music 2024 : TOP 24 albums

Oh dear, this was hard! Even without live albums and reissues and only counting what I own as a physical copy there were something over eighty albums to chose my favorites from. At least seventy of those I would respect in any AOTY list. And in my personal TOP 24? I guess I must have considered more than twice than that as worthy of ending up here at some point.

The end of the story is that I just can't do it. I won't compile a full ranking of two dozen albums. That would immediately after publishing it feel incorrect and incomplete.

Instead I'm only giving you the podium of my TOP 3 albums of the year - and leading up to those twenty-one other favorites, chopped into three questionably categorized, each alphabetically ordered selections. Sounds too complicated? Just read on and it will explain itself!

But before we start let me honourably mention just a few of the many artists who undeservedly didn't make it onto this list! Especially the first and largest category still misses many great names like Aluk Todolo, Chat Pile, Julie Christmas, Knoll, Lucifer, Mono, Monovoth, Schneider Thisquietarmy, Syk or - to my own biggest surprise - even Blood Incantation, which was a very close call, where I basically decided on the base that the album already gets enough love everywhere. And I just didn't know what to drop off the list in its favour.

Papangu and Agusa would grace the Jazz / Fusion / Psych / Prog selection as well as Causa Sui, Cazayoux, Dope Purple & Berserk, Goat, Human Teorema, Kanaan & Ævestaden , PainKiller or Work Money Death. And even after that are still Midwife, Lethe, The Necks, Yīn Yīn and of course bazillions of fantastic albums I just don't own or I am not even aware of... So as always: Please don't start with "But THAT ONE is missing!" and just take this as the selection of warmest recommendations it ultimately is!

9 x METAL & OTHER NOISES highlights 2024:

• INSECT ARK - Raw Blood Singing
  
  
  
  Godflesh slowed down to the pace of Earth, sprinkled with lap steel guitar, synths and piano. On top Dana Schechter now sings, putting what could already be felt on previous albums into words. This adds a new strong dimension to the bleak beauty of Insect Ark's signature kind of hopeless Doom.
  
  
  
  
  
• MITOCHONDRION - Vitriseptome
  
  
  
  Over eighty mind-melting minutes of virtuous apocalyptic dissonance and hyper-brutality brought the Canadians' comeback "Vitriseptime" very close to my personal top three. Without a doubt however this incomprehensible hellscape is my favorite Death Metal album of the year.
  
  
  
  
  
• ORANSSI PAZUZU - Muuntautuja
  
  
  
  It's hard to fathom what musical psychosis has led to the existence of Oranssi Pazuzu's unsettling blend of Black Metal aggression and Psychedelic atmosphere, as the Finns now add more Electronic glitches, cold Industrial and sheer Noise to the spiraling angularity of their misanthropic madness.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• OTTONE PESANTE - Scrolls of War
  
  
  
  Blackened Death / Doom / Post Metal, but with trombone and trumpet instead of bass and guitars, that's the shtick. Its execution by Ottone Pesante however has always been so much more than you would expect. And the Italians' new concept album elevates it to new heights. A Metal must-buy of 2024.
  
  
  
  
  
• P/O MASSACRE - Sonic Oblivion
  
  
  
  Two hours of destruction against war - with four more harrowing, but satisfying Noise attacks from the exile Russians Anton Ponomarev (sax, pocket trumpet, electronics) and Anton Obrazeena (guitar, effects, samples, synths) - each with a scope and story worth its own EP or even full album.
  
  
  
  
  
• SENYAWA - Vajranala
  
  
  
  The Experimental duo of Wukir Suryadi and Rully Shabara strikes again with a heavy and transcendent masterpiece of unique Southeast Asian Folkloristic Drone on self-made instruments. Narrated by a vocal performance not from this world we're taken on a cosmic spiritual trip through Javanese mythology.
  
  
  
  
  
• SINISTRO - Vértice
  
  
  
  Who would have expected such a strong comeback? Portugal's finest finally returned, introducing their new singer Priscilla Da Costa (from Judasz & Nahimana) and bringing us an irresistable collection of beautifully crushing, mightily melancholic hymns of Doom and Post Metal with that special Mediterranean touch.  
  
  
  
  
  
• SLIFT - Ilion
  
  
  
  Yes, I also could have filed this under Psychedelic Rock further below, but then the French trio's double album is so huge and heavy that it dwarfs our little planet and all that lives on it. Slift's "Ilion" is Kraut on steroids, a titanic cosmic steamroller grinding us to a tiny pebble lost in the void of space.
  
  
  
  
  
• SUMAC - The Healer
  
  
  
  For an album called "The Healer" this unpredictably twisted sludgy mammoth chunk from Aaron Turner, Brian Cook and Nick Yacyshyn is made of some remarkably sick shit. Sumac pummel us with a creative hammer that is both a radically abstract deconstruction and a flooring hyperbole of the whole idea of Metal.
  
  

6 x JAZZ / FUSION / PSYCH / PROG highlights 2024:

• CARPET - Collision
  
  
  
  Complex, colourful and catchy. Knowing their genre's past, but not shying away from incorporating modern influences. The Southern Germans Carpet are doing it all with seemingly effortless natural ease on this wonderfully light-filled Psychedelic Prog Rock kaleidoscope.
  
  
  
  
  
• IVAN THE TOLERABLE TRIO - Infinite Peace
  
  
  
  Multi-instrumentalist Oli Heffernan aka Ivan The Tolerable has been almost intolerably prolific this year. Even worse his twelve releases are all worthwhile stuff between Ambient, experimental Krautrock and Jazz. However this dreamy double album, which mostly displays his Spiritual Jazz side is my undisputed personal favorite.
  
  
  
  
  
• JAUBI - A Sound Heart
  
  
  
  Speaking of Spiritual Jazz: Building bridges between Pakistan and London Jaubi unite this Jazz tradition with both Middle Eastern Classical and Folk influences as well as funky Fusion. While instruments like sarangi, flutes and tablas stand out immediately, every single performance of this whole ensemble is nothing but spectacular.
  
