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I know, I know... these journals are all over the place here. But I decided to jump on the bandwagon to look back at 20,000 scrobbles since my list reset. Why not?

omega_switch22b's top albums (overall)
1. Bethlehem - Sardonischer Untergang Im Zeichen Irrelioser (243) 2. Agalloch - The Mantle (239) 3. The Prodigy - Music For The Jilted Genertion (232) 4. Boards of Canada - Geogaddi (230) 5. Organized Konfusion - Stress: The Extinction Agenda (221) 6. maudlin of the Well - Leaving Your Body Map (198) 7. Slowdive - Souvlaki (192) 8. Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein (150) 9. Steve Roach - Mystic Chords & Sacred Spaces (149) 10. Warning - Watching From A Distance (146) 11. Sun Kil Moon - April (143) 12. Björk - Vespertine (139) 13. Global Communication - 76 14 (127) 14. Gorguts - The Erosion of Sanity (115) 15. Stendeck - Faces (113) 16. OutKast - ATLiens (112) 17. The Future Sound of London - Lifeforms Disc 1 (109) 18. Red House Painters - Red House Painters (100) 19. Autechre - Amber (98) 20. Ulrich Schnauss - Far Away Trains Passing By (95) 21. diSEMBOWELMENT - Transcendence Into the Peripheral / Dusk (91) 22. Steve Roach - Dreamtime Return (90) 23. Low - I Could Live in Hope (90) 24. Mayhem - Wolf's Lair Abyss (89) 25. Nas - Illmatic (88) 26. Dj Tiesto - Magik, Vol. 7: Live in Los Angeles (87) 27. J-Live - The Best Part (87) 28. Walknut - Graveforests And Their Shadows (87) 29. Lykathea Aflame - Elvenefris (86) 30. Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (84) 31. Jeru the Damaja - The Sun Rises in the East (83) 32. Tool - Lateralus (82) 33. In the Woods... - HEart of the Ages (81) 34. maudlin of the Well - Bath (80) 35. Deep Puddle Dynamics - The Taste of Rain...Why Kneel (79) 36. Negură Bunget - Om (79) 37. Aphex Twin - Drukqs Disc 1 (79) 38. Emperor - Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk [Bonus Tracks] (77) 39. Smif-N-Wessun - Dah Shinin' (Parental Advisory) (77) 40. DJ Shadow - Entroducing... (76) 41. Eluvium - Copia (75) 42. Johann Johannsson - Fordlandia (74) 43. Bathory - Under the Sign of the Black Mark (74) 44. Hypocrisy - Final Chapter (71) 45. Have a Nice Life - Deathconsciousness (71) 46. Enslaved - Below the Lights (71) 47. Jedi Mind Tricks - Violent By Design (Parental Advisory) (68) 48. Pestilence - Testimony of the Ancients (67) 49. Harold Budd - The White Arcades (66) 50. Amorphis - Tales From the Thousand Lakes (65)

Music. It’s what part of what inspires the continuance of my existence, and it has sown into the very core of my being. Why must I yearn for these structured sounds, these heavenly chords, these reverberations that are used in expressing human emotion? This is a question that has troubled me for quite some time, as I have continued to consume in my brain thousands of albums, countless tunes and atmospheres. These sounds trigger in my mind something that seems unfamiliar with most other people. The majority of individuals I have encountered view music as a form of entertainment, something to occupy their time with, an endeavor of pleasure that is produced and consumed. You turn on your radio, you hear a catchy tune; some melody, guitar picking abound. Maybe someone unleashing their present emotions through the use of their vocal chords and structured language. This provides a temporary escape for the listener, an escape that allows the mind to expand to other ideas and emotions. Obviously, music does not transmit information in the same fashion as a book or a film, as your ears are the only tools used in this interpretive listening process. The listener either takes the sound produced and relates them to their own life or worldview, or they take it at face value and derive some form of pleasure from these sound waves. Once the ears grab hold of these vibrations, and interpret this information to the brain, and something new, something novel is brought forth. While those who scorn the subjective interpretation of reality will disagree with me in that music is a matter that is tangible, objective, and easily judged, there is a certain magic that occurs with vibration. Yes, I said magic. Want to call me crazy?
I’m speaking idealistically here, and I refuse to pin down my views with the assured mindset that sees music as a trivial matter. Right now I am listening to Steve Roach’s Mystic Chords & Sacred Spaces, which is a collection of arranged sounds and atmospheres that produce what is called a soundscape. This soundscape is the mental arena in which the mind creates visions and thoughts, using these arranged sounds as a foundation for imagination.
I have spoken so far of music in general- I have a nasty habit of being vague and cryptic in my writing-, but now I wish to speak of ambient music, and, in particular, my own efforts in the formation of such music. Ambient music to me is what a drug is to an addict- maybe I am addicted to ambient music. The particular assortment of various sounds- whether they be electronically synthesized, formed from the interaction of two forces, or even through the manipulation of natural sounds- captures my mind, draws it in with iron chains and doesn’t let go until the sound cease. My imagination explodes, my analytical thinking is stimulated, and I feel refreshed in mind and body. For an example of such music that has this effect on me, click here: http://www.last.fm/music/Steve+Roach/Structures+from+Silence
Or here: http://www.last.fm/music/Steve+Roach/Dreamtime+Return

Lost in thought, the mind grows. Of coarse, this music makes for a perfect companion in reading the thoughts of others. When I immerse myself in these soundscapes, my mind is stimulated and I am able to draw ideas from my reading that I might not have otherwise. In isolation and reflection, this music is what I rely on for sanctuary. It rejuvenates me, it heals me.
Yet I come here with a dilemma. Over the past few years, I have been inspired to create my own soundscapes, those that I would shape from my own accord. I see this creative process as an extension of my inner thoughts- subconscious, if you will-, and I yearn to produce the prefect sounds, to sculpt the most powerful soundscapes. Yet, due to my own lack of technical skill in musical production and due to other interests, I have so far been unsuccessful in achieving this goal. Balancing that which has a truly “real” effect on me- the external reality- with that which lies inside my own subjective headspace is a tough challenge, and one that I have proven to be unsuccessful in overcoming- as with many other things. This interest, this hobby, will still be with me, but it is time to consider what is truly important. This form of music is an extension of my desire to experience the ethereal, to delve into the unknown and that which cannot be tangibly handled with. Why I spend my time writing this isn’t absolutely certain, and I should be able to fully express these thoughts amongst those of you who care about me, but my verbal grasp on these thoughts have been so far limited. While this is probably an incredibly confusing stream-of-consciousness writing, this is a necessary outlet to express my current state of being.
I am of the opinion that we are never stagnate individuals; we always change based on the experiences we encounter and the information we receive and interpret. Evolution- a.k.a. CHANGE- is an inherent element in our universe, and to deny this is to personify ignorance. The reason I write this is to mark a change, in writing- using the metaphor of ambient music-, to change into a more productive, intelligent, and helpful creature. This struggle we find ourselves in, day in and day out, can be dealt with in various ways, and the manners with which we cope define who we are, externally. Isolation is not the answer to life’s problems, nor is complete self-exposure. Balance must be maintained, and that invisible yet present balance shifts as we take our course, creating our path, and forming/modifying our identities. No one worldview is universal, but stuff of our world- whether it be dark matter, rocks, ice cream, or puppies- is here. Right now. Take hold.

…

Why does this seem like some self-affirming babbling that lacks true content? Because it is. Let the criticizing begin.

Hello, I come to you bearing gifts of droning ambient sounds. I've just released two new EPs (To Bliss and Hell and Withered Landscapes and Troubled Souls). These two EPs are both drone-based. The first EP consists of two tracks, both which differ relatively so in terms of atmosphere- one having a lighter and more pleasant sound, the other being darker and more oppressive. These two tracks were originally meant to be part of an LP- with two other tracks-, but I decided to cut off those two missing tracks- due to major incoherence when combined with the two featured tracks- and leave it as an EP. The second EP is comprised of shorter tracks that are also drone-oriented- the last track being a small clip of an original track made for the first EP-, and it is more of a compilation of similarly designed tracks than anything else. So, honestly, don't expect to really get into these two EPs if you're not a fan of darker drone-oriented ambient music. But if you are into this sort of music, then you might just dig it...

