I don't know for sure, but instinct or my gut feeling wants to tell me that this is maybe the best year of death metal I have ever encountered. There is so much pure death metal that I cannot comprehend how you guys that are into other sub-genres can even put together a list. I have overlooked and been unable to get to so many quality releases and that is a shame to the great musicians who produce this awesome stuff for us.
There also seems to be an unusual amount of newer bands this year, or bands that I had never heard of making it all the more better of a year, and difficult to compile a best of list. This does hurt some of my old favorites as they have been pushed down the list due to great new bands.
So here is my 2017 list of no frills, no bullshit, straight up, death fucking metal.
1) Cut Up (Swe) - Wherever They May Rot, "Cut-omitory" Does it get any better? 11 songs = 38:16, not 1 ounce of bullshit and the only band out there that uses two vocalists and does it right, why...because they both do death metal vocals! This was #1 from the time it came out!
2) Necrot (US) - Blood Offerings, a rarity here, a relatively newer US band that I really like. Someone could have told me these guys were from somewhere in Europe and without a doubt, I would have believed it. Somewhat of a Swedish sound but still a little different, enough to give these guys some great potential as this is one of my favorite releases in a busy death metal year.
3) Cannibal Corpse (US) - Red Before Black, I've said it before, I was never much of a fan of these guys in the early days but after Y2K and with George Fisher taking over on vocals they became much better to me and I have loved their last 5 or 6 releases. One of the surest bets in death metal is that Cannibal Corpse won't try to fix what isn't broke (like an old favorite Sinister did)!
4) Aposento (Esp) - Bleed To Death, damn, like Cemetery Urn below don't you love it when you get straight up, no frills, 8 to 10 songs, clocking 37 to 45 minutes without one ounce of bullshit! These guys have been around a long time since 1992 to be precise but nothing serious from them until 2012, which I somewhat ignored. This release made me go back to that 2014 and it is very good as well.
5) Obituary (US) - Obituary, another band that is absolutely amazing in the fact that no matter how much they continue to sound their same boring selves they continue to put out awesome death metal. Like Malevolent Creation, Deranged, Cannibal Corpse, Humiliation, Grave, Vader, These Are They and a few others these guys refuse to fuck it up and continue to put out great no frills, no bullshit death fucking metal!
6) Eteritus (Pol) - Following The Ancient Path, this is supposed to be a mid-year 2016 release, so I'm cheating a bit but to my knowledge, this was not out to us metalheads until late Feb 2017. It isn't typical Polish death metal, as it has a Swedish edge to it, but it is definitely heavy and has some great chunky sound to it. With only a previous EP these guys give hope that there is more to come.
7) Firespawn (Swe) - The Reprobate, this band came out about three years ago and if I remember correctly our buddy DDM was recommending them. I let that first one slide for some reason but this 2017 grabbed me so much it made me go back and both releases are superb. I often couple the two releases together and honestly cannot tell the difference when listening. Both great slabs of Swedish death and displaying that awesome guitar work of Victor Brandt!
8) Paganizer (Swe) - Land Of Weeping Souls, I have followed this band for many years, as I do most of Rogga Johansson bands (which are many as all of you reading this know). Although not really different or a change in sound, this one for some reason has really stood out and is an exceptional Rogga release.
9) Cemetery Urn (Aus) - Cemetery Urn, I had never heard of this band, but our buddy Foretold made mention of them so I decided to take him up on it and give them a listen. Wow, was I surprised! They have a previous release from 2010 that I was not aware of that is pretty good in its own right, but this 2017 self-titled is damn good. I still have to listen to their inaugural cd from 2007 when I get a chance.
10) Graceless (Nld) - Shadowlands, with ex-Grand Supreme Blood Court bassist as founder and main performer of this band it is no wonder these guys have a bit of Aspyhx in them. Really good death metal with only a slight negative in the slower doom parts, otherwise this is excellent death metal. The fact that I don't care for doom doesn't hurt this release, as it is done very well and much like Asphyx and not too doomy.
11) Saprobiontic (Ger) - Science Of War, pretty much a one man, one woman band and I find this disc very entertaining. It is advertised as "brutal" death, which I can't argue but I find it a really great listen of pure, solid death metal and another great no bullshit, no frills release.
12) Entrails (Swe) - World Inferno, always a fair to average fan of this band so I wasn't too excited when this came out and really didn't jump into it. After numerous listens in the last couple months it has forced me to go back to their previous stuff. Very good cd with that great Swedish buzz saw sounding guitar, good vocals and no frills and a band I am fastly becoming a big fan of.
