It is that time once again people to cast our minds
back, and digest the 16 albums that would become September’s most viewed albums
and form the basis for our sacrilegious ‘Sour 16’, the finest and most profane riffs around bundled
together into a premium sized sonic soufflé.
You
know the drill, each month; you the reader are unwittingly compiling a
list of the top 16 records that we featured in September, covering all genres
of metal. Is it not a chart, in which reviewers or contributors extol
their opinion about their favourite music. The ‘Sour 16’ are the records that have been
trending the most at 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). Worshipper - "Shadow Hymns (475)
Musically,
with this being somewhere between Black Sabbath (Dio era in particular),
Monster Magnet and anything from Witchfinder General to Angel Witch I feel that
there is something for most metal fans to enjoy here. Throughout the eights
tracks there are lots of ideas, lots of riffs and uniformly great performances
from the band. This album surprised me with its scope and approach, so please
lend your support and check Worshipper out as this is a rewarding and well
crafted album.
15). Thou - "Peasant" (2016) (536)
14) Usurpress - "The Regal Tribe" (651)
This
album is an album, in a
profound, coherent and meaningfWorshiul way. It is heavy, dripping with dynamic and
interesting, organic changes. The sound is warm but never suffocating, and it
is brutal both when holding back (“The Mortal Tribes”) and unleashing (“Behold
the Forsaken”). I hate to use the word genre-defying, but whatever fusion of
death, doom, stoner and black metal Usurpress have evolved into, it is their
voice, it is seamless and mature, and displays no sense of affectation.
13) Lesbian – “Hallucinogensis (656)
“Pyramidal
Existinctualism” sounds like Mastodon after their drinks have been spiked with
LSD and “Kosmoceratops” is epic fist-pumping thrash that takes a left turn into
weird, uncharted territory. “Labrea Borealis” and“Aquilibrium” contain more
melodic passages that expand the band’s horizons further into cinematic
grandeur before crashing back to Earth for further, wild fretboard
explorations. Overall “Hallucinogenesis”sees Lesbian achieve a perfect balance
of labyrinthine complexity and headbanging simplicity.
12). Tardive Dyskinesia - “Harmonic Confusion” (677)
From cellos to righteous crescendos, this song album plumbs the depths
of heavy prog and, weirdly, allows the listener to reach new heights as a
result. Paradoxical? Sure. Bloody invigorating? You better believe it, buddy.
10 tracks of heavy, expressive, expansive music, just waiting to show you just
how mythical Greek metal can be. Pray to the Old Gods, and seek salvation
in‘Harmonic Confusion’.
11). Brant Bjork - "Tao of the Devil" (703)
In short, “Tao of the Devil” isn’t much
different than Brant’s other albums in that it’s both a look back and a step
forward. And like his other solo albums, this one can stand alone as a prime
example of what Brant Bjork does best.
10). Asatta - "Spiralling
Into Oblivion" (768)
This
is cracking stuff and a worthy addition to the ever expanding doom canon,
"Three Dials”is Crushingly heavy and really fucking noisy, "Lapse”
features some swinging grooves to go with the slothful doom sounds, “She Died
Long Ago” is a slow trudge through the darkest of doom- and echoes Candlemass
rather than Conan in its approach. A fine debut then and an indication that
there are great things to come from Asatta, who have positioned themselves up
there with modern doom's elite.
09). Mouth of the Architect - "Gates of
Flesh" (815)
“Path
Of Eight”is a fine demonstration of a band evolving their sound without losing
sight of what made them great in the first place. Mouth of the Architect have
come into their own with this record and hopefully it will gain them some much
deserved attention.
08). Khemmis – “Hunted” (891)
Overall,
‘Hunted’ is an extremely solid follow-up to their critically acclaimed first
album. It is a melting pot of some hugely powerful styles of heavy metal music
and the flawless coalescence between cataclysmic doom and melodic prog is a
truly impressive feat. Khemmis are a band on a mission and so far, they’re
doing it all right.
07). Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard - "Y Proffwyd
Dwyll" (928)
“Y
Proffwyd Dwyll” is a celestial voyage of crushing density. “Valmasque” sets the
tone for the album, establishing a towering wall of sound built from huge
lumbering riffs, set against a backdrop of swirling space noise and sci-fi
synths that enhance their attack and swell their sound to a galactic scale.
Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard have struck gold here with their distinct brand of
spaced-out carnage.
06). Trap Them - "Crown Feral" (1035)
...the tracks
that are strong, like “Hellionaires” and “Revival Spines” in particular, really
need to be considered the best stuff Trap Them has ever written. And while
opening track “Kindred Dirt” didn't immerse me in the album in the way I'd
hoped, by the time we reach “Twitching in the Auras”,there can be no doubt that
Trap Them have made a definitive and impressive move forward on all fronts. The
sound is overall excellent. Lyrics are angry and powerful and riffs are deep
and plentiful. Strongly recommend, and an excellent reason to continue to
follow this excellent band closely.
05). Giraffe Tongue Orchestra - "Broken Line" (1362)
Giraffe Tongue
Orchestra have forged a sound that is unlike any other and more than just the
sum of all its parts. “Broken Lines” is, in all, diverse and thrilling and one
of the most unpredictable records you’ll hear all year.
04). Meshuggah - "The Violent Sleep of Reason" (1529)
Trying
to describe Meshuggah’s sound is a challenge. The only way I can put it is that
they’re a musical cascade: a never-ending barrage of sound and heaviness
pounding down upon you. Don’t expect or ballad or moments of levity here, this
is a relentless tide which you will not escape from. Tracks like
‘MonstoCity’and ‘Our Rage Won’t Die’ are pummelling tracks of new material
which can easily be slotted in to their live setlist and not seem out of place.
In fact, the same could be said for any of those songs on display here: like a
chain forged by Vulcan, there’s not a weak link present. It all hits, and hits
hard.
03). Ayahuasca – “YIN” (1631)
Throughout,
nothing ever quite sits right, like a jigsaw with a few missing pieces: The
spasmodic guitar work of ‘Dark Matter God’ is a fitting example of this. Yet
they find, upon that uncomfortable platform, a way to drill into your psyche
excellently. It may be weird, but it has an uncanny way of selling itself to
you.
02). Neurosis - "Fires Within Fires" (1674)
1). Suicdial Tendencies - "World Gone Mad"
(2363)
It flows in a virtually flawless manner and
I do believe “World Gone Mad” will be remembered as one of their best records,
ever. This one’s a home run with a bullet.
A
big thank you as always to our amazing writers, your dedication knows no
boundaries and for that I am truly grateful.
September’s “Sour 16” features reviews by: Richard Maw, Theron
Moore, Charlie Butler, Chris Bull, Victor Van Ommen, Philip Weller, Conor
O’Dea, Jake Wallace, Chris Markwell & Jay Hampshire
