Top 50 of 2017

[Harvester]

My annual Top 50 is now available for your reading pleasure on the long forgotten forum. I look forward to your normal feedback of "WTF?," "this list sucks," "who?", and "seriously?"

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/thre ... 7.1213461/

cheers,

Glenn

[Sir Exar Kun]

As always, great list and leaves me plenty of things I've never heard of to check out.

In short, I agree 100% with your number one, as that gets my vote hands-down also.

Kudos, sir.....

[devomeister]

Totally agreed on Caligula's horse. What started as a bit of a disappointment for me, will end up In my top 3 this year (admittedly, my list doens't run 50 deep)

Glad to see Mother of Millions on the list. This one is also top 3 for me, as I like it dark and serious (this album reminds me a lot of that last Distorted Harmony album). Their first album 'Human" is also pretty amazing.

Lockstep with you on Soen, as well. This is the first album of theirs that's clicked with me.

I don't like the new Leprous as much as the last album, but it's damn good.

You've got me looking into The Contortionist, as I remember being turned off by the barking vocals on past albums.

Thanks for posting!

[Nos]

We have more overlap this year than most.

The Dark Element, Soen, Orden Ogan, and Nocturnal Rites are all going to feature on my list (posting Sunday, I think), but in different orders. They're all great records.

The one thing I would say is that this time around, Soen has become less Tool, and far more Opeth. I think that's the biggest difference in why this album is so much more memorable than the first two.

[Chris R]

A LOT of overlap
Didn't pick up the Widek yet but seeing as how much I loved everything be has done it will probably be an automatic in my top list

Anathema has clinched my top spot by a wide margin....and it hit immediately..Endless Ways is the song of the year for me as well.

Dark Element is sitting in cue as I type this...probably gets played within minutes of me clicking the submit button

Thank you for the review of The Contortionist...kinda ignored this one else as I was expecting more of the same as the last one...going to have to go back check it out..

100% agree with you on Kreator....it's my go to disk for heavy lifting days at the gym..who needs steroids when you have this..

Voyager is now in the upper upper echelon of actual prog metal with Ghost Mile..it's going to end up on the 2nd tier with Persefone-Aathma behind Anathema for me..

Killer list

[Hearing Aid Man]

Always enjoy your list. Already found a new one of interest to me. Checking out Vanish - The Insanity Abstract and it rips!

[LarryD]

Always enjoy your list. Already found a new one of interest to me. Checking out Vanish - The Insanity Abstract and it rips!

*** Guillaume and I posted on this when it,came,out.......nobody bit.......glad to,see its starting to get some attention...... Top 10 for me........

[T'ski]

Grateful you take the time to make this list, look forward to it every year.

two bands I am now more curious about....Cyhra and The Contortionist.

[ToddS]

Love reading your list bro! We have a fair amount of winners in common. Also lots I haven't heard. Gotta check those out. Will follow up as I can.

[Hearing Aid Man]

*** Guillaume and I posted on this when it,came,out.......nobody bit.......glad to,see its starting to get some attention...... Top 10 for me........

Larry - you didn't put Tomorrow's Eve as a comparison or I wouldn't have missed it.

[Random Axe]

Quick thoughts

The Galneryus singer has a bit of an accent...

If Id not watched the video but instead just listened I'd have sworn Vanish was Brainstorm/Symphorce. Thats good in most cases. I just ordered.

I had heard a Damnations Day tune before this one and it kinda annoyed me with the vocal screach. This one is far better and a likely buy now.

I lost track of Caligulas Horse after Tide, which may have been my favorite that year. This sounds pretty damn good. Will purchase.

Need is my favorite this year, love everything about it.

My own yearly recap will absolutely suck compared to this, but I'll have a lot of unheralded, aor bands that could have crossover appeal here.

[Digital Man]

Thanks for posting this Glenn. I look forward to this every year. I've already made a few passes though it. I've heard a lot of them but as always there are some new ones that sound interesting that I'll be checking out.

[TROY or maybe DEBBIE]

50.- Jono-Life: Singer is mesmerizingly fabulous!
41.-Seven Spires-Solvig: ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶C̶a̶b̶a̶r̶e̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶D̶r̶e̶a̶m̶s̶ ̶Adrienne Cowan is mesmerizing and Cabaret of Dreams is a Tour de Force for her; She is a Superstar! Her/their youtube covers are great too! The Dimmu Borgir one, wow! Really, check them out. Also, there is a joke about Kamelot and a singer with balls to be made, but I won't do it...
40.-Leprous-Malina: They still interest me, which is high praise as far as I'm concerned.Hooks?
38.-Ne Obliviscarious-Urn: What they do, they do so well that I cannot look away. Intra Venus is a great choice too.
37.-Nova Collective-The Further Side: I forget, do you not like instrumentals, or just do not book them? Woodenheadesque.
35.-Vicious Head Society-Abject Tomorrow: Under my radar for sure. I couldn't listen to this often, but it certainly is mood music.
31.-Diablo Swing Orchestra-Pacifticuffs: You know I LOVE it! Do I miss Anne still? Yes, but less than I expected.
28.-Mother of Millions-Sigma: Note to self- further studied Needed.
27.- Sons of Apollo-Psychotic Symphony: It could never meet expectations, but it is interesting.
23.- Inglorious-II: Groovy as fuck!

