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1.
|
Towards - III
(99.8%) Funeral Doom Metal, Atmospheric/Progressive Doom Metal/Folk with Classical and Black Metal Influences - Finland |
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2.
|
Kraken Duumvirate - The Stars Below, The Seas Above
(99.2%) Experimental Blackened Doom Metal/Post-Metal/Dark Ambient, Atmospheric Doom Metal with Progressive Electronic Influences - Finland |
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3.
|
Circle Of Ouroborus - Viimeinen Juoksu
(98.0%) Experimental Black Metal - Finland |
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4.
|
Imha Tarikat - Sternenberster
(96.3%) Black Metal with Folk and Post-Black Metal Influences - Germany |
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5.
|
Drown - Subaqueous
(95.5%) Funeral Doom Metal/Post-Metal - United States |
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6.
|
Khthoniik Cerviiks - Æequiizoiikum
(95.4%) Avant-Garde/Death/Black Metal with Hardcore Punk Influences - Germany |
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7.
|
Shezmu - À Travers Les Lambeaux
(95.3%) Death/Black Metal with Atmospheric, Slam/Brutal Death Metal, Folk, and Dark Ambient/Drone Influences - Canada |
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8.
|
Firelink - Firelink
(95.1%) Melodic Death/Black Metal, Progressive Metal with Atmospheric/Epic, Neoclassical, Metalcore/Post-Hardcore, Technical, and Jazz Fusion Influences - United States |
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9.
|
Kaatayra - Toda História Pela Frente
(94.4%) Atmospheric/Melodic Black Metal/Folk - Brazil |
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10.
|
Evaporated Sores - Ulcerous Dimensions
(94.2%) Industrial/Blackened Death/Doom Metal, Technical/Avant-Garde Death Metal/Power Electronics with Noise and Jazz Influences - United States |
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11.
|
Ygg - The Last Scald
(93.9%) Black Metal - Ukraine |
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12.
|
Yaldabaoth - That Which Whets The Saccharine Palate
(93.5%) Technical/Avant-Garde Black Metal - United States |
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13.
|
Ominous Resurrection - Judgement
(93.1%) Psychedelic Black/Heavy Metal, Dark Metal with Avant-Garde Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Dark Ambient, and Gothic Influences - United States |
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14.
|
Nero Di Marte - Immoto
(93.1%) Technical/Avant-Garde Death Metal/Post-Metal, Ambient - Italy |
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15.
|
Redwood Hill - Ender
(92.8%) Post-Black/Sludge/Post-Metal with Drone Influences - Denmark |
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16.
|
The Crooked Whispers - Satanic Melodies
(92.7%) Stoner/Doom Metal, Sludge/Death Metal with Psychedelic Rock and Black Metal Influences - United States |
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17.
|
Pyrrhon - Abscess Time
(92.5%) Technical/Avant-Garde Death Metal, Mathcore, Noise Rock with Goregrind, Slam Metal, and Black Metal Influences - United States |
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18.
|
Biesy - Transsatanizm
(92.3%) Black Metal/Electronic with Avant-Garde, EDM, Industrial, and Epic Influences - Poland |
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19.
|
Limbs - Soft Narcosis
(92.0%) Mathcore/Screamo, Grindcore with Progressive Metal, Industrial, Punk, Jazz, Electronics, and Stoner Metal Influences - Philippines |
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20.
|
Isengard - Vårjevndøgn
(91.9%) Black/Heavy/Doom Metal, Power Metal with Experimental, Stoner Metal, Folk/Dream Pop, Hardcore Punk, and Speed Metal Influences - Norway |
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21.
|
Kall - Brand
(91.8%) Black Metal with Post-Metal, Punk, Smooth/Avant-Garde Jazz, Psychedelic/Progressive Rock, Avant-Garde Metal, Sludge/Doom Metal, Stoner/Alternative Rock, Folk, and Field Recordings Influences - Sweden |
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22.
|
Fluisteraars - Bloem
(91.8%) Black Metal - Netherlands |
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23.
