2020 Metal ’n’ Heavy Rock/Heavy Music Poll: RESULTS – Top 100 Countdown

I feel like methanie and I will have much overlap in our ballots

Next up: one for teh olds.

Imago is rather quiet today, I guess he always is on the death metal section 100-11, lol

#85
Cirith Ungol – Forever Black
106 points, 3 votes

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a4223878982_10.jpg

https://cirithungol.bandcamp.com/album/forever-black

Pestilence sprays across the land from lung to lung, ignorant congregations gather and die in hordes, the populace rallies against their own public health for the sake of their slaver’s prosperity and in the sky Helios looms in preparation of his fieriest whip of summer heat to date. Churning within every mounting wave of blazon doom is a magnitude higher maelstrom of chaos descending upon Earth and we knew it was coming. We heard the evil laughter in the shadows and the night’s sky for nearly five years prior — It is no coincidence that the prophesiers of doom would return and slap hands full of painted cards across our tables each warning once again of sickness and fire, of black machines and eternal wars! Back by popular demand and nearly a full twenty nine years removed from their fourth and thought-to-be final album (‘Paradise Lost‘, 1991), the masters of metal, the heir apparent kings of the dead and undisputed Ventura, California heavy/doom metal legends Cirith Ungol arrive with a fifth and magical long-player today and I’ll be damned… ‘Forever Black’ doesn’t suck. If anything they’re heavier and more passionate on tape in their sixties than they’d been since ‘One Foot in Hell‘ (1986), it is a kingly return in trying times and a massive inspiration to all.

https://grizzlybutts.com/2020/04/22/cirith-ungol-forever-black-2020-review/

Surprised to see Spirit Adrift that low, fun trad metal record (tho I enjoyed one even more than that that I suspect is yet to come).

I'm hit or miss with 20 Buck Spin stuff, but I'm glad they are less uh, problematic, than Profound Lord. Which is a disappointment, because PL has put out some truly incredible records over the years.

Cirith Ungol album is great

Re: Cirith Ungol, I'm going to self-quote my post from the rolling 2020 thread 'cause I never got an answer to my question:

Not really feel the new Cirith Ungol – my introduction to the band, incidentally. Beyond the dilapidated vocals, the playing is too noncommittal to justify such slow tempos throughout – maybe doom metal isn't for them? There are some appropriately compelling retro guitar solos here and there, and 'Stormbringer' is a standout track, but I can't say I'm too impressed overall. How does it compare to their previous material?

Think I forgot to vote for it though

impressed that I haven't had any of my (I think) 33 votes show up yet!

2/50 of mine placed so far.

Biesy my #15. A powerhouse opening track, followed by some other really decent tracks. Love the slightly power electronics-y vibe it has sometimes.

This Ripped to Shreds is some very listenable no-nonsense old-school Swedeath-style metal. Reminds me of Interment's also very listenable 2016 album Scent of the Buried.

Loved RTS first one, and, again, in my weird selective apathy, never ventured to the second. Sheesh. Nor the new Cirith Ungol though I kinda feel like King of the Dead is as much of them as I need. Tim Baker's way of enunciating every line in exactly the same way gets a bit grating after not too long.

#84
Turia – Degen van licht
108 points, 3 votes, 1 #1 vote

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a1703939268_10.jpg

https://montturia.bandcamp.com/album/degen-van-licht

‘Atmospheric black metal’ seems to be a bit of a loaded term these days. Traditional black metal bands want nothing to do with it, that’s for sure – but even some bands that are firmly in the ‘atmospheric’ bracket seem to shy away from this term. It almost seems to be synonymous with boring, the same old minor chords backed by blast beats and drenched in too much reverb, clean sections that are too contrasting to make any sense, and pretentious lyrics that (fortunately) no one will ever understand because the vocalist sounds like a dying cat. I’m quite partial to a bit of it, personally. I love the moods, the way the chords resolve, the overall sound of it, and the emotion behind it. Turia’s Degen van Licht is a brilliant amalgamation of these elements.

