!!!!!!!! ILX METAL ALBUMS of 2009 POLL RESULTS!!!!!! (FINAL RESULTS NOW IN! LISTENING TO THESE ALBUMS WILL MAKE YOU STRONGER FRAIL INTERNET PERSON!)

J3ff's write-up for decibel does a better summation than I can:

Hacride - Lazarus

I guess I would say I don't like much of anything that could possibly be categorized as death metal, but they really won me over. I liked Gojira's last one quite a bit but think this is even better.

Death metal isn't usually my thing either bar coffins and entombed usually but i might give it a go if its on spotify.

#63 , 78 Points , 5 Votes, One #1 Vote

http://www.auralexploits.com/ebay_images/lp/Keelhaul_TriumphantReturnToObscurity_180g_1.jpg
Keelhaul - Triumphant Return to Obscurity

Keelhaul is like the one friend that you're actually looking forward to seeing when you fly home for the holidays... Still smoking weed in the parent's basement, but, try as you might, you can't fault him for doing it because ultimately you're fucking convinced he's got some shit figured out that you're still years away from. Basically, this guy Keelhaul is a solid dude and maybe part of you wants to be him, no shame in it... most people are susceptible to societal pressures... you wanted to be an adult and you thought you knew what that meant... trips to the wine store... you should kick your own ass.

Keelhaul's Triumphant Return to Obscurity, is not just a clever name for an album title marking a band's return from obscurity, it's an album title for a band's release marking that same band's return from obscurity. init? Chris Smith, Aaron Dallison, Dana Embrose, and Will Scharf have been at it as Keelhaul for over ten years and it shows. This record picks up on the band's progression as if they were steadily releasing records throughout their six year hiatus. The pace is precise, the instrumentation is masterful and the guitar tones are absolutely appropriate. Look, your old pal Keelhaul knows what he's doing and he ain't affiliated with no williamsburgers, so he feels no need to overcompensate by adding strings, vibes, horns, boners (well maybe boners), harps and/or electric flutes... to his compositions... which is a god damn breath of fresh air if you ask me.

Didn't hear that in 09, poor show i swear on my life i feel so powerfull (musically) (DJ Mencap)

Also until just now I thought that the Nadja/BBA thing was just a straight vinyl reissue of the 2008 CD (which I really liked) - should prolly get on that too then

#62 , 79 Points , 4 votes
http://www.candlelightrecordsusa.com/store/images/anaal_nathrakh_myspace.JPG
Anaal Nathrakh - In the Constellation of the Black Widow

i never pay attention to metal lyrics but the quality of the vocals matters a lot to me--timbre, timing, style, and just generally fitting in well with the music. a lot of solid bands are dragged down by a boring singer, but most of my favorite bands have a singer who is really trying to do something interesting. for example anaal nathrakh is to me a sort of forgettable band without their singer.

― call all destroyer,

Anaal Nathrakh also solid but nowhere near career best.
― Siegbran,

Not career best but better than the last couple of albums IMO ^^^

I will always have a sweet spot for 2006's Eschaton, but these guys have never made a mediocre record, I love every one of their albums. And yeah, some of the most amazing vocals in all of metal, def a big part of what makes this band so special. This was in my top 10.

I really dug that one, too. That album's nuts...and incredibly hooky.

Does blurbs mean we're supposed to write stuff?

Anyway, here's what I wrote about the three albums I voted for at the time. (And yes, I know it doesn't necessarily paint me in a good light . . .)

I'll try and keep up with the rest.

Gnaw

“Have you ever noticed how as horror movies get less and less scary, the opposite is happening in computer games? This has everything to do with the glut of talent in the games industry mirroring a dearth in mainstream cinema. Sonically titles such as the ‘Silent Hill’ series lean heavily on the most forward thinking advances in electronica and metal. With Gnaw the inspiration actually flows both ways. As well as Alan Dubin (Khanate) and Jamie Sykes (Burning Witch), the group contains two soundscape artists who work with field recordings and electronic manipulation. This provides more grist for the gore mill than most could cope with. ‘Heaven’s Vault’ is howling white noise and harsh blackened vocals but the centrepiece is ‘Feelers’ whose remorselessly increasing bpm could drive a sensitive person to tears. Horrifically effective.

