Black SabbathI know a lot of people are doing these lists for the decade but I can’t be bothered, despite the fact that this past decade saw me transition from a metal newbie (the mainstream shite like Pantera and Machine Head) to what I am now. 10 years ago I was just beginning to get into Extreme Metal, I thought Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth and In Flames were good bands. Now I know better of course. 10 years ago I was just starting to explore classical music, I became aware of Godspeed You Black Emperor and Nick Cave, two artists who’ve contributed a lot to my musical development. Earlier this decade I began my introduction to prog with King Crimson. 5 or 6 years ago I began getting into jazz and electronic music. Although I’m still taking babysteps with electronic music. I consider myself permanently damaged by the crappy dance/techno “music” I was exposed to in my early teens, I feel I’m beginning to appreciate it fully, from noise stuff of Merzbow and Kylie Minoise, to the abstraction of Aphex Twin and Autechre, to the blissful ambient of Robert Rich and Raison d’etre, to early industrial artists like Einsturzende Neubauten and Skinny Puppy and the pioneering work of Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk.
Anyway, I seem to be going off on a tangent. Without further adue, and in no even remotely coherent order, here is my list of highlights and lowlights of the musical year 2009 of the Gregorian Calender of the common era.
Highs
Albums
Sunn O)))-Monoliths and Dimensions: Recent work from this band had begun to suggest to me that they were perhaps better off releasing experimental live albums than experimental studio work. Then they released this. This is their best studio effort alongside their early work and Black One. Despite the various collaborators and different things going on, it remains a strongly focused album. Sunn O))) are proof of just how far drone can be taken and further proof that even when one takes things back to their roots and simplifies, the possibilities remain endless.
The Chasm-Farseeing the Paranormal Abysm: The Chasm are now comfortable within their own skin. No longer a Doom band searching for a new direction, they are the perfect embodiment of a visionary band with their own identity. The Chasm are the greatest Melodic Death Metal band in the history of the genre. Bands like Soilwork and Dark Tranquility aren’t fit to be a turd in this band’s toilet. Given the mediocrity that this style is synonymous with, it seems sacrilegious at best to associate such a great band with such a term. You won’t find anything new on this album, basically just further refinements in this bands unequallable style. The last three songs on this album are among the best this band’s ever written.
The Gathering-The West Pole: When news came that Anneke was leaving The Gathering and going on her own, and the band was continuing in her absence, many were skeptical. I too was skeptical but not because of the departure of Anneke, more because I’ve found their output since the brilliant How to Measure a Planet? album to be inconsistent in quality. I can honestly say that this is the band’s best work since that monumental work. The experimental elements are still there, but these have not been sacrificed for writing good songs. Silje Wergeland is a more than adequate replacement, she has a lovely voice and range, but she clearly isn’t an Anneke wannabe.
Ahab-The Divinity of Oceans: Ahab are among the best new bands in Doom. This album further solidifies their reputation and builds upon 2005's The Call of the Wretched Sea. Not content with setting to music Melville’s literary masterpiece, the band chose to go the source of the Melville’s novel: the tale of the Essex, a whaling ship attacked and sunk by a large sperm whale. The survivors landed on the Pitcairn islands and soon exhausted all natural food sources and then resorted to cannibalism to survive. Ahab’s music is as grim as the tale itself.
Blut Aus Nord-Memoria Vetusta II: Dialogue with the Stars: Ever since this band’s transformative (sorry) release The Work Which Transforms God, this band has been dabbling further and further into the industrial field. While these releases haven’t been terrible, they also haven’t been matching in quality to this band’s earlier output. So now we come to an album which blends the past with the present, and the results are quite impressive. Simply, this is the best BAN album since The Work. Wether they can sustain this remains to be seen.
Portal-Swarth: Asides from The Chasm, this was the album that held the most anticipation for me. Portal’s unique style of Death Metal shows that Death Metal doesn’t have to go the route of Job for a Cowboy to evolve. This album is just more of what we've come to expect from this singular band.
Altar of Plagues-White Tomb: Another winner from Profound Lore records. While not the most original release ever, its without a doubt one of the stronger BM releases this year. Quite epic song construction adds to the quality.
