DDM's Best of 2022

As for the majority on here, it became a sport to get hold of the newest releases all the time.

I am no different and this resulted in another year of not being able to dig properly through all releases that come out.

Then I have the issue that my taste is broadening quite a bit so multiplying the available great records too.

So it's all luxury issues and I am not complaining, I will try to reduce the number of albums that I buy in the coming years by trying to be more selective. Should be possible, I bought about 500 albums this year. I feel embarrassed.

For the picks, I have tried to make an overall top 10 and honestly, this could be swapped with 10 others from the bands I'll mention below. Nevertheless, the top 10 is a bunch of very strong records that I frequently revisit. I tried to make an overview of the genres that I like the most.

Top 10 2022:

1. Artificial Brain - Artificial Brain

This release is doing a lot to me. This is an album you need to take the time to understand to appreciate it. It is dense and multilayered and will reveal more and more over time. Amazing release.

2. Negative Plane - The Pact...

I never heard of the band before but after listening to The Pact... I was hooked on this album and the other two they brought out as well. This type of metal could be considered black, dead, sludge or post-metal. I think it is a journey you start when you put on the album until it ends. It is not the album you put on to chill with having this running in the background.

3. Wormrot - Hiss

Probably the best grindcore release in years. What an amazing talent and I was completely sold when they put out their first preview single: Behind Closed Doors. The album is full of old fashion grindcore but lots of influences are woven throughout the songs.

4. Sadistic Ritual - The Enigma, Boundless

Fantastic thrash/ death album. There was nothing really that could prepare me for the aural assault when I saw the album cover which was kind of weird to me. It's interesting though, but the music is totally ridiculous. It's heavy, brutal, aggressive, fast, and relentless. Great songwriting and some nice touching up with a solo here and there.

5. In Aphelion - Moribund

My first encounter with the band and having guys from Necrophobic in it had to be something I could like. It became even better than just liking. Such a great melodic death/black metal album. Full of fast songs, great riffs, and absolutely amazing songwriting with choruses you can easily sing a long. If you would like to... Majestic. Total surprise to me. I love it!

6. Morbikon - Ov Mournful Twilight

When you press play Morbikon will grab you by your throat from the first second and they will not let go! Another melodic death/ thrash/ black metal release that has the right amount of melody and aggressiveness in it. Here the riffing stands out as well.

7. Vorga - Striving Toward Oblivion

Another melodic and fast-paced release, this time by German band Vorga and another killer release by Kunal Choksi and his fabulous label Transcending Obscurity. This is sci-fi black metal. Whatever that may be. What I do know is that this is a really well-written melodic black metal album with awesome musicianship and great songs.

8. De Profundis - The Corruption of Virtue

I was very impressed with their previous release but this one is even better. That bass! I love when the bass is playing a prominent role on an album with clearly a lot of freedom to play around next to providing a solid rhythm. This is a very good death metal release with the right heaviness and awesome musicians. And another Transcending Obscurity release.

9. Dark Funeral - We Are the Apocalypse

There's not much I can say about the new Dark Funeral. What an awesome release and it is very easy to clearly hear we are dealing with a seasoned band. They sound fresh yet recognizable as the band they are.

10. Wrang - De Vaendrig

Dutch black metal with a ton of influences. I can't put my finger on it why I think this is so good, but I think it is my most spun album this year. It has something that appeals heavily to me. Maybe it is the opening riff that does it for the entire album? Or the rasping vocals in my mother tongue? The songs listen as a story that is being told.

Top 10 Black Metal:

1. Wiegedood - There's Always Blood at the End of the Road

2. Misthyrming - Med Hamri

3. Watain - The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain

4. Panzerfaust - The Suns of Perdition - Chapter III The Astral Drain

5. Predatory Light - Death and the Twilight Hours

6. Gleichmacher - Kränkung Fall Verderben

7. Belphegor - The Devils

8. Pure Wrath - Hymn to the Woeful Hearts

9. The Antichrist Imperium - Volume III Satan in His Original Glory

10. Thundering Hooves - Radiance

The below are also strong releases and I think you won't regret digging them out. Some of them could well be in the black metal top 10 or even in the main top 10.