13) Nihilistikrypt (Est) - Serial Killer Diaries, a real surprise here as I was not expecting this release. A band I have been familiar with and enjoyed their previous stuff, so I was a bit disappointed when I learned they had a new vocalist and female (no offense intended Nikki). BUT, after hearing this I was completely wrong in my pre-judgement of her! She is along with Italy's vocalist from Putrefied Beauty the best female I've ever heard do death metal. The music is awesome too!
14) Humiliation (Mys) - No Escape, nothing especially different from their past and that certainly isn't a bad thing as not many can top their 2015 Under The Siege Of Invasion. This is a very enjoyable listen and about as perfect of my favorite style of death metal as possible and these guys have become a very favorite band of mine. Thanks to our buddy Bongripper for turning me onto these guys a few years back!
15) Misanthrope Monarch (Ger) - Regress To The Saturnine Chapter, another band that caught me by surprise and a little unique in their style of death metal but one I like very much. They are lead by vocalist Christoph Mieves who still is active with Resurrected and Grind Inc. I like pure death vocals and this band has them and some great music as well so I am curious to see what the future holds for these guys.
16) Nervecell (Are) - Past, Present...Torture, these guys are so consistent and good that they are probably my favorite band from that part of the world called the Middle East. Very technically sound while still performing straight up death metal. I can't call this their best effort as their others are so similar but they are all really good and go by my motto of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
17) Uerberos (Pol) - Tormented By Faith, aside from 1:30 of wasted space called an intro this is some really good death metal. I'm glad the Poles are coming back with some great new bands and look forward to more from these guys. They formed from a lesser known band, Inset, who had a very short decent EP a few years back. Heavy as fuck traditional death metal that make this a great listen.
18) Skelethal (Fra) - Of The Depths..., death metal maybe a bit bland, raw average sound, normal vocals, but saying that I really love this one! These vocals kind of go with what I say about death metal, if it ain't broke don't fix it and this vocalist is solid and appeals. Also, 9 songs = 39:33 of straight up no-frills death fucking metal!
19) Invasion (US) - Destroyer Of Mankind, really love this, maybe the best cd of music in 2017 and it is that good, but damn!!!! It has samples in front of every song, some going on for minutes with WWII stuff. If I want to hear a US president declare war on Japan I won't listen to death metal, I'll go back in time. I just want to hear good straight up, no-frills death metal so fuck the samples, intros, spoken words or...bullshit!
20) Mortor (Can) - Burn Up The Dead, this band is good and a very interesting cd from guys with two other solid releases which I must admit I haven't given much attention to. One other thing, the vocals really stand out on this release. The land of our buddy Marty hasn't given me much to like in the last few years but this a really good release.
21) Mass Burial (Esp) - Breeding Plagues, another really good slab of slight Swedish sounding death, with nothing special, nothing out of the ordinary but still very good straight up death metal. Other than a piano-laced intro you get 10 songs at 41 minutes = perfect!
22) Massive Assault (Nld) - Mortar, another band that I had no idea existed until this popped out of the womb in August 2017! I've said this a few times but the Dutch, for some reason really know how to do death metal. I have not yet but need to get into their previous releases and see if they measure up to this one.
23) Horror Of Horrors (US) - Rust Flesh Dust, another band that has been around for quite some time yet I've somehow pretty much ignored, despite being located only a 45 minute drive from me in my home state. Really good and in my top 3 or 4 of US band releases in 17.
24) Morta Skuld (US) - Wounds Deeper Than Time, a band that has been around for quite a long time, yet I have never give them any attention. In some ways they are to Jungle Rot what Jungle Rot is to Deranged and what Deranged is to Malevolent Creation, in other words bands that don't try to fix what isn't broke. A solid straight up slab of good death metal here and it proves if death metal isn't broke, don't attempt to fix it!
25) Empty Grace (Bra) - Subversive Worms, don't you love it, 10 songs = 40:31, one vocal style, no ridiculous intros and really good no-frills death metal. Maybe the best South American death I've heard since Melektaus and Krenak! Just got this too late in the year because it is climbing with every listen and definitely could challenge the top 10 if it had a couple more months.
26) Monster (Ger) - Blood Soaked Restart, another band that I had been unfamiliar with! Although they have only been around for five years now and with a 2014 release I had never heard. I was surprised that they have not been brought up here in The Chamber. Very good thrashy death, or is it deathy thrash? Either way, I hear some old Slayer riffs in here and a unique style that is very appealing.
