Autothrall's Quarter Century Qualifiers 2025

 

AUTOTHRALL'S AVIAN FLU ANTICIPATORY ALBUM EXHIBITION

I've got a top 100 metal albums of 2024 and another 100 backup albums for 2024 posted over at my RYM page, so there's much fun to be had! But ultimately...

 My Top 24 Metal Albums of '24

AUTOTHRALL'S ANNUAL ANNULMENT

If you're seeking a much longer list of great releases in 2023, check out my top 100 metal albums for 2003 list over at my Rate Your Music Page. If you want even more, there's a backup list with another 100 that includes a few of the EPs, but not necessarily the same ones I've listed below. As for an actual ranked list of my top 23 for '23, here goes nothing.

My Top 23 Metal Albums of 2023

01. Malokarpatan (Sk) - Vertumnus Caesar (98)

02. Dodheimsgard (No) - Black Medium Current (95)

03. Flight (No) - Echoes of Journeys Past (93)

04. Hexvessel (Fi) - Polar Veil (92)

05. Kvelertak (No) - Endling (92)

06. Taake (No) - Et hav av avstand (90)

07. Wyrgher (Ch) - Panspermic Warlords (90)

08. Vertebra Atlantis (It) - A Dialogue with the Eeriest Sublime (90)

09. Primordial (Ie) - How It Ends (90)

10. Thantifaxath (US) - Hive Mind Necrosis (90)

11. Wayfarer (US) - American Gothic (90)

12. Cirith Ungol (US) - Dark Parade (90)

13. Valdrin (US) - Throne of the Lunar Soul (90)

14. Hellripper (UK) - Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags (90)

15. Fortíð (Is) - Narkissos (88)

16. Blut Aus Nord (Fr) - Disharmonium - Nahab (88)

17. Shining (Se) - Shining (88)

18. Incantation (US) - Unholy Deification (88)

19. Mortuary Drape (It) - Black Mirror (88)

20. Cruel Force (De) - Dawn of the Axe (88)

21. Enslaved (No) - Heimdal (88)

22. At the Altar of the Horned God (Es) - Heart of Silence (87)

23. Green Lung (UK) - This Heathen Land (87)

My Top 23 Metal EPs, Demos and Splits of 2023

01. Lunar Chamber (US) - Shambhallic Vibrations (83)

02. Undergang (Dk) - De syv stadier af ford​æ​rv (83)

03. Tribulation (Se) - Hamartia (83)

04. StarGazer (Au) - Bound by Spells (83)

05. Rites of Tara (Ca) - To the Otherworld of Silver (82)

06. Dream Unending (US)/Worm (US) - Starpath (82)

07. Carathis (At) - The Haunting of Sablewood (82)

08. Ihsahn (No) - Fascination Street Sessions (80)

09. Desekryptor (US) - Curse of the Execrated (80)

10. Amethyst (Ch) - Rock Knights (80)

11. Exhumed (US) - Beyond the Dead (80)

12. Norrhem (Fi)/Sielunvihollinen (Fi) - Split (80)

13. Stangarigel (Sk) - Metafyzika barbarstva (80)

14. Hyrgal (Fr) - Session Fun​é​raire Anno MMXXIII (80)

15. Fluisteraars (Nl) - De Kronieken van het Verdwenen Kasteel I: Harslo (80) and De Kronieken van het Verdwenen Kasteel II: Nergena (80)

16. Sign of Evil (Cl) - Psychodelic Visions (80)

17. Pestifer (Be) - Defeat of the Nemesis (80)

18. Arstidir Lifsins (Is) - Hermalausaz (80)

19. Hænesy (Hu)/Autumn Nostalgie (Sk) - Awaking Mechanon (80)

20. Worm Altar (US) - Astral Scourge (80)

21. Necrovation (Se) - Storm the Void/Starving Grave (78)

22. Abigail (Jp)/Nekrofilth (US) - Fuck in Hells Evil Bitches (77)

23. Undergang (Dk)/Spectral Voice (US) - Split (77)

Heading to Summerisle!

Off on my usual summer vacation, stay tuned for October when I'll be back with some spooky metal reviews! OoOoOoOoO or whatever the spirits do. - autothrall

AUTOTHRALL'S YEAR END INFLUENZA BLOWOUT

As usual, a much larger list of my top 100 metal albums for 2022 is up over at my Rate Your Music page, and if that's not enough, here's the backup list with another 100 albums I really dug, including some of my favorite EPs and such. But below are my hierarchical top 22 for 2022 in both the full-length and EP/demo/split categories.



My Top 22 Metal Albums of 2022

01. Scalpture (De) - Feldwärts (98)

02. Voivod (Ca) - Synchro Anarchy (98)

03. Negative Plane (US) - The Pact (97)
04. Hammers of Misfortune (US) - Overtaker (95)

05. Blind Guardian (De) - The God Machine (95)

06. Deströyer 666 (Au) - Never Surrender (95)
07. Predatory Light (US) - Death and the Twilight Hours (93)
08. Messa (It) - Close (92)
09. Haunter (US) - Discarnate Ails (90)

10. Doldrum (US) - The Knocking... (90)*

11. Darkthrone (No) - Astral Fortress (90)
12. Satan (UK) - Earth Infernal (90)

13. Cosmic Putrefaction (It) - Crepuscular Dirge for the Blessed Ones (90)

14. Immolation (US) - Acts of God (90)

15. Final Light (Inter) - Final Light (90)
16. Gutvoid (Ca) - Durance of Lightless Horizons (90)

17. Heaving Earth (Cz) - Darkness of God (90)
18. Blut Aus Nord (Fr) - Disharmonium - Undreamable Abysses (90)

19. Dreadnought (US) - The Endless (88)

20. Mortuous (US) - Upon Desolation (88)
21. Daeva (US) - Through Sheer Will and Black Magick (88)

22. High Command (US) - Eclipse of the Dual Moons (88)

* Sadly, no CD for this one. Pretty please?!

