By: Aaron Pickford
As
I reflect incredulously upon 2016 so far, the first six months has seen writers
and contributors come and go, there have been marriages, house extensions and new
children, so it continues to confound my expectations that The Sludgelord exists at all,
let alone being able to reflect upon six months worth of albums.
2016
is like any other, we predict this year’s releases will not top the last, but
invariably we are proven wrong, there
have been highlights and disappointments, shocks and surprises, and as we
approach the second week of July, we’ll continue to separate the good, from the
bad and the ugly. But today we reflect
upon the 16 most popular records at The Sludgelord so far in 2016.
This
list does not reflect the contributors own tastes, rather they are articles
that have received the most clicks,
therefore by virtue of that, you could argue they’re the most popular (it’s a
pretty loose hypotheses I know, but we wanted the list to reflect your tastes
not ours). The fact that the albums
cover a variety of genres is indicative of how the site has grown and is central
to the philosophy we promote, which is to review albums we like, not solely on
the basis of genre.
The
albums compiled in this list may not specifically be doom or sludge, but they
are great albums nonetheless. The results are compiled based on page views
alone and all reviews can be viewed by clicking the artwork and we have
included album streams wherever possible. (Total views since their publication
are highlighted in red)
16). Bedowyn – “Blood of the Fall” (922)
While the
overall sound is pretty weighty, this is not as aggressive as the likes of the
High on Fire; Bedowyn cover more of a middle ground. This is eminently
listenable and surprisingly accessible stuff. “Cotards Blade” is a good example of the overall sound; riffs,
elements of traditional metal, some time changes and definitely metal drumming
(not rock, as it were) but it won't take your head off. “Blood Of The Fall” is
a fine independent release by Bedowyn and a worthy addition to the stoner
doom/heavy metal canon. Support the band and check it out.
15). Oranssi Pazuzu – “Värähtelijä’” (932)
Taking the album “as is”, ‘Värähtelijä’ contains flashes of
brilliance, plenty of greatness, but a general need to be a bit more concise
and efficient. It’s not every idea that deserves five minutes of exploration.
In fact, very few ideas deserve that kind of focused repetition. Still, there’s
no doubting that Oranssi Pazuzu are one of the few truly unique metal bands
going in 2016, and that counts for a lot
14). Churchburn & Opium Lord - “Churchburn/Opium
Lord” (937)
Like a swift
punch to the throat, this split by Pawtucket ,Rhode Island Atlantic by DG Records, this release packs enough of a
wallop to take down a herd of elephants.
13). Goya – “The Enemy” (977)
The buzz saw
grind that so powerfully embodies Goya is, on this four track EP, infested with
a horripulation that sees the Arizona three-piece sounding creepier and more
terrifying than ever before.
12). Lord Mantis – “NTW” (999)
'NTW' or 'Nice
Teeth Whore' is classic Lord Mantis.
11). The Body – “No One Deserves Happiness” (1147)
Horns swell as dim, low riffs wash over your mind, drums vacillate
between cold sweetness and strong blows and the stage of chaos is set by the
high screaming voice of unreason, formless yet voluminous and constant. Static
whispers through grating frequencies and primal percussion, augmented by
surprising claps and snaps, urges the dance of a readied, warring people. The
Body’s latest is an opus to ecstatic agony redolent of SWANS and Neurosis’
output. If no one deserves happiness, I suggest here that it is earned.
10). Borknagar – “Winter Thrice" (1151)
Even though ‘Winter
Thrice’ is firmly rooted in the present sound, I’d strongly argue that this is
the best iteration of their established prog rock-obsessed extreme metal sound
to date. The songwriting is the strongest it’s been since ‘Empiricism’, and the
album sounds absolutely fantastic from a production standpoint. Vintersorg
should also be commended for turning in his best vocal performance to date,
which comes from someone who has been a diehard ICS Vortex devotee when it
comes to Borknagar’s vocalists. It helps that the music behind him lends itself
to his strengths, driven by big, ringing chords and some delicious guitar leads.
