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2017's Best Cool Shit


Top 50 albums/EPs/whatever roughly in order. Reviews on the way

Created by: Alex F | 24.03.2017



1. Merkabah (POL) - Million Miles
(Avantgarde Jazz/Metal) Merkabah have never been a band to rely on musical conventions, and they have truly honed their craft on "Million Miles". The album is a whirlwind of metal inspired, jazz-laden, avantgarde perfection that twists and turns, subverting your expectations and providing an experience that you will only ever be able to attain from this band. It's abrasive, heavy, calm, contemplative, emotional yet distant, and strange all at the same time. This is an album that will make you think, but will still somehow keep dragging you back.
2. Ashenspire - Speak Not Of The Laudanum Quandry
(Avantgarde Black Metal) This album can best be described as "intriguing". It seems quite meticulously crafted, with each note and rest being invaluable to the greater formula which derives this album. The vocal performance is schizophrenic and nearly fearful sounding, and the lyricism is simply incredible. With influences from A Forest Of Stars, Devil Doll, and many other avantgarde staples, Ashenspire have done their homework and know how to deliver a musical journey which will puzzle and please. I really can't describe this work of art in a short blurb, so I'll just urge you to check this out if you have any remote interest in the experimental side of music. I think I can safely say that this is the best album I've heard in over a year.
3. Almyrkvi - Umbra
(Black Metal) Almyrkvi really lived up to my expectations with "Umbra", an album that takes you an a journey through dark and melancholic soundscapes expertly crafted with a personal yet somehow familiar take on black metal. While the music itself ranges from very ambient driven and almost calming to chaotic and pummeling, the underlying tone set with the very fist note is never abandoned. The album draws you in with enchantingly melodic yet haunting riffs and Jónsson's surprisingly versatile vocal performance, and doesn't release you from its grasp until the last note is plucked.
4. White Ward - Futility Report
(Atmospheric/Post Black Metal) White Ward have taken the best elements of post, atmospheric, and slight hints of avantgarde black metal and melded them together to create a highly intriguing yet accessible album. The jazz influences are an extra defining feature that help separate the band from the competition, without coming across as gimmicky or forced. In terms of production I would have preferred something a bit more rough around the edges, however the varying influences may not have worked well with such a stylistic choice, and the songwriting more than makes up for any flaws I may find.
5. Netra - Ingrats
(Black Metal, Trip-Hop, Jazz) Netra is back and he's crafted an absolutely beautiful sonic journey for all of us to enjoy. "Ingrats" refuses to allow genres to bind or dictate the direction of songwriting which twists and turns through corridors of trip-hop, black metal, and alleyways of ominous sounding jazz, all of which manifest the perfect atmosphere of urban melancholy to get lost in. There is no wasted moment on this album, with just the right amount of tension-building repetition, experimentation, and constant curiosity of what will come next to keep you engaged throughout.
6. Wailin Storms - Sick City
(Gothic Rock) This album is one of the oddballs on the list, as "goth rock" really isn't a style I would ever imagine myself enjoying. However, it goes without saying that Wailin Storms present something far more than that on this record, which is more addictive than crack. The riffing is inescapably head-bangable, the vocals are an expert balance of grungy somberness and energetic, and the individual pieces of the puzzle come together to form an album of dingy rock tunes absolutely coated in cool melodies, slimy production, and an atmosphere that is indescribably engrossing.
7. Hidden Orchestra - Dawn Chorus
(Jazz/Trip-Hop/Ambient) Hidden Orchestra are the masters of blending the complexities of jazz musicianship, the groove of trip-hop, and the serene beauty of ambient music... not that there's many artists out there attempting such a fusion, but still, Hidden Orchestra do it fucking well. If you want to sit back, relax, and then realize you're listening to the peak of expert musicianship, then look no further. The album may be a slight step behind "Archipelago", but that's really not saying all that much seeing as I regard that as one of the best albums ever.
8. Pallbearer - Heartless
(Doom Metal) "Heartless" stands as a slight deviation from Pallbearer's past sonic outputs, incorporating some very interesting influences. There are progressive elements throughout the album, as well as a slightly new take on riffing, which really help the band remain fresh after a number of releases. The album itself seems more emotionally driven than previous ones, especially on tracks like "I Saw The End" and "Lie Of Survival". The guitar work pairs excellently with the rest of the group (and production as well), with a very fluid approach that seemingly lacks any sort of fundamental repetition and instead opts for much more nuance, playing into the structure of the drums and vocals rather than a riff-based songwriting approach. Overall this album is by far the band's most sophisticated in terms of technical songwriting capabilities, which is rather impressive given how pedestrian much standard doom is these days. One of the best non-extreme doom albums I've heard in years, and certainly one of the best recordings from this year.