Check them both out if you'd like- you can listen to/download both of them for free here on last.fm-, and please let me know what you think of them. Constructive criticisms are always welcome!

Venerean
To Bliss and Hell
Withered Landscapes and Troubled Souls

Herein lies a simple and relatively predictable shitfest of a list, composed of my top 75 favorite black metal albums. This was originally going to consist of 100 albums, but I decided that 100 albums was simply too much for such a sad excuse for a list. This is probably my third time to cover this subject matter after about 3 years on last.fm, but I don't care. I have time to kill, and, if you're actually reading this, then so do you.
Here's the full list: LINK IST KRIEG


1. Emperor- Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk (1997)

One of the most epic albums ever produced. Simply put, this immaculate creation will crush your soul, given enough time. This album has stayed at #1 in my mind ever since I got into black metal years ago, and it hasn't moved since.

2. Drudkh- Autumn Aurora (Also: Forgotten Legends) (2004, 2003)

Another incredibly epic album, but of a completely different kind. Whereas most BM albums focus on being as grim, sinister, and ugly as possible, Autumn Aurora is a true diamond in the rough. What it lacks in evil aggression it more than makes up for with truly magnificent songwriting and execution; sublime reverence to the power of nature and the shifting seasons. Forgotten Legends is just as epic, albeit slower and gloomier.

3. Burzum- Hvis Lyset Tar Oss (Also: Filosofem) (1994, 1996)

No BM list would be complete with mentioning Burzum. Forget the hype, Hvis lyset tar oss is as oppressive and tortured as any album has the right to be. It set the pace for the atmospheric BM scene, and also set the benchmark, which has yet to be surpassed- with the possible exception of Drudkh.

4. Mayhem- De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (Also: Wolf's Lair Abyss) (1994, 1997)

Yet another predictable inclusion... Mayhem are the true masters of black metal. With these two releases, they defined the 2nd wave straight-forward assault- as opposed to Burzum's atmospheric and Emperor's symphonic black metal. Give them some time, and the immense power of their sound should become apparent, as gloriously ridiculous as these albums are

5. Blut aus Nord- Ultima Thulée (1995)

If there's one album whose original cover accurately portrays the album's sound, it's this one. Ultima Thulée encapsulates a frost-bitten world, beaten by the relentless winter, covered in the barren ice, and sculpted by the sheer wind. As one of the first so-called ambient black metal albums, Vindsval got his formula just right with his first try. Some say The Work Which Transforms God is his/their best release- I won't argue that it's the most accomplished/innovative-, but I vastly prefer this one.

6. Bethlehem- Sardonischer Untergang Im Zeichen Irreligiöser Darbietung (1998)

The "suicidal" or depressive black metal scene has become a self-parody in it's short existence, but Bethlehem showed how it's done properly well before the supposed scene even formed. Their first two albums are quite distinguished, but the apply-named S.U.I.Z.I.D. is by far their best work of tortured art. Ridiculous in every sense, it somehow remains one of the most captivating black metal albums I've ever listened to.

7. Weakling- Dead as Dreams (2000)

USBM has been plagued by countless generic clones of Burzum and the like, with a few original artists coming through the murk- I Shalt Become and Leviathan come to mind. Weakling only released one album, but that one album- Dead as Dreams- contains as much epic songwriting and emotional vigor than almost any band's discography that I can think of combined. In a sense, they were the Esoteric of black metal. They're music is densely layered, incredibly solid and difficult to listen to in its entirety, but also incredibly rewarding- taking into consideration the stark differences in styles here. If you can get through this album in one listen, more power to you, because you'll be glad you did.

8. Darkthrone- A Blaze In The Norther Sky (1991)

If there's any album that's responsible for setting off the 2nd wave of black metal, it's this. But that's not why it sits at #10 on my. It's placed here because it is also one of the best 2nd wave albums ever. It is one of the grittiest albums I've ever heard, but it's so damn good because of it. While their following albums tend to lump on into unfocused territory, but this album is so purposeful- it aims to kick you in the ass and violate your ears in every way possible. Needless to say, it set the benchmark for raw black metal in the 90s.

9. Wolves in the Throne Room- Two Hunters (2007)

Many purists will Wolves as "trendy" band who caters to the weak, as this band doesn't submit to the pseudo-satanic garbage that plagues black metal. Forget these claims, this band is the pinnacle of black metal today. Give Two Hunters several dedicated listens, and you might begin to understand why... or, better yet, just see them perform live. Truly entrancing atmospheric black metal with more spirit and artistic merit than most BM bands could ever dream of possessing.

10. Bathory- Under the Sign of the Black Mark (1986)

Without a doubt in my mind, Under the Sign is the quintessential first-wave album. It embodies everything that early black metal was- raw, primitive, satanic, and completely unpolished-, since his first three albums defined early black metal- fuck, they CREATED black metal. There isn't much to say about this one, aside from the above, and that it's a drunken storm of mindless hatred and aggression. And it's so fucking good...

11. Ulver- Bergtatt (1994)

Ulver have become well known for so many musical innovations that it's truly remarkable, and it all started here- well, unless you count their first demo. Bergtatt is one of the most balanced and accessible black metal albums ever produced, in that it combines beautiful folk aesthetics with well-composed and produced Norwegian BM. The formula doesn't sound all that impressive, but the results are. It's the perfect introduction to the world of Ulver, and is flawlessly polarized with Nattens Madrigal.

12. Dissection- The Somberlain (Also: Storm of the Light's Bane) (1993, 1996)

As the indisputable kings of melodic black metal, Dissection practically invented the sound with The Somberlain. With a dash of Swedish death metal, as well as considerable Iron Maiden-esque influences, Dissection created a black metal formula that is as beautiful as it is brutal. Many claim Storm of the Light's Bane to be their best, but I see both albums as equals- I just prefer their first one, which is slightly less polished, but equally epic.

13. Enslaved- Below the Lights (Also: Isa) (2003, 2004)*

This is an album I have difficulty including here, since it really does have more an "extreme progressive" metal sound than a black metal sound- also noted by the band members-, but it's got enough black metal style to justify its inclusion. And it's just too great to not include. Monumension pushed the boundaries of Enslaved's signature viking-influenced music, injecting 70s prog-rock influences and more ambitious songwriting. Below the Lights marks their creative peak and most accomplished work to date.

14. Windir- Arntor (1999)

Speaking of epic... Arntor is the very essence of the word. Taking viking-influenced melodic black metal to the limits of its potential, Windir create an amazing work of art. It features sublime production values- which don't pervert its sound, unlike 1184-, incredible songwriting, and immense atmosphere. What else could you ask for?

15. Negură Bunget- Om (2006)

This is an album that I put off listening to for quite some time. The first listen proved unremarkable, but later I found just how brilliant this album is. The Drudkh comparisons are inevitable, but OM has a more abstract and experimental sound than any of Drudkh's efforts. It's difficult for me to describe just what makes this album so effective, but with more listens I'm sure I'll be even more convinced of its brilliance.

16. Emperor- In the Nightside Eclipse (1994)

Some will probably blast me for putting Anthems above this, but I don't care. In the Nightside Eclipse is still a brilliant album, and in a different way. It uses rather minimal structures with symphonic touches to evoke incredible atmospheres, and this formula is just as effective. I just prefer Anthems, sorry.

17. Sacramentum- Far Away From The Sun (1996)

While Dissection started the melodic BM scene, Sacramentum perfected the sound with this album. If anything, I prefer this to Storm of the Light's Bane, even though this is heavily influenced by it.

18. Satyricon- Dark Medieval Times (Also: Nemesis Divina) (1993, 1996)

Yes, Satyricon have "sold out" and catered to the mainstream by returning to the rock roots of black metal. So what? While the quality of their post-RE releases are questionable, their first three albums are pure black metal brilliance, with DMT in particular. It is so deliciously raw, oppressive, and epic, and the songwriting from these then-budding musicians is sublime. The Shadowthrone and Nemesis Divina are just as great- the latter being a pure storm of violent black metal, albeit more polished.

19. Lunar Aurora- Andacht (Also: Elixir of Sorrow) (2007, 2004)

This often overlooked German band has produced some of the finest black metal of the past decade. For proof, look no further than albums like Andacht, Elixir of Sorrow, and Zyklus. With their raw and immersive style, they put a new spin on the term "oppressive". Andacht was their magnum opus, and was far more polished and concise than their previous albums.

