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Posts Tagged ‘burzum’

Ufomammut’s Eve: Album of 2010 According To Roadburn.com Readers

Posted on Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

In the beginning of December 2010 we asked you, our beloved Roadburn readers, to list your Top 10 Roadburn-flavored albums of 2010. By Christmas Eve we had received 110 lists. Thanks to everyone who took the time to send us their list!

This is how we compiled the rankings: the albums on each list were awarded points on a scale of one to ten, with one point for the tenth album to 10 points for the number one album. Next, the total points for each album were added up to determine the final score for the album in question. Then all we had to do was rank the albums. The number of votes cast for each album is listed in parentheses next to the overall score.

And the winner is: Italy’s own Ufomammut with the album Eve! Felicitazioni! Congratulations, gentlemen!

Electric Wizard‘s Black Masses appeared on more lists, but the overall score was lower, which explains why it came in second. Of course, the Wizard has always had a rabid following among Roadburners; in fact, Dopethrone nabbed the number one spot in our Album of the Decade poll a year ago.

Third place goes to Triptykon, Enslaved came in fourth and Swans complete the Top 5.  Have a look to find out how your faves fared in the overall rankings:

1. Ufomammut – Eve (38)
“They have mastered the art of hypnosis via riff, and going by Eve, it feels like their creativity is boundless. I heard a lot of albums this year — just look at the reviews category. Know that I mean it when I say Eve was a landmark whose appeal will last longer than 2010. I said at the time I reviewed it that I felt lucky to be alive when music like this is being made, and I absolutely still feel that way every time I listen to Ufomammut. Eve is a masterpiece” –  JJ Koczan, The Obelisk.

Ufomammut commented: “Since our “Eve” album was voted best of 2010 by Roadburn readers, playing it at the upcoming festival (Saturday, April 16th -ed) will have a very special meaning for Ufomammut! It’ll be our chance to properly say thanks to all the people who have supported us throughout the years. See You in April!”

2. Electric Wizard – Black Masses (43)
“This is a very fine record. But, fair or not, since it’s Electric Wizard, there will always be a slight sense of disappointment when a release doesn’t measure up to the monumental Dopethrone, or even Come My Fanatics. There new release has some fine songs and excellent riffs but somehow I didn’t feel the emotional connection of the band like I did on their classic records. Still, it managed to squeak onto my top (ahem) ten, so there’s plenty to like here” — Drew Webster, Roadburn.

3. Triptykon – Eparistera  Daimones (29)
“Tom Gabriel Warrior’s triumphant return. Picking up where Celtic Frost’s Monotheist left off, Triptykon’s debut Eparistera Daimones is a bleak, deeply personal affair, and easily the best album of the year” — Walter, Roadburn.

4. Enslaved – Axioma Ethica Odini (23)
“The seemingly never-ending creative entity that is Enslaved. It was a pleasure working with them for Roadburn 2010 and they seem to have taken elements of all the bands they participated in (Trinacria, Dream of An Opium Eater, Enslaved / Shining Big Band) and integrated that into the overall sound of the mothership Enslaved. Their best yet?” — Jurgen, Roadburn.

5. Swans – My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky (25)
“My fears that Michael Gira would have grown old and grey and abandoned the extremities that defined Swans in the 80s and 90s were unfounded. My Father… marks a glorious return, not a rehashing of old work but a new interpretation of his inner monotonous rhythms” — Jurgen, Roadburn.

6. Bongripper – Satan Worshipping Doom (25)
“Crushing instrumental doom from Chicago. My introduction to the band was prompted by recommendations from the Forever Doomed Forum (thanks guys!). I got in touch with the band and got this massive 2LP immediately. And now a message to Bongripper: get your asses over here for Roadburn 2012!” — Jurgen, Roadburn.

7. High On Fire – Snakes for the Divine (25)
Like the other HOF full-lengths before it, Snakes for the Divine shows that metal, in its most basic and elemental forms, still has plenty of visceral thrill left in it– as long as it’s done right. And High on Fire do it right — Tom Breihan, Pitchfork.

8. Ghost – Opus Eponyous (20)
Stunning debut full-length by this devil worshiping ministry from Sweden that is currently making black, oppressive waves in the underground while casting their litanies of sexually pulsating and satanic rock on listeners with the sole intention of achieving the downfall of humanity — Walter, Roadburn.

9. Shining (No) – Blackjazz (19)
“Shining are combining jazz and metal in original ways, from the filling up of jazz’s precious empty spaces with ticking nervous energy to the replacement of metal’s vocal aggression with creepy and disconnected noise. And if that’s not the same as true originality, it’s close enough” — Leonard Pierce, Pitchfork.

10. Cough – Ritual Abuse (18)
Richmond’s Cough delivers a dirge-laden take on excessively drugged out doom (think Electric Wizard as the central point of reference). Cough’s sophomore album, Ritual Abuse features heavy, dark, psychedelic doom that sounds like a thousand pharmaceutical-whacked zombies just escaped from Manchester morgue wailing away at an all night party after a pharmacy-raiding crime spree. At other times, Cough‘s monolthic sound is less warped and hallucinogenic, but strongly suffocationg and claustrophobic, and becomes so densely hateful it’s nearly black metal in its ambience — Walter, Roadburn.

