What can I say, I am a maniac list maker. For this year, there will be five volumes of AOTY 2013, covering various lists of glorious and shameful moments of the year, from my personal perspective and only. It's natural that I have missed things etc etc... So hey.
Top 5 Splits
5.
Andramelech & Serpent Noir - Gateway to the Nightside
Daemon
Worship Productions
[Aura to aura]
Two dedicated bands of the orthodox
scene decide to join forces under the blessing of the mighty Daemon
Worship, wouldn't it be good? Slow, death-worshiping songs,
surrounded by a bleak atmosphere and a strong feeling of emptiness,
not missing ritual / dark ambient elements around the record
(especially in the Serpent Noir side). Through painful thoughts and
inner exploration, these two acts aim to show the path to gnosis,
while the music is definitely well written and acute. Serpent Noir
released their debut in 2012 and I can't wait for an Andramelech full
length as well. Demos are not enough, especially if the bands have
great ideas like these to present.
4. Devathorn & Blaze of Perdition -
418 - ATh IAV
Third Eye Temple
[Within a sigh
of rats]
I highly appreciate Blaze of Perdition
and their whole discography. Devathorn's debut Diadema was kind of
unimpressive to me, but they seem to have evolved into something more
serious since then and this split proves my point. Two intense tracks
by them, opening with the mind blowing "The Venomous Advent",
in which Acherontass serves as a guest vocalist, and then a remake of
their self-titled track "Diadema" with the proper
production and power. I got really excited when the Blaze of
Perdition side begun, because of the Game of Thrones sample (from a
spectacular Varys-Baelish conversation, I'm sure you know) talking
about chaos. From there on, they unfold their own amazing pieces and
assure a spot in the year's best collaborations.
3. Nightbringer & Dødsengel
- Circumambulations of the Solar Inferno
Daemon Worship Productions
[The time of the great reaping]
As much as I enjoy the previous four
bands, I think this couple is one step higher. Again a Daemon Worship
release and yet again another split of the orthodox scene, It's just
that their time caring attitude towards the music and the importance
of ideology in the concept, makes everything else look juvenile. In
depth investigation here.
2. Ildjarn & Hate Forest - Those
Once Mighty Fallen
Osmose Productions
I had mixed feelings about this before
listening to it but it turned out to be one of my favourite splits of
the year. I love Hate Forest and I love / hate Ildjarn, I'm sick of
unreleased tracks and "new" splits with them, even though
this is a bright exception. Ildjarn's side presents the essence of
pure Norwegian black metal with melancholic synth lines and raspy
riffs / growls, whereas Hate Forest is the band's familiar sound,
only cleaner. More info here.
1. Helrunar & Árstíðir Lífsins -
Fragments - A Mythological Excavation
Lupus Lounge
I can't point out how magnificent this
is. It's possible that it would have been on the top of my full
lengths list if it was a full length. Every person who enjoys music
should check it out. Read the analysis here.
Top 5 Compilations
5. Orchid – The Zodiac Sessions
Nuclear Blast
[Black funeral]
This is a personal choice and if I didn't enjoy Orchid a
lot, I would not put it here and I would heavily criticize it. The
early works of the band are included, which means the era 2009-2011,
which is not that early, right? It seems like another attempt by
Nuclear Blast to sell the same material again and again, it probably
is that way, but still they are very enjoyable. Check my review of
their latest full length album The Mouths of Madness here.
4. Sorcery - Legacy of Blood
Blood Harvest
[Left
here to die]
One of the many returns of the year that made me very
happy, I used to look at Bloodchilling Tales as a hidden, forgotten
artifact of the Swedish scene, but now they are back, alive and
kicking. This contains remastered versions of their debut along with
the Rivers of the Dead EP and a new, kick ass artwork, for all of us
that missed the golden years and could not purchase first presses of
such records. I love the compilation and everything it contains.
3. Treblinka – Shrine of the Pentagram
Century Media Records
[Hail to cruelty]
Shit, this is over three hours of music! In a massive
5LP package that includes almost all Treblinka material (and what an
idiotic name that is, by the way) for maniacs of obscure recordings.
I'm all for former boy bands of huge bands and this one later
involved into Tiamat, so it does have a value. Musically, it's honest
and simplistic black / death, needed for a die hard collection of
course. There is also one track from a rehearsal they did in 2008 and
for some reason, it made me very happy. Hopefully, there is also a
solid production done for the tracks as well, they were not cleaned
up for no reason.
Check also: Old Funeral – Our Condolences
2. Lost Soul - Genesis-XX Years of Chaoz
Witching Hour Productions
[On the edge of oblivion]
Anniversary
commemorative compilation. First of all, the layout and the artwork
are amazing. Loranc is a
great digital artist and this particular work he did for Lost Soul
blew me away, I knew I would enjoy the album, since I found their
2009 Immerse In Infinity more than impressive. Great re-recordings,
excellent production, excellent musicianship, a great Metallica
cover, coming into a two CD box set lasting around two hours, where
you can listen to the early Lost Soul as well as the Lost Soul of
today. It's not just random tracks of the past put together, the band
worked hard for this and that's why it's above almost every
compilation of the year. Except the following.
1. Taake – Gravkamre, Kroner og Troner
Dark Essence Records
[Emptiness shall overcome]
One of the leading bands of the third wave of Norwegian
black metal wisely make a selection of their best tracks and
re-records it, bringing key figures of the scene as guest musicians.
It collects exclusive new tracks as well as tracks previously only
available on vinyl (like covers of the legendary Norwegian bands like
Emperor and Burzum), songs from old EPs, puts it all together and
creates a remarkable, worthy of the name compilation. The bell rings
for no other than Taake, a band that is no stranger to the scene and
has a pretty good understanding of the genre and it's identity. I
think their version of Nordbundet in here, with Kvarforth and
Nocturno Culto handling the vocals, should be an anthem for all black
metallers, and all black metallers have to get this. Covers of Von
and Destruction are also included in the second disk.
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