sludge and are unlike most bands in the genre (such as Cult of Luna, Omega Massif, Neurosis, etc.). This release is taking their sound one more excruciating step forward. Immense and dark, painful vocals and Christian imagery shroud Mass IIII. Fucking massive drawn out riffs strewn throughout with moments of stillness and clean chords. This is an album filled with crushing pain in the form of suffocating Belgium sludge.
Samples:
Dedodenakker
Razoreater
Le Gardien des Reves
5. Mitochondrion - Archaeaeon
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Artist: Mitochondrion
Album: Archaeaeon
Genre: Death Metal
Region: Canada
Fucking Canadians, there's something about us and our relationship to death metal. Is it the weed? Whatever. This is Mitochondrion's first album and boy is it a huge one. A majority of the tracks on here sound like early Ulcerate with some aesthetics of Portal and more traditional black metal but there is no question they've created their own sound. Songs regularly run past the 7 minute mark filled with dense, semi-technical riffing while not straying from the traditional death metal stylings, perfect death vocals and drumming to boot. Sometimes it gets a little too muddy but I haven't really found it to a huge obstacle. You can definitely see the growth from Archaeaeon to Parasignosis and both are powerful and uncompromising death metal releases.
Samples:
Wrathlike
Into The Pit Of Babel
137 (Death's Hedecaratia)
6. GridLink - Amber Gray
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Artist: GridLink
Album: Amber Gray
Genre: Grindcore
Region: USA
For an album that barely gets past 10 minutes it's a ridiculous, technical blasting frenzy of grindcore that almost nothing can approach. An exemplary slice of grind, jaw dropping speed and riffing. What the fuck else can I say? A worthy reincarnation of Discordance Axis.
Samples:
7. Dead Congregation - Graves of the Archangels
http://www.musicfearsatan.com/DSK/deadcongregation_graves_%28big%29.jpg
Artist: Dead Congregation
Album: Graves of the Archangels
Genre: Death Metal
Region: Greece
For whatever reason I get a feeling from Graves of the Archangels that I often get from Iniquity's later releases. I think it has to do with the perfect use of pinched harmonics, though the difference here is they are used much less. It may be something else. Here we have some ritual chanting or choir like moments which work very well with the beastly nature of the guitars. Creative writing within the framework of classic death metal tone without having stranger elements. Death metal done very right.
Samples:
Teeth Into Read
Martyrdoom
Source of Fire
8. Hectic Patterns - Random
http://cdn.hmvdigital.com/static/img/sleeveart/00/003/344/0000334418_500.jpg
Artist: Hectic Patterns
Album: Random
Genre: Technical Death Metal
Region: France
France pumps out some technically impressive death metal. There is no doubt about this. Gorod, Pavor and Pitbulls in the Nursery are more well known examples but I feel Hectic Patterns deserves much more attention than the bands just mentioned. They're still surprisingly unknown from what I can tell which I find disappointing.Their style is similar to Gorod's but without the emphasis on technicality for technicality's sake, more relevant bass interludes, and a generally weirder sound/time signatures. Random is a misleading title as it is very well thought out and executed with one instrumental that is fairly odd/chaotic (could be considered truly random).
These guys put their skills to use without being too overbearing or showing off, while still putting some flash where appropriate (usually in solos). What I mean is that instead of just relying on their technical prowess and creating soulIess wank, there's some very strong song writing backing up their skills. I particularly like the use of pinched and natural harmonics in the title track, Enterprise and Shiva. The tone of the guitars is excellent making the record more seriously catchy. Don't let the simple artwork put you off because Hectic Patterns have created some genuinely different tech death right here.
Sample:
9. Antediluvian - Under Wing of Asael
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/8483/anteuwoa.png
Artist: Antediluvian
Album: Under Wing of Asael
Genre: Death Metal/Black Metal
Region: Canada
This is just dirty. Dirty and dense, a crawling all-consuming nuclear hurricane contained within 4 tracks. Two Canadians from different parts of the country making a brilliant mix of death and black metal. The opener Solarburst is truely creepy. The ending track (10 minutes) is hugely satisfying with a closing riff that compels any fan of death metal to nod their head. It's only a demo so it gets this spot, this is a promising release and shouldn't be passed up. Looking forward a proper full length
Sample:
10. Russian Circles - Station
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Artist: Russian Circles
Album: Station
Genre: Post-Rock
Region: USA
Russian Circles straddle post-rock and sludge perfectly. Station is a beautiful record, calming at points and heavy at others. Drenched in echo and reverb and some very solid drumming. One of the more solid/competent post-rock bands out there today and man can they put on a show.
