Articles : Prarthana’s Top Albums of 2015

As is tradition in our little world, it’s time for the annual ultimetal list (excuse the bad pun, it had to be said). Metal being as diverse as it is, 2015 especially has been a year that has seen a vast number of extremely contrasting releases make my playlists: each one truly standing apart and in its own league from the others. So here are my musical fascinations from this year.

20. Lamb of God – VII: Sturm Und Drang

One of the world’s greatest band’s made a brutal, powerful comeback this year with their recent release; which essentially sums up their entire career. Lamb of God dropping ‘Still Echoes’ in the most intriguing way and just out of the blue was how I managed to bruise a good part of my elbow, going completely apeshit. The tracks are EXACTLY what you’d expect from the Richmond metallers: crushing, brutal and intense; ripping your sense of hearing to shreds. The band’s experiences reflect on this album very strongly – there is so much going on that there’s no time to stop for a breather except for when Randy forges his way through ‘Overlord’ with his clean vocals. It’s fierce, powerful, and, as I always like to say, will blow your brains out your arse. Check out “Still Echoes”.

19. God Is An Astronaut – Helios/Erebus

Arguably one of the finest albums in the genre of post-rock, released by this band in the duration of their 13 odd years together. The sheer charm of a GIAA record is undeniable but there is so much more that has gone into this album in terms of emotion, ambiance and the near-perfect song structures. The haunting notes of the piano linger alongside the mesmerizing guitar creating textures that are otherworldly, especially with little funk-influenced bits that add to the beauty. Not to forget the instrumentation and song-writing are perfectly combined and prove how this band excel beyond expectations when it comes to developing a sound that they can certainly call their own. Check out “Helios/Erebus“.

18. Shining – International Blackjazz Society

Multi-instrumentalist Jorgen Munkeby and his band  are nothing short of the world’s greatest jazz metallers as they have proven once again with this release. How glorious it sounds combining two contrasting genres to create a bloody masterpiece. This album exhibits the band evolving with a very distinct sound of their own, experimenting with a lot more melodic and symphonic elements leading to that very haunting atmosphere on the album. It hits a high level of obscurity, energy and was the most interesting release for me this year. Check out: “Last Day“.

17. Black Breath – Slaves Beyond Death

‘Brutal’ doesn’t even begin to describe Black Breath and their 2015 release, ‘Slaves Beyond Death’. This album is a complete aural assault right from the opening track: the music is merciless, with punishing death metal riffs throughout roaring at break-neck speeds and with lots of groove to boot. It’s one of those downright fierce records that make you want to rage and rage hard. Check out “Reaping Flesh“.

16. Pomegranate Tiger – Boundless

One man progressive act, Martin Andres (plus his guests) has finally graced the world with more of his musical finery in the form of ‘Boundless’, an absolutely perfect blend of progressive metal with fluid rhythms and those charming medieval-sounding undertones. The djent force is strong with this one. However, on tracks like ‘Manifesto’, there’s a fun element as it sounds like it could be the soundtrack to a metallic ballet of sorts. A brilliant instrumental release that sees this band move further away from the classic choppy breakdowns to a more progressive, melodic and rhythm-laden style. Check out “Manifesto“.

15. Ahab – The Boats of the Glenn Carigg

Germany’s renowned nautical funeral doom outfit left me in complete awe with their latest offering to the world: a series of heavy, dense and magnificent tracks inspired by the work of William Hope Hodgson’s in-depth imagination. I found myself drifting away completely into a world of powerful, mystical creatures which seems relevant to the music. They have integrated more progressive elements this time around with occasional moments of intense emotion and sombre atmospheres. It’s definitely one of the best by this band. Check out “Like Red Foam (The Great Storm)“.

14. Gorod – A Maze of Recycled Creeds

Extreme music is what this band does and they do it so bloody well. Its dynamic guitar riffs and spurts of airyness add to the magnificence while there’s a little funk and jazz thrown in for good measure that turn up the uniqueness of their sound. The thing I love most of this album from Gorod is that there is something for everyone – whether it’s that weird, rhythmic vibe that you can sort of dance around to or the more melodic sections and the death metal feel throughout keeping things heavy and exciting. The best kind of modern metal there is. Check out “Temple to the Art“.