|
Lantern - Dimensions
(91.6%) Black/Death Metal with Melodic and Psychedelic Influences - Finland |
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24.
|
Esoctrilihum - Eternity Of Shaog
(91.2%) Atmospheric/Avant-Garde/Progressive Death/Black Metal with Epic/Symphonic Influences - France |
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25.
|
Ulcerate - Stare Into Death And Be Still
(91.1%) Technical/Avant-Garde Death/Black Metal, Atmospheric Sludge Metal - New Zealand |
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26.
|
Temple Nightside - Pillars Of Damnation
(91.1%) Blackened Death Metal - Australia |
|
27.
|
Oldowan Gash - Hubris Unchained
(90.7%) Black Metal with Psychedelic Influences - United States |
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28.
|
Amnutseba - Emanatism
(90.5%) Black/Death/Industrial Metal - France |
|
29.
|
Eye Of Nix - Ligeia
(90.3%) Avant-Garde Doom/Post-Black Metal - United States |
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30.
|
The Hirsch Effekt - Kollaps
(89.7%) Art Rock, Mathcore/Post-Hardcore, Extreme/Progressive Metal with Alternative/Post-Rock, Pop, Electronic, Modern Classical, Ambient, and Hip-Hop Influences - Germany |
|
31.
|
Akantha - Gnothi Seauton
(89.5%) Black Metal - Greece |
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32.
|
Skáphe - Skáphe³
(88.8%) Atmospheric/Psychedelic Black Metal with Dark Ambient, Avant-Garde, Melodic, and Drone Influences - United States; Iceland |
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33.
|
Encenathrakh - Thraakethraaeate Thraithraake
(88.8%) Technical/Avant-Garde Brutal Death Metal with Slam Metal, Electronic, and Funk Influences - United States |
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34.
|
M.S.W. - Obliviosus
(88.8%) Blackened/Atmospheric Doom Metal - United States |
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35.
|
Black Curse - Endless Wound
(88.8%) Death Metal - United States |
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36.
|
Elephant Tree - Habits
(88.7%) Stoner Metal/Dream Pop with Psychedelic/Blues/Progressive Rock, Acoustic Rock/Folk, Electronic, and Shoegaze Influences - United Kingdom |
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37.
|
Armagedda - Svindeldjup Ättestup
(88.7%) Black Metal with Avant-Garde Metal Influences - Sweden |
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38.
|
Oranssi Pazuzu - Mestarin Kynsi
(88.4%) Atmospheric/Psychedelic Black Metal/Dark Ambient, Space/Progressive Rock with Post-Punk Influences - Finland |
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39.
|
Kommodus - Kommodus
(88.3%) Raw/Black Metal with Crust Punk, Doom Metal, Folk, Psychedelic Rock, and Post-Black Metal Influences - Australia |
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40.
|
Focusrights - Ew, Music!
(88.3%) Technical/Avant-Garde Progressive Metal/Mathcore, Grindcore/Electronic with Jazz Fusion and Folk Influences - Ukraine; Russia |
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41.
|
Ceremonial Bloodbath - The Tides Of Blood
(88.0%) Blackened Death Metal/Grindcore with Progressive Death Metal, Death/Doom Metal, and Field Recordings Influences - Canada |
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42.
|
Dola - Dola
(88.0%) Atmospheric Sludge/Doom/Post-Metal, Ambient/Ritual Ambient/Acoustic with Black Metal, Jazz, and Punk Influences - Poland |
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43.
|
Gardenjia - Egosvm
(87.6%) Avant-Garde Black Metal with Blackened Death Metal, Sludge Metal, and Mathcore Influences - Italy |
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44.
|
Sweven - The Eternal Resonance
(87.1%) Progressive Death Metal/Psychedelic Rock - Sweden |
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45.
|
Vagina Witchcraft - Vagina Witchcraft
(87.1%) Psychedelic Heavy/Stoner/Doom Metal, Screamo/Hardcore Punk with Avant-Garde Metal and Sludge Metal Influences - Canada |
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46.
