TOP 16 ALBUMS: The Sour 16 June 2017

Vokonis (2017)

Yes, it is that time again O ye lover of riffs, “THE SOUR 16” returns.  You know the drill by now, each month you the reader are unwittingly compiling a list of the top 16 records of the month, covering all genres of metal.  Is it not a chart, in which reviewers or contributors extol their opinion about their favourite music.  To put it simply, “THE SOUR 16” are the records that have been trending the most at TERR0R Headquarters.

The results are compiled based on the amount of page views the reviews have received and are then calibrated into the list below.  All reviews can be viewed by clicking the artwork and we have included album streams wherever possible. (Total views since their publication are highlighted in the red)

16). Coltsblood - "Ascending Into Shimmering Darkness" (324)

Coltsblood refine their unique brand of bleak, bludgeoning doom to punishing effect on “Ascending Into Shimmering Darkness”. This is a mighty collection that marks out the band as one of the most underrated heavy acts in the world.

15). blyh - "Transparent to the World" (358)

Short, to the point, but excelling in both subtlety and savagery, blyh is a band to watch out for.

14). Iced Earth - "Incorruptible" (361)

This is the kind of album that Judas Priest should be making- and used to make. “Incorruptible” is a great metal album, it delivers on every level, with every band member excelling in their field. Time for me to get hold of the back catalogue as well, as “Incorruptible” has converted me to being a fan of the band. After nearly thirty years of albums, Iced Earth are deadlier than ever.

13). Avatarium - "Hurricanes And Halos" (395)

This is another great record from Avatarium and one which places the band firmly in the upper echelons of doom outfits operating today. There is nothing to fault here. If you enjoyed the band's previous work, don't hesitate. If you have never heard the band, then this is as good a place as any to start. Great record.

12). In Human Form - "Opening of the Eye by Death of the I" (467)

The complexity of the songwriting on all of the tracks leaves the listener discovering many layers over multiple listens. This band has some serious talent, and absolutely deserves your time. A massively unique release weaving together so many influences it’s difficult to quantify them all. This is excellent music, and I can’t wait for future releases from this band.

11). Schammasch - “The Maldoror Chants: Hermaphrodite”(EP) (471)

Schammasch have created something remarkable with this most recent artistic expression, sophisticated, complex and yet somehow, eminently accessible.  Get lost. It is worth your time to find a way out.

10). USA/MEXICO - "Laredo" (472)

This is the kind of garage rock where the car is still parked inside with the engine running, warping the bands minds with fumes.   “Laredo” is an awesome offering from USA/MEXICO, a perfect blend of dumb headbanging heaviness and tripped-out weirdness.

9). Bereft - "Lands" (490)

There are other bands creating doom in a similar style to Bereft but few do it on such a grand scale. The Wisconsin quartet’s latest release comprises  of four epic journeys into the abyss with a massive production that matches their towering ambition.  “Lands” is a fine album that is sure to win Bereft a legion of new followers.

8). Vallenfyre - "Fear Those Who Fear Him" (511)

All in all it’s another good album that sees the band dishing out shorter and faster songs than we’re used to getting from them, while not losing the razor sharp edge of that classic Vallenfyre musical mastery and might.

7). Pyreship - "The Liars Bend Low" (579)

The Houston quartet deal in a captivating brand of complex sludge with a perfect balance of melody and grit. “The Liars Bend Low” is a debut brimming with potential for a glowing future.

6). Mantar - "The Spell" (EP) (669)

Mantar’s strength lies in their ability to maintain a perfect balance of dirty, underground grit and catchy stadium-bothering rock’n’roll ambition. Opening track “Pest Crusade” demonstrates this in style. It is a complex track composed of shifting tempos and styles, encompassing shards of raging black metal, stop/start riffage and blasts of no-nonsense stoner punk.  The three flawless tracks that make up “The Spell” demonstrate that Mantar’s unique brand of heaviness is growing ever more potent.

5). Bison - “You Are Not The Ocean, You Are the Patient”(707)

“You Are Not The Ocean, You Are the Patient” is an amalgamation of everything that Bison does well. If you love anything in the realm of sludge or stoner metal, this is a must for you.

4). Beastmaker - "Inside The Skull" (762)

It's impressive that, only a year and a bit after their debut, Beastmaker have taken their sound and improved upon it with sharper song writing and an impressive grasp of what makes music of the trad doom genre tick.

3). Paganizer - "Land of Weeping Souls" (787)

Rogga Johansson shows no sign of letting up at all; another album, another line up, another master class in Swedish death metal. This is absolutely business as usual for Paganizer, possibly the finest and purest exponents of this type of metal around. Highly recommended.

2). Elder - "Reflections of a Floating World"(822)

Reflections of a Floating World’ is both a glance back and a stride forward. The direct nature of some of the riffs and the weight of their execution sit it comfortably between ‘Spires Burn/Release’ and ‘Lore.’ The expansion of ambition and variety in musical approach however, keep Elder’s eyes firmly fixed on the horizon

1). Vokonis - "The Sunken Djinn" (964)

Whilst being undoubtedly heavy what makes this sophomore effort stand out is the variation employed in the bludgeon. By embracing less traditional doom landscapes ‘The Sunken Djinn’ has allowed Vokonis room to demonstrate the full raft of their audio-weaponry, and in doing so propelled them to the forefront of the heavy underground.