9. Blut Aus Nord - Deus Salutis Meæ
(Industrial Black Metal) Anyone expecting Vindsval to revisit a prior sonic palate on "Deus Salutis Meæ" almost certainly had foolish expectations. This album is a standout point in Blut Aus Nord's career, in the sense that it is another new adventure in stylistic approach (to a degree). It is as dark as the "Liber" series, incorporates some of the riffing approaches adopted in the "777" albums, and features a fairly new vocal style for the artist. The album is meditative, yet aggressive and harrowing, with a very nice balance of chaos and more tempered moments.
10. Tyrannosorceress - (Black Metal) Shattering Light's Creation
Credit to finding this hidden gem goes to the user Neachy, whose list is arguably much better than mine. This album gives me very heavy Negative Plane vibes, in the sense that it's a black metal album with a riffing style strongly based in more traditional roots. The riffing presents itself as a flurrying frenzy of tremolo picked melodies, layered beneath heavily reverberated vocals reminiscent of a more old-school approach. However, the band manages to change it up occasionally with the more melodic passage here and there, keeping the album fresh and modern sounding. The real reason Tyrannosorceress manage to rank so highly here is due to the band's phenomenal melodic sensibilities, which manage to produce absolutely addicting riffs.
11. Funeralium - Of Throes And Blight
(Funeral/Death Doom Metal) Hey look Funeralium are back, and they released what is undoubtedly the best extreme doom album of the year. Returning with their signature blend of hatred, malice, malevolence, and other synonyms, they have delivered yet another beautifully (or perhaps hideously?) crafted funeral doom album with enough death metal influence to make it even more abrasive and violent than almost any other band in the genre. The riffs are drawn out yet entrancing, the vocals are presented in a rather harrowing manner, and clocking in at one and a half hours with only four songs you know they mean business.
12. Progenie Terrestre Pura - OltreLuna
(Ambient/Electronic Influenced Black Metal) "OltreLuna" is jam packed with complex song-writing, intense riffing, ambient influences, and a myriad of other intriguing stylistic choices which add up to an incredibly diverse and constantly enticing experience. At its core the album is an ambient influenced black metal album, however the various "triumphant" sounding climaxes, melancholic passages, sparse orchestral influence, etc... make it far more and far too complicated to describe in a short paragraph. There seems to be a little here for everyone, and as such I'd say any fan of any extreme metal genre should give the album a whirl.
13. Adrift For Days - A Sleepless Grey
(Post-Metal/Sludge/Psych) This is a fairly diverse album, loaded with postydoomysludgy goodness, however constantly surprising the listener with unique ideas and new takes on styles you may already be familiar with. The whole thing is very dramatic, with long crescendo-ing build ups, and slowly intensifying instrumentation in quite a few songs. Each song is a little journey of itself, and as a whole the album does an amazing job of titillating the senses throughout the runtime.
14. Nokturnal Mortem - Verity
(Black/Folk Metal) Nokturnal Mortum are back and they do not disappoint, bringing to the table an upbeat onslaught of incredibly balanced folk infused black metal. It's not really anything new for the band, but this time around they've delivered an album so masterful that it may be their best release in over a decade. The riffs meld together with the backing ambient instrumentation (synths, etc...) and the folk elements to create an absolutely blissful combination of styles. At times there are even prog influences that break through the songwriting, helping to spice things up and modernize the already phenomenal sound the band has created through the years.
15. The Ruins Of Beverast - Exuvia
(Black Metal) "Exuvia" sees Meilenwald taking a very meditative and often repetitive approach to the recent developments in the band's style. The tension building theatrical take in each song coupled with the moderately diverse instrumentation and the range of vocal approaches makes the album interesting throughout its 70 minute play time, despite the aforementioned repetitive approach to the riffing and song structures. Hints of psychedelia and dissonance persist throughout as well, and while the album isn't as good as the first three releases, it is certainly an improvement from "Blood Vaults" and an intriguing if not entrancing black metal experience.
16. Desolate Shrine - Deliverance From The Godless Void
