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Top 10 Albums of Any Given Year


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Falling behind here:

 

2011

Vastum - Carnal Law

Negative Plane - Stained Glass Revelations

Puteraeon - The Esoteric Order

Hades Archer - For the Diabolical Ages

Blaspherian - Infernal Warriors of Death

Necros Christos - Doom of the Occult

Ygg - Ygg

Ungod - Cloaked in Eternal Darkness

Vanhelgd -Church of Death

Bones – S/T

Aosoth - III: Violence & Variations

Wolf - Legions of Bastards

Portrait - Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae

Hell - Human Remains

Execration - Odes of the Occult

Azarath - Blasphemers' Maledictions

Avichi - The Devil's Fractal

Disma - Towards the Megalith

Antichrist - Sacrament of Blood

Morbus Chron - Sleepers in the Rift

Bestial Raids - Prime Evil Damnation

Evilfeast - Wintermoon Enchantment

Blasphemophagher - The III Command of the Absolute Chaos

Barbarian - Barbarian

Midnight - Satanic Royalty

Antediluvian - Through the Cervix of Hawaah

Ritual Necromancy - Oath of the Abyss

War Master - Pyramid of the Necropolis

Embrace of Thorns - Praying for Absolution

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2013

1. Alestorm - Live At The End Of The World

2.Dropkick Murphys – Signed And Sealed In Blood

3. Hidden Intent - Walking Through Hell

4. Mechanix – New World Underground

5. Motorhead – Aftershock

6. Speedboozer – Speedboozer

7. Airbourne - Black Dog Barking

8. Death Angel – The Dream Calls For Blood

9. Dogtor - Motor Metal Mayhem

10. Black Water Rising - Pissed And Driven

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1990

  1. Rust In Peace - Megadeth
  2. Painkiller - Judas Priest
  3. Cowboys From Hell - Pantera
  4. Hammerheart - Bathory
  5. Seasons In The Abyss - Slayer
  6. Left Hand Path - Entombed
  7. Cause of Death - Obituary
  8. Facelift - Alice In Chains
  9. Deicide - Deicide
10. Coma of Souls - Kreator

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2014, the last list I can confidently produce using only albums I’m familiar with.

10. Lucifyre - Sun Eater

9. Phobocosm - Deprived

8. Encoffination - III: Hear Me O’ Death (Sing thou Wretched Choirs)

7. Funeral Moth - Dense Fog

6. Mournful Congregation - Conscresensce of the Sofia

5. Stoic Dissention - Autochon

4. Fungoid Stream - Prehuman Shapes

3. Sun Worship - Elder Giants

2. Thantifaxath - Sacred White Noise

1. Black Harvest - Abject

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2014

 

1. Devin Townsend – Dark Matters - Z2

2. Alestorm – Sunset On The Golden Age

3 .Overkill - White Devil Armory

4. Exodus – Blood In Blood Out

5. Obituary – Inked in Blood

6. Hatriot – Dawn Of A New Centurion

7. Exmortus - Slave to the Sword

8. Orange Goblin - Back From the Abyss

9. Dead Kelly – Sons Of The Southern Cross

10. Envenomed – Evil Unseen

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                     2014  

1. Vargsang - In the Mist of Night

2. Ordinance - Relinquishment

3. Dead Congregation - Promulgation of the Fall

4. Lie In Ruins - Towards Divine Death

5. Teitanblood - Death

6. Triptykon - Melana Chasmata

7. Embrace of Thorns - Darkness Impenetrable

8. Agnosy - Traits of the Past

9. Burial Hordes - Incendium

10. Peter Pan Speedrock - Buckle Up and Shove It

Owl's Blood - Cold Night of Meditation

Rienaus - Aamutahdelle

Desecresy - Chasmic Transcendence

Invocation Spells - Unholy Blasphemies

Martyrdöd - Elddop

Icon of Evil - Syfilis Mentalis

Oath - Saatanan Myrsky Yllä Pyhän Maan

Lathspell - Impious Incantations

Dark Fury - Synningthwait

Lvcifyre - Svn Eater

Diocletian - Gesundrian

Sammath - Godless Arrogance

Goatpenis - Flesh Consumed in the Battlefield

Necroholocaust - Holocaustic Goat Metal

Death Vomit - Gutted By Horrors

Bastard Feast - Osculum Infame

Black Capricorn - Cult of Black Friars

Temple of Void - Of Terror and the Supernatural

Nocturnal Witch - Summoning Hell

Nightfell - The Living Ever Mourn

Instinct of Survival - Call of the Blue Distance

Satanic Warmaster - Fimbulwinter

Sargeist - Feeding the Crawling Shadows

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2012

Chapel – Satan’s Rock ‘N’ Roll

Pseudogod – Deathwomb Catechesis

Wrathprayer – The Sun of Moloch: The Sublimation of Sulphur’s Essence Which Spawned Death and Life