|
Worm - Gloomlord
(86.7%) Blackened Death/Doom Metal with Black Metal and Funeral Doom Metal Influences - United States |
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47.
|
Sivyj Yar - Горе
(86.6%) Atmospheric Post-Black Metal/Post-Rock with Depressive Black Metal, Shoegaze, Psychedelic Rock, and Post-Hardcore Influences - Russia |
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48.
|
Odraza - Rzeczom
(86.2%) Black Metal with Experimental Influences - Poland |
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49.
|
Doldrum - The Knocking
(86.0%) Avant-Garde Black Metal - United States |
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50.
|
White Stones - Kuarahy
(85.9%) Progressive Death Metal/Hard Rock with Blues and Jazz Influences - Spain |
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51.
|
Thy Catafalque - Naiv
(85.9%) Experimental/Progressive Metal with Folk, Electronic, Progressive Black Metal, Death/Doom Metal, Jazz, Funk, and Doom Metal Influences - Hungary |
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52.
|
Faidra - Six Voices Inside
(85.6%) Atmospheric Black Metal - Sweden |
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53.
|
Pestilength - Eilatik
(85.5%) Blackened Death Metal - Spain |
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54.
|
NyreDolk - IndeBrændt
(85.3%) Black/Hardcore Punk/Industrial/Doom Metal, Noise Rock with Dark Ambient Influences - Denmark |
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55.
|
Witches Hammer - Damnation Is My Salvation
(85.1%) Black/Death/Thrash Metal with Speed Metal Influences - Canada |
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56.
|
Undergang - Aldrig I Livet
(85.1%) Death Metal with Punk Influences - Denmark |
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57.
|
Anhedonist - Abject Darkness / Ineffable Winds [Split]
(85.1%) Death/Doom Metal - United States |
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58.
|
Self Hypnosis - Contagion Of Despair
(85.0%) Psychedelic/Progressive Sludge/Doom/Industrial Metal, Funeral Doom Metal with Dungeon Synth, Stoner Metal, and Epic Influences - United Kingdom |
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59.
|
Malokarpatan - Krupinské Ohne
(84.9%) Black/Heavy/Speed/Folk Metal with Progressive Electronic, Neoclassical, and Pagan Influences - Slovakia |
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60.
|
Allelic - À Contre Vent
(84.8%) Atmospheric/Melodic Black Metal/Folk, Heavy Metal - Canada |
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61.
|
Velnias - Scion Of Aether
(84.8%) Blackened/Atmospheric Sludge Metal/Post-Metal, Psychedelic Rock with Doom Metal/Folk, Drone/Noise, and Post-Rock Influences - United States |
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62.
|
Mountain Witch - Extinct Cults
(84.8%) Stoner/Doom Metal/Hard Rock - Germany |
|
63.
|
Albionic Hermeticism - Swēsaz Ambos [Split]
(84.8%) Black Metal/Ambient with Gothic Influences & Black Metal with Avant-Garde Influences - United Kingdom |
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64.
|
Hellripper - The Affair Of The Poisons
(84.7%) Black/Speed/Heavy Metal - United Kingdom |
|
65.
|
Zolle - Macello
(84.7%) Instrumental, Avant-Garde/Progressive Sludge/Stoner Metal with Hard Rock Influences - Italy |
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66.
|
Autolith - Caustic Light
(84.6%) Sludge Metal/Crust Punk with Death Metal and Hardcore Influences - United States |
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67.
|
SVNTH - Spring In Blue
(84.6%) Atmospheric/Post-Black Metal/Post-Rock with Shoegaze and Funeral Doom Metal Influences - Italy |
|
68.
|
Venus Star - Calling All Lokas
(84.6%) Death/Doom Metal - Finland |
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69.
|
Wrekmeister Harmonies - We Love To Look At The Carnage
(84.4%) Drone/Doom Metal, Post-Metal/Ambient with Gothic Influences - United States |
|
70.
