It’s that time of year again. As 2015 draws to a close, we check in with the Metal Insider staff to see what new albums got them the most excited in 2015.
I know some of you are more interested in the underground than others and maybe you will agree or disagree with me on many bands on this list but that’s the whole point of this, right? This year was really tough to rank and it made my brain hurt but that’s also the alcoholism and other bad things I do to myself but I digress. These are my picks for this year and if you disagree, fite me IRL!
10) Hæthen – Shaped By Aeolian Winds
I am a huge sucker for atmospheric black metal and when a band creates something strong and perfectly executed out of a seemingly run-down style in American black metal, it’s impossible not to pay attention to it. The usage of extended chords and melodies to make an almost linear composition has to be recognized by those interested on the genre. Just like its cover art, the music has a great balance between darkness and soothing perdition that go together in an unbreakable pact, something very impressive for a debut album but, considering this is the reincarnation of New Jersey’s Opus Dei, it explains everything.
Recommended Track: Amongst The Forlorn Larch
9) Invincible Force – Satan Rebellion Metal
Most of the albums you’ll find here will have something to do with black metal. That’s kind of my thing, and when you listen a band as powerful as Invincible Force using black metal into their violent thrash metal, my head goes into hyperdrive and just want to destroy everything around… in a good way. Chilean black/thrash is brilliant with its unique sound that can’t be confused easily, with bands like Force of Darkness, Perversor or Hades Archer, it’s natural a band like Invincible Force will come out with a masterpiece like Satan Rebellion Metal. This is straight-up, no-joke black/thrash at its finest and something you need you pay attention to if that’s your thing.
Recommended Track: Summoning The Black Destruction
8) C R O W N – Natron
I realized about C R O W N’s latest album through our Dissident Aggression a few months back but was already familiar with their previous effort Psychurgy which I already thought was an amazing release but Natron? A completely different beast. The French trio created a surreal immersion into their electro-doom interpretation of post-metal and once you get hooked in it, there’s no coming out. Visceral and relentless composition, grabbing influence from many others style of extreme metal in order to deliver a well-thought record worth of anyone interested on a gratifying post-metal approach.
Recommended Track: Serpents
