Hello, Metal Wani readers! It is I, Yidu and today I am bringing you my picks for 10 Metal Albums You Should Listen To for October 2016. For this segment, we will be covering the full length releases that came out in October. October is my birth month and it’s a month that can be filled with records labels want to promote before the Winter season. This October has delivered the best array of Metal albums this year so far. Here are some of my favorites. These lists are designed to showcase some new music for our readers and to promote music from the metal underground. Before we start, I want to make it clear that these lists are not “top lists” or “best of lists”. Instead, these lists consists of albums that I feel are highlights of the previous month. Please note, that this is only my opinion and my opinion only.
At number 10 is the debut album ‘Failure, Subside’ from Australian band Départe. Départe is an Avant-Garde Black/Death Metal band that combines elements from variety of inclues including Ulcerate and Abyssal (UK) while throwing Post-Black Metal influences into the mix. The band’s sound has the dissonance sown under a veil of gloomy soundscapes. The resulting product is dark and bleak while maintaining a somber sense of dissonant distraught. I definitely recommend this to fans of the Avant-Garde style of Black Metal and even perhaps fans of Post-Black Metal if they want something extra. Recommended tracks include “Wither” and “Ruin”.
At number 9 we have the debut album from American band Death Fetishist, ‘Clandestine Sacrament’. Death Fetishist is a duo featuring Grond Nefarious of Panzergod and Matron Thorn of Ævangelist. The duo plays a perturbed brand of Black/Doom Metal that employs psychedelic elements, influences from second wave, and a healthy dose of off putting atmosphere. ‘Clandestine Sacrament’ has a great balance of chaos, weirdness, and disturbing sensibility. The riffs on this album pack a punch and combined with the menacing atmosphere make for a fantastic Black Metal release. Recommended for fans of Black Metal who want something more than the ordinary. Recommended tracks include “Voidtripper” and “Upterneth the Chalice”.
At number 8 we have the new album from Blazon Stone, ‘War of the Roses’. Blazon Stone is a Swedish Metal project helmed by multi-instrumentalist Cederick Forsberg. The project plays a sound that blends Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, and Power Metal together into a combination that is similar to the band Running Wild (which this project took their name from). On ‘War of the Roses’, you will fine fantastic riffs, great choruses, good drumming, and energy. If you are a fan of any of those three genres, gives this album a shot. Recommended tracks include “Mask of gold” and “Born to be Wild”.
At number 7 we have the sophomore album from Texan Death Metal band Church Of Disgust, ‘Veneration Of Filth’. I was first introduced to this band in 2014 when they released their debut album ‘Unworldly Summoning’. On that album, the band showcased great potential and with their second album, the band capitalized on that potential and delivered a great Death Metal record filled with aggressive energy, great riffs, and pummeling drumming. The band plays an old school sound, reminiscent to bands like Bolt Thrower. If you enjoy Old School Death Metal, be sure to give this one a listen. Recommended tracks include “Supine in the Face of Total Death” and “Abhorrent Cruelty”.
Number 6 is the debut album from American outfit Urzeit, ‘Anmoksha’. The three piece can be considered as a supergroup of the American West Coast’s underground Black Metal scene featuring the two extremely active members, the drummer and bassist, of Ash Borer, who have started several side projects in recent years like Triumvir Foul, Serum Dreg, and Uškumgallu together, on guitar and bass. Joining them is the mastermind behind Mizmor, A.L.M. doing drum and vocal duties. ‘Anmoksha’ is a Black Metal record that is packed with great riffs and drumming that will satisfy the hunger of any Black Metal fan and then some. If you like your Black Metal to be relentless but hard to get used to, this is an album to pick up. Recommended tracks include “Nascphanin” and “Migrakama”.
At number 5 we have the debut album ‘Justified Atrocities’ from the American band Trecelence. Trecelence is a Thrash metal band that heavily takes influence from Speed Metal while focusing on a technical style. The riffs are in your face but packed with speed and complexity and the dirtier production really adds a grittier edge to the band’s sound. The technical approach to this Thrash/Speed sound this band has reminds me of bands like Toxik, Target (Belgium), debut-era Annihilator, and to some extent Vektor. The vocals are closer to a Heavy Metal style which adds a new dynamic to their sound. If you like Thrash Metal, particularly of a technical style, or Speed Metal, this is definitely an album to check out. Recommended tracks include “Into The Gateway” and “Burning the Pendulum”.
