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1.
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Evenoire - Herons
An atomic bomb of metal music, this proggy, heavy, symphonic band has more than come into their own with their sophomore album. Well-used folk elements and the most ass-kicking vocals I've heard in years complete the picture of interesting songwriting and strong performances all around. Beautiful, dark, and unique metal that will hold your interest long after other albums have spun out. (I cannot stop listening. I think they put heroin in this record...) |
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2.
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Evergrey - Hymns For The Broken
The king has regained his throne, the maestro has picked up his baton, and balance and beauty are restored to the world. Evergrey is back with perhaps their best album yet, certainly their most intensely sorrowful and heart-wrenchingly beautiful. Dark, melodic prog knows no bounds. |
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3.
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Wayfarer - Children Of The Iron Age
An atmospheric, Cascadian black metal debut for the ages. What these Coloradans have spun into a single record, many bands couldn't create in a lifetime. Smooth and arcing, while harsh and pained, this is truly "music for mountains," as they call themselves," for it is as colossal an album as the Rocky Mountains. |
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4.
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November-7 - Awaraxid 7mg
November-7 exemplifies energetic heavy/melodic metal with industrial, electronic, and alternative elements. Songs have immediately unique personalities that play into each other so well so as to create one musical experience. Drums are hard-hitting and guitars still more driving, yet it's the clever melodies, the dark harmonies, and the well-placed electronic elements that caught (and held) my attention. Since writing my review in November, this album has continued to grow in my esteem and refuses to let me go. |
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5.
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Sivyj Yar - From The Dead Villages' Darkness
As our illustrious reviewer Windrider depicted, this is black metal best enjoyed by an evening fire with a glass of wine or fine whiskey. I will not attempt to best that description. |
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6.
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Anaal Nathrakh - Desideratum
Another journey through time and space and filth and pain and beauty and raw power and darkness. Anaal Nathrakh once again explore music and find new ways to simultaneously torment and please their listeners. |
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7.
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Morost - Solace In Solitude
Progressive death metal from lovely Slovenia, Morost adds plenty of groove with an absolutely thundering bass. Don't forget beauty among this harshness as well as great (and well-performed) lyrics. One of my favorite band discoveries of the year. |
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8.
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Delain - The Human Contradiction
Possibly my surprise of the year, this band has dragged themselves out of the swamp of blandness that is commercialized pop metal. What they lay before us is quality, and while it is still very pop-influenced, the songwriting is interesting and engaging, as are the stellar performances. Not at all what I'd expected, and I'm still listening. |
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9.
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Schammasch - Contradiction
The Extreme Metal Fusion Album Of The Year. Ambitious and complex and full, full of everything spectacular about extreme metal music. |
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10.
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Narrow House - Thanathonaut
A softer approach than their debut, doomsters Narrow House offer a no less varied, surprising, and interesting album. |
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11.
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We Are The Catalyst - Monuments
One of my most listened albums this year. Alternative metal with kick-ass female and male vocals and a nice -core quality laying beneath. Electronic elements win Best Supporting Actress. Perhaps it's not "better" than the next few albums when subject to a critical analysis, but I loved the shit out it and this is my list. Go ahead, give it a try. I won't tell. |
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12.
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Arbor - Echoes Over Oceans
Another shimmering sophomore album following a take-notice debut from 2012. These cold, icy tunes will satisfy your need for melodic black metal, folk metal, post-love, and so many others. This journey is a serious record that will make you smile; it's intellectual while floating on atmosphere and emotion. It's all these things and more. |
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13.
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Soen - Tellurian
Pure and clean, this male-fronted alternative metal band shows us what beauty and sorrow really encompass. There are few finer examples of the beauty in simplicity this year. |
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14.
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Head Phones President - Disillusion
Their previous release was my album of the year, so of course it was hard to top. Disillusion shows the crazy alt metallers streamline things a bit, while still holding onto their intense versatility, both musically and vocally. It's gorgeous, it's harsh, it's vast landscapes in between. Vocalist Anza continues to seriously do it ALL, screaming, yellowing, and singing beautifully over a wide range. They pour their hearts, their love, their frustrations, their souls into each record and Disillusion is yet another journey through humanity. |
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15.
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Bloodshot Dawn - Demons
Melodeath that will just have you bathing in the guitar solos and leads. You'll swim, you'll float, and you let the warmth and vastness wash over you. Don't think for a second that this affects the harshness, the brutality; "death" is still a part of "melodeath." This time it's just enhanced beyond measure. |
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16.
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Ravenscry - The Attraction Of Opposites
What is with me and sophomore albums this year? I will take it as a sign that the NEXT GENERATION of metal giants has arrived and is letting us know. If Bloodshot Dawn plays Worf, Arbor plays Data, and Narrow House plays Guinan, then Ravenscry plays Riker: the strong, stalwart character who is so much more versatile than the casual viewer realizes. Alternative metal has rarely been so solid, with unique female vocals and a beauty that takes them to the edge of several other genres. It's solid, a stalwart in their discography, with hidden variety all over the streamlined tunes. |
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17.
