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1.
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Carpe Noctem - In Terra Profugus
The best release (and debut) of the year. This album will caught you in an oppressive, melanconic and caotic halo, that will hypnotize you for the whole 52 minutes. |
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2.
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The Meads Of Asphodel - Sonderkommando
I was a bit unsure about this album... the second concept album away from the medieval themes of first releases and the first without their storical drummer Urakbaramel "Moros". As always Metatron has released an interesting and long pdf to explain the whole album concept (you'll see how he's taking seriously the argument). The only issue is that you must be in the right mood to listen it all. Otherwise i'll result hard to listen in some parts... Kudos to the whole band for the longest song title ever realized. |
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3.
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Summoning - Old Mornings Dawn
Should I say really something? Just they're back... Listen and enjoy this new journey. |
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4.
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Caladan Brood - Echoes Of Battle
Strong debut for a Summoning like duo from Utath, based on Malazan Book of the Fallen, bypassing the usual Tolkien. Epic, solemn at the right time, they know when it's the moment to spot an effective way to caught the listener (see "Wild Autumn Wind" and "A Voice Born Of Stone And Dust" to understand it). Original for most of the time, in some parts they're just like austrian well know band, expecially drums, that reminds Dol Guldur and Minas Morgul style. |
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5.
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Synkvervet - Vår Avmakt
Discovered casually, they got my attention. Far away to be innovative or experimental, this norvegian band plays simply melodic black metal without abusing too much synths (different in each song) reaching an extremely high level for all time. With a marvellous production (keep thinking they're unsinged/indipendent), it's clean, strong and extremely well balanced. A highly reccomanded pick. http://www.reverbnation.com/synkvervet |
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6.
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October Falls - The Plague Of A Coming Age
Probably the most complete and heterogeneous work from Letho, more with different tempos and more differentiation between tracks. A melanconic voyage deep in humans fears and illness. |
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7.
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Progenie Terrestre Pura - U.M.A.
I'm not a fan of eletronic based music, but those guys have captured my attention with a well played and original use of keyboards and synth in an intelligent way, mixing it up with progressive black metal, giving to the listener the feeling of the deepest loneliness space atmosphere, in a new born futuristic world. I'm still really impressed about this italian duo. Highly reccomanded. |
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8.
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Witcher - Boszorkánytánc
Mid-tempo atmospheric black metal duo with an underground aesthetic from Hungary. Melodic synths totally dominate sound, accompanying by the guitars. Bitter vocals adds a more dark depressive atmosphere the whole album. Just hope that they could improve in the next release, maybe with a better sound. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZRMIyP-9d0 |
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9.
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Thrawsunblat - Thrawsunblat II: Wanderer On The Continent Of Saplings
Rising from the ashes of Wood of Desolation (David Gold was a member too), this Joel Violette's project has just release their first album. Good thing they present a folk blacknecked metal sound based on old mariner's songs, giving some fresh (canadian) wind to the folk scene, dominated by Celtic/Humpaa oriented bands. The addition of a piano is an interesting plus to the folkish nordic cold open sea atmosphere. Another highly reccomanded pick for your booze nights. |
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10.
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Emyn Muil - Túrin Turambar Dagnir Glaurunga
Middle Earth strike again, but at least this indipendent italian one man band brings another postumus Tolkien's book "The Children of Húrin". Strong influeces from Summoning and Windir. The amosphere in this album is deeply inspired, with a promising sound. The raw approach fits really good in this underground production. www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8NYv4BoyV0 |
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11.
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Shambless - Irke Ranefas
This quite unknow bulgarian one man band show to us its 4th full lenght. Arvelss vocals improved (both screams and clean) and guitars sounds more natural, combined with some folks instruments and less keyboards and synths. Except some forced folk passages, overall is a really solid album, with its own character and distinctive melodies. |
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12.
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Soilwork - The Living Infinite
Release a double disk album is hard... and it's even more harder to release it after a long letdown albums... But finally this swedish melodeath band comes out from the dark and rise again. Across a long 80 minutes high speed marathon of 20 songs (only two songs are mid-tempo, just for a few break), Soilwork will made happy old and new fans (NOA: i'm an old fan). The most impressive new Soilwork album, carried by the new guitarits David Andersson. Hats off to the band. |
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13.
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Winternehst - Winternehst
Post Black Metal instrumental french project with some ambient and acustic elements. Another strong indipendent production. winternehst.bandcamp.com |
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14.
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Falkenbach - Asa
Close your eyes and start imaging gorgeous mountain landscapes by a bird eye view. Vakyas's trademark. Nothing more, nothing less... |
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15.
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Winter Eternal - Winter Eternal
Late 2013 album discovered recently. Another indipendent one man band, this time from Greece. Solid black metal with some atmospheric influences from Ulver. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Winter-Eternal/327134167316469 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF0JlDeLhtQ |
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16.
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Obliteration - Black Death Horizon
Ignoring the Black Metal norvegian heritage, those guys coming from the same place of Darkthrone. It may not be the tidiest or best-written album of the year, but it simply oozes fire and passion, focusing on performance and both on individuality. A new way to configure death metal percursors. |
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17.
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Hypocrisy - End Of Disclosure
What we could expect from those two decades swedish veterans if not a solid album across a long path to brainwash slavery mind control? Infact the atmosphere is the first course of this album. Each song has its own identity and could be listened alone. |
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18.
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Thyrfing - De Ödeslösa
With Varsinnesvisor they change style and lyrics, but quality doesn't affect, besides they improve. A strong production, made by tight drumming, big riffs, harsh shrieks in a great performance supported by a strong songwriting. Quality is unquestionable. |
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19.
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Horn - Konflikt |
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20.
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Vallendusk - Black Clouds Gathering
Pleasant surprise from Indonesia, commond land of brutal death metal. Unbelievably mature and professional, the band shows a warm, solid and powerful performance, expecially on guitars, with a rich orchestration both on acustics part. Everything in a full 67 minutes epic and melanconic voyage. |
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21.
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Kalmah - Seventh Swamphony |
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22.
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Eoront - Neverending Journey
A great quality syberian one man band project. Jeez, i see so few bands that comes from no man lands places with this quality. And this guy made everything alone... No instrument overpowers another, everthing is balanced: epic, atmospheric and classic black metal parts fits together in a great climax, maintaining for the whole time an evocative atmosphere. Keep an eye on this guy; it worths. eoront.bandcamp.com |
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23.
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Just Before Dawn - Precis Innan Gryningen
Pretty solid debut album for and old school death metal from Sweden and Germany. Not mindblowing, but well played. |
