You know how you just want to make out with a guy, because he’s a great lead singer?  Dudes, they’re Irish (hottest accent ever).  He has this Celtic-folk tune to his voice (bro got my 2014’s Best Vocalist); and the band is just epic.  I never play a live album unless the songs are new, but Primordial is one of those bands that probably HAS to be seen/listened live.  No overdub. 

Empire Falls (Live): Primordial (Ireland)(0:28-7:58)

[UGH I HATE MAKING MISTAKES. I called Drought Year”s”, instead of Drought Year, on the live show, I apologize.]

The force is strong with the bassist of Drought Year.  They have this atmospheric-infused industrial groove mixed with the horror of deathrock, and the vocalist of a sludge band.  I was forced to buy them on vinyl. https://droughtyear.bandcamp.com/

Blood Throne: Drought Year (NC)(9:09-12:42)

Wait, Gnaw Their Tongues is a solo thing?  Maybe I knew that?  This is the sound of a serial killer drilling your head while you are tied up in a bathtub, watching the blood drain from your body.  Aw. 

Hold High The Banners Of Truth Among The Swollen Dead: Gnaw Their Tongues (Netherlands)(13:03-17:53)

Riff-tastic, groove thrash pumped with energy and fucking Swedish soul.

Netherworld Emperor: Witchery (Sweden)(18:21-21:24)

Strange atmospheric Portuguese black metal.  Because, yeah.

the Smirk of Kings: Monte Penumbra (Portugal)(21:53-28:32)

Somehow it took these Swedish dudes 30 years to release their debut album.  That is some perfectionist shit.  Don’t judge by one song here, this album runs a gamut. 

Chaos Of Reign: F.O.A.D. (Sweden)(Fuck Off And Die)(29:24-34:00)

Guest female vocalist on this song.  These dudes are not afraid of empty space. 

Mirrors In A Black Room: Ultha (Germany)(34:27-42:43)

Imagine a deathrock dude laying on the ground, just drained of blood from a vampire.  Blood splattered, and his skin pale and drawn. 

Effundet Saguinem: True Love (Nevada)(43:09-48:39)

In 2014, Dead Congregation got one of my “Best of”.  They are relentless, filthy, and soul-crushing. 

Wind’s Bane: Dead Congregation (Greece)(49:40-54:10)

There is nothing but torture to the next sound.  Obviously it relaxed me.

Ever Downward: Bastard Noise/Sickness (CA)(54:39-END)

Behind the Vocals: Dean Martin, Pearl Bailey, Frank Sinatra, Etta James, Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr., Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Buddy Greco

Song name based on H.P. Lovecraft’s horror novella about a decayed crumbling harbor town near an undersea civilization.  Atmospheric horror. 

The Shadow Over Innsmouth: The Great Old Ones (France)(Jan 2017)(0:28-9:40)

Old dudes Vader thrashin’ about, a part of the very vivid Polish scene.

Genocidius: Vader (Poland)(10:56-13:49)

Members of Triumvir Foul and Ash Borer.  Dudes throw in some melodic doom in the black metal mix.

Sacrum (Feral Devotion): Predatory Light (Sante Fe)(14:09-21:02)

Brain candy soulful Parisian desert rock.

Dakota: Dot Legacy (Paris)(21:31-26:49)

For people who like Alcest, shimmering black metal.

Strayed: L'Homme Absurde (Russia)(27:42-33:47)

More wit and noise from these Canadian nerds.

Secret Vasectomy (Demo): Ken Mode (Winnipeg)(34:06-37:10)

Simple thrash-y gurgling death, in that old school wholesome way.

Cruelty Through Ripping Torture: Dead Conspiracy (Portland)(37:40-40:28)

Dirty dive bar desert rock fuzz. 

The Black Albatross: Hornss (SF)(40:44-43:32)

Romanians dig deep in their own culture and surroundings, come out with some romantic poetic dense funeral doom. 

We Should Not Grieve: Raspail (Italy)(44:15-47:58)

Barbaric, guttural, dirge-y and dirty.  Poland again. 

Kingdom Below: Bestial Raids (Poland)(48:12-53:19)

Greek avant garde, with saxaphones.  Also holy shit these dudes are hot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO8Fi-ru1vs

Fire walk with me: Aenaon (Greece)(53:48-END)

My Best Black Metal band of 2014 has come out with another doom-y carnival horror black metal album.

