Well, finally I made it. I finished
my Best-Of-2020-List. And what a year it was, in retrospective. Actually, it
shoudn´t be a surprise that year one of the pandemic would turn out to very
fruitful for DM, since times of crisis are almost always highly inspiring to
artists in general and especially for the ones concentrating on the darker
sides of living. Considering the process of creating music (in particular
rather complex stuff as DM), I believe the bulk of what came out in 2020 was
rather benefiting from the fact, that most people just had more time to finish
stuff, that was already “in progress”, meaning I think that the “artistic
influence” will show much more in this year – and possibly the ones coming.
With that said, let´s start with my little retrospective, shall we?
- Absvrdist/A
Million Dead Birds Laughing
(USA/AUS)– Split
◦
the worst thing about this Split is it´s length!
AMDBL deliver their trademark sound, which surely is not for everyone, but I
totally dig! Absurdist play some nice Crust-Grind with a certain twist – loads
of raw Punk-energy in it.
- Abysmal
Dawn (USA) – Phylogenesis
◦
Another fantastic album, only a bit too clinical
in the production.
- Ahtme
(USA) – Mephitic
◦
Not all songs are equally strong IMO, but when
it get´s good, shit get´s really good!
Still don´t have no f***in´clue
what their name is supposed to mean, though.
- Akurion
(CAN) – Come Forth To Me
◦
From the very first tune you can tell, that
these guys are from Canada. Somewhere between Cryptopsy and the almighty
Gorguts with Mike DiSalvo on vox.
- Anaal
Nathrakh (UK) – Endarkenment
◦
Not only probably the best f***ing title in all
2020, but I couldn´t come up with a better characterization of our “era” (envy
off). Maybe not their strongest album, but still a damn good one. I hear a lot
of At The Gates in the more melodic tracks.
- Apep
(GER) – The Invocation Of The Deathless One
◦
Slightly Egyptian-themed OSDM from Zwickau,
Saxony. More of an underground aesthetic, especially sound wise than with Maat.
Very entertaining. I wonder what´s with my fellow countrymen and ancient Egypt!
There´s probably not much for you on this list, Carl, but you should give these
guys a go (if you haven´t already, actually didn´t bother checkin´if it even
ended up on your list tbh)
- Arsebreed
(NED) Butoh
◦
This is probably my no.1 of 2020!
I usually have the entire year on
my player and listen in shuffle. When these songs came up, I was a bit
confused, because I didn´t remember them being on the Disavowed album – but
they sure as hell sounded just like Disavowed. Then I checked and realized:
This is literally a second Disavowed. “ Members from Disavowed, 2 ex-Disavowed
+ 1 from Bloodcum and their last release is aeons old. Dutch brutality at it´s
finest!!!
- Beneath
The Massacre (CAN) – Fearmonger
◦
FUCK! I just realized, this has to be my no.1,
or maybe both...anyways. I wasn´t even aware they reunited, so this one came as
very welcomed early surprise. Probably their best to date. Awesome title, too –
maybe second after Endarkenment.
- Bowel
Stew (ITA) – Putridarium
◦
Highly entertaining BDM with some Goregrind
influences, especially in the vox. Their cover of “Slowly We Rot” is hilarious!
- Contrarian
(USA) – Only Time Will Tell
◦
Definitely not an album I can listen to anytime,
but when I´m in the mood for some prog, it doesn´t get much better than this. I
sense a certain Sadist vibe on that particular album. And the songs are
refreshingly short for prog, too.
- Crawling
Chaos (ITA) – XLIX
◦
Metal Archives has them labeled as Death
Metal/Grindcore, yet I don´t hear much Grind in here, rather the expected roman
mix of brutally and (some)tech – less tech as in HOP or Hid Div, though.
- Cytotoxin
(GER) – Nuklearth
◦
Again, probably their best album, to date,
definitely on the vox. Grimmo has completely gotten rid of all the rather annoying
high-pitched squealing, just traditional guttural gurgling - you gotta love it. Only negative (again) is
the very clinical production, but it´s not as bad as on other Unique leader
productions.
