Jan 25, 2017
Best Viking Metal/Folk-influenced
Enslaved’s Ivar and Wardruna’s Einar put their heads together to compose for the 200th Anniversary of the Norwegian constitution. This is Norweigian folk: beautiful sweeping compositions that you can really melt into. This is the most folksy, ethnic, instrumental of the contenders...
Jan 18, 2017
Best Sludge
Sludge is the very dark evil cousin of doom; with brutal vocals, a dense wall of sound, and both epically slow AND frenetic tempos. As with most of my categories, the bands dip their toes in multiple genres.
Anciients’ debut album was one of my favorites of 2013. This 2016 album is WAY darker. Dual...
Jan 4, 2017
Oh, this is a perfect death album. The epicness of the headbangingness.
Eucharistic Adoration: Mercyless (France)(0:28-3:50)
One-man horror, with violin, organ and the theramin. Charming vocalist.
Cadavre abandonné: Créatures (France)(5:13-12:13)
Oh Krallice, why don’t you marry Krallice and have their...