27) Memoriam (UK) - For The Fallen, with ex-Bolt Thrower guys Karl Willets, Andy Whale and Benediction, Cerebral Fix and Napalm Death's Frank Healy I really thought this to be something I would really love. Unfortunately it just hasn't demanded the plays I had anticipated but still find it a very good listen.
28) Toxic Crypt (Swe) - Where Dead Trees Grow, some really good Swedish death that as they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and with that great Swedish sound these guys prove it. Having band members with names like Ahnfeldt, Hjartstrom, Karlsson how could they fuck up their native country sound!
29) Morbid Flesh (Esp) - Rites Of The Mangled, this one came to us back in April but it took some time for me to get into it and I really have lately. I confuse them with countrymen Mass Burial as both have a sort of Swedish sound to them. I find this as one I'll go back to a lot as it is pure straight up death.
30) Incinerator (Nld) - Stench Of Distress, another band I had never heard of and was quite surprised...and impressed with. One of a few that uses John Tardy type vocals and do it extremely well! A good solid 9 songs, a little short at just under 33 minutes but still, not a frill in the house and a very impressive.
31) Mordbrand (Swe) - Wilt, it took me a long time to get "bored" enough to get to this but damn, what a good slab of Swedish death metal! I've been blasting this in December as if it is hot off the presses, yet it has been out since February this year. Just because Sweden has so many great bands don't overlook this one as I did.
32) Kadaverkult (Swe) - Kadaverkult, how can you go wrong, Vomitory / Cut Up vocalist / bassist Erik Rundqvist and Lord K of Torture Division! A little out of my taste with a tad bit of doom but otherwise some good death metal. This is said to be an October 2016 release but we never got it until 2017, so I'm including it.
33) Carnal Garden (Grc) - Where They Are Silent, another band with John Tardy style vocals and another band that does it well. They have that buzzsaw sound to their guitars long associated with Sweden but still they don't appear as Swedish clones to me. Another really solid straight up death metal release that I will enjoy occasionally. Only negative is some bullshit samples or radio commentators patched into some songs.
34) War Possession (Grc) - Doomed To Chaos, drab death metal, boring vocals, songs all sound the same, no harmony? I fucking love it! Take out the 2:03 second intro of monks chanting and you have 37:22 of solid, consistent, nine songs that really kick ass! Are there better releases out there...sure, but this is still a very entertaining listen to lovers of pure death metal.
35) Coffin Creep (Swe) - Corpse Defiler, heavy as fuck Swedish death with a bit of a raw sound to them that I really like. I can't put my finger on why I like this re-recorded 58:35 version of the band's 3 demos so much but it is very good! I have to admit this isn't one to grab you upon first listen, but the more you hear it the more it impresses you so give these guys a chance.
36) Dig Me No Grave (Rus) - Immemorial Curse, some solid no-frills death fucking metal, nothing else to be said. Only negative a little short but otherwise some good death and their countrymen from Russia have had a good death metal year!
37) Anasarca (Ger) - Survival Mode, this came out mid-way through the year and despite these guys being an old favorite I kind of put it on the back burner. I don't know if initially it didn't grab me or if other stuff had me overwhelmed. As I listen now I believe it to be better than I had judged earlier and maybe I unfairly didn't give it enough opportunity as it hasn't stood up to their previous stuff.
38) Sangrena (Bra) - Hunter, these guys had an inaugural cd in 2009 that I really liked but haven't listened to in a couple years and this one follows right up. Very solid, good death metal that isn't real heavy but shows some aggression. If you feel like chillin one day put this on and only a slight complaint is the melo-ness at times!
39) Neocaesar (Nld) - 11:11, a lineup of all ex-Sinister guys, minus blood and guts Aad K, these guys are really pretty good and maybe my most overlooked newer band of 2017. I am doing some serious listening to this now in December that I should have done much earlier in the year and something that makes doing these EOY lists enjoyable by finding hidden gems that have been passed over. Not much groove or technicality this disc still impresses.
40) Resurgency (Grc) - No Worlds... nor Gods Beyond, this release is a bit of a dilemma as I liked their previous so much that I expected more. It is good and something that has grown on me with listens but still takes a back seat to their inaugural cd False Enlightenment. I am sure this will get many more listens from me in the future.