My Top 22 Metal EPs, Demos and Splits of 2022

01. Plasmodulated (US) - Plasmodulated (92)
02. Death Breath (Se) - The Old Hag (90)
03. VoidCeremony (US) - At the Periphery of Human Realms (90)
04. Ekstasis (US) - Paralyzing Impermanence (90)
05. Deathfiend (UK) - Beyond Life (88)
06. Congealed Putrescence (US) - Within the Ceaseless Murk (88)

07. Moonlight Sorcery (Fi) - Piercing Through the Frozen Eternity (87)

08. Moonlight Sorcery (Fi) - Nightwind: The Conqueror from the Stars (85)
09. Rancid Amputation (Pt) - Vile Human Taste (85)

10. Sölicitör (US) - All Debts on Death (83)

11. Mistcavern (Hu) - Into Twilight (82)

12. Worm (US) - Bluenothing (82)
13. Ravenous Dusk (Au) - The Dead of Night (80)
14. Iron Tomb (UK) - Vile Retribution (80)
15. Napalm Death (UK) - Resentment is Always Seismic... (80)

16. Vigilance (Sv) - Vigilance (80)

17. Roots of the Old Oak (UK) - Blot (80)

18. Malthusian (Ie)/Suffering Hour (US) - Time's Withering Shadow (80)
19. Grotesqueries (US) - Haunted Mausoleum (80)

20. Cimmerian Possession (Mx) - Sadistic Storm (80)

21. Metalucifer (Jp) - Heavy Metal Ninja (80)
22. Seer (Ca) - Vol. 7 (80)

My Top 22 NON-Metal Albums of 2022

01. Old Sorcery (Fi) - Dragon Citadel Elegies

02. Anima Morte (Se) - Serpents in the Field of Sleep

03. Klaus Schulze (De) - Deus Arrakis

04. Boy Harsher (US) - The Runner

05. Brutus (Be) - Unison Life

06. The Hellacopters (Se) - Eyes of Oblivion

07. Börn (Is) - Drottningar Dauðans 

08. Hällas (Se) - Elusion's Gate

09. Slasher Dave (US) - Halloween Howls

10. Elyvilon (US) - Drums in the Deepwood

11. Long Knife (US) - Curb Stomp Earth

12. Tales Under the Oak (De) - Swamp Kingdom

13. Zola Jesus (US) - Arkhon

14. Ulk (Nl) - Restoration Magic

15. Aurora (No) - The Gods We Can Touch

16. Erreth-Akbe (US) - A Lantern Swathed

17. Știu Nu Știu (Se) - New Sun

18. The Mars Volta (US) - The Mars Volta

19. Crippled Black Phoenix (UK) - Banefyre

20. Deadlife (UK) - Tortured Waters

21. The Birthday Massacre (Ca) - Fascination

22. Dance With the Dead (US) - Driven to Madness

AUTOTHRALL'S YEAR END OMICRON JAMBOREE

The full list of my top 100 metal albums for 2021 is up over at my Rate Your Music page, and if that's not enough, here's the backup list with yet another 100 albums I really dug, including some of my favorite EPs and so forth. But below are my hierarchical top 21 for 2021 in both the full-length and EPs/demos/splits categories!

My Top 21 Metal Albums of 2021

01. Hooded Menace (Fi) - The Tritonus Bell (98)

02. Steel Bearing Hand (US) - Slay in Hell (95)

03. Lucifer (Inter) - IV (95)

04. Nekromantheon (No) - Visions of Trimegistos (93)

05. Bunker 66 (It) - Beyond the Help of Prayers (93)

06. Pharaoh (US) - The Powers That Be (93)

07. Necromantia (Gr) - To the Depths We Descend (92)

08. Warmoon Lord (Fi) - Battlespells (92)

09. Tribulation (Se) - Where the Gloom Becomes Sound (92)

10. Sarke (No) - Allsighr (90)

11. Spectral Wound (Ca) - A Diabolic Thirst (90)

12. Pestilence (Nl) - Exitivm (90)

13. Seth (Fr) - La morsure du Christ (90)

14. Yoth Iria (Gr) - As the Flame Withers (90)

15. Borgne (Fr) - Temps Morts (90)

16. Suffering Hour (US) - The Cyclic Reckoning (88)

17. Craven Idol (UK) - Forked Tongues (87)

18. Woman is the Earth (US) - Dust of Forever (85)

19. Worm (US) - Foreverglade (85)

20. Cerebral Rot (US) - Excretion of Mortality (85)

21. Wharflurch (US) - Psychedelic Realms of Hell (85)

My Top 21 Metal EPs, Demos and Splits of 2021

01. Nordjevel (No) - Fenriir (92)

02. Mooncitadel (Fi) - Onyx Castles & Silver Keys (88)

03. Shrieking Demons (It) - Diabolical Regurgitations (87)

04. Cult of Luna (Fi) - The Raging River (87)

05. Vanik (US) - Entrails & Thrills (85)

06. Vektor (US)/Cryptosis (Nl) - Transmission of Chaos (85)
07. Ordinul Negru (Ro) - A Sojourner Wandering Through the Barren Openness (85)