The Lord Weird Slough Feg-Ape Uprising: The only thing better than a new Slough Feg album, is a Slough Feg album inspired by Planet of the Apes. Slough Feg’s newest release incorporates some Doom influences but otherwise maintains the fun spirit and great riffing that this band is rightly renown for. Dr. Zaius, you finally made a monkey out of me.
YOB-The Great Cessation: I was disappointed like a lot of other people when it was announced this crushing band were breaking up. It came as a shock to me to discover they’d gotten back together and had released a new album. The Great Cessation does not disappoint and fits in very well with this band’s crushing discography.
God Dethroned-Passiondale: I’d given up on them since 2001's very disappointing Into the Lungs of Hell. I’d heard a few songs from the next 2 albums and wasn’t very impressed. So I barely noted it when they released Passiondale earlier this year. But then I began to read very positive reviews, and other details, mainly that it was a concept album and that the groove approach had been jettisoned. So I finally tracked down a copy and without a doubt, this is their best since Bloody Blasphemy. Hell, it may even be better than that. An album of equal mix intelligence and brutality, showing that it is possible to make intelligent music without toning anything down.
Honourable Mentions
Morphine-At Your Service
Alice in Chains-Black Gives Way to Blue
Ruins of Beverast-Foulest Semen of a Shattered Elite
Arckanum-ÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞ
Funebrarum-The sleep of Morbid Dreams
Diablo Swing Orchestra-Sing Along Songs for the Damned and the Delirious
Whisper Room-Birch White
Master Musicans of Bukkake-Totem One.
Jamie Saft-Black Shabbis
Candlemass-Death Magic Doom
Black Sabbath-The Devil You Know
Musical discoveries of the year:
65days of static
Venetian Snares
Kylie Minoise
Morphine
Faustcoven
Circle of Ouroboros
Bal-Sagoth
Firebird
Mael Mordha
Best gigs of the year:
Esoteric in Derby, January.
Supersonic, July
Hellfire Fest November
Firebird & Church of Misery. April
Worst
A random selection of what disappointed me this year.
Amesoeurs-Amesoeurs. Takes everything that was good about the Ruines Humaines EP and chucks it out the window.
Slayer-World Painted Blood. Further proof that Thrash is dead
Pestilence-Resurrection Macabre: You mean Resurrection Mediocre
Jesu-Infinity & Opiate Sun: Broadrick’s starting to stretch himself too thinly
Various Artists-And in the Darkness Bind Them: A Tribute to Summoning: I know, I know, expecting a tribute album to be good is far too much to ask. But on this double album there are only 2 decent songs, it even features two bands covering the same song. All this album does is demonstrate how wide the void is between your average BM band and Summoning. Props to Morgan The Bard’s cover of Mirkwood, who realized that Summoning’s sound cannot, and should not, be imitated, and with this stripped down cover provides a fresh perspective on a wonderful song.
Augury-Fragmentary Evidence: In the words of Shakespeare, this was the cruellest cut of all. I had high hopes for this band, one of very few new DM bands to make an impression on me with their debut when it was released a few years ago, an album that showed chops, intelligence and potential. Now they sound like a novelty band.
Katatonia-Night is the New Day. The greatest of Last Fair Deal Gone Down is but a distant memory now. Proof that heavier does not equate with better.
Devin Townsend-Ki. About as coherent as a paraplegic deaf mute reciting Homer in ancient Greek.
Gigs I missed thanks to this wonderful recession and the phrase “you’ve been made redundant.”
Bloodstock August
Nadja August
Sunn O)) & Om December
Those are all the musical high and low-lights of this past year. I hope you enjoyed it and may next year be better.