Samples:
11. The Amenta - n0n
http://www.teethofthedivine.com/site/uploads/2008/10/amenta-non.jpg
Artist: The Amenta
Album: n0n
Genre: Industrial Death Metal
Region: Australia
Thick and blasting industrial death metal goodness. I'm not very knowledgable about this genre overall but I know that this is quite the record with a perfect mix of sampling and quick to-the-point riffs over pounding blast beats and great vocals. There's some alternation between faster and slower tracks as can be heard in the samples below which is refreshing but the overall formula remains, and is very effective. Good shit all the way through.
Samples:
12. Cult of Luna - Eternal Kingdom
http://www.metalsucks.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/eternal-kingdom-cover.jpg
Artist: Cult of Luna
Album: Eternal Kingdom
Genre: Atmospheric Sludge/Post-Metal
Region: Sweden
Though it's no Salvation or Somewhere Along The Highway it's still Cult of Luna and fucking awesome. It's certainly different enough from those aforementioned albums. More of a rewind back to their first few records and adding a little something new. A concept album based on writings of a mental patient, it starts off a little shaky but quickly finds it's way by the second track. I guess it could be a disappointment to people who were hoping for another Somewhere Along The Highway but on its own it is a great sludge/post-metal album with Cult of Luna's traditional bass focused, slight electronic touch. You just can't go wrong here if you're a fan of this genre.
Samples:
The Great Migration
Following Betulas
Miredeep
13. Nahvalr - Nahvalr
http://shop.relapse.com/dbimages/sleeves/90373.jpg
Artist: Nahvalr
Album: Nahvalr
Genre: Noise/Industrial/Atmospheric Black Metal
Region: USA
It appears the guys of Have A Nice Life were quite busy in 2008, and killing it again outside of said group. The album opens with a sample of a radio host that describes clips of the supposed "hell sounds" emanating from the deep hole drilled in Siberia. The whole "drilling into hell" turned out to be bullshit obviously, but what you experience from that point on warrants using such a clip.
This is harsh and noisy stuff that barely resembles black metal despite it being labeled as such. Definitely not for everyone but for those who are interested there's some frightening, depressive moments to be heard over this hour long atmospheric industrial-noise journey. Occasionally it resembles HANL material with the drums and bass but it is definitely a different creature.
Samples:
Black Elk Speaks, Chokes and Dies
Let Them Eat Blood
Chorus of the Blasphemes
14. A Forest of Stars - The Corpse of Rebirth
Artist: A Forest of Stars
Album: The Corpse of Rebirth
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Region: UK
I don't listen to these guys as much as I should. Regardless, The Corpse of Rebirth is one unique album from a very unique black metal band. Vocals are strange and with the interplay of violin and female vocals amongst the melancholic riffs it is quite a different experience from say Altar of Plagues, Fell Voices or Wolves in the Throne Room. Lead shrieking vocals are great and so are the occasional samples. It alternates between sad and fierce themes and there is an overarching concept from the lyrics and track names. Victorian era olde time feel and aesthetic, love it.
Samples:
Microcosm
Earth And Matter
Female
15. Kondor - Peace of Mind
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Artist: Kondor
Album: Peace of Mind
Genre: Instrumental Hip Hop/Jazz
Region: Poland
This is a summer chilling album straight up. I had this on repeat all summer at work, at home, etc. and wish I had discovered it sooner. Can't get enough of it. I'm not really liking the follow up as much but Peace of Mind is packed with continuous jazzy beats you gotta crank the volume on. It's just good simple fun and is much like Blazo, Nujabes, Nomak or Michita.
Samples:
http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l0a80t8odM1qbynpbo1_r1_500.jpg
Artist: Krallice
Album: Krallice
Genre: Progressive Black Metal
Region: USA
Krallice. I don't understand why they're so controversial, or so hated by kvlt kiddies (even more so than Wolves in the Throne Room or Weakling it seems). Certainly the band is comprised of talented/experienced members and it is true that this is not a guarantee of quality music. I haven't enjoyed Krallice's following record (I found it fairly uninteresting) but this one stuck with me. The songs are long and memorable, I definitely hear the Weakling influence but it is not as pronounced as one is led to believe. The overall feel is completely different. The writing is much more progressive/technical for both the bass and guitars. I don't find this as amazing as a lot of people seem to but it is solid and worth listening to if you're into the modern wave of black metal.