41) Anarchos (Nld) - Invocation of Moribund Spirits, here is a band that had a demo and EP out a few years ago and now come with their first full length. With bands Eternal Solstice and Burning Hatred in their past they know how to do it and just being Dutch spells death metal. Little bit of Swedish guitar buzz but otherwise hard to describe only to say excellent! I just wish the sound was more clean.
42) Concrete (Bgr) - Domain of Untold Horrors, more no-frills death that doesn't have anything to blow you out of the water but is just a good solid listen of pure death metal. This one has been as we say, kicking up a storm to make my list as you don't get any more straight up death metal than these guys do.
43) Trigger (Rus) - Old School, good slow gruelling death! A new vocalist but very little change, which is good as these guys have a good history going. I just wish I would have given this more time but will in the future for sure.
44) Devouring (Esp) - Psalms Of Death, another really good release that if we didn't have so much great death I would really enjoy hearing more. Pretty straight up death metal with some good technicality to it but as I've said in the past there is just too much death and not enough life.
45) Abaddon (Chl) - Super Human Majesty Resurrects, if you haven't heard this one do it, very good straight up death with a real heavy edge and from my favorite SA death metal country Chile. A much better release to me, than their previous as they've changed and no longer do dual vocal styles. A rarity, a band that did away with dual vocals.
46) Gatecreeper (US) - Unleashed In The Middle East, a very short 7 song live album that is really good. These guys have a perfect sound of Sweden in their guitars and I've heard some great quality live releases in my time but this one is at or near the top as it sounds if performed in studio.
47) Panopticon Death (Rus) - The Final Prophecy, another good slab of pure death that I just haven't managed to give any attention and a nice cover of Cannibal Corpse Hammer Smashed Face. They have a previous cd out that I've given a little attention, but need to get back to both.
48) Maat (Ger) - Monuments Will Enslave, this one goes against my normal listening pleasure, but for some reason I find it quite enjoyable occasionally. Never a fan of Nile, nor frills in my death metal I find the good things on this disc enough to distract me from the Egyptian harp and lyre we hear. Have to say the vocalist is very good!
49) Carnage (Rus) - Purification Through Annihilation, another good dose of what is labeled "old school" death metal nowadays. I must admit, coming out early, in January, I haven't given these guys the attention lately that I should have but this is a very good release with the only negative being 7 songs = 30:50.
50) Brutal Unrest (Ger) - Trinitas, another band that I've treated unfairly because I loved their earlier stuff so much. Very solid release from a band that has 2 really good previous releases in their history. They have spoken words run through a couple of the songs and one almost the whole song...fuck that because it ruins good music.
51) Antropomorphia (Nld) - Sermon ov Wrath, pretty good straight up death metal from a band that looks to be black metal by their appearance. This really didn't get enough listens from me and hope to revive it in the future, unless we continue to have years of death like 2017!
52) Masachist (Pol) - The Sect, this came out the 1st of May and I really didn't give it much attention until going over stuff to make this list. These guys, with their two previous releases, were big favorites of mine and so much I seek out their CDs. Listening now, I underestimated this and will be listening more.
53) Dead Carnage (Cze) - Flesh, Blood, Orgy, this is the band's first release and one of those that I surely didn't give enough listens to. In some ways the strict competition of so much death metal is detrimental to lots of bands as this should get more plays and respect.
54) Bloodphemy (Nld) - Bloodline, this has some really good moments but just not enough to hold me and the competition is tough this year, so maybe in the future I'll get back to this as it is some solid straight up death. I get these guys and Neocaesar confused and with Michel Alderliefsten playing bass in one band, guitar in the other it makes it more confusing.
55) Deus Otiosus (Dnk) - Opposer, good quality death metal and a worthy listen from these guys who have a few good CDs out in the last 7 or 8 years! Only negative a bit short at under 30 minutes and not to be confused with Germany's Deus Inversus.
56) Deserted Fear (Ger) - Dead Shores Rising, a really solid release from a band that keeps putting out good stuff. I like it but it does tend to go a little towards melodic in some ways although not enough to turn me off, but good regardless.
57) Beneath (Isl) - Ephemeris, these guys are easily my favorite band from the land of Ice but for some reason this one didn't grab me like their previous. I must admit I have to get back to it if and when I get bored with the above stuff.
58) God Dethroned (Hol) - The World Ablaze, pretty good stuff but just another that I haven't been able to give enough listens to. With members from some of my favorite Dutch bands Grand Supreme Blood Court, Dictated, Soulburn, Bleeding Gods, Toxocara, Apophys, Prostitute Disfigurement how could I not give this more time.