- Deeds
Of Flesh (USA) – Nucleus
◦
Well of course it had to be here. It´s easily
the best from their final “trilogy”, but I never really stomached their change
in style. Here they are closest to their traditional trademark sound. As
mentioned above, I´m not a huge fan of that Unique Leader sound and I don´t care
much for the vox. Indeed I would have preferred the various guests to take over
the vocal duties completely, or at least mainly. I just don´t like his phrasing
and rhythm a lot. Many negatives, yet it´s on this list – that´s how fucking good it is, anyways!
- Defeated
Sanity (GER) – The Sanguinary Impetus
◦
Finally their back with another full album,
which happens to be the perfect blend of their former “Split with themselves”.
This is easily their most complex album so far. Josh is a perfect match on the
vox (even more so live) and he´s just a hell of cool guy. I was a bit sad when
Christian left, but Lille is just as good a guitar player as he is a drummer.
- Dehuman
Reign (GER) – Descending Upon The Oblivious
◦
I suppose there´s not much I have to say about
them, here. Just good OSDM.
- Devangelic
(ITA) – Ersetu
◦
Again, this is my favourite album by the band in question.
Much darker sounding and the vocals are the best I heard from Paolo, also much
better comprehensible than usually.
- Disavowed
(NED) – Revocation Of The Fallen
◦
Generally what I said about Arsebreed applies
here, too. Only I like Arsebreed´s album a tad more. Anyhow, I waited 12-13 yrs
f or this one and it was fuckin´worth it!
- Disevared
(IDN) – Inherit The Period Of Suffering
◦
The first Indonesian entry on my list. And it´s
amazing. A bit of a Brodequin vibe accompanied by some slammy, more modern
elements on here.
- Disembodied
(IDN) – Eternal Worshipper
◦
The next Indonesian band. More of an old-school
Dying Fetus vibe, here.
- Expendiency
(IDN) – Disobedience
◦
And Indonesia again. Much darker sounding as the
others. The drumming is so damn good!
- Hateful
(ITA) – Set Forever On Me
◦
Excellent old-school tech with a Finnish
touch/sound.
- In
Demise (GER) - Conjuring Dystopia (EP)
◦
Well, of course this had to be here. Despite not
being fully satisfied with my own delivery (I still feel I could have done much
better), the music is so fucking good – and there´s no credit for me to be had
for it at all. I sure am very glad to be in this band. And just on a side-note,
I think I really nailed some of lyrics, at least.
- Inception
Of Fall (CZE) – Builders Of The World (EP)
◦
Modern Tech Death with some Psycroptic
influences, among others. If your not afraid of some slight Core this is
freaking good!
- Inferi
(USA) – Of Sunless Realms (EP)
◦
Not for everyday, but on occasion very
enjoyable. Boiser on vox is a good addition. Maybe a bit heavy on the Synths at
times, but it is more brutal than their older stuff and that´s a good thing.
- Kaligula
(IDN) – Doctrination Of Atismadha
◦
More Indonesian quality DM. A bit of HOP in some
moments.
- Nader
Sadek (USA) – The Serapeum (EP)
◦
Probably his strongest one, to date. Surely the
most brutal/chaotic one.
- Ominous
Scriptures (BLR) - The Fall of the Celestial Throne
◦
Dark, atmospheric, brutal and fast as fuck!!!
- Perdition
Temple (USA) – Sacraments Of Descension
◦
This is essentially the follow-up band to Angel
Corpse and that´s exactly what you can hear here. Satanic, raw, Tampa-style
Black/Death at it´s best!
- Profanity
(GER) – Fragments Of Solace
◦
After their 2017 album the most surprising thing
here is the quick succession from the last one(considering it took them 17 yrs
to rd the latter – at closer examination: 1st 1997, 2nd
2000, 3rd 2017, 4th 2020...I hope there is no pattern ind
this!). Well, maybe there´s one or the other little surprise in the guests
section.
- Putrid
Pile (USA) – Revel In Lunacy
◦
If you know PP, you know what to expect, Sean
doesn't ever disappoint! BDM with some tasty Grindcore thrown in for the good
measure.
- Scarab
(EGY) – Martyrs Of the Storm
◦
Another great release from Scarab. Didn´t expect
anything else.
- Schizogen
(UKR) – Spawn Of Almighty Essence
◦
Dark, technical, brootal AF!
