The Thurible's Top 10 Metal Albums of 2015

1. Obsequiae - Aria of Vernal Tombs

It takes a lot for a band in an overcrowded genre like black metal to carve out a sound so distinct that they're instantly recognizable, and even more for that band to move beyond an attention grabbing gimmick to a complete sound. Yet Obsequiae's Aria of Vernal Tombs does both. Combining gorgeous harp interludes with medieval black metal melodies, this album transports the listener to moss-covered ruins and abandoned monastery gardens on the wings of its delicate riffs. Much like Panopticon's Roads to the North did a year ago, this album blew me away with it originality, mastery, and evocative quality. Aria of Vernal Tombs truly is a journey to ages past.

Favorite Track: "In the Absence of Light"

2. Ghost - Meliora

This is it. This is the defining metal act of our generation. Combining doomy hard rock with new-found progressive sensibilities and the same goofy shtick they've been rocking since day one, Meliora finally perfects these Swedish enigmas' formula and delivers one insidious earworm after another. From the triumphant "Spirit" to the equally exultant "Deus In Absentia," Ghost never miss a beat. Whoever Ghost are (I'm not saying some of them show up on this list again, but Tribulation sure sound Ghost-y at times), it's about time the music lived up to the legend. Hail Papa.

Favorite Track: "From the Pinnacle to the Pit"

3. Panopticon - Autumn Eternal

Austin Lunn of Panopticon concludes his three-album love affair with the vast solitude of the Kentucky wilderness in majestic form. On track after track, Lunn captures the beauty and loneliness of dense mountain woods, black lakes and distant white peaks. While Autumn Eternal lacks the bluegrass instrumentation so prominent in Panopticon previous two albums, the rich, post-rock influenced atmospheres are a very welcome addition. As American black metal continues to develop, Autumn Eternal will likely become a touchstone for bands that unite beautiful post-metal melodies with Norwegian black metal's celebration of frost-covered forests glistening on a late autumn night.

Favorite Track: "Into the North Woods"

4. Dead to a Dying World - Litany

It's rare that black or doom metal feels like a work of genius. After all, heavy metal is an unapologetically derivative genre–deeply committed to paying homage and meeting expectations. And while this means that a good black or doom metal band can deliver a dozen solid albums in career, works that completely floor the listener are hard to come by.

That's what makes Litany so special–it's emotional, visceral, masterfully composed, beautifully performed, and most importantly, highly original. There's not a minute of filler on this momentous work, despite its lengthy songs and numerous instrumental passages. Don't let this metal masterpiece pass you by.

Favorite Track: "Eventide"

5. Myrkur - M

I can't deny that Myrkur's first proper album is amateurish at times–some of the transitions are still awkward, and the screamed vocals buried under heaps of distortion and reverb grate just as much as they did on her debut. Yet Myrkur's inexperience is united to an earnestness and a genuine talent for crafting gorgeous atmospheres and melodies that no other black metal band comes close to capturing. Unlike many self-professed "folk" metal bands, Myrkur's integration of Danish carols into black metal feels completely natural, and unlike many recent post-black metal albums, the M doesn't feel like it's being made beautiful against its will. Let the kvltists weep–this Danish model makes more interesting black metal than most scene veterans, and it can only get better from here.

Favorite Track: "Onde Børn"

6. Tribulation - The Children of the Night

The Children of the Night is Tribulation's answer to a black and death metal scene that's forgotten how to make rock music. Like fellow Scandinavian black 'n' rollers Kvelertak, Tribulation infuse their aggressive sound with punk energy and big hooks, producing extreme metal that's surprisingly listenable and even fun. Unlike Kvelertak, however, Tribulation still deliver plenty of black metal menace and theatrics (not unlike another spooky Swedish band that made this list) with their evident love of classic horror and church organs. Heavy metal you can hum along to is back from the dead.

Favorite Track: "Melancholia"

7. Windhand - Grief's Eternal Flower

I'm embarrassed by how little time I spent listening to this album this year, but what few listens I squeezed in left a huge impression. As the 2010s doom metal revival and corresponding hipster fascination with the genre appears to be winding down, Grief's Eternal Flower likely represents the best of doom metal to come–slow, crunchy, and heavy on melody. There's nothing particularly innovative about Windhand, but this album encapsulates all the best elements of the doom revival, from the haunting vocals to the lumbering drum marches and bluesy riffs. In the year of uplifting black metal, doom got even more gloomy.

