Post by slayrrr666 on Jan 1, 2014 13:49:19 GMT -5
Another rather hard list to come up with with a strong series of releases that didn't make it themselves much like several other groupings here where what didn't make it is almost as good as what did make it. It's also responsible for one of the greatest comebacks in the genre in recent years which makes this a nostalgia trip as much as it's own individual merits and frankly that makes just as much of an impact here as the two individual genres that were seen sprouting in talent throughout the year as both Technical Death Metal and the Swedish-sounding old-school scenes saw an explosion of fun releases themselves and are rewarded with spots here on the list. This is really giving great hope for the future of the genre with this much fun ahead of it.
10. Ulcerate-Vermis
One of the main issues this year in the genre is the growing sense of Technical Death Metal gaining in both popularity and execution, and these New Zealanders are one of the more impressive entries in the burgeoning scene. Armed with the usual flair for the grace and dynamics that are a part of the genre as the riffs follow along unrelentingly complex patterns and variations in odd, progressive-like time signatures and dazzling displays of technical precision that marks so many of these bands, but these guys employ more traditional Death Metal rhythms along the way which creates a highly devastating and destructive series of sections with the tight formations grinding away with lots of intensity that really makes a big difference in keeping this from sounding like the weak, spindly songs that do flood the market so that’s rewarded with a spot on here.
9. Entrails-Raging Death
Beyond the burgeoning Tech-Death explosion this year, there’s also a glut of quality releases paying homage to the old-school Swedish Death Metal scene, and this is one of the better newcomers at copying this particular style. This is also a rare case of an album title accurately reflecting the music within, as there’s no other way to describe this as anything other than raging Death Metal as these devastating Swedish tones and riffs propel the music through a frantic series of up-tempo songs full of violent patterns, snarling vocals and a blistering drum attack that gives this all the power that comes with this genre. This marks the second strong album from them so far, and that’s leading to promising features in the future if they can continue the streak.
8. Sorcery-Arrival at Six
Just like the previous spot-holder on this list, these guys partake in the old-school Swedish movement but they actually were there at the beginning of the scene’s creation and this happens to be the long-awaited follow-up to their legendary debut after a near two-decade silence. Stylistically, it’s all pretty much the same as before, with buzzsaw-like guitars grinding through savage, speed-laced tracks with guttural vocals, hellish drumming patterns and plenty of fiery performances that solidly recall the scene back at that time. The only difference between the two comes from the veterans’ ability to switch up the dynamics at times, knowing when a pattern needs a slow, sprawling Doom-like crawl for atmosphere or to change the arrangement for dramatic benefits. It’s a special skill not too many bands have, and that these guys are capable of accomplishing that this late in the game is to be commended, hence their placement here.
7. Broken Hope-Omen of Disease
Welcome back indeed, as I don’t think anyone expected these guys to deliver something like this at this point in their careers especially having been gone for so long. This is certainly refreshing to see that the band really does have a great sense of their former glory days of delivering immensely brutal and technically-complex Death Metal with a sense of style that’s rarely seen in the genre who are more content to merely dish out as sick and pummeling a beat-down as possible and call it a day. Here, there’s a much broader sense of dynamics in the writing that makes even the most sickening groove all the more listenable and enjoyable as the band whips through the series of high-end technicality and remorselessly brutal patterns that are made all the more so with such a powerful production job that makes everything so dirty, grimy and swampy at times, making for not only a heavy, heavy record full of their past glories but signals a strong start for the second half of their career.
6. Immolation-Kingdom of Conspiracy
A familiar story appears on another genre list entry where the last time these guys appeared on a list, it was to be place at the top spot only for the follow-up, which is just as good in most respects but is now placed lower on the list, is again repeated because of how good the rest of the field is. We still get the tried and true Immolation sound with powerful riffs, utterly unrelenting drumming and complex patterns that move through a variety of dynamic, varied arrangements which feature everything from technical guitars to speed-drenched thrashers and the slow, churning Doom sections which have been staples of their sound for years. It’s all well and good in numerous respects as this keeps pulling off a variety of twists and turns the way only they can, which keeps this one placed here in a strong field with a strong contender.
5. Hail of Bullets-III: The Rommell Chronicles
If he can keep the pace going, it seems like Martin van Drunen has found the recipe for success every time out by switching between Asphyx and Hail of Bullets as the two groups are firing off utterly impressive albums on alternative years, so it should be said for 2015 I’m highly looking forward to the effort from these guys. As for this one, there’s an unmistakable Asphyx influence on the sound, production and presentation of the arrangements, which shouldn’t be a surprise all too much but the fact that Aspyhx is more of Doom/Death hybrid while Hail is much more of a truer Death Metal act is the main difference. Here, the spacious, sprawling riffs are used more for an atmospheric touch than the main sampling, and with an infectious energy derived from the stellar rhythm section and those instantly recognizable vocal howls makes for quite an overall thrilling album that deserves placement here on the list.