13. Lustre – Blossom

One release that blew me away completely this year was this one. It took me a while to process how genius the music was and to really get into it.  Lustre is a one-man band formed by multi-instrumentalist Nachtzeit. Ambient black metal at it’s finest, Lustre captures the beauty of the dark and it reflects in his thought-provoking and majestic album; creating an absolutely incredible album. A definite must-have for those of you who truly like to go on a visual journey with your music. Again listen to the full album here.

12. Swallow The Sun – Songs From The North I, II & III

I’m biased when it comes to Scandinavia and their innate connection to melodic death metal. So when this bomb of a triple album found its way to me it was definitely an early Christmas. It did take me a good few listens over a couple of weeks to process and take in each one as there is a lot of music. But the beauty behind Swallow The Sun’s ballsiness is the fact that each one of the three albums tells its own story. The complete shift in music creates that much more of a musical journey for me. It’s hard to pick out one track to listen to from a triple album release, so go listen to it! But since I have to, one of my favourites would be “Heartstrings Shattering”.

11. Cryptopsy – The Book Of Suffering: Tome 1

Another tech-death win would be this masterpiece from the Canadian metallers, Cryptopsy. Absolutely punishing from start to finish (filled with gruesome vocals, unorthodox time changes and groove-laden blast beats), the sheer ferocity of this EP is enough to make you want to mosh in the middle of your living room. What appealed to me the most about this release however is the band’s ability to blend in some class death metal riffage with a deathcore vibe but still in tune with Cryptopsy’s reputation for being just downright brutal. Check out “The Knife, The Head and What Remains“.

10. Majora – Iridescent  

Newcastle’s very own instrumental outfit, Majora, deserve every bit of recognition they get for their stunning offering to the musical world. The layers of ambient riffs and melody are absolutely beautiful while maintaining a distant atmosphere. Their passion, talent and versatility reflects in the simplicity of their music and this is a major strength. The progressive elements combined with a haunting, ambient atmosphere and the layers of breathtaking melody (sometimes venturing into the realms of metal, but only just) prove to be an absolute aural treat and will leave you in a complete daze. Great things lie ahead for Majora. This EP is highly recommended to those that like their dose of experimental and progressive music. Check out “Thousand Yard Stare“.

9. Ouroboros – Emanations

The tech-death lads from my home town have outdone themselves yet again with their latest offering, ‘Emanations’; an album that sees them venturing into more symphonic metal realms but still retaining the complexity and intricacies of their signature sound. The lyrics on this album (from whatever I could hear after the sound of my brain rattling) seem very focused, significant, and more thought-provoking than the last album. It fits perfectly in sync with the more orchestral direction the band have gone in with for this one. It’s all about change for Ouroboros, but a good change without forgetting what makes them one of the most powerful bands in Australia. They’ve stepped out of their comfort zone to create something that goes beyond defining or classifying under labels of any sort. There’s a steady amount of melody that supplements the abundant groove and an extremely catchy vibe that makes ‘Emanations’ a steady addiction after a good few listens. Check out “Amaranthine“.

8. Mountains Under Oceans – Man Is Not

To say I love this band and what they create would be a severe understatement. Simplicity is key (or this is the impression you get the first time around). Tickling your senses with some very peaceful guitars, the music swiftly escalates into a beautiful plethora of hypnotic rhythms; layers of ambient goodness; and just an overall display of outstanding musicianship. It’s just one of those feel good albums (EP) that you completely lose yourself to when you tune into it. Check out “Renunciation“.

7. Carach Angren – This Is No Fairytale

Everything they told you about happy endings from the books and on Disney when you were but a mere child was one big, ugly lie. Carach Angren take every ‘happy after’ and turns it into a blood-curdling series of grim, death metal nightmares. I love stories. I love metal. And I love horror. It’s all there as one brutal package in ‘This Is No Fairytale’. Haunting, orchestral intros, and elegant, beautiful melodies that mislead you before the tracks funnel out into gruesome and glorious aggression. That would essentially sum up Carach Angren’s style and they have mastered it perfectly. Check out “Two Flies Flew Into a Black Sugar Cobweb“.

