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1.
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Mesarthim - Isolate
[Atmospheric Black Metal] PRAISE THE STAFF PICK!! Cosmic atmospheric black metal. Apart from the fact that one does not see such a description so often, Isolate is one of the most interesting releases I've heard all year. A record with flawless production and mesmerizing atmosphere. |
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2.
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Ahab - The Boats Of The Glen Carrig
[Funeral Doom Metal] This is what the weight of the ocean feels like. And it was definitely worth the 3 years of waiting. |
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3.
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Myrkur - Myrkur
[Folk/Black Metal] The record I probably heard the most often throughout 2015. Myrkur's approach to black metal involves classic sound, folk passages, almost freezing choir interludes and sirenic chants. Gives me chills each time I spin it. |
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4.
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Deafheaven - New Bermuda
[Blackgaze] Haters gonna hate. Deafheaven did a great job with Sunbather and what they did here is rather unique. Instead of sticking with what worked the last time, they took their own style and crushed it to the ground. It's raw, it's aggressive and I like it. |
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5.
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Leprous - The Congregation
[Avant-Garde Metal] Yes, they delivered. Though not as catchy as Tall Poppy Syndrome, still a highly enjoyable record. Each song has its own nature, but they somehow fit together, owing mainly to Solberg's tremendous vocal job. |
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6.
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Vattnet Viskar - Settler
[Atmospheric Black Metal] I love things that happen when a bunch of creative people approaches black metal. It is hard to describe Settler by any other term than "interesting". Starting with the cover (really, look up the reference before you start bitching about it), through the music itself to the overall production, the feeling of otherness continues. |
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7.
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Kauan - Sorni Nai
[Post-Rock/Doom/Folk Metal] Let's be honest - I love Kauan. These guys somehow remain below the radar of majority of listeners (or at least it appears so). Although they are usually labelled as post-rock, their music blends post with folk elements and intensive doom metal. And it's as atmospheric as it can get. |
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8.
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Sivyj Yar - Burial Shrouds
[Pagan Black Metal] Music from (and about) the times none of us would like to live in. Perfectly composed, produced and played. And quite a surprise. |
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9.
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Iron Maiden - The Book Of Souls
[Heavy Metal] I really don't get what people keep bragging about in case of this one. Sure, their greatest era has passed, but come on - instead of delivering a derivate of their previous work or simply The Number of the Beast vol. II, they took a different direction and produced an album which is not only enjoyable, but feels different with each listen. And that counts. |
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10.
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Royal Thunder - Crooked Doors
[Stoner/Heavy Metal] This was not the love at first listen. Nevertheless, the album grows on you and gets gradually better with each listen. I love the old school feeling it is infused with, its simplicity and the variety of moods it adopts. And above all, Parsonz is an incredible vocalist. |
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11.
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Solefald - World Metal. Kosmopolis Sud
[Avant-Garde Metal] Somehow it seems Solefald are becoming gradually underrated, probably due to the fact that they tend to experiment a lot. Pushing the boundaries of what can be called "avant-garde", they take their metal to unexpected places which reward anyone willing to listen (and not afraid of electronic elements). |
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12.
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Horrendous - Anareta
[Death Metal] There's nothing I could write about this that hasn't been written already. Death metal at its purest. |
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13.
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Volahn - Aq'Ab'Al
[Black Metal] You think you've ever heard a record which caught you totally unprepared and you couldn't tell where it will go the next second? Wait for this, because?to hell with it, QUETZAAALCOAAAATL!! |
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14.
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Chelsea Wolfe - Abyss
[Experimental Rock] Dark. Atmospheric. Mesmerizing. And not to be judged before you've heard it all. Not everything has to yell or growl. |
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15.
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Clutch - Psychic Warfare
[Stoner rock] Thoroughly enjoyable, awesome, and catchy. What else should I write about Clutch? Simply another stoner killer and a mighty follow-up of Earth Rocker. |
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16.
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High On Fire - Luminiferous
[Stoner Metal/Sludge] Another great High on Fire release. I wonder how long they are going to keep up the pace, the energy, and all the savageness their music blasts into the listener (not to mention the evolution of sound). The Cave is an amazing song. |
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17.
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Mgła - Exercises In Futility
[Black Metal] Yeah, it gets a lot of praise (and a lot of hate here on MS). And honestly, I have no idea why I like it as much as I do. Perhaps the fact that Mgła's black metal does not experiment with anything other than black metal itself. No infusions, no doom/post/avant-garde/etc. influences. Just old school. |
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18.
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Slugdge - Dim & Slimeridden Kingdoms
[Blackened Death Metal] Slugdge are kind of weird with all their slime infested universe, but they sure as hell make great music around it. It's as if you could almost feel how much they enjoy hailing the great mollusc (or whatever they use as a greeting). |
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19.
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Marilyn Manson - The Pale Emperor
[Alternative Rock] Finally, Manson without the pose, the drug/alcohol/whatever states and without trying to be excessively artistic. Instead, he chose to experiment with blues, atmosphere and melancholy, but in a darker way. Simply put, The Pale Emperor is a great album. |
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20.
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Obsequiae - Aria Of Vernal Tombs
[Folk/Black Metal] I do not understand why this record is so underrated. If nothing else, the sound is quite unique, not to mention the composition qualities and the overall atmosphere. After all, how many Middle-Age black metal records did you hear in 2015? |