Aara - Triade II Hemera

Firtan - Marter

Hellevaerder - In de nevel van afgunst

Vital Spirit - Still as the Night, Cold as the Wind

Chaos Invocation - Devil, Stone & Man

Nocturnal Triumph - Nocturnal Triumph

Véhémence - Ordalies

Deathspell Omega - The Long Defeat

Esoctrilihum - Consecration of the Spiritüs Flesh

Ultha - All That Has Never Been True

Denevér - Vámpír

Nordjevel - Gnavhòl

Incandescence - Le coeur de l'homme

Noctem - Credo certe ne cras

Spider God - Fly in the Trap

Theotoxin - Fragment  Totenruhe

Devil Master - Ecstasies of Never Ending Night

Wachenfeldt - Faustian Reawakening

In Twilight's Embrace - Lifeblood

Downcross - Hexapoda Triumph

Vukari - Omnes Nihil

Liber Null - For Whom Is the Night

Pure Wrath - Hymn to the Woeful Hearts

Djevel - Naa skrider natten sort

Top 10 Tech/ Melo-death/black:

1. Exocrine - The Hybrid Suns

2. Kvaen - The Great Below

3. Tómarúm - Ash in Realms of Stone Icons

4. Anchillys - Elan Vital

5. Godless Truth - Godless Truth

6. The Spirit - Of Clarity and Galactic Structures

7. Needless - The Cosmic Cauldron

8. Revocation - Netherheaven

9. Inanimate Existence - The Masquerade

10. Allegaeon - Damnum

Great releases in this section:

Ultra Silvam - The Sanctity of Death

Psycroptic - Divine Council

Sacrilegion - From Which Nightmares Crawl

Freedom of Fear - Carpathia

Mimorium - The Route of Haeresis

Epoch of Unlight - At War with the Multiverse

Aronious - Irkalla

Top 10 Death Metal:

01. Immolation - Acts of God

02. Werewolves - From the Cave to the Grave

03. Altars Ablaze - Life Desecration

04. Faceless Burial - At the Foothills of Deliration

05. Scalpture - Feldwärts

06. Concilivm - A Monument in Darkness

07. The Chasm - The Scars of a Lost Reflective Shadow

08. The Wakedead Gathering - Parallaxiom

09. Sensory Amusia - Breed Death

10. Misgivings - Misgivings

Great releases in this section:

Order ov Riven Cathedrals - Absolute

Corpsegrinder - Corpsegrinder

Black Fucking Cancer - Procreate Inverse

Intolerance - Dark Paths of Humanity

Misery Index - Complete Control

Trenchant - Commandoccult

Cryptic Hatred - Nocturnal Sickness

Post-Mortem - The Monumental Pandemonium

Cosmic Putrefaction - Crepuscular Dirge for the Blessed Ones

Analepsy - Quiescence

Haunter - Discarnate Ails

Purgatory - Apotheosis of Anti Light

Hath - All That Was Promised

Ironmaster - Thy Ancient Fire

Azaab - Summoning the Cataclysm

Viogression - 3rd Stage of Decay

Heaving Earth - Darkness of God

Golgothan Remains - Adorned in Ruin

Inanna - Void of Unending Depths

Decapitated - Cancer Culture

Verberis - Adumbration of the Veiled Logos

Acausal Intrusion - Seeping Evocation

Vånda - Covenant of Death

Fall of Seraphs - From Dust to Creation

Gutvoid - Durance of Lightless Horizons

Strychnos - A Mother's Curse

Veilburner - VLBRNR

Live Burial - Curse of the Forlon

Heads for the Dead - III The Great Conjuration

Sarcasm - Stellar Stream Obscured

Beyond Mortal Dreams - Abomination of the Flames

Inhuman Condition - Fearsick

Reeking Aura - Blood and Bonemeal

Corpsessed - Succumb to Rot

Ripped to Shreds - 劇變 (Jubian)

Wachenfeldt - Faustian Reawakening

Rotten Tomb - Visions of a Dismal Fate

Disinter - Breaker of Bones

Top 10 Grindcore:

1. Kill Division - Peace Through Tyranny

2. Pharmacist - Flourishing Extremities on Unspoiled Mental Grounds

3. Ernia - How to Deal With Life and Fail

4. Defect Designer - Neanderthal

5. Abaddon Incarnate - The Wretched Sermon

6. Teethgrinder - Dystopia

7. Osserp - Els nous cants de la Sibil·la

8. Antigama - Whiteout

9. Wake - Thought Form Descent

10. Sickrecy - Salvation Through Tyranny

DDM's Best of 2021

Ophidian I - Desolate

Malformity - Monumental Ruin

Diskord - Degenerations

Stortregn - Impermanence

Eximperitus - Šahrartu

Spectral Wound - A Diabolic Thirst

Suffering Hour - The Cyclic Reckoning

Crypts of Despair - All Light Swallowed

Acausal Intrusion - Nulitas

Unflesh - Inhumation

Blindfolded and Led to the Woods - Nightmare Withdrawals

Leiþa - Sisyphus

Cognizance - Upheaval

Ænigmatum - Deconsecrate

Craven Idol - Forked Tongues

Diabolizer - Khalkedonian Death

Schavot - Galgenbrok

Kanonenfieber - Menschenmühle

1914 - Where Fear and Weapons Meet

First Fragment - Gloire éternelle

Wesenwille - II A Material God

Imperialist - Zenith

EP:

Obvurt - The Beginning

Unfathomable Ruination - Decennium Ruinae

Nordjevel - Fenriir

Exhumed - Worming

Witch Vomit - Abhorrent Rapture

Honourable mentions:

Benothing - Temporal Bliss Surrealms

Funeral Mist - Deiform

Huronian - As Cold as a Stranger Sunset

Mefitis - Offscourings

Kjeld - Ôfstân

Gosudar - Morbid Despotic Ritual

Intonate - Severed Within

Alustrium - A Monument to Silence

Archspire - Bleed the Future

Inferi - Vile Genesis

Infidel Reich - N.W.O. - New World Outrage

Anakim - The Elysian Void

Sunless - Ylem

Svneatr - Chinook

Ferriterium - Calvaire

Atvm - Famine, Putrid and Fucking Endless

Replicant - Malignant Reality

DDM's Best of 2019

Again a year passed.

Picking a list of albums is still hard because of the many good to great releases that came out this year. And it was a lot again that were worth listening.

Over the years I have become more appreciative about other genres. Black metal and more progressive metal gained my interest where brutal slamming death metal disappeared to the background more and more. Still liking some!

It has enriched the variety of music to enjoy but it made it harder to pick a best of list. There is also no time to listen to all thoroughly as I did decades ago.

Some releases just do it for me by the sheer energy they produce with great riffs, like Sammath, Venereal Baptism, Teitanblood, Profane Order, Eggs of Gomorrh.

This same energy level is what I love in grindcore. The love for grindcore goes back to the days of Scum and From Enslavement to Obliteration.

Black metal I really started digging since a couple of years. There are some really good quality black metal bands that know how to pay their gear and know how to write good songs. Typical for black are the vocals, I got used to them and believe they fit the style for what it is. The other typical aspect is the atmosphere they build in the songs. Like clean singing, if it is well done and sparsly used it will add a lot to the experience when listening an album.

The below lists are the ones that stood out after brief scanning of the albums initially and which I remembered to go back to and they were given good amount of attention.

The lists are too long. I can't decide what album is best so I left them all in before deciding who would make the cut.

All albums mentioned below I bought on cd and ripped them to listen when on the road.

Some surprises I found were not in your lists: (Vltimas, Cleric, Reckless Manslaughter, Consumed by Vultures, Ripped to Shreds, Obscure Infinity, Dawn of Disease, Lord Gore, Infernal Conjuration, Festerday, Entrapment, Carnal Tomb, Abnormality)

I hope people like it, pick some from it, buy it and hope to enjoy them as I did.

Best overall:

Musmahhu - Reign of the Odious

Venom Prison - Samsara

Baest - Venenum

Gomorrah - Gomorrah

Orphalis - The Approaching Darkness

Tomb Mold - Planetary Clairvoyance

Vitriol - To Bathe from the Throat of Cowardice

Unfathomable Ruination - Enraged & Unbound

Vltimas - Something Wicked Marches In

Vanum - Ageless Fire

Wretched Fate - Fleshletting

Deus Mortem - Kosmocide

Deathspell Omega - The Furnaces of Palingenesia

Death Metal:

Dictated - Phobos

Embludgeonment - Barn Burner

Hour of Penance - Misotheism

Prostitute Disfigurement - Prostitute Disfigurement

Hate - Auric Gates of Veles

Bodyfarm - Dreadlord

Gods Forsaken - Smells of Death

Sammath - Across the Rhine Is Only Death

Venereal Baptism - Repugnant Coronation of the Beast

Sinners Bleed - Absolution

Altarage - The Approaching Roar

Obscure Infinity - Into the Vortex of Obscurity

Khnvm - Foretold Monuments of Flesh

Consumed by Vultures - Pseudobiblion

Unaussprechlichen Kulten - Teufelsbücher

Ceremony of Silence - Oútis

Vacivus - Annihilism

Horrific Demise - Excruciating Extermination

Nile - Vile Nilotic Rites

Corpseflesh - Rearranged with a 12 Gauge

Mortuary - The Autophagous Reign

Endseeker - The Harvest

Firespawn - Abominate

Order ov Riven Cathedrals - Thermonuclear Sculptures Blackness

Appalling - Inverted Realm

Repugnance - Shrouds of Deceit

Bleeding Utopia - Where the Light Comes to Die

Misery Index - Rituals of Power

Abnormality - Sociopathic Constructs

Witch Vomit - Buried Deep in a Bottomless Grave

Goatburner - Extreme Conditions

Disentomb - The Decaying Light

Ad Patres - A Brief Introduction to Human Experiments

Blood Incantation - Hidden History of the Human Race

Hideous Divinity - Simulacrum

Disinfect - Abaddon

Omophagia - 646965

Festerday - Iihtallan

Abyssal - A Beacon in the Husk

Black Flame - Necrogenesis Chants from the Grave

Gatecreeper - Deserted

Sentient Horror - Morbid Realms

Reckless Manslaughter - Caverns of Perdition

Ravenous Death - Chapters of an Evil Transition

Obturate - The Bleeding Mask of Dread

Entrails - Rise of the Reaper

Lord Gore - Scalpels for Blind Surgeons

Electrocution - Psychonolatry

Infernal Conjuration - Infernale Metallum Mortis

Carnal Tomb - Abhorrent Veneration

Black Metal:

Dawn Ray'd - Behold Sedition Plainsong

Funereal Presence - Achatius

Mortem - Ravnsvart

Akasha - Canticles Of The Sepulchral Deity

Sinmara – Hvísl Stjarnanna

False - Portent

Calyx - Vientos arcaicos

Misþyrming - Algleymi

Abduction - All Pain as Penance

1349 - The Infernal Pathway

Svartgren - Divlja vatra

Funeral Storm - Arcane Mysteries

Aoratos - Gods Without Name

Ultra Silvam - The Spearwound Salvation

Shrine of Insanabilis - Vast Vortex Litanies

Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult - Mardom

Qayin Regis - Doctrine

Grafvitnir - Venenum Scorpionis

Mgla - Age of Excuse

Tongue - What Do We Know of Horror

Mayhem - Daemon

Abbath - Outstrider

Ænigmatum - Ænigmatum

Yellow Eyes - Rare Field Ceiling

Det Eviga Leendet - Lenience

Wallfahrer - Rattenritual

Vukari - Aevum

Verheerer - Monolith

Véhémence - Par le sang versé

Perverticon - Wounds of Divinity

Nordjevel - Necrogenesis

Technical Thrash/ Death Metal:

Blackwater Burial - The Prison of Belief

Xoth - Interdimensional Invocations

Essence Of Datum - Spellcrying Machine

Equipoise - Demiurgus

Flub - Flub

Freedom of Fear - Nocturnal Gates

Vale of Pnath - Accursed

Contrarian - Their Worm Never Dies

Allegaeon - Apoptosis

Rings Of Saturn - Gidim

Allegaeon - Apoptosis

Demiurgon - The Oblivious Lure

Cognizance - Malignant Dominion

Hannes Grossmann - Apophenia

Crepuscle - Heavenly Skies

Desecravity - Anathema

Singularity - Place of Chains

Continuum - Designed Obsolescence

Hiss from the Moat - The Harrier

Catalyst - The Great Purpose of the Lords

Inanimate Existence - Clockwork

Controversial - Revelation

Fields of Elysium - In Ancient Contemplation

Eschaton - Death Obsession

Progressive Death/ Black:

Raptvre - Monuments of Bitterness

A Novelist - Folie

Obsequiae - The Palms of Sorrowed Kings

Nucleus - Entity

Immanifest - Macrobial

Phlebotomized - Deformation of Humanity

Vircolac - Masque

The Great Old Ones - Cosmicism

Immortal Bird - Thrive on Neglect

Shabti - Trembling and Shorn

Hath - Of Rot and Ruin

Cattle Decapitation - Death Atlas

Shadow of Intent - Melancholy

Kull - Exile

Haunter - Sacramental Death Qualia

Grindcore:

