Another great year down. 2015 was one of the strongest in recent memory. My list is quite diverse this year, which just means that no subgenres really stood out among others this time around. As always, feel free to make recommendations in the comments or get in touch to discuss your favorites.
Click on the band – album for the review link (if applicable). Click the cover art for music.
T H I R T Y
Band of Spice – Economic Dancers
“The strongest Swedish stoner rock offering of the year.”
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T W E N T Y – N I N E
Odetosun – The Dark Dunes of Titan
“Of Saturnine moons and making death metal progressive again.”
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T W E N T Y – E I G H T
A Sound of Thunder – Tales From the Deadside
“This is what happens when traditional metal bands listen to lots of doom.”
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T W E N T Y – S E V E N
“Progressive, atmospheric, beautiful. Bear witness to the slow fading of sunlight.” _______________________________________________
T W E N T Y – S I X
“Transcendental black metal to journey through chaos and darkness.” ________________________________________________
T W E N T Y – F I V E
Nocternity – Harps of the Ancient Temples
“Pulsing Hellenic glory straight from the stronghold.”
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T W E N T Y – F O U R
“Occult and esoteric ruminations by way of barbaric atavism.” ____________________________________________________
T W E N T Y – T H R E E
“Nocturnus Horrendus returns with a batch of cold fire.”
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T W E N T Y – T W O
“Anneke’s finest hour.'”
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T W E N T Y – O N E
“The current peak of Russian black metal.”
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T W E N T Y
Katavasia – Sacrilegious Testament
“The new awakening of Hellenic black metal.”
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N I N E T E E N
Non Opus Dei – Diabeł
“What the hell did I just listen to? It still doesn’t make sense, but I like it.” _______________________________________________
E I G H T E E N
“Primitive and beastly death metal. An unholy amalgamation of all things heavy” ____________________________________________________
S E V E N T E E N
Judicator – At the Expense of Humanity
“Blind who? Judicator does Blind Guardian better than Blind Guardian.” _________________________________________________
S I X T E E N
Gravewürm – Doomed to Eternity
“In a land that time forgot,
Destruction of man, evil sought.
Banners were carried near and far,
The howling death wolves of Isengard.”
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F I F T E E N
“Health scares don’t mean a thing, baby.”
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F O U R T E E N
“Near perfect neofolk. They kinda came out of nowhere, but I’m glad their here” ___________________________________________________
T H I R T E E N
Satan’s Host – Pre-Dating God, Parts 1 & 2
“I’d much rather have this than another Jag Panzer album.” __________________________________________________
T W E L V E
Gloaming – Keep Close the Watchfires
“Don’t go it alone. Things in the night have sharp teeth.”
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E L E V E N
“All hail the wintry realms of New England.”
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T E N
Gotsu Totsu Kotsu (兀突骨) – Insane Battlefield (狂気ノ戦野)
“Inhuman Japanese death metal that is better than what you normally listen to.” ______________________________________________________
N I N E
Archgoat – The Apocalyptic Triumphator
“The band that every other black/death band wants to be.” ________________________________________________
E I G H T
Human Serpent – Inhumane Minimalism
“Entering nihilistic waters.”
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S E V E N
“Glittertind goes folk pop and nails it.”
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S I X
Panopticon – Autumn Eternal
“Hymns to grandeur of autumn landscapes.”
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F I V E
Macabre Omen – Gods of War – At War
“The glory of Bathory taken for a ride through Hellenic waters.” _________________________________________________
F O U R
“Psychic warfare is real. You better believe it, brother.” ____________________________________________________
T H R E E
“The cold realization that nothing matters, ever.”
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T W O
Obsequiae – Aria of Vernal Tombs
“Tombs and greenery. Medieval folk metal of the highest order.” __________________________________________________
O N E
“Blending blackened folk metal with traditional Native American instruments,
Heart of Akamon is 2015’s greatest triumph.”
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