  
  
  
  
• MOHAMA SAZ - Máquina De Guerra
  
  
  
  Mohama Saz are collectors of worldwide Folk influences, yet the three Spaniards, who utilize a  bağlama (traditional long-necked lute) instead of a guitar, mostly enhance their vivid Psychedelic Rock with ideas and sounds from their  home country, Turkey and Northern Africa.
  
  
  
  
  
• SEAN ONO LENNON - Asterisms
  
  
  
  An earwormy instrumental mixture of his proggiest Space Rock tendencies and all kinds of smooth Zorn and electric Miles worship. "Asterisms" certainly is a surprising release from the son of John and Yoko. This marvellous album almost made it onto my podium.
  
  
  
  
  
• THE VERGE - The Verge
  
  
  
  At times similar to Lennon's work, yet mostly coming from the wilder and heavier side of Jazz Fusion with the special trademark of Ingvald Vassbø's (Kanaan) drum madness the energetic self-titled debut of The Verge from Norway is another banger constantly living rent-free in my head.
  
  
  
  

6 x GOTHELECTROSINGERSONGWRITER* highlights 2024:

* You could also say everything which didn't  fit into the other two categories - and this just happened to be the direction of this selection.

• CHELSEA WOLFE - She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She
  
  
  

  At this point I feel like I should begin to tire from praising Contemporary Gothic Queen Chelsea Wolfe, who also impressed live and with two great EPs this year. On the other hand despite being released back in February, her latest album, which draws from all her past albums' sounds, still keeps growing on me.
  
  
  
  
  
• EYE - Dark Light
  
  
  
  Self-described as Electro-Gothic-Doom this new trio with Jessica Ball (MWWB) on ethereal vocals and guitar could theoretically sound just like Chelsea. Eye's blend of Shoegaze, Dream Pop and Post Rock however is its very own angelic beast - but just as utterly mesmerizing and compelling. Wonderful!
  
  
  
  
  
• LOUSIE LEMÓN - Lifetime Of Tears
  
  
  
  With an enchanting, sultry and soulful performance Swedish singer Louise Lémon brought us ten new hymns of love, hurt, heartbreak and healing. The concept remains simple, the musical realization couldn't be more addictive. Certainly one of my most played albums of the year. 
  
  
  
  
  
• NICK HUDSON - Kanda Teenage Honey
  
  
  
  In over seventy excellent minutes the Englishman residing in Georgia, armed with a sharp poetic quill and matching skills as singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, masterfully delivered a multi-faceted spectrum of sixteen songs from Chamber Pop ballads to most unpredictable Post Punk Avantgarde.
  
  
  
  
  
• OTAY:ONII - True Faith Ain't Blind
  
  
  
  On her latest album, which combines new songs with alternative versions of older material, Chinese-American Avantgarde artist Lane Shi Otay:onii limits her tools of expression to piano and voice. The result couldn't be more impressive and certainly is among the most breathtaking and profoundly touching music released this year.
  
  
  
  
  
• TUSKS - Gold
  
  
  
  London singer / Electronic artist Emily Underhill aka Tusks has released a versatile album between dreamy synths and strings Art Pop and Post Rock grandeur, with majestic hits, which sound as if they could have come from artists as different as A.A. Williams, Angel Olsen, Björk or Janelle Monáe. Earworm gold!
  
  
  
  
  

And now finally some fodder for you hungry ranking maniacs out there! Here are *drrrrrrumroll*...

My TOP 3 ALBUMS of 2024:

• BRONZE (3rd place):
  
  DOOL - The Shape Of Fluidity
  
  
  

  
  It didn't even click with me immediately, but boy, I cannot tell you how often I must have listened to Dool's new mighty Goth Rock masterpiece since then! More personal and emotional than ever, the Dutch group led by the charismatic presence of Raven van Dorst moves from strength to strength on "The Shape Of Fluidity", delivering yet another highly addictive selection of mighty, sweaty and catchy hymns. The phenomenal live band stays true to its established sound, while resisting the reasonable temptation to just rehash the greatest hits from previous releases. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• SILVER (2nd place):
  
  KAMASI WASHINGTON - Fearless Movement
  
  

  

  
  Californian Spiritual Jazz maximalist Kamasi Washington and his band scaled down from the ridiculously large format of his previous albums and released "only" an almost ninety minutes long double record. He also forgoes the familiar overflow of choirs and strings, but compensates that with effective guest appearances and action-packed arrangements including sounds from Funk, Afro-Beat, Hip Hop, but also Tango and Ambient (of course with André 3000 on flute). Washington's own emotional, rattling and roaring saxophone solos are highlights, yet also only a small fragment of what makes this very varied, splendidly produced "Fearless Movement" as awesome as it is. The Jazz Fusion competition of 2024 was strong, yet Kamasi stands out.
  
  

  
  
  
  
• GOLD (Album of the Year 2024):
  
  FULL EARTH - Cloud Sculptors
  
  
  
  
  "This album is a giant, who stomps his foot on the ground right in front of you, while butterflies are fluttering around his light-flooded hair. The kinetic power of his movements crashes the king tide into the fjord, breaks the cliff off the coast and blows every ballast which is not Rock’n’Roll bliss out of your head."
  
  Full Earth, who also played my favorite festival show of the year, are a Norwegian quintet featuring all three members of Kanaan. On "Cloud Sculptors" they perform monumental compositions by drummer Ingvald (therefore the only musician appearing in this TOP 24 twice), combining heaviest Stoner, Psychedelic and Progressive Rock with Modern Classical inspirations. In a very powerful, warm and natural production enormous riffs clash with hypnotically swirling and pulsating organs, mellotron and synth.
  
  From the first time I heard them I knew that these eighty-five minutes of elemental monumentalism were very likely to become my favorite Album of the Year 2024. And that impression never wavered. Congratulations on this deeply satisfying masterwork!
  
