25.
Kenoma – “The Tides
Will Prevail”
Kenoma are firmly focused
on the metal side of the post-metal equation for the most part of “The Tides
Will Prevail” and manage to create huge, enveloping sound constructions reliant
on intricate interlocking guitar parts rather than a phalanx of effects pedals.
The albums extended gestation period has produced an absorbing set of finely
honed post-metal behemoths.
24.
No Funeral / Livid – “Split”
The combination of these
two bands on one mammoth slab of wax is a marriage made in hell. No Funeral and
Livid are definitely acts to check out now if you like it slow, heavy and
desolate.
23.
Aseethe – “Hopes of
Failure”
“Hopes of Failure” is sparse and minimal yet packed with detail and intricacies, like Yob and Unearthly Trance stripped of their psychedelic tendencies to let the raw oppressive riffs do the talking. Aseethe have crafted a slow-burning masterpiece that reveals more with each listen. Every spin increases the pull of its hypnotic spell and leaves you with no option but to submit to its crushing power.
22.
War Brides – “Regrets”
Chicago bruisers War
Brides raid the vaults of the noise rock greats to create a compellingly ugly
debut LP in the shape of “Regrets”. It is a quick and dirty shot of addictive
mayhem, channelling the nastiness of its influences to fine effect and offers
hints of evolution into a stranger beast over the course of future releases.
21.
Space Witch – “Arcanum”
The band still sound like
a collaboration between Bongripper, Hawkwind and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
to create the ultimate sci-fi B-movie soundtrack, but this latest
release sees them develop their cosmic barrage further out into the void., they
showcase a leaner, meaner Space Witch that still push the boundaries of
heaviness but with a more streamlined attack.
20.
Norska – “Too Many
Winters”
“Too Many Winters” is a
captivating collection of powerful doom steeped in Norska’s unorthodox and
compelling personality.
19.
Stinking Lizaveta – “Journey
to the Underworld”
Stinking Lizaveta’s new
album “Journey to the Underworld” finds the band in deadly form, crafting music
that is seriously weird and complex yet still delivers an addictive riff high.
18.
Divide and Dissolve – “Basic”
Divide and Dissolve in
full flow is like a huge slab of noise reminiscent of UK low-end
warriors Bismuth and the sadly departed Palehorse. The band’s
distinct racket is simultaneously skeletal and super dense, with most of the
tracks consisting of slow-motion pounding drums and an oppressive wall of
discordant distortion. “Basic” is a powerful record in every sense.
17.
The Oxford Coma – “Everything
Out Of Tune”
“Everything Out Of
Tune” is a breath of fresh air at a time when heavy music is becoming ever more
reliant on recreation of past glories. The Oxford Coma delivers a welcome blast
of vital strangeness while still riffing harder than most of their peers.
16.
Wren – “Auburn Rule”
15. Helpless – “Debt”
Every track on “Debt” is
imbued with a captivating air of spontaneity and weirdness, delivered with a
terrifying level of intensity.
14.
Cranial – “Dark
Towers Bright Lights”
Cranial have honed their
Earth-shattering attack to razor-sharp perfection and expand the scope of their
music to galactic levels of grandeur. The band are a relentless riff
engine, churning out a constant flow of thick sludge, like Neurosis channelling
the almighty crunch of early Mastodon. “Dark Towers / Bright
Lights” does not break down any musical barriers but it is poised to blow your
mind with its dark intensity.
13. Grizzlor – “Destructoid”
“Destructoid” is a
record that fully lives up to its title. Grizzlor have served up a sumptuous platter
of riffs that effortlessly lays waste to the opposition.
12.
Coltsblood – “Ascending
into Shimmering Darkness”
Coltsblood refine their
unique brand of bleak, bludgeoning doom to punishing effect on “Ascending Into
Shimmering Darkness”. This is a mighty collection that marks out the band as
one of the most underrated heavy acts in the world.
11.
Cloud Rat / Disrotted – “Split”
This is an awe-inspiring release from two incredible bands who can seemingly do no wrong at the moment and continue to deliver an embarrassment of heavy riches in 2017.
10. Hark – “Machinations”
9.
Friendship – “Hatred”
8.
Drunk In Hell – “s/t”
Drunk In Hell have
delivered what is easily the most horrible release of 2017. Seven years of
accrued filth and sludge has never sounded so good.
7.
Unsane – “Sterilize”
This is a flawless
collection of bile-soaked missives that set the standard for riff-heavy, ugly
noise rock in 2017
6.
The Ditch and The Delta – “Hives In Decline”
The Ditch and The Delta’s
sound is a killer blend of fret-mangling math rock and stoner doom aggression.
They strike a perfect balance between complexity, melody and no-nonsense gnarly
heaviness.
5. Cloud Rat / Moloch -
“Split”
4. In The Company Of Serpents – “Ain Soph Aur”
“Ain-Soph Aur” is a
heavy experience on all levels. The band have dialled back the volume and
slowed the tempo from previous releases which has unexpectedly resulted in
increased impact. This album is towering achievement from In The
Company Of Serpents. It is a fine addition to an already distinguished
discography and an inspiring work that sets the standard for heavy music in
2017.
3.
Pallbearer – “Heartless”
“Heartless” is an incredible
achievement from Pallbearer, a set of huge songs that consolidate the best
elements of their previous releases while moving into fresh sonic territory.
This is the album that should see the band make the transition into
stadium-bothering all-time greats, and deservedly so.
2.
Boris – “Dear”
From
the opening track, “D.O.W.N. –Domination of Waiting Noise–“, Boris conveys
punishing volume so effectively that your ears will ache at practically any
level. Every note and every layered vocal has been obsessed over, placed
perfectly in the mix, and acts as a distillation of twenty-five years of
intense collaborative synthesis.
1.
Converge – “The Dusk
In Us”
Today, with random acts of violence, anger and
pessimism dotting our timelines, maybe Converge just now seems like a
soundtrack to our contemporary apocalypse