I think I'm doing pretty good so far!

[xaurt]

Thank you for taking the time to put this most impressive list together. Lurkers love this time of year

Truax

[LarryD]

Thank you for taking the time to put this most impressive list together. Lurkers love this time of year

Truax

*** Mr.Truax lives !!!!! I love it.......

[ToddS]

Cross post from the PP forum

Some thoughts on those of interest.

Jono- Life
Nice step up from Silence imo. Heavier overall, still theatrical, but less show tune like if that makes sense. I'm liking this. Love his over the top voice personally.

The Tangent- The Slow Rust of Forgotten Machinery
I need to check further into this one

Widek- Hidden Dimensions
Good stuff. Fans of Intervals should check them out.

The Thirteenth Sun- Planes of Creation
Missed the original buzz on this. Can hear the Opeth comparison. Will check further into.

Damnation’s Day- A World Awakens
Another I over looked. Like the song you posted.

Seven Spires- Solveig
I don't know if I ever heard a vocalist like Adrienne. Pretty amazing really. I enjoy some of this, and they nailed live it at PP.

Leprous- Malina
Follows the formula of the last few. Good if you don't mind more of the same.

Ne Obliviscarus- Urn
Love/hate this. Good clean vocals, & annoying blast beats and barking. Very talented, but I can only take so much of this before I shut it off.

Nova Collective- The Further Side
Sign me the fuck up too! Love it!

Aeternam- Ruins of Empires
Never heard of this one until now. OL is a good comparison. Not on that level for me, but still. Nice song you posted. The vocals became a bit of a turn off after streaming on bandcamp. It can get quite brutal at times. Still I'm intrigued.

Vicious Head Society- Abject Tomorrow
Quite good. I've been holding out for the rerelese with bonus track.

Kairon, IRSE!
Interesting, and I need to go back to it.

Diablo Swing Orchestra- Pacifisticuffs
Had to adjust to the new vocalist, but I'm totally in love with this one now. Should make my top 10.

Mother of Millions- Sigma: Dark
Interesting. Took a listen on bandcamp, and while it didn't blow me away, I will give it another spin to see where it goes.

Sons of Apollo- Psychotic Symphony
Agreed. They need to find their identity a bit more. Love the more proggy tunes, and I hope they head that way if they do another record.

Vuur- In This Moment We Are Free
Yea, never expected these heavy riffs. Good stuff!

Persefone- Aathma
Reminds of Cynic. Insane playing. Not my style of vocals either, but musically it is really melodic while being technical. That holds my interest to some degree. Better vocals and this is top 10 for me.

Inglorious- II
Really good for this style.

Wobbler- From Silence to Somewhere
Have not heard a note, but on the huge back log list.

Ayreon- The Source
I think this is one of Arjen's very best. What a cast of vocalist, and some of these riffs we have never heard from him before.

Threshold- Legends of the Shires
I don't know if I'm burning out on Threshold or what. Other than a few songs, this didn't grab me too much. A little bloated I think. I do plan on a another visit down the road.

Sorcerer- The Crowning of the Fire King
Really good melodic doom. Can that really co-exist? It does on this one.

Need- Hegaiamas
Should make my top 5.

Intervals- The Way Forward
Makes me all warm and fuzzy feeling. Looking forward to seeing them live again in a month or so.

Tetrafusion- Dreaming of Sleep
Well said. Been a fan since their debut. They keep getting better.

Voyager- Ghost Mile
They never made a bad record yet. Always puts me in a happy place.

Soen- Lykaia
Won't be as high on my list, but I do enjoy this one.

The Contortionist- Clairvoyant
Really moody, and atmospheric. Was a bit of grower for me. Seeing them live helped as well.

Zaius- Of Adoration
Will check this out further.

The Dark Element- The Dark Element
Some big time Nightwish going on during a few tracks. Solid, though.

Daniel Cavanagh- Monochrome
A total mood listen for me. Darkly beautiful and moving.

Caligula’s Horse- In Contact
Disc of the year contender for me.

Alestorm- No Grave But the Sea
Where's the rum?

Daydream XI- The Circus of the Tattered & Torn
Yea, a disc of the year contender for me as well. Love when something like this comes out of nowhere and knocks us on our asses!

[LarryD]

Bump.