Yes, it is that time again O ye lover of riffs, “The
Sour 16” returns. 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 The Sludgelord Headquarters.
The results are compiled based on page views alone
and calibrated into the list below. 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).
Deadwound - "Identity
Shapes" (533)
The South-West London quintet deal in a compellingly nasty blend of
filthy sludge riffs, jarring discordance and searing bursts of d-beat fury.
Tracks like “Crucifixed” and the crushing dirge of “Witch” come out of the
blocks like “Remission” era Mastodon locked in a sweaty basement with His Hero
Is Gone. The band deliver twenty minutes of exhilarating noise that
is equal parts barbed complexity and raw simplicity.
15).
Benighted - "Necrobreed"
(556)
Benighted are the equivalent of a gargantuan, hyperactive
monstrosity, hybridizing the manic-spastic energy of a joyous slasher rampage
with the gurgling insanity of some cthonic abomination.
14).
Power Trip - "Nightmare
Logic" (557)
All in all, you would be pressed to find a weak link in “Nightmare
Logic”'s sound or mix. It's a pinnacle album for those who need their metal
fast, violent, and up in their face like a full scale riot.
13).Stinking Lizaveta - "Journey
to the Underworld" (558)
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.
12).
Hey Satan! - "Hey
Satan!" (617)
Overall this is a very impressive debut by
very talented musicians. Superb songwriting and extremely catchy
rock and roll filled with dueling fuzzed out guitars, loud drums and a dynamic
singer.
11).
Rezn - "Let It
Burn" (630)
REZN relies on hefty passages of music but
the key to the band’s sound is how they combine this heft with a droning
melody. Imagine Velvet Underground wrapped up in a Mars Red Sky jacket and
you’ll understand why these Chicago boys are worth your
attention. This is a gem of a debut and albums of this quality don’t
come around very often
10).
Ghastly Sound - "Ghastly
Sound" (EP) (646)
The Worst” sounds like Torche playing Truckfighters with the ghost
of Dio on vocals while “Where The Ghosts Hide” and “Cape Buffalo” bring to mind
Big Business indulging in secret stadium rock fantasies with hints of the
Deftones in the melodic choruses given free reign with vocalist Tyler Gurwicz
doing his best Chino Moreno impression over foundation-shaking riffs. This
EP is a tantalising glimpse of what Ghastly Sound has to offer. Hopefully it
won’t be long before they return to show what fist-pumping destruction they are
capable of over the course of an LP.
09). Thorr-Axe / Archarus - "The
Hobbit" (Split) (678)
From deep within the fires of Mt. Doom comes
one of the best releases of 2017 – a Tolkien-themed split from Indiana riff-smiths
Archarus and Thorr-Axe. It spans the whole spectrum that stoner/doom
metal has to offer, with each track bringing a fresh sound to the table.
08).
Telepathy - "Tempest"
(704)
A monsoon of riffs, from slow, knuckle-dragging doom moments to the
calculated chaos of Mastodon, spinning on a huge axis with their long, winding
loops, this album it hits you like a drug, freewheeling into your body.
07).
In The Company of Serpents - “Ain-Soph Aur” (714)
“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.
06).
Hyenas - "Deadweights"
(768)
Deadweights” is an exciting opening salvo from Hyenas, it is an
exhilarating hit of chaotic hardcore, metal fury and punk’n’roll that takes me
back to the early to mid-2000s
05).Obituary - "Obituary"
(971)
Obituary haven't sounded this deadly and taut for a long, long time,
this is even better than “Inked In Blood”- itself an impressive record, A
unique band in the genre. Obituary have always stood apart from
other death metal bands. They now stand above them again, too, because this is
a death metal tour de force
04).
Fen - "Winter"
(987)
When this album is on fire, which is often, it’s absolutely some of
the best atmospheric black metal you’ll hear this year. While the build to
those big moments can be over-stretched, the payoff is absolutely worth the
wait. But even when accounting for its biggest flaw, I believe that
‘Winter’ will end up as one of the year's best albums. There’s simply too much
fantastic material here to be denied.
03).
Dopelord - "Children
of the Haze" (1329)
“Children of the Haze” is defined by loose grooves, ghoulish riffing
and a very vintage sense of wickedness. Dopelord prove that, unlike many other
stoner metal bands, they are not content to just create the same song several
times over and call it an album.
02).
Hour Of Penance - "Cast the First Stone" (1399)
01).
Pallbearer - "Heartless" (1642)
“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.
A big thank you as always to our amazing writers, your
dedication knows no boundaries and for that I am truly grateful. March’s “Sour
16” features reviews by: Richard Maw, Theron Moore, Charlie Butler, Phil Weller, Victor Van Ommen, Jay Keche, Ben Fitts, Daniel Jackson, Michael Pagos, Hunter Young & Conor O’Dea