08. Lorna Shore (US) - ...And I Return to Nothingness (85)

09. Insomnium (Fi) - Argent Moon (83)

10. Vukari (US) - Omnes Nihil (83)

11. Ildskær (Dk) - Paa Dækket Kalder De Døde (82)

12. Severed Boy (US) - Tragic Encounters (82)

13. Witch Vomit (US) - Abhorrent Rapture (82)

14. Whipstriker (Br)/Ice War (Ca) - Split (82)

15. Spirit Adrift (US) - Forge Your Future (82)

16. Lady Beast (US) - Omens (80)

17. Havukruunu (Fi) - Kuu Erkylän Yllä (80)

18. Enslaved (No) - Caravans to the Outer Worlds (80)

19. Sea Mosquito (UK) - Fire, Magic & Venom (80)

20. Gaahls Wyrd (No) - The Humming Mountain (80)

21. Katavasia (Gr) - Invoking the Spirit of Doom (80)

My Top 21 Non-Metal Albums of 2021

01. Jess & the Ancient Ones (Fi) - Vertigo
02. Perturbator (Fr) - Lustful Sacraments

03. Wardruna (No) - Kvitravn

04. Leprous (No) - Aphelion

05. Zombi (US) - Liquid Crystal 

06. Mirthquell (US) - Return of the Ancients

07. Hante. (Fr) - Morning Tsunami 

08. Youth Code (US) - A Skeleton Key in the Doors of Depression

09. Steven Wilson (UK) - Future Bites

10. White Void (No) - Anti

11. The Limit (US) - Caveman Logic 

12. Styx (Ca) - The Crash of the Crown

13. Fen Walker (US) - Fare Thee Well Battle Winds

14. The Vintage Caravan (Is) - Monuments

15. Hail Spirit Noir (Gr) - Mannequins

16. St. Vincent (US) - Daddy's Homenequins

17. Weedpecker (Pl) - IV: The Strength of Forgotten Thoughts

18. Arcanist (Fr) - Poseidonis

19. Blind Golem (It) - A Dream of Fantasy

20. Greta Van Fleet (US) - The Battle at Garden's Gate
21. Night Flight Orchestra (Se) - Aeromantic II

AUTOTHRALL'S YEAR END AUDIO CORONAVIRUS CLUSTERFUCK

If you're looking for the full list of my top 100 metal albums for 2020, check over here at my Rate Your Music Page. There's also a backup list of another 100 albums that didn't quite make that cut, as well as my favorite EPs. Below is the tighter, more hierarchical list of top picks. This year, partly due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, I set out to challenge myself to sample as many demos and albums from around the world that I could find, and thus there were thousands that I checked out, even if just for a couple minutes. So my choices this year come from a more massive sample size than usual...one that I can honestly say I will never attempt again! Despite the chaos of 2020, it was a solid year across multiple sub-genres, anything from atmospheric black metal to traditional throwback heavy metal.

My Top 20 Metal Albums of 2020

01. Havukruunu (Fi) - Uinuos syömein sota (95)

02. Katla. (Is) - Allt þetta helvítis myrkur (93)

03. Sölicitör (US) - Spectral Devastation (93)

04. Atramentus (Ca) - Stygian (92)

05. Akhlys (US) - Melinoë (92)

06. Midnight (US) - Rebirth by Blasphemy (92)

07. Lantern (Fi) - Dimensions (92)

08. Magick Touch (No) - Heads Have Got to Rock 'n' Roll (90)

09. Malokopartan (Sk) - Krupinské ohne

10. Proscription (Fi) - Conduit (90)

11. Napalm Death (UK) - Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism (90)

12. Stälker (NZ) - Black Majik Terror (90)

13. Vanik (US) - III (90)

14. Bütcher (Be) - 666 Goats Carry My Chariot (90)

15. Sólstafir (Is) - Endless Twilight of Codependent Love (90)

16. Chronus (Se) - Idols (90)

17. Ulthar (US) - Providence (90)

18. Serment (Ca) - Chante, ô flamme de la liberté (90)

19. Undeath (US) - Lesions of a Different Kind (90)

20. Hail Spirit Noir (Gr) - Eden in Reverse (90)

My Top 20 Metal EPs, Demos and Splits of 2020

01. Lychgate (UK) - Also Sprach Futura (90)

02. Morketida (Fi) - Traveler of the Untouched Voids (85)

03. Rabid Beast (US) - Rabid Beast (85)

04. Schizophrenia (Be) - Voices (83)

05. Ordinul Negru (Ro) - Nebuisa (82)

06. Obnoxious Youth (Fi) - Mouth Sewn Shut (82)

07. Feral Vision (US) - Symbols for the Other World (82)

08. Ihsahn (No) - Pharos (82)

09. Ihsahn (No) - Telemark (80)

10. Plague Mace (Dk) - Primal Priest (80)

11. Golden Blood (At) - Cum, Coke & Blasphemy (80)

12. Expunged (Ca) - Expunged (80)

13. Necrocarnation (Ar) - Fragments of Dark Eternity (80)

14. Departure Chandelier (Ca) - Dripping Papal Blood (80)

15. Maul (US) - Monarchy of Mold (80)

16. Hot Graves (US) - Haunted Graves (80)

17. The Passing (US) - The Passing (80)

18. Mortiferum (US)/Hyperdontia (Inter) - Split (80)

19. Cadaver (No) - D.G.A.F. (80)

20. Apallic Decay (De) - Return of the Unhallowed (80)

Ave Summer Satanas!

Back in hibernation until the Fall. I will return September 24th for my horror metal reviews leading up to Halloween. Stay safe, stay frosty, enjoy these remaining Summer months, and thank you as always for stopping by and reading my middle-aged metal screed!

