HORNA – Hengen Tulet

Horna – Hengen Tulet (2015, World Terror Committee)

Interestingly enough, lately I’ve been catching on black metal bands that I’ve been ignorant of and that have been around for a good time; first with Tsjuder and now Horna. Both were formed in 1993, Tsjuder from Norway and Horna is from Finland. Surprisingly enough, both bands have been at their craft and kept it true to its origins without overselling to other genres or to reach a wider audience.

GORGOROTH – Instinctus Bestialis

Gorgoroth – Instinctus Bestialis (2015, Soulseller Records)

After a series of Black Metal Hall of fame potential records, Norwegian band Gorgoroth has been a ridiculous caricature of itself. Aligning a huge criminal record from its members and a legal dispute over the band’s name, it is almost an historic worthy of soap opera.

DEAFHEAVEN – New Bermuda

Deafheaven – New Bermuda (2015, Anti-)

It was not until last year that I discovered Deafheaven’s sophomore album Sunbather and their mix of my favorite genre in music black metal with a genre I’m not that connoisseur of, shoegaze. It was around October that I immersed myself in songs like ‘’The Pecan Tree’’ and ‘’Dream House’’. I gave them a somewhat high score but not the highest I ever gave to a new album. Why?

BRANDON FLOWERS – The Desired Effect

Brandon Flowers – The Desired Effect (2015, Island Records)

Stuck in the 80’s since his debut in music, Brandon Flowers who’s also the lead singer of dream pop, alt rock, post-punk band The Killers, who released two of the best albums of the 2000’s Hot Fuss and Sam’s Town. While Flowers with his first solo album, Flamingo has digged more into his influences and use the easy hooks and 1980’s pop populate his album.

OBSEQUIAE – Aria of Vernal Tombs

Obsequiae – Aria of Vernal Tombs (2015, 20 Buck Spin)

Released in June this year, the second album of Obsequiae, Aria of Vernal Tombs, is a rich metal album that blends medieval music without being folk, viking, or out there too much. The parallel with Ophtalamia and early Ulver albums is quite obvious for a black metal fan. But for the common metal enthusiast, Obsequiae is a different offering in the sounds and blend of music and textures.

TSJUDER – Antiliv

Tsjuder – Antiliv (2015, Season Of Mist)

In this era of saturated genre albums, especially a genre where evolution or departure from the original guidelines is often quickly discarded. In the black metal genre, many good records are released each year. However, a few are or are potentially labeled as great.

NILE – What Should Not Be Unearthed

Nile – What Should Not Be Unearthed (2015, Nuclear Blast)

To state that I am a fan of the Ancient Egypt themed Technical Death Metal band Nile would be an understatement. For more than fifteen years I’ve spined each and every one of their albums endlessly. Trying to play them on the drums, as a soundtrack to my many hours on a snowboard and skateboard. And in the spring of 2014 I finally had the luck to watch them live in my hometown. I was in trance for the whole show and knew every song, every riff, and every drum combo.

BEACH HOUSE – Depression Cherry

Beach House – Depression Cherry (2015, Bella Union / Mistletone / Sub Pop)

The dream pop duo of Beach House formed in 2004 has release a series of widely celebrated albums. With their latest, Depression Cherry, they are doing a return to their original form of more minimalistic music and a more guitar oriented wall of sound. 

LEVIATHAN – Scar Sighted

Leviathan – Scar Sighted (2015, Profound Lore)

From criminal to rehabilitated metalhead, Jeff Whitehead or Wrest is coming back with another album on the excellent label Profound Lore. 

MYRKUR - M

Myrkur - M (2015, Relapse Records)

After making a burst into the black metal community with her EP in 2014, Myrkur, or Amalie Bruun, has united forces with producer and member of Ulver, Garm, Teloch from Mayhem and Sir of Nidingr to make one of the most idiosyncratic metal albums of 2015.