|
Seven Chains - Thus She Speaks, The Spiraling Maranatha
(84.4%) Avant-Garde Death/Black Metal/Dark Ambient with Jazz, Industrial, and Psychedelic Influences - United States |
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71.
|
Indricothere - ALTRRN
(84.4%) Instrumental, Blackened/Progressive Metal, Dark/Ambient with Avant-Garde Metal, Space Ambient, and Progressive Death Metal Influences - United States |
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72.
|
Garganjua - Toward The Sun
(84.3%) Sludge/Doom/Post-Metal, Metalcore with Black Metal Influences - United Kingdom |
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73.
|
Lotus Thief - Oresteia
(84.3%) Post-Rock with Metal, Ambient, and Electronic Influences - United States |
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74.
|
Thecodontion - Supercontinent
(84.3%) Avant-Garde Death/Black Metal - Italy |
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75.
|
Cauldron Black Ram - Slaver
(84.2%) Death Metal with Progressive Death Metal, Heavy/Doom Metal, Crust Punk, and Black/Speed Metal Influences - Australia |
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76.
|
Cavern - Powdered
(84.2%) Heavy Psychedelic/Alternative/Post-Rock, Sludge/Post-Metal with Electronic Influences - United States |
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77.
|
Guignol Noir - Mantric Malediction
(84.1%) Black Metal - Switzerland |
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78.
|
Head Of The Demon - Deadly Black Doom
(84.0%) Black/Doom Metal, Psychedelic Rock/Hard Rock - Sweden |
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79.
|
Afterbirth - Four Dimensional Flesh
(84.0%) Technical/Atmospheric/Progressive Brutal Death Metal with Slam Metal, Post-Rock, and Ambient Influences - United States (Long Island, New York) |
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80.
|
Contrastic - Mamun
(83.9%) Experimental Death Metal/Grindcore, Hardcore/Mathcore, Space Rock with EDM Influences - Czechia |
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81.
|
Sxuperion - Omniscient Pulse
(83.9%) Atmospheric Death Metal - United States |
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82.
|
Miasmal Sabbath - Ominous Radiance
(83.8%) Black/Death/Doom Metal/Crust Punk - Greece |
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83.
|
Ars Magna Umbrae - Apotheosis
(83.8%) Black Metal - Poland |
|
84.
|
Sadistic Drive - Anthropophagy
(83.8%) Death Metal/Hardcore Punk - Finland |
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85.
|
Convocation - Ashes Coalesce
(83.7%) Funeral Doom/Progressive Death Metal with Gothic Influences - Finland |
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86.
|
Jordablod - The Cabinet Of Numinous Song
(83.7%) Experimental Black Metal/Psychedelic Rock - Sweden |
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87.
|
Purification - Perfect Doctrine
(83.7%) Psychedelic/Doom Metal, Stoner Metal/Noise Rock with Punk and Nature Recordings Influences - United States |
 |
88.
|
Shedfromthebody - A Dead And Aimless Hum
(83.7%) Ethereal Wave, Doom Metal/Shoegaze/Alternative/Post-Metal with Sludge/Stoner Metal Influences - Finland |
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89.
|
Gama Bomb - Sea Savage
(83.6%) Thrash/Speed/Power Metal with Heavy Metal Influences - United Kingdom; Ireland |
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90.
|
Balmog - Pillars Of Salt
(83.5%) Black Metal with Psychedelic Rock and Post-Punk Influences - Spain |
 |
91.
|
Sadness (USA) - Atna
(83.5%) Raw/Depressive Black Metal/Post-Rock with Atmospheric and Dream Pop Influences - United States |
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92.
|
Ingrina - Siste Lys
(83.4%) Post-Black/Sludge/Post-Metal/Dark Ambient, Shoegaze - France |
|
93.
|
Rïcïnn - Nereïd
(83.4%) Neoclassical Darkwave, Art Pop with Folk, Progressive Rock, Gothic Metal, Electronic/Chiptune, Sludge/Doom Metal, and Breakbeat Influences - France |
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94.