Best,

autothrall

Autothrall's Best Hard Rock & Metal Albums of 1979

The Top Hard Rock & Metal Albums of 1979

01. Motörhead (UK) - Overkill
02. Blue Öyster Cult (USA) - Mirrors
03. Rainbow (UK) - Down to Earth
04. AC/DC (Australia) - Highway to Hell
05. Nazareth (UK) - No Mean City
06. Motörhead (UK) - Bomber
07. April Wine (Canada) - Harder...Faster
08. Accept (Germany) - Accept
09. Gillan (UK) - Mr. Universe
10. Riot (USA) - Narita
11. Thin Lizzy (Ireland) - Black Rose: A Rock Legend
12. Saxon (UK) - Saxon
13. Van Halen (USA) - Van Halen II
14. Blackfoot (USA) - Strikes
15. Marseille (UK) - Marseille
16. Legend (USA) - Fröm the Fjörds
17. Samson (UK) - Survivors
18. Trust (France) - Trust
19. Scorpions (Germany) - Lovedrive
20. Nokemono (Japan) - The Black World

I was about five years old this year, so my access to heavy metal music was limited,  and I had little context for even classifying it as 'heavy metal'. Still, bands like Judas Priest, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Nazareth, Blue Öyster Cult, Van Halen, KISS, and even Motörhead came into my life pretty early thanks to cousins and quarter-an-LP yard and church sales. This list features a nice cross-section of early NWOBHM, hard rock, and heavier Southern rock from the time, even though quite a few of these bands were ones I'd get into much later. Overkill should be like a Leather Bible for any and all heavy metal fans, so it takes the year with ease, but almost everything here is fun or formidable. I didn't include Priest's Hell Bent for Leather since it was really just a re-release of Killing Machine for North America with a track change.

UPDATED FOR 2020

Spring Break 2020

Spring Break arrives at just the right moment this year. With the kids and wife at home during the self-quarantine that so many Americans are placed in, it's become more challenging to get time to concentrate on writing much of anything. I wish you all well out there, and thank you as always for stopping by to read the reviews. I do plan on updating my own yearly favorite lists, starting at 1980 and going forward; will probably continue that throughout April, and be back for new reviews come May.

Stay safe,

autothrall

AUTOTHRALL'S BLEAK LISTAE

If you're looking for the full list of my top 100 metal albums for 2019, check over here at my Rate Your Music page. Below is a tighter, more hierarchical list of my absolute top picks, taken from the brainbusting 1213 new albums, EPs, demos and splits I've listened through this year at least once. An insanely good year for black metal, another real strong year for death metal (especially in the EPs category), and a great variety of full-length albums, including material from some long-standing favorites, with some real surprises from bands like Possessed and Mayhem.

My Top 19 Metal Albums of 2019

01. Devil Master (US) - Satan Spits on Children of Light (95)
02. Blut Aus Nord (Fr) - Hallucinogen (95)
03. Aoratos (US) - Gods Without Name (93)
04. Gardghastr (US) - Slit Throat Requiem (93)
05. Borknagar (No) - True North (93)
06. Musmahhu (Se) - Reign of the Odious (93)
07. Crypt Sermon (US) - The Ruins of Fading Light (92)
08. Opeth - In Cauda Veneneum (92)
09. Vulture (De) - Ghastly Waves & Battered Graves (92)
10. Mystik (Se) - Mystik (92)
11. Mayhem (No) - Daemon (90)
12. Deathspell Omega (Fr) - The Furnaces of Palingenesia (90)
13. Arch/Matheos (US) - Winter Ethereal (90)
14. Sinmara (Is) - Hvísl stjarnanna (90)
15. Yellow Eyes (US) - Rare Field Ceiling (90)
16. Possessed (US) - Revelations of Oblivion (90)
17. Vargrav (Se) - Reign in Supreme Darkness (90)
18. Kadavar (De) - For the Dead Travel Fast (88)
19. Scumripper (Fi) - All Veins Blazing (88)

My Top 19 Metal EPs & Demos of 2019
01. Suffering Hour (US) - Dwell (90)
02. Hellripper (UK) - Black Arts & Alchemy (85)
03. Undeath (US) - Sentient Autolysis (85)
04. Dark Suns (De) - Half Light Souvenirs (85)
05. Délétère (Ca) - Theorovator: Babelis Testamentum (83)
06. Bölzer (Ch) - Lese Majesty (83)
07. Fetid (US) - Steeping Corporeal Mess (83)
08. Malignant Altar (US) - Retribution of Jealous Gods (83)
09. BAT (US) - Axestasy (83)
10. Ripper (Cl) - Sensory Stagnation (82)
11. Mordbrand (Se) - Döden/Efter Döden (82)
12. Engulf (US) - Transcend (82)
13. Ripped to Shreds (US) - Demonic Scriptures (80)
14. Grand Harvest (Se) - Fatehammer (80)
15. Sanguisugabogg (US) - Pornographic Seizures (80)
16. Palmistry (Ca) - Behold! (80)
17. Hexenbrett (De) - Erste Beschwörung (80)
18. Cénotaphe (Fr) - Empyrée (80)
19. Pernicion (UK) - Seek What They Sought (80)

Holidaygeddon

Taking my annual break for the Holidays! Will return in January for a new year of reviews, including the return of some full discographies for bands I surprisingly never got around to (or never finished). My year's end lists will be posted in the meantime. Thanks for reading as always!

- autothrall

Spring Break 2019

Taking my annual Spring vacation from the blog, but I will return May 1st to regale you with all the latest tales of sex, drugs and debauchery! Or maybe just some more reviews. Either way, thanks so much for reading.

Best,
autothrall

AUTOTHRALL'S END OF YEAR LIST IN THE FACE

It should come as no surprise by now that I've written a far more comprehensive list of 100 of my favorite metal albums over at my Rate Your Music page, chosen from the roughly 975 metal albums, EPs, demos and splits I've listened through this year. However, those are presented in an alphabetic order rather than the hierarchical ranking of how much I enjoyed them. Pretty strong presence from the proto-metallic stuff here, which I've been getting more into as the years roll on, but I understand that some readers will find their inclusion marginal. So be it. Without further adieu, here is the list of my top 18 albums, with links to either my reviews or samples for those interested. I've also come up with a list of my 18 favorite EPs, demos and splits, most of which aren't mentioned over at the RYM page, so are exclusive to this blog.

