The 2018 ILX Metal n' Heavy Rock Poll VOTING + CAMPAIGNING thread! NEW EXTENDED DEADLINE! Ballots due by Friday, February 15th 11.59pm PST

That saturday morning btw not afternoon or evening. aka when seandalai gets up.

Now would be a good time to campaign if you have anything you want to boost.

New DMBQ album is killer, sludgy and punchy like Boris at their best

https://dmbq.bandcamp.com

there's a joke about Dave Matthews Band and how LGBT became LGBTQ, but...I guess I've already made it

Voted - Kind of amazed 'Sulphur Aeon - The Scythe of Cosmic Chaos' is missed in noms, it's in my ballot, hope it doesn't throw off my ballot, but willing to take the risk!

it's in the nominations list now

Eigenlicht - Self-Annihilating Consciousness
https://eigenlicht-metal.bandcamp.com/album/self-annihilating-consciousness
Heavily atmospheric black metal, I listen to a lot of this stuff and this was one of the best of the year I thought.

More of a punt, I didn't even post this in the rolling thread: Mamaleek - Out of Time
https://mamaleek.bandcamp.com/album/out-of-time
Evil blackened post-rock with abstract hip-hop beats, or something. Just really bloody weird and one of my AOTY.

Will throw in more if the thread stays quiet

voted for 30 albums. thank you so much for putting this on again

ultros you will be posting a lot then

I'll be amateurishly campaigning for a name or two very soon.

I would like to start my campaign by reminding everyone to listen to the wonderful Summoning album if they have not yet done so.

To think I’d never heard of them until last year!

Btw ballots are due by February 9th!. My bad

That 1914 record that's conveniently listed on top is excellent WW1 themed Bolt Thrower worship, and I think the grammatically awkward lyrics only amplify the All Quiet On The Western Front vibes.

Funeral Winds - Sinister Creed is old school BM played by actual oldschoolers, this description alone might not sell it well but the ascetic focus on *that* sound is very compelling - I enjoyed this much more than Immortal going back in time for example.

Stortregn - Emptiness Fills The Void awesome Dissection/Sacramentum-style black/death. Haven't heard this done so well in ten years.

I've repped Kriegsmaschine before, not an easy to digest record but I think everyone should hear it. Drums drums drums.

Just going to make my shortlist now

Five favourites –

Burial Invocation: Although I tend to favour black over death metal, 2018 was a good year for the latter – as far as I'm concerned – and this is the DM album I've listened to the most. Killer vocals and reminiscences of early Incantation are enough to grab my attention, but the progressive songwriting is what takes it to the next level.

https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/abiogenesis

Fluisteraars / Turia: An ecologically-minded split whose inspiration stems from the Waal and the Rhine, two rivers that flow near the bands' respective hometowns in the Netherlands. As expected, this one calls for watery metaphors: the guitars swell, ebb and swirl, whether at a leisurely (side A) or more aggressive (side B) pace.

https://fluisteraars.bandcamp.com/album/de-oord

Hamferð: The melodramatic, nigh operatic doom pick from the Faroe Islands. Jón Aldará is a phenomenal singer, whether growling or soaring, and this music suits him like a glove (I can't say the same for the latest Barren Earth LP). The melodies are gorgeously fatalistic and there's enough variation to keep you hooked throughout.

https://hamferd.bandcamp.com/album/t-msins-likam

Iskandr: A tetralogy of epic Dutch black metal (Iskandr shares members with Turia, or so it seems) with an allegorical tale to tell. I've yet to figure out what that tale is, but it hardly matters. What drew me in is the variety of moods on display and the band's dedication to wringing beauty out of the genre's strictures.

https://iskandr.bandcamp.com/album/euprosopon

Ungfell: Peste Noire's folk-punkster melodies minus the fash. Maniacal songs are interspersed with medieval interludes and the whole is steeped in Swiss fables, ostensibly retold in Old Alemannic. A definite step up from their debut (which I also liked), and the album likeliest to approximate a dancing plague.

https://ungfell.bandcamp.com/album/mythen-m-ren-pestilenz

And yes, the Kriegsmaschine is pure drum porn.

cosign on all of the above.

ok so a few things to stan for this year

Usurpress - Interregnum - every year there seems to be a "kitchen sink" metal album that artfully blends styles and just blows me away in the process, and this year this was the one that pulled off that synthesis. Mostly it's just incredibly fun to listen to! Harsh death vox plus big canyon guitar solos (and the occasional synth line!), spoken word, moody interludes, a sub-two-minute thrasher, riffs for days, and some surprisingly creative drumming to boot

LLNN - Deads - these guys seem to keep flying under the radar but I love their tightly structured records and incredibly percussive, punishing, yet still atmospheric sound; kind of like Unsane meets Deftones, or something?

Dautha - Brethren of the Black Soil - big yearning melodic doom of the sort I haven't heard done well much of late. Actually earns its scope.

The Stortregn flirts with power metal a little more than I expected. Good stuff.