Favorite Track: "Forest Clouds"

8. Liturgy - The Ark Work

I really, really wanted to hate this album. It's pretentious, pompous, self-important music made by pretentious, pompous, self-important people for a pretentious, pompous, self-important listening public.

Turns out I'm pretentious, pompous, and self-important too, because I can't stop listening to this ungodly smörgåsbord of trendy hipster tripe.

Favorite track: "Reign Away"

9. Elder - Lore

I've heard Elder described as what you would get if prog band from the seventies had been introduced to Mastodon by a meddling time traveler. It's not a bad comparison–Elder combine modern stoner rock's penchant for rugged riffage with the innovation and ponderous song constructions of 70s prog. By injecting high-energy heavy metal into prog rock's meandering opuses, Elder makes their 10-minute apiece songs surprisingly approachable and brings a much needed straightforwardness to a genre notorious for what is essentially musical wankery. There's still plenty of shredding and possibly drug-induced weirdness, but it comes in a package fans of both Rush and Pallbearer should appreciate.

Favorite Track: "Compendium"

10. Ghost Bath - Moonlover

So Ghost Bath's "depressive black metal band from Chongqing" turned out to be a mix of branding and black metal blogs getting carried away. So what? These North Dakotans (spoiler alert) still play some of the best post-black metal around, and Moonlover is a step up from their already excellent debut. If a good sophomore album is more of the same (but better), Moonlover hits all the right notes: more bittersweet melodies, more desperation, more lonely interludes, and much better shrieks–the only major weakness on Funeral. Don't dismiss this controversial act–they're more than Deafheaven in yellowface.

Favorite Track: "Golden Number"

Back to Bandcamp: December 13, 2015

Andacht - Chapter II: Hexerei
(http://andacht.bandcamp.com/album/chapter-ii-hexerei)

A side project of Benighted in Sodom and Ævangelist's Matron Thorn (both acts with an experimental bent), Andacht takes a notably conservative and ambient approach to black metal on this instrumental release. Synth pads soar over traditional riffs and blast beats on "I" and "V," and gothic keys dominate the melody on "II." Hints of post-punk influence (by way of depressive rock) also occasionally come through, especially on "IV." Fans of Xasthur and his ilk will probably dig this atmospheric release, but even they will likely be put off by the lack of shrieks on a very repetitive work. Andacht may deliver traditional black metal chills and gloom with proficiency on Chapter II: Hexerei, but Matron Thorn works best outside the box. This conservative side project isn't doing him (or his fans) any favors.

Not Recommended.

Black Magick SS - The Owls of Winter/Talisman
(http://blackmagickss.bandcamp.com/album/the-owls-of-winter-talisman)

Black Magick SS have a lot in common with synthwave project Gost: neither really performs black metal music at all, but both are clearly marketed toward those that listen to it. Fortunately, they're also both completely ridiculous and tons of fun, and you can only be grim for so long without craving a little chuckle.

On The Owls of Winter/Talisman, Black Magick SS aka Ghost Down Under deliver two absurd and psychedelic ballads full of acoustic strumming, unholy organs, and pseudo-monastic caterwauling. The operatic vocals and ominous guitars on  "The Owls of Winter" drip with mystery and 70s occult kitsch. "Talisman" combines spooky melodies with black metal snarls, producing what sounds almost like an acoustic Tribulation demo. And that's all there is to it. If you're looking for more occult rock silliness from the Ghost/Blood Ceremony/Jess & The Ancient Ones School of Musical Theater, you can't do much better than this.

Recommended.

An Autumn for Crippled Children - portugal EP
(http://anautumnforcrippledchildren.bandcamp.com/album/portugal-ep)

An Autumn for Crippled Children are the true stalwarts of blackgaze, or "hipster metal," as those who blame relative newcomers Deafheaven for the rise of the genre like to call it. It's surprising, therefore, that portugal lacks the refinement one expects from these Netherlandish niche veterans. Opener "portugal" feels like noise pop with black metal shrieks and blast beats tacked on at times. And although there's nothing wrong with that combination in theory, the song doesn't sound like the work of a band that's been making experimental black metal for years. "seasons change spirits" fares much better, smoothly fusing post-punk structures and triumphant shoegaze with black metal harshness. Both songs, however, are ultimately forgettable. portugal is fine as a throwaway EP, but wait until An Autumn's next album if you're looking for engaging blackgaze.

Not Recommended.

