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1.
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Trivium - In The Court Of The Dragon
10* - Never thought Trivium might top my album list, but I could not stop listening to this one upon its release; from my PoV by far their best work, no weak songs, title song and Phalanx are standouts |
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2.
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Swallow The Sun - Moonflowers
10* - Juha moves towards Trees of Eternity; very heart-touching album; perfect All Hallows' Grieve with Cammie Gilbert; black metal vibes on This House Has No Home sound nice as well |
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3.
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Iron Maiden - Senjutsu
9.5* - Unlike many I am a fan of 2010 IM albums and this one is on par with TTF and TBoS; the last two songs are my favourites, however Smith/Dickinson songs are also good |
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4.
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Leprous - Aphelion
9.5* - Leprous poppier approach on Pitfalls was surpising but interesting; Aphelion follows the same path though the mood is less depressive and music is more progressive |
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5.
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Soen - Imperial
9.5* - Very similar to Lotus but lacks some ingenuity; still addictive and has lots of catchy melodies and riffs |
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6.
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Evergrey - Escape Of The Phoenix
9.5* - Evergrey produces one quality album after another; many good songs, perfect production; a bit better than Atlantic |
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7.
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Kauan - Ice Fleet
9* - Charming atmosphere is here as always; this time Kauan takes traditional guitar focused post-rock approach |
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8.
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Night Crowned - Hädanfärd
9* - Very melodic and aggressive; somewhere in between Cradle of Flith and Necrophobic; much better than their previous album |
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9.
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Elderwind - Fires
9* - Atmospheric black with folk and gothic vibes from my own country; on the same level as their debut but more black than atmospheric this time; title song is one of my favourites in 2021 |
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10.
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Unto Others - Strength
9* - Mana was good but this album brings Unto Others (Idle Hands) to another level; the debut was more on gothic rock side; this record fluctuates between heavy metal and gothic; all songs are 8*+ |
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11.
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Moonspell - Hermitage
9* - It sounds like Sin/Pecado with progressive influences; not my favourite Moonspell album though much better than 1755; Greater Good and Entitlement will be on my 2021 top songs list |
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12.
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Omnium Gatherum - Origin
9* - It's not even melodic death metal but trad / prog metal with growls; the first part is very easy-to-listen, the second is more progressive; overall - nice album |
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13.
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Panopticon - ...And Again Into The Light
9* - I don't like the production on this record but it's the only thing which annoys me; songs, melodies and atmosphere are entrancing |
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14.
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Mare Cognitum - Solar Paroxysm
9* - Quite typical atmoblack but very melodic and very atmospheric; small confirmation why I like MC songs more than Spectral Lore on Wanderers; the first and the last song I like the most |
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15.
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Der Weg Einer Freiheit - Noktvrn
9* - DGEF always had this small post-metal influence in their sound; curtain has been drawn now: it's 60/40 black metal vs post metal release; interesting that both parts are fine; Monument and Immortal are my favourites |
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16.
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Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d's Pee At State's End!
9* - GY!BE are back; their best album since 2002; hands down |
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17.
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Ethereal Shroud - Trisagion
9* - Superb piece of art; atmoblack mixed with doom and post metal parts; a bit long and repetitive - the only reason why it's not at the very top of my list |
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18.
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Be'lakor - Coherence
8.5* - Winner of 2021 top albums on MS; nothing new, but the same level as their previous albums, which is enough to understand its quality |
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19.
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Thy Catafalque - Vadak
8.5* - My favourite album from Tamas; comparing to Geometria and Naiv it has better production with heavier sound and gothic influences on top of traditional TC folk/black base |
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20.
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Sleep Token - This Place Will Become Your Tomb
8.5* - My guilty pleasure in 2021; accidentally listened to this one via Spotify recommendations and tbh I do not know why but I liked it so much; probably Katatonia vibes made it for me |
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21.
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Marianas Rest - Fata Morgana
8.5* - Nice gothic doom / melodic death metal album, one of the surprises this year; title song in my top 5 in 2021, very desperate |
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22.
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Amenra - De Doorn
8.5* - Definitely a step down in comparison with Mass VI; too much 'spoken word'; I hoped Oathbreaker singer would bring some fresh air, but her contributions are barely noticable; though still a solid album; best song - De Evermens |
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23.
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Impure Wilhelmina - Antidote
8.5* - Shame on me I had not heard anything about this band until I read a review on AMG; Katatonia or maybe Anathema vocals with post metal guitars; the last track brings me memories of the Amanes from Tiamat's Amanethes |
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24.
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Cradle Of Filth - Existence Is Futile
8.5* - The only problem with this album that it's too long; other than that the album is almost as good as its two predcessors |
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25.
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Archspire - Bleed The Future
8.5* - I not a fan of tech death but this one broke my heart; so melodic, heavy, mindblowing and addictive; probably my all time favourite from this genre |
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26.
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Wardruna - Kvitravn
8.5* - Little bit worse than Runaljod, better than Skald; listening to it a lot before going to sleep; dark and relaxing at the same time |
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27.