59) Soulskinner (Grc) - Descent to Abaddon, a very strange release here because 8 songs on this cd are very much my style! What I don't get is there are two 7+ minute songs that are not a fit at all as both are very slow, very different from the other 8 songs. I don't know if doom is the proper description but just different so I've chopped those two long songs off and really enjoy the other 8.
60) Antropofagus (Ita) - Methods of Resurrection Through Evisceration, a bit more on the brutal side than I normally like but very good and amongst many of the good releases out of Italy this year.
Some random stuff I've enjoyed this year that deserves more attention!
Puteraeon (Swe) - The Empires Of Death (ep), damn I love this disc, love this band and their music but goddamn I hate EPs and only 3 songs at 12 minutes!
Skineater (Swe) - Cerebral Relics (ep), ditto above ^^^^^^
Resurrected (Ger) - Resurrected, another band I have a long history with and loved their previous stuff so this should be high up the list but for various reasons I just haven't listened to it.
Dullboozer (Esp) - Embrace the Darkness, really good straight up death metal that fits my liking perfectly but I just didn't listen to despite coming out very early in the year. I just gave this disc a complete listen and it is damn good.
Gods Forsaken (Int) - In A Pitch Black Grave, pure Swedish death worship here although members are Swede and Norwegian. Another really good release to be listened to in the future.
Corrosive (Ger) - Lucifer Gave The Faith, this is no doubt better than a lot above that made the list but it came out way too late in the year to get enough listens to absorb it. I could easily see this in the top 20 with more time.
Remains (Mex) - Through The Eyes of Death, one of my favorite bands from Mexico and another that needs more listens. A shame that I didn't have time for this one because it is good.
Narthraal (Isl) - Screaming From The Grave, some more good straight up death from the land of Beneath and Gone Postal, that hotbed of death metal, Iceland!
Navalm (Ukr) - Nothingness, more good death that just didn't have a chance with the plethora of music we have supplied to us metalheads.
Anthem (Pol) - Praeposterum, supposed 2016 release that we didn't get until 2017 and a band with a previous release that made #1 on my 2014 end of year list but this just hasn't attracted me.
Below is more good stuff that deserves some listens if I can ever get around to them.
Domination (Ger) - Reunion
Casket (Ger) - Unearthed
Infest (Srb) - Addicted To Flesh
Discreation (Ger) - End Of Days
Dawn Of Disease (Ger) - Ascension Gate
Endseeker (Ger) - Flesh Hammer Prophecy
Lifeless (Ger) - The Occult Mastery
Cryptobiosis (Ger) - The Worship of Baphograde (live)
Gravestone (Swe) - Rotten Kill (ep)
Phidion (Swe) - The Throes of Scourge
Rotten Breath (Swe) - Psalms of Eradication
Deivos (Pol) - Endemic Divine
Immolation (US) - Atonement
Suffocation (US) - ...Of The Dark Light
Escarnnia (Bra) - Humanity Isolated
Burning Torment (Bra) - In the Eyes of the Impotent God
Diabolical Messiah (Chl) - Demonic Weapons Against the Sacred
Blood Of Seklusion (Ita) - Servants Of Chaos
Daemoniac (Ita) - Spawn Of The Fallen
Deathcrush (Ita) - Hell
Ekpyrosis (Ita) - Asphyxiating Devotion
Horrid (Ita) - Beyond the Dark Border
Maze Of Sothoth (Ita) - Soul Demise
Helslave (Ita) - Divination (ep)
Ulvedharr (Ita) - Total War
Perfidious (Ita) - Malevolent Martyrdom
Infamovs (Chl) - Under The Seals Of Death
Rotten Spirit (Col) - El retorno del carroñero
Tanatron (Bra) - Tanatron
Sangre (Bra) - Just Pray
Bloody Alchemy (Fra) - Kingdom of Hatred
Nephren-Ka (Fra) - La grande guerre de l'épice
Ashen Epitaph (Srb) - The Formed Filth Enigma
Plague Throat (Ind) - The Human Paradox
Brute (Svk) - Henchmen
Morbid Art (Jpn) - The Cult of Flesh
Ursinne (Int) - Swim with the Leviathan
Eternal Rest (Aus) - A Death in the Darkness
Tomb Mold (Can) - Primordial Malignity
Nocturnal Hollow (Ven) - The Nuances Of Death