What a year 2015 was. Among the myriad of comebacks, debuts, and farewells, 2015 was certainly a year for the history books. It was harder than ever to effectively seek for the best of the best as the year went by as there were great albums put out by all genres across the board. It seems as though black metal prevailed the most in my list this year, but that doesn’t mean the list is classified solely as BM. As you explore the list, you may see a lot of names you’ve never heard. I heavily suggest looking up at least a track or two from each album to explore with. And now, out rolls the red carpet:
50. Good Tiger – A Head Full Of Moonlight
49. Dragged Into Sunlight & Gnaw Their Tongues – N.V.
48. Dance Gavin Dance – Instant Gratification
47. Shining – International Blackjazz Society
46. Gost – Behemoth
45. Coheed & Cambria – The Color Before The Sun
44. Revenge – Behold.Total.Rejection
43. Iron Maiden – The Book Of Souls
42. Between The Buried And Me – Coma Ecliptic
41. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
40. Windhand – Grief’s Infernal Flower
39. Steve Moore – Cub OST
38. Puscifer – Money Shot
37. The Weeknd – Beauty Behind The Madness
36. Lamb Of God – VII: Sturm Und Drang
35. Batushka – Litourgiya
34. Pyrrhon – Growth Without End EP
33. Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Asunder, Sweet And Other Distress
32. Paradise Lost – The Plague Within
31. Native Construct – Quiet World
30. John Carpenter – Lost Themes
29. Bloodhound Gang – Hard-Off
28. Harm’s Way – Rust
27. Mark Ronson – Uptown Special
26. Marduk – Frontschwein
25. Trivium – Silence In The Snow
24. Kampfar – Profan
23. Imperial Triumphant – Abyssal Gods
22. City & Colour – If I Should Go Before You
21. Dodheimsgard – A Umbra Omega
20. Ahab – The Boats Of The Glen Carrig
19. Feign – The New World Order
18. Manegarm – Manegarm
17. Bermuda – Use Your Burdens
16. Leviathan – Scar Sighted
15. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
14. Bell Witch – Four Phantoms
13. Shining – Everyone, Everywhere, Everything, Ends
12. SikTh – Opacities EP
11. Ghost Bath – Moonlover
10. Gruesome – Savage Land
Whoa, is this a lost Death album? Probably one of the most brutal thrash albums ever created, Gruesome’s Savage Land complies to the book of thrash, only moments before ripping it a new asshole. It has no business being as good as it really is, tracks like “Demonized” take thrash to new, yet familiar realms, while “Closed Casket” is a clear nod towards the likes of Testament and Exodus. Simply put, if you like thrash metal, this is the album you’ve been looking for.
9. Disasterpeace – It Follows OST
One of my favorite movies of the year could not have had a decent chance if it wasn’t for the chilling soundtrack provided by Disasterpeace. It Follows OST is the epitome of anxiety inducing horror music. You can see the clear influences provided by the likes of John Carpenter here, especially in the track “Heels.” As you progress through the soundtrack, it gives you a number of startling jumps as the movie did, which shows that it exists outside of the movie as a horror piece of its own. Even travel montage sequence “Detroit” provides a creepy atmosphere that few film composers can keep up with in the course of a film. It is as unique and lush as Riz Ortolani’s Cannibal Holocaust OST. If you’ve seen the movie, you know what I’m talking about.
8. Chalice Of Blood – Helig, Helig, Helig EP
This black metal album is more fun than it should be. Nasty and very straightforward, HHH EP is one of those black metal releases that demands your attention right off the bat. Despite being only four songs and an intro, this created a lasting impression on my playlist all year long. Their music is best described as a blend of early 90s and mid 2000s black metal. It also has a good blend of clean and raw production where it matters most in the mix. If you are new to black metal, this release is a great place to start. And if you’re a seasoned black metal listener, you will find nihilistic bliss. Again, this is also pay what you want on their Bandcamp page, so you don’t have an excuse to not listen to them.
7. Ghost – Meliora
Very few bands have made headlines like Ghost have. First and foremost is their recent Grammy nomination for the track “Cirice,” of which I hope they win. Following the success of Infestissumam is a difficult task, yet Papa Emeritus III and the gang certainly dealt that hand in spades, writing catchy and unique songs like “He Is” and “From The Pinnacle To The Pit.” The entertainment and mystery of the group draws the curiosity and the infectious music keeps them. Meliora being their third album, they show no signs of slowing down. Be sure to check out their music video for “Cirice,” it’s very entertaining.