My Top 18 Metal Albums of 2018

01. Voivod (Ca) - The Wake (100)
02. Satan (UK) - Cruel Magic (98)
03. Uriah Heep (UK) - Living the Dream (93)
04. Amorphis (Fi) - Queen of Time (92)
05. Whipstriker (Br) - Merciless Artillery (90)
06. Skeletal Remains (US) - Devouring Mortality (90)
07. Usurpress (Se) - Interregnum (90)

08. Necrophobic (Se) - Mark of the Necrogram (90)
09. Ihsahn (No) - Àmr (90)
10. Flight (No) - A Leap Through Matter (90)
11. King Witch (UK) - Under the Mountain (90)
12. Sigh (Jp) - Heir to Despair (90)
13. Tribulation (Se) - Down Below (90)

14. Aorhlac (Fr) - L'esprit des vents (90)
15. Hyperdontia (Inter) - Nexus of Teeth (88)
16. Lucifer (Inter) - Lucifer II (88)
17. Graveyard (Se) - Peace (87)
18. Tomb Mold (Ca) - Manor of Infinite Forms (87)

My Top 18 Metal EPs, Demos and Splits of 2018

01. Phrenelith (Dk) - Ornamented Dead Eyes (85) 

02. Cadaveric Fumes/Skelethal (Fr) - Heirs of Hideous Secrecies (85)

03. Squalus/Shadow Limb (US) - Mass and Power (85)

04. Quantum Hierarchy (It) - Neutron Breed (85)

05. Garroted (US) - Of Damnation and Abyssal Terrors (83)

06. Superstition (US) - Surging Throng of Evil's Might (83)

07. Owl (De) - Orion Fenix (83)

08. Untervoid (Pl) - Untervoid (83)

09. Sentient Horror (US) - The Crypts Below (83)

10. Tomb Mold (Ca) - Cerulean Salvation (82)

11. Speedclaw (Hr) - Beast in the Mist (82)

12. Malleus (US) - Night Raids (82)

13. Abyssous (De) - Mesa (82)

14. Witchlore (Se) - Into the Glade (83)

15. Mortuus Umbra (Il) - Omnipraesant (82)

16. Iron Reagan/Gatecreeper (US) - Split (80)

17. Morgal (Fi) - Morgal (80)

18. Bâ'a/Verfallen/Hyrgal (Fr) - Split (80)

AUTOTHRALL'S ANNUAL LISTRIONICS

As always, you can check out a much broader list over at my RYM pages. My sample size this year was enormous to the point that I stopped counting once it exceeded the 2015 record by a couple of hundred demos, EPs, singles and albums. In fact, because there were so many shorter releases that I encountered this year, I decided to split them off into their own list. The numbers in parentheses are what I either scored them, or would have scored them if I had written an actual review.

My Top 17 Metallurgical Albums of 2017

01. Vulture (De) - The Guillotine (97)
02. Ritualization (Fr) - Sacraments to the Sons of the Abyss (95)
03. Vassafor (NZ) - Malediction (95)
04. Tomb Mold (CA) - Primordial Malignity (95)
05. Antichrist (Se) - Sinful Birth (95)
06. Obnoxious Youth (Inter) - Disturbing the Graves (93)
07. Malokarpatan (Sk) - Nordkarpatenland (93)
08. Sólstafir (Is) - Berdreyminn (93)
09. Enslaved - E (93)
10. Emptiness - Not for Music (92)
11. Demon Eye - Prophecies and Lies (92)
12. Beastiality (Se) - Worshippers of Unearthly Perversions (92)
13. Selcouth (Fi) - Heart is the Star of Chaos (92)
14. Drug Honkey (US) - Cloak of Skies (92)
15. Air Raid (Se) - Across the Line (92)
16. Firespawn (Se) - The Reprobate (92)
17. Portrait (Se) - Burn the World (92)

My Top 17 Metallurgical EPs, Splits and Demos of 2017

01. The Swill (US) - Master of Delusion (93)
02. Thantifaxath (Ca) - Ocean of Screaming Spheres (92)
03. Howls of Ebb (US)/Khthoniik Cerviiks (De) - With Gangrene Edges/Voiidwarp (90)
04. Arkhon Infaustus (Fr) - Passing the Nekromanteion (87)
05. Cult of Eibon (Gr) - Lycan Twilight Sorcery (85)
06. Daeva (US) - Pulsing Dark Absorptions (85)
07. The Wakedead Gathering (US)/Ecferus (US) - Split (85)
08. Expulsion (US) - Nightmare Future (83)
09. Loud Night (US) - Loud Night (83)
10. ColdWorld (De) - Wolves and Sheep (82)
11. Mastodon (US) - Cold Dark Place (82)
12. Fever Nest (US) - Black Carrion Fowl (82)
13. Qayin Regis (Es) - Blackthorn (82)
14. Devouring Star (Fi) - Antihedron (82)
15. Nordjevel (No) - Krigmakt (80)
16. Sinmara (Is) - Within the Weaves of Infinity (80)
17. Autopsy (US) - Puncturing the Grotesque (80)

And here below are my favorite albums from other genres, ranging from pop and video game scores to occult and nostalgia rock, Gothic, electronica, punk, whatever.