|
Pale Divine - Consequence Of Time
(83.3%) Heavy/Doom Metal with Melodic, Heavy/Speed Metal, and Progressive Rock Influences - United States |
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95.
|
White Magician - Dealers Of Divinity
(83.3%) Heavy Metal - United States |
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96.
|
Urnscent - Of Simurgh And Ascent
(83.3%) Atmospheric Funeral Doom Metal with Chamber Music and Epic/Medieval Influences - Iran |
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97.
|
Pallbearer - Forgotten Days
(83.3%) Doom Metal - United States |
|
98.
|
Familiars - All In Good Time
(83.3%) Stoner/Psychedelic Rock/Shoegaze, Stoner Metal with Blues, Bluegrass, and Electronic Influences - Canada |
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99.
|
Begotten (CAN) - If All You Have Known Is Winter
(83.3%) Depressive Black Metal - Canada |
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100.
|
Afsky - Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død
(83.2%) Black Metal with Atmospheric Folk and Depressive Black Metal Influences - Denmark |
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101.
|
Honorable Mentions: |
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102.
|
Infant Island - Beneath
(83.2%) Hardcore/Post-Metal, Noise - United States - RANKED #101 - Harmonious mix of chaos and serenity. |
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103.
|
Tortuga - Deities
(82.7%) Psychedelic Stoner/Doom Metal with Space Rock, Drone, and Jazz Influences - Poland - RANKED #113 - Hypnotic psychedelia throughout. Quirkiness added to the vocals really embellishes their sound to another level. |
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104.
|
Angellore - Rien Ne Devait Mourir
(82.2%) Atmospheric Gothic/Doom/Death/Folk Metal with Symphonic and Atmospheric Black Metal Influences - France - RANKED #125 - One of the only albums from the year in question to get me all teary-eyed from Lucia's voice. |
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105.
|
Occlith - Gates, Doorways, And Endings
(82.0%) Sludge/Doom Metal with Gothic/Psychedelic Rock, Post-Metal, Industrial Metal, and Black Metal Influences - United States - RANKED #129 - Some of the densest, heaviest sludge/doom I've heard all year. |
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106.
|
Vein - Old Data In A New Machine Vol. 1
(82.0%) Experimental Hardcore with Emo/Screamo, Jungle, Alternative Metal, Nu-Metal/Metalcore, Drum and Bass, and Deathcore Influences - United States - RANKED #130 - Takes generally crappy genres of metal and makes something great out of it. |
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107.
|
Witchcraft (FIN) - Dead Christ Prayer [Split]
(81.5%) Black/Death Metal - Finland - RANKED #136 - Opened my eyes to be more appreciative of war metal. |
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108.
|
Bríi - Entre Tudo Que É Visto E Oculto
(81.3%) Atmospheric/Ambient Black Metal/Electronic, Progressive Metal with EDM, Psychedelic, Folk, Doom Metal, and Glitch Influences - Brazil - RANKED #143 - If you enjoyed Kaatayra there's a chance you might like this as well. This release got me interested in checking out more trance/techno-oriented albums. |
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109.
|
Grin - Translucent Blades
(81.2%) Sludge/Stoner Metal - Germany - RANKED #144 - If you generally dislike stoner metal maybe this is a good entry point if you like black metal vibes with ethereal qualities. Not talking blackgaze though. |
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110.
|
Xazraug - Unsympathetic Empyrean
(77.3%) Instrumental, Symphonic/Atmospheric/Avant-Garde Black Metal with Space Ambient, Metalcore, and Operatic Influences - United States - RANKED #199 - Greatest thing about this is the way it's mixed. Symphonic elements don't drown the rest of the music. Instead, the instrumentation focuses on subtle atmosphere. |
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111.
|
Vulgarite - Fear Not The Dark Nor The Sun's Return
(73.2%) Atmospheric Black/Doom Metal/Dark Ambient - United States - RANKED #237 - First track has some of the best dark atmosphere I've heard all year. Think Silent Hill-ish. |