The Thurible Reviews: Batushka - "Litourgiya"

There's a "doth protest too much" quality to much of traditional black metal's attitude towards religion. The fascination is, after all, very one-sided; Christianity cares about as much about black metal as black metal cares about Katy Perry, and yet anti-religious angst remains a prominent lyrical theme in the genre. Even more suggestive, though black metal may pay lip service to Satan, the monk robes, incense, and general obsession with religious iconography and ritual tells another story. Black metal may loathe traditional religion, but it also envies its antiquity and mysticism; qualities most black metal bands are eager to embrace and that the faux-spirituality of Satanism and neopaganism don't deliver.

Poland's Batushka embrace the tension between traditional black metal and traditional religion on Litourgiya. Combining black and doom metal aggression with the haunting chants of the Russian orthodox church, the band actually captures the ritualism and esotericism many black metal bands lust after. The rich, sonorous vocals give a depth and texture to Litourgiya's ominous atmospheres on tracks like "Yekteniya 1" and "Yekteniya 6." The impressive lower range of Batushka's vocalist shines throughout the album, delivering more than a few moments of startling resonant depth.

Yet the band's unique style isn't perfect. At times, the chants and riffs battle each other for dominance in the mix. This is black/doom with choral vocals, not a harmonious union between black metal hatred and orthodox liturgy. Litourgiya is an album carried by a gimmick; when the band embraces that gimmick, they produce primeval, mystical atmospheres of deepest dread. When they don't, it's little more than standard black/doom with chanting sprinkled on top for flavor. While Batushka prove they are proficient black metal musicians on tracks like "Yekteniya 2," that's not what the audience is here for. The shrieked vocals on the album usually feel unnecessary, and the strongest tracks give the resonant, solemn vocals center stage.

Recommended.

Back to Bandcamp: December 5, 2015

Here's your weekly roundup of indie releases:

Blackhand - Death Takes Root
(http://blackhand.bandcamp.com/album/death-takes-root)

If you can't stand the recent fetish for meandering, lumbering, 12-minutes-a-song doom/stoner metal but you're down for unapologetic, occult-infused fantasy and huge hooks, Blackhand should be right up your alley. This Delaware band cranks out earth-shaking riffs and howled choruses on every track on Death Takes Root, combining stoner songwriting sensibilities with old-school doom imagery. From the aggressive sacrilege of "Bound by the Coven" to the supernatural warfare of "Army From the Void," Blackhand unite old-school heavy metal motifs with modern stoner rock head-bobbing for a listen that's both fearsome and fun.

Recommended.

Dead on Both Shoulders - Juggler
(http://deadonbothshoulders.bandcamp.com/album/juggler).

Juggler is a fascinating listen. Progressive metal sensibilities unite this experimental little collection, but little else does. "Neither, Both" and "Without (Everything Will Be Okay)" are hypnotic, jazzy instrumentals with melancholy guitar leads. The short "Juggler" evokes Tool with just a touch of Kid A-era Radiohead. And "ABCADEBCA," perhaps the closest thing to a traditional song, briefly throws in a dash of autotune on the bridge, presumably just to keep the listener guessing. It's quite a trip, and while Juggler never reaches the level of odd that sends headphones flying across the room, it's quirky enough to keep the listener's attention and entertaining enough to make up for its lack of cohesion.

Recommended.

Secrets of the Moon - SUN
(http://secrets-of-the-moon.bandcamp.com/album/sun)

To call Germany's Secrets of the Moon "black metal" frankly borders of the disingenuous. No self-respecting worshiper of Burzum, Mayhem and Darkthrone would write something that sounds as much like an outtake from Mechanical Animals-era Manson as "Dirty Black," or anything as hum-along as "Hole." Secrets of the Moon can brand themselves however they want, but they're about as grim and kvlt as Ghost at this point. Probably a little less, actually.

And that's not a problem: as highly-accessible, listen-with-your-girlfriend goth metal, SUN holds up. Secrets of the Moon still have an edge to them–vocalist Philipp Jonas' shouts are too rough to be radio friendly, and SUN has enough doomy riffs and aggression to interest fans of heavier stuff–but fundamentally, this record has more in common with recent releases from Katatonia or In Flames, and occasionally ventures into post-punk territory on tracks like "Here Lies the Sun." If even the name "In Flames" makes your blood boil, SUN probably isn't your thing. Otherwise, it just might hit the spot if you're craving a lighter heavy listen with a few doom and black metal touches.

Recommended.