The best albums of 2016
by Sami
I thought that I will have a hard time to find ten albums worth mentioning this year. How wrong was I? Horribly, horribly wrong. I have to mention several more than ten. One of the reasons is that I have been listening fewer albums (and songs) this year than in several previous ones and therefore I cannot pick the best out of the best. Another explanations could be that the year was good or I just can't make my mind anymore. Therefore I'll only select the best one, the second wave and then mention a lot of good ones.
The Best
Insomnium - Winter's Gate
Best album of the year! I love the songlist of this album! Simple but beautiful. The changes from one theme to another are done so well that it is not boring at all to listen 40 minutes long song. If you can do it so well as Insomnium has done, no album should need more than one song. Courage to do something so differently earns this album the center podium!
The second wave
Amoral - In sequence
They hit a jackpot with this album and then they are quitting, sad news!
Borknagar - Winter Thrice
A new acquitance and directly to the very top. Sounds a little like one of my all time favorites, Amorphis. This is however even more versatile (better?) and I cannot find any noticeable flaws from this album. Interesting listening after several plays.
Joe Bonamassa - Blues of Desperation
Namely it is blues, but actually this album does not make you feel blue but rather hilarious and great.
Moonsorrow - Jumalten Aika
Five songs and plays a little over an hour, not boring though and not even very slow music. The Moonsorrow albums are always Albums with capital A. You but it playing and when it ends you hardly remember any individual moments within the album. Takes time and rewards it with plentiful.
Black Mountain - IV
One of the best albums this year and the best gig. Not bad at all.
Dark Tranquillity - Atoma
An old favorite band that has been fading away little by little, but now they are here clear as a day.
The Good ones
Anthrax - For All Kings
Best trash album this year although it was not a bad year for trash overall with Metallica, Megadeth, Testament and Death Angel releasing their own ones.
Brant Bjork - Tao of the Devil
Brant is back like he would not have been away at all!
(Cattle Decapitation - The Anthropocene Extinction, 2015 album)
To mention something different (and interesting) since the top10 tends to be something for easy listening that suits every occasion. Great but rather complex album.
I noticed that this album has actually been released 2015, but I found it only in 2016 so I'll let it here anyway.
Cult of Luna - Mariner
First I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to do this with Julie Christmas, but once you start to see how the raw singing creates an opposing force to CoL musical atmosphere the album opens up properly.
I noticed that this album has actually been released 2015, but I found it only in 2016 so I'll let it here anyway.
First I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to do this with Julie Christmas, but once you start to see how the raw singing creates an opposing force to CoL musical atmosphere the album opens up properly.
If stoner and psychedelia is close to your heart (musically), this is an album for you.
Death/groove metal that is guaranteed to put your head banging. Also a great gig in Tuska, probably for the same reason of course.
After doing really nothing to mention in 20 years (gigs not considered) this is a comeback with no surprises, no disappointments, no best album ever. Kicks however 99 % of the current album releases asses any day.
New Keepers of the Water Towers - Infernal Machine
I would like to see someone who can describe this with one sentence or let's say even with a few of them. Quite the setting, but therefore it will stand the time.
Spiritual Beggars - Sunrise to Sundown
Strong performer that don't let you down. Not as a brilliant diamond as Earth Blues in 2013.
EP's
Deadforger - Foreseen
The best EP of the year. The only bad thing is that it is short, that's why they call it EP. Simple hard rock, what else do you need?
Candlemass - Death Thy Lover
Some bands you wish to not see back when they say they quit playing, but luckily Candlemass did not stay that way.
Just to mention a few: Wo Fat, Blues Pills, Vektor, Be'lakor, Neurosis, Crowbar, Vader, Witchcraft.
Some afternotes.
I notice that I have again either missed completely or only listened once or twice several new albums from bands that I like. This seems to happen every year since there just is so much good music to listen to and it is all easily reachable.Just to mention a few: Wo Fat, Blues Pills, Vektor, Be'lakor, Neurosis, Crowbar, Vader, Witchcraft.
