Quite bittersweet to the ears of one attempting to make something good out of being down and out. The nature-y parts soothe, while the minor-chord songwriting engulfs that sad spirit within...

Because he's brilliant, that's why.

Don't remember if I have this on other lists, but I play the shit out of it all year. No need to explain why (but for you that don't know - it's just legendary.) Also - there's a cover of the brilliant artist above.

The of the album says it all...for those times when extreme metal is no longer extreme enough for your tainted ears.

Every bit as good as the more famous of the black/death bands.

Satisfying my immoral and tasteless side...

This is one of this well-known power metal heroes' best releases. It has it all.

If you are a death metal fan and don't know this release; you need a serious priority-check.

A criminally underrated release of the kind of blackened melodic death metal that denies the fluffier side of said sub-genre. Essential.

Anyone who is a fan of Devin Townsend all the way to Voivod (with a more constantly extreme and doomy approach) will eat this up...though at times it is seemingly unrelenting in foul mood.

Yeah, I get a little crusty from time to time.

I typically shy away from tech-ey, machine-like music of this sort, but these guys pull off the whole progressive death sound so well it somehow breathes soul into it. I love this damn release.

Mories is one of my musical (anti)heroes, and this racket gives me goosebumps as his projects always do.

I mentioned "depressive", and this is like an equally morose friend giving you a lifeless hug while stating that goodness is gone and not coming back anyhow.

Symphonic 3rd wave black metal with no trace of the more commercial of this fragile sub-genre's crop. Quality stuff.

More of a rock-based band than their name and album cover suggest, but it's melancholy is quite metal to me.

Lovely and atmospheric blackness done right.

A good mix of old-school death with a primarily black metal basis, making my inner demons smile.

A pure classic of alternative metal that stands the test of time.

And my guilt is I just began listening to them. Tight and convincing melodic/technical death metal devoid of soullessness.