40. KHANATE, “To Be Cruel” (Sacred Bones): “To Be Cruel,” the first record from Khanate in almost 15 years, was music that arrived under a shroud of secrecy, its presence not even widely known until the music was released suddenly. Its very existence was a shock to the parts of the world that had been impacted by their doom-defacing first three records that sounded like nothing else ever made and whose psychotic treatment hasn’t been matched. Not even fucking close. Khanate is a machine that must be withstood to be understood, and even then, it’s not an easy ride. Alan Dubin’s manic shrieks are as shocking as ever, and the band warps his words with thunderous, glacially torturous doom on these three, devastating tracks that leave incurable mental wounds. (May 19)
For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/officialkhanate
To buy the album, go here: https://www.sacredbonesrecords.com/collections/frontpage/products/sbr321-to-be-cruel-khanate
For more on the label, go here: https://www.sacredbonesrecords.com/
39. SPIRIT ADRIFT, “Ghost at the Gallows” (Century Media): On “Ghost at the Gallows,” the tremendous fifth full-length effort from Spirit Adrift, death is around every corner. Having had it as a theme in longtime band leader Nate Garrett’s life, the eight songs that make up this latest creation do bask in the loss but also triumph. The vocalist/guitarist stitched together a world where we’re surrounded by ghosts that bring on trauma and loss, but there’s also strength and glory to be experienced, and these songs can be downright uplifting. “Give Her to the River” has a tempered open, setting the stage for what’s to come, and then the energy delivers. “In the fire we transform,” Garrett howls, “in the water we’re reborn.” “Barn Burner” lets the riffs ignite on a punchier track that also is the album’s first single. “Light your torches, just remember you’ll be the next to burn,” Garrett calls over the sticky chorus. “Siren of the South” and the stunning title track are other gems on another great SA record. (Aug. 18)
For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/SpiritAdrift/
To buy the album, go here: https://centurymedia.store/dept/spirit-adrift
For more on the label, go here: https://www.centurymedia.com/
38. ANTI-GOD HAND, “Blight Year” (American Dream): The second full-length from Vancouver-based musician Will Ballantyne “Blight Year” again went criminally underappreciated, but it’s a motherfucker. It was created after a brutal period where Ballantyne worked in the Canadian bush, enduring brutal weather and coming to terms with the toil when it’s done. The record is a slasher, a fiend, yet Ballantyne considers this an optimistic album, and we have no choice but to go along with that journey. From the cosmically warped synth that leads us into opener “Out of the Tunnels, Into the Heavens” that twists itself into an intense black metal force, we know we’re in for another sojourn into something we didn’t expect to face. Yet, here we are, tussling with “Barge of Light,” “Warped and Opalescent Swords” (and its rush of riffs that greet you), and manic closer “Held” that energizes your heart and you realize, oh, this actually does feel like an optimistic record. Wake up to this band, already. (Aug. 25)
For more on the band, go here: https://antigodhand.com/
To buy the album, go here: https://american-dreams.zone/Anti-God-Hand-Blight-Year
For more on the label, go here: https://american-dreams.zone/
37. BLUT AUS NORD, “Disharmonium – Nahab” (Debemur Morti): We’ve written a ton about Blut Aus Nord during this site’s existence, and every time they arrive with a new record, we face something we never knew was possible. The band’s 16th full-length album is “Disharmonium – Nahab,” and even if you’re well versed in their musical universe, you’ll still find that you’re horrified and surprised. “Nahab” continues on a similar vein as “Undreamable Abysses” and “Lovecraftian Echoes” but feels like a different alien being that originated from the same DNA, only mutated beyond control. Vindsval and his shadowy group are unafraid to search through the cosmic murk, bringing with them unimaginable terrors on tracks including “Mental Paralysis,” “The Crowning Horror,” “The Ultimate Void of Chaos,” and “Forgotten Aeon.” (Aug. 25)
For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/Vindsval.official
To buy the album (U.S.), go here: https://debemurmorti.aisamerch.com/
Or here (Europe): https://www.debemur-morti.com/en/12-eshop
For more on the label, go here: https://www.debemur-morti.com/en/
36. ULTHAR, “Anthronomicon/Helionomicon” (20 Buck Spin): Oakland death metal smashers Ulthar returned with not one, but two new records, both full-length efforts that fit nicely together but also have some notable differences from each other. “Anthronomicon” is an eight-track, 41-minute bruiser that has the band delving deeply into their brand of death metal and treating that with cooling space haze that plays tricks with your mind. “Helionomicon” has Ulthar trying their hand at longer-form passages as the two-track, 40-minute album digs in with a similar sound but with added room to expand and explore, the alien parts feeling even more immersive. It’s an ambitious undertaking, but it’s clear the band was overflowing with good ideas, and we honestly can’t pick a favorite between the two, so they both go here together. I guess we technically have a top 41 this year. (Feb. 17)
For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063748920083
To buy the album, go here: https://www.20buckspin.com/collections/ulthar
For more on the label, go here: https://www.facebook.com/20buckspin
