P H I L M N O I R's Best Albums of 2012

Well it's that time of the year. Time to give props to the best of the best.  Today I'll start with my fav albums of the year.  And like clockwork my brain goes from "what the hell came out this year, I can't think of anything!?" to "Crap! too many albums to choose just 10!" Bah! Anyhoo, here are my top 11 (because I couldn't decide on just 10) albums of 2012 .

Here we go!

11. Opera IX - Strix Maledicte in Aeterum (Agonia Records)

This album tugs at my late 90's symphonic black metal heartstrings. In a sea of hipster black metal it is so refreshing & nostalgic.

http://www.operaix.it

10. Wodensthrone - Curse (Candlelight Records)

These guys duked it out real hard with Opera IX to make it as #10. Just listen... you'll understand.

http://www.wodensthrone.com/

9. Hung - Hung (ReThink)

It's like a layered progressive death metal biscuit topped with violin butter sauce.
http://hungrocks.com/

8. Vattnet Viskar - Vattnet Viskar (Broken Limbs Recordings)

Surprisingly great album, despite being from.. I dunno New Hampshire or something.

http://vattnetviskar.bandcamp.com/

7. Ihsahn - Eremita (Candlelight Records)

Let me tell you.. I tried really hard (REALLY REALLY HARD) to avoid putting this on the list. It's very typical of me to put this on just because it's Ihsahn and he can do no wrong.  But honestly it's too awesome! Seriously.. End of story.

http://www.ihsahn.com/

6. Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light - Woods Of Ypres (Earache Records)

Probably my favorite of all Woods of Ypres albums.  Hauntingly beautiful. RIP David Gold.

http://earache.bandcamp.com/album/woods-5-grey-skies-electric-light

5. Obolus - Lament (The Flenser)
Drown me in epic black metal-y goodness.

http://theflenser.bandcamp.com/album/lament

4. Evoken - Atra Mors (Profound Lore)
Evoken never fails to deliver.. ever.. This album is elegant yet soul destroying. OMG soo good.. Buy this now!

http://www.profoundlorerecords.com/products-page/plr-items/evoken-atra-mors/

3. Abnormality - Contaminating The Hive Mind (Sevared Records)
Dear Abnormality,
Here are all my medical bills. My neck has been hurting ALL YEAR because of this album! \m/ OW \m/ Brutal!
K Thanks.

http://www.reverbnation.com/abnormality






2. Wintersun - Time I (Nuclear Blast Records)
8 YEARS!.. I WAITED 8 YEARS FOR THIS STUPID ALBUM TO COME OUT! BUGGING THOSE POOR PEOPLE AT NUCLEAR BLAST EVERYDAY!.. FOR THE LAST 3
YEARS! FINALLY! (can die happy now)

http://www.wintersun.fi/

1. Kalopsia - Amongst the Ruins (Godeater Records)
The winner.. at 9 YEARS in the making!!... Just remember kids THAT'S A WHOLE 9 YEARS TO POWER-UP THE BRUTALITY! Be Warned.. The Awesome might do this to your face:
          

                       http://kalopsia.bandcamp.com/

Ok that's it for the list.  Don't forget: please support the artists! Buy their CD's, fancy limited edition vinyls and mp3 downloads so they can continue to make more great music! Wee!!

Doom Doom Doomy Doom: Evoken, Batillus, Mans Gin, Moth Eater 11-15-10

The darkest of dark doom metal shows.  ..and by dark I mean they needed to turn the freaking lights on!

This was a photographers nightmare (or at least mine), especially when you are using something as basic as a 8 megapixel camera phone.  Also, fog machines are not my friend!

Evoken and Batillus are soo epic you can't even see them.  Both were amazing live despite the fact you can't make out anything in the pictures.

Moth Eater pics came out the best, tho still a bit blurry.

One last side note; Maegashira also played this show and they were awesome, I just got zero good pictures of them :(

Batillus' set was so dark I had to use the flash to get these and it's still super blurry! Damn you!!

As dark as these came out it is a pretty solid representation of the atmosphere on stage for Evoken.

Evoken in darkness.. I swear there were people on stage playing

End of the show.... Now they decide to turn on the lights :P

All in all I'm pretty happy with what I got out of these.  Not just some blurry dark pictures, but a pretty freaking awesome time! I'm so glad I <3 doom metal.