Hacride

Near death experiences cut straight to the heart of the third, fantastic album by the Gallic four piece. After all it is called ‘Lazarus’, named after an unfortunate character from the bible. After a life of hardship Larry was on his deathbed and word was sent to his best mate, Jesus of Nazareth. The long-haired rabble rouser was so late in going round to his pal’s house that not only was he dead when he got there but he’d been buried for nearly a week. Instead of just apologizing to the grieving family for his lamentable behaviour, Jesus brought the terrified guy back to life, which was great for the Son Of God’s rep but not so good for the nerves of poor old Lazarus, as John 12:5 reveals: “And lo, all the Bethanites did think Jesus a most righteous dude but poor old Lazarus was less sure saying ‘Christ, that was fucking terrifying. Eh? What’s that? I have to die again after he leaves? WTF!!! Jesus, you’re such a cunt . . .’” Basically, Hacride are yet more proof (if any were needed) that les Francais sont formidable! Vive Overmars! Vive Gojira! Vive Mistaken Elements! Vive Klone! Et vive Hacride!

Sub Arachnoid Space

When the dishes are done, the lady wife is at bingo and the kids have been sent to play by the burnt out car at the end of the road, Subterranea likes to kick back with some hydroponic science smoked through a bong constructed from a bucket of weapons grade anal relaxant and a horse’s shin bone. And what better sonic accompaniment than Sub Arachnoid Space, who take the prize for most satisfying exploration of inner madness this month with their tenth album ‘Eight Bells’. The continued success, of these San Franciscans lies in the fact that they obviously love cauterising their connections to reality but underneath all the churning guitars is the fearsomely pounding heart of a thunderous yet razor sharp rock band. No matter how much elephant tranquilizer they’ve had.

Really didn't get on that well with the Keelhaul album.

Keelhaul was my number one, I love it. I wish it placed higher, of course, but I can't complain too much.

xxxpost Candlemass was pretty high on my list too. It's kinda frontloaded but man, those first three tracks are *so* good. With all the dronedoom-y stuff nowadays I've come to appreciate old fashioned heavy doom metal more than ever in recent years (Grand Magus, Hammers of Misfortune, Heaven & Hell).

I especially like it when bands like that do uptempo stuff and *still* manage to make it sound like DOOOOOM, like Candlemass "If I Ever Die".

Candlemass was on mine I think.

Doran, thanks for that, look forward to seeing more!

Grand Magus have kinda moved away from doom to more trad heavy metal I think. Still good, just not as good as they were.

#61 , 81 Points , 4 votes

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UzANGJamcNE/SyylcdqrFcI/AAAAAAAAH4I/HdFzRq29lE4/s400/Lifelover+-+Dekadens+%2812%29.jpg
Lifelover - Dekadens

I'm liking this new Lifelover "EP" (7 songs, 26 minutes) Dekadens. I'd somehow never heard this band, or else never quite paid attention. Somewhere between black metal and HIM, which I assume means it pisses somebody off a lot.

― glenn mcdonald,

Not heard it but I quite liked their other albums.

Grand Magus have kinda moved away from doom to more trad heavy metal I think.

Exactly, that's what I meant with 'heavy / doom metal', love that stuff. Iron Will is one of my favorite albums of the 2000s. No, really.

#60 , 82 Points , 5 votes

http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ahabcover.jpg
Ahab - The Divinity of Oceans

i want the new Ahab album! i didn't even know there was one until i saw an ad for it.

― scott seward, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 21:17 (6 months ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I didn't know there was either!