35. CLOSET WITCH, “Chiaroscuro” (Moment of Collapse): “Chiaroscuro,” the new record from Iowa grindcore beasts Closet Witch, reminds me of being blindsided, being unable to protect yourself from a shot that’s going to do certain bodily damage. In a good way, I promise. Over 13 tracks that typically hit you so hard and fast, you can’t even get your footing until the song ends and the next begins suddenly, it’s like being thrown for a loop you can’t hope to anticipate. It’s a breathless yet thrilling attack that the band mounts to overwhelm and shock systems. Vocalist Mollie Piatetsky remains a punishing force out front, and the rest of the band does their best to spread chaos on “Constantly Problematic,” “And Releasing,” “You, Me & My Venus in Decay,” and “To the Cauldon” where Piatetsky howls, “I’ve reached to her, my mother, my crone, I need the nurture, I crave the light, warmth and the knowledge, I need her to tell me I’ll be alright.” (Nov. 3)
For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/closetwitchband/
To buy the album, go here: https://shop.momentofcollapse.com/
For more on the label, go here: https://www.facebook.com/momentofcollapse/
34. PHOBOCOSM, “Foreordained” (Dark Descent): Canadian death metal power Phobocosm remain perfectly aware of the reality of our deaths, of the planet’s end, and that spills into their third album “Foreordained.” This is the final act of a triptych started on their 2014 debut “Deprived” and carried over into 2016’s “Bringer of Drought” that now, seven years later, finally gets its conclusion. The band views the finality of death and the pointlessness of trying to avoid such certainty and uses that to make their brand of death metal uglier, more morose, and even more imaginative at times. This is a powerful record that hopefully doesn’t get lost by listeners due to the December release date because it’s an absolute mauler any death metal fan should devour whole. This band always is a formidable beast with which to be reckoned, and they’ve upped their game so much over the past few years, that they have to be considered when discussing this era’s premier death metal bands. (Dec. 8)
For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/Phobocosm
To buy the album, go here: https://www.darkdescentrecords.com/shop/?orderby=date&paged=1&s=phobocosm&post_type=product
For more on the label, go here: https://www.darkdescentrecords.com/shop/
33. BIG|BRAVE, “nature morte” (Thrill Jockey): There’s never been a time when Canadian doom/noise/drone trio Big|Brave hasn’t splashed every ounce of their being and experiences into their music. Their new offering “nature morte” is a French term for “dead nature,” itself an art form showing still-life paintings. The cover art is dark and foreboding, and digging into these six pieces reveals the morbid underpinnings so many of us face from dashed hope to the rage of existence to the continual effort to control women, something a particular ilk of politicians in this country exercise to disgusting levels. The band continues to push the boundaries of sound and what it means to emote musically about the things in life beyond our control because we’re not allowed to control it. It’s beauty wrapped in hell. “carvers, farriers and knaves” jars you awake, Robin Wattie’s alluring, muscular voice luring; “the one who bornes a weary load” runs 9:16 and brings jarring guitars, luring strikes, and thorny impulses that run along the skin; and Closer “the ten of swords” shakes in guitar glaze, feeling like a daydream pulling you into a cavern. (Feb. 24)
For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/bigbravemusic/
To buy the album, go here: https://thrilljockey.com/products/nature-morte
For more on the label, go here: https://thrilljockey.com/index
32. BARONESS, “STONE” (Abraxan Hymns): There are no Baroness records that sound the same or even close. The long-running band started at the throne of sludge and doom and slowly morphed into something different each album, yet always maintained a very recognizable DNA. That’s never been more apparent than on their sixth record “Stone,” the second with their current and arguably best lineup—vocalist/guitarist John Baizley, guitarist/vocalist Gina Gleason, bassist Nick Jost, and drummer Sebastian Thomson. There are some of the band’s heavier moments in some time, but they also continue to stitch back porch aesthetics, add glimmer, and even provide a chance for Gleason to have a bigger role vocally (her guitar work remains dazzling). This is one of my favorite Baroness records to date, and I’ve visited quite often with “Beneath the Rose,” “Last Word,” “Anodyne,” and “Under the Wheel.” (Sept. 15)
For more on the band, go here: https://yourbaroness.com/
To buy the album, go here: https://baroness.lnk.to/STONE
For more on the label, go here: https://abraxanhymns.bandcamp.com/
31. MIZMOR, “Prosaic” (Profound Lore): A.L.N. has shed god on his new Mizmor record “Prosaic,” and the results of this project definitely feel different from previous work. Instead, A.L.N. turns inward, exposing parts of his life and manner of being, giving you insight into living in the moment, getting satisfaction out of work, and shedding redundancies, and along the way, we get a different sonic beast. Don’t get me wrong: We still get treated to Mizmor epics, but they sound and feel different, so much so that my first few listens were guarded, unsure of how I felt about what I was hearing. I came around, and I often feel the records you earn emotionally are the ones that stay with you, and you can’t deny the passion and fire behind these devastating four tracks (personal favorites are “No Place to Arrive” and closer “Acceptance”). This new era for Mizmor is both tumultuous and triumphant, and I’m super curious to hear what A.L.N. explores next time around. (July 21)
For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/whollydoomedblackmetal
To buy the album, go here: https://mizmor.bandcamp.com/album/prosaic-2
Meat Mead Metal 