2011

Things are a bit slow nowadays. For now here´s my 2011 list.

I still need to hear some albums I got but didn’t really give them the attention they need,.David Galas, The Austrasian Goat splits, Blasphemophagher, Rorcal, Void meditation Cult, etc.

I just hope that in 2012, Process of guilt, The Austrasian Goat, Sunn 0))), Moss, Evoken, Aldebaran, The howling Wind, Dustflow, Kriegsmaschine, Paradise Lost among others can get something out.

MOURNFUL CONGREGATION – THE BOOK OF KINGS

Seeing my last five tops I can assume one thing, that exists bands that are always there and in this case that occur, but I like so much Mournful Congregation approach to doom and their characteristic “cavernous” sound that since the first minute of “The Catechism of Depression” I knew that this would be on my favourite albums of 2011. A grandiose release.

ESOTERIC – PARAGON OF DISSONACE

With Esoteric the same thing that M.C goes through my mind, this band has been on my top since Pernicious. Although the “popularity” they gained over the years and the almost perfect album that “The Maniacal Vale” was, the attention now seems gone. I also need to be honest that at first I didn’t enjoy much this but I gave it some more spins and the details that Esoteric made a characteristic of their sound make me enjoy a lot this album. This is a real grower my friends, just needs time.

LOSS – DESPOND

You can’t get more funeral than this nowadays; this is a creepy album, the tormented vocals along with the negative vibe gives this album the unique touch much bands seeks nowadays and failed.

THRALL- VERMIN TO THE EARTH

My 2011 black metal album. Great attitude, strong songs. An album with a “rock” feeling that never gets me bored. If “void” is for many one of the albums of this year this one simply destroys him.

BEFORE THE RAIN – FRAIL

Many changes occur in the Before the Rain camp, but if you ask me they were all good calls. They knew how to evolve raising the bar, great songs with a personal touch and im really happy they lost their “old Anathema” singing thing with the adding of Gary , the variety that the music deserved is all there. Can’t wait for the third one.

ASH BORER – S/T

If you ask me what is the right atmosphere to a black metal album nowadays I would probably pick my vinyl of this album and show it to you. Three long songs that are “simple” but also very interesting of hearing, an album that never gets in complicated streams.

ALDEBARAN – BURIED BENEATH AEONS

When bands tend to change their sound drastically or only a bit those “transition” records normally are seen as “weak” compared to their previous albums. Well this ep has that connotation, but for me their “new path only made then stronger, this is an 28 minute track that balances from funeral to death in a interesting way. Reminds me a bit of Asunder sound something that is forgotten nowadays.

SINK – TRUTH & SEVERENCE

Since I first heard “The Process” i knew that this guys were creating something I would appreciate heavily and with this ep that idea grew stronger. Intense songs, perfect mixture of styles. I only regret not having “the Holy testament 1” but time is going to fix that.

LOCRIAN – THE CLEARING

Over the years Locrian has released several titles peer year. Some may say that being so productive the albums / ep´s, etc will suffer in quality status. But with Locrian this kind of feeling does not happen. Chalk point opens the album and again shows a band that does not follow the path of earlier releases. The feeling is there, the attitude, the freedom they know they have. Can’t wait to hear what this band will put out in 2012.

BONG – BEYOND ANCIENT SPACE / LIVE AT ROADBURN

Two bong releases that were in constant rotation in my stereo, because this guys can mixture everything I enjoy nowadays, long relaxing, heavy songs that sound good in studio and in live albums.

FYRNASK - BLUOSTAR

This year I bought some albums from Temple of Torturous, and while doing my order i´ve heard two upcoming songs from this album. This is a black metal one man show that deals with nature and ritualism. For a first album I must say this is very interesting work. You can find some Norwegian touches in the music and some parts that reminds me some Paysage d´Hiver or Fauna, but with a more “clear” sound. A good surprise.

:OF THE WAND & THE MOON: – THE LONE DESCENT

I disconnected from the project with Lucifer, since that album I didn’t really listen to any material, I always had the feeling that it was more of the same. With this release things were different mainly because the vinyl edition was visually beautiful, so because of that I decide to listen to this album and what a surprise! Kim´s touché isa still here but with an upgrade, the “mellow” sound now feels so fresh in some ways closer to what Rome sound like.

FLESHPRESS – ACID MOUTH STRANGULATION

This band got a lot of attention with Pillars, and the right move was to follow the same path that album has, but this album for me has more links with their past “III or Worm Dirges”., than with that one. Their blackened sludge is still strong and relevant, if you liked the earlier albums you will like this one,.

ALTAR OF PLAGUES – MAMMAL

Since the first notes of this album you can feel the “anger” that the music of Altar of plagues carries and the so called post influences work very well in the whole album.

ATRIARCH – FOREVER THE END

This was one of those albums that grab my attention since the first listening. To keep things simple if you know The Gault, these guys follow the same path but the music is more doomy and intriguing.

ENSORCELOR – CRUCIFUGE

Mature is the word that comes to my mind when I heard this album and compare him to their first release. This two songs Lp is a very strong mixture of doom with some black atmosphere. Long songs that in my case caught my attention from the beginning to the end.

TERRA TENEBROSA – THE TUNNELS

Yes i also was caught in the fuzz this album got. This a captivating release with lots of details to explore. This has a genuine touch all over like it was composed with no barriers which are really interesting to hear nowadays.

CORRUPTED – GARTEN DER UNBEWUSSTHEIT

What can I say about this one? First this album is exactly what I was expecting from this Japanese band, heavy, long, powerful songs, the acoustic elements, the long intros, the corrosive vocals, well everything I hoped they would create is here. Bravo guys.