20. Darkthrone- Transilvanian Hunger (Also: Under a Funeral Moon) (1994, 1993)

Of coarse... the notorious Transilvanian Hunger. While A Blaze sparked the flame for the 2nd wave, this album helped spawn countless raw BM projects that practically mimic this album. While it's not as inspired as A Blaze, it's minimalist atmosphere is incredibly effective. Under a Funeral Moon also deserves major props.

21. Walknut- Graveforests And Their Shadows (2007)

As one of the most promising BM bands to come out in the past few years, Walknut have blessed us with their truly oppressive- damn I use that word too much...- and melancholic atmospheric BM, in the vein of Drudkh's Forgotten Legends. They are by no means a carbon copy, as their sound retains a sense of originality and spirit that few others can match.

22. In the Woods...-HEart of the Ages (1995)*

Known for pushing the boundaries within the realms of progressive metal, In the Woods... did exactly that with black metal in this release. At first, it seems boring and pointless, but, given time, it reveals itself to be a masterful release. Nothing quite like this has been produced since.

23. Deathspell Omega- Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice (2004)

Honestly, I had a difficult time understanding all the hype surrounding this band. Then I gave this album a firm listen, and I finally understood. Immaculate songwriting meets massive atmosphere and, for once, intelligent satanic lyrics. Yes, this album deserves all the hype it receives... but still, fuck the "orthodox" black metal scene.

24. Ulver- Nattens Madrigal (1997)

While Bergatt was a beautiful and accessible BM album- perfect for newcomers-, Nattens Madrigal is its polar opposite. It is one of the rawest and most primitive albums ever produced, and has become notorious for its means of production. Don't let the abysmal production job fool you, for underneath the murk lies incredible songwriting. If anything, this is just as accomplished as Bergtatt.

25. Shining-III - Angst - Självdestruktivitetens Emissarie (2002)

This is the only Shining album worth owning. Once again I will use the word oppressive to describe an album, but it's more appropriate here than with any other. This is Shining at their grimmest, most extreme, and self-destructive

26. Immortal- Pure Holocaust (Also: Sons of Northern Darkness (1993, 2002)

Even though they are the reigning self-parody of black metal, their music speaks for itself. Pure Holocaust took their debut and thrashed it into bits with its immense speed and icy atmosphere.

27. ColdWorld- Melancholie² (2008)

The past few years have been surprisingly good for black metal, and ColdWorld is yet another newcomer to produce some of the best BM I've heard in ages. Melacholie is a surprisingly well-crafted and produced monster, much in the vein of Lunar Aurora's Andacht, but it's polished sound does not demean its atmosphere- it accentuates it. With his sound, ColdWorld paints vivid imagery of the beauty and struggle of the depths of the cold, isolated winter.

28. Enslaved- Blodhemn (Also: Vikingligr Veldi) (1998, 1994)

While Eld is often cited as their best black metal album, I definitely favor Blodhemn, which seems to be a more inspired release. It's their most straight-forward assault, with an enraged sound blasting like a war cry. Vikingligr Veldi is just as noteworthy, displaying early Enslaved in a different light, whose minimal and progressive approach is just as devastating.

29. Drudkh- Blood in Our Wells (2006)

After The Swan Road, Drudkh's songwriting seemed to become much more ambitious, utilizing the same repetitious and entrancing nature with more varied structures. The result here is just as immense as their previous efforts, but in a different sense. It's a crushing album, needless to say.

30. Taake- Nattestid Ser Porten Vid... (1999)


31. Lurker of Chalice- Lurker of Chalice (2005)
32. Darkspace- Dark Space III (Also: Dark Space II) (2008, 2005)
33. Burzum- Det Som Engang Var (1993)
34. Summoning- Stronghold (1999)
35. Abigor- Verwüstung / Invoke the Dark Age (1994)
36. Borknagar- Borknagar (1996)
37. Absu- Tara (2001)
38. Tormentor- Anno Domini (1988)
39. Limbonic Art- Moon In Scorpio (1996)
40. Nachtmystium- Instinct: Decay (2006)
41. Krohm- The Haunting Presence (2007)
42. Leviathan- Tentacles of Whorror (2004)
43. Immortal- Battles in the North (1995)
44. Fen- The Malediction Fields (2009)
45. Marduk- Opus Nocturne (1994)
46. Paysage d'Hiver- Winterkaelte (2002)
47. Gorgoroth- Antichrst (1996)
48. Sear Bliss- Phantoms (Also: Glory and Perdition) (1996, 2003)
49. Lifelover- Konkurs (2008)
50. Diabolical Masquerade- Nightwork (1998)
51. Amesoeurs- Ruines Humaines (2006)
52. Judas Iscariot- To Embrace the Corpses Bleeding (Also: Thy Dying Light) (2002, 1996)
53. Forgotten Tomb- Springtime Depression (2003)
54. Darkestrah- Epos (2006)
55. Velvet Cacoon- Genevieve (2004)
56. Samael- Worship (1991)
57. I Shalt Become- Wanderings (Also: Requiem) (1996, 2008)
58. Silencer- Death - Pierce Me (2001)
59. Nagelfar- Virus West (2001)
60. Geist- Kainsmal (2005)

Yet again I've decided to waste my time- and maybe even yours- with another list of my favorite albums. This time, I've compiled a list of my 30 favorite albums from each year of the 2000s. Recommendations are greatly appreciated.


2009 so far

1. Isis- Wavering Radiant
2. Fen- The Malediction Fields
3. Wolves in the Throne Room- Black Cascade
4. maudlin of the Well- Part the Second
5. The Field- Yesterday and Today
6. Dereleech- Servant of Entropy
7. Blut aus Nord- Memoria Vetusta II: Dialogue With the Stars
8. Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion
9. Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest
10. Steve Roach- Dynamic Stillness
11. Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O.- Lord of the Underground: Vishnu and the Magic Elixir
12. Telefon Tel Aviv- Immolate Yourself
13. Drudkh- Microcosmos
14. Tim Hecker- An Imaginary Country
15. Funebrarum- The Sleep of Morbid Dreams
16. disappearer- The Clearing
17. Squarepusher- Numbers Lucent EP
18. The Prophecy- Into the Light
19. Mono- Hymn to the Immortal Wind
20. Pelican- Ephemeral EP
21. Boxcutter- Arecibo Message
22. Wolves in the Throne Room- Malevolent Grain EP
23. Phillip Wilkerson- Constant 23
24. Mountains- Choral
25. Great Lake Swimmers- Lost Channels
26. Cobalt- Gin
27. Amorphis- Skyforger
28. Absu- Absu
29. Devin Townsend- Ki
30. Fleshgod Apocalypse- Oracles

2008

1. Jóhann Jóhannsson- Fordlândia
2. Sun Kil Moon- April
3. ColdWorld- Melancholie²
4. Dereleech- Downstream
5. Deepspace- The Glittering Domain
6. Agalloch- The White EP
7. Esoteric- The Maniacal Vale
8. Have a Nice Life- Deathconsciousness
9. Nadja- The Bungled & the Botched
10. M83- Saturdays = Youth
11. Darkspace- Dark Space III
12. Deerhunter- Microcastle / Weird Era Continued
13. Genghis Tron- Board Up the House
14. Ihsahn- angL
15. Virgin Black- Requiem - Fortissimo
16. This Will Destroy You- This Will Destroy You
17. All India Radio- These Winter Dreams
18. Deathspell Omega- Veritas Diaboli Manet in Aeternum: Chaining the Katechon
19. Steve Roach- Landmass
20. Aeveron- Existential Dead End
21. Portishead- Third
22. Moonsorrow- Tulimyrsky EP
23. Flying Lotus- Los Angeles
24. I Shalt Become- Requiem
25. Lifelover- Konkurs
26. Atmosphere- When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold
27. Leviathan- Massive Conspiracy Against All Life
28. Manual- Confluence
29. Ólafur Arnalds- Variations of Static EP
30. Enslaved- Vertebrae