Witchrist – The Grand Tormentor

Faustcoven – Hellfire and Funeral Bells

Mgla – With Hearts Toward None

Incantation – Vanquish in Vengeance

Charon – Sulphur Seraph

Derketa – In Death We Meet

Profanal - Black Chaos

Chapel of Disease - Summoning Black Gods

Maveth - Coils of the Black Earth

Desolate Shrine - The Sanctum of Human Darkness

Vassafor - Obsidian Codex

Hellbringer - Dominion of Darkness

Abyssal - Denouement

Christian Mistress - Possession

Ignivomous - Contragenesis

Bestial Holocaust - Into the Goat Vulva

Hellvetron - Death Scroll of Seven Hells and Its Infernal Majesties

Deathhammer - Onward to the Pits

Minenwerfer - Nihilistischen

Hades Archer - The Curse over Mankind

Degial - Death's Striking Wings

Satan's Satyrs - Wild Beyond Belief!

Iron Dogs - Cold Bitch

Vampyric Blood - Ordo Dracul

Balmog - Testimony of the Abominable

Behexen - Nightside Emanations

Ataraxy - Revelations of the Ethereal

Serpent Noir - Seeing Through the Shadow Consciousness (Open Up the Shells)

Baptism - As the Darkness Enters

Attic - The Invocation

Züül - To the Frontlines

Ancestral Shadows - Preserving All Darkness in This World

 

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                    1984  

Celtic Frost - Morbid Tales.

Metallica - Ride the Lightning

Mercyful Fate - Don't Break the Oath

Exciter - Violence & Force

Lords of the New Church - Method to Our Madness

Ruthless - Metal Without Mercy

Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith

Grave Digger - Heavy Metal Breakdown

Anthrax - Fistful of Metal

Metal Church - S/T Debut

Bathory - S/T debut

Voivod - War and Pain

Fastway - All Fired Up

Warhead - Speedway

F.U.'s - Do We Really Want to Hurt You

Varukers - Another Religion Another War

Black Flag - Slip It In

Adrenalin O.D. - The Wacky Hi-Jinks of A.O.D.

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i'm on 2016 i think

2016

bloodshed across the empyrean altar beyond the celestial zenith by inquisition

where shadows forever reign by dark funeral

pale distant light by soul dissolution

world peace......cosmic war by armory

wolves of retribution by knightmare

s/t by thundershield

jomsviking by amon amarth

fucked up lizard people by vault dweller

decision day by sodom

s/t by abbath

 

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I'm up to 2015.

1. Viking - No Child Left Behind

2. Iron Maiden - The Book Of Souls

3. Gruesome - Savage Land

4. Evil Invaders - Pluses Of Pleasure

5. Cosmic Psychos – Cum The Raw Prawn

6. Tau Cross – Tau Cross

7. Harlott -Proliferation

8. In Malice’s Wake – Light Upon The Wicked

9. Slayer – Repentless

10. Southeast Desert Metal – South East Desert Metal

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2015, this, along with the rest of my lists route to the modern day, will be highly subject to change as I discover more albums.

10. Vastum - Hole Below

9. Lluvia - Eternidad solemne

8. Spectral Wound - Terra Nullius

7. Ahab - The Boats of the Glen Carrig

6. Sarpanitum - Blessed be my Brothers

5. Cloudrat - Cliffof

4. Haethen - Shaped by Aeolian Winds

3. Bell Witch - Four Phantoms

2. Cruciamentum - Charnal Passages

1. Mgla - Exercises in Futility

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                          2015  

Dorthia Cottrell - S/T solo album

All Them Witches - Dying Surfer Meets His Maker

Murg - Varg & Björn

Archgoat - The Apocalyptic Triumphator

Diaboli - Wiking Division

Kêres - Battle Secrets

Gouge - Beyond Death

Sielunvihollinen - Hautaruhtinas

Havukruunu - Havulinnaan

Tsjuder - Antiliv

Морок - And I Walk Among the Shadows...

