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Most anticipated albums of 2018


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3 hours ago, BlutAusNerd said:

Was Frontschwein that good? I doubt it would ever eclipse Those of the Unlight for me, but some of their more recent albums like Plague Angel have proven to be pretty enjoyable.

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I find Plague Angel to be a bit one dimensional, with much more generic riffs, while Mortuus’ voice is more straightforward as he tests the Marduk waters in his first outing with them. Amazing drumming though. 

It’s funny cause True Belief and I were talking about Plague Angel just last week and I gave it a good spin. It’s ok but just lacks a bit of purpose and meaning (apart from obviously trying to out-necro World Funeral - which it does handsomely) and quality control for me. Mortuus doesn’t quite unleash the beast though...

Frontschwein is just next level in every way. Mortuus’ use of his voice, with those desperate and varied screams that drop off in a gallows shout/strangled moan - he’s become my favourite extreme vocalist right now. Songs like ‘503’ just wrench my infernal heart as I hear the panzers rolling. Listen to Mortuus in it and that death march. Goddammit. 

I can say without hyperbole that Frontschwein has moved into my top ten black metal albums of all time. 

 

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I find Plague Angel to be a bit one dimensional, with much more generic riffs, while Mortuus’ voice is more straightforward as he tests the Marduk waters in his first outing with them. Amazing drumming though. 
It’s funny cause True Belief and I were talking about Plague Angel just last week and I gave it a good spin. It’s ok but just lacks a bit of purpose and meaning (apart from obviously trying to out-necro World Funeral - which it does handsomely) and quality control for me. Mortuus doesn’t quite unleash the beast though...
Frontschwein is just next level in every way. Mortuus’ use of his voice, with those desperate and varied screams that drop off in a gallows shout/strangled moan - he’s become my favourite extreme vocalist right now. Songs like ‘503’ just wrench my infernal heart as I hear the panzers rolling. Listen to Mortuus in it and that death march. Goddammit. 
I can say without hyperbole that Frontschwein has moved into my top ten black metal albums of all time. 
 
Well, I certainly haven't put off hearing it for any reason, there's just always more stuff to hear. I was even more impressed with Mortuus live than on album, he's a monster, one of their greatest strengths these days. I have no doubt that him getting more varied is a good thing, so I'll have to check it out. Just knowing Marduk's style, I doubt it would ever catapult to a top spot for me like it has for you, but I'm happy to give it a go.

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2 minutes ago, BlutAusNerd said:

Well, I certainly haven't put off hearing it for any reason, there's just always more stuff to hear. I was even more impressed with Mortuus live than on album, he's a monster, one of their greatest strengths these days. I have no doubt that him getting more varied is a good thing, so I'll have to check it out. Just knowing Marduk's style, I doubt it would ever catapult to a top spot for me like it has for you, but I'm happy to give it a go.

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I was actually pretty unmoved by Plague, Rom 512 and Wormwood (even though I bought them all upon release) and if anyone had have said that the next album would end up being one of my favourite metal albums, I would have launched mustard gas at the untermensch.

Not saying you’ll love it like me, but it was an unexpected hit with the troops in Panzer Divison Requiem. 

 

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On 4/13/2018 at 3:53 AM, morbidspectre said:

The new Aura Noir album, Aura Noire is due out on April 27.

 

 

Aura Noir are playing at my semi-local metal pub when I'm actually going to be out of the country. I'm no great Aura Noir fan, but the thought of seeing them in a venue with a maximum entry of about 200 people would be too good to pass up. Can't believe I'm going to miss it! 

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4 hours ago, Paragon_Belial said:

The three records i was really waiting for (Ghost, Ihsahn & Dimmu Borgir) have all since been released & thus far i am pretty satisfied. The only other ones i have on my radar are the new Immortal & Tarja Turunen.

Cool selections. Ihsahn is too artsy for me these days but the others interest me. 

The new Dimmu Borgir has grown on me immensely and I’m going to write more about it later this week. 

The Immortal fascinates me but I’m not expecting much. Is there a track out yet? 

Havent heard Tarja lately but I always keep an eye on her. 

I’ll check out the singles from the new Ghost album but won’t pursue it further unless I love them. I bought the last album cause I was suckered by songs like Square Hammer and Circe but I was ultimately really bored with it. I also don’t get why they’re so popular. 

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1 hour ago, Requiem said:

Cool selections. Ihsahn is too artsy for me these days but the others interest me. 

The new Dimmu Borgir has grown on me immensely and I’m going to write more about it later this week. 

The Immortal fascinates me but I’m not expecting much. Is there a track out yet? 

Havent heard Tarja lately but I always keep an eye on her. 

I’ll check out the singles from the new Ghost album but won’t pursue it further unless I love them. I bought the last album cause I was suckered by songs like Square Hammer and Circe but I was ultimately really bored with it. I also don’t get why they’re so popular. 

I hear you on the Ihsahn stuff, i found the same with post "Anthems" Emperor. It felt like they sacrificed atmosphere & melody for the sake of complexity and i just couldn't enjoy it. His new solo record is decent but i can't see him topping Arktis., which i personally think is one of the best metal releases i have heard. period.  

Likewise, i was pleasantly surprised by the new Dimmu Borgir. I lost interest after Spiritual Black Dimensions but Eonian brought back a lot of the elements i really loved about the early era records, particularly the slower tempo and swathing keyboards. Classical elements are great. but sometimes i want atmosphere and not technical showmanship. Regardless, i look forward to hearing your thoughts about it, i'll keep an eye out. 

There is indeed, Immortal & Nuclear Blast Youtube channels released a single of the title track "Northern Chaos Gods" a few weeks back and i'm pretty impressed. It seems with Abbath now gone, they have reverted back to their roots and decided to blow the studio away with sheer speed. 

Tarja's new one will be a live album. No new material really, but a recording of one of her solo shows titled "ACT II"

I can relate 100% about Ghost, and to be honest i still don't like all that much of their back catalogue. Musically the new one is VERY pop-orientated but lyrically it's quite sombre (Hey, we are all about to die so let's dance our asses off). I personally really enjoyed it, but it's a love or hate record, not much room for middle ground.  

 


 

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1 hour ago, Paragon_Belial said:

I hear you on the Ihsahn stuff, i found the same with post "Anthems" Emperor. It felt like they sacrificed atmosphere & melody for the sake of complexity and i just couldn't enjoy it. His new solo record is decent but i can't see him topping Arktis., which i personally think is one of the best metal releases i have heard. period.

I wasn't as impressed with the track that he released for his new album as I had been with some of his older material.  Would you recommend looking into the album more?

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