  
  
  

favorite MUSIC 2024 - all my lists:

TOP 24 albums   |   TOP 7 live albums   |   TOP 5 reissues

TOP 4 non-album releases   |   TOP 24 live shows

SINISTRO - Vértice

Doom ist ja meistens relativ langsam. In dem Sinne ist Sinistros Veröffentlichungstempo sicherlich genregemäß, liegt das Erscheinen des letzten Studioalbums "Sangue Cássia" doch mittlerweile beinahe sieben Jahre zurück.

Seitdem stellten sich den Portugiesen pandemische wie personelle Hindernisse in den Weg. Der Abschied von Sängerin Patricia Andrade wog schwer. Zum Abschied gab 2021 noch ein Roadburn-Livealbum, ehe im Folgejahr die Wiederveröffentlichung der ersten Demos in der Compilation "Hóspedes Silencios" darauf einstimmte, dass die Band zukünftig wieder wie ganz zu Anfang als Instrumentalband unterwegs sein würde.

Nun ist allerdings doch schon wieder mehr Zeit vergangen als erwartet - und die Dinge haben sich erneut gewendet...

SINISTRO - Vértice (white vinyl 2LP) (2024)

Sinistro sind mit einem Doppelalbum zurück - und es wird nun doch weitergesungen! Man hat also eine Sängerin gefunden, der man zutraut in die Fußstapfen von Andrade zu treten. Keine leichte Aufgabe, zumal deren Charisma - sowohl im muttersprachlichen fado-inspirierten Gesang, als auch im eigenwilligen theatralischen (wörtlich im Sinne von Theater) Aufritt eine so hohe Messlatte gelegt hat, dass die Band selbst ja anscheinend lange Zeit nicht einmal an die Suche einer Nachfolgerin geglaubt hat.

Priscila Da Costa hat dies nun geändert. Da ich sie letztes Jahr als Teil von Judasz & Nahimana live erleben durfte, ist ihr mein Vertrauen, wenn es darum geht auch das Material der Vorgängerin zu interpretieren, auf jeden Fall sicher.
Die Bandbreite zwischen sinistrem Flüstern, sanft-tiefer Verführung, feenhaftem Falsetto, dramatischem Sirenengesang und gelegentlichen leidenschaftlich aggressiven Ausbrüchen ist - genau wie die Klasse ihrer Darbietung - auf jeden Fall mit der Vorgängerin vergleichbar.

Natürlich wird derjenige, der nach der speziellen Magie der alten Sängerin sucht, in manchen Passagen gewisse filigrane Akzente vermissen - dafür bekommt man an anderer Stelle aber eben auch die stimmlichen Eigenheiten Da Costas, die im Schnitt etwas mehr auf powervolles Volumen aus ist, zum Ausgleich. Wer behauptet, damit gerechnet zu haben, dass Sinistro gesanglich derart nahtlos (wenn wir die vielen Jahre dazwischen mal freundlich ausblenden) an die vorigen Alben anschließen würden, der kann nicht ganz ehrlich zu sich selbst sein. Umso großartiger, dass "Vértice" in dieser Beziehung so triumphieren kann!

Und was bietet dieses Album ansonsten? Natürlich Doom. Schlammig schweren Doom Metal mit brachialem Magenwumms, Postrock-Einschlag, Gothic-Verzierungen und großer wohlklingender Theatralik. Kurzum: Man riskiert im Grunde nicht zu viel, was nach der langen Pause verständlich ist, sondern setzt direkt an der Klasse von "Sangue Cássia" mit einer logischen Fortsetzung an. Jeder einzelne der sechs regulären Albumtracks ist - mal malmend, mal melancholisch - mächtig, majestätisch, mitreißend. Es mag einer langen Entscheidungsfindungsphase bedarft haben, doch letztendlich weiß dieses Quintett nun genau, was es will; und das ist leicht nachvollziehbaren und doch anspruchsvollen, überragenden Doom mit eigener portugiesischer Note zu spielen, der sich mit jedem anderen Künstler des Genres messen lassen kann. Kurzum: "Vértice" ist das beste vorstellbare Comeback.

Und um den Eindruck zu vervollständigen sei gesagt, dass auch die poetische Lyrik (moderne Übersetzer können ja eine Menge, selbst wenn man kein Wort portugiesisch spricht) wie eh und je überzeugt. Ästhetisch bleiben Sinistro ebenso ihrem Hang zum Musealen treu. Das Cover sieht ja im Grunde wie die erste Seite eines Ausstellungsprogrammheftes aus.

Auch wenn ich unerwartet lange auf die weiße Vinyl-Edition warten musste, ist dieses Album auf jeden Fall ein ansprechend gestalteter Hinkucker. Ich kann mich nur nicht ganz entscheiden, ob wir es hier mit dem Fall zu tun haben, dass man als Schallplattenkäufer bestraft oder belohnt wird.
Die Strafe ist der leider immer weiter um sich greifende Trend, auf digitale Downloads als Beigabe zu verzichten, was z.B. gegenüber CD-Käufern einfach unfair ist. Man hat eh schon mehr Geld ausgegeben und dann noch das Medium, von dem es umständlicher ist, sich eine Kopie aus Einsen und Nullen anzulegen.

Die Belohnung kommt hier allerdings in Form der D-Seite mit gleich zwei exklusiven, weder auf CD noch in Downloadversionen verfügbaren Bonustracks: "Deathcrush" ist ein Mayhem-Cover, welches natürlich kaum nach Mayhem klingt, allerdings auf seine eigene sehr überzeugende Weise die böseste Seite von Sinistro ans Vollmondlicht kehrt.

Das zweite Bonusstück "Vento Das Vozes Invisíveis" ist ein sanfter instrumentaler Ambient/Postrock-Ausklang. Vielleicht ein Überbleibsel aus der Phase, als man ohne neue Sängerin geplant hat? Auf jeden Fall ein schöner Abschluss nach einer Stunde wunderbaren Weltschmerzes. 
  

MUSIC 2022: TOP 5 reissues

T'is the season again! Time to start with those dreaded end of the year lists! I'm trying to keep them short, even though it always pains me to leave out so much worthy stuff.

Today I'm starting with one of the "B categories" that doesn't need much explanation: just my personal favorite reissues which came out in 2022. So here we go!