6. Kauan – Sorni Nai
To create a concept album, you typically have the subject matter well researched (if it’s nonfiction) or written out (if it’s fiction). In this case, Sorni Nai refers to the Dyatlov Pass Incident, where nine hikers died under extremely mysterious circumstances in Russia’s Ural mountains. Band leader Anton Belov certainly did his homework while writing this album, creating a spine chilling, somber, and displacing soundtrack to the incident. Of the two versions that exist, it is recommended that you listen to the fifty two minute single track to fully grasp the emotion set by Kauan. All in all, a beautiful, emotive album that tears at the heartstrings. Pay what you want for Sorni Nai here through Blood Music.
5. Culture Killer – Throes Of Mankind
I guess 2015 was a good year for unknown bands and debut albums, because Culture Killer just hit it out of the park. At first listen, you can clearly hear the nasty thrash riffs that literally tear your face off. But this album is like a onion, it has layers. This is one of those few albums where the band literally tries every extreme metal style at least once within the album. Thrash, deathcore, black metal, death metal, even a fucking slam breakdown is tossed in the end of one of their songs (I’ll let you do the work). This album grew on me over time, the level of musicianship is staggering for a band full of people I’ve never heard of. They are not capable of taking any prisoners with their music, the band name and song titles like “Cloaked In Deceit” and “Flesh Empire” is a pretty good indicator of that. If you’re looking for a great time, look no further than Throes Of Mankind.
4. Deafheaven – New Bermuda
I’m not sure why it’s become trendy to debate on whether or not they should be considered black metal. Regardless on your stance on the band, New Bermuda is one of the most original metal albums ever conceived. The sheer amount of stylistic shifts encompassed in every track is intimidating to say the least, but still a gorgeous listening experience. Now this isn’t a statement I’ve really used as a reviewer, but it truly is a journey for the listener. Perhaps the most enlightening aspect of the band is that they sound completely ahead of their time, Deafheaven is a band doing things that haven’t really been done before. Yet, they are, as far as Metacritic is concerned, universally acclaimed for their efforts. A true work of art that deserves every bit of that acclaim.
3. Mammoth Storm – Fornjot
This is serious stoner/doom metal material. Featuring David Arvidsson, guitarist of Draconian since 2005 and sole member of Scorched, Mammoth Storm is a menacing heavy beast. Imagine if High On Fire and Sleep got together and made an even heavier baby that had a flair for obscure mythological beings. Gorgeous, yet somber, soundscapes create a universe for Fornjot to live and survive in, one ruled by wall shattering guitars and thunderous drums. Normally, I have to be in the mood to listen to songs that are over nine minutes long, but somehow Mammoth Storm doesn’t apply to that. Fornjot is an album that can be played at any time and will always be appreciated in the fullest extent.
2. Veld – Daemonic: The Art Of Dantalian
What an intense album. This is what happens when the intensity and speed of Behemoth meets the intense heaviness and progressive structure of Gojira. Veld are way too talented to not have the exposure they deserve, tracks like “World In Obscure” left me breathless and wanting for more. Simply put, this is one of the greatest death metal albums ever spawned from the bowels of hell. While I admit I haven’t heard of them until now, I am glad I caught them later instead of never. In a progressive stance, there is nothing that grows stale in a song. Every sing is completely unique and breathes beyond the capacity of the album. Another stand out aspect of this release is the production. It sounds perfect in literally every way. There isn’t a single word, guitar note, or drum strike that goes unloved and gets lost in the mix, it’s all clear to your hearing. Ever since I came across this album in April, I’ve listened to it at least three times a week. You would be a fool to not have this in your collection.
1. Lychgate – An Antidote For The Glass Pill
A nightmare reincarnated in aural form. That’s the best way to describe An Antidote For The Glass Pill by Lychgate. This is a true avant garde black metal masterpiece, hardly any black metal band so far has come close to the amount of finesse and pure skill Lychgate currently possesses. The terrifying vocals hangs in the balance over funeral music fit for a demon in tracks like “Davamesque B2” and “Deus Te Videt.” To pick a single track that encompasses the album is near impossible, but “I Am Contempt” shows the mood for the album quite nicely, showcasing the organ right at the beginning, before divulging into gorgeous syncopated blast beats, haunting melodies, and their signature tortured vocal style. No matter what your metal genre preference is, you will find something you will like here. It is one of those rare albums that transcends into any metal crowd. If you want to be blown away by musical skill and sleeping at night isn’t really that important to you, then you need to buy this album. Blood Music hit it out of the park with this release. The best part is that this amazing album is pay what you want on Blood Music’s Bandcamp page here, so you have no excuse to not check them out. (Ridge Briel)
