Album of the Year
JESU - Jesu
No other album this year can claim to be more depressing and quietly uplifting at the same time than Jesu's first full-length. JK Broadrick makes you entirely forget about some band called Godflesh. Compared to Jesu, Godflesh is amateurish. Neither pretentious nor cliche, Jesu wears its heart on its sleeve and bears all emotion to the world. With "Sun Day", Jesu has its anthem.
2. GRAVELAND - Fire Chariot of Destruction
Another year, another Graveland album. But wait, something is not right here. No epic intro/outro. The songs seem faster. The stench of old can be felt here. With Fire Chariot of Destruction, everyone's favorite my pals-hater, Darken, harkens back to the days of Thousand Swords while still retaining some bombast from Creed of Iron. Far from a retread, Darken just proves his superiority over similar bands with another essential album. Add "Prayer for my Ancestors" to Darken's already overlong list of classic songs.
3. Manegarm - Vredens Tid
Repeatedly ignoring this band based on them being "just another folk/viking metal band" was a big mistake on my part. And I fully admit my ignorance in ths case. This is a wondrous journey combining epic riffery with some of the finest metal/violin playing this side of old Skyclad. Add to it excellent female vocals and the perfect outro and you have Vredens Tid.
4. Morrigan - Headcult
Morrigan's finest by far. The clean vocals have improved drastically as well as being used more often, always bringing to mind a band called Bathory. But the lack of repetition in the riffs is where Morrigan separates themselves from that timeless band. With this album and the re-release of Mayhemic Truth's only album, this was Morrigan's year. Too bad no one noticed. But it's just as well.
5. Nokturnal Mortum - Mirovozzrenie (Weltanschauung)
An excellent follow-up to the equally excellent NeChrist. The band finally decided to go full-on folk mode and it paid off. After Taste of Victory (and even NeChrist), I'm not sure how anyone could be surprised by this album. Sure, it's far from sounding like Goat Horns, but this stands high on its own.
6. Rudra - Brahmavidya: Primordial I
Singapore's finest sons certainly upped the ante with Brahmavidya. Still playing their form of "Vedic Metal", this album oozes sincerity. From the rock-hard riffs to the chants to the female vocals to the killer death metal vocals, the word "pure" defines this record. Who the fuck is this band Nile?
7. Clutch - Robot Hive/Exodus
Cementing themselves as one of the hardest working acts in the biz, having released an album of B-sides on their own as well as releasing an album almost every year, Clutch show why they are hailed as a Band among bands.
8. Falkenbach - Heralding The Fireblade
Surpassing his last two, Falkenbach finally returns (sort of) to his glory days. Retaining the epicness while showing a more aggressive side s the key to this band. Here's to hoping Vratyas will stay with this sound.
JESU - Jesu
No other album this year can claim to be more depressing and quietly uplifting at the same time than Jesu's first full-length. JK Broadrick makes you entirely forget about some band called Godflesh. Compared to Jesu, Godflesh is amateurish. Neither pretentious nor cliche, Jesu wears its heart on its sleeve and bears all emotion to the world. With "Sun Day", Jesu has its anthem.
2. GRAVELAND - Fire Chariot of Destruction
Another year, another Graveland album. But wait, something is not right here. No epic intro/outro. The songs seem faster. The stench of old can be felt here. With Fire Chariot of Destruction, everyone's favorite my pals-hater, Darken, harkens back to the days of Thousand Swords while still retaining some bombast from Creed of Iron. Far from a retread, Darken just proves his superiority over similar bands with another essential album. Add "Prayer for my Ancestors" to Darken's already overlong list of classic songs.
3. Manegarm - Vredens Tid
Repeatedly ignoring this band based on them being "just another folk/viking metal band" was a big mistake on my part. And I fully admit my ignorance in ths case. This is a wondrous journey combining epic riffery with some of the finest metal/violin playing this side of old Skyclad. Add to it excellent female vocals and the perfect outro and you have Vredens Tid.
4. Morrigan - Headcult
Morrigan's finest by far. The clean vocals have improved drastically as well as being used more often, always bringing to mind a band called Bathory. But the lack of repetition in the riffs is where Morrigan separates themselves from that timeless band. With this album and the re-release of Mayhemic Truth's only album, this was Morrigan's year. Too bad no one noticed. But it's just as well.
5. Nokturnal Mortum - Mirovozzrenie (Weltanschauung)
An excellent follow-up to the equally excellent NeChrist. The band finally decided to go full-on folk mode and it paid off. After Taste of Victory (and even NeChrist), I'm not sure how anyone could be surprised by this album. Sure, it's far from sounding like Goat Horns, but this stands high on its own.
6. Rudra - Brahmavidya: Primordial I
Singapore's finest sons certainly upped the ante with Brahmavidya. Still playing their form of "Vedic Metal", this album oozes sincerity. From the rock-hard riffs to the chants to the female vocals to the killer death metal vocals, the word "pure" defines this record. Who the fuck is this band Nile?
7. Clutch - Robot Hive/Exodus
Cementing themselves as one of the hardest working acts in the biz, having released an album of B-sides on their own as well as releasing an album almost every year, Clutch show why they are hailed as a Band among bands.
8. Falkenbach - Heralding The Fireblade
Surpassing his last two, Falkenbach finally returns (sort of) to his glory days. Retaining the epicness while showing a more aggressive side s the key to this band. Here's to hoping Vratyas will stay with this sound.