― the sideburns are album-specific (jon /via/ chi 2.0),

whoa! had no idea that there is a new ahab coming out. sick!

I still play call of the wretched sea pretty frequently. like I'm doing RIGHT NOW.

― picture me lolin' (Alan N),

listening to the new Ahab. sounds like Ahab!

― scott seward,

I have to give the Ahab a spin. Their last album was cool, but those darn beeped Napalm promos are never fun.

― A. Begrand,

man, that Ahab record is something else! i do dig it.

― all you need is love vs. money (that's what i want) (Ioannis),

Yet another album I've been unsuccessfully trying to find! I suppose I'll just break down and get it off iTunes.

awesome record cover & ILX metal thread recommendation--I'm going to check this one out

man, I loooove me some call of the wretched sea but I played divinity of oceans many times over the course of last year and very little stuck.

the very low key clean breaks (w/clean vox) were pretty cool, I suppose.

I eventually just shelved it. will probably come back sometime down the road.

this thread is making me want to check out so many records, btw. I really slept on new metal last year.

#59 , 82 Points , 6 votes

http://www.auralexploits.com/ebay_images/lp/Xasthur_AllReflectionsDrained_1.jpg
Xasthur - All Reflections Drained

Got the new Xasthur, but haven't played it. Haven't been feeling miserable enough yet.

― glenn mcdonald, Friday, 29 May 2009 18:56 (7 months ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

You will be miserable enough after listening to it.

― slugbaiting (rockapads),

Latest Xasthur is a further step in the direction of BM as big 60's film themes. Great moments, but the drawback is that I can't see any structure or flow - just seems like "here's the last dozen things I wrote in chronological order. Back in six months."

― Soukesian,

I've been playing "All reflections drained" again over the last week, and I've convinced myself that there's one track that sounds exactly like Serge Gainsbourg backed by Einsturzende Neubauten. It's definitely not a generic Xasthur record.

― Soukesian,

#58 , 83 Points , 5 votes

http://www.boomerangshop.com/dvdcover/Imagecd105/BloodyPandaSummonBonusD580_f.jpg
Bloody Panda - Summon

Finally got my hands on a copy of the now-mastered unreleased Bloody Panda album. It definitely delivers on the promise of the first, featuring further realization, better production, and more tuneful singing (betwixt plenty of gut-wrenching screams).

― Nate Carson,

Echoing Nate's sentiments from a few weeks back, the new Bloody Panda is definitely as cool as expected. One of the more original doom bands out there, not to mention one of the most genuinely scary.

Terrific artwork on this album as well...

― A. Begrand,

much like the "gay witch abortion" issue for some, i have a really hard time listening to something called bloody panda

does "bloody panda" mean anything? I've heard loads complaining about the name.

no its not slang AFAIK, it just grates at me. every time i see the name i assume the band is going to look like paramore and sound like iwrestledabearonce

What a great cover on that Skeletonwitch album. That guy means serious business.

"nothing wrong with being sexy" "no, sexist!"

If all bands look like the singer of Paramore I bet they would get lots more votes.

i mean obv i'll give it a shot with that placing and those pull quotes, but ugh that name

i realize as the guy who likes bands named gay witch abortion and sleepytime gorilla museum i should prob STFU about that tho

i was gonna say..

Bloody Panda are really good fwiw

# 57 , 88 Points , 4 votes

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/reviewpics/ancestcd.jpg
Ancestors - Of Sound Mind

Also, was listening to the new Ancestors in the background while poking around the Internet just now, and holy crap, it totally just snuck up on me. "Bounty of Age" is pure Mellotron goodness.

― don't cry, emo hamster (J3ff T.),

uhh... is this the stoner/doom ancestors or the noisy black metal ancestors?

― self-aware psych tropes (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ),

Stoner/doom Ancestors. The ones on Teepee.

