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Non-metal
Listen queue: Haeiresis, Eosphoros, Carpe Noctem, Psicosfera, Ars Magna Umbrae, Dysylumn, Sorcier Des Glaces, Dauþuz, Mare, Imperial Triumphant, Aseroe, Spite, Wolvennest, Mask, Plaguestorm, Mahr, Kosmogyr, Foehammer, Bismarck, Famyne, Morphinist
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1.
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Cult Of Occult - Anti Life Earth shatteringly intense and dry, life-sucked-out doom ~ France |
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2.
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Imperial Triumphant - Vile Luxury Avant-garde / Jazz black ~ USA - A maddening fusion of extreme metal sound with jazz-like and free flowing playing style featuring sax, trumpet and trombone among others to give an atmospheric feel of walking down the underground jazz scene of yesteryear newyork whilst simultaneously having an extreme metal band along with you. Inspired by 1927's Metropolis and the greatest metal love letter to New york from New york itself. |
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3.
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Esoctrilihum - Pandaemorthium (Forbidden Formulas To Awaken The Blind Sovereigns Of Nothingness) Black/death ~ France - Highly black metal infused death thats harsh, harrowing and ravaging. Not heavy but with a piercing and focused sound. |
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4.
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Esoctrilihum - Inhüma Black/death ~ France - As if it the first one wasn't enough just 8 months later this one man band puts out a second full length of hyperfast black metal with a thick highly double bass driven drumming which is one of the highlights of this album. Absolutely stellar year for this artist. |
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5.
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Entropia (POL) - Vacuum Psychedelic Black ~ Poland - Not many bands have the balls to pull off a 15 minute opener but Entropia have pulled it off and made it work effortlessly. Ufonaut was one of the best black metal releases of 2016 and so I was really looking forward to the new one and it has delivered in spades. One of the better modern black metal bands. |
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6.
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Panopticon - The Scars Of Man On The Once Nameless Wilderness Black / Folk ~ USA - Austin Lunn just refuses to bow down to conventions. Just when you think they are going to slow down and take it easy not to suck up and play safe the risks they are taking seem to get bigger and bigger. Recently their release frequency was steadily increasing since Kentucky and now not only have they managed to maintain the frequency but come up with probably what is their masterpiece. The first album is a vicious brand of their usual atmospheric black albeit less folk inclined but still enjoyable and the second is an epic folk / acoustic showdown. One of the highlights of black metal for this year. |
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7.
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Orator (USA) - Kallipolis Technical Death ~ USA - Marco Pitruzzella is one of my favorite drummers in the metal scene. I've always remembered his underappreciated work in Brain Drill, Anamolous, Monumental Torment. His performance here ranks among his best. Best thing about this where he is just a session drummer is how well the guitarists have given him space to unlock his potential and let him unleash his havoc. Its amazing how well their playing fits his hyperfast drumming style. I wish he keeps working with these guys in the future as well because its a such a good combination. |
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8.
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Slugdge - Esoteric Malacology Black/Technical death ~ UK - High contender for extreme metal album of the year. Songwriting quality is off the charts here. The bass and drums feel more organic than ever and the songs are really memorable with great hooks as well without becoming cheesy or melodic. Top notch production qualities. |
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9.
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Comatose Vigil A.K. - Evangelium Nihil Funeral Doom ~ Russia ~ Synth driven funeral doom like a companion to early Monolithe records. Pounding, desolate and immeasurably heavy. |
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10.
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Thoren - Gwarth I Avant-garde / black ~ USA ~ Basically like a more blackened and progressive instrumental companion album to the Imperial Triumphant album this year sans the sax but featuring the inhuman work of drummers Kenny Grohowski and Alex Cohen from the bands Imperial Triumphant and Malignancy, Pyrrhon, Epistasis, Involuntary Convulsion respectively. Also features members of Convulsion, Evilyn, Vihaan etc. |
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11.
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Ottone Pesante - Apocalips Avant-garde black ~ Italy - Ridiculously weird and inimitable instrumental avant-garde metal that features only brass instruments plus a drum. Probably the world's only all-brass metal band. On the same pedestal as bands like Botanist, Geyron, Om etc. This is what I actually call Avant-garde metal instead of the pseudo experimental shit out there that just features prog metal with just some additional instruments. Vocal parts could've been more frequent though as they were absolutely brilliant. Listen: https://ottonepesante.bandcamp.com/album/apocalips |
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12.
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/---------------------------------------------------- Death ------------------------------------------------------/ |
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13.
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Deceased - Ghostly White |
Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
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