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Equilibrium - Erdentempel
Your favorite epic Vikings are back and better than ever. If you've considered giving up on this band then don't: this record will get you all gooey again. |
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18.
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Arcana Coelestia - Nomas
No but seriously: they put the fun in funeral doom. I've never been so entertained by this sub-genre. The album is varied and exciting, without loosing the nature and spirit of funeral doom. Dare I say epic? |
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19.
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Darkest Era - Severance
A band who found their voice in a wonderful way. This sophomore album of heavy, doomed folk metal is brought to life by the renewed energy of its players, and the focused songwriting. Dark, yet fun. |
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20.
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Yama - Ananta
Dutch stoner metallers Yama show that the road to Tillburg runs straight through Memphis, NOLA, and the old American west. Bluesy moods and harmonica are oh so welcome, and I swear I saw tumbleweeds rolling behind John Wayne during the first moments of "Hollow." A solid and hugely enjoyable debut from these former Clandestine Cut Of The Year nominees. Get the vinylz. |
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21.
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Arsafes - Ratocracy
Industrial death metal solo album by the multi talented Russian Roman "Arsafes" Iskorostenskiy. The album is surprisingly varied, while keeping a high level of intensity from start to finish. Melody and clean vocals creep in here and there to create a multi-dimensional universe of music. |
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22.
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Anubis Gate - Horizons
Showing that they're still the same band who released The Detached and Andromeda Unchained, Anubis Gate will once again stop your heart. These intense proggers are still recovering from losing their magical vocalist before the last album, but they're filling the void more adequately. An excellent release. |
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23.
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Usnea - Random Cosmic Violence
An "occult-tinged blackened doom" debut from the USA's dark and beautiful Pacific Northwest. Our reviewer Apothecary bemoaned that great albums go sadly unnoticed each year, so don't YOU let this be one of them! It's a complete and complex record that should fascinate fans of doom and convert non-fans. The aforementioned review predicted that this masterpiece is only a sign of things to come and I heartily agree. |
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24.
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Winter In Eden - Court Of Conscience
Winter In Eden has been hinting at strong potential for the past 2 albums; this third release finally realizes that potential and announces them as a member of the symphonic metal imperial court. It's solid, just that, with very lovely tunes and great performances all around. It's much more chill than other symph albums, leaving "bombastic" to the other lord and ladies. Chillax a bit with Winter In Eden; let them show you a different side of symphonic metal. |
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25.
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Kobra And The Lotus - High Priestess
Balls out, balls to the wall, and other such heavy metal taglines are devoured by Kobra & The Lotus. They do hard, they do heavy, and they do awesome. Catchy tunes, a strong helping of beauty, and great performances are bonded together by some top-notch songwriting that keeps it quite interesting and never grows dull. |
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26.
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Noveria - Risen
The best power metal album you didn't hear this year. A bit heavier than others, and bit more varied, and featuring no unicorns (whether that's a good or bad thing to you is your problem). This is power metal plus. Now go be the first of your friends to hear this. |
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27.
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Within Temptation - Hydra
Love them or hate them, Within Temptation fought to the top of their genre and is enjoying every second of their reign. Always evolving, Hydra is a hugely energetic, fun as hell, easily lovable album. Some people didn't like the strong rock element, but some people aren't going to like something about all of their albums. I dug it! |
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28.
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Ancient Bards - A New Dawn Ending
I may vote Sara Squadrini as the greatest current power metal vocalist. At the very least she's top 5. The voice is not like anyone else, but she does everything everyone else can do only more (and better). Add that to Ancient Bard's hugely symphonic metal music (plus some absolutely punishing drums) and the result is the grandest, most epic, aurally pleasing euro-power metal being made. Cheesy? You bet your ass. OVERLY cheesy? No fucking way. |
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29.
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Witch Mountain - Mobile Of Angels
The goodbye song of vocalist Uta Plotkin is another splendid album from Witch Mountain. It's bittersweet. But don't forget the "sweet." Doom metal has never tasted so tart, tangy, and delicious as when played by Witch Mountain, and Mobile Of Angels is no exception. It's a little too short to be as epic as their others but the songs are just as wonderful as ever. Who knows what will become of their special sound in the future, so be sure to enjoy this end-of-an-era record. |
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30.
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Harmony - Theatre Of Redemption
A beautifully constructed power metal album of the more traditional variety. Shades of mid-period Kamelot here and there influence many intense, dark harmonies, while other songs embody the major key in a lovely way. An excellent and appropriate vocal performance tops off some interesting and adept guitar work. For power metal fans who felt a bit underwhelmed by the other standard releases this year, Harmony will add a new staple to your collection. |
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31.
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Sinmara - Aphotic Womb
The best black metal album you didn't hear this year. Also, special points for being one of my favorite album covers this year. I cannot stop staring at all and smiling. Anyway, these Icelanders create solid black metal as cold, dark, and beautiful as their country. You can hear the snow, the ice, the waters warmed by volcanic heat, and the dancing northern lights all woven into their concrete sound. |
