Uncategorized – Page 9 – DISPATCHES FROM THE VOID

Best of Metal 2017: #8 Wolves in the Throne Room-Thrice Woven

This should be the official soundtrack for the Northwestern United States. Everything about this album screams constant mist and deep foreboding forests. There are sounds of a crackling fire, echoing dripping from deep inside a cavern and narration from a grizzled old man talking about the Old Ones and how “We are becoming.” The whole thing is primitive and dark and ominous as fuck. This is pretty much as close to perfection as American Black Metal can get.

Release date: 9/22/2017

Personnel: Nathan Weaver-vocals/guitar, Kody Keyworth-guitar/vocals, Aaron Weaver-drums

Origin: Olympia, WA

Rating: 4.5 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
8. Wolves in the Throne Room-Thrice Woven
9. Quicksand-Interiors
10. Alluvial-The Deep Longing For Annihilation
11. Byzantine-The Cicada Tree
12. Sorcerer-The Crowning of the Fire King
13. Zaius-Of Adoration
14. Royal Thunder-Wick
15. Steven Wilson-To the Bone
16. Pallbearer-Heartless
17. Spotlights-Seismic
18. Cavalera Conspiracy-Psychosis
19. Ancient Ascendant-Raise the Torch
20. Galactic Cowboys-Long Way Back to the Moon

Best of Metal 2017: #9 Quicksand-Interiors

Interiors was the big reunion for Quicksand that was nearly 20 years in the making. I wasn’t even aware of Quicksand during their original stint together, so my anticipation for this album was nil. However, I’m sure that fans of the band were out of their minds with joy upon hearing the final product. This is just a super solid ball of well constructed post-punk songs. It’s just catchy as hell. You’ll find yourself subconsciously head-boppin’ along to all of these songs. It’s impossible not to. It is that infectious.

Release date: 11/10/2017

Personnel: Walter Schreifels-vocals/guitar, Tom Capone-guitar, Sergio Vega-bass, Alan Cage-drums

Origin: New York City, NY

Rating: 4.5 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:

9. Quicksand-Interiors
10. Alluvial-The Deep Longing for Annihilation
11. Byzantine-The Cicada Tree
12. Sorcerer-The Crowning of the Fire King
13. Zaius-Of Adoration
14. Royal Thunder-Wick
15. Steven Wilson-To the Bone
16. Pallbearer-Heartless
17. Spotlights-Seismic
18. Cavalera Conspiracy-Psychosis
19. Ancient Ascendant-Raise the Torch
20. Galactic Cowboys-Long Way Back to the Moon

Best of Metal 2017: #7 Mastodon-Emperor of Sand/Cold Dark Place

Merry Christmas, you bastards!

So, Mastodon is one of the higher profile bands on the list this year and also one of the more prolific. They managed to drop a full LP in Emperor of Sand in March and then whipped out a surprise release with the EP Cold Dark Place in September. You just don’t see bands putting out new material this quickly anymore and it was really cool to get this much new quality music out of them. So, I’m going to slot both of these gems at #8 in the list. Emperor of Sand is a definite reclaiming of Mastodon’s former glory in my opinion. It really feels like it was a statement record for the band after a somewhat lackluster prior release, Once More Around the Sun. It’s got all the trippy, grungey, spacey slogs that you’ve come to expect out of Mastodon. Cold Dark Place is a completely distinct and original piece of music from Emperor of Sand. It is a quieter and less chaotic Mastodon than you are used to, but it really works. My only complaint is that it wasn’t a full album of material. The songs on this EP are some of my favorites to come out this year.

Emperor of Sand release date: 3/31/2017

Cold Dark Place release date: 9/22/2017

Personnel: Brent Hinds-guitar/vocals, Bill Kelliher-guitars, Troy Sanders-bass/vocals, Brann Dailor-drums/vocals

Origin-Atlanta, GA

Rating: Emperor of Sand: 4.5 flip flops out of 5
Cold Dark Place: 5 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:

7. Mastodon-Emperor of Sand/Cold Dark Place
8. Wolves in the Throne Room-Thrice Woven
9. Quicksand-Interiors
10. Alluvial-The Deep Longing for Annihilation
11. Byzantine-The Cicada Tree
12. Sorcerer-The Crowning of the Fire King
13. Zaius-Of Adoration
14. Royal Thunder-Wick
15. Steven Wilson-To the Bone
16. Pallbearer-Heartless
17. Spotlights-Seismic
18. Cavalera Conspiracy-Psychosis
19. Ancient Ascendant-Raise the Torch
20. Galactic Cowboys-Long Way Back to the Moon