- Scordatura
(SCO) – Mass Failure
◦
I remember their last album was on a couple of
“End-of-the-year-lists” back in 2016. This one is just as good!
- Spectrum
Of Delusion (NED) – Neoconception
◦
If you are into TDM in slightest, you should
check that one out. It´s refreshingly different from much of the other stuff.
- Sufism
(IDN) – Republik Rakyat Jelata
◦
We have to stop the climate crisis right now!!!
We can´t have all these great bands vanish into the pacific.
- Syphilic
(USA) – Empty Nest
◦
Fuck me, this is some DARK shit! Especially in
the topic (which is very darkly referenced on the cover art) to the dark tone,
the dark production to the dark sound BDM...you me. Brian Forgue seems to be a
very sick(see, I didn´t write “dark” again) genius.
- Tribe
Of Pazuzu (USA/CAN) – King Of All Demons
◦
Second EP, where´s that fuckin´full-length?
- Unmerciful
(USA) – Wrath Encompassed
◦
Much better than the last one, but still not
close to the brilliant debut. I liked their short, rather simple stuff much
more!
As a little extra, here´s my list from 2019 – A time, when Corona was, what outside of Middle/Eastern Europe, might pass as a beer. There were just to many releases, with much to high quality, to just skip it.
- A
Million Dead Birds Laughing (AUS) – To The Ether
◦
Well I think I said a little about their sound
above. Maybe the closest thing to compare them with would be Cephalic Carnage,
just in terms of weirdness and unexpected shit happening.
- Ade
(ITA) – Rise Of The Empire
◦
The expected Rome-style TDM with some ancient
instruments and rhythms to separate them from all the other great bands in that
neighbourhood.
Excellent album!
- Apostate
(UK) – At The Tomb Of Sanity
◦
Slightly technical OSDM from Preston,
Lancashire. Very entertaining, indeed!
- Bethledeign
(USA) – Iconography Of Suffering
◦
These guys are actually around since 2001,
according to MA, this is their full-length debut and it´s very good.
- Bleak
Flesh (CHL) - ...And Save Us From Silence
◦
Judging from the artwork and the band name, I
expected a rather typical BDM album, but instead this some pretty unique
Technical Progressive DM, which happens to be exceptionally well crafted. Don´t
care much for the occasional chanting, but it doesn´t annoy me enough to put me
off.
- Bodyfarm
(NED) – Dreadlord
◦
I believe to remember this one being liked by
the most of you, so I guess there´s not much I have to say. This is the way I
like my OSDM.
- Beheaded
(MLT) – Only Death Can Save You
◦
I always
liked Beheaded and this might by their best to date! Great TDM with a
lot of variation in it´s songs.
- Cannabis
Corpse (USA) – Nug So Vile
◦
CC, just as the original CC, have never
disappointed me. Fantastic old school TDM which does not require intoxication
of any kind, but it sure doesn´t hurt the experience.
- Contrarian
(USA) – Their Worm Never Dies
◦
I completely forgot that this album was released
so recently. If anything this is even better than their 2020 release.
- Deivos
(POL) – Casus Belli
◦
I just realized, that there was not a single
polish band on my 2020 list. This is some high quality polish TDM.
- Demiurgon
(ITA) – The Oblivious Lure
◦
More italian BTDM excellence. Somehow typically
italian in sound, yet quite different from Hid Div, HOP and the likes.
- Devourment
(USA) – Obscene Majesty
◦
Fuck I never expected them to be that good,
again. This is the sound they helped establishing in the first place. Dirty,
raw and totally unrelenting.
- Disentomb
(AUS) – The Decaying Light
◦
This is surely one of the top five of 2019. One
of the best TBDM albums in total. Atmospheric, dark and beautifully eerie, yet
uncompromisingly brutal when they have to.
- Equipoise
(USA) – Demiurgus
◦
Well, with All-Star bands it´s always tricky.
Seldom they live up to, what the individual members promise. This one is
different! This is the new gold-standard for Progressive Technical Death Metal
(still can´t decide whether to find this” sub-sub-sub-genre” schematic
ridiculous or helpful. Well, I guess one doesn´t exclude the other) that never
compromises any of it´s brutality or ferocity. Definitely top 3 of the year!
