Hello, Metal Wani readers! It is I, Yidu and today I am bringing you my picks for 10 Metal Albums You Should Listen To for November 2016. For this segment, we will be covering the full length releases that came out in November. November is the first month of the winter season and it’s a big month that can be filled with releases that artists and labels want to get out before the holiday season. This November has delivered some fantastic albums Metal Music. Here are some of my favorites. These lists are designed to showcase some new music for our readers and to promote music from the metal underground. Before we start, I want to make it clear that these lists are not “top lists” or “best of lists”. Instead, these lists consists of albums that I feel are highlights of the previous month. Please note, that this is only my opinion and my opinion only.
At number 10 we have the new album ‘The Year Is One’ from Finnish Doom Metal band Spiritus Mortis. The band plays a style of Doom Metal that follows the Finnish Doom Metal sound, taking influence from notable bands like Reverend Bizarre especially given that the vocalist for Spiritus Mortis, Sami Hynninen who did provide vocals for Reverend Bizarre. Spiritus Mortis has a gloomy edge to their music, especially with the deep and low vocals that the vocalist delivers. Great album for fans of Doom Metal. Recommended tracks include “I Am a Name on Your Funeral Wreath” and “Holiday in the Cemetery”.
At number 9 we have the new album ‘Sins Of The World‘ from American Power Metal band Attacker. American Power Metal (USPM) has always been a highlight in the genre with many great classic bands, Attacker is one of them. Formed in the early 80’s, the band released their sixth album this year and they still have the chops. Great guitar leads, good drumming, and the vocals Bobby “Leather Lungs” Lucas are just as good. If you enjoy Power Metal, be sure to give this album a listen. Recommended tracks include “Archangel” and “World Destroyer”.
With number 8, we have the new, sophomore album ‘Beheading Tyrants’ from American Heavy Metal band Quicksand Dream. Quicksand Dream put out their debut ‘Aelin – A Story About Destiny’ back in 2000 and disappeared since. Now 16 years later, the band is back. Quicksand Dream plays Epic Heavy Metal and is sure to be one of the best Heavy Metal albums of 2016. If you like Heavy Metal with great leads and vocals that goes beyond, do give this album a shot. Recommended tracks include “The Shadow that Bleeds” and “The Girl from the Island”.
At number 7, we have the new album from Finnish Black/Death Metal band Deathkin, ‘Kohti Kotiani Kaaosta’. Deathkin is a relatively new band in the scene as they emerged this year with a full-length. The band is shrouded in mystery as the band decided to keep the identities of the members a secret. With how the band sounds on ‘Kohti Kotiani Kaaosta’, it can be said that members are veterans or at least know what they’re doing very well (perhaps a supergroup?). The music is dark and aggressive and is sure to please fans of the style. The band started on the right foot. Recommended tracks include “Pimeyden Poltteen Ohjauksessa” and “Iänkaikkinen”.
At number 6, we have the new album ‘Hypnosophy’ from Greek Progressive Black Metal band Aenaon. The band has released 2 full lengths until this one and it could be said that their new album ‘Hypnosophy’ is their best one. On their new album, the band revisits some old ideas they have built on their previous two but also develop new and interesting takes on Black Metal. This is definitely not your average Black Metal album as it contains some interesting ideas that the band has used in their favor. If you like Black Metal with progressive tendencies or Black Metal that’s on the experimental side, be sure to give this album a listen. Recommended tracks include “Earth Tomb” and “Fire Walk With Me”.
At number 5, we have the new album ‘Condemnation’ by the French Black Metal band Antaeus. Antaeus is mainly a Black Metal duo comprised of musicians involved in the legendary French Black Metal band Aosoth. The band’s music is abrasive and aggressive, fuming with energy. The guitars are noisy and the drums are relentlessly pummeling. This album plows as it goes hard. If you like unforgiving Black Metal, be sure to check this one out. This is definitely their best album to date. Recommended tracks include “Angels of Despair” and “Shadow FIres”.
At number 5 we have Polish Black Metal band Furia’s newest album, ‘Księżyc Milczy Luty’. Poland has a pretty good Black Metal scene and Furia is one of the best bands from that area. Their music is dark and sinister but also maintains a slight experimental edge as they weave through the guitars and eerie melodies in more unconventional ways. ‘Księżyc Milczy Luty’ is a continuation of the band’s well developed sound as the album provides everything a seasoned Black Metal fan needs with a captivating twist. If you’re looking for Black Metal that shows a sense of mastery of nuances, this is a great album for you. Recommended tracks include “Grzeji” and “Cialo”.