6. Lost Soul – Atlantis: The New Beginning

Six bloody years since their last album. It’s about time. Like American tech-death counterparts Decrepit Birth (who have taken equally long, and still are) to release music, Lost Soul never disappoint. Undoubtedly in a league of their own, the Polish four piece from Wroclaw have created a deadly soundscape that will tickle your senses and successfully assist in the consistent banging of your head, either on it’s own or on something near you. The guitars have certainly adopted a more black metal vibe while the album is pretty much driven by blast beats, catchy riffs, atmospheric parts, and of course, a flawless production that really brings out how amazing this band is; one that is highly underrated. Check out “Aqueous Ammonia“.

5. Tempel – The Moon Lit Our Path

Probably one of my favourite discoveries in music this year would be Tempel. I remember attempting to pick my jaw up off the floor and keeping this record on loop – completely mesmerized by the versatility and the dark, sludgy elegance that it emanates. The transitions from eerie, doom-like passages to more atmospheric and emotive moments are captivating to say the least and work so perfectly together. Definitely an album that deserves the utmost praise and attention. Check out “Descending to the Labyrinth“.

4. Öxxö Xööx – Nämïdäë

The concept of the word Öxxö Xööx has several origins. It mixes the symbols of the Yin and Yang, the Ouroboros and the hexadecimal system (0110 = x6 ; 1001 = x9), the « X »s standing for the « 1 »s, which puts yet a bigger stress on the opposition with the « O ».
Each vowel has a « ¨ » sign, to render a specific accent to our language (for lack of a whole alphabet with new symbols). Öxxö Xööx thus means the number 69, representing evolution, symbolising above all the desire to transform the 6 into a 9, to free the immaterial Yang (Light, Life, Love, the Sky, anything good) of the empire of the material Yin (the darkness, death, earth, the negative) within everything of this universe.

With a description like that, I will listen to your music. Also, if it begins with organs, you can’t go wrong. Complete with their own language, culture and style these French metallers have created an intense album of very unorthodox sounds which is hardly surprising considering the involvement of the ingenious Gautier Serre; himself, the man responsible for the likes of Igorrr and one of my other favourite discoveries this year, Corpo-Mente. For starters, this is not an easy listen. It is quite inaccessible for those who are not used to odd mixes of instrumentation and a very dark, distant atmosphere that you really need to understand and listen to objectively, for it is undoubtedly some of the most magnificent pieces of music I’ve ever heard. The progression of one track to the next boasting the goodness of an avant-garde persona, soulful vocals, and an incredible harmony, but it is definitely one heck of a challenging listen. Check out “Äbÿm“.

3. Mesarthim – Isolate

If you’ve possibly ever pondered about how black metal would sound when merged with the mystic goings-on of outer-space, you need to look (listen) no further than Australia’s very own Mesarthim. The deep, blood-curdling vocals are goosebump-inducing; the guitars dripping with an atmospheric vibe throughout – distant, but only just. It’s a weird pick for me considering my little gripes with electronic sounds but somehow the mysterious two-piece make it work somehow. This album initially comes across as one that is simple but when you really give it a listen, the complexity of the structures and the thought that has gone into the composing of such a beast and the bringing together of different sounds makes it an absolute stand-out for me. Check out “Abyss“.

2. Cattle Decapitation – The Anthropocene Extinction

Cattle Decapitation stumped the metal world with their latest offering which is an absolute monster.  Not only have the band outdone themselves musically with this release but it becomes obvious when listening to the album the intricacies of their creative process and the effort that has gone into making such a masterpiece. The intensity of those punishing tech-death riffs that will make you mosh so hard sound much darker and sections of heavy breakdowns that are absolutely mental will melt your face off your skull. Check out “Mammals in Babylon“.

1. Sulphur Aeon – Gateway To The Antisphere

Undoubtedly, my favourite album of the year still remains to be Sulphur Aeon’s treasure trove of sinister melodies on ‘Gateway To The Antisphere’. Basking in the sheer glory that was their debut album, ‘Swallowed by the Ocean’s Tide’, this rather mysterious three-piece from the darkest depths of Germany have flawlessly executed an unmatched sound that brings together the best of  Lovecraft’s ingenuity and the most crushing death metal riffs, with epic blast beats to balance out the doom-laden melodies. The vocals are fierce, venturing into the realms of the classic Norwegian black metal style. The muscianship is a stunner to say the least and has truly exhibited Sulphur Aeon’s ability to carve their own niche in the metallic world. Unique and creative with that ever-magnificent underlying hint of mysticism. Check out “Diluvial Ascension – Gateway To The Antisphere“

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