2007

1. Wolves in the Throne Room- Two Hunters
2. Eluvium- Copia
3. Walknut- Graveforests and Their Shadows
4. Primordial- To The Nameless Dead
5. Lunar Aurora- Andacht
6. Blonde Redhead- 23
7. dälek- Abandoned Language
8. Deepspace- The Barometric Sea
9. The Marcia Blaine School for Girls- Halfway Into the Woods
10. Nadja- Thaumogenesis
11. Stars of the Lid- And Their Refinement of the Decline
12. Burial- Untrue
13. Robin Guthrie & Harold Budd- Before the Day Breaks
14. Drudkh- Estrangement
15. Alcest- Souvenirs d'un autre monde
16. Amon Tobin- Foley Room
17. Radiohead- In Rainbows
18. Moonsorrow- V: Hävitetty
19. Boxcutter- Glyphic
20. Krohm- The Haunting Presence
21. Explosions in the Sky- All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
22. Electric Wizard- Witchcult Today
23. El-P- I'll Sleep When You're Dead
24. Rosetta- Wake/Lift
25. Legiac- Means Feaner
26. Nine Inch Nails- Year Zero
27. Dungen- Tio Bitar
28. The Angelic Process- Weighing Souls With Sand
29. Darkestrah- Epos
30. Christ.- Blue Shift Emissions

2006

1. Warning- Watching From a Distance
2. Wolves in the Throne Room- Diadem of 12 Stars
3. Agalloch- Ashes Against the Grain
4. Drudkh- Blood In Our Wells
5. Jesu- Silver EP
6. AFX- Chosen Lords
7. Tool- 10,000 Days
8. Mono- You Are There
9. Jóhann Jóhannsson- IBM 1401, A User's Manual
10. Nachtmystium- Instinct: Decay
11. God Is an Astronaut- A Moment of Stillness
12. Amesoeurs- Ruines humaines EP
13. Yndi Halda- Enjoy Eternal Bliss
14. Ahab- The Call of the Wretched Sea
15. Mahogany- Connectivity!
16. Insomnium- Above the Weeping World
17. Cult of Luna- Somewhere Along the Highway
18. Steve Roach- Storm Surge: Live at NEARfest
19. Geïst- Kainsmal
20. Robin Guthrie- Everlasting
21. Tenhi- Maaäet
22. The Knife- Silent Shout
23. Katharsis- VVorldVVithoutEnd
24. The Roots- Game Theory
25. Amon Amarth- With Oden on Our Side
26. Above & Beyond- Tri-State
27. Enslaved- Ruun
28. The Black Angels- Passover
29. Deftones- Saturday Night Wrist
30. Mastodon- Blood Mountain

2005

1. Steve Roach- New Life Dreaming
2. Boards of Canada- The Campfire Headphase
3. Jesu- Jesu
4. Boris- Pink
5. Oöphoi- Hymns to a Silent Sky
6. Rosetta- The Galilean Satellites
7. !T.O.O.H.!- Řád a Trest
8. Earth- Hex; or Printing in the Infernal Method
9. Darkspace- Dark Space II
10. Venetian Snares- Rossz csillag alatt született
11. Lurker of Chalice- Lurker of Chalice
12. Sigur Rós- Takk...
13. Robert Rich- Echo of Small Things
14. Deathspell Omega- Kénôse EP
15. Meshuggah- Catch 33
16. Akercocke- Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undone
17. Kraftwerk- Minimum-Maximum
18. Gojira- From Mars to Sirius
19. Ulver- Blood Inside
20. Draconian- Arcane Rain Fell
21. Candlemass- Candlemass
22. CunninLynguist- A Piece of Strange
23. Biosphere- Dropsonde
24. dälek- Absence
25. William Basinski- Melancholia
26. Kriegsmaschine- Altered States of Divinity
27. Autechre- Untitled
28. Nadja- Truth Becomes Death
29. 65daysofstatic- One Time for All Time
30. Opeth- Ghost Reveries

2004

1. Drudkh- Autumn Aurora
2. Squarepusher- Ultravisitor
3. Enslaved- Isa
4. Deathspell Omega- Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice
5. Wintersun- Wintersun
6. Lunar Aurora- Elixir of Sorrow
7. Isis- Panopticon
8. Augury- Concealed
9. Meshuggah- I EP
10. Deinonychus- Insomnia
11. Proem- Socially Inept
12. Helios- Unomia
13. Sear Bliss- Glory and Perdition
14. Madvillain- Madvilliany
15. Iron & Wine- Our Endless Numbered Days
16. Leviathan- Tentacles of Whorror
17. Jonn Serrie- The Stargazer's Journey
18. Orphaned Land- Mabool: The Story of the Three Sons of Seven
19. Cult of Luna- Salvation
20. Robert Rich- Calling Down the Sky
21. The Flashbulb- Red Extensions of Me
22. Loscil- First Narrows
23. Vàli- Forlatt
24. Jesu- Heart Ache EP
25. Velvet Cacoon- Genevieve
26. The Dead Texan- The Dead Texan
27. Rotting Christ- Sanctus Diavolos
28. Aura Noir- The Merciless
29. Arcade Fire- Funeral
30. Fennesz- Venice

2003

1. Steve Roach- Mystic Chords & Sacred Spaces
2. Drudkh- Forgotten Legends
3. Enslaved- Below the Lights
4. Boris- Feedbacker
5. Sun Kil Moon- Ghosts of the Great Highway
6. Explosions in the Sky- The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place
7. Gridlock- Formless
8. Autechre- Draft 7.30
9. Prefuse 73- One Word Extinguisher
10. Opeth- Damnation
11. Blut aus Nord- The Work Which Transforms God
12. Hala Strana- Fielding
13. Forgotten Tomb- Springtime Depression
14. Ulver- A Quick Fix of Melancholy EP
15. The Gathering- Souvenirs
16. Kid606- Kill Sound Before Sound Kills You
17. Ulrich Schnauss- A Strangely Isolated Place
18. Steve Roach- Texture Maps: The Lost Pieces Vol. 3
19. Alias- Muted
20. Falkenbach- Ok Nefna Tysvar Ty
21. System 7- Live Transmissions
22. M83- Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts
23. William Basinski- The Disintegration Loops IV
24. Pan•American- The River Made No Sound
25. Virus- Carheart
26. The Angelic Process- Coma Waering
27. Madlib- Shades of Blue
28. Devin Townsend- Accelerated Evolution
29. Edge of Sanity- Crimson II
30. Solefald- In Harmonia Universali

2002

1. Agalloch- The Mantle
2. Boards of Canada- Geogaddi
3. Isis- Oceanic
4. Sigur Rós- ( )
5. Opeth- Deliverance
6. Arcturus- The Sham Mirrors
7. Nine Inch Nails- And All That Could Have Been/Still EP
8. Shining- III - Angst - Självdestruktivitetens Emissarie
9. The Flaming Lips- Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
10. múm- Finally We Are No One
11. Porcupine Tree- In Absentia
12. El-P- Fantastic Damage
13. Nile- In Their Darkened Shrines
14. Empyrium- Weiland
15. In Gowan Ring- Hazel Steps Through a Weathered Home
16. Wilco- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
17. Biosphere- Shenzhou
18. ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead- Source Tags & Codes
19. Six Organs of Admittance- Dark Noontide
20. Judas Iscariot- To Embrace the Corpses Bleeding
21. Murcof- Martes
22. Immortal- Sons of Northern Darkness
23. Dark Tranquillity- Damage Done
24. Steve Roach- Streams & Currents
25. Diary of Dreams- Freak Perfume
26. !T.O.O.H.!- Pod vládou biče
27. Beck- Sea Change
28. dredg- El Cielo
29. Lustmord- Zeotrope
30. Jóhann Jóhannsson- Englabörn

2001

1. maudlin of the Well- Leaving Your Body Map (Also: Bath)
2. Aphex Twin- Drukqs
3. Tool- Lateralus
4. Opeth- Blackwater Park
5. Björk- Vespertine
6. Cannibal Ox- The Cold Vein
7. Autechre- Confield
8. Ulrich Schnauss- Far Away Trains Passing By
9. Devin Townsend- Terria
10. Emperor- Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise
11. Aesop Rock- Labor Days
12. Tim Hecker- Haunt Me, Haunt Me Do It Again
13. J-Live- The Best Part
14. My Dying Bride- The Dreadful Hours
15. Daft Punk- Discovery
16. Pete Namlook- Silence V
17. Absu- Tara
18. Plaid- Double Figure
19. Evoken- Quietus
20. Cult of Luna- Cult of Luna
21. Dolorian- Dolorian
22. Gorguts- From Wisdom to Hate
23. Neurosis- A Sun That Never Sets
24. DJ Tiësto- Magik, vol. 7: Live in Los Angeles
25. Liquid Morphine- GrijsGebied
26. Squarepusher- Go Plastic
27. Sigh- Imaginary Sonicscape
28. The Shins- Oh, Inverted World
29. André Estermann- Balloon
30. Therion- Secret of the Runes

