Part 2

Part 2

44)Infernarium- Kadotuksen Harmonia

-Ah, sweet, wonderful, nuclear Finnish black metal. Finnish black metal is on fire these days, and bands like this are why.

43)Sargeras- Satan's Terror

- "Welcome to Life, Cunt!" How can you not love these guys? Raw, unapologetic, borderline ridiculous, so awesome black metal.

42) Vargrav- Netherstorm

-Awesome symphonic black metal that worships the sound of old while still charting new territory.

41)Wiegedood- De Doden Hebben Het Goed III

- These guys have yet to release a bad album, and it was so exciting to get to see them. They're good, and I hope they get more recognition for it.

40)Keegan Ostrowski- Ilusen's Fallacy

- Some of the finest progressive death metal you will find, with stellar musicianship all around, and the precision and cohesion is glorious to witness. Let yourself drown in it.

39) The Damned- Evil Spirits

-Much like Judas Priest, here's another band still showing the youngsters how it's done. This album is just pure punk rock fun, and that's how it should be.

38) Hinayana- Order Divine

- These Texas melodic death metallers are definitely going to get bigger. A superb album, and they put on a superb live show too.

37)Solar Temple- Fertile Descent

- Fuzzy ambient black metal isn't always my thing, but this band is great, and they will absolutely bring the riffs.

36)VOID- Jettatura

- This French black n roll band will pummel you with riffs and rage and rythym.

35)Morgal- Morgal

- Even more rifftastic black metal, these fellows are a blast.

34)Kommandant- Blood Eel

- This is already awesome black metal, but the drumming, like all their releases, just pushes it to the next level for me.

33)UADA- Cult of a Dying Sun

-Their sound makes me calm, and tends to make me feel happy. Perhaps its having seen them three times in the span of a year, and each show was an enjoyable time, so maybe I'm just invoking nostalgia when I listen to them. In any case, they're a great band, this is a great album, and you should see them live three times in one year too.

32)Funeral Winds- Sinister Creed

- Raw, almost grimey, awesome black metal that grinds away your soul.

31)Blitzgeist- Ritual Magic

- I chose just one of the three releases from this year, this one is probably my favorite. The title suites the ritualistic, dirge-esque black metal wonderfully.

30)Deth Crux- Mutant Flesh

- This is fantastic Deathrock that evokes everything from Christian Death to more traditional goth rock like Bauhaus, and it pleases me so much.

29)OVÁTE- Ováte

- Again, Norway's still churning out awesome black metal, and this new project is promising.

28) Horror Vacui- New Wave of Fear

- More Deathrock- I really, really enjoy these guys. For me, they have just the perfect blend of goth and punk, and it's so catchy.

27)Panegyrist- Hierurgy

- I keep calling them a black metal Therion, and that's a big deal for me. This year I learned I really like my black metal avant-garde, and this band delivers.

26)BEHEMOTH!- I Loved You at Your Darkest

- While not on par with The Satanist for me, this follow up is still quite good. They've really mastered the creation of atmosphere, and I love it. Songs like "Bartzabel" really appeal to that taste for the avant-garde I mentioned.

25)Funker Vogt- Wasteland

- This is awesome. An absolute testament to why they're one of my favorite industrial bands. Perfect blend of rythym, harshness, and an ability to mellow out at just the right times.

24)Norrhem- Vaienneet Voittajat

- Its the riffs. I don't know what else to say, really. Just, RIFFS.

23)Plaguestorm- Eternal Throne

- High speed, zero fucks raw black metal with excellent guitar solos. Honestly I'm really happy to have such soaring solos in such fantastic black metal. It just makes it that much better.

22)Slavehouse- Taste in Pain

- Speaking of high speed, zero fucks raw black metal, but this one comes with some lovely punk tinges that pushes it just a little higher for me.

21)Blood Worship- Death's Omnipotence

-Do you like Swedish black metal? Yes? Then this band is for you. They specialize in melodic, catchy riffing in the vein of Watain, and they do it well.

Part 2. Almost there!

Uruk

Nihilistic Warfare in Inhuman Realms

Another amazing release from a Texas band this year. These Austin, Texas traditional black metallers have followed up their stellar 2016 debut, Battle Hymns, with an even better album. Nihilistic Warfare in Inhuman Realms is blistering, storming, battle-hardened black metal that sweeps you along for the ride, marching over everything in its path. The drum and bass guitar gallop like wargs, the guitars herald frigid dark doom, and the vocals rage and roar. It sucks you into the fray, sinks its teeth in, and never lets go, from start to finish.

But there's a twist: just when you get comfortable in the saddle, a beautiful folkish passage transpires, a-la Satyricon of old. And the album morphs, continuing its gallop of death, but pulling in an epic and emotional current, melding battle-rage and dark melancholy into a poignant musical blend, successfully evoking the album's title. And that epic whirling battle continues until the last note, tumultuous and powerful, glorious and grim.

The album can be obtained digitally from either the band or Flesh Vessel Records on Bandcamp.

CDs can be obtained from Flesh Vessel Records.

Tapes can be obtained from Red River Family Records.

Hinayana

"The Window"

-Order Divine-

New music video from Austin, Texas based progressive melodeath band Hinayana. Got to see them play earlier in the year, they are an incredibly talented bunch and its cool to see them getting picked up by a label like Black Lion Records (who are also in charge of the fantastic symphonic black metal group Hyperion as well).

If you're a fan of bands like Insomnium, Dark Tranquility, Paradise Lost, Opeth, etc. then check these fellows out.

NEW DEVIN TOWNSEND IS COMING!!

Ghost

A Pale Tour Named Death

Photos by blogger. Bass Concert Hall, Austin, Texas, November 20, 2018.

Whoever the current 2nd guitarist is, he's a fantastic bit of fun.

The Ulthar and Scorched tour will be stopping in San Antonio, TX, and support will be the amazing bands Black Jackal, Uruk, and Haunter. If you're in the area this will be a show to see.

March 28th 2019

Limelight, San Antonio TX

$10 cover