(Death Metal) Desolate Shrine are becoming one of the most consistently impressive groups in modern death metal. Their latest release is another offering of dizzying riffs that pummel you into the ground coupled with a monstrous vocal performance and absolutely unequivocally dense production. Despite the incredibly visceral approach, the band still maintains an underlying appreciation of old school death metal, with the occasional "Left Hand Path"-tinged riff, and a drumming style very reminiscent of the 90's approach in death metal.
17. The Great Old Ones - EOD: A Tale Of Dark Legacy
(Atmospheric Black Metal) Much like Desolate Shrine, The Great Old Ones seem to be able to do no wrong. The band has returned with another supremely addictive black metal album that is absolutely drenched in atmosphere, packed with enchanting melodies, and somehow still manages to be one of the heaviest black metal albums of the year. The band has always been great at striking a balance between their many influences, and their control of melody along with use of more aggressive passages has manifested a dynamic yet simultaneously coherent album.
18. The Contortionist - Clairvoyant
(Prog-Metal/Rock) The band has completely and entirely abandoned their deathcore roots, and nearly left the metal world entirely on "Clairvoyant". Musically the album could be their most complex in terms of pure songwriting, as it utilizes the most odd-time signatures, strangely interlocking rhythmic patterns, and unique takes on instrumentation of any release of theirs. Despite this, the individual instruments are very tempered in approach, with few (if any) "shred"-laden passages, and the band generally taking a much more matured approach to prog than most metal bands normally would. This is complemented phenomenally by the production techniques employed, as well as the underlying synth melodies and harmonies which manage to create a more dense and complex soundscape without coming across as try-hard. This is exactly what prog-metal should sound like, in place of the mindless hordes of fretboard masturbating that seems to have overtaken the genre.
19. Biesy - Noc Lekkich Obyczajów
(Black/Death Metal) This album is simply massive in every manner of speaking. The riffing is some kind of hybrid between Ulcerate, Deathspell Omega, and more traditional black metal styles, yet despite this the band manages to meld all of their influences together seamlessly and effortlessly. The production suits the musical choices beautifully, with just enough clarity for every tom hit by the drummer to audible, but enough chaos for the more subdued vocal passages to struggle for breath. The melodic sensibilities range from quizzically dissonant to monstrously aggressive, and quite frankly the album is fairly relentless until the final note is plucked.
20. Fleshpress - Hulluuden Muuri
(Psychedelic Sludge/Doom Metal) Why does all of the best weird music come from Finland? Fleshpress have never really been a band that could be pinned to a specific genre, and this latest album seems to toe the line between psychedelic, drawn out, and meditative doom as well as bombastic and crushing sludge. The guitars feedback and reverberate over the anguished screams of the vocalist and each element combines into a chaotic yet coherent experience that will constantly have you guessing what will come next.
21. Sielunvihollinene - Ruhonkantaja
(Melodic Black Metal) This shit is catchy and fun as hell, even if it's limited by simplicity and lack of innovation. The band play a very melodic style of black metal, with a slight Dissection tinge to the atmosphere and general performance. The riffs are absolutely top notch, though I felt with a bit denser production and a slightly improved clarity on the drums the whole formula would have come together just a tad better. The vocal performance is incredibly well done, which definitely helps give the album a bit of a visceral edge. I have found myself becoming increasingly addicted to this album, despite the general lack of innovation. The songwriting is simply too incredible for me not to be in love.
22. Algiers - The Underside Of Power
(Neo-Soul/Post-Punk/Industrial) It's incredibly difficult to pin down the style that Algiers fall into, however despite this the music isn't overly complex or even difficult to grasp. At its core the band is primarily Neo-Soul with various Industrial and "Post" related hints thrown about to create an enticingly unique and purely addictive sound. Franklin Fisher's hauntingly beautiful voice coupled with the often melancholic yet entirely engrossing instrumentals manifests in a very emotional journey, yet one I can't stop coming back to. The group does an excellent job at balancing the inherent anguish in the music (given the lyrical themes of racial injustice) with more upbeat and even catchy songs/passages, such as the title track which has been stuck in my head since the album came out.
23. Chelsea Wolfe - Hiss Spun
(Gothic/Doom Metal i guess) Chelsea Wolfe has done a great job at growing in popularity over the years with consistent release of great albums, and Hiss Spun does not break that trend. Chelsea's superb melancholic and haunting vocals coupled with the harrowing yet beautiful instrumentation creates such an engrossing atmosphere that you can't help but get lost in the music. The album takes a step deeper into the realms of metal, abstaining slightly from some of the more ethereal and ambient passages that were present on Abyss, which in my opinion makes the album a tad less original, although still great.