At number 4 is the new debut album ‘Utter The Tongue Of The Dead’ by the American band Void Meditation Cult. This band plays Death Metal but not your typical modern or old school sound. Void Meditation Cult plays a style of Death Metal that can be described as cavernous, ritualistic, occult sounding, or just condensed evil. The sound is very dark and muddy and is complimented very well by the vocals which are this ritualistic chant like whisper. All of these elements combined create a menacing atmosphere that this band uses very well to bring upon their brand of Death Metal. Recommended tracks include “Utter the Tongue of the Dead” and “Aims of the Eyeless Idol”.
At number 3 is the new album from Canadian band Auroch titled ‘Mute Books’. Auroch plays Black/Death Metal and broke out in the underground with their second album ‘Taman Shud’. The band plays a more chaotic brand of Black/Death and on their new album, Auroch introduces a stronger sense of melody while holding back on the chaotic elements just a pinch. As a result, ‘Mute Books’ is a barrage of riffs and drums that hits like a truck. Check this out if you like Black/Death Metal, this is definitely a highlight release of the style. Recommended tracks include “Billowing Vervain” and “Say Nothing”.
At number 2 is the new album from the New Zealand veterans Ulcerate, ‘Shrines of Paralysis’. Ulcerate plays Avant-Garde Technical Death Metal inspired by post-Obscura Gorguts. The band brings on the dissonance in the form of pummeling landslides and avalanches that lay everything to waste in its wake. On ‘Shrines of Paralysis’, Ulcerate returns with a more in your face approach as the band brings on influences from their older releases while adding in some newer influences that range from the Neurosis influenced previous album or the slight Black Metal edge the band brought in on this new one. If you are a fan of off kilter sounding Death Metal, this is definitely a release to check out. Love dissonance? This album has plenty. Avant-Garde Death Metal fans should not miss this one. Recommended tracks include “Abrogation” and “Shrines of Paralysis”.
At number 1, we have another album coming from New Zealand. This time it is the debut album from Black/Death metal band Verberis. I first caught wind of this band with their 2014 Demo which displayed great potential. Now 2 years later, the band released ‘Vexamen’ and it’s one fine album. The riffs on this album are energetic but yet different as they take more of a barbaric or epic Heavy Metal sound (think Cirith Ungol or Manilla Road). Oh, did I mention this band is from New Zealand? There’s also that Ulcerate dissonance goodness on here but on smaller scale. The band also at times can be chaotic too while maintaining that great sense of melody. Sound familiar? You bet, Auroch comes into mind here. What else? You get a cavernous sound on some of the tracks too. This is the best Black/Death album of this year so far. Fans of the style, fans of Black Metal, and fans of Death Metal, you need to hear this album. Get on it. Recommended tracks include “The Gaping Hollow of Divinity” and “Charnel Vibrations”.
This concludes our journey this month. Here are 5 other albums that did not quite make the list that I want to touch upon. Here are this month’s honorable mentions.
Cóndor- ‘Sangreal’
Cóndor is a Colombian Death/Doom metal band that has a great sense of melodic progression and they return with their sophomore album ‘Sangreal’. Although their sound isn’t enough to be considered “Melodic Death/Doom” the band has a knack for melody similar to the Mexican Death Metal band The Chasm. The riffs give off a great sense of direction.
Khemmis – ‘Above The Water’
The new album ‘Above The Water’ from the band Khemmis is a great follow up to their 2015 album. The band effortlessly blends in Stoner/Doom with a Traditional Doom and even Heavy/Doom sound. Want good riffs? This album has plenty and the clean vocals compliment it well. This is definitely a Doom Metal record that fans of the genre should not miss.
Mithras – ‘On Strange Loops’
Avant-garde Technical Death Metal giants Mithras returns with a puzzling new album called ‘On Strange Loops’. The band has crafted another Death Metal album with dizzying riffs that is filled with strangeness. If you like Death Metal that is technical and progressive, this is an album for you.
Urfaust – ‘Empty Space Meditation’
Urfaust returns with their new album ‘Empty Space Meditation’ and it is a great addition to their discography. The band plays Atmospheric Black Metal with well executed useage of ambient elements. It has been 6 years since their last album and the band demonstrated that they still got the chops after their somewhat lackluster 2015 EP. Recommended for fans of the style.
Unreqvited – ‘Disquiet’
‘Disquiet’ is the new debut album from Canadian band Unreqvited hailing from Quebec. Unreqvited is a one man Atmospheric Black Metal project that combines the classic cold Quebec sound with Post-Black Metal. The project blends in warm synthesizers which emphasises the underlying melody to give the listener a perfect image of what winter looks like in the Great White North.
1 comment
Btw, Khemmis’ new album is called Hunted. Cool list