TOP 5 REISSUES:

1. DOLPO - Inner Himalayas
   
   
   
   Seriously? A tape with a not really convenient packaging wins against several vinyl releases including a box set? Of course the value-for-money ratio plays a little bit into that, right?
   Yes, it does. But this WV Sorcerer Productions reissue of Dolpo's 2019 album, wrapped in cloth, with a rice paper credits sheet and a cone of Tibetian ritual insense, also looks cool. But most importantly this very raw cosmic drone doom experience, enriched with authentic Himalayan field recordings and traditional Asian instruments is just a phenomenal intersection of Bong, Bell Witch and Saba Alizadeh. With this run of cassettes long gone I still recommend anyone who digs the merging of doom with ethnic influences (think Rinuwat or SteppenDoom) to give the digital version a listen!
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. BLUT AUS NORD - 777 (Sect(s) / The Desanctification / Cosmosophy)
   
   
   
   This box is not perfect (one poster mix-up and why no downloads for that price?), but it comes pretty damn close. The three albums in beautiful colour pressings and gatefold cover plus the slipmat, which is still rotating on my turntable, don't give me any regrets buying Blut Aus Nord's complete "777" trilogy, which was originally released in 2011 and 2012. Musically these avantgarde black metal meets industrial, doom and even French hip hop classics are a class of their own anyway. Enormous! 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. MAGMA - Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh
   
   
   
   This reissue from Music On Vinyl is pretty straight-forward. The album from 1973 is far from being an unearthed obscurity, but an absolutely legendary, genre-defining (the genre of course being Zeuhl) masterpiece. The quality pressing is gold, the cover artwork of the gatefold shines gold, too. Oh sorry, it's not gold, but "copper". Well who cares? It looks and sounds great. No fancy extras beyond that needed. Beautiful edition of an untouchable work of the century.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. KONSTRUKT & PETER BRÖTZMANN -  Dolunay
   
   
   
   This one looks even less spectacular: Just two black records in a single sleeve, a card, that's it. Nothing more, nothing less. But I'm in it for the music and this wild free jazz gathering of Turkish quartet Konstrukt and saxophone giant Peter Brötzmann from 2008 is a fantastic slice of exciting chaotic manic fun. Further proof that Konstrukt and Karlrecords are always a worthwhile combination.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. SINISTRO - Hóspedes Silenciosos
   
   
   
   The doom band from Portugal re-released three demos from 2012 on one CD. Over one hour of cineastic (apart from a couple of rather textural primal screams) instrumental sludge enriched with samples, slightly Mediterranean clean guitars, post rock, synthie scores and trip hop beats. Huge and heavy, deep and visonary emotional music. And of course a perfect reminder that Sinistro were already great before they had a certain fantastic lead singer for a couple of years and releases.
   
   

SINISTRO - Hóspedes Silenciosos

Nein, dies ist noch nicht das neue Studioalbum von Sinistro!

Aber ich habe den, Eindruck, es ist nach dem Abschluss einer Ära mit "Live At Roadburn" ein weiterer geschickter Schritt der Portugiesen, die Fans allmählich daran zu gewöhnen, dass die auf "Cidade", "Semente" und "Sangue Cássia" so prägende Sängerin Patricia Andrade künftig nicht mehr dabei sein wird.

SINISTRO - Hóspedes Silenciosos (CD) (2012/2022)

Die Band kehrt ja nun wieder in den instrumentalen Modus zurück, der bereits 2012 ihr selbstbetiteltes Debütalbum geprägt hat. Und dass diese Inkarnation der Gruppe der langjährigen, mit theatralischem Fado-Gesang aufgeladenen Version durchaus auf Augenhöhe gegenüberstehen kann, zeigen schon die hier präsentierten, damals (also vermutlich 2011) noch vor dem ersten Album aufgenommenen Demos.

Dass die CD nur aus drei Tracks besteht, bedeutet natürlich nicht, dass es an Spielzeit mangelt, zumal der Titeltrack in satten vierzig Minuten das komplette gleichnamige Demo-Album beinhaltet. Daneben gibt es, beide Male immerhin über zehn Minuten langen eine frühe Version von "A Ira" und das allererste Demo, welches genau wie das spätere Debütalbum einfach "Sinistro" heißt.

Das Wort Demo hört sich ja immer ein bisschen klein und unfertig an, doch diese Aufnahmen sind alle irre stark und uneingeschränkt hörbar. Da wo später ein bisschen länger in einem Thema und Klangbild verweilt wurde, um dem Gesang mehr Raum zu geben, wechselte die abgesehen von Samples und einigen auch eher texturartig eingesetzten Urschreien rein instrumentale Band Sinistro noch häufiger zwischen den Stilen. Tief und mächtig schnarrender Doom/Sludge Metal trifft auf mediterran angehauchte, cleane Gitarren, Postrock, Synthie-Soundtracktöne und Trip-Hop-Beats.
Und alles, was man sich noch so an cineastisch ausufernden Elementen dazudenken kann, findet auch noch irgendwie seinen Weg in diese Stücke. Und dies passiert immer sehr schlüssig, passend, nachvollziehbar. Irgendwie war diese Gruppe schon von Anfang an einfach sehr komplett und visionär aufgestellt. Große, schwere, tiefe Emotionsmusik!

Sollte dies tatsächlich eine Nachricht sein, die uns sagen möchte "Hey Leute, macht euch locker! So klangen wir früher ohne Gesang und in diese Richtung geht es etw zurück, aber mit einer Gitarre mehr im Gepäck", dann mache ich mir keine Sorgen, dass mich das nächste Album - so wie alles, was Sinistro bisher angefasst haben - umhauen wird.

SINISTRO - Live At Roadburn

Woah, langsam! Ganze zwei Blogeinträge hintereinander ohne Roadburn-Bezug!

Das geht aber nun wirklich nicht.

