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| ① | Paradise Lost - Gothic Live At Roadburn 2016 (digital) Score: 10/10 There are many reasons why this album should not be in this yearlist: 1) It's a live album that 2) is from a concert from 5 years ago where they 3) play a (by now) 30 year-old album. 4) The label doesnt seem to care much for this release either since 5) it's a digital-only release that they didn't promote much and 6) didn't even bother to cut up in separate songs. 7) Instead they are promoting their live album 'Into the Mill' that you may find way WAY down this yearlist. 8) And from the band interaction between the songs I got the idea that even the band seems less into playing old songs. 9) Finally putting this in my yearlist might expose me as a grumpy senior metalhead who only likes old stuff. There's actually only one single reason why this album is topping my yearlist, and that's because it's the best fucking thing I heard all year. |
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| Graveyard Of Souls - Infinity Equal Zero Score: 10/10 While sunny Spain is certainly not known for producing famous doom-metal bands, Graveyard Of Souls has been releasing solid doom/death albums for the last decade, slowly improving each time leading to "Infinity Equal Zero" which is their best album yet, hitting that sweet spot with a very old-school feel, sometimes reminding of early Tiamat, some old Moonspell. Definitely worth to be known outside of Spain! | ② | |||||
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| ③ | The Ruins Of Beverast - The Thule Grimoires Score: 10/10 I have to start by saying that "The Thule Grimoires" is a great album. It's a excellent example of The Ruins Of Beverast's typical mix of faster black/death metal with atmospheric slower parts. Having said that, I'm afraid it just doesn't live up to their two last albums Exuvia and Blood Vaults. The songs sound more simple somehow, more straightforward and less layered, whereas in earlier works you somehow always discovered something new on repeat listens. Still some excellent work here, and perhaps a more comfortable listen than earlier releases. |
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| Anomalie - Tranceformation Score: 10/10 It is so difficult to sound innovative as a metalband in 2021. Most releases are sticking to a certain style and try to do very well what has been done before, so it's quite refreshing to hear an album like Tranceformation from Austria's Anomalie which goes for its own sound and excels at it on top of that. Stylistically perhaps it's closest to viking metal, yet somehow not that at all. Hard to describe, but easy to enjoy! | ④ | |||||
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| ⑤ | Harakiri For The Sky - Mære Score: 10/10 Another Austrian release here is Harakiri For The Sky's latest effort. While their style may be no surprise to fans of the band, it's an excellent continuation of what they're good at. Also serving as an example that sometimes quality and quantity go hand in hand, Mære spans over two cds without losing my interest, and it helps to end with the excellent Placebo cover, which is one of my favourite bands outside of the metal genre. |
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| Ophis - Spew Forth Odium Score: 9.5/10 If your ears are in need of a bass-fed massage then Ophis' latest "Spew Forth Odium" is an outstanding choice. They could even be mistaken for funeral doom this time since they wait until the third song to pick up speed and remind us of the death in their doomdeath style, which is almost a pity because that's where they really shine. Otherwise another great release for the German doomers. | ⑥ | |||||
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| ⑦ | Cradle Of Filth - Existence Is Futile Score: 9.5/10 Writing a Cradle Of Filth review is almost a waste of time, since the band is so polarizing. People who hate them will not listen to this album no matter how good the review, and the fans will buy their latest release blindly. So what is left to say, except that if you're in the second group you will not be disappointed. Over-the-top theatrics, bombastic symphonies and supporting choirs, this is Cradle showing off that they're still in top form after 30 years. |
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| Irrlycht - Wolfish Grandeur Score: 9.5/10 Germany's Irrlycht came out of hiding one decade after their last album to deliver us an outstanding raw black metal album with a very old-school feel to it. For sure I hear some Nagelfar and Farsot in their music, but also some throwbacks to the old Norwegian black metal classics. They're delivering some grandeur indeed. | ⑧ | |||||
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| ⑨ | Djevel - Tanker som rir natten Score: 9.5/10 Djevel is band that has been around in the Norwegian black metal scene for a decade or so, and while releasing many albums that were always decent efforts, they never stood out that much, except maybe for the crazy long song titles which I'll try to avoid quoting in this review. Their latest "Tanker som rir natten" is the first album that really speaks to me, with a highlight in their slower-tempo last track "Vinger som tok oss over en brennende himmel, vinger som tok oss hjem". Dammit! |