- Exhumed
(USA) – Horror
◦
They´re doing Carcass better than Carcass do,
these days! Pure old-school worship.
- Hideous
Divinity (ITA) – Simulacrum
◦
Hid Div manage to still get better and better
with every subsequent release. This is especially remarkable considering the
very high standard they started with. This is their darkest (speaking of dark
have you seen the vid to “The Embalmer”?) and most brutal album, so far.
- Hour
Of Penance (ITA) – Misotheism
◦
Always a close second to the above, when it
comes to the big Lazio bands, this is probably their best one, yet. Totally
unre-fucking-lenting!
- Infant
Annihilator (UK/USA) – The Battle Of Yaldabaoth
◦
I have a feeling IA have a rather poor
reputation among Metalheads, deeming them Deathcore, or sth. But I think this
is completely unjustified. MA even states, they only been accepted due to that
last album, which is rather silly, but let´s not go into site-politics of MA. I
heard their debut in 2012 and even then it was pretty decent Tech Death, to me.
Then I admittedly completely forgot about them, as probably the rest of the
world did, until saw the excellent vid for “Blasphemian” and was pretty much
blown away. Hands down, this is my undisputed no.1 album of 2019. So fucking
brootal, virtuoso and well written!
- Infecting
The Swarm (GER) – Ruinous (Demo)
◦
Only 2 songs, but to me ITS is the spearhead of
that particular style of Brutal/Tech DM, not only from Germany.
- Kakothanasy
(SUI) – Dystomorph
◦
One could call them “a poor man´s Defeated
Sanity”, but that would be unfair. The inspiration is undeniable, yet this is a
very entertaining one.
- Nile
(USA) – Vile Nilotic Rites
◦
I was really expecting TDW´s departure to be
more impactful, but to my surprise it was not. The guy filling in for him even
manages to “emulate” his vocal style quite good, without sounding like a ripoff
at all.
- Nucleus
(USA) – Entity
◦
Very good OSDM of the Finnish variety. Very
thick and atmospheric sound.
- Order
Ov Riven Cathedrals (ITA) – Thermonuclear Sculptures Blackness
◦
3 albums in 3 years and they are all fantastic!
I was rather surprised not to see a new album in 2020, let´s see what 2021 will
bring.
- Orphalis
(GER) – The Approaching Darkness
◦
Finally they have a decent production to
accommodate their very good TDM.
- Pathology
(USA) – Reborn To Kill
◦
The masters of Slam are back. I just love their
grove, also there are some surprisingly melodic parts here and there, that not
only manage to be off-putting, but really benefit the rather simple song
structures.
- Relics
Of Humanity (BLR) – Obscuration (EP)
◦
More fantastic stuff from these guys. I hope
we´ll finally get another album in 2021!
- Sinners
Bleed (GER) – Absolution
◦
I thought SB would have gone the way, most
Berlin-based bands went, eventually. The way into insignificance. Then, 2-3 yrs
earlier, our guitarist Arne was asked to join them. And here they are, back
after 16(!!!) years and scrapping a pretty advanced recording sometimes around
2010 and they deliver, oh boy! Do they deliver!
- Sleep
Terror (USA) – Abreaction
◦
Not much new here. He delivers his trademark
blend of high speed instrumental TDM mostly Latino-style guitar interludes,
some funk etc. The sheer musicianship and songwriting is jaw-dropping.
- Tribe
Of Pazuzu (USA/CAN) – Heretical Uprising
◦
Nothing to add to what I said in the 2020
section.
- Vltimas
(CAN/POR/USA) – Something Wicked Marches In
◦
Stellar All-Star-Project (pun intended)
consisting of Dave Vincent, Flo Mournier and Rune Eriksen. Blackened DM with
the one-of-a-kind-voice of D. Vincent. Highly entertaining!
- Vulgore
(JAP) – Crevices Of Obscura
◦
There have been quite some BDM releases from
Japan in the last couple of years, yet this one stands out to me most. Not overly
technical, very dark and somewhat muddy in sound.
- Wormed
(ESP) – Metaportal (EP)
◦ Another band that never disappoints. Not much changed in their style, so if you liked them before, this will be right up your alley – if you´re not into their style, this EP is not gonna change that.