LISTMANIA 2015: KEVINP’S BEST OF 2015

 

(KevinP weighs in with his year-end list of top EPs and albums.)

441 albums.  That was the total amount of metal I consumed this year.  Easily the most I’ve ever listened to and almost double last year’s consumption.  Even though most of these are from my Albums of the Month columns (if you have followed that, GOOD, if not, get with the program in 2016), there are 3 that made my final list that I either overlooked initially or grew on me enough over the course of the year to warrant inclusion.

All 12 number one albums from the monthly series made the list (naturally), but not all of them held up, as 3 albums in my Top 10 were not ‘Best Of’ their respective month.  Anyways, enjoy the list. Hopefully, there’s some new music you overlooked that I put on your radar.  Feel free to discuss what albums tickled your fancy in the comments below.

TOP 5 EPs

 

5.  Extreme Cold Winter – Paradise Ends Here

https://www.facebook.com/Extreme.Cold.Winter

 

 

 

 

4.  Abjvration – The Unquenchable Pyre

https://www.facebook.com/abjvration/?fref=ts
http://abjvration.bandcamp.com/

 

 

 

3.  Temple of Gnosis – Mysterivm Magnvm

https://www.facebook.com/templeofgnosis/?fref=ts
https://templeofgnosis.bandcamp.com/album/mysterivm-magnvm

 

 

 

2.  Denner / Shermann – Satan’s Tomb

https://www.facebook.com/dennershermann/?fref=ts
https://dennershermann.bandcamp.com/

 

 

 

1.  Agos – Irkalla Transcendence

https://www.facebook.com/agos218

 

 

 

TOP 25 ALBUMS

 

25.  Tyranny – Aeons in Tectonic Interment

https://www.facebook.com/tyrannyfuneraldoom/?fref=ts
https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/aeons-in-tectonic-interment

 

 

 

24.  Dalkhu – Descend…into Nothingness

https://www.facebook.com/DalkhuOfficial/?fref=ts
https://dalkhuofficial.bandcamp.com/

 

 

 

23.  Sarpanitum – Blessed Be My Brothers

https://www.facebook.com/sarpanitum/?fref=ts
https://willowtip.bandcamp.com/album/blessed-be-my-brothers

 

 

 

22.  Akhenaten – Incantations Through the Gates of Irkalla

https://www.facebook.com/akhenatenmetal/?fref=ts
https://akhenatenmusic.bandcamp.com/releases

 

 

 

21.  Batushka – Litourgiya

https://www.facebook.com/Batushka-1004746209548365/?fref=ts
https://witchinghourproductions.bandcamp.com/album/litourgiya

 

 

 

20.  Desolate Shrine – The Heart of the Netherworld

https://www.facebook.com/desolateshrine/?fref=ts
https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-heart-of-the-netherworld

 

 

 

19.  Tribulation – The Children of the Night

https://www.facebook.com/Tribulationofficial/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEw6rm8ISO8

 

 

 

18.  Amestigon – Thier

https://www.facebook.com/amestigon666/?fref=ts
https://wtcproductions.bandcamp.com/album/thier

 

 

 

17.  Majestic Downfall – …When Dead

https://www.facebook.com/majestic.downfall/?fref=ts
https://pulverised.bandcamp.com/album/when-dead

 

 

 

16.  Death Karma – The History of Death & Burial Rituals part 1

https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/album/death-karma-the-history-of-death-burial-rituals-part-i

 

 

 

15.  Marduk – Frontschwein

https://www.facebook.com/Mardukofficial/?fref=ts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDlbOnqMwVU

 

 

 

14.  Autopsy – Skull Grinder

https://www.facebook.com/Autopsy-Official-162194133792668/?fref=ts&ref=br_tf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnC5-4YiDfk

 

 

 

13.  Temple of Baal – Mysterium

https://www.facebook.com/Temple-Of-Baal-20135072962/?fref=ts
https://agoniarecords.bandcamp.com/album/mysterium

 

 

 

12.  Porta Nigra – Kaiserschnitt

https://www.facebook.com/PortaNigraBand/?fref=ts
https://dmp666.bandcamp.com/album/kaiserschnitt

 

 

 

11.  Serpent Noir – Erotomysticism

https://www.facebook.com/Serpent-Noir-411409432260637/?fref=ts
https://daemonworship.bandcamp.com/album/erotomysticism

 

 

 

10.  Katavasia – Sacrilegious Testament

A glorious ode to Greek metal by an All Star lineup of tzatziki lovers.

https://www.facebook.com/katavasiaofficial/?fref=ts
https://katavasia.bandcamp.com/releases

 

 

 

9.  My Dying Bride – Feel the Misery

Somewhat of a return to form, due to the inclusion of more death metal than the past few releases.

https://www.facebook.com/My-Dying-Bride-Official-uk-282179138510618/?fref=ts

 

 

 

8.  Sunset in the 12th House – Mozaic

Proggy psychedelic metal/rock with touches of traditional oriental music from members of Dordeduh.

https://www.facebook.com/sunsetinthe12thhouse/?fref=ts
https://sunset-in-the-12th-house.bandcamp.com/releases

 

 

 

7.  Awe – Providentia

Supreme Greek black metal for a new generation.

https://www.facebook.com/aweprovidentia/?fref=ts
https://pulverised.bandcamp.com/album/providentia

 

 

 

6.  Blaze of Perdition – Near Death Revelations

Poland had an insane year of fabulous black metal releases, this being one of the better ones.

https://www.facebook.com/blazeofperdition/?fref=ts
https://blazeofperdition.bandcamp.com/album/near-death-revelations-2

 

 

 

5.  Sulphur Aeon – Gateway to the Antisphere

Eclipses their debut (which is no small feat) and cements them as THE death metal band to watch going forward.

https://www.facebook.com/SulphurAeon/?fref=ts
https://sulphuraeon-vanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/gateway-to-the-antisphere

 

 

 

4.  Crypt Sermon – Out of the Garden

For a new band to put out such a potent album that mixes classic doom/heavy metal, while still retaining its own identity, bodes great things for future releases.

https://www.facebook.com/CryptSermon/?fref=ts
https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/out-of-the-garden

 

 

 

3.  Outre – Ghost Chants

Tortured black metal from Poland with a freshness seldom heard these days.

https://www.facebook.com/outremetal/?fref=ts
https://outremetal.bandcamp.com/

 

 

 

2.  Lost Soul – Atlantis:  The New Beginning

Completely blistering death from start to finish, like getting hit upside the head with a frozen kielbasa multiple times.

https://www.facebook.com/lost.soul.poland/?fref=ts
https://lostsoulpoland.bandcamp.com/album/atlantis-the-new-beginning

 

 

 

1.  Wolfheart – Shadow World

Just based on the law of averages, Tuomas Saukkonen will eventually put out an album I’m not totally head over heels and fanboy crazy about.  But until that time, I’m just going to enjoy the ride.

https://www.facebook.com/WolfheartRealm/?fref=ts

 

Tuomas thought everyone wanted to see his glittery Finnish balls

 

Clearly he’s inspired to write killer material by reading NCS