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The Ruins Of Beverast - The Thule Grimoires
8.5* - Gothic and doom influences are so high here that I might not consider it being black metal anymore; among my top3 from TRoB; Ropes Into Eden and Anchoress in Furs are lovely |
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28.
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Steven Wilson - The Future Bites
8.5* - I like this hated album; especially Personal Shopper and King Ghost; also deluxe box set contains few tracks that are better than few on the main release |
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29.
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In Mourning - The Bleeding Veil
8.5* - Good album but without highlights; the band develops their Garden of storms progressive style; previous attempt was definitely stronger |
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30.
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Demoniac (CHL) - So It Goes
8.5* - Interesting thrash discovery from Chile; sounds like it was made in 80s; progressive 19 min title song, use of clarinet and beautifiul solo in Equilibrio Fatal would make it thrash classics if released by a classic band |
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31.
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Déhà - A Luminous Constant
8.5* - This guy creates numerous albums each year; this is the poppiest album he ever made; it was recorded on twitch stream which makes the whole story even more weird; consists of blackgaze, shoegaze, gothic metal and even pop punk; Pluie has so beautiful melodies |
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32.
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Dormant Ordeal - The Grand Scheme Of Things
8.5* - My fav dissonant death metal album of this year |
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33.
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Dvne - Etemen Ænka
8* - Nice mix of post and progressive metal |
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34.
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Clouds - Despărțire
8* - Quite a disappoinment; I expected it to be stronger with Mick Moss and Aaron Stainthorpe on board; few songs e.g. A Pain for All Your Tears are still great |
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35.
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Max Richter - Voices 2
8* - Beautful melancholic modern classic |
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36.
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Grima - Rotten Garden
8* - Atmospheric black from the depths of Siberia; a little weaker than their previous one; I prefer Elderwind's release to Grima's but Rotten Garden is good |
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37.
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Empyrium - Über Den Sternen
8* - A mix of dark folk, Summoning and gothic doom; recommended for listening before going to sleep |
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38.
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Gojira - Fortitude
8* - Worse than their classics but better than Magma; enjoyed it a lot |
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39.
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1914 - Where Fear And Weapons Meet
8* - Powerful continuation of the topic; favourites - fn .380 acp#19074 and 7th song with Nick Holmes; would be fun if they play live show with Kanonenfieber and Minenwerfer in Saraevo :) |
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40.
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Vola - Witness
8* - Poppy djent meets progressive metal; better than previous one |
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41.
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Fallensun - The Wake Of The Fall
8* - One of new MDM instances for me; first song is huge |
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42.
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Suffocate For Fuck Sake - Fyra
8* - Challenging experience with four stories about addictions; musically post metal, post rock, metalcore, screamo and spoken word which for some reason does not spoil it |
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43.
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Lake Of Tears - Ominous
8* - Probably a final album from Daniel who's suffering from leukemia and telling us a story about his sickness and how he copes with it |
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44.
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Dream Theater - A View From The Top Of The World
7.5* - The Alien and Invisible Monster are good but the rest is uneven, DTish in bad meaning |
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45.
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Silver Lake - Silver Lake By Esa Holopainen
7.5* - Light Amorphis for breakfast listening |
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46.
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Atvm - Famine, Putrid And Fucking Endless
7.5* - Another surprise, new progressive death metal band from the UK with 90s sound; would be higher on the list if I was more death metal fan |
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47.
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파란노을 (Parannoul) - To See the Next Part of the Dream
7.5* - Emo lo-fi album; creates nostalgic feelings |
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48.
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Tribulation - Where The Gloom Becomes Sound
7.5* - Tribulation continues Down Below story, good but nothing spectacular |
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49.
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ISON - Aurora
7.5* - Relaxing shoegaze with many famous female singers |
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50.
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Dordeduh - Har
7.5* - Progressive metal and black metal in a single bottle; the best out of 3 ex-Negura Bunget releases |
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51.
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Moanaa - Embers
7.5* - Some cool post metal from Poland, quite standard |
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52.
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Urne - Serpent & Spirit
7.5* - Some cool post metal from London, not that standard but with several weaknesses here and there |
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53.
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Rye - Вечное
7.5* - Very interesting mix of funeral doom and blackgaze from my city; would be in top 20 if all songs were blackgaze with the same quality |
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54.
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Iotunn - Access All Worlds
7.5* - Well-known release from new supergroup; unfortunately did not click with me much |
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55.
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Michał Łapaj - Are you there
7.5* - A solo album from Riverside keyboardist; songs with Mick Moss sound like it was Antimatter; the rest of the album is weaker |
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56.
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Sur Austru - Obârșie
7.5* - Another Negura Bunget fragment with more folk influences comparing to Dordeduh |
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57.
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Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & London Symphony Orchestra - Promises
7.5* - A beautiful modern classic album; a bit repetitive; my family members feel happy when I start listening to this instead of Plebeian Grandstand |
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58.
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Trhä - Endlhëtonëg
7.5* - Such a weird thing; dungeon synth with raw and atmospheric black metal; sounds like it was recorded in a barrel; becomes very addictive if you are into it |
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59.
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Burial In The Sky - The Consumed Self
7.5* - Polished tech/melodic death metal with progressive influences |
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60.