Exhumed - Horror

Unsu - Darkest in the Sun

Phobia - Generation Coward

Besta - Eterno Rancor

No One Knows What The Dead Think - No One Knows What The Dead Think

Distaste - Deibel

Theories - Vessel

Keitzer - Where The Light Ends

Birdflesh - Extreme Graveyard Tornado

Thrash:

Urn - Iron Will of Power

Legion of the Damned - Slaves of the Shadow Realm

Inculter - Fatal Visions

Overkill - The Wings of War

Sadistic Ritual - Visionaire of Death

Critical Defiance - Misconception

Invicta - Halls of Extinction

Oath of Cruelty - Summary Execution at Dawn

Insanity Alert - 666-Pack

The Bleeding - Morbid Prophecy

Ultra Silvam - The Spearwound Salvation

Barbarian - To No God Shall I Kneel

Possessed - Revelations of Oblivion

FreaKings - Rise of Violence

Bloodthirst - I Am Part of That Power Which Eternally Wills Evil and Eternally Works Wrong

EP:

Rotten Pope - The Aufhocker

Fleshmeadow - Daymares

Man Must Die - Gagging Order

Vader - Thy Messenger

Wormed - Metaportal

Noisem - Cease to Exist

Ogarya - Inclination

Ripper - Sensory Stagnation

Suffering Hour - Dwell

Xantam - Altered State

Ripped to Shreds - 魔經 - Demon Scriptures

Oniricous - La maldición

Eggs Of Gomorrh - Outpregnate

Critic - Éveil de l'esprit

Hate Manifesto - Herald of Triumph

Mother's Tomb - Absent Not Dead

Ingested - Call of the Void

Honorable mentions:

Organectomy - Existential Disconnect

Superstition - The Anatomy of Unholy Transformation

Sun Worship - Emanations of Desolation

Cirith Gorgor - Sovereign

Sorcery - Necessary Excess of Violence

Prolapsed - The Condemned

Concrete Winds - Primitive Force

Iron Flesh - Forged Faith Bleeding

Defecrator - Abortion of Humanity

Pissgrave - Posthumous Humiliation

Beheaded - Only Death Can Save You

Pathology - Reborn to Kill

Paroxysmal Butchering - Amygdala

Antropomorphia - Merciless Savagery

Parental Advisory - Aetas Anthropophagorum

Oblivion - Oblivion

Nihility - Thus Spoke the Antichrist

Entrapment - Imminent Violent Death

Cosmic Putrefaction - At the Threshold of the Greatest Chasm

DDM's Best of 2018

This year I have been going through some real life issues and I am pretty sure that I have overcome them in the end.

My mind has not been fully set to listening metal in general but it kept me going at the same time.
Metal has always been a lifesaver for me from my teenage years onwards and this year has proven similar.

I didn't care too much for a true and thorough analysis what should be the AOTY or even top 10.

I love different styles and my top 10 is a little mix, but CG don't worry it isn't all black dude. 😊

There were tremendous amounts of great releases and I have not heard them all properly.

Following is an attempt to list top 10 and further some great releases (Some worthy of top 10) split per genre.

Top 10:

1. Tomb Mold - Manor of Infinite Forms
2. Unbirth - Fleshforged Columns of Deceit
3. Hyperdontia - Nexus of Teeth
4. Pestilent Reign - Pyres
5. Burial Invocation - Abiogenesis
6. Serocs - The Phobos/ Deimos Suite
7. The Order of Apollyon - Moriah
8. Temple - Design in Creation
9. Mass Infection - Shadows Became Flesh
10. Obliteration - Cenotaph Obscure

Technical Death Metal:

Æpoch - Awakening Inception
The Aftermath - Vermine
The Beast of Nod - Vampira Disciple of Chaos
Alterbeast - Feast
Anachronism - Orogeny
Antiverse - Under the Regolith
Arsis - Visitant
Beyond Creation - Algorythm
Gorod - Æthra
House of Atreus - From the Madness of Ixion
Inferi - Revenant
Revocation - The Outer Ones
Stortregn - Emptiness Fills the Void
Spectral - Neural Correlates of Hate
Advent of Bedlam - Human Portal Phenomenon
Gortuary - Divine Indigenous Sacrament
Enblood - Cast to Exile
Aethereus - Absentia
Ahtme - Sewerborn
Obscura - Diluvian
Centaurus-A - Means of Escape
Aparia - Beyond The Walls Of Man
Portal - ION
Augury - Illusive Golden Age
Soreption - Monument of the End

