We have all seen some albums that have had lots of mentions for album of the year,in a specific genre or overall, but this thread is for sharing an album at the top of your list that you aren't seeing mentioned everywhere else. Can also be something that is very close to the top of your list, but let's keep it pretty high on your list to avoid this becoming a "plug every obscure album you liked" thread.

Hopefully this thread can help us find some things we missed this year, and it would be interesting to hear people's opinions as to why the album is being ignored as well, so bonus points for discussing that. Of course you are encouraged to share your thoughts on albums brought up, it can perhaps shed some light on why it's being missed.

I'll get things started:

For me, it's Sickening Horror - Overflow. The Gorod seems to be getting a lot of "best death/tech death" mentions so I'm a bit surprised the Sickening Horror is going so missed. That's not to say it sounds a lot like the Gorod, but it does share some of the elements people seem to praise on A Maze of Recycled Creeds, while also being a fairly un-tech death release in that it avoids many of the issues that typically drive people away from the genre. It has the same jazzy influences and slightly noodly but relaxed nature that the Gorod shows glimpses of, while having much more memorable songs that stand out individually and they nearly completely avoid the "wank" that so many complain about with most technical releases. It also has a more intimate, sort of "genuine" atmosphere to it, sounding like a band that wants to play you some songs instead of wow you with technical mastery or blast you away with their heaviness.

I'd say it's easily the most unique tech death album of the year and is a far cry from the band's previous releases, leaning way more into the progressive side of things than the tech side of things like their last two did. I'm not aware of anything that is pretty similar to it, but if someone else does please share!

As to why it's being missed, I think it's a mix of two things. For the tech death fans, it's admittedly not very intense or "heavy" compared some of the other releases in the genre, and for people who actually enjoy the complicated guitar "wank" as many call it, it doesn't offer much of that. It actually seems it would be considered "tech death for people who don't like tech death" more, but I'm thinking most of those people don't even bother with the genre anymore so they haven't given it a chance.


Since I'm opening things up, I'll add an honorable mention for the Encyrcle's self-titled album as my traditional/speed metal album of the year. Great "old school" atmosphere without sounding like it's trying too hard, excellent vocals, well placed speedy sections with just a hint of technicality at the right times to keep things sounding "sharp", catchy riffs and choruses, and a fitting production. Other than a slightly repetitive chorus on one of the songs, I'm not sure what more you could want from an album in the genre.

Not sure why it's going missed other than the fact that it's on Unspeakable Axe, which is a great young label but most of their lineup is thrash or death oriented, and they are sub-label of Dark Descent, also a death metal label... I'd guess a lot of people looking for more traditional metal aren't really checking those labels out to find it.

Edit: Here are links if anyone is interested:
http://deepsendrecords.bandcamp.com/album/overflow
http://unspeakableaxerecords.bandcamp.com/album/encyrcle

Pretty sure barely a single person gave a shit about my 2 A'sOTY. The Great Tyrant, a finishing up of a previously unfinished album from Pinkish Black members - some kind of Swan's-ish experiental rock number, which I saw only a few mentions of here and there, and the other was Echoes of Yul's release. Despite not being an unknown band, it got little to no fanfare. Is an amazing album nonetheless, being a very poised and varied, almost Boards of Canada-driven, mix of drone and other pockets of sonic experimentation. Very chilled but also constantly interesting.

^The Great Tyrant was amazing.

At least someone else thinks so :'(

I care about The Healing The title track is my most-played song of 2015.

I have yet to find album made in 2015 which i like ...

Written by Paz on 08.01.2016 at 14:55

I care about The Healing The title track is my most-played song of 2015.

I did not know that. People should let me know of these things so I feel less like a weirdo outsider.

Written by ANGEL REAPER on 08.01.2016 at 14:59

I have yet to find album made in 2015 which i like ...

Or the last 20 years for that matter ;P

Written by mz on 08.01.2016 at 15:01

Written by ANGEL REAPER on 08.01.2016 at 14:59

I have yet to find album made in 2015 which i like ...

Or the last 20 years for that matter ;P

Its all about reception.

Written by [user id=4365] on 08.01.2016 at 14:19

Pretty sure barely a single person gave a shit about my 2 A'sOTY. The Great Tyrant, a finishing up of a previously unfinished album from Pinkish Black members - some kind of Swan's-ish experiental rock number, which I saw only a few mentions of here and there, and the other was Echoes of Yul's release. Despite not being an unknown band, it got little to no fanfare. Is an amazing album nonetheless, being a very poised and varied, almost Boards of Canada-driven, mix of drone and other pockets of sonic experimentation. Very chilled but also constantly interesting.