4. Blood Red Throne-Blood Red Throne
One of the most dynamic and undervalued Death Metal acts, these consistently impactful Norwegians continue their legacy of churning, vicious old-school Death with one of their most varied and devastating efforts in an already crowded history. Full of their patented rip on the Floridian scene with technically-precise riffing, dramatic thrash variations and a violent streak that makes for absolutely dramatic and varied work that still works so well after all these years for there’s no reason the band has been this good at their job with almost no change in style or approach. They just keep pouring out consistently high-quality death metal like this for years now and how they’ve managed to remain this much in charge of their work is to be commended by a spot on this list.
3. Fleshgod Apocalypse-Labyrinth
Quite possible the most original, creative Death Metal band in the world at this time, for there’s no one else doing what they do in managing to mix together Classical music with Symphonic Metal and Technical Death Metal. It’s just so inventive and creative that there’s so much to like about this one just listening to the very core of this bands’ identity. Taking into account the performances involved, from the tight, stylish riffing that churns out impossibly complex riff-work and sweeping melodies, orgasmic keyboards full of charging orchestral patterns, ferocious vocals that snarl through the oppressive rhythms and drumming that sounds like it’s performed by an octopus such is the dexterity and hard-hitting action it contains. There’s no end to how good this one is, and it’s only by the slimmest of margins it slips back to this point here.
2. Suffocation-Pinnacle of Bedlam
It was tough placing any band above the previous effort, but these guys were able to accomplish that feat. This is a truly spectacular effort that really encapsulates what made them to start with, as there’s the traditional New York brand of brutality that permeates this disc as the raging rhythms are tight, frantic and unrelenting, being overwhelmed by the amount of technicality becomes far more overblown and grand that’s combined effectively in one devastating package that’s more accomplished than anything they’ve done in the past. There’s an inherent beauty in the savageness and chaos that’s presented here, which is a sign from these well-respected veterans about how to dish out the brutality and still make it palpable for the masses which will be rewarded with placement here in the list.
1. Carcass-Surgical Steel
So, who was expecting this kind of comeback? Certainly no one thought, after this long a lay-off and with that lousy of a supposed-final release that there would be this kind of quality nowadays but that’s what the case here is as this energetic, devastating release is wholly spectacular. Never before has the band been this technical in regards to the complexity of their riffs as there’s far more at work here than anything they’ve done in their career, graced by a savageness to the patterns and rhythms that are prime-era hallmarks for the band, fully supported by a dynamic drumming performance and comes complete with those dual vocal growls that were always impactful and intense back in the day and still remains extreme in this age where more bands are employing dual vocals. There’s no other way to put it, in just about all aspects you can use to rank an album, this scores and is thus the Death Metal album of the year. Now, let’s not wait so long to give us a follow-up.
10. Ulcerate-Vermis
One of the main issues this year in the genre is the growing sense of Technical Death Metal gaining in both popularity and execution, and these New Zealanders are one of the more impressive entries in the burgeoning scene. Armed with the usual flair for the grace and dynamics that are a part of the genre as the riffs follow along unrelentingly complex patterns and variations in odd, progressive-like time signatures and dazzling displays of technical precision that marks so many of these bands, but these guys employ more traditional Death Metal rhythms along the way which creates a highly devastating and destructive series of sections with the tight formations grinding away with lots of intensity that really makes a big difference in keeping this from sounding like the weak, spindly songs that do flood the market so that’s rewarded with a spot on here.
9. Entrails-Raging Death
Beyond the burgeoning Tech-Death explosion this year, there’s also a glut of quality releases paying homage to the old-school Swedish Death Metal scene, and this is one of the better newcomers at copying this particular style. This is also a rare case of an album title accurately reflecting the music within, as there’s no other way to describe this as anything other than raging Death Metal as these devastating Swedish tones and riffs propel the music through a frantic series of up-tempo songs full of violent patterns, snarling vocals and a blistering drum attack that gives this all the power that comes with this genre. This marks the second strong album from them so far, and that’s leading to promising features in the future if they can continue the streak.
8. Sorcery-Arrival at Six
Just like the previous spot-holder on this list, these guys partake in the old-school Swedish movement but they actually were there at the beginning of the scene’s creation and this happens to be the long-awaited follow-up to their legendary debut after a near two-decade silence. Stylistically, it’s all pretty much the same as before, with buzzsaw-like guitars grinding through savage, speed-laced tracks with guttural vocals, hellish drumming patterns and plenty of fiery performances that solidly recall the scene back at that time. The only difference between the two comes from the veterans’ ability to switch up the dynamics at times, knowing when a pattern needs a slow, sprawling Doom-like crawl for atmosphere or to change the arrangement for dramatic benefits. It’s a special skill not too many bands have, and that these guys are capable of accomplishing that this late in the game is to be commended, hence their placement here.