SlayerAugurySunn O)))OMNadjaWhisper RoomBirch WhiteBlack SabbathHeaven and HellKatatoniaDevin TownsendJesuPestilenceMorgan the BardFirebirdChurch of MiseryThorr's HammerBal-SagothMorphineFaustcovenVenetian SnaresKylie Minoise65daysofstaticCandlemassCircle Of OuroborosBlack ShabbisDeath Magic Doommaster musicians of bukkakediablo swing orchestraThe Sleep Of Morbid Dreamsfoulest semen of a shattered eliteBlack Gives Way To BlueAt Your ServicePassiondaleThe Great CessationApe UprisingWhite TombSwarthNord-Memoria Vetusta II: Dialogue with the StarsThe Divinity of OceansThe West Polefarseeing the paranormal abyssmMonoliths and dimensionsMorphineThe ChasmThe GatheringKatatoniaAhabThe GatheringSlough FegThe Lord Weird Slough FegArckanumSlough FegThe Lord Weird Slough Feg
Anyway, I seem to be going off on a tangent. Without further adue, and in no even remotely coherent order, here is my list of highlights and lowlights of the musical year 2009 of the Gregorian Calender of the common era.
Highs
Albums
Sunn O)))-Monoliths and Dimensions: Recent work from this band had begun to suggest to me that they were perhaps better off releasing experimental live albums than experimental studio work. Then they released this. This is their best studio effort alongside their early work and Black One. Despite the various collaborators and different things going on, it remains a strongly focused album. Sunn O))) are proof of just how far drone can be taken and further proof that even when one takes things back to their roots and simplifies, the possibilities remain endless.
The Chasm-Farseeing the Paranormal Abysm: The Chasm are now comfortable within their own skin. No longer a Doom band searching for a new direction, they are the perfect embodiment of a visionary band with their own identity. The Chasm are the greatest Melodic Death Metal band in the history of the genre. Bands like Soilwork and Dark Tranquility aren’t fit to be a turd in this band’s toilet. Given the mediocrity that this style is synonymous with, it seems sacrilegious at best to associate such a great band with such a term. You won’t find anything new on this album, basically just further refinements in this bands unequallable style. The last three songs on this album are among the best this band’s ever written.
The Gathering-The West Pole: When news came that Anneke was leaving The Gathering and going on her own, and the band was continuing in her absence, many were skeptical. I too was skeptical but not because of the departure of Anneke, more because I’ve found their output since the brilliant How to Measure a Planet? album to be inconsistent in quality. I can honestly say that this is the band’s best work since that monumental work. The experimental elements are still there, but these have not been sacrificed for writing good songs. Silje Wergeland is a more than adequate replacement, she has a lovely voice and range, but she clearly isn’t an Anneke wannabe.
Ahab-The Divinity of Oceans: Ahab are among the best new bands in Doom. This album further solidifies their reputation and builds upon 2005's The Call of the Wretched Sea. Not content with setting to music Melville’s literary masterpiece, the band chose to go the source of the Melville’s novel: the tale of the Essex, a whaling ship attacked and sunk by a large sperm whale. The survivors landed on the Pitcairn islands and soon exhausted all natural food sources and then resorted to cannibalism to survive. Ahab’s music is as grim as the tale itself.
Blut Aus Nord-Memoria Vetusta II: Dialogue with the Stars: Ever since this band’s transformative (sorry) release The Work Which Transforms God, this band has been dabbling further and further into the industrial field. While these releases haven’t been terrible, they also haven’t been matching in quality to this band’s earlier output. So now we come to an album which blends the past with the present, and the results are quite impressive. Simply, this is the best BAN album since The Work. Wether they can sustain this remains to be seen.
Portal-Swarth: Asides from The Chasm, this was the album that held the most anticipation for me. Portal’s unique style of Death Metal shows that Death Metal doesn’t have to go the route of Job for a Cowboy to evolve. This album is just more of what we've come to expect from this singular band.
Altar of Plagues-White Tomb: Another winner from Profound Lore records. While not the most original release ever, its without a doubt one of the stronger BM releases this year. Quite epic song construction adds to the quality.
The Lord Weird Slough Feg-Ape Uprising: The only thing better than a new Slough Feg album, is a Slough Feg album inspired by Planet of the Apes. Slough Feg’s newest release incorporates some Doom influences but otherwise maintains the fun spirit and great riffing that this band is rightly renown for. Dr. Zaius, you finally made a monkey out of me.
YOB-The Great Cessation: I was disappointed like a lot of other people when it was announced this crushing band were breaking up. It came as a shock to me to discover they’d gotten back together and had released a new album. The Great Cessation does not disappoint and fits in very well with this band’s crushing discography.