Both albums sound good, but its not metal, have to be in a indie-phase to like this.

Written by [user id=157444] on 08.01.2016 at 15:07


Both albums sound good, but its not metal, have to be in a indie-phase to like this.

-Morbid- never specified that it had to be metal. :

Written by mz on 08.01.2016 at 15:01

Written by ANGEL REAPER on 08.01.2016 at 14:59

I have yet to find album made in 2015 which i like ...

Or the last 20 years for that matter ;P

no honesty ,i dont listen to much new music that comes out to begin with and well of everything i heard in last year i really didnt liked anything. I mean there were some decent ,good records but they didnt stick to me.

Written by [user id=4365] on 08.01.2016 at 15:09

Written by [user id=157444] on 08.01.2016 at 15:07


Both albums sound good, but its not metal, have to be in a indie-phase to like this.

-Morbid- never specified that it had to be metal. :

Oh, I'm gonna point out my favourite 2015 j-pop records then

Written by Karlabos on 08.01.2016 at 15:15

Oh, I'm gonna point out my favourite 2015 j-pop records then

....I meant to write Soilwork. I slipped and fell on the keyboard and accidentally typed out two non-metal bands. Really.

Grey Heaven Fall - Black Wisdom

Written by Zreenco on 08.01.2016 at 16:20

Grey Heaven Fall - Black Wisdom

I care about that album, a lot

Written by [user id=4365] on 08.01.2016 at 16:25

Written by Zreenco on 08.01.2016 at 16:20

Grey Heaven Fall - Black Wisdom

I care about that album, a lot

But there's 10 of us.. or so it seems. I mean, their loss... but still. it's a shame.

Written by [user id=4365] on 08.01.2016 at 14:49

At least someone else thinks so :'(

Dude, plenty of peopple in the recommendation thread thought so too, including me. And I haven't listened to the other one you mentioned so I'll give it a shot soon.

Written by Zap on 08.01.2016 at 17:11

Dude, plenty of peopple in the recommendation thread thought so too, including me. And I haven't listened to the other one you mentioned so I'll give it a shot soon.

I meant more outside of MS. I think I only saw it on one foreign end of year list.

Alright that's fair enough then.

Not that no one else is mentioning it, but I care a lot about the new Aderlating album... and I seem to be the only person taking it as Mories AOTY of 2015 over the GTT/DIS collab

Written by Auntie Sahar on 08.01.2016 at 18:13

Not that no one else is mentioning it, but I care a lot about the new Aderlating album... and I seem to be the only person taking it as Mories AOTY of 2015 over the GTT/DIS collab

Nope, definitely my MAotY as well.

Written by Zap on 08.01.2016 at 18:22

Nope, definitely my MAotY as well.

Weee, hop aboard the dark ambient train then!

Most of my favorite albums from 2015 seem to be appreciated enough by other people, so I'll just go with my favorite Home-Country album of the year, which is Lugubrum's Herval. Haven't seen enough people mention that one, even though it's great and probably the band's best work. Possibly the most "fun" album I heard in 2015, if that means anything to anyone.

Written by Auntie Sahar on 08.01.2016 at 18:29

Weee, hop aboard the dark ambient train then!

For some reason I got this image in my head when you said that:

Written by Zap on 08.01.2016 at 18:31

For some reason I got this image in my head when you said that:

I was thinking more like this



But whatever floats your boat, mang

That's a nice photo.

Written by [user id=4365] on 08.01.2016 at 14:19

The Great Tyrant

I enjoyed that one a great deal but I admit I wouldn't have thought of it had you not brought it up. Will be giving it a few more spins now.
I'll also have to check out The Healing.

My pick for 2015 darling is Hadean's On Fading. It's a wonderful piece of sonic experimentation that I know a few people on here got into a little bit, but I think it deserves a lot more love.

Written by Nimlot on 08.01.2016 at 19:42

I enjoyed that one a great deal but I admit I wouldn't have thought of it had you not brought it up. Will be giving it a few more spins now.
I'll also have to check out The Healing.

My pick for 2015 darling is Hadean's On Fading. It's a wonderful piece of sonic experimentation that I know a few people on here got into a little bit, but I think it deserves a lot more love.

The Healing I guess was never going to get much attention, it's pretty understated tbh, but I think it's super high quality stuff. That Hadean stuff hits pretty hard though. Only been listening to it for 30 seconds and there's already an onslaught of saxophone (?), electronics and weirdly upbeat feels.

Written by Zap on 08.01.2016 at 18:30

Lugubrum

Oh, yes. Lugubrum is always fun.
If you're liking it because of the tongue in cheek side, you should give these guys a shot if you still haven't.