Wroth - Force and Wrath

Azaghal - Madon Sanat

Aegrus - Devotion for the Devil

Grave Ritual - Morbid Throne

Vrångbild - Into the Abyss in Zero

Dopethrone - Hochelaga

Windhand - Grief's Infernal Flower

Gravewürm - Doomed to Eternity

Megiddo - The Holocaust Messiah

Goat Semen - Ego Svm Satana

Escarnium - Godless Shrine of Decay

Slaughtbbath - Further Down to the Depths

Wargoat - Genesis of Epiklesis

Sangus - Pedicabo Mundi

Invincible Force - Satan Rebellion Metal

Tau Cross - S/T

Iskra - Ruins

Vastum - Hole Below

Infernus - Grinding Christian Flesh

Hic Iacet - The Cosmic Trance Into the Void

Mefitic - Woes of Mortal Devotion

Serpentrance - The Besieged Sanctum

Chapel of Disease - The Mysterious Ways of Repititive Art

Grave - Out of Respect for the Dead

Necropsy - Buried In the Woods

Disrupted - Morbid Death

Purtenance - ...to Spread the Flame of Ancients

Wiegedood - De Doden Hebben Het Goed

Batushka - Litourgiya

 

This was a sick year. I think it's gonna be like this from here on out.

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2016

1. Testament - Brotherhood of the Snake

2. Zakk Wylde – Book Of Shadows II

3. Flotsam And Jetsam – Flotsam And Jetsam

4. Airborne – Breakin’ Outta Hell

5. Billabong Of Blood – Billabong Of Blood

6. Megadeth – Dystopia

7. Hellbringer - Awakened From the Abyss

8. Bat - Wings of Chains

9. Hobbs Angel Of Death – Heaven Bled

10. Secutor – Stand Defiant

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                      2016  

Forteresse - Thèmes Pour la Rébellion

Murg - Gudatall

Vidargängr - A World That Has to be Opposed

Морок - In the Dungeons of Mind

Wode - S/T...Darkthrone - Arctic Thunder

Baphomet's Blood - In Satan We Trust

Serpent Ascending - Ananku

Inquisition - Blodshed Across the Empyrean Altar

Ifrinn - Ifrinn

Sarke - Bogefod

Darkthrone - Arctic Thunder

Slaughtered Priest - Iron Chains and Metal Blades

Eternal Alchemist - Demon Summoning

Cadaveric Incubator - Unburied Abominations

Black Fucking Cancer - S/T

Black Priest of Satan - Element of Destruction

Death Fortress - Deathless March of the Unyielding

Escarnium - Interitus

Coffin Lust - Manifestation of Inner Darkness

Hellfire Deathcult - Culto a la Muerte

Cruz - Culto Abismal

Altarage - Nihl

Prisoner of War - Rot

Front - Iron Overkill

Black Mass Pervertor - Phanerosis

True Black Dawn - Come the Colorless Dawn

Goatslave - Procession of Doom

Niedergang - Átszellemülés

Sol Sistere - Unfading Incorporeal Vacuum

Goatpenis - Apocalypse War

Caveman Cult - Savage War is Destiny

Ragehammer - The Hammer Doctrine

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2013

Sulphur Aeon - Swallowed by the Ocean's Tide

Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult - Necrovision

Cultes des Ghoules - Henbane, ...or Sonic Compendium of the Black Arts

Sacriphyx - The Western Front

Krypts - Unending Degradation

Deus Mortem - Emanations of the Black Light

Sarkrista - The Acheronian Worship

Irkallian Oracle - Grave Ekstasis

Plaga - Magia gwiezdnej entropii

Aosoth - IV: Arrow in Heart

Satan - Life Sentence

Sorcery – Arrival at Six

Church of Misery - Thy Kingdom Scum

Slidhr - Deluge

Lantern - Below

Hautakammio - Kukaan ei opasta teitä pimeässä

Saor - Roots

Grond - Howling from the Deep

White Medal - Guthmers Hahl

Temple Nightside - Condemnation

Grave Miasma - Odori Sepulcrorum

Mael Mórdha - Damned When Dead

Condor - Condor

Cosmic Church - Ylistys

Inquisition - Obscure Verses for the Multiverse

Nocturnal Graves - ...from the Bloodline of Cain

Vastum - Patricidal Lust

Blackrat - Whiskey and Blasphemy

Bones - Sons of Sleaze

Hell - Curse & Chapter

Ogdru Jahad – I

ZOM – Multiversal Holocaust

Veneror – Percussimus Foedus cum Morte

Solothus – Summoned from the Void

Bölzer – Aura

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2016: 10. Black Mass Pervertor - Phanerosis

