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1.
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My Dying Bride - Turn Loose The Swans
Nothing comes close to the elegant and desolately despondent feeling of this album when alone on a cold night. Go ahead...turn the lights on, have some chamomile tea, read an inspiring book...You still won't be able to shed the lasting darkness of this one. |
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2.
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Sentenced - Down
"I think I'll just put my head into the noose..." |
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3.
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Mercyful Fate - In The Shadows
King fits in with any kind of darkness, be it spooky, violent, or depressing. This particular album seems to do the most for me in the winter. |
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4.
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Arch Enemy - Stigmata
Back in the Johan Liiva days, this group retained a sense of melancholy and pain that is almost completely absent from their modern releases, largely due to Johan's pained and emotional vocals that lack the technique of Angela's venomous expulsions, but have a ton more raw conviction. |
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5.
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Carcass - Heartwork
The impending studio album of looooooong awaited new material has me so excited that I've been listening to all eras from them. It's only a matter of time before I even break out Swansong... |
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6.
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Kamelot - Ghost Opera
Most definitely a dark album in both content and performance for this otherwise more upbeat group of masterclass musicians. I favor this release for this reason. |
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7.
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Vektor - Outer Isolation
There's plenty to be impressed by these Voivodian Coroners...but what really gets me is the vocals. Hell yes. |
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8.
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Bell Witch - Longing
My soul dies upon every listen. |
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9.
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Sonata Arctica - Reckoning Night
Tony Kakko's stream-of-consciousness tales of musical sentiment seem to work for me lately. |
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10.
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Kraanium - Ten Acts Of Sickening Perversity
Man...I just have to have some braindead, putrefying, pure-and-simple grossout fun in every listening experience. Lately, this has been that ear-snack. |
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11.
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Nile - Black Seeds Of Vengeance
Always has been and always will be my favorite album from these masters. |
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12.
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Avulsed - Gorespattered Suicide
This is the perfect mix of fun, bad-taste, grit, polish, and even...um...beauty, that is...if you are sick enough to absolutely LOVE a band like Avulsed... |
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13.
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Eluveitie - Helvetios
One of the most touching, uplifting, eclectic, and furious bands to ever grace my tainted ears. This sounds wonderful on a day spent walking in nature. |
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14.
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Samael - Eternal
Quite a bit of Samael has been gracing my speakers this chilling season...yet, "Eternal" seems to hit me just right. My favorite of the less old-school sound from these black magicians. |
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15.
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Tidfall - Nucleus
Ended up buying this one on a whim...yet it's turned out to be quite enjoyable. Ironically (for my tastes) I wish they would do a little more electro/trancey stuff to their sound, as opposed to the whole total 3rd-wave black metal with robots on top. However, it is pretty darn quality stuff anyhoo. |
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16.
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Gnaw Their Tongues - various different tracks
Not sure if makes me feel better about my insane tendencies...or solidifies my lunacy... |
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17.
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Disma - Towards The Megalith
I miss Craig Pillard-era Incantation. This band that he now fronts fills a hole in my heart...with more emptiness. There's something about his presence that makes this little room seem like the vast, bleak hell from the painting in Seven Doors Of Death... |
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18.
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Ghost - Opus Eponymous
This is classic, subculture entertainment. Horror, Satan, vintage-amps, guitar harmonies, and melodic vocals from a demonic monastery led by a skullfaced pope. (The fact that Papa Emeritus sings beautifully, with a gentle, yet sometimes villainous tone only makes it *better*...not lacking, as the kiddies think...) |
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19.
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Skeletonwitch - Beyond The Permafrost
Jeebuz effin' Kroikey...you can't get more METAL than this. And it's a bit "wintery". |
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20.
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Pathology - Legacy Of The Ancients
The fact that Way is back on vocals got me thirsty for this one lately. Urgh! |
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21.
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Lifelover - Dekadens
Somewhat uptempo (at times), suicidal, rotten bliss always makes me smile that deathly grin... |
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22.
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More to come... |
