Less waffle, more riffs. Favourite, not “best”. Here’s my Top 25 for you all (ranking is fairly nominal, and often based on gut at the point of submission). Lorna Shore ripped my head off, too, but I’ve only listened to it twice as I didn’t get to it at the point of release. That’s my one main omission (I think).
25. Cosmic Putrefaction – Crepuscular Dirge For The Blessed Ones (Profound Lore)
Spectral, twisted Death Metal Bandcamp GC Review
24. Power Paladin – With The Magic of Windfyre Steel (Atomic Fire)
Uplifting silly Fantasy Power Metal GC Review
23. Tzompantli – Tlazcaltiliztli (20 Buck Spin)
Stompy, chunky, deathy groove-doom Bandcamp GC Review
22. Avantasia – A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society (Nuclear Blast)
Theatrical, musicale, melodic metal with an ensemble cast, innit
21. Allegaeon – Damnum (Metal Blade)
Progressive OTT Melodic Techy Death Metal Bandcamp GC Review
20. Oceans of Slumber – Starlight and Ash (Century Media)
Southern Gothic storytelling, with progressive touches GC Review
19. Astronoid – Radiant Bloom (3Dot)
Ethereal post-rock with some black metal undertones. Bandcamp GC Review
18. Strigoi – Viscera (Season of Mist)
Dirty depressing doom death devastation Bandcamp GC Review
17. The Cult – Under The Midnight Sun (Black Hill)
The sound of a great band maturing perfectly. GC Review
16. – Aeviterne The Ailing Facade (Profound Lore)
Dissonant dark Death Metal with noise/industrial undertones. Bandcamp GC Review
15. Soilwork – Övergivenheten (Nuclear Blast)
Melodic Metal Bangers. GC Review
14. Writhing – Of Earth & Flesh (Everlasting Spew)
Morbid-influenced barbed (and hooky) Death Metal. Bandcamp
13. Heriot – Profound Morality [EP] (Church Road)
Death Metal, alt slabs and Noise, all beating up Code Orange. Bandcamp GC Review
12. Cult of Luna – The Long Road North (Red Creek)
Crushing post-metal majesty. Bandcamp GC Review
11. Immolation – Acts of God (Nuclear Blast)
Death Metal Gods delivering a further act of violence. Bandcamp GC Review
10. Cave In Heavy Pendulum (Relapse)
Alternative riffy goodness Bandcamp GC Review
09. Wiegedood – There’s Always Blood At The End Of The Road (Century Media)
A grand declaration (!) of scything Blackened Metal Mayhem (sic). GC Review
08. Amorphis – Halo (Atomic Fire)
More excellent Amorphis, innit. GC Review
07. Zeal & Ardor – Zeal & Ardor (MVKA)
A whole load of stuff… blackened chain-gang groove?! Bandcamp GC Review
06. Machine Head – ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN (Nuclear Blast)
Great thrashy riff based metal, great songs. Up there with their very best. GC Review
05. Gaerea – Mirage (Season of Mist)
Consuming contemporary Black Metal of the highest order. Bandcamp GC Review
04. The Halo Effect – Days Of The Lost (Nuclear Blast)
Early In Flames meets Dark Tranquillity. Right up my alley. GC Review
03. Bloodywood – Rakshak (self)
Huge metal anthem bangers infused with traditional Indian folk. Bandcamp GC Review
02. Devin Townsend – Lightwork (InsideOut)
“Pop Prog-Metal Perfection” says it all… GC Review
01. Marillion – An Hour Before It’s Dark (earMusic)
Here’s what I wrote about this one at the time. Still stands true and happy for it to be my only 10/10 album review in 25 years of writing. Incredible, moving and immersive album. GC Review
Love. Peace. Riffs.
STEVE