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| Thy Light - Thy Light Score: 9.5/10 Originally I got to know Thy Light on the Summoning tribute album "In Mordor Where The Shadows Are" - in hindsight this compilation introduced me to so many exceptional bands. Officially this Thy Light release is an EP, but with two long atmospheric black metal tracks clocking in well over 30 minutes it's absolutely worthy of a position in the yearlist. | ⑩ | |||||
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| ⑪ | Panopticon ...And Again into the Light Score: 9.5/10 |
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| Wyrd Vandraren Score: 9.5/10 | ⑫ | |||||
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| ⑬ | Winterfylleth Live at Bloodstock 2021 Score: 9.5/10 |
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| Shadecrown Solitarian Score: 9.5/10 | ⑭ | |||||
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| ⑮ | Ex Deo The Thirteen Years of Nero Score: 9.5/10 |
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| Midnight Odyssey Biolume Part 2 - The Golden Orb Score: 9.5/10 | ⑯ | |||||
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| ⑰ | Havukruunu Kuu erkylän yllä Score: 9.5/10 |
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| Helheim Woduridar Score: 9.5/10 | ⑱ | |||||
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| ⑲ | Evilfeast / Gnipahålan Split Score: 9.5/10 |
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| Ancient Wisdom A Celebration in Honor of Death Score: 9.5/10 | ⑳ | |||||
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| 21 | Dr. Death Reincarnation Score: 9/10 |
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| Anti Anti (digital) Score: 9/10 | 22 | |||||
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| 23 | Thyrfing Vanagandr Score: 9/10 |
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| Borgne Temps Morts Score: 9/10 | 24 | |||||
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| 25 | Yoth Iria As the Flame Withers Score: 9/10 |
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| Old Forest Mournfall Score: 9/10 | 26 | |||||
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| 27 | Seth La Morsure du Christ Score: 9/10 |
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| Tribulation Where the Gloom Becomes Sound Score: 9/10 | 28 | |||||
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| 29 | Cân Bardd Devoured By The Oak Score: 9/10 |
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| Fear Factory Aggression Continuum Score: 9/10 | 30 | |||||
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| 31 | Obscurity Skogarmaors Score: 9/10 |
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| Avenger Cern a Smrt (as Bohemyst) Score: 8.5/10 | 32 | |||||
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| 33 | Be'lakor Coherence Score: 8.5/10 |
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| Suicide Forest Reluctantly Score: 8.5/10 | 34 | |||||
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| 35 | Omnium Gatherum Origin Score: 8.5/10 |
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| Necromantia To the Depths We Descend... Score: 8.5/10 | 36 | |||||
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| 37 | Ice Ages Vibe of Scorn Score: 8.5/10 |
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| At The Gates The Nightmare of Being Score: 8.5/10 | 38 | |||||
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| 39 | Various Krąg Kryvi Score: 8.5/10 |
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| The Flight Of Sleipnir Eventide Score: 8.5/10 | 40 | |||||
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| 41 | Igric Svet svetlom stvorený Score: 8.5/10 |
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| Spectral Wound A Diabolic Thirst Score: 8.5/10 | 42 | |||||
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| 43 | Negură Bunget Zău Score: 8.5/10 |
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| Wolves In The Throne Room Primordial Arcana Score: 8.5/10 | 44 | |||||
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| 45 | Crescent Carving the Fires of Akhet Score: 8.5/10 |
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| Avathar Ja Niin Sakenee Pimeys Score: 8/10 | 46 | |||||
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| 47 | Zgard Place of Power Score: 8/10 |
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| Clouds Despărțire Score: 8/10 | 48 | |||||
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| 49 | Gojira Fortitude Score: 8/10 |
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| Memoriam To the End Score: 8/10 | 50 | |||||
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| 51 | Hypocrisy Worship Score: 8/10 |
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| Der Weg Einer Freiheit Noktvrn Score: 8/10 | 52 | |||||
