Highlights of 2016, The top 10 Over spill
With the shows top 10 list done. For me personally I had real trouble narrowing it to just 10 it was a nightmare. So here is the overspill of albums that didn’t quite make my top 10 must easily could have been. So, here are a few albums (this time, in no order.) you may have missed and could not be spoken about.
Carnophage – Monument
A fantastic slab of brutality in the vein of Suffocation. The band are from Turkey but could easily fit into the New York Death metal scene. It’s technical, it’s dark and dirty but it’s the little melodic patches and catchy bits that really set it apart from the pack.
Warfather- The Grey Eminence
It was great to see Morbid Angel’s Steve Tucker back in action and their awesome debut “Orchestrating the Apocalypse” was a monumental statement of intent. It reminded me a little of Behemoth, it had some epic orchestral parts and was big in scale but “The Grey Eminence” is much more of a scaled down refined affair. It’s much more brutal and straight forward. If the first album reminded me of Behemoth this reminds me of Vader. It’s relentless, harsh and has some killer riffs. It was a slow burner but rewards repeated listens.
Inverloch – Distance/ Collapsed
The perfect Black thick blend of Doom and Death Metal. Slow, mournful and filled dread and atmosphere. “Distance/ Collapsed” succeeds where slow many Doom albums of today fail. It’s 6 long tracks stretched over 40 minutes and it feels like it’s 10 minutes long. It’s fantastic. Constipation relievingly heavy.
Uada – Devoid of Light
This album reminds me so much of the classic 90’s period of Black Metal not so much in sound but in spirit. They mix wonderfully shredding guitars with haunting melodies. Not the most original but in terms of execution I think it’s the best Black Metal album of the year.
Brutality – Sea of Ignorance
This is a really varied album. It’s calculated and thought out and melodic when it needs to be but crushingly heavy when it needs to be also. From the story telling of “48 to 52” to the slamming title track. There’s also a pretty epic Bathory cover!
Blaze Bayley - Infinite Entanglement
The most under rated Metal artist going Blaze Bayley pushes ever forward this time with a concept album. It finds that difficult balance of having the individual tracks stand on their own and combine to have the album work as a whole. Sounds easy but so many concept albums fall flat on that. Each track is packed with hooks, melodies and packs an anthemic chorus. It’s not been out a year yet and Blaze has already played the album in full live and is currently working on its sequel.
Sacramental Blood- Ternion Demonarchy
Hailing from Serbia, The album cover tells you all you need to know. Classic Old school, Morbid Angel and Obituary inspired Death Metal. 36 minutes of sheer awesomeness. It’s been out for under a year and it feels like its 25 years old for all the right reasons. This is no rehash this is fresh and modern.
Misophantic Rage – Gates No Longer Shut
A strange unique album. Atmospheric, melodic and very dark. Progressive yet accessible Black Metal that sticks in your head long after listening.
Kingdom- Sepulchral Psalms from the Abyss of Torment
I said it best in my original review at Brutalism.com “A dark and dirty take on death metal, with the darkness and atmosphere of Incantation and ferocity of Angel Corpse.” A raw, unforgiving, bewildering album.
