Yeah, one or two are probably EPs. Sue me!
Having let the year settle for possibly a little too long, I've finally decided to go back and pick out a tranche of my absolute favourite releases, especially the ones that have persisted the most with me into this year.
50.
Death/Sludge
Very cool sci-fi themed Sludge that dips its toe into Hardcore and Death Metal and even a dash of Gojira-flavoured groove at points. A must-listen if you're a Wallowing fan!
49.
Blackened Sludge
A descent into hell, beginning a furious assault and slowing gradually as you fall, crushing you at last into a fine gruel. Lovely stuff!
48.
DSBM
Austere prove once again why they're one of the absolute best DSBM acts out there at the moment.
47.
Death
Just some nasty, ugly, vicious Death Metal. Played slow and low at points but never dipping into Death Doom. Vile. Love it.
46.
Post-Death
A seamless and very cool blend of Post-Punk and Death Metal. A genuinely unique sound, and well worth a spin for the premise alone, but the execution is good it really lends it a surprising amount of gravitas.
45.
OSDM
Some real old school, no fucking around Death Metal. Great atmosphere and pacing, and riffs for days.
44.
Post-Death/Doom
Fascinating and creative instrumental Post-Death/Doom to the point of being borderline Prog at points, full of endless interesting twists and turns.
43.
Sludgy Death/Doom
Four dollops of dripping and disgusting Death Doom to decay and dissolve into. Slow and HEAVY.
42.
Post-Black
Frenetic and dramatic, and peppered with moments of creative flourish, blurring Blackend Crust and Meloblack into its unrelenting demeanor.
BOLT THROWER
For my money, the greatest Bolt Thrower worship money can buy. Love it.
40.
Meloblack
Raw, punky and surprisingly catchy, reminded me at points of older Lamp of Muurmur. Speaking of which!
39.
Black
M is back! Weaving melody, old-school sensibilities and this lovely texture to the mix, LoM still have yet to miss for me.
38.
Sludge
Doomy and Crusty Sludge that takes you on a strange, bleak journey into darkness.
37.
Black/Sludge
Ever wondered what would happen if Conan did Black Metal?
36.
Atmosblack
Beautiful, haunting and melancholy Atmosblack, touching on Blackgaze at points. Not quite as good as their sublime debut S-T, but a worthy follow-up.
35.
Atmosblack
Hugely underrated, melodic and potent with a real in-your-face mix to balance its more contemplative moments.
34.
Blackgaze
I've never been the biggest Deafheaven fan, but this completely won me over. Absolutely sublime Blackgaze, and my favourite work of theirs to date.
33.
Post-Hardcore/Sludge
Conjurer should need no introduction here, but this is really fantastic work of theirs. As emotionally devastating as it is varied and creative.
32.
Death/Drone Sludge
Absolutely suffocating, unrelentingly crushing. One of the heaviest bands on the planet.
Esoteric Disso-Black
ESOCTRILIHUM is always unmistakable, unnerving, inimitable, overwhelming and complex, and I cannot ever get enough. I feel like I've barely scratched the surface of this nearly 2-hour masterpiece.
Black/Death
Came outta nowhere with the worst album cover of the year and absolutely kicked my ass. Sheer Lunacy is the only way to describe this blistering ball of riffs and ferocity.
29.
Post-Sludge
The much-heralded return of Rwake lives up to and surpasses expectations! A must listen if you're a Conjurer fan.
28.
Doom
I've loved TDT for a long time, and their move to a full electric lineup with their last album has now settled into a bleak, almost gothic sound that works heartbreakingly well.
27.
Black/Death
RIFF CITY, POPULATION: YOU. Amazing songwriting and ridiculously catchy. Had the hook from The Locust Scar stuck in my head for days after I first listened.
26.
Avant-Black
Another returning favourite, somehow following up the transcendently good Úpal with something even more experimental and weird. Opening with Blackened Breakcore and closing with Blackened Nu-metal, and every track between weird, wonderful and utterly unpredictable. Love it.