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| 53 | An Autumn For Crippled Children As the Morning Dawns We Close Our Eyes Score: 8/10 |
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| Saille V Score: 8/10 | 54 | |||||
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| 55 | Hooded Menace The Tritonus Bell Score: 8/10 |
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| Agonoize Revelation Six Six Sick Score: 8/10 | 56 | |||||
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| 57 | Thulcandra A Dying Wish Score: 8/10 |
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| De Arma Strayed in Shadows Score: 8/10 | 58 | |||||
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| 59 | Dordeduh Har Score: 7.5/10 |
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| Moonspell Hermitage Score: 7.5/10 | 60 | |||||
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| 61 | Møl Diorama Score: 7.5/10 |
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| Kalmankantaja For the Glory of Death Score: 7.5/10 | 62 | |||||
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| 63 | Swallow The Sun 20 Years of Gloom, Beauty and Despair: Live in Helsinki Score: 7.5/10 |
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| Mesarthim CLG J02182–05102 Score: 7.5/10 | 64 | |||||
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| 65 | Kalmankantaja Nostalgia III: Surun syntysija Score: 7.5/10 |
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| Arkhtinn Futatabime no Saigai Score: 7.5/10 | 66 | |||||
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| 67 | Deafheaven Infinite Granite Score: 7.5/10 |
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| Aphonic Threnody The All Consuming Void Score: 7.5/10 | 68 | |||||
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| 69 | Golgotha Remembering the Past - Writing the Future Score: 7.5/10 |
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| Minas Morgul Heimkehr Score: 7.5/10 | 70 | |||||
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| 71 | Mannveira Vítahringur Score: 7/10 |
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| Dark The Suns Suru Raivosi Sydämeni Pimeydessä Score: 7/10 | 72 | |||||
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| 73 | Fluisteraars Gegrepen door de Geest der Zielsontluiking Score: 7/10 |
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| In Mourning The Bleeding Veil Score: 7/10 | 74 | |||||
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| 75 | Amorphis Live at Helsinki Ice Hall Score: 7/10 |
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| Darkwoods My Betrothed Angel Of Carnage Unleashed Score: 7/10 | 76 | |||||
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| 77 | Hand Of Kalliach Samhainn Score: 7/10 |
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| The Amenta Revelator Score: 7/10 | 78 | |||||
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| 79 | Hermóðr Heart of Solitude (digital) Score: 7/10 |
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| White Ward Debemur Morti Score: 6.5/10 | 80 | |||||
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| 81 | Rivers Of Nihil The Work Score: 6.5/10 |
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| Waldgeflüster Dahoam Score: 6.5/10 | 82 | |||||
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| 83 | Hermóðr Frozen Silence (digital) Score: 6.5/10 |
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| Carcass Torn Arteries Score: 6.5/10 | 84 | |||||
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| 85 | Oathean The Endless Pain and Darkness Score: 6.5/10 |
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| Vreid Wild North West Score: 6/10 | 86 | |||||
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| 87 | The Stone Kosturnice Score: 6/10 |
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| Code Flyblown Prince Score: 6/10 | 88 | |||||
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| 89 | Moonspell Before the Lights Go Out Score: 6/10 |
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| Interior Wrath V Vetra Gimnah Score: 6/10 | 90 | |||||
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| 91 | Einherjer North Star Score: 6/10 |
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| Mirzadeh Sauna (digital) Score: 6/10 | 92 | |||||
| 93 | Unreqvited Beautiful Ghosts Score: 6/10 |
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| Emerald Night Magna Voice Ab Oblivione Score: 5.5/10 | 94 | |||||
| 95 | Oceana The Pattern Score: 5.5/10 |
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| Antipole / Kill Shelter A Haunted Place Score: 5.5/10 | 96 | |||||
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| 97 | Kalmankantaja Uniani (digital) Score: 5.5/10 |
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| Les Chants De Nihil Le Tyran et l'Esthète Score: 5.5/10 | 98 | |||||
| 99 | Aphrenety Wolves of Ardeal Score: 5.5/10 |
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| Empyrium Über den Sternen Score: 5.5/10 | 100 | |||||