9. Sorcery - Garden of Bones

8. Death Fortress - Deathless March of the Unyielding

7. Forteresses - Themes Pour la Rebellion

6. Sun Worship - Pale Dawn

5. Phobocosm - Bringer of Drought

4. Inquisition - Blodshed…

3. Altarage - Nihl

2. Gorguts - Pleiades Dust

1. Ulcerate - Shrines of Paralysis

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Gonna go ahead and say that I think 2017 was the best year for the kinds of metal I like to listen to that I can remember.

 

                     2017  

Temple of Void - Lords of Death

Phrenelith - Desolate Endscape

Diabolical Messiah - Demonic Weapons Against the Sacred

Necroblood - Collapse of the Human Race

Havukruunu - Kelle Surut Soi

Vrångbild - A Psyche Engaged to the Vortex

Magoth - Anti Terrestrial Black Metal

Rituals of the Dead Hand - Blood Oath

Rienaus - Saatanalle

Cemetery Urn - Cemetery Urn

Wode - Servants of the Countercosmos

Blood Chalice - Sepulchral Chants of Self-Destruction

Antichrist - Sinful Birth

Spectral Voice - Eroded Corridors of Unbeing

Jordablod - Upon My Cremation Pyre

Mork - Eremittens Dal

Khragkh - Ersatz

Nordligblast - True Paradise

Father Befouled - Desolate Gods

Morbid Flesh - Rites of the Mangled

In the Company of Serpents - Ain-Soph Aur

Integrity - Howling, for the Nightmare Shall Consume

Hellkrusher - Human Misery

Ascended Dead - Abhorrent Manifestatio

Death Fortress - Triumph of the Undying

Winds of Leng - Horrid Dominion

Kalopsia - Angelplague

Necrot - Blood Offerings

Perdition Winds - Transcendent Emptiness

Condor - Unstoppable Power

Perverted Ceremony - Sabbat of Behezaël

Dødsengel - Interequinox

Malokarpatan - Nordkarpatenland

Barathrum - Fanatiko

Bloodhammer - Kuusi Hymniä Syvyyksistä

Sarkrista - Summoners of the Serpents Wrath

Wiegedood - De Doden Hebben Het Goed II

Todesweihe - Book of the Dead

Undergang - Misantropologi

Desecresy - The Mortal Horizon

Degial - Predator Reign

Incinerator - Stench of Distress

Crypts of Despair - The Stench of the Earth

Profane Order - Tightened Noose of Sanctimony

Goatpenis - Anesthetic Vapor

Looking for an Answer - Dios Carne

Throaat - Reflections in Darkness

Sarke - Viige Urh

Wormwood - Ghostlands: Wounds from a Bleeding Earth

Nocturnes Mist - Diabolical Baptism

 

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16 & 17 were great years. I lost my lists for those years a while back when I upgraded my computer, but a few I remember I haven't seen mentioned:

Chthe'ilist - Le Denier Crepsucle

Circle of Ouroborus - Kotiinpaluu & Ruumistähdet

Oranssi Pazuzu - Värähtelijä

Blood Incantation - Starspawn

Tomb Mold - Primordial Malignity

Witch Vomit - Poisoned Blood

Sielunvihollinen - Ruhonkantaja

Immolation - Atonement - tops for me in 17

Akercocke - Renaissance in Extremis

Succumb - s/t

Svartsyn - In Death

Teitanblood - Accursed Skin EP

Antichrist Siege Machine - Morbid Triumph

Martyrdöd - List - I'm pretty sure this topped my, ahem, list in 16

Nightbringer - Terra Damnata
 

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2017

1. Dropkick Murphys – 11 Stories of Pain And Glory

2. Overkill – The Grinding Wheel

3. Desecrator – To The Gallows

4. Alestorm – No Grave But The Sea

5. Dead Kelly – Australian Made

6. Dezperadoz – Call Of The Wild

7. Evil Invaders – Feed Me Violence

8. Frenzal Rhomb – Hi Vis High Tea

9. Memoriam – For The Fallen

10. Harlott – Extinction

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                 2018

Schrat - Alptraumgänger

Odious Devotion - Odious Devotion

Shadow's Mortuary - Tulen Valtakunta

Old Coven - The Awake of Ascendant Darkness

Crucifier -  Thy Sulfur Throne On High

Utzalu - Idiot Hell

Archgoat - The Luciferian Crown

Sargeist - Unbound'

