With English winter ending in July and commencing again
in August, the summer as we know
it, is over! Now as we enter September, the
sunshine may waver, but one constant source of light, is the inspiring music we
embrace and celebrate.
Mike
Patton once said “what
a day, when you can look it in the face and hold your vomit,” So to make things
a little more bearable, allow yourself to indulge in a hefty dose of medicine, because
it is time to present 16 of the best albums from August, it is time for your SOUR 16.
You know the
drill by now, each month you the
reader are unwittingly compiling a list of the top 16 records of the month,
covering all genres of metal. Is it not a chart, in which reviewers or
contributors extol their opinion about their favourite music. To put it
simply, THE SOUR 16 are the
records that have been trending the most at SLUDGELORD HQ.
The results
are compiled based upon the amount of page views the reviews have received and
are then calibrated into the list below.
16). Cult of Erinyes - ‘Tiberivs’ (387)
In short,
‘Tiberivs’ is fully realized and wonderfully executed. Any black metal fans
sleeping on this album are doing themselves a real disservice.
15). Mudbath -
"Brine Pool" (397)
While
firmly a doom metal group, Mudbath is not afraid to introduce different
elements. With a shrieking vocal approach reminiscent of black metal and
flourishes you might otherwise associate with drone, Mudbath manages to make it
work.
14). Dead Cross - "Dead Cross" (405)
While Dead Cross don’t quite deliver
the all-out face-melting insanity you may expect from their constituent parts,
this debut is still an exhilarating burst of queasy punk rock mayhem that
reminds most young pretenders who’s in charge.
13). Timeworn - "Venomous High" (408)
Some of the most engaging moments on
“Venomous High” come when Timeworn move slightly away from their core
sound. “All Chiefs” finds the band at their most unhinged as they unleash
an arsenal of spidery math-metal riffs with breakneck rock’n’roll abandon.
Anyone missing Swiss behemoths Kruger will find a lot to enjoy in this killer
track. “Venomous High” is a fine offering from Timeworn that takes an
array of well-worn modern metal influences
and blows them up on a grand scale.
12). Nidingr - "The
High Heat Licks Against Heaven" (414)
Given the
amount of average extreme music that is available, Nidingr’s release is
outstanding for such depth alone.
11). Geezer - “Psychoriffadelia” (424)
Guttural
guitars and raunchy drums at the ready. Geezer delivers the intensity of the
Melvins, one of the group's inspirations, while giving its own unique spin to
stoner rock. While many others try, this is one band that is confident enough
to step out and truly make this sound their own.
10). Sunrot - "Sunnata"
(480)
Those who
take the plunge into “Sunnata” will still be blown away by the fierce musical
skill, emotional honesty, and undeniable potential of Sunrot. Their truly exceptional full-length debut has
set a high benchmark that, one hopes, is only the opening chapter of a lengthy,
groundbreaking career.
9). Below The Sun - "Alien World" (533)
What you
get is nothing short of spectacular. The soundscape intersects multiple metal
subgenres, including funeral doom, black metal, drone and post metal. Moods
throughout are bleak, as if the rumbling seas of Solaris are flicking gently at
your mind and bouncing your hopes and fears to and fro.
8). Blues Funeral - "Awakening" (624)
Close your
eyes and you can hear hints of Mountain and Blue Oyster Cult throughout
"Awakening." The rolling title track is a true showcase for how these
inspirations have shaped the Texas
7). Red Mountains
...it is
so refreshing to find a release that is all at once heavy, accessible and
frankly beautiful in its construction.
6). Ledge
- "Cold Hard Concrete" (700)
“Cold Hard
Concrete" is that uneasy masterpiece you will value even more by year's
end.
5). Pyrrhon - "What Passes for Survival" (796)
"What
Passes for Survival" is an uncompromising album and you will learn that
fast, right out of the gate. It is impossible to listen to Pyrrhon's
magnificent new release, without admiring the band's fearlessness and technical
prowess. This album is exactly what extreme metal doubters need to hear.
4). Weed Demon - "Astrological Passages" (1040)
Weed Demon
is quite willing to show they can do a diverse attack that goes beyond a
Melvins-ish crunch. It can definitely throttle you with heavy, sludged out
guitars and drums. Yet, as you find on "Primordial Genocide" and
elsewhere, Weed Demon can go from blasting to burrowing with its arrangements,
zipping from fast to slow, metal to a variation on math rock, smoothly.
Although
you'll not find a swerve or anything wildly disparate, Devil Electric is
nonetheless entrancing. In particular, the group is guaranteed to energize any
fan of heavy blues reminiscent of Black Sabbath, The Allman Brothers and
similar bands.
2). Venom Inc. - “Avé” (1128)
This record, is a triumph. Venom Inc.
have produced a record more than worthy of the Venom name and it contains some
of the best and most “Venom” moments since the early 80's. I cannot praise or
recommend this record enough to fans of Venom or just metal in general. The
songs, performances and production all deliver.
1). Accept - "The Rise Of Chaos" (1407)
“The Rise of Chaos” is precise,
prescient, presented superbly in terms of artwork and production and, more
importantly, rocks as hard as anything I have heard this year. A tour de force.
A big thank you as always to our amazing writers, your dedication knows no boundaries and for that I am truly grateful. August 2017’s SOUR 16 features reviews by: Richard Maw, Daniel Jackson, Charlie Butler, Mark Ambrose, Mark Tremblay & Ernesto Aguilar