SINISTRO - Live At Roadburn (white vinyl LP) (2021)

Die Portugiesen Sinistro begannen vor zehn Jahren als reine Instrumentalgruppe, welche Elemente aus Ambient, Soundtrack und Post Rock mit derbe, also wirklich derbe reinknarzendem Doom Metal verband.
Doch schon 2013, ein Jahr nach dem selbstbetitelten Debüt, veröffentlichte die nur mit Buchstabenkürzeln statt der vollen Namen der Musiker auftretende Band eine gemeinsame EP mit der Fado-Sängerin und Theaterschauspielerin Patrícia Andrade, welche sie so erfolgreich um eine im Doom-Genre so noch nicht gesehene und gehörte, charismatische Note erweiterte, dass sie für zwei auf Season Of Mist erschienenen Alben zum festen Mitglied wurde.

Sinistro live, Roadburn 2016

Zu den ersten Auftritten in dieser Konstellation zählte auch die Performance im Green Room des Roadburn Festivals 2016, welche sie für mich zur wichtigsten Neuentdeckung dieser Festivalausgabe machten. Die Gruppe spielte in den folgenden Jahren noch auf weiteren prestigeträchtigen Veranstaltungen und tourte u.a. gemeinsam mit SubRosa und später als Support von Paradise Lost durch Europa.

Immer beeindruckend war die Kombination der gnadenlos verzerrter, sich tonnenschwer auf die Brust wuchtender Heaviness mit dem leidenschaftlichen portugiesischen Gesang Andrades und ihrer im besten Sinne überaus theatralischen Performance.

Ich rede in der Vergangenheit, denn inzwischen ist die Gruppe zur instrumentalen Urbesetzung zurückgekehrt und wird in dieser voraussichtlich nächstes Jahr ein neues Studioalbum rausbringen.

Und so präsentiert sich das nun wahlweise in schwarzem und weißem Vinyl erhältliche Livealbum auch als Rückblick auf diese Zeit und Abschluss einer Ära, mit Tourdaten und Plakaten dieser Zeit. Auch das Backcoverfoto stammt nicht vom Roadburn-Auftritt, wurde aber vermutlich ausgewählt, weil darauf alle Musiker inklusive Drummer - mehr oder weniger - zu sehen sind.
Das Frontcover allerdings ist eines jener tatsächlich vor Ort entstandenen Gemälde, die Kim Holm in jenem Jahr live vor oder neben der Bühne hockend von zahlreichen Künstlern angefertigt hat, und hätte wohl nicht besser ausgewählt werden können.

Als für sich alleine stehenden Album ist Sinistros "Live At Roadburn" nicht perfekt, alleine schon, weil es nur vier der sechs tatsächlich gespielten Songs enthält - dazu noch in veränderter Reihenfolge -, und dadurch insgesamt nur auf die Länge einer EP kommt.

Über die Gründe dafür kann ich nur spekulieren. Zum einen mag es natürlich sein, dass man das Ding auf eine Einzel-LP beschränken wollte. Ich kann mir allerdings ebenso vorstellen, dass die nicht veröffentlichten Stücke einfach nicht gut genug klangen. Der Sound ist nämlich teilweise schon grenzwertig. So wünschte ich mir passagenweise den Gesang lauter, doch wahrscheinlich ist dies nicht möglich, da auch der gesamte mächtige Bass- und Gitarrenwumms über das Gesangsmikrophon dann noch übertriebener als ohnehin schon wäre. Nein, leicht zu produzieren waren Sinistro sicherlich nie.

Als bandhistorischen Rückblick auf eine ihrer wichtigsten Shows und nostalgische Erinnerung an eine der eigenständigsten und besten Konstellationen im modernen Doom erfüllt diese Platte ihren Zweck aber auf jeden Fall. Und da ich mich an keinem der Songs jemals satt hören kann, steht einer mehrfachen Rotation hintereinander von "Live At Roadburn" auch nichts im Wege.

MUSIC 2018: top albums and concerts

And here's the annually impossible task again... You know the drill: These are my personal favorites of 2018, chosen only among albums I own in some form.

So there's absolutely zero sense in complaining about Beyoncé missing, because I didn't fucking buy the new Beyoncé album (and also that new Beyoncé album doesn't even exist, but you get my point).

Who knows how I will read this ranking in a couple of years? Especially since I seldom included so many album I bought so shortly before I finished this. And also there's so much good stuff out there, if I had bought only half of the releases which are still on several of my digital and cerebral wish lists, all this would possibly look significantly different.

In the end this is all about celebrating and recommending good stuff that came out or happened this year. So please don't care too much about the numbers on the left! Everything featured here is great in my book.

Below the albums are two concert rankings, one for club/solo shows, the other for festival appearances.

My favorite EPs and other stuff will follow shortly in another post!

ALBUM TOP 24:

1. VOIVOD - The Wake
   
   
   

   
   After the "Post Society" EP it was a safe given that the new Voivod album would be great. But how incredible great it actually turned out to be was "way beyond, way beyond, way beyond all speculations" (to quote from the track "Event Horizon"). "The Wake" embraces almost all the strengths of Voivod's diverse, now thirty-five years old history, but it doesn't rely on nostalgia. Instead it still expands the band's innovative sound to create something really fresh and exciting.
   Voivod have already created some of the greatest metal (and beyond) albums of all time ages ago. "The Wake" looks strong beside any of them. A phenomenal addictive prog thrash fusion concept masterpiece.
    
    
2. ANNA VON HAUSSWOLFF - Dead Magic
   
   
   

   
   For half of the year this album was unrivaled contender for the top spot of this list. And even now it's as close as you can possibly imagine. If magic is really dead like its title suggests, then it went out with a cataclysmic bang. The drone of Anna von Hausswolff's pipe organ and the emotional pull of her mystical voice are both unfathomably vast. "Ugly And Vengeful" alone is like the whole living and dying, buildup and collapse of a civilization. Mighty and beautiful beyond words.
   
   [If you like this one, you should also check out DNMF's organ-heavy drone monolith "Smelter"!]
    
    
3. YOB - Our Raw Heart
   
   
   

   
   Not enough enormous pure feelings yet? Yob has them all. From crushing devastation to uplifting hope the essential doom record of 2018 offers insight into all of the brutality and preciousness of the human condition. Reflecting upon Mike Scheidt's very own fight against death and literally (he had to learn to sing again) finding him with a new, at times unbelievably gut-wrenching voice, "Our Raw Heart" more than fulfils the promise of its title.
   