A big thank you as always to our amazing writers, your dedication knows no boundaries and for that I am truly grateful.  June 2017’s “SOUR 16” features reviews by:  Richard Maw, Andre Almaraz, Charlie Butler, Conor O’Dea, Brandon Green, David Jupp & Mark Tremblay

ALBUM REVIEW: Avatarium - "Hurricanes And Halos"

By Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 26/05/2017

Label: Nuclear Blast

This is another great record from Avatarium and one which places the band firmly in the upper echelons of doom outfits operating today. There is nothing to fault here. If you enjoyed the band's previous work, don't hesitate. If you have never heard the band, then this is as good a place as any to start. Great record.

“Hurricanes And Halos” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Into The Fire - Into The Storm (4:14)

2. The Starless Sleep (4:47)

3. Road To Jerusalem (5:48)

4. Medusa Child (9:00)

5. The Sky At The Bottom Of The Sea (5:25)

6. When Breath Turns To Air (4:46)

7. A Kiss (From The End Of The World) (7:14)

8. Hurricanes And Halos (3:22)

The Review:

Avatarium are proving to be a rather prolific band. The brainchild of Leif Edling (Candlemass) they have now put out three full lengths and an EP since 2013! After the excellent “The Girl With The Raven Mask”, I wondered where the band would go next. That particular album struck me as somewhat Dio-esque- with all the drama and storytelling of the miniature vocal maestro.

This time around, Dio still looms large in the influences I can hear; but more from his Rainbow era rather than his solo work. Uriah Heep offer a reference point here as well- with the rolling rhythms and Hammond organ work of “Demons and Wizards” being present and correct. The record offers up a couple of the epic song lengths that fans will expect and Jennie Ann Smith's vocals are as haunting as ever and are a real selling point of the band, not to mention a highlight of the album.

There is a lightness of touch to songs like “The Starless Sleep”, despite the weight of riffage, while there are more whimsical acoustic sounds in tracks like “Road To Jerusalem”. “Medusa Child”offers something of a centrepiece to the album at the half way point. It's a fantastic track, full of changes, production flourishes and a darkness and gloom that is always found in the best doom.

Elsewhere, “Easy Living” by Heep is echoed, Led Zep at their more morose is to be found and the downbeat grandeur of Sabbathcan be heard in “A Kiss (From The End Of The World)” before the strange outro of a title track closes the record.

This is another great record from Avatarium and one which places the band firmly in the upper echelons of doom outfits operating today. There is nothing to fault here. If you enjoyed the band's previous work, don't hesitate. If you have never heard the band, then this is as good a place as any to start. Great record.

“Hurricanes & Halos”is available now

FFO: Candlemass, Jex Thoth, Dio, Uriah Heep

Band info: facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: The Doomsday Kingdom - "The Doomsday Kingdom"

 

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 07/04/2017

Label: Nuclear Blast

In summary, Edling has lost none of his Midas touch here. The Doomsday Kingdom is a record that delivers in every way that is expected. It melds doom and trad metal to great effect and does so whilst sounding fresh and inspired, with a great cast of superior musicians. If you have any interest in any of Edling's previous bands, this is a must. If you are looking for some doom in the trad style, then absolutely pick this one up. A sterling success all around, then!

“The Doomsday Kingdom” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Silent Kingdom(5:11)

2. The Never Machine (6:35)

3. A Spoonful Of Darkness (5:50)

4. See You Tomorrow (4:36)

5. The Sceptre (7:19)

6. Hand Of Hell (5:58)

7. The Silence (7:26)

8. The God Particle (9:17)

The Review:

Leif Edling is a name known to anyone with an interest in the doom genre. Via Candlemassand more recently Avatarium, he has written an impressive entry in the encyclopaedia of metal. With The Doomsday Kingdom's self titled debut he has added to his already stellar reputation. Where to start? Well, this is an impressive release which crosses doom with more traditional metal fare. Frankly, this is right up my street in terms of style. Having recruited Niklas Stalvind of Wolf, Edling has given listeners an idea of what to expect here.

Think Sabbathmeeting Angel Witch and you have a pretty good reference point. “Silent Kingdom” comes with an impressive opening groove, while “The Never Machine” is a little darker in sound. “A Spoonful of Darkness” is doomier still, but without resorting to the crawling tempos beloved on Edling's original Alma mater.

Indeed, the first three tracks set the tone here; if you like them, the rest of the album will seem like a dream come true. It welds Sabbath, Priest and NWOBHM stylings to great effect. It rocks hard enough to keep your average trad metal fan's head nodding, but in tracks such as “See You Tomorrow” and “The Sceptre” it has enough maudlin darkness (the latter) and experimentation of sound (the former- a charming instrumental) to satisfy fans of Edling's past work.

The material on offer here is heavy for sure and the production is great- clear and thick at the same time. It sounds like every inch a modern doom/trad record, worthy of the names attached to it. There is more than enough texture to the sound as well- you can hear Hammondorgan in parts, there are acoustic guitars on the album, even keys as well. When the band picks up the pace on “Hand of Hell”, it sounds convincing and evokes the sounds of Troubleor mid period Paradise Lost.

There are two doom epics which close the record out: “The Silence” and “The God Particle”. Both are as heavy as lead and finish the album in fine style. There is light and shade to “The Silence”, as well as vocal histrionics from Stalvind, to go with the weighty riffage. The final statement of “The God Particle”is perhaps closer to Candlemass than the rest of the record, in terms of weight and mood. Its post nine minutes of gloom are an impressive way to finish the record.

In summary, Edling has lost none of his Midas touch here. The Doomsday Kingdom is a record that delivers in every way that is expected. It melds doom and trad metal to great effect and does so whilst sounding fresh and inspired, with a great cast of superior musicians. If you have any interest in any of Edling's previous bands, this is a must. If you are looking for some doom in the trad style, then absolutely pick this one up. A sterling success all around, then!

“The Doomsday Kingdom” is available now



Band info: facebook