Xerath: II (Candlelight, 5/3/11)
“Unite to Defy”
In 2009, English symphonic-metal band Xerath delivered an emphatic debut that, according to Wikipedia, intended to “combine film-score composition with syncopated guitar rhythms and crushing metal grooves.”
It’s a spot-on description of an outstanding metal album, but the quartet’s sophomore release, II, is a fuller realization of the band’s potential. Song development, melodic/harmonic interplay, and polyrhythms — each is even stronger than on Xerath’s debut. There are a few intermittent bursts of reverberated clean singing, but none succumbs to cheesy metal trappings. The rest of II is full of Meshuggah-style “djent” intensity, careening single-note guitar riffs, furious drum fills and blast beats, and assailing screams — all joined by eerie symphonic accompaniments.
so over Mike Patton and his garbling..with that said, True Widow is great, but have to give the nod to Implodes for the genre..no Disappears? Pinkish Black? Chelsea Wolfe? Dimmu Boogr over Krypts?
some fantastic stuff here I’ve never even come close to discovering, thanks guys, this list has been well and truly bookmarked.
I have a feeling that you’ll see Chelsea on our year-end list…
Glad you’re enjoying!
Bardo Pond’s self titled album needs to be on here.
Wow! I saw Tobin’s ISAM, DEP’s Option Paralysis, and AAL’s Weightless all on the same list and had to investigate. I’ve been sitting here for hours. As another poster said, this page has been bookmarked.
great list… personally I would have thrown In And Out Of Youth ANd Lighness from Young Widows and Go Tell Fire To The Mountain from wu lyf on there, but I can def get behind selections like helms alee, cave in, Trentemoller and Intronaut.
on and blackest curse from Integrity was a nice touch as well. Something tells me the new deafheaven could have made this list if it came out and the end of the year
Great diverse list. It does help that the selected sampels are mostly of astounding quality, sonically and musically both.
In and out of youth is so so great
That Cave In record is a sleeper classic
It sounds like you have impeccable taste, Mr. Hill.
Thanks, Rob! Indeed…we almost put the new Deafheaven on here anyway. Maybe it will be a retroactive inclusion. That Young Widows album is great too.
very good list! Thx
Clicking next a loading a new page each time sure isn’t tedious
BTBAM only an honorable mention? Are you fucked?