Death Metal/ OSDM:

Abysmal Torment - The Misanthrope
De Profundis - The Blinding Light of Faith
Outer Heaven - Realms of Eternal Decay
Deicide - Overtures of Blasphemy
Flesh Hoarder - Homicidal Necrophile
Binah - Phobiate
Shed the Skin - We of Scorn
Undersave - Sadistic Iterations... Tales of Mental Rearrangement
The Crown - Cobra Speed Venom
Abolishment of Flesh - The Inhuman Condition
FaithXtractor - Proverbial Lambs to the Ultimate Slaughter
Obscenity - Summoning the Circle
Deadborn - Dogma Anti God
Skeletal Remains - Devouring Mortality
Construct of Lethe - Exiler
Mortuous - Through Wilderness
Infuriate - Infuriate
Coffin Birth - The Serpent Insignia
Taphos - Come Ethereal Somberness
Baest - Danse Macabre
Torture Rack - Malefic Humiliation ??
Aborted Fetus - The Ancient Spirits of Decay
Blood of the Wolf - Album I + II
Hate Eternal - Upon Desolate Sands
Organic - Carved in Flesh
Storm upon the Masses - The Ones Who Came Back
Taphos - Come Ethereal Somberness
Wombbath - The Great Desolation
Wombripper - From the Depths of Flesh
Boethiah - Invocation of the Xenolith
Lecherous Nocturne - Occultaclysmic
Immense - Slaughter of Brutality
Oxygen Destroyer - Bestial Manifestations of Malevolence and Death
Eskhaton - Omegalitheos
Cancer - Shadow Gripped
Deceased - Ghostly White
Veld - S.I.N.
Scorched - Ecliptic Butchery
Sulphur Aeon - The Scythe Of Cosmic Chaos
Chapel of Disease - ...and as We Have Seen the Storm, We Have Embraced the Eye
Nahum - Within Destruction
Fleshworks - Engine of Perdition
Hellish God - The Evil Emanations
Nachash - Phantasmal Triunity
Ulthar - Cosmovore
Depravity - Evil Upheaval

Grindcore:

Aborted - Terrorvision
Anaal Nathrakh - A New Kind of Horror
Axis of Despair - Contempt for Man
Cripple Bastards - La fine cresce da dentro
Scumpulse - Rotten
Pink Mass - Necrosexual
Wake - Misery Rites
Treasonist - Treasonist
Human Cull - Revenant
Lifetaker - Thanatos
Kataplexis - Kataplexis
Pig Destroyer - Head Cage

Black Metal:

Funeral Mist - Hekatomb
Adzalaan - Into Vermilion Mirrors
Aura Noir - Aura Noire
Immortal - Northern Chaos Gods
Imperialist - Cipher
Lucifer's Child - The Order
Marduk - Viktoria
Mare - Ebony Tower
Order ov Riven Cathedrals - Gobekli Tepe
Outre - Hollow Earth
Svartidaudi - Revelations of the Red Sword
Mutilation Rites - Chasm
Totenmesse - To
Spectral Wound - Infernal Decadence
Ascension - Under Ether
Stark Denial - Covenant of Black
Varathron - Patriarchs of Evil
Malichor - Nightmares and Abominations
Eskhaton - Omegalitheos
Anicon - Entropy Mantra

Thrash Metal:

Antipeewee - Infected by Evil
Degrave - Degrave
Final Breath - Of Death and Sin
Inquisitor - Stigmata Me, I'm in Misery
Rapture - Paroxysm of Hatred
Crisix - Against the Odds
Vomitor - Pestilent Death

EP:

Cast the Stone - Empyrean Atrophy
Unanimated - Annihilation
Dischordia - Binge/Purge
Quantum Hierarchy - Neutron Breed
Rotten Sound - Suffer to Abuse
Vimana - The Collapse
Demonbreed - Hunting Heretics
Benighted - Dogs Always Bite Harder than Their Master
Dominant - The Summoning

DDM's Best of 2017

Last year I have been away for work frequently.

I found it very hard to keep track of all releases and still I have procured a lot of albums.

My picks are based on multiple listens from the ones that I could. Surely I missed some gems.

My taste for metal is changing. You see I made a black metal pick as well. There are some really good ones in there.

Also, more complex experimental I can dig, bands like Dodecahedron, Ulsect, Pyrrhon, Cormorath etc.

Below is a top 10 as I thought it was appropriate, but could have been totally different if I had more time.