The Dutch three-piece have released two full-length albums and a handful of splits since their inception in 2014. Degen van Licht is their third studio album; the title translates to ‘sword of light’ – not really my cup of tea when it comes to album names or imagery, but this review isn’t based on that. The music is exactly my cup of tea, and that’s much more important. I’ve written about quite a few black metal releases recently, and so I was wanting to stay away from them for a bit. However, I’ve felt myself very drawn to this kind of music in the last while, and as soon as I heard the opening moments of Degen van Licht, I remembered why. The intro track, a minute and a half of guitar textures and grandiose reverb, transported me straight into a world of snow and stars, the guitars so glassy, sometimes hanging suspended like a cloud of breath, later screaming, a saw across ice. It sets the tone wonderfully for the rest of the album.

https://everythingisnoise.net/reviews/turia-degen-van-licht/

Imago is rather quiet today, I guess he always is on the death metal section 100-11, lol

― Oor Neechy, Monday, 8 March 2021 20:11 (twenty-nine minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

just not rly a fan of things that rip or slam

Guess I'm alone on this one, as it was my #1 and the metal record I listened to the most last year. Atmoblack with a yen for beauty is my kryptonite.

xp

It's a fairly subtle album, however. I found it slightly disappointing at first compared to their split with Fluisteraars, but it slowly but surely won me over in the end.

Gotta listen to this. I loved the new Fluisteraars.

The Dutch know how to make classy BM.

The Turia was great. One of my bandcamp purchases last year

Next up: yet another tie as Tie Day draws to a close.

Vile Creature have the best website in metal btw: http://www.vilecreature.net/

#82 TIE
Regarde les hommes tomber – Ascension
109 points, 3 votes

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a1077738278_10.jpg

https://regardeleshommestomber.bandcamp.com/album/ascension

Those in the know about French black metal are very aware of Regarde Les Hommes Tomber. They are without a doubt one of the most interesting groups to emerge from the country’s vast black metal underground. With their first full length in five years, they have come to silence all those who may have doubted them. Their latest offering, the spine-tingling Ascension, is a fitting addition to the band’s legacy and a clear next step in their trajectory.  Regarde Les Hommes Tomber craft a unique brand of black metal that relies on vast atmospheres. These are brought on by searing guitars and punishing blast beats. Ultimately, Ascension is more of a sonic experience than a collection of songs. The all-encompassing nature of the record makes it an early contender for 2020’s black metal album of the year. For their Season Of Mist debut, Regarde Les Hommes Tomber have unapologetically pulled out all the stops.

The most promising aspect of Ascension is that it shows how much the band has grown. "Stellar Cross" shows some of the band’s most dynamic work to date. The acoustic intro and open-throated moans that define the track are mesmerizing. The production has clearly also taken a huge leap forward, with the potent interlude, "La Tentation," perhaps serving as a standout example. Meanwhile, tracks like "A New Order" really stay true to the band’s traditional fare of ‘wall of sound black metal’. These precisely composed blasphemous screeds promise to be the stuff of legends and of course, countless year-end lists.

https://metalinjection.net/reviews/regarde-les-hommes-tomber-ascension

#82 TIE
Angel Morgue – In the Morgue of Angels
109 points, 3 votes

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2844519188_10.jpg

https://angelmorgue-us.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-morgue-of-angels

Blasphemy and rotten, cavernous death metal are Angel Morgue‘s specialties on debut album In the Morgue of Angels. The death metal on display is primitive and effective—everything from the riffs to the vocals to the impressive drumming to the production to the song titles sounds like it was dug out of a crypt.

Fortunately, that crypt contained an impressive death metal album. From the Immolation-esque “Raped in Church (Touched by God)” to the neck-snapping “Cosmic Torment” and titular closer, Angel Morgue juggle fast and slow tempos, never giving too much of one or the other. There are plenty of sonic similarities to Immolation, Autopsy and early Outer Heaven, and the song titles would bring a smile to Glen Benton’s face.

At a lean eight songs, everything about In the Morgue of Angels feels inspired by a time gone by, adapted for 2020.

https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2020/08/03/full-album-stream-angel-morgue-in-the-morgue-of-angels/

I really enjoyed the Regarde les hommes tomber, I just found it a bit less than consistent than I would have liked. I need to check out their first couple of LPs.