I've voted

RN listening to Deiquisitor - Downfall of the Apostates and RIYL Florida/NY death metal early in the process of assimilating grindcore's influence. Even has a kind of Scott Burns production but for once I don't mean that as an insult.

seandalai are you voting this year?

I definitely have voted

I'm listening to Eigenlicht right now. On "Hagia Sophia". This is pretty well-put together. Lots of different parts, though a little slower than I expected. I loved the abrupt switch from funereal organ to reverb-y screaming; also how it feels like it's going to end multiple times but refuses to relinquish the momentum

Ok "Labrys" just started. Much more my speed.

The push and pull between faster verses and midtempo instrumental breakdowns work well for the track imo, though that might be a common trope...

Anyways, I can totally hear what you're getting out of this, ultros. It's some pretty epic tuneage

Mamaleek is batshit. Kind of wish I'd voted for it

Regarding Eigenlicht, my standards for that kind of bm are pretty low but I do think that it's an impressive record, though yeah it takes a while to get going.

Mamaleek are something else.

I hath voted

Going to try to do some campaigning later if i feel up to it

we dont have access to ballots so will need to ask seandalai to confirm they arrived (but usually they do)

I'll hold out for a while longer just in case. Do campaign, fellow lovers of loud filth.

Because my sloth knows no bounds, both Mylingar and the esoterically-named HWWAUOCH can be described as concentrated shots of unyielding, nigh unlistenable Hadean malevolence or some such.

https://hwwauoch.bandcamp.com

https://mylingar.bandcamp.com/album/d-da-dr-mmar

A week left to vote

I get too focussed on black metal so I'll just mention that Ails, Dispirit, Entropia and ION all made great albums last year, all more or less bm (Entropia especially good, like a more danceable Oranssi Pazuzu).

But one of my favourite discoveries of 2018 was El Efecto, a maximalist prog band from Brazil who include riffing heavy enough for this poll, lots of different folk styles, plus other tangents like Latin rap and some pseudo-Eastern classical but honestly it's better than I'm making it sound
https://elefecto.bandcamp.com/album/mem-rias-do-fogo

Also co-sign on Hamferd, Iskandr and Ungfell

The Entropia is brilliant.

As is the KHôRADA album
https://khorada.bandcamp.com/album/salt-luxus

Rising from the ashes of Agalloch and Giant Squid, a new group is born: Khôrada. Featuring former Agalloch members Don Anderson (guitar), Jason Walton (bass) and Aesop Dekker (drums) alongside former Giant Squid guitarist / vocalist Aaron John Gregory, KHôRADA creates colossal, textured, and emotionally powerful music.

As a completely fresh concept, Khôrada is an opportunity for the musicians to explore new soundscapes while challenging themselves creatively. With their debut album "Salt", KHôRADA forges breathtaking swathes of sound that swell, stretch, submerge and recede with panoramic power.

At once atmospheric, aggressive and apocalyptic, the album's emotion is driven by the band members' view of today's world; these are precarious times. "Salt" was written under the pressure and uncertainty of the beginning of the Trump-era, standing as a musical exploration of the routine madness we now live. Paired with the surreally visceral artwork by internationally renowned painter & sculptor Cedric Wentworth, the visual explorations prove to be as haunting as the ethereal vocals of Aaron himself.

The dissolution of two of America's most beloved underground groups has resulted in the formation of perhaps the scene's most highly anticipated new band. With a sound built upon a resolute sense of purpose, KHôRADA has arrived.

Pretty sure that sund4r, Imago & TT would love the Entropia

https://entropia.bandcamp.com/album/vacuum

btw you can help boost your albums by adding them to the playlist set up here https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0mWZOMQIfPnXb7wuSFQsr9

dont forget to subscribe to it

I'll give Entropia a listen. I thought the Ails album was pretty great; I liked the ION too

Pretty sure you will dig it (I assumed you had already heard it)

I'm still listening to the Mamaleek. It's pretty nuts! It's kinda got this vibe, like Locust Abortion Technician except goth-as-fvck, but there's all sorts of moments that almost sound like a heavy metal Yves Tumor...? I don't know. It might be a little out-there even for me

oh and for fans of weird arty kitchen sink metal hungarian/scottish mentalism dont forget perennial ilx faves Thy Catafalque https://thycatafalqueuk.bandcamp.com/album/geometria

Imago/TT have you heard it?

Huh, somehow I missed that Entropia till now. Not sure I'll have enough time to let it sink in before the deadline, but it sounds promising. Lots of good stuff coming out of Poland these days. The Gorycz album is one of my top faves, a bit like the Kriegsmachine or the Furia album from a couple years ago (all from Poland, I believe).

Entropia are so good

Listening through everyone's recommendations now and have so far really enjoyed DMBQ, Mamaleek and Funeral Winds.

Fluisteraars / Turia though...this is wonderful! That first track reminds me somehow of a more fuzzed-out blackened Aereogramme, and the second track is just wild. Sounds like they're doing so much more with the familiar instumentation of atmospheric black metal. Very twisty and psychedelic. Thanks so much for this!

