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20. Mantar - Death By Burning
The debut album from Germany's Mantar comes as a welcome breath of fresh (putrid?) air. With a sound based in the Stoner and Doom Metal camp but which is led by a furious vocal reminiscent of Erlend Hjelvik (Kvelertak) and then complemented with the kind of grooves that Mastodon would kill for. Mantar might not be doing anything really original, but they are certainly interesting and know how to write a memorable tune. What more do you want?
19. At The Gates - At War With Reality
A band whose career seems to have run in some kind of strange parallel with British Grind / Death Metal legends Carcass, Gothenburg's At The Gates continue with this trajectory by releasing their first new album in 19 years (Carcass released their first album in 17 years last year). But, where Carcass pushed themselves creatively, while still retaining that special Carcass sound, At The Gates have instead opted to release a record that sounds almost exactly the same as they did in 1995. I know they say that if it isn't broken....and all that, but even if it isn't broken, it can be worn out. All in all though, this is a strong record that won't disappoint long-time fans, but it could and should have been so much better.
18. Arch Enemy - War Eternal
While already popular in their native Sweden and Japan, it wasn't until Arch Enemy replaced vocalist Johan Liiva with Angela Gossow in 2000, that their career really took off internationally. Sadly, as the years went by the band's albums started to sound stale, tired and forced, so when Angela announced that she was stepping down as vocalist, but was staying on to act as the band's manager and had helped to choose her own replacement, Arch Anemy got my attention for the first time in years. That she chose The Agonist vocalist, Alissa White-Gluz really piqued my interest and I now had high expectations of War Eternal. On hearing the opening seconds of the album's first single, As The Pages Burn, I was sold. A solid, powerful return to form from one of the leading lights in Swedish Metal.
17. Deathstars – The Perfect Cult
If you are already familiar with Deathstars then nothing here will come as a suprise to you. It's business as usual with the Rammstein meets Die Krupps Goth-tinged Industrial Metal that that band has made their own. They have their niche and they know how to pen a catchy tune and even though it isn't breaking any new ground, this is a cracking collection of potential floor-fillers.
16. Kampfar – Djevelmakt
The vicious Black Metal rasp of the opening word, "Helvete" (Hell) on the first track, Mylder pretty much sets the tone for this record and what the album lacks in variation is more than made up for with the well-constructed songs and atmospherics. With its groove-laden, mid-paced, folk-tinged riffs, punishing drums and ferocious vocals, Djevelmakt is Kampfar's best album since Kvass (released in 2006) and if Norwegian Black Metal or even Pagan Metal is your thing, it definitely won't disappoint.
15. Cavalera Conspiracy - Pandemonium
Maybe I had set my expectations too high, but I personally found the previous two Cavalera Conspiracy albums to be a bit lacking. On Pandemonium, however, the brothers Cavalera make up for lost time and return not only to their heavier roots, but also take in their entire careers along the way. Pandemonium comes tearing out of the blocks and into your ears with opener Babylonian Pandemonium going straight in for the kill and it doesn't let up fpr a moment. It is a joy to hear what these once long-estranged siblings can do when they are properly on the same page. Pandemonium is ferocious, thrashy and exactly what long-time fans have been waiting for for years.
14. Anaal Nathrakh – Desideratum
While not nearly as good as 2012's Vanitas, this is still head and shoulders above the majority of the Extreme Metal albums out there. Anaal Nathrakh may have started out as a raw Black Metal band, but they have gradually mutated into a more mature beast, bringing clean vocals, orchestral elements and even the occasonal electronic keyboard into the mix. Don't think for a moment that this means that the band has mellowed with age as Desideratum is still a vicious, nasty album that goes straight for the jugular...it just does so surreptitiously.
13. Machine Head – Bloodstone And Diamonds
Machine Head have been a mainstay on the Metal scene for two decades now but it has to be said, have been anything but consistent musically. Stylistically, the band has been through some rough patches over the years (Supercharger, Through The Ashes....anyone?), but have also released some genuine Metal masterpieces (Burn My Eyes, The Blackening), so I have a tendency to be a little cautious when it comes to a new Machine Head album. One positive is that in recent years the band's songs have become longer and less punchy which has allowed mainman, Robb Flynn to flex his prog muscles and has often resulted in a more rewarding experience for the band's fans. I am pleased to say that Bloodstone And Diamonds is up their with the band's best and while it might not set the world alight, it should please existing fans and may even earn them a few new ones.
12. Cruachan – Blood For The Blood God
Cruachan always had tremendous potential, but in the past were hampered by the weak and reedy lead vocals of Karen Gilligan. So, when the band announced that they were parting ways with Karen in 2008 and that mainman Keith Fay would now be taking over the lead vocal role, I had high hopes that they would finally realise the potential they had previously squandered. That said, even I could never have expected just how much of a difference it was actually going to make. Blood On The Black Robe was the sound of a rejuvinated band - heavier, angrier and more aggressive but without losing their distinctively Irish Folk-influenced sound. Fast forward three years and follow-up, Blood For The Blood God has continued along this path, even managing to be darker and heavier than BOTBR. The one neagtive is the poor production job, but even that can't stop BFTBG from being a genre classic.
11. Eluveitie – Origins
Eluveite have long since established themselves as a major name in the Folk Metal scene and Origins, the band's sixth full-length release finds the band in familiar territory. Their distinctive and instantly recognisable take on Celtic Folk Metal is still as potent as it ever was and although Origins doesn't scale the heights of its predecessor, the brilliant Helvetios, it still packs enough of a punch to ensure that Eluveitie are in no danger of becoming lost in the shuffle.
