MY TOP 20 FOR MAY 2020
So many releases happened in May. So many. I tried hard to listen to most of them. Of course I didn't succeed with them all. As usual I present here 20 albums (in no particular order) which really caught my attention and I will keep on listening in the next months.
Few good releases couldn't make it into this list as usual too - Axel Rudi Pell, Mekong Delta excellent return(!), Alkymist, Caudron Black Ram, Green Carnation, Die Kreatur (?!), just to name a few. Tyrant's return, Secrets of the Moon, and An Autumn For Crippled Children's new albums also deserve a high-praise mention here. Uprising's II album is highly recommended for the cold bleak German black metal fans.
The below list is solid enough and can satisfy most of the metalheads' tastes, as well as potentially some more pretentious ones. Probably most of the albums represented in this list will be part of my AOTY list.
XIBALBA - Años En Infierno
Release Date: 29 May
Devastating death metal and huge riffs in the fourth full-length by the Xibalba. Tiny hardcore motifs? Well, yes... An amazing release that is definitely marking the band's solid presence in the AOTY lists.
PARADISE LOST - Obsidian
Release Date: 15 May
This is so much better than Medusa, where they definitely mismatched the sound production imo. Now back on track, Obsidian is another PL album, and AOTY contender.
ESOCTRILIHUM - Eternity of Shaog
Release Date: 22 May
He did it again. The atmosphere in this record is unique. Production-wise, it is the best Esoctrilihum album too. It requires a certain mood and a certain approach. Don't rush yourself with it. Go down slowly...
VADER - Solitude In Madness
Release Date: 2 May
This is a very solid Vader album. Nothing new, nothing extraordinary, just typical Vader. But Solitude in Madness is sticky and pumps up the blood.
...AND OCEANS - Cosmic World Mother
Release Date: 8 May
Black metal of its finest. Creative. Furious blast beats, great melodies, cold tremolos, and unique gorgeous (symphonic) atmosphere where you can lose yourself into. This is how I like it.
VOICES OF RUIN - Path To Immortality
Release Date: 15 May
I like the melodic death metal only if it is not cheesy and it is tight enough. Voices of Ruin's new album gave me a nice experience. Excellent melodies and lead works.
SOJOURNER - Premonitions
Release Date - 8 May
Sojourner did it again. I remember that in my review of their 2018 album - The Shadowed Road, for Blessed Altar Zine, I mentioned that the tin whistle mix with the lead guitar was too much, now it is really more balanced. The compositions are epic, heavy, melodic, and tight. Very enjoyable.
WINTERFYLLETH - The Reckoning Dawn
Release Date: 8 May
I really love The Threnody (2012) and The Divination (2014) albums. I was hesitant on The Dark (2016). Now with The Reckoning Dawn, Winterfylleth are back in the game for me delivering massive tracks with atmosphere development up to grandiose.
NAGLFAR - Cerecloth
Release Date: 8 May
The first album since 2012 and the Swedes are nailing it again. Loved instantly Cerecloth. It is just a great melodic black metal record - aggressive, cold, raw.
HORN - Mohngang
Release Date: 15 May
This is the best HORN album in my opinion. Cold German black metal with folklore elements and additional various non-traditional instruments. It can be a journey.
UNREQVITED - Empathica
Release Date: 22 May
Another release. It is exceptional, but I must say that with so many releases coming all the time, Unreqvited lost part of the hallo and the charm for me.
HEXENBRETT - Zweite Beschwörung - Ein Kind zu Töten
Release Date: 22 May
An absolutely unique album! Black, heavy. melodic, atmospheric, speedy, old school, dangerous...
WOLFTOOTH - Valhalla
Release Date: 22 May
Epic heavy/doom album. I'm very partial and requiring to such albums. This one is very good music-wise. It is not just monotonous slow epic doom, it moves. I liked the vocals too.
BLACK RAINBOWS - Cosmic Ritual Supertrip
Release Date: 22 May
Heavy psych sounds indeed, as the band's record label. The Italians' new album is trippy and doomy. I really enjoyed while listening although I don't smoke...
DEVANGELIC - Ersetu
Release Date: 15 May
Brutal AF death metal. Only for die-hards. The others won't understand.
AFSKY - Ofte Jeg Drømmer Mig Død
Release Date: 15 May
Bleak, cold, mournful. Black metal that grabs you and takes you into the grey.
PILE OF PRIESTS - Pile of Priests
Release Date: 22 May
This is a power horse! Very good death/thrash release. I love the fretless bass accents and all the energy in this record.
SODOMISERY - The Great Demise
Release Date: 22 May
Fresh death/black blow coming from Sweden brought by some known faces in the genre...