2000

1. Weakling- Dead as Dreams
2. Radiohead- Kid A
3. Boards of Canada- In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country EP
4. Boris- Flood
5. Godspeed You! Black Emperor- Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven
6. Lykathea Aflame- Elvenefris
7. DJ Tiësto- Magik, vol. 6: Live in Amsterdam
8. Harold Budd- The Room
9. Robert Rich- Humidity
10. Ulver- Perdition City
11. Jedi Mind Tricks- Violent by Design
12. The Gathering- If_Then_Else
13. Aesop Rock- Float
14. Reflection Eternal- Train of Thought
15. Sol Invictus- Trieste
16. Gas- Pop
17. Shape of Despair- Shades of...
18. Garden of Shadows- Oracle Moon
19. Deltron 3030- Deltron 3030
20. A Silver Mt. Zion- He Has Left Us Alone but Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corner of Our Rooms...
21. Hypocrisy- Into the Abyss
22. Primordial- Spirit the Earth Aflame
23. Bloodbath- Breeding Death EP
24. Amon Tobin- Supermodified
25. Immolation- Close to a World Below
26. A Perfect Circle- Mer de Noms
27. Morbid Angel- Gateways to Annihilation
28. Deftones- White Pony
29. Modest Mouse- The Moon & Antarctica
30. Behemoth- Thelema.6

I originally posted this list on RYM (link here), so why the hell not post it here on last.fm?

This is a collection of artists who I have discovered on last.fm whose music I appreciate and whose music can either be downloaded for free there or can be listened to for free. I am going to include only lesser known artists. For the time begin, this list will consist primarily of ambient artists, as I have only been aware of such artists within the realm of ambient primarily. Any recommendations/links would be appreciated, or any artists you think should be included on this list! Also, if there are any artists who would like to be included on this list, just send me your link. If there is any information that should be corrected or modified, please let me know. Thanks!

To be on this list, an artist must:
-have no more than 50 ratings on RYM for any of their releases
-have no more than 50,000 listeners on last.fm (that's a relatively large figure, but it seems like some artists with that number of listeners on last.fm have not accumulated many ratings here on RYM)
-have at least some of their albums available on last.fm for free listening or free downloading
-be an artist that I have listened to and have deemed worthy to be on this list (yes, I can be a pretentious asshole like that, so take it :P)

I'm also listing the albums I've listened to, ordering them in order of preference (from favorite to least favorite) and rating them, just because I'm a predictable and pretentious asshole like that... still. I would provide a rating criteria, but I won't list anything I wouldn't rate under a 3 (out of 5), so I'll just say anything 4 and over is excellent and something I would definitely recommend, and anything between 3 and 4 is something I liked and would recommend- obviously. I will pretty much never rate anything with a 5- just like I would never rate anything with a 0. 4.5- the highest I will feel comfortable giving- is pretty much near perfect for me, and 3- the lowest I'll give here- still means that I think it's a good album that is worth your time, but just not something that struck me as extraordinary.


Alio Die
Ambient
Under a Holy Ritual is available for free listening
Listened to: Under A Holy Ritual (3.5/5)

All India Radio
Ambient, Downtempo, Post-Rock, Dream Pop
Listened to: These Winter Dreams (4.25), The Inevitable (3.75), Fall (3.75), 002 (3.5), A Low High (3.25)

Alpha Wave Movement
Ambient, Progressive Electronic
Listened to: A Distant Signal (4.25)

amure
Alternative Rock, Progressive Rock
Listened to: Echoes Of... (3.75)

Richard Bone
Ambient
Listened to: SERENE LIFE OF MICROBES (3.5)

Bosques de mi Mente
Ambient, Minimalism
Listened to: Ruido Blanco (3.75), LO-FI (3.5)

Caustic Reverie
Dark Ambient, Drone
Listened to: Stochastic Resonance (4.25), X-Mas EP (3)

Centinex
Death Metal
Listened to: Reflections (3.5)

Dark Drone
Dark Ambient, Drone
Listened to: Forgotten garden (3.25)

Deepspace
Ambient
Listened to: Slow Moving Lifeforms Volume One (4.5), The Glittering Domain (4.5), The Barometric Sea (4.25), Subantarctic Sessions EP (4.25), The Barometric Sun (4), Another Empty Galaxy (3.5)

Defiant Kinetics
Instrumental Hip-Hop, Trip-Hop, Ambient Techno
Listened to: The Elemental EP (4)

Dereleech
Dark Ambient, Ambient, Drone
Listened to: Downstream (4.5), Servant of Entropy (4.5), The Desert Calls My Name EP (4), Longing for the Fallen Sun (3.75), Standstill (3.5)

Distant Fires Burning
Ambient, Downtempo
Listened to: Messierobjekten (3.75)

Marc Doudin
Ambient
Listened to: Oceanview (3.5)

Dyskinesia
Noise, Sludge Metal (?), Ambient
Listened to: Dyskinesia (3.25)

Element Kuuda
Indie Electronic, Ambient
Listened to: Le Village (3.25)

Fear Of Eternity
Symphonic Black Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal
Listened to: Spirit Of Sorrow (3.75)

Fejd
Folk Rock
Listened to: Huldran EP (3.5)

Felixdroid
Ambient, Minimalism
Listened to: The Longing (4.25), Drawn From Memory (3.5)

Flica
Indie Electronic, Downtempo
Listened to: Windvane & Window (3.25)

Freiband & Machinefabriek
Glitch, Ambient, Drone
Listened to: Oahu (3.75)

Gaudi & Antonio Testa
Ambient, Ambient Techno, Ambient Dub
Listened to: Continuum (3.75)

innere sicherheit
Drone, Noise, Ambient
Listened to: Tales Of The Future (3.5)

Jukeen
Ambient
Listened to: Elevated EP (3.5)

Lackluster
IDM, Ambient Techno
Listened to: Container (3.75)

Lattice
Ambient
Listened to: Songs in the Key of Glass (3.75)

Liquid Mind
Ambient, New Age
Listened to: Liquid Mind VIII: Sleep (3.25)

The Marcia Blaine School for Girls
IDM, Experimental Electronic
Listened to: Halfway Into The Woods (4.25)

Menace Ruin
Drone, Drone Doom Metal, Psychedelic Black Metal
Listened to: The Die Is Cast (3.25)

Mental Home
Doom Metal, Death Doom Metal
Listened to: Black Art (4.25), Vale (3.25)

Monte Montgomery
Acoustic Rock, Blues Rock, Hard Rock
Listened to: Architect (3.75)

M. Persson: Sounds
Ambient
Listened to: Strange skies (4), Healing Waters (3.5)

Pete Namlook
Ambient, Ambient Techno
Listened to: Silence V (4.5), Music for Urban Meditation (3.75)

Pete Namlook / Mixmaster Morris
Ambient Techno
Listened to: Dreamfist 2 (3.75), Dreamfish (3.5)

Pete Namlook / Tetsu Inoue
Ambient
Listened to: Shades of Orion 2 (3.5)

Northcape
Ambient, Downtempo, IDM
Listened to: Detach (4), Some Bright Valley EP (3.75)

Not Breathing
IDM, Experimental Electronic
Listened to: The Black Old Pueblo (4)

Oöphoi
Ambient
Listened to: Hymns to a silent sky (4.5), Mare Tranquillitatis (4)

David Parsons
Ambient
Listened to: Yatra (4.25)

Pilot of the Future
Chiptune, Ambient Techno, IDM
Listened to: Final Ninja Suite (3.75), 1 (3.25)

Pogo
Downtempo, Trip-Hop
Listened to: Wonderland (3.5)

The Prophecy
Doom Metal, Death Doom Metal
Listened to: Into The Light (4)

Resurrection
Death Metal
Listened to: Embalmed Existence (3.25)