Best of Metal 2017: #10 Alluvial-The Deep Longing For Annihilation

At first glance, this album doesn’t seem like one this is going to make a huge mark. It’s a guitarist-type album, i.e. an album created by guitarists, for guitarists. However, this is a guitar album that achieves the perilous balance delivering both total guitar dork wankery while still resulting in a collection of well-crafted songs. Sometimes these kinds of albums can end up going off the rails into self-indulgent crap. This album from Wes Hauch (Black Crown Initiate/ex-The Faceless) and Keith Merrow contains all of the fretboard gymnastics that will sate the guitar wonks, but they never let it get out of control. The technical flourishes don’t overwhelm the songs. In addition to the technical flash of the solos, the riffs and arrangement choices made throughout this album are really interesting and creative. As a result, you have an album that I have been coming back to over and over throughout the past year.

Release date: 1/6/2017

Personnel: Wes Hauch-guitar, Keith Merrow-guitar

Origin: Portland, OR

Rating: 4.5 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:

10. Alluvial-The Deep Longing for Annihilation
11. Byzantine-The Cicada Tree
12. Sorcerer-The Crowning of the Fire King
13. Zaius-Of Adoration
14. Royal Thunder-Wick
15. Steven Wilson-To the Bone
16. Pallbearer-Heartless
17. Spotlights-Seismic
18. Cavalera Conspiracy-Psychosis
19. Ancient Ascendant-Raise the Torch
20. Galactic Cowboys-Long Way Back to the Moon

Best of Metal 2017: #11 Byzantine-The Cicada Tree

Byzantine is a metal powerhouse. It is just sad that they haven’t become a household name. Every single album that they have put out is fantastic. Each one has its own sound and style. The Cicada Tree continues this stellar tradition of providing solid, forward-thinking metal. You’ve got aggression and melody in equal parts throughout this album. It is just a sneaky album that I really wish had shown up on a few more year-end lists.

Release date: 7/28/2017

Personnel: Chris “OJ” Ojeda-vocals/guitar, Brian Henderson-guitar, Sean Sydnor-bass, Matt Bowles-drums

Origin: Charleston, WV

The list so far:
11. Byzantine-The Cicada Tree
12. Sorcerer-The Crowning of the Fire King
13. Zaius-Of Adoration
14. Royal Thunder-Wick
15. Steven Wilson-To the Bone
16. Pallbearer-Heartless
17. Spotlights-Seismic
18. Cavalera Conspiracy-Psychosis
19. Ancient Ascendant-Raise the Torch
20. Galactic Cowboys-Long Way Back to the Moon

Best of Metal 2017: #12 Sorcerer-The Crowning of the Fire King

Scandinavian doom is an entirely different creature than American doom. Scandinavian doom is a little more emotional and theatrical than its American cousin. And it seems that Sweden holds the rights to perform this kind of music properly. This is right from the foundations of Candlemass. Long songs, slow dirge, soaring vocals. If any of that sort of thing whets your whistle, then jump on board the good ship Sorcerer.

Release date: 10/20/2017

Personnel: Anders Engberg-vocals, Kristian Niemann-guitar, Peter Hallgren-guitar, Johnny Hagel-bass, Richard Evensand-drums

Origin-Stockholm, Sweden

Rating: 4 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:

12. Sorcerer-The Crowning of the Fire King
13. Zaius-Of Adoration
14. Royal Thunder-Wick
15. Steven Wilson-To the Bone
16. Pallbearer-Heartless
17. Spotlights-Seismic
18. Cavalera Conspiracy-Psychosis
19. Ancient Ascendant-Raise the Torch
20. Galactic Cowboys-Long Way Back to the Moon

Best of Metal 2017: #13 Zaius-Of Adoration

It seems like there are always going to be instrumental bands included on my best of lists. As I said before, I’m not really a vocals-centric kind of guy. So, bands that can create an interesting musical tapestry without the need for a vocalist always stick out to me. Zaius is a band out of Chicago that just dropped their debut album late in the year and they will be perfect for fans of If These Trees Could Talk, Pelican and Russian Circles. I’m certain we’ll be hearing lots of good things out of these guys for years to come.