1. Immolation - Atonement

2. Cytotoxin - Gammageddon

3. Phrenelith - Desolate Endscape

4. Ensnared - Dysangelium

5. Decrepit Birth - Axis Mundi

6. Horrified - Allure of the Fallen

7. Broken Hope - Mutilated and Assimilated

8. Sutrah - Dunes

9. Spectrum of Delusion - Esoteric Entity

10. Archspire - Relentless Mutation

The following releases really stood out for me/ were doubts for top 10 in any order:

Unaussprechlichen Kulten - Keziah Lilith Medea (Chapter X)

Degial - Predator Reign

Trepid Elucidation - Upcoming Reality

The King Is Blind - We Are the Parasite, We Are the Cancer

Gigan - Undulating Waves of Rainbiotic Iridescence

Gorephilia - Severed Monolith

Grotesque - Feedback Loop

Integral - Resilience

Inverted Matter - Detach 

Subservience - Forest of the Impaled

Cryptic Fog - Staring Through the Veil

Necrot - Blood Offerings

Ogarya - Ubiquity

Creeping Fear - Onward to Apocalypse 

Vampire - With Primeval Force

Cut Up - Wherever They May Rot

Beneath - Ephemeris

Cannibal Corpse - Red Before Black

Incantation - Profane Nexus

The Monolith Deathcult - Versus 1

Narcotic Wasteland - Delirium Tremens

Necrovorous - Plains of Decay

Contaminated - Final Man

EP:

Slave One - An Abstract and Metaphysical Approach to Deceit

Hateful Transgression - Meaningless

Sheidim - Infamata

Gorod - Kiss the Freak

Sinsaenum - Ashes

Seprevation - Echoes of Mercy

Inhumation - Ontogenesis

Black (Death) Metal Best:

Kadaverdisciplin - Death Supremacy

Aosoth - V: The Inside Scriptures

Woe - Hope Attrition

Bestia Arcana - Holókauston

Inconcessus Lux Lucis - The Crowning Quietus

Theotoxin - Atramentvm

Cult of the Horns - Chapter I - Domination

Der Weg Einer Freiheit - Finisterre

Selbst - Selbst

Tehom - The Merciless Light

Thrash Best:

Vexovoid - Call Of The Starforger

Condor - Unstoppable Power

Craven Idol - The Shackles of Mammon

Slaegt - Domus Mysterium

Technical Death Metal Best:

Decrescent - Blackened Bequest

Order ov Riven Cathedrals - The Discontinuity's Interlude

A Flourishing Scourge - A Flourishing Scourge

Virulent Depravity - Fruit of the Poisoned Tree

Profanity - The Art of Sickness

Beyond Grace - Seekers

Exocrine - Ascension

Shadow of Intent - Reclaimer

Phobiatic - Phobiatic

Discordance - In The Shadow Of Leaves

Honourable Mentions:

Kalopsia - Angelplague

Oblivion - The Path Towards...

Analepsy - Atrocities from Beyond

Blood Freak - Total Destruction of the Human Form

Azarath - In Extremis

Handsome Prick - Anonymityville

Wrath of Belial - Bloodstained Rebellion

Enfold Darkness - Adversary Omnipotent

Origin - Unparalleled Universe

Afterbirth - The Time Traveler's Dilemma

Gutslit - Amputheatre

Hour of Penance - Cast the First Stone

Hideous Divinity - Adveniens

Impetuous Ritual - Blight upon Martyred Sentience

Brute - Henchmen

Anasarca - Survival Mode

Disappointments:

Morbid Angel - Perhaps expectation level set too high.

God Dethroned - Still ok, but missing the bite.

The Kennedy Veil - Guess needs more listens. First attempts not grabbing me.

Who said death metal is dead???

DDM's Best of 2016

Top 10 Overall

1. Virvum - Illuminance
2. Crator - The Ones Who Create : The Ones Who Destroy
3. Chthe'ilist - Le Dernier Crépuscule
4. First Fragment - Dasein
5. Afterburner - Tomb of Kings
6. Unfathomable Ruination - Finitude
7. Deviant Process - Paroxysm
8. Vektor - Terminal Redux
9. Cortexiphan - Iniquitous
10. Dehumanized - Beyond The Mind