Infernarium - Kadotuksen Harmonia

Spectral Wound - Infernal Decadence

Of Feather and Bone - Bestial Hymns of Perversion

Outer Heaven - Realms of Eternal Deca

Atroce - Necromantiae Bestialis

Ritual Necromancy - Disinterred Horror

Stygian Obssession - Form is Void

Mutilation Rites - Chasm

Hecate - Une Voix Venue D'ailleurs

Azaghal - Valo Pohjoisesta

Wiegedood  - De Doden Hebben Het Goed III

Hammr - Unholy Destruction

Serum Dreg - Lustful Vengeance

Necrophobic - Mark of the Necrogram

Darvaza - Darkness in Turmoil

Atomwinter - Catacombs

Extinction of Mankind - Storm of Resentmen

Krüger - Oblbnuté Mozky

Mass Grave - Our Due Descent

Dödsrit  - Spirit Crusher

Albionic Hermeticism - Ancient Hermetic Purity

Skognatt - Ancient Wisdom

Black Mass Pervertor - Life Beyond the Walls of Flesh

Moenen of Xezbeth - Ancient Spells of Darkness

Horna - Kasteessa Kirottu

Rodent Epoch - Rodentlord

Craft - White Noise and Black Metal

Ováte - Ováte

Afsky - Sorg

Graveborne - 1918

Undergang - Den Dobbelte Grav

Curse Eternal - Antichristian Ceremonial Madness

Outre-Tomb - Necrovortex

Stillborn - Crave for Killing

Nordligblåst - True Paradise

Witch King - Voice of the Ossuary

Pissblood - Pissblood

Slavehouse - Taste in Pain

Evil Warriors - Fall from Reality

Tomb Mold - Manor of Infinite Forms

 Blutvial - Mysteries of Earth

Grimoire De Occulte - Wisdom of the Dead

Goat Disciple - Wolfcult Domination

The Black Sorcery - And the Beast Spake Death From Above

 

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2018

1. Cosmic Psychos – Loudmouth Soup

2. Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons – The Age Of Absurdity

3. Doro Pesch – Forever Warriors, Forever United

4. Tantara – Sum Of Forces

5. Judas Priest – Firepower

6. Gunjack – Totally Insane

7. Gruesome – Twisted Prayers

8. Oxygen Destroyer - Bestial Manifestations Of Malevolence And Death

9. Hex Crow – Creatures Of The Night

10. Orange Goblin – The Wolf Bites Back

 

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2019

 