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Auld Ridge - Consanguineous Tales of Bloodshed and Treachery
7.5* - Raw black / doom lofi with acoustic parts, reminds me of early Emperor and Ulver |
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61.
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Yoth Iria - As The Flame Withers
7* - 80s black metal and heavy metal mix which starts good and then becomes boring |
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62.
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Spaceslug - Memorial
7* - Melancholic or even depressive stoner; I do not like stoner rock / metal that's the problem; otherwise very beautiful album |
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63.
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Dola - Czasy
7* - Antsy post metal; lacks structure but the mood is exciting |
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64.
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Rivers Of Nihil - The Work
7* - The biggest disappointment for me this year; I liked their previous effort so much; it's still a good album but my expectations were extremely high; however high expectations is my problem; 7* |
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65.
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Stortregn - Impermanence
7* - Tech / melodic death played very well |
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66.
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Ferriterium - Calvaire
7* - French atmoblack, quality flow without big standouts |
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67.
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Ad Nauseam - Imperative Imperceptible Impulse
7* - Dissodeath; some people praise it as the best metal album of the year, others hate it; I am in between; it has good and bad moments; worth listening |
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68.
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White Ward - Debemur Morti
7* - Cool mix of black, post metal, heavy and dark jazz; but there's just 2 songs |
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69.
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Asphyx - Necroceros
7* - Famous old band, good album; Molten Black Earth reminds me of Bolt Thrower |
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70.
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Chevelle - NIRATIAS
7* - Their best release in years; alternative metal / rock and sometimes hard rock is there |
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71.
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Bloodred Hourglass - Your Highness
7* - Standard melodeath except the first song where metalcore influences could be found; very very long with bonus tracks which are not good at all |
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72.
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Cult Of Luna - The Raging River
7* - Sounds like leftovers from A Dawn to Fear, though Three Bridges is nice |
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73.
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Shadecrown - Solitarian
7* - Standard but good melodeath / gothic doom album from Finland |
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74.
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Converge - Bloodmoon: I [Collaboration]
7* - Gothic metalcore; I was surprised I liked it because I do not like both artists from this collaboration |
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75.
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Cân Bardd - Devoured By The Oak
7* - Quite good but passable atmoblack with folk influences |
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76.
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Wormwood - Arkivet
7* - Very melodic this time but not that inventive; their weaker release up to date |
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77.
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She Said Destroy - Succession
7* - Mix of post metal and metalcore with blackgaze; some songs are good, others I can't stand |
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78.
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Terminus - The Silent Bell Toll
7* - Mix of Leprous, Iron Maiden and stoner metal; something new for me |
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79.
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Plebeian Grandstand - Rien Ne Suffit
7* - This is not for everyone; noise, black, metalcore with dissonant approach |
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80.
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Spectral Wound - A Diabolic Thirst
7* - Standard black / atmoblack; powerful but I like Mare Cognitum more |
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81.
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First Fragment - Gloire Éternelle
7* - Second tech death release in my top 100; surprising for me; very professional and has classical metal touch but far too long |
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82.
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Insomnium - Argent Moon
7* - EP with one good song (The Conjurer) and 3 mediocre |
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83.
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Decline Of The I - Johannes
7* - Dark mixture of post and black metal |
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84.
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Sol Sistere - Sol Sistere
7* - Another good atmoblack album which turns into blackgaze from time to time |
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85.
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Mastodon - Hushed And Grim
7* - Huge fan of the first part while the second ruins it for me; surely better than Emperor of sand |
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86.
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Obscura - A Valediction
7* - Tech death with melodeath elements; weaker than Diluvium |
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87.
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Defacement - Defacement
7* - Dark and dissonant death / black |
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88.
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Ghost Bath - Self Loather
7* - My fav depressive black album this year |
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89.
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Subterranean Masquerade - Mountain Fever
7* - Progressive metal with oriental sounds; quite bumpy album |
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90.
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Groza - The Redemptive End
7* - Similar to Mgla and Uada; last three songs are better than the beginning |
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91.
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So Hideous - None But A Pure Heart Can Sing
7* - Non standard post metal approach here, interesting but short |
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92.
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Ikarie - Cuerpos En Sombra
7* - Standard post metal approach here, good |
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93.
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Khemmis - Deceiver
7* - My favourite album from them; I like harsh vocals and MDM guitars |
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94.
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Black Sites - Untrue
7* - Modern heavy metal with post metal sound, well done |
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95.
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Dreamwell - Modern Grotesque
7* - My fav screamo record this year |
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96.
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Mono - Pilgrimage Of The Soul
7* - Post rock dinosaur is here, far from GY!BE level but still impressive |
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97.
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Suffering Hour - The Cyclic Reckoning
7* - Attractive black / death with weird guitar tone |
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98.
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Crown - The End Of All Things
7* - Darkwave from ex-sludge metallers, a bit boring but has its moments |
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99.
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Evadne - The Pale Light Of Fireflies
7* - Similar to early Swallow the Sun or another gothic doom band from 00s era |
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100.
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Memoriam - To The End
7* - Death metal from Birmingham with Karl Willetts on vocals; worse that previous one |
