Can you believe it? There's three weeks left until 2006! Well, in honor of the death of 2005... I'd like to share some of the albums I enjoyed this year, as well as some that didn't quite make the cut. Here we go....
Top Ten 20051. Arcturus - Sideshow Symphonies
Excellent album, I think Simen's vocals really match their evolving musical direction. He is a much better clean singer than Garm, plus the burp on Demonpainter is hilarious. I find the album more laid back than their previous efforts, but that does not detract from the quality at all.
2. Pelican - The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw
One of the most interesting bands to emerge in recent years! This album is their best work to date. Along with Isis, Callisto, and Cult of Luna, they are forging new direction in the atmospheric sludge genre.
3. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
All around an excellent release, and certainly one of their best. It's heavier, mellower, and proggier than anything else they've done. Opeth has managed to transcend all genres. So why isn't this number one? Let's just say I tend to prefer early Opeth .
4. Alcest - Le Secret
This is one of the best eps I've ever heard in my life. If Alcest had released an album of this material, they would certainly be at number one this year. This is beautiful melodic french black metal at its finest!
5. Asgaut - Village
These musicians deserve much recognition! I've been eagerly awaiting this release since their demo was out back in 2003. This group is similar to mid-era Opeth in sound, but that is just the starting point for these Israelis. The influences are many, folk, black metal, and classical to name a few!
6. November's Doom - The Pale Haunt Departure
This is the best November's Doom album period. No longer doom anymore, the songwriting is much improved and kicks serious ass. I'm very happy they got rid of the female vocals; I don't think it fit very well with their music. Kudos to Paul and the others!
7. Drudkh - The Swan Road
A different sound than previous releases, but then stagnation is never an option for these guys. This album moves toward a more traditional black metal production with a faster pace while still retaining the trademark Drudkh pagan and nature atmosphere.
8. Evoken - Antithesis of Light
DOOM... in the most traditional, no-nonsense way! I'm not a doom expert by any means, in fact I prefer melodic death and black metal more, but quality is quality no matter what the genre.
9. Sigh - Gallows Gallery
Wow, this was a bit unexpected. Sigh has moved away from their black metal roots and incorporated more of a traditional heavy metal sound with the usual outrageous 70s prog, jazz, and eastern influences. The only minor gripe I have about this album is the murky production. Another great release from these Japanese metallers!
10. Shining - IV - The Eerie Cold
Progressive suicidal black metal, what more could you want? The first track is absolutely killer (pun intended).
Honorable Mentions:Arsis - A Diamond For Disease (an ep, but very good)
One of the most creative melodic death bands to emerge in recent years!
Deathspell Omega - Kénôse
Not as good as Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice but a worthy piece of black metal nonetheless.
Dark Tranquillity - Character
I prefer Damage Done, but this one brings back some of the aggression of The Mind's I. The production is precise and all songs are very catchy.
Falkenbach - Heralding The Fireblade
This is a re-recording of the band's first album Fireblade plus additional bonus material. Very good!
Lurker of Chalice - Lurker of Chalice
Solo project of Wrest of Leviathan. This is a good balance of black metal and dark ambient.
Mourning Beloveth - A Murderous Circus
More doom, more preferable than the latest Shape of Despair (and I happen to think quite highly of them), although The Sullen Sulcus is better.
Mutiilation - Rattenkönig
Not quite as good as their previous material, but still better than those other LLN bands.
Ocean - Here Where Nothing Grows
Three songs, 65 minutes of slow sludge DOOM! This band deserves more recognition.
Pantheist - Amartia
I really love this release! Songs are diverse with temp changes, even sounding black metal at times! Didn't quite make the top ten, mostly because I loved O Solitude, and this one was slightly weaker.
Subterranean Masquerade - Suspended Animation Dreams
I've never heard any of their previous material, but this album was a pleasant surprise. A good mix of death, avantgarde, and progressive, with piano bits thrown here and there.
Sunn O))) - Black One
As the name suggests, this is doom drone with black metal influeces. Features Malefic of Xasthur on vocals (or rather... tortured screams).
Swallow The Sun - Ghosts of Loss
Great album from these Fins! Similar to Slumber, Rapture, mid era Katatonia, etc...
Taake - Doedskvad
A fitting end to the Taake black metal trilogy!
Twilight - Twilight
An interesting project of prominent USBM (Leviathan, Xasthur, Nachtmystium, Krieg, Draugar) musicians.
Tyrant - Grimoires
Symphonic black metal from the land of the rising sun!
There were a lot of "meh" releases that did absolutely for me (I'll probably get slaughtered for this *runs and hides*, but Nevermore, Extol, Paradise Lost, Naglfar, Demons and Wizards, Korpiklaani, Kamelot, Hypocrisy, Horna, Graveland, etc... weren't that good), however there was nothing especially horrible except...
Dissapointments:Nattefrost - Terrorist
Like seriously... WTF? I know this is tongue-in-cheek, but that's not an excuse for poor music. The music is bland, and Nattefrost sounds like he's puking from a night of... wait a minute... that's what he always sounds like.
Perhaps one of the hidden gems of the US black metal scene, Weakling's one and only album "Dead As Dreams" is a masterpiece in the black metal genre. Originally recorded in 1998, the album remained unheard for two years before tUMULt records finally released it in 2000. 