At number 4, we have a debut from Hong Kong with the band Karmacipher and their first full-length and musical release, ‘Necroracle’. Karmacipher plays Avant-Garde Technical Death Metal in the vein of Ulcerate and their sound can be specifically described as influenced by Ulcerate’s 2nd and 3rd albums with a touch of their later works. ‘Necroracle’ is a dense storm of winding riffs and chaotic atmosphere that delivers a barrage of Avant-Garde Death Metal greatness. If you enjoy bands like Ulcerate, Gorguts, Deathspell Omega, and Portal, this is definitely an album you need to check out. Recommended tracks include “Cipher” and “Obsolescence”.
Speaking of Deathspell Omega, we have thier new album at number 2. Legendary French Avant-Garde Black Metal band Deathspell Omega returns with a surprise album titled ‘The Synarchy of Molten Bones’. The band is known for their dissonance, erratic songwriting, and chaotic atmosphere that builds the foundation of their twisted music. On ‘The Synarchy of Molten Bones’, the band continues to display their great qualities and show that the veterans and one of the biggest influences of the Avant-Garde Black Metal style still have their chops. If you have not heard of this band, you should give them a shot and see what the whole Avant-Garde Black Metal craze is about. Recommended tracks include “Famished for Breath” and “The Synarchy of Molten Bones”.
Cultes Des Ghoules – ‘Coven, Or Evil Ways Instead Of Love’
Last at number 1, we have Polish Black Metal masters Cultes Des Ghoules and their new masterpiece of an album, ‘Coven, Or Evil Ways Instead Of Love’. Cultes Des Ghoules is one of the best Polish Black Metal bands as they set up a sound that has a sinister, ominous, and creepy atmosphere. The guitars are snake like as they slither and attack, the drumming provides energizing tension, and the vocals deliver the chills. On their new album, the band outdo themselves by taking on a concept album that is over 90 minutes long that can be described as a portrayal, or even a reenactment, of a play fit with scene changes, script lines, and even characters. This is a fantastic Black Metal record and is definitely one of the best this year, if not, decade. If you like evil, ritualistic, or haunting Black Metal, this is a must listen. I warn you though, to appreciate this album, a great deal of attention and concentration is needed, especially this album will be best appreciated when heard in full. Give it time and more spins. Recommended tracks include “Strange Day, See the Clash of Heart and Reason… (Scene III)” and “Satan, Father, Savior, Hear My Prayer… (Scene V)”.
This concludes our journey this month. Here are 5 other albums that did not quite make the list that I want to touch upon. Here are this month’s honorable mentions.
Downfall Of Gaia – ‘Atrophy’
Post-Metal band Downfall Of Gaia returns with their new album ‘Atrophy’ and it is their best album yet. The album has a great balance of atmosphere, energy, and sound especially with the various genre influences of Post-Metal, Sludge Metal, Doom Metal, and Black Metal come into play. Recommended for Post-Black and Post-Metal fans. Sludge Metal fans should give this one a listen too.
Heavydeath – ‘In Circles We Die’
Swedish Death/Doom Metal band Heavydeath brings their second full length ‘In Circles We Die’. With members of Runemagick and Katatonia, the band delivers great sounding Old School Death Doom that is bare bone and crushing. Recommended for fans of meat and potatoes Death/Doom Metal.
Panphage – ‘Drengskapr’
Panphage is a one-man Black Metal project from Sweden and their new album ‘Drengskapr’ is a one of the best Swedish Black Metal record, if not the best, of this year. Great melodies and atmosphere really bring the music out and is definitely a good continuation from their debut. Recommended to all Black Metal fans.
Ruinous – ‘Graves of Ceaseless Death’
American Death Metal band Ruinous releases their debut full length ‘Graves of Ceaseless Death’ and is a great slab of Old School sounding Death Metal. The band provides what every OSDM fan needs, good drumming and vocals, with some great riffs sown together. Recommended for OSDM fans.
Trees Of Eternity – ‘Hour Of The Nightingale’
Gothic/Doom is not my usual Metal music fare but Trees Of Eternity’s new debut and most likely last album, ‘Hour Of The Nightingale’ is a great exception. The music was actually recorded for a while but was only released when the vocalist unfortunately passed away. If you are looking for some sombre sounding music, give this album a try.