God Dethroned-Passiondale: I’d given up on them since 2001's very disappointing Into the Lungs of Hell. I’d heard a few songs from the next 2 albums and wasn’t very impressed. So I barely noted it when they released Passiondale earlier this year. But then I began to read very positive reviews, and other details, mainly that it was a concept album and that the groove approach had been jettisoned. So I finally tracked down a copy and without a doubt, this is their best since Bloody Blasphemy. Hell, it may even be better than that. An album of equal mix intelligence and brutality, showing that it is possible to make intelligent music without toning anything down.
Honourable Mentions
Morphine-At Your Service
Alice in Chains-Black Gives Way to Blue
Ruins of Beverast-Foulest Semen of a Shattered Elite
Arckanum-ÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞ
Funebrarum-The sleep of Morbid Dreams
Diablo Swing Orchestra-Sing Along Songs for the Damned and the Delirious
Whisper Room-Birch White
Master Musicans of Bukkake-Totem One.
Jamie Saft-Black Shabbis
Candlemass-Death Magic Doom
Black Sabbath-The Devil You Know
Musical discoveries of the year:
65days of static
Venetian Snares
Kylie Minoise
Morphine
Faustcoven
Circle of Ouroboros
Bal-Sagoth
Firebird
Mael Mordha
Best gigs of the year:
Esoteric in Derby, January.
Supersonic, July
Hellfire Fest November
Firebird & Church of Misery. April
Worst
A random selection of what disappointed me this year.
Amesoeurs-Amesoeurs. Takes everything that was good about the Ruines Humaines EP and chucks it out the window.
Slayer-World Painted Blood. Further proof that Thrash is dead
Pestilence-Resurrection Macabre: You mean Resurrection Mediocre
Jesu-Infinity & Opiate Sun: Broadrick’s starting to stretch himself too thinly
Various Artists-And in the Darkness Bind Them: A Tribute to Summoning: I know, I know, expecting a tribute album to be good is far too much to ask. But on this double album there are only 2 decent songs, it even features two bands covering the same song. All this album does is demonstrate how wide the void is between your average BM band and Summoning. Props to Morgan The Bard’s cover of Mirkwood, who realized that Summoning’s sound cannot, and should not, be imitated, and with this stripped down cover provides a fresh perspective on a wonderful song.
Augury-Fragmentary Evidence: In the words of Shakespeare, this was the cruellest cut of all. I had high hopes for this band, one of very few new DM bands to make an impression on me with their debut when it was released a few years ago, an album that showed chops, intelligence and potential. Now they sound like a novelty band.
Katatonia-Night is the New Day. The greatest of Last Fair Deal Gone Down is but a distant memory now. Proof that heavier does not equate with better.
Devin Townsend-Ki. About as coherent as a paraplegic deaf mute reciting Homer in ancient Greek.
Gigs I missed thanks to this wonderful recession and the phrase “you’ve been made redundant.”
Bloodstock August
Nadja August
Sunn O)) & Om December
Those are all the musical high and low-lights of this past year. I hope you enjoyed it and may next year be better.
SlayerAugurySunn O)))OMNadjaWhisper RoomBirch WhiteBlack SabbathHeaven and HellKatatoniaDevin TownsendJesuPestilenceMorgan the BardFirebirdChurch of MiseryThorr's HammerBal-SagothMorphineFaustcovenVenetian SnaresKylie Minoise65daysofstaticCandlemassCircle Of OuroborosBlack ShabbisDeath Magic Doommaster musicians of bukkakediablo swing orchestraThe Sleep Of Morbid Dreamsfoulest semen of a shattered eliteBlack Gives Way To BlueAt Your ServicePassiondaleThe Great CessationApe UprisingWhite TombSwarthNord-Memoria Vetusta II: Dialogue with the StarsThe Divinity of OceansThe West Polefarseeing the paranormal abyssmMonoliths and dimensionsMorphineThe ChasmThe GatheringKatatoniaAhabThe GatheringSlough FegThe Lord Weird Slough FegArckanumSlough FegThe Lord Weird Slough Feg