FERAL LIGHT - Life Vapor
Release Date: 22 May
Loved the hooks and the riffs, the dissonance, and all the variety of styles - black metal, post metal, post-black metal, doom, black'n'roll...
COSMIC PUTREFACTION - Horizons Towards Which The Splendour Withers
Release Date: 22 May
Dark, twisted, and raw. Visionary... It is not an everyday album or go-to-the-gym one...This one requires special attention and mood too. And some more than usual listens...
MANDATORY BONUS TRACK
CENTINEX - Death In Pieces
Release Date: 29 May
My nostalgic OSDM feelings speak here. The album is solid, but come on - this is CENTINEX!
Few good releases couldn't make it into this list as usual too - Axel Rudi Pell, Mekong Delta excellent return(!), Alkymist, Caudron Black Ram, Green Carnation, Die Kreatur (?!), just to name a few. Tyrant's return, Secrets of the Moon, and An Autumn For Crippled Children's new albums also deserve a high-praise mention here. Uprising's II album is highly recommended for the cold bleak German black metal fans.
The below list is solid enough and can satisfy most of the metalheads' tastes, as well as potentially some more pretentious ones. Probably most of the albums represented in this list will be part of my AOTY list.
Release Date: 29 May
Devastating death metal and huge riffs in the fourth full-length by the Xibalba. Tiny hardcore motifs? Well, yes... An amazing release that is definitely marking the band's solid presence in the AOTY lists.
Release Date: 15 May
This is so much better than Medusa, where they definitely mismatched the sound production imo. Now back on track, Obsidian is another PL album, and AOTY contender.
Release Date: 22 May
He did it again. The atmosphere in this record is unique. Production-wise, it is the best Esoctrilihum album too. It requires a certain mood and a certain approach. Don't rush yourself with it. Go down slowly...
Release Date: 2 May
This is a very solid Vader album. Nothing new, nothing extraordinary, just typical Vader. But Solitude in Madness is sticky and pumps up the blood.
Release Date: 8 May
Black metal of its finest. Creative. Furious blast beats, great melodies, cold tremolos, and unique gorgeous (symphonic) atmosphere where you can lose yourself into. This is how I like it.
Release Date: 15 May
I like the melodic death metal only if it is not cheesy and it is tight enough. Voices of Ruin's new album gave me a nice experience. Excellent melodies and lead works.
Release Date - 8 May
Sojourner did it again. I remember that in my review of their 2018 album - The Shadowed Road, for Blessed Altar Zine, I mentioned that the tin whistle mix with the lead guitar was too much, now it is really more balanced. The compositions are epic, heavy, melodic, and tight. Very enjoyable.
Release Date: 8 May
I really love The Threnody (2012) and The Divination (2014) albums. I was hesitant on The Dark (2016). Now with The Reckoning Dawn, Winterfylleth are back in the game for me delivering massive tracks with atmosphere development up to grandiose.
Release Date: 8 May
The first album since 2012 and the Swedes are nailing it again. Loved instantly Cerecloth. It is just a great melodic black metal record - aggressive, cold, raw.
Release Date: 15 May
This is the best HORN album in my opinion. Cold German black metal with folklore elements and additional various non-traditional instruments. It can be a journey.
Release Date: 22 May
Another release. It is exceptional, but I must say that with so many releases coming all the time, Unreqvited lost part of the hallo and the charm for me.
Release Date: 22 May
An absolutely unique album! Black, heavy. melodic, atmospheric, speedy, old school, dangerous...
Release Date: 22 May
Epic heavy/doom album. I'm very partial and requiring to such albums. This one is very good music-wise. It is not just monotonous slow epic doom, it moves. I liked the vocals too.
Release Date: 22 May
Heavy psych sounds indeed, as the band's record label. The Italians' new album is trippy and doomy. I really enjoyed while listening although I don't smoke...
Release Date: 15 May
Brutal AF death metal. Only for die-hards. The others won't understand.
Release Date: 15 May
Bleak, cold, mournful. Black metal that grabs you and takes you into the grey.
Release Date: 22 May
This is a power horse! Very good death/thrash release. I love the fretless bass accents and all the energy in this record.
Release Date: 22 May
Fresh death/black blow coming from Sweden brought by some known faces in the genre...
Release Date: 22 May
Loved the hooks and the riffs, the dissonance, and all the variety of styles - black metal, post metal, post-black metal, doom, black'n'roll...
Release Date: 22 May
Dark, twisted, and raw. Visionary... It is not an everyday album or go-to-the-gym one...This one requires special attention and mood too. And some more than usual listens...
MANDATORY BONUS TRACK
Release Date: 29 May
My nostalgic OSDM feelings speak here. The album is solid, but come on - this is CENTINEX!
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