Metal Thread VII: The Mosh Pit Don't Start 'Til We Walk In

[Faulty]

I've only heard one Krallice album, I think their first, and it bored me so I haven't tried the new one... Worth it? Also, I remembered Manierisme released a cool one this year.

The T Swifties isn't actually my AOTY, but I do like it quite a bit.

Yeah. That one's been on my wishlist for some time now but, last I checked, it was vinyl exclusive so that's a pipe dream.

It will get a CD release. I know a guy who knows Austin.

[Moff Chumley]

AOTY is easily Laurel Halo, with Tame Impala being biggest let-down. I loved Innerspeaker but Lonerism was just kinda disappointing.

Also, Kowloon Walled City are releasing an album this week, I think. Should be a strong contender for metal AOTY for me. Looks like Pitchfork covered the single, so I can officially claim I knew them before they were big.

That was a joke.

[Faulty]

I dig Laurel Halo but I just do not get it as AOTY. D: Maybe I'm missing something.

[WhamBamSam]

I'm going to put the new Testament down as my album of the year, with the album from Mike Portnoy and Russel Allen's side project Adrenaline Mob as the second place finisher.

It's been a bit of a down year for me as new albums go. Next year will at the very least have new releases from Holy Grail and White Wizzard, I've heard some mutterings about either the recording or release of albums from Judas Priest, Artillery, and Amon Amarth, and of course there's always the remote possibility that the second Control Denied might make it out into the light of day, so there's stuff to look forward to.

[DJ Yung Crunk]

My actual number one AOTY will doubtlessly be the new Godspeed You! Black Emperor. I'll be making a list sometime next year but for the time being that's all I have set in stone.

[Comrade]

Top picks of 2012... gonna have to say Utilitarian by Napalm Death may well be the best of the year. Some other good ones were In Death We Meet (Derkéta), Cremation Is Irreversible (Ash Pool, not an LP but I was addicted to the two songs that were on it for who knows how long, so onto the list it goes), Enthrallment Traced (Grace Disgraced), Cryptopsy's eponymous album (I may be slightly biased from the joy of seeing Cryptopsy going back to playing death metal again), Remnants of Filth (Phobia), At The Gates of Sethu (Nile), Scum.Collapse.Eradication (Revenge), and All We Love We Leave Behind (Converge).

Also, words cannot describe how much I'm looking forward to 2013. New albums from Suffocation, Defeated Sanity, Devourment, among others? The only way it could get any better was if they all toured together for the new albums.

[DJ Yung Crunk]

I've only heard one Krallice album, I think their first, and it bored me so I haven't tried the new one... Worth it?

I think so. I can't imagine Krallice being boring so I can't exactly be objective here. I suspect if you thought one was boring you'd think the new one was boring, give it a shot anyway. It's the most intelligent black metal you'll hear for a while.

[Faulty]

My actual number one AOTY will doubtlessly be the new Godspeed You! Black Emperor. I'll be making a list sometime next year but for the time being that's all I have set in stone.

Still need to listen to that too, but I want to actually get through F♯ A♯ ∞ first.

Top picks of 2012... gonna have to say Utilitarian by Napalm Death may well be the best of the year. Some other good ones were In Death We Meet (Derkéta), Cremation Is Irreversible (Ash Pool, not an LP but I was addicted to the two songs that were on it for who knows how long, so onto the list it goes), Enthrallment Traced (Grace Disgraced), Cryptopsy's eponymous album (I may be slightly biased from the joy of seeing Cryptopsy going back to playing death metal again), Remnants of Filth (Phobia), At The Gates of Sethu (Nile), Scum.Collapse.Eradication (Revenge), and All We Love We Leave Behind (Converge).

Also, words cannot describe how much I'm looking forward to 2013. New albums from Suffocation, Defeated Sanity, Devourment, among others? The only way it could get any better was if they all toured together for the new albums.

That Ash Pool is amazing. Do you own the tape? I love the art. I am a big booster of EPs and singles, honestly.

Glad to see someone else digging the Revenge. You should really listen to Pseudogod's Deathwomb Catechesis, Comrade. Think you'd dig it.

