OUR LIST OF 2024’S MOST INFECTIOUS EXTREME METAL SONGS (PART 7): JOB FOR A COWBOY, SPECTRAL WOUND

 MOST INFECTIOUS SONGS-2024  No Responses »
Jan 102025
 

(written by Islander)

Welcome to the lucky 7th Part of this infectious song list. To see and hear the preceding six and to understand what this list is about (if you don’t know), go HERE.

JOB FOR A COWBOY

After spending Part 6 with some very obscure groups I’m beginning today with a better-known outfit, who, after a decade-long hiatus, released what many of us think was their best album last year in a career that has now extended past 20 years, and an album that probably even re-defined their career. Continue reading »

OUR LIST OF 2024’S MOST INFECTIOUS EXTREME METAL SONGS (PART 6): CALCARATA, POLEMICIST

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Jan 092025
 

(written by Islander)

In my discussion of a Warlust song in yesterday’s Part 5 of this list I hinted that today’s selections, like that one, would include some fantastic guitar solos, which tend to be a rarity in extreme metal. The presence of those solos is a big reason for my choice of today’s two songs. It’s also the reason why I put these two together in today’s installment, though I think you’ll discover other reasons when you listen.

CALCARATA

When I came across the cover image for this German atmospheric black metal band’s debut album Der müde Mensch last September I couldn’t resist checking it out. A giant snail being ridden by a hooded figure? I’ll bite! Turns out I found the music irresistible too. Continue reading »

OUR LIST OF 2024’S MOST INFECTIOUS EXTREME METAL SONGS (PART 5): THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT, WARLUST, URFEIND

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Jan 082025
 

(written by Islander)

Welcome to Part 5 of this evolving list of infectious metal songs from last year. I’m not sure there’s any kind of organizing principle that explains why I put the following three songs together in this latest installment. They felt right together even though they sound very different, but I don’t know why.

Anyway, I think you will enjoy them. To check out the preceding four Parts and to understand what this list is about, go here.

THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT

With tongues in cheeks but also sticking straight out, we’ve explained our difficulty in being entirely objective about The Monolith Deathcult. As Andy wrote in his review of their latest album, “We’ve been friends, we’ve been enemies… and then there was that unfortunate incident where we all swapped brains… but our love for the band’s music has never waned.”

Or as I wrote upon hearing that album’s title track last February: “With our long history slavishly lapping at the feet of The Monolith Deathcult, you didn’t really think we’d overlook the fact that they have a new album coming out or that they’ve released its title track, did you? Perish the thought!” Continue reading »

OUR LIST OF 2024’S MOST INFECTIOUS EXTREME METAL SONGS (PART 4): GAEREA, GROZA, DEWFALL, DIZZINESS

 MOST INFECTIOUS SONGS-2024  No Responses »
Jan 072025
 

(written by Islander)

Welcome to Part 4 of this evolving list of infectious metal songs from last year. Today, as you can see, I’ve turned in a black metal direction and also included four picks today instead of three. To check out the preceding three Parts and to understand what this list is about, go here.

GAEREA

Even though Gaerea‘s career had already reached impressive heights before last year, it’s fair to say that this Portuguese band’s 2024 album Coma was a breakout hit, not only garnering widespread critical acclaim and tremendous support from listeners but marking an evident new chapter in the band’s musical evolution. Continue reading »

OUR LIST OF 2024’S MOST INFECTIOUS EXTREME METAL SONGS (PART 3): HIGH ON FIRE, MANDROID OF KRYPTON, ACID MAGUS

 MOST INFECTIOUS SONGS-2024  No Responses »
Jan 062025
 

(written by Islander)

On behalf of all of us here, we wish you a Happy Monday. Actually, that’s mainly wishful thinking. Some of my colleagues may hope your Monday is as miserable as theirs is. But either way, we hope to make you happier with the following Part 3 of the ongoing Most Infectious Song list. (To see the other Parts and to understand what this list is about, go here.)

HIGH ON FIRE

I was immediately floored ten months ago by the video directed by Lars Kristoffer Hormander for High On Fire‘s “Burning Down.” Back then I couldn’t find any details about how he made it, and I haven’t looked for details since then, but it’s still just fucking stunning to watch it. Continue reading »

OUR LIST OF 2024’S MOST INFECTIOUS EXTREME METAL SONGS (PART 2): ALTA ROSSA, CANDY, BLACKEVIL

 MOST INFECTIOUS SONGS-2024  No Responses »
Jan 032025
 

(written by Islander)

Welcome to Part 2 of this list of 2024’s Most Infectious Extreme Metal Songs. If you’ve stumbled across this for the first time today and have no idea what I’m doing, you could take a look at the introductory verbiage in Part 1. But today I’m just going to get right into the next three selections without delay, each one radically different from the others.

ALTA ROSSA

Alta Rossa‘s A Defiant Curse hit fairly late in the year, near the end of November, and Andy jumped on it fast. In his review he wrote:

“Dealing in a form of Sludge/Post-Metal that errs more towards the Hardcore-inspired end of the spectrum – think LLNN, Herod, and early The Ocean (i.e. when the band were at their best… yeah, I said it) – Alta Rossa hit hard and refuse to pull their punches…. As punchy and pugilistic as the band’s sound is, however (and there’s no question that Alta Rossa came ready to fight), it’s also brimming with dark, desolate atmosphere…. those who connect with this album will be in for one hell of a ride, equal parts primal, gut-level impact and deeper, darker soul-scarring slow-burn.”

Continue reading »

OUR LIST OF 2024’S MOST INFECTIOUS EXTREME METAL SONGS (PART 1): DARKTHRONE, CRYPT SERMON, DÖDSRIT

 MOST INFECTIOUS SONGS-2024  No Responses »
Jan 022025
 

(written by Islander)

I wasn’t able to make this list last year due to the rude demands of my day job. Especially because of that, I’ll repeat some things I’ve written in the past about this final part of our annual LISTMANIA orgy:

This particular series isn’t about best albums or best shorter releases, and it isn’t even about best songs. As the title says, it’s about “most infectious” songs. Some of those might be among the year’s best songs, but in every year there are stand-out songs that aren’t immediately infectious, and actually might never be. Conversely, there are some highly infectious songs every year that most people wouldn’t critically acclaim as great works of art.

The process of compiling this list, as in every previous year, is a bit bizarre, or at least very poorly planned. Let me explain: Continue reading »

THE MOST INFECTIOUS EXTREME METAL SONGS OF 2024: OUR ANNUAL APPEAL TO READERS FOR HELP!

 MOST INFECTIOUS SONGS-2024  16 Responses »
Nov 182024
 

You might not have noticed, but our annual LISTMANIA extravaganza at NCS has begun, as evidenced by this post from last week. But we didn’t really give this project a proper introduction, so we’re doing that now. For those of you new to the orgy, our LISTMANIA blockbuster comes in four parts:

First, like that post linked above, we re-print assorted lists of the year’s best albums, leeched from other big web sites and magazines. Second, we will provide a post in which our readers can share their lists of the 2024 albums and shorter releases they enjoyed the most (we’ll be asking for those on December 2nd, so get ready). Third, we will post the year-end lists of our own staff and assorted guest writers, and that will begin whenever Andy Synn gets his week-long series of lists ready, since that’s how we always begin.

And fourth, I’ll again roll out my list of the year’s Most Infectious Extreme Metal Songs — though it’s a tradition I failed to honor last year. That list is the subject of this request for help. Continue reading »

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