       
4. MYTHIC SUNSHIP - Another Shape Of Psychedelic Music
   
   
   

   
   Talking about promising album titles (and cover artworks): Conjuring Ornette Coleman's 1959 game changer "The Shape Of Jazz To Come"  like Mythic Sunship are doing it here is a pretty damn bold statement. But the former trio which largened itself to a saxophone and guitar fronted quintet has all the right reasons to be bold. Only after a few minutes in you know that this instrumental double album is not only an overwhelming ecstatic ride, but indeed an instant jazz fusion / stoner / psychedelic rock classic.
    
     
   
5. THE MYSTERY OF THE BULGARIAN VOICES feat. LISA GERRARD - BooSheeMish
   
   

   
   Take a legendary female choir with unique vocal techniques, pair it with Dead Can Dance's Lisa Gerrard, back them up with first class folk musicians and a beatboxer, let them interpret new arrangements of traditional Bulgarian tunes... and then just feast on your own amazement. What a different, vivid, magical piece of world music!
     
     
   
6. WREKMEISTER HARMONIES - The Alone Rush
   
   
   

   
   You want it darker? JR Robinson and Esther Shaw aka Wrekmeister Harmonies will surely help you with this bleak, existentially nightmarish work. Flowing from haunting Nick Cave / Michael Gira style singer/songwriter sensibilities to apocalyptic no wave (or free jazz?) noises "The Alone Rush" smothers almost all traces of light. "Forgive Yourself And Let Go" - but don't expect this droning chunk of depression to help you!
       
     
7. ZEAL AND ARDOR - Stranger Fruit
   
   
   

   
   On his first full-length with Zeal & Ardor Manuel Gagneux gets serious and matures all the elements of his unique genre cocktail of black metal, gospel, blues, industrial, indie, soul, thrash metal and whatnot into a stunning collection of catchy rebellious tunes. "Stranger Fruit" connects his alternative history of satanic slave upheaval with the ongoing racial and social struggles of our time.
    
     
   
8. KAMASI WASHINGTON - Heaven And Earth
   
   
   
   Tenor saxophonist / composer / Coltrane worshipper / personified jazz hype Kamasi Washington has done it again and proven himself to be the reigning maximalism colossus: His second full length album comes on a whopping five (5!) LPs including the "secret" bonus album "The Choice". Yet again Kamasi and his fabulous crew - all having grown as individual instrumentalists -, accompanied by strings and choir, embark on an extraordinary epic, action-packed spiritual journey.
     
   
   
9. INSECT ARK - Marrow Hymns
   
   
   

   
   Minimalistic experimental instrumental doom with a strong Earth influence, mainly performed on bass / lap steel guitar and drums. From ambient and drone soundscapes to snarling parts reminiscent of Godflesh - it's amazing how the seemingly sparse arrangements of this duo open endless spaces of imagination.
   
   [Naturally I also have to highly recommend Dylan Carlson's even more stripped down solo work "Conquistador" here!]    
   
   
   
10. WANG WEN - Invisible City
    
    

    
    China's finest never cease to impress. Once again packed in a spectacularly designed sleeve, yet even improving upon the already more than convincing production of the predecessor, (mostly) instrumental post rockers Wang Wen maintain the familiar elements of their sound - especially the signature majestic trumpet and horn parts -, but still put many new exciting twists and turns on it.
      
     
11. MOURNFUL CONGREGATION - The Incubus Of Karma 
     
    
    I've said it in my review and I'll say it again: An album which has a song titled "A Picture Of The Devouring Gloom Devouring The Spheres Of Being" on it, has already won in my book. But also beyond this indisputable fact "The Incubus Of Karma" offers one of the most majestic takes on what ultra-slow funeral doom can be. Those ever-increasing lead guitar harmonies alone would make it worthwhile to bathe in the sadness of this masterpiece.
    
    [A somehow similar feeling, yet not in a funeral doom but death metal context can be found on "Ossuarium Silhoettes Unhallowed" by Hooded Menace.]
     
      
12.  ESBEN AND THE WITCH - Nowhere  
    
    
    
    Gothic post punk trio Esben And The Witch, fronted by bassist and captivaing, beautifully desperate vocalist Rachel Davies, seems to pick up right where it left on last year's "Live At Roadburn" record. There is "Nowhere" to hide from the bleak emotional truth nor to escape the dark melancholic undertow of this wonderfully raw album.
        
      
13. THE THING WITH FIVE EYES - Noirabesque
     
    
    
    Meandering ambient landscapes and chirring electronic noises. Rhythmic experimentations. Orchestral film score and intimate chamber music arrangements. World music. Oriental flutes and percussions. The mystical voice of Laila Bounous. A yearning trumpet. Doomjazz. Jason Köhnen taps into countless primal, universally touching wells to form a gigantic musical narration. Mythic escapism masterclass.
     
     
14. VODUN - Ascend
    
    
    
    Vodun are genre-bending fighters for equality, peace and ass-kicking explosive rock. Merging influences from stoner, sludge, psych, tribal, soul, prog, indie and thrash metal this tribe of powerhouse singer Oya, guitar wizard Marassa and never-enough-cowbell drummer Ogoun takes no prisoners. "Ascend" is a highly charismatic record with an urgent message and a strong afrofuturistic spirit. Just put this right next to Zeal & Ardor!   
      
    
     
15. KIKAGAKU MOYO - Masana Temples  
    
    
    

    
    Many albums on this list have seriously great cover artworks, but this one in its bold original vividness is special even among the best of the bunch. Musically the newest work of the Japanese psychedelic kraut masters Kikagaku Moyo is a delicate colourful gem of the genre mixed with Far Eastern, Indian and jazzy elements. The musicianship, arrangements and production of "Masana Temples" are blissful perfection.
    