I think so. I can't imagine Krallice being boring so I can't exactly be objective here. I suspect if you thought one was boring you'd think the new one was boring, give it a shot anyway. It's the most intelligent black metal you'll hear for a while.

Well I'll give it a try at some point and see.

[JoshL]

My actual number one AOTY will doubtlessly be the new Godspeed You! Black Emperor. I'll be making a list sometime next year but for the time being that's all I have set in stone.

I'm terrible at making lists/ranking things, but damn is that a good record. I like it better than the previous one.

[DJ Yung Crunk]

Still need to listen to that too, but I want to actually get through F♯ A♯ ∞ first.

I didn't listen to that, I think you'll be fine. It's fairly self contained.

Well I'll give it a try at some point and see.

It's layered man. It rewards committed listeners. Just a heads up.

I'm terrible at making lists/ranking things, but damn is that a good record. I like it better than the previous one.

I'm terrible at making lists too. That's why it's taking me until next year to finalize mine. That and I'm making a Tracks of the Year list as well.

[Comrade]

That Ash Pool is amazing. Do you own the tape? I love the art. I am a big booster of EPs and singles, honestly.

Glad to see someone else digging the Revenge. You should really listen to Pseudogod's Deathwomb Catechesis, Comrade. Think you'd dig it.

Alas, I do not own the Ash Pool tape. I admit I haven't really looked that hard, but my paltry attempts to find a copy for sale were for naught.

Pseudogod was intriguing, too-- really dense and thick, definitely reminds me of Revenge.

[Feytalist]

My album of the year is either Borknagar's Urd, Enslaved's RIITIIR, or Finsterforst's Rastlos. It changes depending on the phases of the moon... or something.

[Faulty]

I didn't listen to that, I think you'll be fine. It's fairly self contained.

It's layered man. It rewards committed listeners. Just a heads up.

I'll get to both of them eventually, I'm sure.

Alas, I do not own the Ash Pool tape. I admit I haven't really looked that hard, but my paltry attempts to find a copy for sale were for naught.

Pseudogod was intriguing, too-- really dense and thick, definitely reminds me of Revenge.

The AP came out on vinyl recently. Dunno whether or not it's sold out yet. Check it here. Good label btw, the dude behind it is really nice.

[grimbold]

ok
top 10 of the year
(Expect a bigger article soon)

10 Aeon- Aeons Black
9 Revocation-Teratogenesis (Technically an EP but too awesome not to include)
8. Bloodmoon-Orenda (unsigned black metal magic.)
7. Periphery II this time it's personal
6. Veil of Maya Eclipse
5. Pig Destroyer-Book Burner
4. Gypsyhawk-Revelry and Resilience
3. Ensiferum-Victory Songs
2. Wintersun-Time I
1. Alcest-Les Voyages de L'ame


thoughts?

[Nomrom]

According to my itunes, I only bought seven albums released this year. Apparently, I wasn't paying enough attention to new releases this year. But at least my list is pretty easy to make.

1. Gojira - L'Enfant Sauvage
2. Kamelot - Silverthorn
3. Eluveitie - Helvetios
4. Katatonia - Dead End Kings
5. Candlemass - Psalms of the Dead
6. Dragonforce - The Power Within
7. Wintersun - Time I

[Nameless]

1. Alcest-Les Voyages de L'ame

So much yes. This is definitely the best album of the year.
Also, I feel the need to mention Ariettes Oubliées by Les Discrets which also came out this year, darn good album.

Is this just a list of Metal albums? Or can does it cross over into Rock as well? Because Hide and Seek by Birthday Massacre is also one of my favorite releases of the year.

[Faulty]

2. Wintersun-Time I
1. Alcest-Les Voyages de L'ame

I found both these hella boring. Sorry Baconator. Dat Alcest... I think Écailles de Lune is doomed to be his only LP that I like.

[JoshL]

You should both definitely check out F#A#∞ (or: how we tune our guitars!) though I think Lift yr Skinny Fists is my favorite GYBE record so far. The new one is close. They've been touring again, and definitely worth catching live, if you can stand being in a room with that many hipsters. Thunderous begins to describe. Dynamics taken to the logical extreme. Even more so, there's a recording of the band Low, doing one of their typical quiet minimal songs, joined halfway through by Godspeed, who take over the set from there. On the list of concerts wish I could have attended, that's pretty high up there!