Release date: 10/6/2017

Personnel: Dann Dolce-guitar, Ian McConnell-guitar, Jeremy Bellen-bass, Mike Imbordino-drums

Origin: Chicago, IL

Rating: 4 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:

13. Zaius-Of Adoration
14. Royal Thunder-Wick
15. Steven Wilson-To the Bone
16. Pallbearer-Heartless
17. Spotlights-Seismic
18. Cavalera Conspiracy-Psychosis
19. Ancient Ascendant-Raise the Torch
20. Galactic Cowboys-Long Way Back to the Moon

Best of Metal 2017: #14 Royal Thunder-Wick

Every year there are albums in which my appreciation of them grows the longer I spend with them. Wick by Royal Thunder is one of those albums. When it first came out, my impression was that it was a good, solid release, but I didn’t feel it really reached that stellar range. However, now that we are 8 months out from its release date, I really have a whole new appreciation for how sneaky good this album really is. It is just full of catchy riffs and melodies. It also helped that I saw them perform a chunk of these new songs live. I keep saying it, but it needs to be said once more: Mlny Parsonz is hands-down the greatest vocalist going in the metal/rock world today. She just pushes her soulful voice to the breaking point on every song.

Release date: April 7, 2017

Personnel: Mlny Parsonz-vocals/bass; Josh Weaver-guitar; Will Fiore-guitar; Evan Diprima-drums

Origin: Atlanta, GA

Rating: 4 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:

14. Royal Thunder-Wick
15. Steven Wilson-To the Bone
16. Pallbearer-Heartless
17. Spotlights-Seismic
18. Cavalera Conspiracy-Psychosis
19. Ancient Ascendant-Raise the Torch
20. Galactic Cowboys-Long Way Back to the Moon

Best of Metal 2017: #15 Steven Wilson-To the Bone

I know. I hear your howls of “That’s not metal!” You know what? I don’t give a shit.

Yes, this is a prog pop album. But Steven Wilson has enough past metal cred and this album has enough awesome guitar work and musicianship that it’s going on the list. I still think Steven Wilson is one of the greatest songwriters of this current era. He’s up there with Lennon/McCartney; Page/Plant; Richards/Jagger; Bowie. Call me a heretic. Once again, I don’t give a shit. He is a master poet and one of the true maestro multi-instrumentalists. I will support whatever this guy does. Does that make me biased? Probably. Do I give a shit? No.

Do yourself a favor and put this one on while you are at home with nothing to do one afternoon. I defy you not to be sucked into the emotional punch that this album delivers.

Also, for me, guest vocalist Ninet Tayeb is the revelation of 2017. Her vocals are simply goosebump inducing. Listen to Pariah below and tell me that she doesn’t just rip your insides out with her voice.

Release date: 8/18/2017

Core Personnel: Steven Wilson-vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards; Ninet Tayeb-vocals; Adam Holzman-piano/organ; Craig Blundell-drums; Jeremy Stacey-drums

Origin: London, England

Rating: 4 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:

15. Steven Wilson-To the Bone
16. Pallbearer-Heartless
17. Spotlights-Seismic
18. Cavalera Conspiracy-Psychosis
19. Ancient Ascendant-Raise the Torch
20. Galactic Cowboys-Long Way Back to the Moon

Best of Metal 2017: #16 Pallbearer-Heartless

The expectations were really high for Pallbearer’s follow up to 2014’s Foundations of Burden. That album announced to the world that Pallbearer was going to be one of the forebearers of the new doom movement taking place in the metal world. Heartless comes close, but is not quite as good as Foundations. Heartless sees the boys from Arkansas lightening the doomy canvass a touch, but there is still enough wallowing in the mire to please the most depressed fans. I’m still just blown away every time I hear Brett Campbell’s plaintive voice. He truly sounds like an angel.

Release date: 3/24/2017

Personnel: Brett Campbell-vocals/guitar; Devin Holt-guitar; Joseph Rowland-bass; Mark Lierly-drums

Origin: Little Rock, AR

Rating: 4 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:

16. Pallbearer-Heartless
17. Spotlights-Seismic
18. Cavalera Conspiracy-Psychosis
19. Ancient Ascendant-Raise the Torch
20. Galactic Cowboys-Long Way Back to the Moon