2019 Metal ’n’ Heavy Rock/Heavy Music Poll: RESULTS - Top 100 Countdown

yeah the zig zags were party like it's 1989 fun, novelty effect absent ofc. fun, nonetheless

seconding drug's last post

How many of us under-35ers (I've got a few more weeks to go) are heavily into thrash, I wonder?

How many of us over-35s have the energy for thrash.

inculter incoming?

How many of us under-35ers (I've got a few more weeks to go) are heavily into thrash, I wonder?

― romanesque architect (pomenitul), Monday, February 24, 2020 7:33 AM (three minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

it’s the best kind of metal

lol Brad, that's less vmic than usual – I thought you were going to say every kind of metal is the best kind of metal.

Is there a subgenre you actively dislike?

black metal has to be like tremendous or heavily deathened to impress me. a lot of doomish stonery stuff is lost on me

Surprised by the latter tbh. I definitely like it a lot more on paper than I do while it's playing.

Speaking of the former…

95
Drudkh - A Few Lines in Archaic Ukrainian
95 points, 3 votes

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a1721612505_10.jpg

https://open.spotify.com/album/3fco2OJoJTmbwzc1yHj3qM

https://distortedsoundmag.com/album-review-a-few-lines-in-archaic-ukrainian-drudkh/

There are few atmospheric black metal bands in Europe as endlessly alluring as DRUDKH; the Ukraine mainstays have spent a career remaining remarkably consistent and replete with fresh and engaging ideas. Despite spending much of their time in relative obscurity, only achieving underground glory for much of their early years, they have managed to gradually and successfully garner a following, and it’s no surprise why; the quartet is responsible for some of the most all-encompassing black metal released this century.

Their debut album, Forgotten Legends, and its ambitious follow-up Autumn Aurora remain upheld as two of the most remarkable atmospheric black metal albums in recent memory – each of them called upon rural/folk influences specific to their region, as well as that of both BURZUM and CELTIC FROST. Throughout their career, they have continually built on this formula, sparing only 2006’s Songs Of Grief And Solitude, which provided an amalgam of both folk and dark ambient; a curiosity within their discography. They’ve continually impressed fans with their orchestral and dynamic take on pagan black metal, almost falling into the camp of ‘taken for granted’. Here, however, on A Few Lines In Archaic Ukrainian, they are on the finest forms they’re experienced in years, and demand a critical renaissance.

DRUDKH’s national identity comes through in their art in a number of ways, separating from a densely-populated pack. Their lyrics, generally, concern Slavic mythology – something that has since and previously been explored in black metal, but never to the standard of DRUDKH. On A Few Lines In Archaic Ukrainian, however, DRUDKH have opted for a new technique. The group have unearthed classical texts from Ukrainian poets and used them as the foundation for their music. For example, the words of Mike Johansen, who arrived in Karkhiv at the end of the 19th century, words are make-up the lyrics for single Autumn In Sepia. This song provides a perfect taster for the rest of the album; showing both that the album possesses a level of scope the band haven’t shown before, as well as being more musically direct than its immediate neighbours. It’s not the artistic highlight, but it is certainly the song one ought to be shown before being introduced to the album in its entirety.

First (and perhaps only) compilation to have placed so far, if I'm not mistaken? Either way, Drudkh's discography is nothing if not consistent.

That is very true. I like a brisk walk through a murky forest as much as the next person and whilst I don’t often choose to listen to Drudkh, I always enjoy it when I do.

94
Inculter - Fatal Visions
95 points, 5 votes

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a3113339614_10.jpg

https://open.spotify.com/album/0fPF9DdzCHBQll0xNNSRnF

https://www.angrymetalguy.com/inculter-fatal-visions-review/

What is an Inculter? Is it the person sitting behind the registration table at your local religious cult convention? You know, the one who greets you, helps you select the appropriate cult, provides the correct forms for you to fill out, and introduces you to the last family you’ll ever have? Or could it be that all-important person involved in the metal production process who is directly responsible for injecting the proper amount of cvltness into the music? Could it have something to do with yogurt and gut health? After pondering this riddle for some time, I continued to draw a blank and decided to listen to Fatal Visions, the sophomore full-length from this simple yet mysteriously named Norwegian band. Perhaps the music holds the answer.

After many spins, I’m convinced that Inculter is the Norwegian word for “producer of righteous thrash.” Holy smokes, this rips from front to back. Imagine an insanely tight and fast Slayer fronted by Sepultura‘s Max Cavalera, and you have a decent picture of the blistering ride that is Fatal Visions. Lead off track “Open the Tombs” begins with three-quarters of a minute of relative calm as classic power chords herald the coming storm. Use those seconds wisely, as the rest stops are few and far between after this. When the thrash riffing begins, a smile works its way onto my face and doesn’t leave for the next 33 minutes (or 67 if I play the record twice, which is almost required).

