Top 10 Metal Albums of 2016

[Pitiless Wanderer]

Haven't heard the new Bel'akor yet, thanks for reminding me to check it out

This is a very good record. These guys continue to improve with each release. Vessels has the best guitar riff of the year @ 4:36(ish) in "The smoke of many fires." I still think Stones Reach is their best though.

 

[Pitiless Wanderer]

Letdowns



Saor - It just felt less than inspired, if not forced.

I actually agree. I don't see the appeal of this record really. Grainy, thin production and the melodies are decent at best. Not really impressed but need to listen more. Perhaps with headphones.

 

[The Ozzman]

I'm finished early. No way I have the patience to comb through the 43 regular full lengths I bought in time for end of month.

Here is the Top 10 of what I got completed. Some of these were going to end up on my Top 10 after hearing them initially.

In no particular order:

Megadeth - Dystopia
Devin Townsend Project - Transcendence
Meshuggah - The Violent Sleep of Reason
Opeth - Sorceress
Inhereit Disease - Ephemeral
Metal Church - XI
Revocation - Great Is Our Sin
Defeated Sanity - Disposal of the Dead/Dharmata
Blood Incantation - Starspawn
Abnormality - Mechanisms of Omniscience

Honorable Mentions:
Warfather - The Grey Eminence (Huge improvement over the debut. Sounds like Tucker-era MA...I wonder why?)
Anthrax - For All Kings
Serpentine Dominion - S/T
Striker - Stand in the Fire

Disappointments:
Brutality - Sea of Ignorance (really guys? This is some of the blandest shit and unexpected considering how solid your past material is)
Katatonia - The Fall of Hearts (after how strong DEK was, this was a step backward. Probably as bad as NITND.)
Abbath - S/T (Go back to Immortal)
Zakk Wylde - Book of Shadows II (Boring af considering the first Book of Shadows is phenomenal)

Best local album:
Stagecoach Inferno - A Town Called Atonement (wild west themed trad. Check it out on Spotify.)

 

[nizzon]

What did you think of The Northern Sanctuary?

I think Its an OK album. Nothing like Moontower or EoS but..

 

[infrablack]

Top 10

1. Mutant - Pleiades
2. Substratum - s/t
3. Bewitcher - s/t
4. Nukem - The Unholy Trinity
5. Existance - Breaking The Rock
6. Anger As Art - Ad Mortem Festinamus
7. Flotsam & Jetsam - s/t
8. Sanktuary - Winter's Doom
9. Exumer - The Raging Tides
10. Olyphant - Expedition To The Barrier Peaks

Letdowns

Metal Church
Kryptos

 

[TechnicalBarbarity]

How is the new Meshuggah? Although im not really a fan, I thought Koloss was a pretty solid outing from them.

 

[EspaDa]

How is the new Meshuggah? Although im not really a fan, I thought Koloss was a pretty solid outing from them.

It's definitely their best album in the entire career. Fucking mindblowing, I was so fucking blown away after listening to it for the first time. It doesn't get better than that.

 

[TechnicalBarbarity]

.... nice, looking forward to hearing it.

 

[Oblivious Maximus]

Not sure if I'd say its the absolute best album of their career this soon but it really is a monster of an album, even more massive sounding than Koloss. I've heard some people complain about the supposed "lack" of groove but the grooves are still there, they're just a bit more subtle than on the last few albums. It might take a few listens for everything to sink in as its certainty one of their most dense and challenging albums but once it all clicks you'll be addicted.

 

[Jimmy... Dead.]

Snore at your own risk

last thing I enjoyed from them was Nothing

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Much better than Koloss imo.

 

[EspaDa]

Much better than anything of theirs.

 

[TechnicalBarbarity]

Hopefully it is ... because i tried listening to Koloss again today and it did almost nothing for me this time around. Kind of made me remember why i'm not much of a fan of theirs. Listening to their vocalist for more than a track or two is not possible for me, does that guy ever shut the fuck up?

 

[nizzon]

Not as good as Koloss and not even close to the greatness of ObZen.

 

[Pitiless Wanderer]

I respect Jens just because of the talent it takes to sing over that music. That shit is HARD. I always liked DEI/Nothing/Chaosphere.

 

[nizzon]

And also because he makes awesome faces.

 

[EspaDa]

I've always enjoyed his vocals. They suit the music very well.

 

[The Ozzman]

And also because he makes awesome faces.

5 minutes into Meshuggah and chill and he gives you this look

 

[The Butt]

Snore at your own risk

last thing I enjoyed from them was Nothing

last thing I enjoyed from them was nothing

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Clever m8