      
    
16.  IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT - Vile Luxury
     
    
    Searching for the sickest, most advantgarde shit on this list? Look no further, because New York's Imperial Triumphant has got you covered. Extreme experimental jazz in a black metal disguise, completed with bar piano, a brass sextet and hellish descents into utter chaos. "Vile Luxury" is a disturbing and devastating maelstrom into glorious cacophony.
      
    
     
17. SINISTRO - Sangue Cássia
      
    
    Heavy as the last night before the end of days and mesmerizing like the angelic image of your loved one in a dream, Sinistro swing the doom hammer right into the feels. The dramatically levitating, Fado-inspired Portuguese vocals of Patricia Andrade are still a wonderful singularity within the realm of metal, bringing this cinematic double album to perfection.
    
    [If you dig "Sangue Cássia" and death metal vocals, you should more than definitely also take a listen to "Támsins Likam" (that's Faroese) by Hamferð!]
    
    
    
18. KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD - Gumboot Soup
    
    
    

    
    2017 saw King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard famously releasing five ambitious new albums. But since the physical version of the last one came out months after the digital release on December 31st, it really belongs on this year's list. Psychedelic, jazzy, funky, heavy, quirky, earwormy. "Gumboot Soup" is probably the most diverse work of the bunch - and my personal favorite alongside "Sketches From Brunswick East". Highly joyous entertainment.
    
    
    
19. OCEANS OF SLUMBER - The Banished Heart  
     
    
    They did it again - and they doubled down on almost every aspect: more influences, but also more consistence. More epic melodies, more blasts, More death, doom and darkness. More emotion. Thanks to Cammie Gilberts stellar vocal performance "The Banished Heart" drills right into the heart. The title song is possible one of the most monumental love songs of all time - and pulls it off to make a calm piano solo passage the highlight of what ultimately still is a mostly brutal metal album. 
        
     
    
20. BONG - Thought And Existence
    
    
    

    
    The meditative drone doom wizards from the home island of Stonehenge are finally back with a massive, ever increasing album. Or as I put it in my review: "It's a journey from the electric spark in your cortex to the edge of the redshift at the outer verges of the cosmos."
    
    [Extremely close to this in its monumentally elevating scope is the vinyl-only re-recording of Father Sky Mother Earth's self-titled debut.]
      
     
21. RIVERS OF NIHIL - Where Owls Know My Name
    
    
    

    
    Progressive death metal with influences from all over the place and lovingly embraced guest intruments like trumpet, cello and most prominently saxophone. Rivers Of Nihil kick major ass - and they do it with style, originality and determination. "Where Owls Know My Name" offers a fresh take on the genre and is a flawless killer of an album.
    
    [If you you want the same amount of sheer death metal fun, but without all the fancy sax and prog and whatnot gimmicks, you can of course - as always - count on good old sick Autopsy with "Puncturing The Grotesque"]
      
     
22. MALIA - Ripples (Echoes Of Dreams)
     
    
    One piano, a couple of strings - and a voice that is so smooth and soothing, so intimate and expressive. R'n'B / jazz pop singer Malia reimagines her whole album "Echoes Of Dreams" in a pure filterless form. Her take on the concept of stripping it down to the maximum is as obvious as it can be - but it's also that damn good.
    
    [Another incredible soulful voice which deserves to be honoured here and only barely didn't make the list is one which sadly became silent. Charles Bradley's posthumous "Black Velvet" thankfully is not a Christmas cash grab.]
     
      
23. LUCIFER - Lucifer II
     
    
    So, appearantly there's a new queen of hard rock in town. And yes, I actually do give at least a little shit. Who would have thought that a couple of years ago? With a completely new crew (including Nicke Andersson, who played almost all instruments in the studio) Johanna Sadonis steered Lucifer into a less Black Sabbath, more Blue Öyster Cult direction on their sophomore album. I didn't ask for this, because I'm usually in favour of more doom, but hell, they really pulled it off.
    
     
      
    
24. RMFTM & 10.000 RUSSOS - RMFTM & 10.000 Russos
      
    
    RMFTM aka Radar Men From The Moon are obviously a good partner when it comes to collaborative albums. Last year's joined work of the Dutch psych group with Gnod under the moniker Temple Ov BBV ended up being one of my favorite records of 2017. And now they have teamed up with their Portuguese labelmates 10.000 Russos to deliver yet another lesson in here pummeling, there hypnotic noise and drone.
     

But wait! No Laibach?

Yesterday I've received my CD copy of "The Sound Of Music" which is included in the Supreme Leader Edition Blu Ray of the documentary "Liberation Day" about Laibach's historical show in North Korea. And I'm still waiting for the vinyl which needs a seriously torturous time to ship here. Should have ordered that from Slovenia, too...

But well, what I was going to say is, that I have to draw a deadline at some point. I am absolutely positive, that "The Sound Of Music" would deserve a spot somewhere in the ranking, but beyond that I really cannot make up my mind yet.

The same goes for Toby Driver's incredible solo work "They Are the Shield", which I have only bought a couple of days ago. Supreme stuff, which probably belongs somewhere above, but it's just too late in the game now.

[EDIT: Review for Laibach finally done! Also add Sons Of Kemet and Senyawa to this list of (too) late arrivals.]

And of course there are still a couple of further artists like Sherpa who missed the list by a hair and (in their case) would at least have been featured in a similar-bands-footnote under Toby Driver.

SOLO / CLUB SHOW TOP 12:

1. SUN RA ARKESTRA - Kampnagel, Hamburg
   
   
   Lead by 94-year young Marshall Allan and including several members who are already in the band since the 1950s the twelve-headed Arkestra embarked on a two-hour free jazz extravaganza that was just astonishing. An almost Magma-level live experience!

    
2. LAIBACH - Kampnagel, Hamburg
   
   
   

   Presenting the "Also Sprach Zarathustra" album Laibach were in a significantly more primal, droning, theatrical and sinister mode than on previous tours. Laibach haben das Glück erfunden.
    
3. ANNA VON HAUSSWOLFF - Kampnagel, Hamburg
   
   
   Colossal and all-encompassing like the movement of continental plates and as beautiful as a deadly volcano eruption caused by it. Am I being too dramatic? No, not for the mighty Anna von Hausswolff.
     