Mischief, Mischief, the Devilry Is at Toil... (Scene II): Cultes des Ghoules (Poland) (0:28-10:51)

Groove-y Swedish psychedelic rock in a perfectly produced album.

Wolf & Snake: Asteroid (Sweden)(12:03-17:39)

Drone and black metal.

Lacerated Spirit: Ash Borer (CA)(18:02-28:04)

Stylish French occult, doom and psychedelic, topped off with a hell of a crooner. 

Astral Truth: Akasava (France)(29:03-33:52)

Oh fuck you Ohio, I hope you die.

At The Door Of An Infernal Realm: Void Meditation Cult (Ohio)(34:25-38:58)

Rage, galloping sound headed by hot Brazilians.

Genocide Ritual: Escarnium (Brazil)(39:19-42:36)

Melancholy and romantic, atmospheric and doom.

Miles to Take: Cross Vault (Germany)(43:27-50:39)

Large drums, large space create a boundary around the rock.

If You're Not Part Of The Party, You're Part Of The Problem: Hammerhands (Toronto)(51:00-54:40)

Long, long songs from this super group.  Hugely atmospheric.

Migration: Clouds (Finland/Belgium/UK)(55:21-END)

Modern industrial band Theologian collaborated on a brand new offering with Lament Cityscape.  This is a massive album, full of brain altering treats.

Inevitability: Theologian/Lament Cityscape (NYC/Oakland)(0:28-6:14)

Innovative and surprising themes from Ukranians.

Last Sunset Without Sun: Balance Interruption (Ukraine)(7:20-12:28)

Plaintive organic minimal instrumentation incorporated into this sonic wall of Swedish sound.

The Silvan Shrine: Netherbird (Sweden)(12:51-21:03)

Intricately woven advanced alien language.  You try to decipher it. 

Internecine Iatrogenesis: Deathspell Omega (France)(21:37-27:25)

Finnish old school doom.  So ya know it’s gonna be a little weird.  Second album with the lead singer of Reverend Bizarre.

Babalon Working: Spiritus Mortis (Finland)(28:48-35:17)

Rock and sludge mixed with some old school alternative.

Twilight of Innocence: The Von Deer Skulls (France)(35:44-40:12)

Rolling technical spacey prog. 

Odyssey's End: Mithras (UK)(40:35-46:38)

Energetic death.

Certainty the Adversary: Ruins (Australia)(47:33-51:43)

Fuzzed out groove-y doom.

Wood Valley: Order of the Owl (Atlanta)(52:03-56:23)

Stop rapping this shit, it’s almost vomitous nu-metal.  Fortunately their technical prowess saves them and the whole sound excels.  But man, I almost turned it off.

Constant Sleep: Car Bomb (NY)(57:06-END)

Behind the Vocals: John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Coleman Hawkins, Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, Chet Baker, Dave Brubeck

More campy horror psychedelic from Hail Spirit Noir. For fans of Oranssi.

The Cannibal Tribe Came from the Sea: Hail Spirit Noir (Greece)(0:28-7:18)

Ambient AND black metal AND awesome vocals from yet another Dutch band. 

Meditatum II: Urfaust (Netherlands)(8:27-15:42)

Elegant adult punk.

New Face On: Ex-Cult (Memphis)(16:10-20:57)

Raw crusty thrash, with a melodic brutal vocalist and strains of black metal.  This is a good one.

Plagued By Neglected Hope: Nuclear Devastation (Netherlands)(21:41-25:03)

No one likes sludge, I know.  But this is a beer-riffic catchy fun German band.

Morast: Wolves Carry My Name (Germany)(25:49-29:41)

Perfect folk metal blend.

Sjuguttmyra: Myrkgrav (Norway/Finland)(30:17-34:44)

YES, just headbanging perfect traditional death. 

Diptych of Perked Oblation: Lectern (Rome)(35:03-38:56)

New split, another strong showing of non-gaze dreamy screeching.

Clathrus Columnatus: Botanist (SF)(39:18-42:58)

Contributions from members of Pyrrhon, Gnaw Their Tongues, Myspyrming.  Not easy-going.

Beauty from Wretchedness: Death Fetishist (Portland)(43:31-49:56)

Riffy sludge-laced hardcore.

Ghost Trash: Whores (Atlanta)(50:44-53:35)

Polish black metal, 23-year old band.

Lunaris: Arkona (Poland)(54:16-END!)