Robert Rich
Ambient, Dark Ambient
Listened to: Numena (4.5), Gaudi (4.5), Inner Landscapes (4.25), Humidity (4.25), Calling Down The Sky (4), A Troubled Resting Place (4), Sunyata (4), Rainforest (3.75), Illumination (3.75), Music from Atlas Dei (3.5), Geometry (3.25)

Steve Roach & Erik Wøllo
Ambient
Listened to: Stream of Thought (3.75)

Justin Robert
Post-Rock, Ambient
Listened to: Alone (3.25)

Shao Rong
Chinese Lute, Instrumental, New Age
Listened to: Orchid (3.5)

Spacetime Continuum
Ambient Techno, IDM, Psybient
Listened to: Alien Dreamtime (4.75), Sea Biscuit (4.25), Emit Ecaps (3.75), Double Fine Zone (3.5)

Spiritus Mortis
Doom Metal
Listened to: The God Behind the God (3.25)

Michael Stearns
Ambient, Progressive Electronic
Listened to: Encounter (A Journey In The Key Of Space) (4.25)

Stormlord
Symphonic Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal
Listened to: The Gorgon Cult (4), Mare Nostrum (3.5), At The Gates Of Utopia (3.25), Supreme Art of War (3)

Streams of Europe
Ambient
Listened to: Meanders (4)

System 7
Progressive House, Techno
Listened to: Power of Seven (4), Live Transmissions (4), 777 (3.5), Phoenix (3)

Terminal 11
Breakcore
Listened to: Fractured Sunshine (3.75)

Ultramarine
Ambient House
Listened to: Every Man and Woman Is a Star (3.25)

Usurper
Thrash Metal, Black Metal
Listened to: Twilight Dominion (3.25)

V:28
Industrial Metal, Industrial Black Metal
Listened to: SoulSaviour (3.5)

Vatnajökull
Dark Ambient, Drone
Listened to: Drifting Ice Station (4), Arkhangelsk EP (3)

Venerean
Ambient, Dark Ambient
Available albums so far: Intermittence EP.1 (3.75), Dissociated Drones EP (3), Omega, Vol. I: Anthems for Dreaming (2.5)- Yes, I rated my own albums. I'm that much of a douche, apparently.

Vidna Obmana
Ambient, Dark Ambient
Listened to: The River of Appearance (4), Twilight of Perception (3.75), Passage in Beauty (3.75), The Spiritual Bonding (3.5), Spore (3.25)

Wedard
Depressive Black Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal
Listened to: Einsamer Winterweg (4), Wo Die Ewigkeit Die Zeit Berührt (2.75)

Phillip Wilkerson
Ambient
Listened to: Vigil (4)

Wine From Tears
Death Doom Metal
Listened to: Through The Eyes Of A Mad (3.25)

Hello, I've been working on new material over the past few months, and I've finally released some of this material with the Intermittence EP.1 release. As the title indicated, this one will be followed by subsequent EPs, though I have not gotten to making the material for those quite yet. There really is no main concept behind Intermittence, though the meaning behind it lies in the instability of the times that I have produced these tracks in, and due to the nature of these tracks- as they do not quite compose a seamless collective. I will also be following this release with another, called Constants, which will hopefully be finished within the next few months. Thanks for listening! Any comments/suggestions/constructive criticisms would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again!

Here's the link: http://www.last.fm/music/Venerean/Intermittence+EP.1

Enjoy!

Yes, it has to happen. The inevitable, ever-growing, and completely generic overview of this year in music is here. Well, it's a work in progress, seeing as we're not even half way through the year. I will be updating this list as I listen to more albums, so it's far from done. I will also be adding mini-reviews to those that I have neglected to write for.

Here's a breakdown of the ratings:
4.5-5: Near-perfect; essential in my book
3.5-4.25: Excellent; highly recommended
2.5-3.25: Average; decent, but lacking
Anything below 2.5: Mediocre; don't waste your time with

Updated 6.11.09

Edit: I've re-listed the albums in alphabetical order and removed the images so I could fit all this in one post. I've also shortened the mini-reviews. More suckage.

*= Pleasant surprise
**= Disappointment
***= Need to listen to again

1349- Revelations of the Black Flame**
Dark Ambient, Black Metal
2.25

Arguably the most stereotypical band in black metal attempt to shift their image and try some uber-grim dark ambient on for size. Do they succeed? No, not really... but at least it's a change!

Absu- Absu
Black Metal
3.75

As expected, Absu come back with high-quality blackened thrash metal that's full of rage and character.

Amesoeurs- Amesoeurs**
Post-Punk, and... uh, maybe a tinge of black metal??? 0_o
2.25

I was expecting great things from Amesoeurs' full-length and swansong, but I ended up being incredibly disappointed. The songwriting is decent enough, but the lyrics are truly abysmal, and it just doesn't work well as a complete work. I'll just forget this happened and stick with their wonderful EP...

Amorphis- Skyforger
Progressive Metal
3.75

Amorphis prove that they're one of the most consistent acts in metal by sticking with their typical folk-laden progressive metal sound, except this is a vast improvement over the well-written but lifeless Silent Waters.

Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion
Neo-Psychedelia, Psychedelic Pop
4.25

Still trying to get into this album. It's quite possibly the most hyped album of the year, but I can see why. While their previous albums have mainly been unfocused to the point of being unlistenable, this album hones down their psychedelic sounds, and becomes what they should've released in the first place.

ATB- Future Memories
Trance
2

ATB has never been my favorite trance producer, but this is truly generic in every sense. Still, it's not the worst thing he's come up with...

autopy- Horrific Obsession
Death Metal
3

Another death metal band is resurrected from the dead, except Autopsy have decided to remain faithful to their original sound 20 years on.

Beherit- Engram
Black Metal
3.25

Another extreme metal band to reform, Engram is another homage to the early 90s. It's great straight-forward black metal, and while it's no where near as daring as their previous work, it's quite enjoyable.

Bigott- Fin
Folk Pop, Freak Folk
3.25

Mildly interesting, highly characterful, and rather entertaining. Not the kind of album I'd be compelled to listen to on a regular basis, but it's got more than enough flair, good vibes, easy simplicity to satisfy my ears when in need of something with an organic and unique feeling.

Blut aus Nord- Memoria Vetusta II: Dialogue With the Stars
Atmospheric Black Metal
4

After 12 years, this revolutionary black metal establishment is back with the second installment of the Memoria Vetusta series. It's a much more straight-forward black metal affair than his/their recent works, which makes it appropriately reminiscent of Memoria Vetusta I, except this album has a clearer, more aggressive, and equally effective sound.

Brutal Truth- Evolution Through Revolution
Grindcore
3

Grindcore has never been my thing, but Brutal Truth have always been one of the better grindcore bands, and here they don't disappoint. It's nothing revolutionary- sorry, had to-, but it's definitely a decent effort.

Boxcutter- Arecibo Message
IDM, Dubstep
3.5

His previous album- Glyphic- is definitely one of my favorite dubstep albums, and Boxcutter's latest effort doesn't disappoint me. It displays more IDM influences than anything, but it's still well produced and quite enjoyable.

Candlemass- Death Doom Magic
Traditional Doom Metal
3.25

Armed with yet another new vocalist, Candlemass return with a predictably epic album. This album has received a significant amount of praise, and while I can't seem to appreciate their more power metal oriented sound and the new vocalist as much as many others, it's no doubt a worthy addition to their discography.

Cattle Decapitation- The Harvest Floor
Deathgrind, Death Metal
3

This is band I've tried avoiding until now, as curiosity has gotten the best of me. To my surprise, this isn't the completely generic shitfest I was expecting. Actually, it's relatively well composed and produced deathgrind with a rather ridiculous style.

Cobalt- Gin
Black Metal
3.75

I suppose that this is a sign of the future of black metal. I suppose this could be described as a mix of more "straight-forward" black metal with progressive elements and lots of sludge/post-metal influences. The results are somewhat impressive, as their influences work well together, and they execute their sound with enough character to pull it all off with stride.

Dereleech- Servant of Entropy
Dark Ambient
4.25

Dereleech is one of my favorite dark ambient artists as of late, as he utilizes interesting techniques and creative concepts to create truly compelling and powerful atmospheres that immerses the listener in a world all of his own making. While I prefer Downstream, this album is just as accomplished.