― don't cry, emo hamster (J3ff T.),

Another thing I like is the new/forthcoming Ancestors album. It's four long songs paired with/separated by four short interlude things, so clearly intended to be owned/heard on double vinyl, but they've really gotten a lot better since the debut. Big Uriah Heep influence, at least to my ear, and that's never a bad thing.

― neither good nor bad, just a kid like you (unperson),

unperson's review for AllMusic of the Bloody Panda is really accurate. Love this bit: "Vocalist Yoshiko Ohara shifts between an almost Gothic, monotone croon and a fierce scream, as organ, sludgy guitar, and throbbing bass shadow her. The drums combine tribal pounding with avant-rock improvisational sensitivity for a cumulative effect that recalls no wave as much as doom. Even when they come up with a somewhat normal song structure, as on "Pusher," a nonstop piercing keyboard tone manages to disrupt and keep the listener off-balance, unable to truly rock out with abandon."

And he did the review for Ancestors too! "Though there are no new ideas here, Ancestors have cherry-picked the best ones from 35 years ago, and longhairs who think rock music's been on a downward slide since 1975 will love this album."

I love both of these - my #2 and #7, respectively.

#56 , 88 Points , 8 Votes

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51m3Cj%2BwCDL.jpg
Greymachine - Disconnected

anyone hear greymachine yet? i like it a lot. i'm actually surprised by how much i'm liking it, as justin broadrick's stuff tends to bore me after awhile.

― borntohula,

Greymachine is the first time I've not been annoyed by Turner .
― Alex in SF,

I'm really digging that Greymachine. Harshest stuff Broadrick's done in ages.

― A. Begrand,

So much better than expected, this is top top stuff. Wonder what new Isis/Jesu fans will think of Turner/Broadrick getting "back to their roots!?

-pfunkboy

That's much lower than I thought it would be. I half-thought that would crack the top 10.

#55 , 91 Points , 4 votes , One #1 Vote

http://decibelmagazine.com/assets/uploads/51cDvVgPbVL__SS500_.jpg
Jamie Saft - Black Shabbis

Shabbis is the Yiddish for the Jewish Sabbath, so you'd be excused for thinking Black Shabbis is a shticky Jewish Black Sabbath cover band. But you'd be wrong. Jamie Saft takes metal very seriously, and though he might be harnessing it to fight anti-Semitism (a particularly fraught move in a genre full of its own ambiguities on the subject) he never drops the ball on the metal just to make a point. The album is always uncompromising and at points is one of the most horrifying, terrifying, most vicious metal albums I've heard this year. "Army Girl" sounds like some kind of demonic call for peace from the grave and "Blood," about Medieval blood libels is a simply tremendous track. Take a look at the cover where Saft has transposed a Magen Dovid over a Satanic goat figure and you'll get what he's doing. There's nothing novelty about the album -- the magen dovid looks like it belongs. In a genre that whole-sale borrows and steals Jewish + Kabbalistic motifs for its own use, Saft is just taking a little back.

Mordy.

I just wanna say how much I'm loving that Jamie Saft album. I highly recommend. "Der Judenstein" is this really sludgy, doomy track, and "Army Girl" sounds amazing. I think this might be my favorite album of the year so far - metal or not.

― Mordy,

Thanks to Mordy for providing the blurb.

fantastic album. I think it was mordy who alerted me to its existence. so thanks!

He certainly turned a few folk on to it.

hai thyere.

#54 , 93 Points , 4 votes

http://www.metal-experience.com/images/interviews/Wardruna/wadruna2008-cover.jpg
Wardruna - Runaljod - Gap Var Ginnunga

My rave for today: Wardruna. Gorgoroth side-project, probably not metal by anything but association, but wow. Pagan-ambient rune-drone? Dunno what to call it, but it does for trolls what Enya does for elves.

