 |
1.
|
Psychonaut - Violate Consensus Reality
All of the promise of the amazing debut record has been backed up in abundance. |
 |
2.
|
Disillusion - Ayam
Arguably a step up from an already fantastic comeback record in The Liberation. |
 |
3.
|
Persefone - Metanoia
Righted a few of the minor qualms I had with Aathma, it's a fantastic demonstration of this band's immense talent. |
 |
4.
|
Kardashev - Liminal Rite
My most played record from this year, it's got such a wonderfully haunting atmosphere to it. |
 |
5.
|
Shadow Of Intent - Elegy
Stepped up the integration of symphonic elements into deathcore to a new level, it's such a well-composed synthesis that's backed up with some banging songs. |
 |
6.
|
An Abstract Illusion - Woe
An admirable progression from a solid debut record that nicely expands their musical breadth. |
 |
7.
|
Panzerfaust - The Suns Of Perdition - Chapter III: The Astral Drain
Another step towards post-metal, and one that works excellently for them. |
 |
8.
|
Rolo Tomassi - Where Myth Becomes Memory
It's not another Time Will Die..., but it never was going to be; it's still an excellent addition to their discography. |
 |
9.
|
Elder - Innate Passage
The vocals are improved, and these are yet more delectable proggy stoner/psychedelic jams. |
 |
10.
|
Playgrounded - The Death Of Death
A new name for me in the prog/post-metal sphere, and another demonstration of why this sphere of music is so compelling - terrible band/album names though. |
 |
11.
|
Hath - All That Was Promised
An able stand-in for Slugdge while waiting for that band to eventually return. |
 |
12.
|
Wake - Thought Form Descent
The grindcore days move further away in the rear view mirror; Wake are fully prog now, and all the better for it. |
 |
13.
|
Conjurer - Páthos
An impressive expansion of the pulverizing gemitsch of sounds on the debut, bringing in some well integrated melodic touches to great effect. |
 |
14.
|
Amorphis - Halo
Probably their least remarkable record since The Beginning Of Times, but even Amorphis on autopilot is incredibly infectious for me. |
 |
15.
|
Pure Reason Revolution - Above Cirrus
Lacks the highest moments of Eupnea, but confirms the comeback of PRR as an unmitigated success. |
 |
16.
|
Path Of Might - Deep Chrome
Prog-post-stoner-sludge-doom-etc blend of sounds that comes together excellently. |
 |
17.
|
Kurokuma - Born Of Obsidian
Great groovy repetition-based sludge-doom debut, one that goes a good way to replicating the immense live experience these guys deliver. |
 |
18.
|
Mathan - Darkroot Tzantza
I love the way that tribal percussion is integrated into this record. |
 |
19.
|
Allegaeon - Damnum
Really pushing the melodic inclinations here works great, with some fantastic clean vocal hooks lightening up the record. |
 |
20.
|
Humanotone - A Flourishing Fall In A Grain Of Sand
Has Elder's problem in terms of rough vocals, but also has Elder's charm of making great long-form stoner/psych jam ventures that work so well. |
 |
21.
|
Ode And Elegy - Ode And Elegy
A fascinating concept realized with aplomb. |
 |
22.
|
Fallujah - Empyrean
So great to hear Fallujah doing Fallujah things again after the huge disappointment of Undying Light, and they don't sound like they've missed a beat here. |
 |
23.
|
Cult Of Luna - The Long Road North
Not the band's best by any stretch of the imaginatino, but even below-par Cult Of Luna is a great experience for me. |
|
24.
|
Ott - Heads
I really wish I had space for more non-metal on this list, but there's just been too much metal that I've enjoyed; Ott brought the goods though with the psybient mellowness here. |
|
25.
|
Backxwash - His Happiness Shall Come First Even Though We Are Suffering
The most hip-hop of the trilogy of albums, and yet probably the best; I don't really like hip-hop, but Backxwash is the exception that proves the rule; such a cracking run of albums she's on. |