Eminem- Relapse
Hip-Hop, Pop Rap, Hardcore Rap
3.5

Oh shit, did I just give the new Eminem album a respectable rating? Yes, I did. Encore was a laughable piece of shit, but Eminem has really rekindled his creative juices with Relapse. The production is as good as its been since Marshall Mathers LP, and so is his rhyming- not to mention the actual content of his rapping. This is definitely one of the most surprising albums of the year for me.

Eternal Tears of Sorrow- Children of the Dark Waters
Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Metal
3

This being my first EToS album, I am mildly impressed. There's a lot of emotion and power behind their music, though I can't help but feel that it's all a bit melodramatic for my taste. Nonetheless, their song-writing is strong and their execution is impressive. Maybe I'll bump the rating up in time.

Fen- The Malediction Fields
Atmospheric Black Metal
4.5

Many will probably disagree with me here, but I see this as the best black metal album of the year thus far. It certainly is one of the least aggressive BM albums to hit the scene this year, but, it's struck me like no other. Some complain that the vocals are subpar, but they are performed much like that of Primordial's- not much in the way of polish, but full of passion. The songwriting is truly epic, and I honestly can't find a significant fault here. Plus, their atmosphere is truly captivating. This is the pinnacle of atmospheric BM in '09 for me.

Fleshgod Apocalypse- Oracles
Technical Death Metal
3.5

Great production, excellent musicianship, and interesting composition separate this album out from the rest of the technical DM crowd. It's not starkly innovative, but it sounds great and is produced just as well as any other death metal album I've heard from this year so far.

Funebrarum- The Sleep of Morbid Dreams
Death Metal
3.75

While bands like Fleshgod Apocalypse and Obscura explore death metal through cleaner and more clinically precise methods, others like Funebrarum get back to the heart of the genre.

The Gathering- The West Pole
Alternative Rock, Dream Pop, Pop Rock
3.5

With the departure of Anneke van Giersbergen, this great band now ventures on into questionable territory, as a definitive element of their band's sound- her wonderful vocals and lyrics- are not absent. Fortunately, their new vocalist is up the job, and while her voice doesn't strike me as being quite as powerful, she fits the band's sound very well. Here they go for a more mainstream rock affair, which might seem a bit awkward for them, but they perform very well in doing so. It's not quite as impressive as their last several albums, but it's still a very worthwhile album.

Graveland- Spears of Heaven
Viking Metal, Black Metal
2.25

Graveland has been creating viking-laden black metal for over a decade now, and while he's produced some fine albums- specifically Immortal Pride-, his music is completely redundant now. His sound here is not disappointing in and of itself, but it accomplishes absolutely nothing new. Graveland fans should appreciate this album, but if you're not a hardcore fan than you really shouldn't give a shit... especially considering that his last album was far superior to this effort.

Great Lake Swimmers- Lost Channels
Acoustic Rock, Indie Rock, Folk Pop
3.5

Great Lake Swimmers are a relatively new discovery of mine, having started with their previous album. Whereas that album was more folk-oriented, Lost Channels is more of an acoustic rock album, which makes it a little more lively, though somewhat less atmospheric. It's still a very enjoyable work though, proving once again that there is beauty in simplicity.

Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest
Psychedelic Folk, Chamber Pop, Indie Rock
4.25

2009 is turning out to be a great year for psychedelic pop/rock, and Grizzly Bear are certainly at the forefront of this scene. I'm still not exactly sure what to make out of this one, but all I know is that it sounds fucking great. A very intriguing work, it has a very deep and interlaced sound that leaves me rather blown away.

Heaven and Hell- The Devil You Know
Heavy Metal
3.25

It's great to see such an older and practically legendary outfit still producing solid music today. After almost 30 years, the Heaven and Hell-era Black Sabbath are back at it, still producing the same kind of heavy metal. Their first album until this moniker is just as theatrical and immense as their other efforts, though with a more polished sound. It sounds good, though I can't say it's something that I will come back for many repeated listens.

Tim Hecker- An Imaginary Country
Ambient
4

Continuing on with his noise-infested ambient soundscapes, An Imaginary Country finds Mr. Hecker creating more simplistic and accessible sounds, with a more drone-oriented approach. The results are as impressive as ever, and while it doesn't quite grab me in the way Haunt Me, Haunt Me Do It Again does, it's still a compelling work of art.

I Shalt Become- The Pendle Witch Trials
Atmospheric Black Metal, Depressive Black Metal
3.25

After making a come-back with last year's excellent Requiem, this one-man project has churned out yet more material. It continues on the same oppressive, repetitive, and refined sound presented on Requiem, and makes little- if any- changes. It's just as satisfying of an album as his previous one, but it doesn't accomplish anything that Requiem didn't. It's very enjoyable, but a bit redundant.

Isis- Wavering Radiant
Atmospheric Sludge Metal
4.5

Honestly, I found In the Absense of Truth to be somewhat underwhelming, so I wasn't expecting very much from this one. Maybe it was my slightly lowered expectations, but Wavering Radiant absolutely blows me away. It is textured in the same way Panopticon is, combining their sludge onslaught with post-rock and even ambient influences. The diversity and complexity in their songwriting here is truly crushing, and I'm confident in saying that this is just as solid of an album as Oceanic or Panopticon. Probably my favorite of the year thus far...

Katharsis- Fourth Reich
Black Metal
3.25

Despite being among the countless number of bands who practically imitate Darkthrone's black metal classics, Katharsis have always brought something different to the table. Their last album was a complete mind-fuck, taking the sounds of A Blaze in the Northern Sky and dismantling all sanity that lied therein. Here, they accomplish pretty much the same thing, but it just doesn't feel as chaotic or challenging as VVorldVVithoutEnd. It's still a good effort, but just somewhat lacking in comparison.

Kreator- Hordes of Chaos
Thrash Metal
3.25

Kreator has never been one of my favorite outfits, but their latest effort solidifies their position as thrash legends. After 25 years, they still have enough power and aggression in their music to maintain my interest, except here their approach is somewhat more refined, thanks to the advances in recording. It's a fairly basic and predictable thrash affair, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Lamb of God- Wrath
Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, Metalcore
1.5

Boring, generic, and predictable. These are a few words that can be used to describe this album. I'm not a Lamb of God hater, though I've never been a fan, but this album just seems to be made from recycled bits and pieces of all their previous albums. Nothing new has been accomplished here. Yes, the energy and aggression is here in full-force, and there's plenty of delicious riffing, but that alone does not make for a good album. Quite underwhelming, although not completely hopeless. A few tracks are actually quite good in my ears, but overall it's just a truly weak effort.

LaZarus A.D.- The Onslaught
Thrash Metal, Groove Metal
2.25

This album has been hailed by many as a saving grace for thrash in '09, but I honestly don't see what's so great about this one. Yes, there's a lot of kick-ass riffing to be found here, along with some impressive drumming, but beyond that there's nothing of any interest for me here. The vocals are reminiscent of all those wannabe-thrash metalcore bands, and the lyrics are downright distasteful- even for thrash. The music- aside from the vocals- isn't terribly mediocre for the most part, but this kind of thing has been done before, and has been done a lot better. At least it's better than most of what The Haunted have disgraced themselves with...

Mastodon- Crack the Skye
Progressive Metal, Stoner Metal, Sludge Metal
3.75

This is another album that has been hyped up like crazy this year, much like Blood Mountain was in '06. I really enjoyed that album, and while Crack the Syke is much in the same vein as their previous release, it just doesn't strike me as being as accomplished. The first few tracks are really impressive, but after that it kind of dies down, repeating the same general sound without much progression. They've still got a lot of energy and delectable grooves going on here, and I have to say that it's a very good album overall, but it's just not as impressive as their previous stuff. Best album of '09? Not by a long shot... but still worthwhile.

maudlin of the Well- Part the Second
Progressive Rock, Experimental Rock, Art Rock
4.5

As expected, this is pure brilliance. After 9 years, a lot has changed, and the maudlin of the Well have become more a mixture between their former selves and their following incantation, Kayo Dot. This makes for an infinitely amusing concoction, and while it lacks some of the energetic passion that made Bath and Leaving Your Body Map so intoxicating, it makes up for this with experimental spirit. Those expecting the same sludgy progressive/avant-garde sound of their previous works will be disappointed here, as their sound is much more tame here, but I don't see this as a band thing. Part the Second once again displays the musical genius of this outfit, and shows that they are true musicians who are driven by the yearning to create beautiful music.

