1. Mournful Congregation - The Dawning of Mournful Hymns
This is a great piece of metal, on the edge between funeral doom and
doomdeath. This album is a compilation of the songs that this Australian
doom piece recorded over quite some years. A bit funny to see that this one
eventually turned out to be my fave album of 2002. When I got it, I liked
it quite much but thought that better stuff would come this year.
Apparently not. And it grew on me as well...
2. Skepticism - The Process of Farmakon
This (experimental) miniCD makes me highly anticipate the new one.
'Farmakon' should have been out already, but apparently the release is
delayed to 2003. Which means that 2003 is going to be a totally killer
year. Very good, organ- and dissonant-based funeral doom. Live in Europe
in April 2003!
3. Antimatter - Saviour
Great album by the new band of ex-Anathema bass guitarist Duncan Patterson.
Melancholic rock meets trip hop. 'Alternative Four' meets 'Dummy'. Also
excellent acoustic live gigs, last October. New album in 2003, highly
anticipated as well.
4. Tiamat - Judas Christ
Excellent, yet totally unexpected (style-wise) album from Tiamat. I hated
the predecessor, but this one is very much to my likings. More rockish than
before, but very much influenced by psychedelic '70s music. This album
sounded boring the first couple of times I listened to it, but it grew on me
enormously. Especially after seeing them perform live this year. The songs
are even better live, and that made me like the CD a lot better too.
5. Worship/Stabat Mater - Split 7"
Excellent release. Extreme sick doooooom vs. extreme sick dooooooom.
Worship being their cheerful selves, Stabat Mater doing a kind of SM act on
music. Highly recommended.
6. Funeral - In Fields of Pestilent Grief
Many are disappointed by this album. Many expected a clone of 'Tragedies'
probably. This album is slightly more uptempo and more melodic. The vocals
are entirely female. But this still is a doom release! (No idea where
people get this 'gothic' idea from! Female vocals + keyboards doesn't make
a band gothic metal, y'know?) Reminds me a bit of Chalice (great Australian
doom act): melodic, great female vocals... In short: I'm not disappointed
at all. It's a great album, just different...
7. Trail of Tears - A New Dimension of Might
Trail of Tears is my favourite band in the gothic metal genre. And they
happen to get better and better with every release. Pure power in this
album. Heavy as fuck, with quite some black metal influences. Definitely
worth checking out if you want a taste of some _good_ gothic metal. Fact is
that the stress is on the male vocals, instead of the female, and on the
power instead of the romantic beauty.
8. Cruachan - Folk-Lore
Great folk-metal album. They're getting better with every release. And
less out of tune as well
But their energy and passion makes up for a lot
of the technical mistakes. And the melodies are just great.
9. Lacuna Coil - Comalies
Excellent 3rd full length album of this Italian gothic metal band. Used to
be my 2nd favourite (after Trail of Tears) and this album is more than
strong enough to keep it that way. Missed them on tour with Sentenced,
alas. Maybe next time.
10. Empyrium - Weiland
Last full album of these German troubadours. Very calm, melodic, acoustic,
folky music. Concept album in three parts. Much in the same vein as the
excellent "Where at Night the Woodgrouse Plays".
11. Forgotten Tombs - Songs to Leave
Dolorian meets Katatonia meets raw black metal. Did I confuse you? Did I
make you wonder? Excellent! Now go and check that album out. Very good
debut release.
12. Opeth - Deliverance
I like this one much more than the previous two. Opeth is back with a
rougher sound. 'nough said.
13. Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness
Immortal seems to be rehashing their material a bit. Some excellent songs
on this one, also a couple of very unoriginal ones. This album seems to mix
the more melodic style of 'At the Heart of Winter' with the raging speed and
aggression of 'Battles in the North'. Quite an excellent combination, but I
expect something better for the next album or it's going to be the last one
I bought.
14. Hagalaz' Runedance - Frigga's Web
Andrea Nebel is getting better and better in writing of folky arrangements.
Very esoteric music, relaxing, but quite much rehashing of previous album
here as well.
15. The Gathering - Black Light District
Great experimental miniCD of The Gathering. Very avant-garde, very
alternative, very indie. Very curious towards the new album 'Souvenirs' to
be released next year as well!
16. Desire - Locus Horrendus
Atmospheric, melodic doom-death. My Dying Bride an obvious influence, but a
good release without being a clone or whatever. There is a metal scene in
Portugal, but only once so often there are releases coming through. I had
to get this one in a trade. It deserves more than that.
17. Jack Frost - Self Abusing Uglysex Ungod
Gloomy, goth-influenced, melodic/doomy metal. Type-o-Negative in another
dress. Quite a nice album if you're in the mood for it.
18. Sunn O))) - Flight of the Behemoth
Amplifier worshipping, tribute to Earth, very heavy stuff. Those who like
this kind of music probably have it, the others have heard enough already.
19. Elysium - Dreamscapes
Difficult to describe. Vocalist is Judy Chiara (Avrigus) and that's already
quite something. Experimental, atmospheric, doomy metal. Very nice
melodies. Pretty at ease. Nice debut album as a whole, although there are
some minor imperfections.
20. Poema Arcanus - Iconoclast
The first album of these Chilenes appealed to me better. This one is a
little less original, and the voice is a bit dull at times. Next time
better luck, guys! Still a nice atmospheric doom album.
21. Dissolving of Prodigy - Louceni se Svetem Pozemskym
At first a bit disappointing (see Funeral: big change of style) but after a
couple of listen to newer, more folkish direction of Dissolving of Prodigy
was fine enough with me. A lot of new members, some of which have a totally
different way of playing their instrument than the previous ones. I'm
curious where the next effort of this band will bring them to...
22. The 3rd and the Mortal - Memoirs
A re-united band with a glorious past. Only one original member left, and a
totally different kind of music than in the beginning days. Yet this
release is a very nice piece of trip hop rock art and their live
performances this year were most excellent.