My Top 17 Non-Metal Albums of 2017

01. Dool (Nl) - Here Now, There Then (97)
02. Keiichi Okabe & Keigo Hoashi (Jp) - NieR: Automata OST (95)
03. Zola Jesus (US) - Okovi (95)
04. Old Sorcery (Fi) - Realms of Magickal Sorrow (95)
05. Grave Pleasures (Fi) - Motherblood (95)
06. Shoji Meguro (Jp) - Persona 5 OST (93)
07. Chelsea Wolfe (US) - Hiss Spun (93)
08. Slimy Member (US) - Ugly Songs for Ugly People (92)
09. The Birthday Massacre (Ca) - Under Your Spell (92)
10. Rope Sect (De) - Personae Ingratae/Proselytes (92)
11. Horisont (Se) - About Time (90)
12. 1476 (US) - Our Season Draws Near (90)
13. Carnifexian (Ru) - Age of Spiked Mace (90)
14. Alec Holowka (Ca) - Night in the Woods OST (90)
15. The Night Flight Orchestra (Se) - Amber Galactic (90)
16. Wucan (De) - Reap the Storm (88)
17. Grendel (Nl) - Age of the Disposable Body (88)

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you bright and early in 2018!

16s for '16.

My Top 16x2 Metal Albums of 2016

01. Deströyer 666 (Au) Wildfire
02. Voivod (Ca) Post-Society
03. Virus (No) Memento Collider
04. Ihsahn (No) Arktis.
05. Hail Spirit Noir (Gr) Mayhem in Blue
06. Mouth of the Architect (US) Path of Eight
07. Whipstriker (Br) Only Filth Will Prevail
08. High Spirits (US) Motivator
09. Opeth (Se) Sorceress
10. Lesbian (US) Hallucinogenesis
11. Howls of Ebb (US) Cursus Impasse: The Pendlomic Vows
12. Deathspell Omega (Fr) The Synarchy of Molten Bones
13. Hammers of Misfortune (US) Dead Revolution
14. Oranssi Pazuzu (Fi) Varahtelija
15. Sumerlands (US) Sumerlands
16. Paradox (De) Pangea
17. Vanhelgd (Se) Temple of Phobos
18. Morgue Supplier (US) Morgue Supplier
19. Borknagar (No) Winter Thrice
20. Khemmis (US) Hunted
21. Chthe'ilist (Ca) Le dernier crepuscule
22. Cadaveric Fumes (Fr) Dimensions Obscure
23. Spell (Ca) For None and All
24. Gravebreaker (Se) Sacrifice
25. Blood Incantation (US) Starspawn
26. Reptilian (No) Perennial Void Traverse
27. Zaum (Ca) Eidolon
28. Eternal Champion (US) The Armor of Ire
29. Witherscape (Se) The Northern Sanctuary
30. Stilla (Se) Skuggflock
31. The Levitation Hex (Au) Cohesion
32. Miasmal (Se) Tides of Omniscience

As usual, there's a much longer list over at RYM with brief descriptions of each, but not in any sort of hierarchical order. Sample size was 758 albums and EPs that I listened through in 2016, and for the first time, I'm actually combining both formats into one single list (the Voivod really was that good).

My Top 16 Non-Metal Albums of 2016

01. White Lung (Ca) Paradise
02. Perturbator (Fr) The Uncanny Valley
03. A Tribe Called Quest (US) We Got it From Here...
04. Weezer (US) The White Album
05. Wardruna (No) Runaljod - Ragnarok
06. Youth Code (US) Commitment to Complications
07. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizzard (Au) Nonagon Infinity
08. Radiohead (UK) A Moon Shaped Pool
09. The Neon Demon Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
10. David Bowie (UK) Blackstar
11. Street Sects (US) End Position
12. Strvngers (Ca) Sonic Erotica
13. Phantogram (US) THREE
14. Kanga (US) Kanga
15. Bat for Lashes (UK) The Bride
16. Death Grips (US) Bottomless Pit

My Top 16 New Movies of 2016

01. Kubo and the Two Strings
02. Midnight Special
03. The Handmaiden
04. The Revenant
05. Your Name
06. Zootopia
07. Captain Fantastic
08. Captain America: Civil War
09. Approaching the Unknown
10. The Lobster
11. Batman: The Killing Joke
12. 10 Cloverfield Lane
13. The Nice Guys
14. Hacksaw Ridge
15. Deadpool
16. Doctor Strange

My Top 16 New Games on a Screen in 2016

01. The Witness (PC, PS4, Xone, iOS)
02. Civilization VI (PC)
03. Dishonored 2 (PC, PS4, Xone)
04. Stardew Valley (PC, PS4, Xone)
05. Salt & Sanctuary (PC, PS4, Vita)
06. Total War: Warhammer (PC)
07. Hyper Light Drifter (PC, PS4, Xone, Ouya)
08. The Banner Saga 2 (PC, PS4, Xone, iOS, Android)
09. Firewatch (PC, PS4, Xone)
10. Ratchet & Clank (PS4)
11. Darkest Dungeon (PC, PS4, Vita)
12. Enter the Gungeon (PC, PS4)
13. Dark Souls III (PC, PS4, Xone)
14. World of Warcraft: Legion (PC)
15. Final Fantasy XV (PS4, Xone)
16. Starbound (PC, PS4, Vita, Xone)

My Top 16 New Games on a Tabletop in 2016

01. 7th Sea 2nd Edition (RPG)
02. Inis (board game)
03. Clank (board game)
04. Oceanos (board game)
05. Quadropolis (board game)
06. Aeon's End (board game)
07. Arkham Horror (card game)
08. Manhattan Project: Energy Empire (board game)
09. Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition (board game)
10. Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu (board game)
11. Oracle of Delphi (board game)
12. Imhotep (board game)
13. Star Trek Panic (board game)
14. Gods of the Fall (RPG)
15. Jorvik (board game)
16. Odin's Ravens 2nd Edition (card game)