The debut album from Germany's Mantar comes as a welcome breath of fresh (putrid?) air. With a sound based in the Stoner and Doom Metal camp but which is led by a furious vocal reminiscent of Erlend Hjelvik (Kvelertak) and then complemented with the kind of grooves that Mastodon would kill for. Mantar might not be doing anything really original, but they are certainly interesting and know how to write a memorable tune. What more do you want?
19. At The Gates - At War With Reality
A band whose career seems to have run in some kind of strange parallel with British Grind / Death Metal legends Carcass, Gothenburg's At The Gates continue with this trajectory by releasing their first new album in 19 years (Carcass released their first album in 17 years last year). But, where Carcass pushed themselves creatively, while still retaining that special Carcass sound, At The Gates have instead opted to release a record that sounds almost exactly the same as they did in 1995. I know they say that if it isn't broken....and all that, but even if it isn't broken, it can be worn out. All in all though, this is a strong record that won't disappoint long-time fans, but it could and should have been so much better.
18. Arch Enemy - War Eternal
While already popular in their native Sweden and Japan, it wasn't until Arch Enemy replaced vocalist Johan Liiva with Angela Gossow in 2000, that their career really took off internationally. Sadly, as the years went by the band's albums started to sound stale, tired and forced, so when Angela announced that she was stepping down as vocalist, but was staying on to act as the band's manager and had helped to choose her own replacement, Arch Anemy got my attention for the first time in years. That she chose The Agonist vocalist, Alissa White-Gluz really piqued my interest and I now had high expectations of War Eternal. On hearing the opening seconds of the album's first single, As The Pages Burn, I was sold. A solid, powerful return to form from one of the leading lights in Swedish Metal.
17. Deathstars – The Perfect Cult
If you are already familiar with Deathstars then nothing here will come as a suprise to you. It's business as usual with the Rammstein meets Die Krupps Goth-tinged Industrial Metal that that band has made their own. They have their niche and they know how to pen a catchy tune and even though it isn't breaking any new ground, this is a cracking collection of potential floor-fillers.
16. Kampfar – Djevelmakt
The vicious Black Metal rasp of the opening word, "Helvete" (Hell) on the first track, Mylder pretty much sets the tone for this record and what the album lacks in variation is more than made up for with the well-constructed songs and atmospherics. With its groove-laden, mid-paced, folk-tinged riffs, punishing drums and ferocious vocals, Djevelmakt is Kampfar's best album since Kvass (released in 2006) and if Norwegian Black Metal or even Pagan Metal is your thing, it definitely won't disappoint.
15. Cavalera Conspiracy - Pandemonium
Maybe I had set my expectations too high, but I personally found the previous two Cavalera Conspiracy albums to be a bit lacking. On Pandemonium, however, the brothers Cavalera make up for lost time and return not only to their heavier roots, but also take in their entire careers along the way. Pandemonium comes tearing out of the blocks and into your ears with opener Babylonian Pandemonium going straight in for the kill and it doesn't let up fpr a moment. It is a joy to hear what these once long-estranged siblings can do when they are properly on the same page. Pandemonium is ferocious, thrashy and exactly what long-time fans have been waiting for for years.
14. Anaal Nathrakh – Desideratum
While not nearly as good as 2012's Vanitas, this is still head and shoulders above the majority of the Extreme Metal albums out there. Anaal Nathrakh may have started out as a raw Black Metal band, but they have gradually mutated into a more mature beast, bringing clean vocals, orchestral elements and even the occasonal electronic keyboard into the mix. Don't think for a moment that this means that the band has mellowed with age as Desideratum is still a vicious, nasty album that goes straight for the jugular...it just does so surreptitiously.
13. Machine Head – Bloodstone And Diamonds
Machine Head have been a mainstay on the Metal scene for two decades now but it has to be said, have been anything but consistent musically. Stylistically, the band has been through some rough patches over the years (Supercharger, Through The Ashes....anyone?), but have also released some genuine Metal masterpieces (Burn My Eyes, The Blackening), so I have a tendency to be a little cautious when it comes to a new Machine Head album. One positive is that in recent years the band's songs have become longer and less punchy which has allowed mainman, Robb Flynn to flex his prog muscles and has often resulted in a more rewarding experience for the band's fans. I am pleased to say that Bloodstone And Diamonds is up their with the band's best and while it might not set the world alight, it should please existing fans and may even earn them a few new ones.
12. Cruachan – Blood For The Blood God
Cruachan always had tremendous potential, but in the past were hampered by the weak and reedy lead vocals of Karen Gilligan. So, when the band announced that they were parting ways with Karen in 2008 and that mainman Keith Fay would now be taking over the lead vocal role, I had high hopes that they would finally realise the potential they had previously squandered. That said, even I could never have expected just how much of a difference it was actually going to make. Blood On The Black Robe was the sound of a rejuvinated band - heavier, angrier and more aggressive but without losing their distinctively Irish Folk-influenced sound. Fast forward three years and follow-up, Blood For The Blood God has continued along this path, even managing to be darker and heavier than BOTBR. The one neagtive is the poor production job, but even that can't stop BFTBG from being a genre classic.
11. Eluveitie – Origins
Eluveite have long since established themselves as a major name in the Folk Metal scene and Origins, the band's sixth full-length release finds the band in familiar territory. Their distinctive and instantly recognisable take on Celtic Folk Metal is still as potent as it ever was and although Origins doesn't scale the heights of its predecessor, the brilliant Helvetios, it still packs enough of a punch to ensure that Eluveitie are in no danger of becoming lost in the shuffle.
Interesting read. There are some I def need to check out here. Ta! X
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