I - ABIGOR
"Totschläger - A Saintslayer´s Songbook"
World Terror Comitee
"Totschläger - A Saintslayer´s Songbook"
World Terror Comitee
Almost in the dying breath of the year ABIGOR pierce the flesh of 2020 with this masterpiece. Great black metal riffs and classical music. As great as unexpected, this is definately the album of the year.
II - GÖDEN
"Beyond Darkness"
Svart Records
"Beyond Darkness"
Svart Records
GÖDEN is the musical continuation of WINTER, whose cult debut album was reissued early this year. "Beyond Darkness" is als o top quality and follows up to "Into Darkness" with a modern approach, yet still dark, gigantic and heavy.
III - VÖLUR
"Death Cult"
Prophecy Productions
"Death Cult"
Prophecy Productions
A very talented band that created this outstanding album. I hope "Death Cult" have the full impact it deserves. An avant-garde work, full of technique, a great and sometimes eerie atmosphere, and haunting darkness. It has been a great surprise to come across this album and I´m very excited about future releases of VÖLUR.
IV - EURYNOMOS
"From The Valleys Of Hades"
Iron pegasus Records
"From The Valleys Of Hades"
Iron pegasus Records
EURYNOMOS never disappoint, after the fabulous trilogy of 7" I was longing for this debut album. It is as good as one could expect. Pure old-school metal merciless attack.
V - SODOM
"Genesis XIX"
Steamhammer
"Genesis XIX"
Steamhammer
Good old SODOM! Genesis XIX has a great late 80s vibe. Probably one of the best albums of the german thrashers in the last two decades.
VI - NECROPHOBIC
"Dawn Of The Damned"
Century Media
"Dawn Of The Damned"
Century Media
It´s no surprise, but NECROPHOBIC released a good album once again. Not as brilliant as previous efforts. but it is solid, consistent and dark as always.
VII - TRIPTYKON
"Requiem - Live at Roadburn 2019"
Prowling Death Records/Century Media
"Requiem - Live at Roadburn 2019"
Prowling Death Records/Century Media
Perhaps I expected a litle more from this recording, or perhaps I expected more from "Grave Eternal". Even so, this is something amazing created by Celtic Frost, my favorite band ever, and the fact that Tom Warrior could fullfill his dream and the dream of many fans to see this opus complete, performed so brilliantly and perfectly...it is truly special. Eternal gratitude.
VIII - ONDSKAPT
"Grimoire Ordo Devs"
Osmose Productions
"Grimoire Ordo Devs"
Osmose Productions
Sinister black metal. Hateful, morbid, blasphemous. A great album like their previous one. I hope we don´t have to wait another ten years for a new release, which will surely be gloriously dark.
IX - MÖRK GRYNING
"Hinsides Vrede"
Season Of Mist
"Hinsides Vrede"
Season Of Mist
A great comeback album. It definitely sounds like Mörk Gryning and it is performed with a great level of intensity. The old roots are there and yet it sounds fresh and new.
X - DROWNING THE LIGHT
"On Astral Wings Of Wamphyric Shadows"
Dark Adversary Productions
"On Astral Wings Of Wamphyric Shadows"
Dark Adversary Productions
The great album cover gives you a hint of what you are going to find here...ugly, primitive, atmosferic black metal. No sophisticated vampirism, just hideous winged beings sucking every last drop of blood from hundred rotting corpses.
SASS
XI - VAMPIRE
"Rex"
Century Media
"Rex"
Century Media
I like their debut album and the demo. I wasn´t entirely satisfied with their second abum but with Rex Vampire caught my attention once again. Wild Deathrhash!!!
XII - SVARTKONST
"Black Waves"
Trust No One Recordings
"Black Waves"
Trust No One Recordings
Yeah, kind of "traditional" Swedish black/death with raw sound and old-school feeling. A very good album!
XIII - ARMAGEDDA
"Svindeldjup Ättestup"
Nordvis Produktion
"Svindeldjup Ättestup"
Nordvis Produktion
This album shows an evolved version of ARMAGEDDA. It sounds raw but clear at the same time. A very mature album that perhaps opens the band new horizons to explore.