24. Entheogen - Without Veil, Nor Self
(Black Metal)
25. Awon & Linkrust - Moon Beams
(Hip-Hop/Rap) "Moon Beams" is a very curious album, with beats that waver in and out of oddity, jazz, and more accessible mainstream stylistic tendencies. Linkrust's beats play into Awon's incredibly inoffensive flow and style quite well, which seems to fit in no matter the direction the beats take. The album is relaxing, engaging, unique, and catchy all at the same time. At times I wish the instrumentation would take different turns, although the release is quite short and clearly not meant to be a full delving into all of the stylistic directions the duo toy with.
26. Succumb - Succumb
(Death Metal) This is an album that has been seeing much disagreement online, pretty much entirely thanks to the... interesting vocal choices made by the band. Cheri's shouted and frankly often tone-deaf vocalizations lend way to another layer of ugliness on the album, which many seem turned off by, however to a great many others they simply lift this grimy death metal album to another level. The riffing is frenetic, disjointed, dissonant, yet highly reminiscent of old school styles, pairing seamlessly with the nasty vocals. This album is not for everyone by any means, but fans of the more seedy underbelly of the scene may find solace in Succumb.
27. Milo - Who Told You To Think?​?​!​!​?​!​?​!​?​!
(Hip-Hop/Rap) Milo is one of the most unique rappers on the scene, and "Who Told You To Think" marks a high point in his career according to many, myself included. His spoken-word approach to rap has been tempered with more traditional flow at times, creating a more accessible affair but still one that is entirely and undeniably Milo's. This, paired with the best beats Milo has had the chance to rap over has created a superbly enjoyable experience. There are elements of jazz-rap, ambient passages, and even some old-school influences peeking through here and there. Milo covers all of the standard topics he normally would, from racial issues to his position as a nerd in the scene, his unique lyricism remains fresh nearly 10 years after his first appearance on the scene.
28. Wormwood - Ghostlands - Wounds From A Bleeding Earth
(Melodic Black Metal) I'm perfectly fine staking my reputation as a purveyor of the avantgarde to excitedly recommend this fairly uninventive black metal album. There are a myriad of reasons for this, namely that I can't find a single album from the past year with more addictive melodies than Wormwood have managed to manifest on their debut. The album is a fantastic pairing of melodic black metal, various folk elements, and an infectiously upbeat attitude throughout that completely has me addicted. "Godless Serenade" is seriously one of the best black metal songs I've ever heard, and all of the Black Twilight Circle junkies are now welcome to beat me up.
29. Amiensus - All Paths Lead To Death
(Progressive Black Metal) Amiensus have officially surpassed Enslaved in current output on the proggy Black Metal stage in my opinion. "All Paths Lead To Death" packs so many fresh and well executed ideas into a short 30 minutes, and has quickly become my favorite release from the band. They have an incredible grasp on build and release of tension, with perfectly timed melodic breaks between aggressive passages, and just the right amount of cheese coupled with anger.
30. Time Lurker - Time Lurker
(Black Metal)
31. Portico Quartet - Art In The Age Of Automation
(Jazz)
32. Venenum - Trance Of Death
(Death Metal)
33. Below The Sun - Alien World
(Post-Metal)
34. Trilateral - Elliptic Orbits
(Progressive Death Metal)
35. Nesseria - Cette Érosion De Nous-Mêmes
()
36. Question - Gnosis Primordial
(Death Metal)
37. Ex Eye - Ex Eye
(Avantgarde Metal/Jazz)
38. Loss - Horizonless
(Funeral Doom) After six long years Loss have finally returned with their heart-wrenching pairing of funeral doom and sorrowful melodies in a manner even more mournful than the band bearing the word. The album is without a doubt a worthy followup to their 2011 release, jam packed with entrancing melodies, bottom of hell gutturals, and naturally flowing song structures that seamlessly progress through the riffs and phases of the album. However, there is just a bit of filler that really could have been cut from the album to make it more effective in my opinion, and the band really doesn't bring enough new ideas to the table to warrant over an hour of music.
39. Ancst - Furnace
(Black Metal/Crust-Punk)
40. Bent Knee - Land Animal
(Art Rock)
41. Ulsect - Ulsect
(Post-Black/Death Metal)
42. Alfa Mist - Antiphon
(Jazz/Trip/Hip-Hop)
43. Skáphe - Untitled
(Black Metal)
44. Apes - Lightless
(Black/Hardcore/Sludge)
45. Primitive Man - Caustic
(Black/Doom/Sludge Metal)
46. Kassad - Faces Turn Away
(Black Metal)
47. Cult Of Fire - Untitled
(Black Metal)
48. Dälek - Endangered Philosophies
(Industrial Hip-Hop)
49. Do Make Say Think - Stubborn Persistent Illusions
(Jazz/Post-Rock)
50. Elder - Reflections Of A Floating World
(Stoner Metal)



Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
[ More lists by Alex F ]



Comments page 2 / 2

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Comments: 38   Visited by: 320 users
13.11.2017 - 19:39
Alex F
Slick Dick Rick
Written by Neachy on 12.11.2017 at 22:26

Have you listened to Tyrannosoceress - Shattering Light's Creation? I currently have it as my AOTY. It seems to be completely unnoticed in the metal world and I'm unsure if others whose taste I appreciate just havent heard it or find it unremarkable.

Listening through it right now on your recommendation, and I have to say I'm fairly impressed. The production could be better, for instance I wish the vocals were slightly more buried by the instrumentation in the more frantic sections, but the songwriting seems fairly superb. The riffing is surprisingly technical, especially for a black metal album. Thanks for the rec! I'll have to get through the whole thing once or twice before I throw it on the list.
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14.11.2017 - 00:02
Karlabos
Meat and Potatos
[comment edited out due to outdateness]
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"Aah! The cat turned into a cat!"
- Reimu Hakurei
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03.12.2017 - 21:09
Boxcar Willy
yr a kook









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14:22 - Marcel Hubregtse
I do your mum

DESTROY DRUM TRIGGERS
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03.12.2017 - 21:40
Alex F
Slick Dick Rick
Written by Boxcar Willy on 03.12.2017 at 21:09

REX

Thanks for the recs Tanner, I'll get on em boy.
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04.12.2017 - 05:06
Boxcar Willy
yr a kook
Written by Alex F on 03.12.2017 at 21:40

Thanks for the recs Tanner, I'll get on em boy.

The only one you with any real chance of you enjoying thoroughly is Sanction, but those are my favourite 2017 albums (hardcore ones anyway, I haven't gone through the metal ones as much yet)
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14:22 - Marcel Hubregtse
I do your mum

DESTROY DRUM TRIGGERS
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23.12.2017 - 02:44
Neachy

Just stopping by to say I approve of the updates to your list
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18.01.2018 - 14:27
Neachy

Hey, one small correction to your description of that Entheogen album: Alex Poole contributed only vocals. The music was done by his Chaos Moon bandmates Steven Blackburn on guitar and Jack Blackburn on drums.
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18.01.2018 - 23:39
Alex F
Slick Dick Rick
Written by Neachy on 18.01.2018 at 14:27

Hey, one small correction to your description of that Entheogen album: Alex Poole contributed only vocals. The music was done by his Chaos Moon bandmates Steven Blackburn on guitar and Jack Blackburn on drums.

Thanks for spotting that! I was under the impression that Poole did it all. Probably should have done my research lol
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