Regarde les hommes tomber – Ascension is one of my votes and I say

TOO LOW

And I'm very happy to see some of you liked the Angel Morgue enough to vote for it. No frills DM with an onslaught of riffs.

Angel Morgue ended up quite high on my ballot. Campaigning works! Every year there's at least one great Name Your Price steal that makes the poll and this year it's this.

Last one for today coming up in a bit.

#81
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – Viscerals
110 points, 4 votes

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2969374032_10.jpg

https://pigspigspigspigspigspigspigs.bandcamp.com/album/viscerals

If ever an album title summed up its contents—not to mention the intentions of its creators—look no further than here. Viscerals documents the next stage in Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs’ unrelenting story. The album is a statement of intent that continues their sense bludgeoning amalgamation of metal, punk, and experimental noise at its most brutal. 

Since their debut Feed the Rats appeared three years ago, the band have steadily amassed a loyal following that’s seen them welcomed with open arms by the metal and psych rock communities. Which probably explains why parts of this record owe as much to riff behemoths Sleep and The Melvins while the rest could easily be mistaken for Hawkwind, Sonic Youth, or Edgar Broughton Band. 

While lead single “Reducer” and album midpoint “World Crust” represent arguably their most accessible pieces of music to date—from the perspective of radio friendliness at any rate—gargantuan riffathon “Halloween Bolson” and its heavy-duty cousin “New Body” find Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs at their ferocious best.

http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/pigs_pigs_pigs_pigs_pigs_pigs_pigs_viscerals/

Not familiar with these guys but that description is intriguing.

New rule: any weirdo black metal album with bright primary colors on the cover, somebody has to tell me. This is really good. (the Biesy)

good album

:D

Pigs x7 are the backing band on one of the greatest albums of the past 20 years but their own stuff has never quite grabbed me. Maybe this one might?

Spotify Results playlist

So far, so good:

101. Primitive Man – Immersion
100. Atramentus – Stygian
99. Undergang – Aldrig i livet
98. Dan Weiss/Starebaby – Natural Selection
95 TIE. Worm – Gloomlord
95 TIE. Ulthar – Providence
95 TIE. Vile Creature – Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm!
93 TIE. VoidCeremony – Entropic Reflections Continuum: Dimensional Unravel
93 TIE. Bell Witch & Aerial Ruin – Stygian Bough Volume I
92. Lamp of Murmuur – Heir of Ecliptical Romanticism
91. Okkultokrati – La ilden lyse
90. Horisont – Sudden Death
89. Skeletal Remains – The Entombment of Chaos
87 TIE. Spirit Adrift – Enlightened in Eternity
87 TIE. Biesy – Transsatanizm
86. Ripped to Shreds – Luan
85. Cirith Ungol – Forever Black
84. Turia – Degen van licht
82 TIE. Regarde les hommes tomber – Ascension
82 TIE. Angel Morgue – In the Morgue of Angels
81. Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – Viscerals

'backing band' is a bit much actually. A couple of them were heavily involved in the making of Peasant by Richard Dawson :)

Vile Creature have the best website in metal btw: http://www.vilecreature.net/

Wow, you were not joking. <3

Seriously.

*doot doot*

damn, that website does rule, now I will check that album out even though the worm mouth cover always put me off before.

I avoided Pigsx7 for a long time because of the name, this was the first record of theirs I'd heard and I loved it. Right up my alley.

Thanks for all the work, pom. This is really fun so far.

My pleasure!

drat, forgot to vote for the ripped to shreds!

gotta get around to that undergang already!

skeletal remains was the only one I've voted for so far, def a workmanlike take on the genre

Slim pickings for me today, though that might mean that a lot of my ballot's to come. Biesy is the one I'm most likely to return to see if I've missed something.

Hopefully we've gotten awful cover day out the way, but this is metal after all

Have you sampled the Dan Weiss/Starebaby, uug?

No, I admit that instrumental metal played by jazz dudes isn't really what I'm looking for these days, but I guess I'll give it a shot

VoidCeremony pleasantly surprising me

The Angel Morgue record both ripped and slammed. I didn't realize it was a free download.