Samples:
Wretched Wisdom
Cnestorial
Forgiveness In Rot
17. A Storm of Light - And We Wept The Black Ocean Within
Artist: A Storm of Light
Album: And We Wept The Black Ocean Within
Genre: Atmospheric Sludge/ Doom Metal
Region: USA
A Storm of Light is one of those love it or hate it bands, some find it very boring while others find it massive. I'm in the latter category. The lead singer/guitarist does the visuals and some artwork for Neurosis, so there is some tie in but the music is not very similar to Neurosis. I find they make a bigger impact live but this album is a trudging, doomy experience all on its own. One enormous bassy moment after another with vocals that are surely different from most of the doom and sludge bands out there. He has a droney tone to him with drawn out yells and groans. Occasionally samples of the swelling ocean and creaking ships are heard, punctuating the heavy and slow flow of the rest of the music. Great album.
Samples:
Thunderhead
Descent / Iron Heart Part 1
Descent / Iron Heart Part 2
18. Capricorns - River, Bear Your Bones
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Artist: Capricorns
Album: River, Bear Your Bones
Genre: Atmospheric Sludge/Stoner Metal
Region: UK
These guys disbanded too early. While I still think their self-titled EP is their best work, this comes close. It's entirely instrumental, filled to the brim with progressive heavy riffs that range from post-metal to traditional sludge and stoner-doom (something like Deadbird). It can be a little tedious at times admittedly but all in all it's some good shit to light one to, crank the volume, lay back and bang you head.
Samples:
Seventh Child Of A Seventh Child
Broken Coffin of the Venerable King
Owing To The Frogs
19. Genghis Tron - Board Up The House
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Artist: Genghis Tron
Album: Board Up The House
Genre: Cybergrind/Grindcore
Region: USA
Dead Mountain Mouth was fucking excellent cybergrind, Board Up The House follows it's lead with a few more twists. The songs are longer and there's one track that is definitely post-metal/sludge, while the rest is progressive electro-grind. There's not much to compare it to and it's an great ride from start to finish.
Samples:
Things Don't Look Good
I Won't Come Back Alive
Endless Teeth
20. Rotten Sound - Cycles
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Artist: Rotten Sound
Album: Cycles
Genre: Grindcore
Region: Finland
Grindfuckingcore! Rotten Sound is legendary in the grind scene so it's not like I can do much more justice to them without sound even more like an asshole than I already do. I will say that this is a fucking excellent grind record that any fan of the genre should not pass up. Relentless slamming track one after another and it is just so satisfying.
Samples:
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Pretty difficult year to make a list from in retrospect, just means there was an abundance of quality albums. Top 5 were particularly difficult.
Honorable Mentions:
Supercontinent - Vaalbara
Velnias - Sovereign Nocturnal
Black Milk - Tronic
Darkspace - Darkspace III
Panopticon - Panopticon
Origin - Antithesis
Decrepit Birth - Diminishing Between Worlds
Cynic - Traced In Air
Opeth - Watershed
Revocation - Empire of the Obscene
Protest the Hero - Fortress
Psycroptic - Ob(servant)
Natural Snow Buildings - Slayer of the King of Hell
Immortal Technique - The 3rd World
Deafest - Weakened
Perth Express - Harrow And Wealdstone
Outcast - Self-Injected Reality
Sleepmakeswaves - In Today Already Walks Tomorrow
Ufomammut - Idolum
Keldian - Journey of Souls
Maybeshewill - Not For Want Of Trying
Top 10 Splits/Demos/EPs of 2008:
1. Ignivomous - Path of Attrition
2. Adversarial - Thralls
3. Dismal Lapse - The Nameless Faceless
4. Fell Voices - Demo
5. Ignivomous - Eroded Void of Salvation
6. Defeated Sanity - Promo 2007
7. Witchrist - Ancient Tombs
8. Defeast/Severnaya - Severnaya/Deafest
9. Skagos - Himmelszelt
10. Red Sparrowes - Aphorisms