My Top 16 New Novels for 2016

01. China Mieville The Last Days of New Paris
02. Guy Gavriel Kay Children of Earth and Sky
03. Steven Erikson Fall of Light (Khakanas #2)
04. John Langan The Fisherman
05. Dan Vyleta Smoke
06. R. Scott Bakker The Great Ordeal (Aspect-Emperor #3)
07. Aaron Dembski-Bowden The Master of Mankind (Horus Heresy #41)
08. Alan Moore Jerusalem
09. Yoon Ha Lee The Ninefox Gambit
10. Brian Staveley The Last Mortal Bond (Unhewn Bond #3)
11. Bradley P. Beaulieu Twelve Kings in Sharakhai (Shattered Sands #1)
12. John C. Wright The Vindication of Man (Countdown #4)
13. Adrian Tchaikovsky Spiderlight
14. Drew Magary The Hike
15. Mark Lawrence The Wheel of Osheim (Red Queen's War #3)
16. Lily Brooks-Dalton Good Morning, Midnight

My Top 16 New Comics for 2016
01. Weird Detective (Dark Horse)
02. Future Quest (DC)
03. Black Hammer (Dark Horse)
04. Black Road (Image)
05. Batman TMNT (DC/IDW)
06. Rough Riders (Aftershock)
07. Batman: Europa (DC)
08. Over the Garden Wall (kaboom!)
09. Lake of Fire (Image)
10. Midnighter and Apollo (DC)
11. Moon Knight (Marvel)
12. The Black Monday Murders (Image)
13. Doom Patrol (DC/Young Animal)
14. 4001 A.D. (Valiant)
15. The Dark Knight III: The Master Race (DC)
16 Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (Marvel)

This is a new category I'm trying out, for titles with 2 or more new issues this year.

Was also going to do a new TV shows list, but it'd be pretty short...

Westworld
Stranger Things
Son of Zorn
Justice League Action

Autothrall's Execution Through Listification: The 2015 Edition

The Top 25 Metal and 'Hey, That's Not Metal!' Albums of 2015

01. Leprous (No) - The Congregation (97)
02. Enslaved (No) - In Times (95)
03. Arcturus (No) - Arcturian (93)
04. Enforcer (Se) - From Beyond (93)
05. Solefald (No) - World Metal. Kosmopolis Sud (92)
06. Heaving Earth (Cz) - Denouncing the Holy Throne (90)
07. Kontinuum (Is) - Kyrr (90)
08. Sulphur Aeon (De) - Gateway to the Antisphere (90)
09. Trial (Se) - Vessel (90)
10. Ghost (Se) - Meliora (90)
11. Dodheimsgard (No) - A Umbra Omega (90)
12. Tribulation (Se) - Children of the Night (90)
13. Crypt Sermon (US) - Out of the Garden (88) *debut of the year*
14. Chapel of Disease (De) - Mysterious Ways of Repetitive Art (88)
15. Queensrÿche (US) - Condition Hüman (87)
16. Deathhammer (No) - Evil Power (87) 
17. Moonreich (Fr) - Pillars of Detest (87)
18. Napalm Death (UK) - Apex Predator - Easy Meat (87)
19. Obsequiae (US) - Aria of Vernal Tombs (85)
20. Sarpanitum (UK) - Blessed Be My Brothers (85)
21. Division Speed (De) - Division Speed (85)
22. Lost Soul (Pl) - Atlantis: The New Beginning (85)
23. Leviathan (US) - Scar Sighted (85)
24. Satan's Wrath (Gr) - Die Evil (85)
25. Melechesh (UK) - Enki (85)

My final sampling size this year was 813 metal albums and EPs, I had originally halted myself about a few dozen before that but decided to do some cramming over the last few days. I'm probably the only person in the world that feels so strongly about what Norway produced this year, but those are easily the picks of the litter for me, with excellent showings from Enslaved, Solefald and Arcturus. But I had no other choice than to give the top spot to The Congregation, a fairly understated, elegant progressive metal record which has crept through my bones to lounge in my eardrums. I find myself constantly singing the tunes, there was just something transcendent about the vocals and composition, well within the wheelhouse of modern records by their countrymen but still unique. Otherwise, there was some really great throwback heavy/speed metal this year, a resurgence of quality blackened speed death thrash, and just a great variety altogether...and isn't it great to have Queensrÿche back in shape? This selection of 25 might not be completely representative of the trends I just mentioned, but as tradition dictates, you can check out all my Top 100 over at RYM. I'll also try something new, where I haven't written a review I'll instead link to a tune/video.

The Top 15 Actually Not Metal Albums of 2015

01. Chelsea Wolfe (US) - Abyss (Rock)
02. Mew (Dk) - +- (Rock)
03. Squarepusher (UK) - Damogen Furies (Electronic)
04. Bjork (Is) - Vulnicura (Pop)
05. Zombi (US) - Shape Shift (Electronic)
06. Purity Ring (Ca) - Another Eternity (Pop)
07. The Exploding Eyes Orchestra (Fi) - I (Rock)
08. Ennio Morricone (It) - The Hateful Eight (OST)
09. Grimes (Ca) - Art Angels (Pop)
10. Ellie Goulding (UK) - Delirium (Pop)
11. Blanck Mass (UK) - Dumb Flesh (Electronic)
12. Steven Wilson (UK) - Hand Cannot Erase (Rock)
13. Happy Fangs (US) - Capricorn (Rock)
14. John Carpenter (US) - Lost Themes (Electronic)
15. Grave Pleasures (No) - Dreamcrash (Goth)

A lot of synth pop, industrial and electronic music are a given for me when I'm away from metal, but I also love a smattering of Gothic, prog, punk and pure rock & roll bands; and the occasional soundtrack score, especially when it's created by a guy who is 87 years old but whose writing could rival his prime... Most records here have their flaws, for instance I thought the vocals and music on the new Ellie Goulding were on par with her great debut, yet some of the lyrics are beyond dumb. Still, this is the stuff I listened to most often when I wasn't flailing my face around in the meager imitation of a blast beat.