Thrash so sizzlingly good even I voted for it.

yay!

It made mine too! This rips.

I can’t get into a lot of thrash, but if it’s sizzlingly good then maybe! There’s one I voted for that I’m looking forward to placing later.

Also many xposts to Noel - Clevermouth specifically reminded me of Horse Head!

the drumming on this record is a beauty

Nothing against Daniel Tveit, I love the guy, but imagine someone with true jazz chops on those extended instrumentals on Fatal Visions.

haha

this looks dope

I'm narrowly under 35 and it takes a lot of wonky art nonsense for me to start liking thrash. I'm not even completely sold on Voivod yet. Still, if you all claim it's sizzling...

update: two tracks in, it's very dope

Coming right up: yet another ludicrously named band – far older than onomastic rivals Fvneral Fvkk, however.

93
Terminal Cheesecake - Le sacre du lièvre
96 points, 2 votes, 1 #1 vote

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a0283117011_10.jpg

https://open.spotify.com/album/6PaLSRWO37qT6yKoinhryx

https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/terminal-cheesecake-le-sacre-du-lievre

Terminal Cheesecake operate at a crazed pitch not dissimilar to Butthole Surfers, albeit by varying means, in that an underlying mischievousness underscores everything they produce. And if Le Sacre Du Liévre takes yet another twist in a career full of them, one thing it retains is that sense of fee spirited waywardness.

From their formation in 1988, Terminal Cheesecake blazed a swampy trail through the UK’s underground until they ceased activity in 1995. Having returned into the fold in 2013, the band committed their first new material in 22 years to wax in 2016 with the excellent Dandelion Sauce Of The Ancients via Newcastle’s Box Records.

Happily, their reformation continues with this latest collection of ungovernable noise. If Saddle Shower sounds like it was cooked up in a raging furnace, its plodding pace lending the track a very particular kind of menace, South Sea Wall creeps in at a quieter, softer canter with vocal loops, eerie guitars, and an ominous twinkle of a triangle here and there. Rest assured, it’s no less intimidating for it.

Not familiar with these guys at all. Will the #1 voter please stand up?

He's probably asleep tbh

I voted for this! Sets up a convincing old ruckus

Its a-me!

He's awake!

I'm going to have to sample this a bit later, unfortunately. Currently juggling between this and proofreading something for work.

Stupidly forgot about the bandcamp links despite the fact that I use it way more than Spotify. Sorry 'bout that. Here they are thus far:

93. Terminal Cheesecake - Le sacre du lièvre: https://terminalcheesecake.bandcamp.com/album/le-sacre-du-li-vre
94. Inculter - Fatal Visions: https://edgedcircleproductions.bandcamp.com/album/fatal-visions
95. Drudkh - A Few Lines in Archaic Ukrainian: https://drudkh.bandcamp.com/album/few-lines-in-archaic-ukrainian
96. Zig Zags - They'll Never Take Us Alive: https://zigzags.bandcamp.com/album/theyll-never-take-us-alive
97. False - Portent: https://gileadmedia.bandcamp.com/album/portent
97. Russian Circles - Blood Year: https://russiancircles.bandcamp.com/album/blood-year
99. Fvneral Fvkk - Carnal Confessions: https://fvneralfvkk.bandcamp.com/album/carnal-confessions
99. The Cosmic Dead - Scottish Space Race: https://riotseasonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/scottish-space-race
99. Vesperith - Vesperith: https://vesperith.bandcamp.com/album/vesperith
99. Vircolac - Masque: https://vircolac.bandcamp.com/album/masque
103. Coffin Rot - A Monument to the Dead: https://bloodharvestrecords.bandcamp.com/album/a-monument-to-the-dead
103. Sanguisugabogg - Pornographic Seizures: https://sanguisugabogg-maggotstomp.bandcamp.com/album/pornographic-seizures

92
Putrescine - The One Reborn
100 points, 3 votes

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a0817045084_10.jpg

https://open.spotify.com/album/4Sxw1UfeCYYbJJ7Pa8ei4P

https://reek-of-putrescine.bandcamp.com/album/the-one-reborn

https://astralnoizeuk.com/2019/09/09/review-putrescine-the-one-reborn/

With conceptual inspirations looking at both their leftist political leanings and a particular strain of Gothic horror lifted from action-role player Bloodbourne, San Diego three piece Putrescine are, on paper, a rather unique proposition. However, whilst their music may espouse a timeless hooks ‘n’ grooves philosophy steeped in the buzz-saw rage of Stockholm and the ornate menace of Tampa Bay, the bands debut EP The One Reborn could be rather easily dismissed as a simple tribute to old school death metal values. Luckily, the furrowed brow fury and songwriting quality on display swiftly quashes any grumbles that these tracks are not significantly original.

