2009 Release Highlights Part II
Ulcerate - Everything Is FireWillowtip Records
Ulcerate have cranked out what is easily one of the year’s most technical and complex death metal albums. “Everything is Fire” is brutally heavy but at the same time sounds like nothing you’ve ever heard - string bends, weird chord layerings, and unpredictable rhythms all add to the chaos. It will take awhile to absorb, but it’s worth it.
Altar of Plagues - White TombProfound Lore Records
Ireland’s Altar of Plagues‘ debut full-length features a punishing blend of post-metal and black metal. Their textural, metamorphosing riffing style is somewhat similar to that of Wolves in the Throne Room.
Ahab - The Divinity of OceansNapalm Records
Anybody who heard Ahab’s debut album probably already owns this, but if you don’t you’re missing out. Another monstrous release of epic nautical funeral doom.
Code - Resplendent GrotesqueTabu Recordings
Code continues to put their own spin on black metal - clean vocals, progressive riffing and various other experimental touches set this band far apart from most of what’s out there. Definitely a must-hear for 2009.
Unanimated - In The Light Of DarknessRegain Records
“In The Light of Darkness” is a slab of high quality blackened melodic death metal. Unanimated have found the perfect balance between melody and aggression in their sound, which has been compared to that of Sweden’s Dissection.
Alverg - EldeSoulseller Records
The debut full-length from Norway’s Alverg is a very well-written and densely atmospheric black metal album. This is a band to keep an eye on.
Mine[thorn] - Junk Hive NoirCode 666
Mine[thorn] shares several members with The Axis of Perdition, and now that Axis is going in a more ambient direction, it seems that Mine[thorn] has become an outlet for their more aggressive tendencies. Expect chaotic and abrasive metal similar to The Axis’s early material.
Sun of the Blind - SkullreaderAvantgarde Music
“Skullreader” is the first album from Sun of the Blind, the solo project from Darkspace’s Zhaaral. It sounds close enough to Darkspace that fans will definitely want to check it out, but it contains enough additional elements and influences to please all fans of dark and atmospheric music.
Urna - Iter Ad LucemATMF Records
Italy’s Urna plays blackened funeral doom, and their layered vocal approach and twisted riffing brings Esoteric to mind.
Be’lakor - Stone’s Reach“Stone’s Reach” clearly has roots in Melodic Death metal, but Be’lakor create such complex, textured and varied compositions on top of that framework that the music begins to transcend the genre.
Augury - Fragmentary EvidenceNuclear Blast
Augury is back after a few lineup changes, and although they’ve ditched the female vocals, their progressive death metal sound remains fully intact. One of the best bands in the excellent Canadian death metal scene.
Borgne - IVSepulchral Productions
Like Darkspace, Borgne is from Switzerland, names their albums with roman numerals and creates spacey, ambient black metal. While it’s maybe not as good as Darkspace it’s still pretty good black metal, and well worth checking out.
Stabat Mater - Stabat MaterNorthern Heritage
The long-anticipated debut full-length from Stabat Mater, the funeral doom project of Clandestine Blaze / Deathspell Omega frontman Mikko Aspa.
Woburn House - Monstrous Manoeuvres in the Mushroom MazeParadigms Recordings
It took awhile to come out, but the sophomore album from Germany’s Woburn House does not disappoint. The album builds on the heavy, groove-laden psychedelic sludge metal style that the band displayed on their 2006 debut. Everything sounds even better this time around.
The Ruins of Beverast - Foulest Semen of a Sheltered EliteVán
Based on The Ruins of Beverast’s last two albums it’s fairly safe to say that this album will be among the year’s best black metal releases. Pure oppressive, hateful atmospheric black metal is what fans have come to expect from this band, and early samples seem to indicate that this will not be changing any time soon.