1. Overkill – The Wings Of War

2. Flotsam And Jetsam – End Of Chaos

3. VLTIMAS – Something Wicked Marches In

4. Chainbreaker – Lethal Desire

5. Altitudes And Attitudes – Get It Out

6. King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard – Infest The Rats Nest

7. Three Dead Fingers – Breed Of The Devil

8. Plague Years – Unholy Infestation

9. Envenomed – The Walking Shred

10. Eugenic Death – Under The Knife

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            2019  

Murg - Strävan

Förgjord - Ilmestykset

Sarastus - Enter the Necropolis

Ossuary - Supreme Degradation

Coffins - Beyond the Circular Demise

Belgarath - Requiem

Arnaut Pavle - Arnaut Pavle

Í Myrkri - Black Fortress of Solitude

Blut aus Nord - Hallucinogen

Marras - Where Light Comes to Die

Shadow's Mortuary - Kuoleman Portit

Warmoon Lord - Burning Banners of the Funereal War

Wormwood - Nattarvet

Black Beast - Nocturnal Bloodlust

Hell's Coronation - Ritual Chalice of Hateful Blood

Dispyt - Den Ständigt Närvarande Ångesten

Deus Mortem - Kosmocide

Gherzen - 1881

Valaraukar - Demonian Abyssal Visions

Mork - Det Svarte Juv

Flukt - Darkness Devour

Flykt - Charnel Heart

Mara - Rök

Blot & Bod - Ormekongens Argelist

Baxaxaxa - The Old Evil

Akasha - Canticles of the Sepulchral Deity

Reign in Blood - Missa Pro Defunctis

Deiquisitor - Towards Our Impending Doom

Profane Order - Slave Morality

Teitanblood - The Baneful Choir

Noctambulist - Atmospheres of Desolation

Goatkraft - Sulphurous Northern Bestiality

Wampyric Rites - ...In the Desolate Forest of Eternity

Sacrilegia - The Triclavian Advent

Krypts - Cadaver Circulation

Pig's Blood - A Flock Slaughtered

Fetid - Steeping Corporeal Mess

Witch Vomit - Buried Deep in a Bottomless Grave

Blasphemathory - War, Blasphemy & Divine Destruction

Fulci - Tropical Sun

Sorcery - Necessary Excess of Violence

Sammath - Across the Rhine is Only Death

Overkill - The Wings of War

Agnosy - When Daylight Reveals the Torture

Saccage - Khaos Mortem

Eternity - To Become the Great Beast

Decayed - The Oath of Heathen Blood

Darchon - Oionos

Aoratos - Gods Without Name

Ifernach - Skin Stone Blood Bone

Stellar Master Elite - Hologram Temple

Sarke - Gastwerso

 

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    • Whichever tier of thrash metal you consigned Sacred Reich back in the 80's/90's they still had their moments.  "Ignorance" & "Surf Nicaragura" did a great job of establishing the band, whereas "The American Way" just got a little to comfortable and accessible (the title track grates nowadays) for my ears.  A couple more records better left forgotten about and then nothing for twenty three years.  2019 alone has now seen three releases from Phil Rind and co.  A live EP, a split EP with Iron Reagan and now a full length.

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      There's a problem already though (I know, I am such a fucking mood hoover).  I don't like Phil's vocals.  I never had if I am being honest.  The aggression to them seems a little forced even when they are at their best on tracks like 'Manifest Reality'.  When he tries to sing it just feels weak though ('Salvation') and tracks lose real punch.  Give him a riffy number such as 'Killing Machine' and he is fine with the Reich engine (probably a poor choice of phrase) up in sixth gear.  For every thrashy riff there's a fair share of rock edged, local bar act rhythm aplenty too.

      Let's not poo-poo proceedings though, because overall I actually enjoy "Awakening".  It is stacked full of catchy riffs that are sticky on the old ears.  Whilst not as raw as perhaps the - brilliant - artwork suggests with its black and white, tattoo flash sheet style design it is enjoyable enough.  Yes, 'Death Valley' & 'Something to Believe' have no place here, saved only by Arnett and Radziwill's lead work but 'Revolution' is a fucking 80's thrash heyday throwback to the extent that if you turn the TV on during it you might catch a new episode of Cheers!

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    • Full length number 19 from overkill certainly makes a splash in the energy stakes, I mean there's some modern thrash bands that are a good two decades younger than Overkill who can only hope to achieve the levels of spunk that New Jersey's finest produce here.  That in itself is an achievement, for a band of Overkill's stature and reputation to be able to still sound relevant four decades into their career is no mean feat.  Even in the albums weaker moments it never gets redundant and the energy levels remain high.  There's a real sense of a band in a state of some renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the addition of Jason Bittner on drums.  The former Flotsam & Jetsam skinsman is nothing short of superb throughout "The Wings of War" and seems to have squeezed a little extra out of the rest of his peers.

      The album kicks of with a great build to opening track "Last Man Standing" and for the first 4 tracks of the album the Overkill crew stomp, bash and groove their way to a solid level of consistency.  The lead work is of particular note and Blitz sounds as sneery and scathing as ever.  The album is well produced and mixed too with all parts of the thrash machine audible as the five piece hammer away at your skull with the usual blend of chugging riffs and infectious anthems.  


      There are weak moments as mentioned but they are more a victim of how good the strong tracks are.  In it's own right "Distortion" is a solid enough - if not slightly varied a journey from the last offering - but it just doesn't stand up well against a "Bat Shit Crazy" or a "Head of a Pin".  As the album draws to a close you get the increasing impression that the last few tracks are rescued really by some great solos and stomping skin work which is a shame because trimming of a couple of tracks may have made this less obvious. 

      4/5
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      • 4 replies
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