We invited artists, labels and publicists to tell us which records or artists they’ve personally enjoyed over the last twelve months. Mike Hill‘s picks below. Tombs latest album, Savage Gold, is out now via Relapse Records.
“This year flew by and I find myself wondering what happened to the last 12 months. It’s been a grind; another busy year shot to hell. A few killer records came out, some of them are “usual suspects” and appear on some of the other Year End lists and some of them are a little more under the radar.”
10. Killing Joke – Pylon
“I’ve been a Killing Joke fan for most of my life. They have been an influence on bands across all genres and they are on a “comeback” for lack of a better term. This is band whose career started in the late 70’s and are still creating relevant, hard-hitting music. To put things in perspective and don’t quote me on this, Joy Division’s first show in London was opening for Killing Joke.”
9. Abyssal – Antikatastaseis
“I stumbled upon Abyssal after our former guitarist Garret Bussanick recommended them to me. Garrett used to stay at my place when we were rehearsing so every night was spent checking out bands and watching videos on Youtube. If you like bands like Grave Miasma or Portal, this band is right up your alley; unsettlingly atmospheric and bleak with hints of melody. Abyssal are one of the more creative bands that work within the death metal sphere.”
8. Tribulation – The Children of the Night
“I have yet to see these guys play live. Many people have recommended them to me and I slept on them for a while. I dig the blackened-death vibe of the record, but the artsy touches are really what won me over.”
7. Napalm Death – Apex Predator – Easy Meat
“Similar to Slayer, the fact that Napalm Death have a new record out, automatically qualifies them to be in the Top 10 of my list. They’ve been release killer records since 2000’s “Enemy of the Music Business”. Let’s face, Napalm’s output for most of the 90’s was less than memorable, but they’ve been on fire for the last decade plus. The fact that they have some many records under their belt is pretty damn impressive. The record kicks off with one to the most unique songs they’ve written “Apex Predator – Easy Meat” which sounds like Douglas Pierce fronting Filth-era Swans. Don’t sleep on this record.”
6. Hate – Crusade:Zero
“Warsaw’s Death Metal Killing Machine, Hate continue their onslaught of brutality with their latest record. Death have been churning out some of the darkest extreme metal since 1992 and a lot of people in the states have slept on them. Crusade:Zero keeps the Satanic, Anti-Christian sentiment intact.”
5. Slayer- Repentless
“The fact that Slayer releases a record automatically qualifies them for this list. I’ve had this on maximum rotation since it came out. I saw them play down in Jersey over the summer and was blown away by them. It wasn’t a nostalgia trip for me; I was watching a veteran band play modern metal with amazing visuals and dead-on execution. Slayer remain a relevant band despite the fall from grace of most of their contemporaries.”
4. Hivelords – Tapered Limbs of a Human Star
“I didn’t put this on the list because our guitarist Evan Void is in this band. This record slays most records that came out this year. Moody, atmospheric and intense are the words that come to mind as well as well-executed and brutal. Go see them live and take a few friends along.”
3. Mgła – Exercises in Futility
“Our bassist Ben turned me on to Mgła. It’s pretty much all I can hope for in black metal: dark, bleak and severe in tone with stark visuals. They’re from Poland which, for some reason makes them seem more intense. I’ve been to Poland and it’s a kind of brutal place. I saw them play recently as part of the Martyrdoom Festival that takes place in Brooklyn every year and was totally blown away by their performance. They are enjoying a lot of attention by the popular kids, so I’m sure this record will appear on many year-end lists.”
2. Hate Eternal – Infernus
“Erik Rutan doesn’t need any introduction. He played guitar in the seminal NJ-based Ripping Corpse before relocating to Tampa to play in Morbid Angel during the height of their career. Rutan formed Hate Eternal, a more extreme, chaotic exploration into death metal and Infernus is the latest. All of the chaos is intact, but there is a brutal somber tone to the record as displayed in the title track “Infernus.””
1. Secrets of the Moon – Sun
“I got turned on these guys by Fade, our synth player, who toured with them in Europe when he played with Jarboe. I was an instant fan and started going through their catalog, downloading them from iTunes and searching for vinyl copies. Their newest record “Sun” was released late in 2015 but I was fortunate enough to hear the record earlier this year. There older material is more obviously black metal but “Sun” has a death rock vibe. It’s a departure for them and I think it’s exciting to hear bands that work within the black / death metal structure expanding their sound.”