The Top 15 Films of 2015

01. Max Max: Fury Road (George Miller)
02. The Hateful Eight (Quentin Tarantino)
03. 99 Homes (Ramin Bahrani)
04. Inside Out (Peter Docter/Ronnie del Carmen)
05. Yakuza Apocalypse (Takashi Miike)
06. Partisan (Ariel Kleiman)
07. Bone Tomahawk (S. Craig Zahler)
08. Beasts of No Nation (Cary Joji Fukunaga)
09. Turbo Kid (Simard/Whissell/Whissell)
10. The Gift (Joel Edgerton)
11. The Martian (Ridley Scott)
12. Sicario (Denis Villeneuve)
13. He Never Died (Jason Krawczyk)
14. The Visit (M. Night Shyamalan)
15. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (Anotha J. J. Remix)

Thanks to having a few cinephile friends, I ended up watching a LOT of new films this year, far more than usual, probably 70-80 minimum. I tend to rank them not solely for the quality of acting, direction and cinematography, but mainly the fun factor...how often am I going to go back to these? How many times have I already? Are these flicks ones I'll be talking about in 20-30 years like a lot of my 80s favorites, and will I share them proudly with my children? That's why I'm unashamed to include absurd but entertaining pieces alongside the more serious, topical fare (which generally don't stand the test of time as well for me). Have not yet seen Krampus.

The Top 15 PC & Video Games of 2015

01. Sunless Sea (PC)
02. Pillars of Eternity (PC)
03. Axiom Verge (PC, PS4)
04. Shadowrun: Hong Kong (PC)
05. Westerado: Double Barreled (PC)
06. Crypt of the NecroDancer (PC, PS4, Vita)
07. Ori and the Blind Forest (PC, XB1)
08. Undertale (PC)
09. Fallout 4 (PC, PS4, XB1)
10. Hard West (PC)
11. Cities: Skylines (PC, XB1)
12. Broforce (PC, PS4)
13. Downwell/Skiing Yeti Mountain (PC, iOS, Android) *TIE*
14. Apotheon (PC, PS4)
15. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime (PC, XB1)

My tastes continue to run towards indie and creative, retro-styled games, and there were quite a few of them this year which were simply stunning. I guess I've just grown extremely tired of state of the art, uncanny valley graphic realism and such. The sole compelling Triple A title for me this year was Fallout 4, but I tried my hand at others like Mad Max and Witcher 3 and didn't really enjoy myself. I did NOT play all that many mobile or hand-held console games this year, so if I retroactively find some I love I will adjust this list later. Anyway, the Steam links I provided for most of these can get you a lot of great games dirt cheap if you're interested.

The Top 15 Tabletop Games of 2015

01. Argent: The Consortium (Trey Chambers)
02. Elysium (Matthew Dunstan/Brett J. Gilbert)
03. Pandemic Legacy (Rob Daviau/Matt Leacock)
04. Brew Crafters (Ben Rosset)
05. Antike II (Mac Gerdts)
06. Legendary Encounters: Predator (Ben Cichoski/Danny Mandel)
07. 7 Wonders: Duel (Antoine Bauza/Bruno Cathala)
08. Champions of Midgard (Ole Steiness)
09. Super Motherload (Gavan Brown/Matt Tolman)
10. The Voyages of Marco Polo (Simone Luciani/Daniele Tascini)
11. Above and Below (Ryan Laukat)
12. Sylvion/Castellion (Shadi Torbey) *TIE*
13. Isle of Skye (Andreas Pelikan/Alexander Pfister)
14. Fury of Dracula 3rd Edition (Brooks/Wilson/Hand)
15. The Bloody Inn (Nicolas Robert)

This was a year in which my board and card game collection grew exponentially, with both new titles and expansion content, and there were quite a lot of good games to try with my friends and family. I could have listed twice this many, in fact, without dipping into anything less than quality. The choices here are a mix of worker placement, area control, deck building, abstract and other play styles I enjoy. There are a few others I or my friends have just gotten that have yet to hit the table, like the lauded T.I.M.E. Stories and Blood Rage, so if my opinions change I'll adjust the list accordingly.

The Top 15 Books of 2015

01. The Iron Ship (K.M. McKinley)
02. Children of Time (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
03. The Acolyte (Nick Cutter)
04. Savages (K. J. Parker)
05. Cthulhu Ftaghn! (various, ed. Ross Lockhart)
06. Son of the Black Sword (Larry Correia)
07. SevenEves (Neal Stephenson)
08. Twelve Kings in Sharakhai (Bradley P. Beaulieu)
09. Her Brother's Keeper (Mike Kupari)
10. The Grace of Kings (Ken Liu)
11. SJWs Always Lie (Vox Day)
12. The Two of Swords (serial, K. J. Parker)
13. The Aeronaut's Windlass (Jim Butcher)
14. Half a War (Joe Abercrombie)
15. The Dinosaur Lords (Victor Milan)

As usual, most of my reading interests lie within the realm of science fiction, fantasy, horror, cyberpunk, steampunk, alternate history, and the occasional historical fiction with an edge. The McKinley stole my heart with its excellent worldbuilding, so I can't wait for the follow-up to that, but there were a lot of strong entries here from regulars like Parker, Butcher, Abercrombie, Correia and even a single controversial non-fiction entry here which I found hilarious and will probably prove enlightening for a lot of folks.

Quite a lot to take in, I know, so I hope you enjoy these expanded count lists and perhaps find something you enjoy among them. I considered including other passions of mine like anime, TV shows and comic books, but those are a little trickier, especially TV with the multiple seasons. Maybe next time.