The Eminent Silence Top 5 Albums of 2016

Number 5 - Gorguts "Pleiades' Dust"
I expected to place this higher.  The issue being that firstly 2016 has seen some strong releases that have simply pushed this down the list and secondly that the single track format is still something I am struggling to come to terms with if I am honest.  Despite the clever writing of the track to clearly show the beginning and end of movements I still struggle to track it over the course of one song.  No shame in coming fifth though for Luc and the boys, still an absolute triumph of musicianship.

Number 4 - Ritual Chamber "Obscurations (To Feast On The Seraphim)"
Multi-instrumental wizard Dario Derna takes a well earned bow at number four on the list with the horrific and menacing majesty of "Obscurations.." which lays down high expectations for future releases without a doubt.  Well structured and atmosphere laden tracks haunt every corner of this release.

Number 3 - Grave Miasma "Endless Pilgrimage"
A focused and intensely delivered piece of Death Metal if ever I heard one.  What we have right here
ladies and gents is a band at the top of their game, able to mix in new sounds yet still be so recognisable at the same time.  Serious progression from the band which makes whatever they may have planned for 2017 all the more tantalizing.

Number 2 - Inquisition "Bloodshed Across The Empyrean Altar Beyond The Celestial Zenith"
As the title suggests this truly is a band at the very zenith of their capabilities and we all should take a moment to worship at the very altar they sacrifice upon on.  This sees my record player more than the fucking stylus does such is the need for me to sip from this particular cup of black metal majesty. Truly deserving of it's place at number two on the list.

Number 1 - Ulcerate "Shrines Of Paralysis"
2016 killed off a lot of celebrities and also showed every crevice and crack on the turgid face of humanity through war, poverty, oppression, racism etc, etc.  One thing that really didn't suck throughout all of 2016 was the promise of the New Zealand tech-death maestros Ulcerate releasing the much anticipated follow up to the highly acclaimed "Vermis".  What landed in October was immense, sprawling, blistering, spiralling, tumultuous and utterly brilliant.  The theme of the top three this year is very much of bands being at the top of their game and none can be much more comfortable up there than Ulcerate.





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Excommunion "Thronosis"

Image
Fifteen years ago I was twenty six, out of the metal scene and therefore ignorant to Colorado death metallers Excommunion and their debut album "Superion".  According to the internet this release was reasonably good and now, a mere decade and a half later on the band have finally gotten round a sophomore full length release. I suppose that given such a period of time it would be forgivable for them to have a sophomore slump really, however I am pleasantly surprised by "Thronosis".  Now don't get me wrong, the wheel doesn't get reinvented here, not at all.  But then that's not the point to the record I suspect.  "Thronosis" means "initiation ritual" and although it could be argued the music world has changed significantly since they last ventured with a release there's no real requirement for any initiation back into the world of death metal for Excommunion.  These boys can play, they can do death metal very well and they
Read more

Inquisition "Bloodshed Across The Empyrean Altar Beyond The Celestial Zenith"

Image
I won't be typing that album title again during this review.  From here on in I will just refer to it as "Inquisitions' latest offering" or other more such succinct descriptions by comparison.  Not that the title is a cause for a moan, as it suggests the entire thirteen tracks on offer here showcase their fare share of "bloodshed", infer numerous occasions of ritual sacrifice and take the listener far "beyond" any current "celestial" plain on which they may currently dwell. The fact is that at album number seven Inquisition are virtually unstoppable.  They are at that point in their career when some scribes are tipping them for mainstream (metal) success - which I feel unlikely - as the accessibility of their material attracts more new fans than it does piss off old ones! The fact is though whilst there isn't any other band in BM that manages to use melody so effectively and consistently, there is much more to the sound of Inquisiti
Read more

The not quite the end of the year AOTY list!

Image
I have a problem with AOTY lists.  Most blogs, forums, FB pages, Twitter accounts and media in general start them far too early.  It seems as soon as November hits the internet is awash with people telling us how good things have been for the last ten and a bit months - seemingly with no regard for the two remaining months that can still herald some absolute finds! Despite my protestations on this subject matter it does seem that if I am to be a responsible blog owner then this is the appropriate time of year to put together the list of titles that have left me feeling kind of warm inside over the past year.  There's ten of them, not twenty or fifteen.  No matter how good a year it's been no AOTY list should include more than ten releases it's what the basis of a "top" list is all about to me. 10. Serpentine Path "Emanations" Album number two from theses death/doom deliverers was a clear progression on their s/t debut and one that benefited well fro
Read more