― glenn mcdonald,

OK, this Wardruna album sounds better to me every time I listen to it. If it gets any kind of buzz-momentum I can imagine it being this year's non-metal-by-metal-guys crossover, and if it doesn't, it'll be the thing I hit people with whenever they get dismissive about what metal musicians are capable of.

― glenn mcdonald,

Glenn -

I too love that Wardruna album but it just doesn't seem metal at all. Awesome creepy folk music, but it's hard for me to see it as metal despite the pedigree. And a big second to Madder Mortem - on paper I should hate it but it just captivates.

― EZ Snappin,

Yeah, Wardruna is arguably metal by association only, at least taken strictly on its musical characteristics, but because of that association I listen to it in a metal context, and it makes cultural and aesthetic sense to me that way.

- glenn mcdonald

The idea of WARDRUNA began to take shape in 2002 as a project where founder and main man Einar Kvitrafn Selvik could work with a musical expression and instrumentation very different from what his involvements in various metal bands would allow. Naturally, it also became a place where his passion for and practice of Norse paganism and runes could be combined with music.

In the spring of 2007, the project started to attract attention after it was featured on the soundtrack of the widely publicized "True Norwegian Black Metal" documentary about Gaahl (TRELLDOM, GORGOROTH, etc.) by Peter Beste and Vice Films. Despite the fact that the band has not released any product or performed live, WARDRUNA has garnered a respectable and surprisingly diverse following.

Nearly six years in the making, WARDRUNA's long-awaited debut album is the first part of the planned "Runaljod" trilogy which will musically interpret the runes of the elder futhark. This highly visual music is hard to place into any specific genre, and there isn't really much to compare it with. The style can perhaps be described as a curious blend of folk, world and ambient music, but without being limited by the sometimes restricted scope of these genres.

"Runaljod - Gap Var Ginnunga" has a very profound and unique sound that consists of a wide array of instruments, some of which are rarely used. A few examples: deer hide frame drums, mouth harp, goat horns, lur, Hardanger fiddle and tagelharpe ("viking fiddle"). Sounds of more unorthodox ‘instruments’ like trees, stones and fire are also incorporated into the music, and it's all topped off with powerful vocal performances from no less than three vocalists.

The upcoming album entitled ‘Gap Var Ginnunga’ will be the first in the planned Runaljod trilogy that will interpret the runes of the elder futhark. The subsequent albums will be entitled ‘Yggdrasill’ and ‘Ragnarok’. Each album will feature eight runes, but not in accordance with the order of the three aettirs (families), which is most commonly used.

So who besides Glen and I are Wardruna fans? It's really something different and quite special.

$35 import on Amazon. is there a cheaper, legal way to purchase this? :(

#53 , 93 Points , 4 Votes

http://www.golivewire.com/forums/img.cgi?i=70367
Church of Misery - Houses of the Unholy

Japanese four-piece, Church Of Misery, combine doom metal with heavy hints of 70's psychedelic rock in "Houses Of The Unholy," an album of sick gore, screechy guitar work, and weirdly-assembled song structures, where each disconcerting track is based on the sins of serial killers in a similarly ghoulish style to American death metal band Macabre. With disquieting lyrics that reach back to 1998’s "Taste the Pain," Church Of Misery have quite clearly outdone themselves with doom-riddled tracks and gloomy melodies.

So who besides Glen and I are Wardruna fans? It's really something different and quite special

Count me in, too: I was hugely impressed by it.

i had never heard this until the youtube thread but voted it kind of high. would never have guessed that it was a japanese band! xpost

Yeah John CoM are a brilliant band. Think I voted for it.

grimly its a shame you didnt vote this year.

$35 import on Amazon. is there a cheaper, legal way to purchase this? :(

― kshighway (ksh)

Amazon used to have it in the MP3 store for $9.99 (that's how I got it). Appears to no longer be an option. Sorry.

I think if I had heard the Church of Misery (and the Jamie Saft) earlier I would have voted for it. Had space left on my ballot but didn't get to spend enough time with either to properly judge.