It is all convincingly unpleasant stuff, the listener swept along amid showers of  percussive clatter, the traditional sewer splurging lows/lacerating highs vocal switcharoo and a thick haze of malevolent ambience. However, it’s the relentless barrage of ferocious and joyously incisive riffs that spew from the guitars of Trevor Van Hook and Zachary Sanders that makes everything from savage opener ‘Child Sized Coffins’ and the mid-paced cudgeling of ‘Inhuman’,  through to the barbaric multi-limbed attack of ‘Entropy,’ resound with power, depth and electrifying intensity. For a debut release this is remarkably assured; evidence, perhaps, that Putrescine have what it takes for the long haul, and despite its understandably raw production The One Reborn contains more than enough promise to suggest that a full length record could strike a diabolical chord with death-heads the world over. Watch this space.

Antifa old-school DM? Sounds pretty cool.

I loved that EP. one of my votes, though further down the ballot.

funny thing is the guitars kinda sound outta tune throughout but that's part of the charm.

also I love the band's pic, which has the band staring menacingly into the camera in midstride.

this and Venom Prison were great 'woke metal' albums

Terminal Cheesecake

i see we are still in the george portion of results

xp to imago I had some errands to run for a few hours after work. I just got home. I'm prob going to sleep soon.

Le sacre du Lievre might be* this decade's finest example of my all-time favorite micro-genre:

Crazy Psychedelia (Helios Creed, Butthole Surfers and...?)

(*'might be' partially in reference to the fact that I've yet to hear TC's 2016 album Dandelion Ssuce of the Ancients)

Anyways TC have been around forever; back in the 90s the press used to call them 'the British answer to the Butthole Surfers')

91
Pinkish Black - Concept Unification
101 points, 5 votes

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a3800203582_10.jpg

https://open.spotify.com/album/5G5HaKew7fH311DS7wlEnf
https://pinkishblack.bandcamp.com/album/concept-unification

https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2019/06/13/album-review-pinkish-black-concept-unification/

Like the color out of the space that gives them their name, Pinkish Black defy categorization, occupying a weird netherworld between genres that leaves the listener feeling vaguely uneasy. Is it doom? Is it synth-prog? Psychedelic? Experimental? Hell if I know, but it works.

The Fort Worth-based duo named their fourth album Concept Unification, and the only results Google offers about the phrase refers to a process in which ShowBiz Pizza Place’s Rock-afire Explosion band animatronics were transformed into the Chuck E. Cheese equivalents after the chains merged. It’s strangely unsettling to watch the robots stripped of clothes and fur and faces and replaced with their Munch’s Make Believe Band counterparts. That’s kind of the experience that Pinkish Black seem to be going for. Not just the blending of styles, but the process of blending the styles. The point where the metallic doom meets the synthesized gloom. The title track feels as if Bauhaus got trapped in a fogbank, “Petit Mal” the favorite music of the computer from Harlan Ellison’s I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream, “Next Solution” a 12-minute race through John Carpenter’s worst nightmares.

The miasmal vibe they spread may not be for everyone, but in a world filled with shitty knockoff robot bands, it’s unique to watch the process of deconstruction. It can be a bummer to listen to (nothing on here could be considered remotely uplifting), but there are no other colors in the rainbow quite like this one.

there are no other colors in the rainbow quite like this one

I'm holding you to it, Decibel dude.

After reading several blurbs in a row in this thread alone, it's hard to be kind to media covering this music isn't it? A lot of really badly written stuff, style-wise.

lol xp

I do enjoy reading them, don't get me wrong!

I voted for this too but towards the bottom of my ballot. I love the title track and Until but this is prob my least favorite PB album. Too ponderous imo

The rainbow line is prob in reference to the big single from their last album, called "Brown Rainbow"

After reading several blurbs in a row in this thread alone, it's hard to be kind to media covering this music isn't it? A lot of really badly written stuff, style-wise.

Tbf while (spoiler) all-too briefly trawling the internet for reviews I occasionally settle for the least palatably written one because it yields lines such as 'a 12-minute race through John Carpenter’s worst nightmares'.

That said, cliché-free writing about a cliché-ridden genre is no small task.

I just try to select from the same source and angry metal guy is it.

However if there is a pitchfork review I post it too

I avoided AMG this time because their review wasn't very positive.

I like Pinkish Black a lot but for some reason never checked this new one out. Will rectify.

AMG is the Leno of metal blogging: easy to mock the craft, not so much the grind

(Except he didn't actually write that review, so w/e)