Here's another beaut and this time it is Kristján B. Heiðarsson of Vetur (LISTEN) -- a jack of all trades, much like Peter Carparelli (Bloodletter) before him -- who makes his keyboard honest by hammering the truth for us to benefit via this blog. For some reason I picture Udo Dirkschneider in front of a computer showing who's boss such is this guy's fervour. This makes absolutely no sense because he and Kristján look nothing alike, but both are metal through and through. I digress. Next in line is Vetur's dynamo himself with the list of triumphs...
12. Zeal & Ardor - Stranger Fruits
That one was a surprise. This is what happens when you mix southern blues, black metal and the occasional electronics. Shit, it works?!
A good friend of mine sent me a link to this album and told me that it was an interesting mix of unexpected elements. Boy, was he right... Southern blues. Black metal. If that wasn't enough, we have also some electronic elements popping up here and there. So say that this is an interesting mix is a huge understatement. This album is very strange, but in a very attractive way. I'm very curious to see where the band goes from here.
11. Amorphis - Queen Of Time
I love Amorphis. They have secured their status as the AC/DC of Finnish death metal. This time they added choirs.
I must admit that if I had listened more to this album it would probably ranked higher on this list. Still, even if I love Amorphis, I am getting a little bored with their recipe of melodic death metal. Sure, Eclipse, Silent Waters and Skyforger are absolutely awesome, but The Beginning Of Times felt a little tired, Circle was good but quickly faded, and Under The Red Cloud took many listens to get into. Queen Of Time is more of the same, except now there are choirs adding a little flavour to the mix. It's a very good album, but I'm longing for something more than just another Amorphis album next time.
10. Carpe Noctem - Vitrun
One of Iceland's finest deliver their best work after a five year gap between releases. Well worth the wait. I never was impressed with Carpe Noctem's early works, but that changed when they released their debut full-length, In Terra Profugus. That was back in 2013, and not a peep had been heard from the band recording-wise since. Then, almost out of the blue, came Vitrun. This is Icelandic black metal at its best.
9. Hamferð - Támsins Likam
The Faroese masters of slow and heavy have never been better. Or slower. Or heavier. Like Paara, Hamferð play music that I usually don't connect much with. The sheer quality of the band's music is just so overwhelming that it can absolutely not be overlooked.
This is Hamferð's best work, and I am very curious to see where they will go from here, since Támsins likam is so mind numbingly great.
8. Paara - Riitti
Complex and strangely catchy album from this Finnish metal super-group. A friend of mine bought this for me early this year. Before that I had never heard of Paara. This is not the usual stuff that I like. Mixture of doom, death and black metal in a whirlwind of songs that last for ages (the shortest song on the album is almost seven minutes long). Still, this got my attention, and has secured a worthy inclusion on my top 12.
7. Svartidauði - Revelations Of The Red Sword
The NWOIBM-pioneers return with an album that goes to the top 12, even if it just came out in December.
Svartidauði are probably responsible for me getting into black metal as much as I have in the last few years. Flesh Cathedral took me by surprise, and is still one of Iceland's best black metal releases ever. So I was curious to see where they would go with this next album. Sure, Svartidauði had put out three EP's and even one digital live album since Flesh Cathedral, but I was waiting for a full-length. Well, to be honest, so far I think that Revelations Of The Red Sword is at least equally as good as Flesh Cathedral. Highly recommended.
6. Deicide - Overtures Of Blasphemy
Glen Benton. Satan. Blast beats. Yes, it's Deicide alright. In top form. The last two albums, To Hell With God and In The Minds Of Evil, were Deicide's best releases in a long time, so I must admit I was looking forward to this one. Overtures Of Blasphemy is at least equally as good as those two aforementioned albums, but somehow I was hoping for a little more. Still, a very fucking good album.
5. Uada - Cult Of A Dying Sun
A worthy successor to Uada's debut. Even better, I'd say. Devoid Of Light came as a surprise for me. Great album that I did not see coming. So I was waiting for Uada to release a follow-up.
Despite waiting, I somehow forgot to check out the album for a few months after it came out. Well, after getting it in my hands I made up for that by playing it on repeat for several weeks. Even better than the debut, and Uada continues to thrive. Impatiently waiting for album nr. 3.
4. Behemoth - I Loved You At Your Darkest
Varied and mature album that follows in The Satanist's footprints. Behemoth's "Black Album" - dividing fans. I think it's great. I loved The Apostasy. Evangelion was good. Then came cancer, and no one knew if Behemoth would release another album. But like a phoenix, Nergal rose out of the ashes, and Behemoth delivered The Satanist - a very different, but great album. I Loved You At Your Darkest is even further away from Behemoth's former musical path, combining new and softer elements with the aggression that the band is known for. At first listen I thought it was uninspiring and dull, but during the second run I "got it". Behemoth breaks new ground here, gaining new fans while losing some of the old. I'm still here, and want more.
3. Immortal - Northern Chaos Gods
I did not expect Immortal to deliver such a beast of an album without Abbath, but still they did. Maybe because of his absence? I was quite curious to hear Abbath's debut album back in 2016. Even if it's a fine album, it quickly was forgotten in my collection. So, to be honest, I wasn't that excited to hear Immortal's new album. Much to my surprise, this album is easily one of Immortal's best, combining elements both old and new, and not having Abbath's vocals at the forefront simply does not matter. Demonaz does a great job both guitar- and vocal-wise, and the album is simply great!
2. Skálmöld - Sorgir
Despite the lyrics revolving around children dying (in addition to some grown-ups too) this is maybe Skálmöld's heaviest and best album.
Back in 2010 almost everyone in Iceland was losing their shit over that new band, Skálmöld. I heard a few songs, realised I knew almost everyone in the band, and hated the music. Well, that changed after a few listens to the album and a couple of concerts. Even if Með Vættum is still my favourite Skálmöld album, Sorgir pulls no punches. Like I said, the songs revolve around the death of grown-ups and children alike (a theme that actually occurs on every Skálmöld album), so for a father it is not fun to listen to the lyrics. But that doesn't change the fact that Sorgir is heavy as steel and one of the band's best releases so far.
1. Judas Priest - Firepower
Incredibly heavy and catchy. Priest's best album since Jugulator. Yes, I love Jugulator. So should you. I loved Painkiller from the moment I heard it. I borrowed the vinyl from a good friend of mine and seriously thought about not returning it.
Rob exiting the band was just a bonus for me, since I loved both Fight (and 2wo, and Halford) and Judas Priest with Ripper. Then Rob came back. Angel Of Retribution was decent, Nostradamus was terrifyingly horrible, and Redeemer Of Souls was pretty good. So it took me completely by surprise how good Firepower is. Easily Priest's best album in the 21st century.
I can't finish this without mentioning an album that I simply can't put on the list because of conflict of interests...
Vetur - Nætur
Vetur is my band. It's black metal with death metal influences, and I am immensely proud of this album. So, if you're into that sort of music, go check it out. I'd appreciate it.
Vetur on Youtube Bandcamp Spotify Facebook Twitter Instagram
No comments:
Post a Comment