Mono- Hymn to the Immortal Wind
Post-Rock
3.75

This is truly epic post-rock. While You Are There was epic enough, they've included some orchestration here, which adds another layer of texture to their already immense sound. This album progresses slowly but surely- as its predecessor did-, and while they still come off as being a bit too similar to Explosions in the Sky's better works- which can be seen as either a good thing or a bad thing-, there's no denying the emotional weight of the music presented here. Unfortunately, it drags on a bit too long for my taste, and doesn't seem quite as effective as You Are There. Nevertheless, this is a great post-rock album, and it shouldn't disappoint any fans.

Nachtmystium- Doomsday Derelicts
Black Metal
3.25

Their past two LPs have given a new dimension to the USBM scene, adding psychedelic rock- primarily in Instinct: Decay, which I see as their most accomplished effort by far- into their rawer and otherwise simplistic black metal formula. With this EP, they return to their pure black metal onslaught as seen on Demise, which means is gritty, unrefined, and somewhat catchy. It still has some of the rock-leanings of Assassins, which helps it be a bit more accessible than their early efforts. It's nothing that's incredibly innovative, but it makes for a good black metal blasting.

Nadja- When I See the Sun Always Shines on TV
Shoegaze, Drone Doom Metal
3.25

After releasing some of the most impressive drone doom albums I've had the pleasure to listen to, Nadja get down to their shoegaze roots. Yes, this album still involves their trademark heavy-as-fuck guitar drones and distortion, but here their emphasis on their shoegaze influences is undeniable- especially due to them covering tracks by My Bloody Valentine, The Cure's "Faith", and a few other notable tracks. It's certainly not as entrancing as their other albums, but it's rewarding in a different way.

Napalm Death- Time Waits for No Slave
Deathgrind, Grindcore
3.5

Napalm Death are back for another deathgrind bashing, and they certainly do not hold anything back here. It's just as crushing and aggressive as anything they've released in recent times, and while there's really nothing new presented here, it's still an ace effort.

Necrophobic- Death to All...
Blackened Death Metal, Melodic Black Metal
2.75

Necrophobic have been one of the better Dissection followers since day one, producing brilliant albums like The Nocturnal Silence and Darkside. They've remained true to their original sound since, and while that has worked for them before, Death to All marks the point where their sound has just become redundant. It's still got the same elements from their previous albums, but the production is a bit flat, and this really lets their sound down. In comparison, it sounds rather bland and uninspired. Fans might enjoy this more than I have, but I would just recommend listening to Hrimthursum or Darkside instead.

Obscura- Cosmogenesis
Technical Death Metal, Progressive Death Metal
3.5

You know, it really irks me when bands- usually metal bands- take song titles or album titles- Gorguts' Obscura, in this case- as their own band name. I understand the allure, but it tends to demean the band's potential originality. Regardless, this is rather good, albeit unoriginal, technical/prog death metal. The production is very clean, and while I would prefer their sound to be a bit heavier- the bass is a bit too low in the mix for my taste-, this fits their overall sound well. There's lots of tasty riffage and "complex" drumming, and the bass grooves in way that is reminiscent of Cynic's masterful Focus at times. Their technique is quite impressive- as to be expected from such a band-, and this album really gets better as it goes on.

Old Man's Child- Slaves of the World
Melodic Black Metal
3

Old Man's Child is one of those bands like I really am ashamed to like. Despite Galder's ridiculous theatrics, he's produced some fine melodic black metal- mainly In Defiance of Existence. Slaves of the World carries on the same sound, and while the first two tracks are almost abysmal, the rest of the album retains the epic melodies and finely-tuned production that made In Defiance of Existence so effective. This happens to be a bit too repetitive and generic in comparison, but it's a lot better than most melodic black metal out there today, and it's not the completely pathetic waste of time and effort that I thought it would be.

Pestilence- Resurrection Macabre
Death Metal, Technical Death Metal
2

2009 seems to be the year of extreme metal comebacks, and Pestilence's new album was definitely up on my list of anticipated albums. After over 15 years of silence, what the fuck happened to these guys?? Yes, they've still got some catchy yet subtly technical songwriting here, but it's a completely ordinary release. Nothing about this album is special, and thus it is a terribly boring affair. Okay, so it's not absolutely lacking in merit, as its produced well enough, and their songs are rather fun at times, but it's still terribly generic, which is a damn shame.

The Prophecy- Into the Light
Doom Metal, Death Doom Metal
4

Honestly, I don't really know what to say about this album. At first, it seemed like a fairly ordinary doom metal effort with clean vocals that almost resemble those from R.E.M. (wtf?), but, within a few more listens, I really became hooked. It's got a very unique sound, and I actually dig both the clean and harsh vocals. What else to say? I'm sure there's a lot, but all I know is that I am really enjoying this album, and the only thing keeping from me giving this a 4 is that it drags on a bit too much at times. Aside from that, I see no significant flaws.

Samael- Above
Black Metal, Industrial Metal
2.5

So, Samael are getting back to their black metal roots? In a sense, yes. Their last real black metal album was Ceremony of Opposites, which probably marked their creative peak in terms of their extreme metal period- though my favorite is easily Worship Him. While this album certainly is heavy, aggressive, and rapid enough to be classified as black metal, it seems to preoccupied with being a black metal album, rather than presenting worthwhile material. It sounds like a combination of Dimmu Borgir's past few albums- the symphonic styled riffing and keyboards in the background- with Keep of Kalessin's last album- blastbeats and vocal delivery-, which doesn't stack up to anything that impresses me. It's truly average material, and while it's certainly more crushing than anything they've released since Worship Him, it seems inconsequential in comparison to anything they've put out since.

Steve Roach- Dynamic Stillness
Ambient
4

After experimenting with his progressive electronic roots with Arc of Passion and Landmass, as well as with exploring dark ambient soundscapes with A Deeper Silence, Roach returns to more familiar territory with the aptly named Dynamic Stillness. The title is appropriate, as this album of slowly progressing and shifting atmospheres that emit a feeling of peace and stillness. It's a compelling release, as to expected from the most prolific artist in the realm of ambient music, but it's not quite as epic or diverse as I had hoped it would be.

Sepultura- A-Lex
Groove Metal
2.5

Being that this once revered metal outfit continues to follow the groove metal road they paved with Roots, this album is bound to be bashed as pathetic. Is it? Sure, it's not Beneath the Remains or Arise, but it's not meant to be, and it certainly isn't pathetic. This is groove metal done well; it has the energy, aggression, and force necessary to avoid it from being a piece of shit. Unfortunately, it doesn't have much else going on for it. I feel like I've used the word redundant far too many times in this list thus far, but it's a pretty useful word in describing A-Lex.

Spiritus Mortis- The God Behind the God
Doom Metal
3

Squarepusher- Numbers Lucent EP
IDM, Drum and Bass, Jazz Fusion
3.75

After Just a Souvenir, I was pretty sure Tom Jenkinson had run out of captivating ideas- that album just did not fit my tastes whatsoever. Numbers Lucent was exactly what I was hoping for in '08, and while he released this short-but-sweet package a few months later, the wait was well worth it. In contrast to the rather boring noodlings of his last LP, Jenkinson brings out his arsenal of the drum kit, bass guitar, and drum machine to create another intense hit of drill and bass/IDM/jazz fusion madness. Compared to his earlier works, this is fairly contained, which makes it approachable to less adapted listeners, but it still demands your full attention. Simply put, this is what I've been waiting for since Ultravisitor, and he has finally delivered.

Sunn O)))- Monoliths & Dimensions
Drone Doom Metal
3

Telefon Tel Aviv- Immolate Yourself
Synth Pop, IDM, Ambient Pop
4

Devin Townsend- Ki
Progressive Rock
3.75

Venetian Snares- Filth
Breakcore, Drill and Bass
3

Wardruna- Runaljod - gap var Ginnunga
Neofolk, Dark Ambient
4

Wine From Tears- Through the Eyes of a Mad
Death Doom Metal
3.25

Wolves in the Throne Room- Malevolent Grain EP
Atmospheric Black Metal
3.75

Wolves in the Throne Room- Black Cascade
Atmospheric Black Metal
4.25

Xasthur- All Reflections Drained
Atmospheric Black Metal, Depressive Black Metal
2.5