Top 15 Technical (Brutal) Death Metal

Polyptych - Defying the Metastasis
Katalepsy - Gravenous Hour
Vale of Pnath - II
Orphalis - The Birth of Infinity
Nucleus - Sentient
Onomasy - Ashes And Dust
Towering Abomination - Towering Abomination
Xenomorphic Contamination - Colonized from the Inside
Infinite Density - Recollapse of the Universe
Wormed - Krigshu
Duality - Elektron
Banisher - Oniric Delusions
Fractured Insanity - Man Made Hell
Murder Made God - Enslaved
Spawning Abhorrence - The Sleepless One

Top 5 Progressive Death Metal/ Thrash

Gomorrah - The Haruspex
Ulcerate - Shrines of Paralysis
Ripper - Experiment of Existence
Mithras - On Strange Loops
Inanimate Existence - Calling From A Dream

Top 25 Death Metal

Neurogenic - Ouroboric Stagnation
Omophagia - In The Name Of Chaos
Oncology - Infinite Regress
Internal Suffering - Cyclonic Void of Power
God Enslavement - Consuming The Divine
Face Of Oblivion - Cataclysmic Desolation
Dehuman Reign - Ascending from Below
Dawn of Demise - The Suffering
Dawn of Disease - Worship the Grave
Blood Incantation - Starspawn
Blasphemer - Ritual Theophagy
Abhorrent Aggression - You Only Die Once
Sinsaenum - Echoes of the Tortured
Hellspawn - There Has Never Been a Son of Me
Sin of God - Aenigmata
Deceptionist - Initializing Irreversible Process
Age Of Agony - For The Forgotten
Angerseed - The Proclamation
Gatecreeper - Sonoran Depravation
Panic Disorder - Daimonion
Rebaelliun - The Hell's Decrees
Volturyon - Cleansed By Carnage
Carnophage - Monument
Shed The Skin - Harrowing Faith
Omnihility - Dominion of Misery

Top 5 Black/ Death Metal

Gloria Morti - Kuebiko
Ragnarok - Psychopathology
Noctem - Haeresis
Auroch - Mute Books
Denouncement Pyre - Black Sun Unbound

Top 5 Grind/ Death Metal

Asphalt Graves - The New Primitive
Embalmer - Emanations from the Crypt
Wormrot - Voices
Captain Cleanoff - Rising Terror
Gadget - The Great Destroyer

DDM's Best of 2015

Top 10

1. Sarpanitum - Blessed Be My Brothers

2. Inverted - The Age of Harvest

3. Lost Soul - Atlantis... The New Beginning

4. Bloody Brotherhood - Ritual of Blood

5. Sulphur Aeon - Gateway to the Antisphere

6. A Loathing Requiem - Acolytes Eternal

7. Wombbath - Downfall Rising

8. Horrendous - Anareta 

9. Veld - Daemonic The Art Of Dantalian

10. Theories - Regression

Top 11 - 40

Recueil Morbide - Morbid Collection

The Order of Apollyon - The Sword and the Dagger 

Sepiroth - Uninvolved

Gorelust - We Are the Undead

Heaving Earth - Denouncing the Holy Throne

I Chaos - Masterbleeder 

Kronos - Arisen New Era

Raising The Veil - Bosonic Quantvm Phenomena

Abhira - Itihasa Purushartas

Bodyfarm - Battle Breed

Crocell - Prophet's Breath

Revolting - Visages of the Unspeakable

Micawber - The Gods of Outer Hell

Necrowretch - With Serpents Scourge

Overtorture - A Trail of Death

Discreation - Procreation Of The Wretched

Obscure Infinity - Perpetual Descending Into Nothingness

Castrensis - Hierarchies

Apophys - Prime Incursion

Antropofago - Aera Dementiæ

Bleeding Gods - Shepherd Of Souls

Burst Bowel - Repelled Gift

Cut Up - Forensic Nightmares

Demiurgon - Above The Unworthy

Embrional - The Devil Inside

Inhuman Depravity - Nocturnal Carnage by the Unholy Desecrator

Morbid Vomit - Return To The Crypts

Necrosy - Perdition

Suppuration - Devouring Your Prayers

Obscure Infinity - Perpetual Descending Into Nothingness

George Kollias - Invictus

Ingested - The Architect of Extinction

Perdition Temple - The Tempter's Victorious

Sarpentra - Supernova

Genital Grinder - Abduction

Malevolent Creation - Dead Man's Path

Mass Burial - Soul's Necrosis

Mörbid Vomit - Doctrine of Violence

Vulnus - Vessels of Throe

Firespawn - Shadow Realms