Glad you like it!

I assume almost everyone's heard it by this point, but I'm still very much taken with Messa's Feast for Water, which has got to be one of the most accessible albums on our list. Trad doom-psych-drone-jazz with consistently memorable songs and fantastic female vocals.

That first track reminds me somehow of a more fuzzed-out blackened Aereogramme

Probably because its climax is almost literally the chorus of Post-Tour, Pre-Judgement ;)

It's ok! We'll make sure to blame you anytime anybody complains about the results!

it's ok the co-pollrunner gets the blame

Yeah we all know who's really at fault here haha *nervous*

nah i'll be your sin eater! tell em i voted for only the very most overrated stuff just to piss off the ppl who know the /real shit/

and also my ballot was counted five times

i can't wait to be the wrestling heel of this rollout now!

I'm listening to YOB right now. I remember being pretty bored with Atma but I've only started the second track and already this seems much more engaging. I barely noticed that the first song was ten minutes!

"The Screen" has a pleasing lurch

All Yob is great

Ehhh

I had to re-start "In Reverie" 3 times because my attention kept wandering...def getting those Atma vibes again. Sounds like something that could have been on Surrounded by Thieves if Matt Pike had been trapped in a terminal k-hole

The tally, thus far = unperson, 1; sludge wizards, 2

Has anyone seen imago or tt? usually they are on the voting and campaigning thread. Are they even going to vote?

I can’t vote because I’m way way way out of it but I <3 YOB!

By “it” I mean being aware of new releases

We'll vote tomorrow!

I'm liking "Beauty in Falling Leaves", very pretty

That said, a 16-minute power ballad is a formidable proposition no matter who is behind it

LL a small ballot is fine!

Btw I could tell within thirty seconds that "Original Face" was my favorite song off the album. Serious Anointing of Seer vibes. I'll bet it kills live!

http://scontent.fewr1-4.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/52532840_10161471803935597_504662084663902208_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_eui2=AeGghn6t_SKGFip5527lGnf5_qf4qfWKHBQBBbd69CQgOCodZsXezS2TISxwRVpTVIs73ywMeTvs8XjKm6-FPj1NBb3TovvYIE6YziGrxUj_8Q&_nc_ht=scontent.fewr1-4.fna&oh=3109343aaae9ecf0c069bd4b8ad2480e&oe=5CF132EF

Time to make coffee and begin this ballot. Hopefully we still have until whenever we go to sleep to vote...

youve had an extra week!

it was always going to be on the last day

Voted

voting ends in about 13 hours?

Today I heard the preview track off the Waste Of Space Orchestra album and it's already more exciting than all of last year's metal

https://roadburn.com/premiere-waste-of-space-orchestra-seekers-reflection/

link at the bottom

I mean can you even

What did you think of the Entropia? I thought it was good but fell slightly short of my favorite records by Oranssi & Aluk Todolo

It was...OK. I'm still reeling from the WOSO preview track

What did you think of the Entropia? I thought it was good but fell slightly short of my favorite records by Oranssi & Aluk Todolo

― aquaman goes to college (Drugs A. Money), Friday, 15 February 2019 19:24 (twenty minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I'd agree with that. They have the potential to be as good though.

Simon H totally otm re: LLNN. I'd forgotten how much this album absolutely rules and it's climbing my ballot the more I re-listen.

Louis not wrong about WOSO.

Concentrate on last year!

I voted!

Inspired by what I posted, I have now heard Dark Buddha Rising.

Folks. I mean, why didn't you say?

We did, years ago. You slowcoach.

Voted!

I can't remember whether through Kerr's metal email list or through EZ that I heard DBR but I could never quite get into them. They kind of reminded me of UFOMammut

Well, Ufomammut have never really moved me, but all I know is that this is *the shit*

Azusa currently bringing the sick post-hardcore tunez

My word, that got amazing.

Voted!

we might be able to start the rollout sat afternoon like how we used to keep fingers crossed

I am listening to the new Uncle Acid...this is actually pretty good. Maybe they were this year's Comet Control all along :/

but you all still have a whole 8 hours at least to vote. Seandalai will close the voting form when he's ready to tabulate.

32 ballots according to seandalai

Voted. Get yer ballots in ye swine

Yeah this Uncle Acid album was awesome

Voting is closed and I haz results. Not looked at yet of course.

If the george is ready I think we will start the rollout shortly.
maybe do 10 today and 10 tomorrow then 20 mon-thurs

Going to do a 125 for the lols. thats 25 bonus albums for the weekend and 100 during the week.

That’s a lot of metal! It’s going to be a wonderfully intense February. So glad it’s half term.

That is way too much - why not a cut off when the points start spreading out meaningfully? I guess it isn't my poll

ILM METAL POLL 2018 RESULTS THREAD!

That is way too much - why not a cut off when the points start spreading out meaningfully? I guess it isn't my poll