Offtopic for the thread, but my love of post-rock definitely led me to check out bands like Isis.

Oh, and AllIHaveIsCrunk, are you into Swans at all? If you like the slow building movement of Godspeed, and heavy music in general (though I wouldn't call them metal), seems like it might be up your alley!

[DJ Yung Crunk]

Oh, and AllIHaveIsCrunk, are you into Swans at all? If you like the slow building movement of Godspeed, and heavy music in general (though I wouldn't call them metal), seems like it might be up your alley!

The Seer is an effing masterpiece, man.

Is this just a list of Metal albums? Or can does it cross over into Rock as well? Because Hide and Seek by Birthday Massacre is also one of my favorite releases of the year.

This is a pretty casual discussion, whatever rules you want to set you can do so. Maybe one day we'll all turn in definitive Top 25 o' 2012 or whatever (boy that'd be swell) but for the time being speculate as far as your imagination will allow.

[JoshL]

The Seer is an effing masterpiece, man.

TRUTH.

You and I, I think we have found our common ground.

[DJ Yung Crunk]

TRUTH.

You and I, I think we have found our common ground.

It was inevitable. I like quite a lot of stuff.

[JoshL]

It was inevitable. I like quite a lot of stuff.

Same here, thought it seems like we've gone in different directions. Either way, it's awesome finding common ground!

And all you metal fans who don't listen to Swans (because they're not really metal, though very heavy), find a copy of "Feel Good Now" or "Swans Are Dead". Might be of interest.

[Feytalist]

4. Katatonia - Dead End Kings
5. Candlemass - Psalms of the Dead

Both of these were pretty awesome, yeah. Candlemass especially. And now they're done. Damn.

Also I totally forgot about Alcest's release. That was so far back at the start of the year. That was good too.

[DJ Yung Crunk]

Same here, thought it seems like we've gone in different directions.

Really? I hadn't noticed

Either way, it's awesome finding common ground!

I prefer it when we have something to debate. Like that power metal/thrash metal thing I was so embarrassingly wrong about or that new wave/post punk thing I'm completely and unambiguously right about.

[Feytalist]

Seems like autothrall really likes The Scarred People. Cool.


A thought just hit me; isn't it about time for a new Haggard album? And Hollenthon has also been criminally quiet these past few years. I'd really like to see something new from them.

[Killer Angel]

Dat Alcest... I think Écailles de Lune is doomed to be his only LP that I like.

Not that Faulty needs my support, but... +1.
Les Voyages is inferior to Ecailles.

[Nameless]

Les Voyages is my favorite Alcest release. :<

Not that I don't like Ecailles... I have the album artwork on my wall.

[Feytalist]

Écailles de Lune is probably his best album, y'know, musically speaking. And I do think it's a great album.

But Les Voyages de L'ame just does something for me. It flows better. Or something to that effect. That's the album I'll put on when I want me some Alcest. It's my favourite too.

[DJ Yung Crunk]

I listened to Les Voyages De L'Âme a couple of times here and there and I gotta say it really did nothing for me. It wasn't bad or anything but it was sort of in-one-ear, y'know? It's the only Alcest album I've listened to so if this other one is so hot I might check it out.

[Nameless]

Écailles de Lune is probably his best album, y'know, musically speaking. And I do think it's a great album.

But Les Voyages de L'ame just does something for me. It flows better. Or something to that effect. That's the album I'll put on when I want me some Alcest. It's my favourite too.

Écailles de Lune is a great album, It's technically brilliant and I generally enjoy it. I just enjoy listening to Les Voyages more just because I seem to connect to it better and personally find that it touches my emotions a lot more. Plus, the songs are a bit more catchy, which is a bonus.

I listened to Les Voyages De L'Âme a couple of times here and there and I gotta say it really did nothing for me. It wasn't bad or anything but it was sort of in-one-ear, y'know? It's the only Alcest album I've listened to so if this other one is so hot I might check it out.

If that's the kind of reaction you had to Les Voyages, then I wouldn't recommend Ecailles because it follows a similar sort path musically.
Try listening to Souvenirs d'un autre monde instead, it differs a little more.