7. Broken Hope-Omen of Disease
Welcome back indeed, as I don’t think anyone expected these guys to deliver something like this at this point in their careers especially having been gone for so long. This is certainly refreshing to see that the band really does have a great sense of their former glory days of delivering immensely brutal and technically-complex Death Metal with a sense of style that’s rarely seen in the genre who are more content to merely dish out as sick and pummeling a beat-down as possible and call it a day. Here, there’s a much broader sense of dynamics in the writing that makes even the most sickening groove all the more listenable and enjoyable as the band whips through the series of high-end technicality and remorselessly brutal patterns that are made all the more so with such a powerful production job that makes everything so dirty, grimy and swampy at times, making for not only a heavy, heavy record full of their past glories but signals a strong start for the second half of their career.
6. Immolation-Kingdom of Conspiracy
A familiar story appears on another genre list entry where the last time these guys appeared on a list, it was to be place at the top spot only for the follow-up, which is just as good in most respects but is now placed lower on the list, is again repeated because of how good the rest of the field is. We still get the tried and true Immolation sound with powerful riffs, utterly unrelenting drumming and complex patterns that move through a variety of dynamic, varied arrangements which feature everything from technical guitars to speed-drenched thrashers and the slow, churning Doom sections which have been staples of their sound for years. It’s all well and good in numerous respects as this keeps pulling off a variety of twists and turns the way only they can, which keeps this one placed here in a strong field with a strong contender.
5. Hail of Bullets-III: The Rommell Chronicles
If he can keep the pace going, it seems like Martin van Drunen has found the recipe for success every time out by switching between Asphyx and Hail of Bullets as the two groups are firing off utterly impressive albums on alternative years, so it should be said for 2015 I’m highly looking forward to the effort from these guys. As for this one, there’s an unmistakable Asphyx influence on the sound, production and presentation of the arrangements, which shouldn’t be a surprise all too much but the fact that Aspyhx is more of Doom/Death hybrid while Hail is much more of a truer Death Metal act is the main difference. Here, the spacious, sprawling riffs are used more for an atmospheric touch than the main sampling, and with an infectious energy derived from the stellar rhythm section and those instantly recognizable vocal howls makes for quite an overall thrilling album that deserves placement here on the list.
4. Blood Red Throne-Blood Red Throne
One of the most dynamic and undervalued Death Metal acts, these consistently impactful Norwegians continue their legacy of churning, vicious old-school Death with one of their most varied and devastating efforts in an already crowded history. Full of their patented rip on the Floridian scene with technically-precise riffing, dramatic thrash variations and a violent streak that makes for absolutely dramatic and varied work that still works so well after all these years for there’s no reason the band has been this good at their job with almost no change in style or approach. They just keep pouring out consistently high-quality death metal like this for years now and how they’ve managed to remain this much in charge of their work is to be commended by a spot on this list.
3. Fleshgod Apocalypse-Labyrinth
Quite possible the most original, creative Death Metal band in the world at this time, for there’s no one else doing what they do in managing to mix together Classical music with Symphonic Metal and Technical Death Metal. It’s just so inventive and creative that there’s so much to like about this one just listening to the very core of this bands’ identity. Taking into account the performances involved, from the tight, stylish riffing that churns out impossibly complex riff-work and sweeping melodies, orgasmic keyboards full of charging orchestral patterns, ferocious vocals that snarl through the oppressive rhythms and drumming that sounds like it’s performed by an octopus such is the dexterity and hard-hitting action it contains. There’s no end to how good this one is, and it’s only by the slimmest of margins it slips back to this point here.
2. Suffocation-Pinnacle of Bedlam
It was tough placing any band above the previous effort, but these guys were able to accomplish that feat. This is a truly spectacular effort that really encapsulates what made them to start with, as there’s the traditional New York brand of brutality that permeates this disc as the raging rhythms are tight, frantic and unrelenting, being overwhelmed by the amount of technicality becomes far more overblown and grand that’s combined effectively in one devastating package that’s more accomplished than anything they’ve done in the past. There’s an inherent beauty in the savageness and chaos that’s presented here, which is a sign from these well-respected veterans about how to dish out the brutality and still make it palpable for the masses which will be rewarded with placement here in the list.
1. Carcass-Surgical Steel
So, who was expecting this kind of comeback? Certainly no one thought, after this long a lay-off and with that lousy of a supposed-final release that there would be this kind of quality nowadays but that’s what the case here is as this energetic, devastating release is wholly spectacular. Never before has the band been this technical in regards to the complexity of their riffs as there’s far more at work here than anything they’ve done in their career, graced by a savageness to the patterns and rhythms that are prime-era hallmarks for the band, fully supported by a dynamic drumming performance and comes complete with those dual vocal growls that were always impactful and intense back in the day and still remains extreme in this age where more bands are employing dual vocals. There’s no other way to put it, in just about all aspects you can use to rank an album, this scores and is thus the Death Metal album of the year. Now, let’s not wait so long to give us a follow-up.