09). Its Not Night: Its Space – “Our Birth Is But A
Sleep And A Forgetting” (1304)
No vocals, just a lot of stoned, smoky repetition that is equally
spiritual as it is absolutely mind blowing.
08). Boss Keloid - “Herb Your Enthusiasm” (1490)
Herb Your
Enthusiasm” is a powerfully elegant dirge. It’s masterfully produced with
guitar tones that have their own suffocating gravitational pull, a comatose
rhythm section that rumbles like the uneasy shifting of tectonic plates and
Alex Hurst’s air raid siren howls all coming together to sound simply
imperious. There’s an elevation to it, an otherworldliness and a freshness that
wrestles with the aesthetics of the influences that shape their wide open sound
that reeks of individualism. And it is upon that identity that they are forging
their way to becoming something far greater than just another sludge band.
Stand up. Pay attention. Boss Keloid are the pinnacle of the sludge movement
right now.
07). Budgie – “The MCA Albums 173 - 1975” (1502)
These reissues
should be picked up by anyone with an interest in the era, the growth of
the“heavy” genre and by anyone looking for some quality hard rock, played well,
by great musicians. Lars Ulrich is no Pete Boot or Steve Williams (who play
solidly and professionally on the albums re-packaged here), but he knew a tune
when he heard one, all those years ago
06). Criminal – “Fear Itself” (1556)
Quite simply, this is the best thrash record I have heard yet this year
and may well remain so. It edges towards death metal (in the same manner that
the Seps' early work does) but this is just vicious stuff. This type of album
is why I first started listening to thrash and extreme metal. The sound and the
fury. Dios mio! What a fantastic album from a band playing with fire and
passion.
05). Dunsmuir – “Dunsmuir” (1637)
Dunsmuir,
manages the uncanny trick of amounting to the sum of its parts. The record's
players have some serious pedigree and none if it is wasted. Vinny Appice is as
powerful as ever, with a beastly snare sound, while Bone and Davis
04). Conan - “Revengeance”
(1700)
The song 'Every
Man Is An Enemy' has one of the most metal sounding titles I've ever heard and
the violent intentions inherent in the brooding, bruising riffs put the bands
money where its snarling mouth is. 'Earthenguard', the final track of the 6 on
offer, is a song so heavy it has its own gravitational pull. Its 12 minutes of
neanderthalic doom which also swims and swirls thanks to the phased guitars.
It's an odyssey, a massive trek through mountainous chops and pounding beats
that are designed to systematically cave your head in. Have Conan outdone themselves?
Quite possibly.
03). Gojira – “Magma” (2030)
‘Magma’ is a record that envelopes you with its overtly dark drama,
but within its haze, its crushing catharcism makes it one of the most special
metal records to be released in some time. It may not be the relentless assault
many fans wanted from the album – and that’s not to say it is barren of those
moments – yet, as a vehicle for emotional cleansing, as a eulogy and an
obituary for a woman who shaped the personalities that drive this act, it is
staggering.
02). Blood Ceremony – “Lord of Misrule” (3722)
If you are new
to Blood Ceremony, this album is as fine a place to start as any. If you have
heard any of their previous albums and enjoyed them, your enjoyment of this one
is guaranteed. This is as good an example as any of a band looking to the past
both in terms of musical and folklore tradition to create fantastical and
occult inspired music.
01). Megadeth - "Dystopia" (5903)
This line-up has
introduced itself with a battering ram of thrash utopia; the riffs, the fury
and the sizzling lead playing present here stands toe-to-toe with the bands
best 21st century output. It’s a record which accentuates the bands
relevancy in 2016. Masters of their trade just listen to ‘Lying In State’ and
tell me they can’t smash shit up with the best of them. They continue to
release music and make the effort to give more content for their fans to
consume. Not many other bands their age can say that.