Judging by the Top 20, 2010 was a seriously heavy year. The first real stoner / heavy psych album is Quest for Fire‘s Lights from Paradise (15th place).

11. Agalloch – Marrow of The Spirit (13)
“Released very late in the year this record just floored me the moment I heard it, the soundtrack to every one of my train journeys through England’s snow filled Christmas period. Reminiscent of the majesty of Wolves in The Throneroom’s Two Hunters but, with an atmosphere and mood all of its own. Bleak and melancholic without self-indulgence, it again proved that the best black metal of late owes more to The Cure and Joy Division than it does to Burzum” — Toby Bradshaw, Roadburn.

12.  Kylesa – Spiral Shawdow (16)
“They’ve established a very solid chain of consistency between Spiral Shadow and last year’s Static Tensions, and with all the touring they’re doing (winter 2011 dates have been announced), they can only add to the momentum. Kylesa has never really had a steady lineup, but with the creative core of guitarist / vocalist / producer Phillip Cope, guitarist / vocalist Laura Pleasants and a duo of drummers, they nonetheless crafted one of 2010′s best albums in Spiral Shadow” — JJ Koczan, The Obelisk.

13. Alcest – Écailles de Lune (16)
“Alcest’s latest album, Écailles de Lune, showcases DIY aesthetics and a production leaning to underground metal. The insistent riffing, arching atmospherics, celestial melodies and suffocating roars sound like the second coming of Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine or Swervedriver. Those whoare willing to enter Niege’s dark yet romantic and poetic realm with an open mind are in for a beguiling trip filled with a dense, dreamy, hypnotic mixture of shoegaze and black metal that taps into the best of both worlds” — Walter, Roadburn.

14. Deathspell Omega – Paracletus (12)
“My first thought on listening to Paracletus was “Is DO going mainstream?” Relatively speaking, of course. After a couple of spins on the turntable the album started to grow. It’s no FAS or Si Monvmentvm Reqvires, Circvmspice but there is still enough evil going around to be thoroughly enjoyed” — Jurgen, Roadburn.

15.  Quest For Fire – Lights From Paradise (11)
“Best stonerrock record of the year, hands down. Fantastic guitar tone, great riffs, great songs… it’s all here. Super varied in it’s delivery, from desert-rock riffs to Zeppelin-esque acoustic numbers, and all tracks featuring great vocals. Excellent production makes it really easy to listen to and makes Quest For Fire my most anticipated Roadburn act of 2011 (along with Circle / Pharoah Overlord)” — Drew Webster, Roadburn.

16. Burzum – Belus (15)
“Of course, Belus isn’t without attendant controversies. The original title for the album “The White God” was quickly shit-canned, even if the notes for the album refer to Belus as an “Indo Aryan God.” Earache Records head Digby Pearson posted and later retracted a Tweet criticizing Varg and linking to an illegal download of the album. The debate will continue long after Varg decides to close off the outside world and stay on the farm for good, and you can’t fault anyone who ignores or criticizes Belus because of Varg’s transgressions. Nonetheless, like much of Burzum’s material, Belus is able to transcend the very real flaws of its maker. However unsettling his crimes, however indefensible his comments and views, Vikernes is one of the most creative forces in Norwegian black metal and Belus ample proof of his talent” — Justin M. Norton, Hellbound.ca


17. Urfaust – Der Freiwillige Bettler (10)
“Given their ability to redefine their legacy with each successive album, it’s hard to believe that this will ultimately stand as Urfaust’s masterpiece… but it certainly stands as a remarkable culmination of all they’ve done to date. Fair warning — the vocals are definitely an acquired taste. But it is so worth your time and effort to appreciate them, because this is an unbelievably fine and rewarding record. Innovative occult metal at its best” — Drew Webster, Roadburn.

18. Nachtmystium – Addicts: Black Meddle Part II (12)
“Hands down easily best album of the year for me, possibly even last 2 years. Nachtmystium continued their divergent quest away from the confines of traditional black metal and created something quite unique. Arguably still full of the vitriol and despair we come to expect from Blake Judd but this time pushing further into the realms of post-punk and electronica. Nachtmystium did as all great artists should do – created an album that defies convention and classification” — Toby Bradshaw, Roadburn.

19. Watain - Lawless Darkness (8)
“Flagrant Dissection worship aside, this was a ferocious, unrelenting release from blood soaked heathens Watain. Truly a culmination of their previous efforts, razor sharp production, savage riffs and the ever present atmosphere of pure evil. Watain are the real deal, and this album sealed the bloody pact. Higher! Higher! Come on you sons of fire!” — Toby Bradshaw, Roadburn.

20. White Hills – White Hills (7)
“White Hills have shaken up the space-rock box, and shown that the patterns you can make therein are as infinite as the stars” — Ben Graham, The Quietus.

Here is some Roadburn trivia for you: Bongripper is the only band in the Top 10 that has not played the festival yet (including this year’s line-up). And yes, we hope we can change that in 2012!

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Austin Metal Music Examiner: The 10 Most Expensive Black Metal Albums

Posted on Friday, August 6th, 2010

Lovingly pinched from Austin Metal Music Examiner: Hessians the world over pride themselves in buying stacks of CDs and LPs at a time. We think nothing of blowing hundreds of dollars in a single visit to our favorite record stores or online distros. It’s expensive enough to keep up with ...read more

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