4. VOIVOD - Logo, Hamburg
   
    
   

   

   I came to see Voivod and I ended up in a world of pain. Boy, that escalated brutally! Wildest metal concert of the year and one of my all-time favorite bands on top of their game. 
   
   
5. KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD - Uebel & Gefährlich, Hamburg
   
   

   Speaking of wild. Those Aussies are freaking insane, insane, insane, insane, insane, insane, insane, oh boy, insane. Fuck yeah! I think I just gizzed all over myself again.
      
6. THE MYSTERY OF THE BULGARIAN VOICES feat. LISA GERRARD - Laeiszhalle, Hamburg
   
   
   And now for something completely... wonderful. Just as otherworldy as on this year's album (see above) the Bulgarian choir and Lisa Gerrard were something really unique and precious to behold.
     
7. KIKAGAKU MOYO - Hafenklang, Hamburg
       
   

   Half a year after discovering them at their Roadburn shows (see list below), now with their new album "Masana Temples" (see list above) on heavy rotation, seeing Kikagaku Moyo on a small club stage was an even greater treat.
     
   
8. YOB + WIEGEDOOD - Molotow, Hamburg
   
   
   Yob is love. And words cannot describe how much Mike Scheidt rules. The fabulous black metal inferno of Wiegedood did a great yob of completing the concert night.
    
9. MOURNFUL CONGREGATION - Bambi Galore, Hamburg  
      
   This slow and grievous heaviness. And the grandeur of up to three lead guitars almost emulating a classical string terzet. Mournful Congregation are officially my favorite funeral doom live band besides Bell Witch now.  
     
   
10. CARPENTER BRUT - Uebel & Gefährlich, Hamburg
    
    
    

    The boys were back in town and they brought the three big A's: aerobic, asses, axe murders. A synthwave party with all the glorious 80s clichés including glam metal and the dangers of hard rock and Satanism. Carpenter Brut fucking slayed.
     
11. E-FORCE - Bambi Galore, Hamburg
    
    
    Parallel to the European tour of Voivod Eric Forrest, former bassist/vocalist on their 1990s albums "Negatron" and "Phobos", also played shows revisiting his Voivod stint. Heavy shit - and what an amazing sick voice!
      
12. TOBY DRIVER - MS Stubnitz, Hamburg
    
      
    

    Despite it being a very exclusive show for a select crowd, Kayo Dot mastermind Toby Driver delivered the most mesmerizing advantgarde dream goth ambient chamber music imaginable.
    
    
    

FESTIVAL SHOW TOP 12:

1. BELL WITCH - Roadburn Festival
   
   
   More than a thousand souls witnessed in respectful awe as Bell Witch and guest singer Erik Moggridge performed their 83-minute one-song funeral doom masterpiece "Mirror Reaper" in full. This was an experience for life, far beyond any regular concert.
   Leave it to Roadburn to not content with that alone, but also to put the icing on the cake with a second special show, where they performed those songs from their previous albums which also featured Moggridge on vocals.
    
2. CULT OF LUNA & JULIE CHRISTMAS - Roadburn Festival
   
   
   

   "Put me down where I can see you run!" - I still get goosebumps when I think of that part. Being at one of those very rare "Mariner" was a privilege. Truly larger than life.
    
3. WASTE OF SPACE ORCHESTRA - Roadburn Festival
   
   
   The two gigantic live forces Dark Buddha Rising and Oranssi Pazuzu together on one stage, performing a hypnotic black piece exclusively written just for this occasion. You can't even dream of epic shit like that.
    
4. YAZZ AHMED - Überjazz Festival
   
   
   Trumpet / horn player Yazz Ahmed and her quartet performing their unique as complex as escapist mixture of microtonal arabic folk, traditional and modern jazz from her "La Saboteuse" album was an astonishing  trip into different worlds.
     
   
5. ZOLA JESUS - Roadburn Festival 
    
   

   A "pop" artist at Roadburn? No worries, the dark electronic sounds and raw emotional power of Zola Jesus were far from being a danger to the integrity of the festival. On the contrary this was a show the attendees as well as the artist herself will surely remember for a long time as something very special. 
    
   
6. BIG|BRAVE - Roadburn Festival
   
   
   Damn! My favorite canadian monolithic noise / drone rock trio just totally killed it.
   
   
7. KIKAGAKU MOYO - Roadburn Festival
   
   
   The whole japanese psych kraut thing going on at Roadburn was amazing, but this stunning show clearly marked my most important new discovery of the festival.
   That they doubled down on the fair impression with the galactic "East Meets West Jam" with Earthless didn't hurt either.
     
8. WREKMEISTER HARMONIES - Roadburn Festival
   
   
   A lot of Wrekmeister Harmonies' music may be on the calmer, sometimes even beautiful side, but especially in combination with the disturbing documentary visuals this full performance of "The Alone Rush" became an unexpectedly brutal, emotionally exhausting experience.
    
9. PHAROAH SANDERS QUARTET - Überjazz Festival
    
   

   "The Creator has a masterplan: Peace and happiness for everyone." And a saxophone for Pharoah Sanders, that's for sure. I got the chance to see one of the greatest jazz legends alive and I'm glad I took it. What a melancholic experienced tone! Respect!
    
10. GALLOPS - Roadburn Festival
    
    
    What the fuck did I just see there? Is this the post rock synthwave disco of a better tomorrow? I still have no clue even months later. Roadburn party show no. 1!
     
11. GODFLESH - Roadburn Festival
    
    
    Finally! My first Godflesh show since the "Selfless" tour back in the 1990s. And what did they play? A special "Selfless" set of course, haha. Teenage angst nostalgia successfully fed.
     
    
12. BURNPILOT - Heidenlärm Festival
    
    
    

    

    Ok, busted! I pushed this up a couple of positions to include at least three festivals in this list. Sorry, Phurpa and Motorpsycho! But hey, Burnpilot really delivered a formidable hypnotic psych excess that is absolutely worthy of being mentioned here.