Taste be Damned – Another End of Year List

(this one courtesy of He11fir3)
Derek gets straight to the point with this one; few words complementing a list which will have the ever-curious running in search of a reliable internet connection.
He11fir3’s top 20 of 2020 (plus a few). Hardly the “best of the year”, just my personal favorites.

20. Faustian Pact – Outojen Tornien Varjoissa:
Mystical Melodic Symphonic and Majestic. Prominent and bombastic keyboards without taking over and being overbearing, giving the riffs a chance to muscle through.
https://werewolfrecords.bandcamp.com/album/outojen-tornien-varjoissa
19. Lamp of Murmuur – Heir of Ecliptical Romanticism:
Hitting all the soft spots for the black metal nerds. Just flying underneath the bar of “too perfect”
https://deathkvltproductions.bandcamp.com/album/heir-of-ecliptical-romanticism
18. Porta Nigra – Schopfungswut:
Kudos to this classy stylish black metal. With every listen I found something new to appreciate about it. It has a sophisticated melodic sound while remaining full speed and dripping with blast beats.
https://soulsellerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sch-pfungswut

17. Drengskapur – Was Der Morast Verschlang:
An album I wish I spent more time dissecting. It’s everything I need and love with hints of surprises. I know I’m still going to be pondering this one, putting it in and finding something fresh for years to come.
https://drengskapur.bandcamp.com/album/was-der-morast-verschlang
16. Maleficentt – Night of Eternal Darkness:
An album that is a go-to when I want to hear good shimmery perfect black metal. When I’m not sure what I want to listen to I can always come to this. It’s black metal comfort to me.
https://nightofthepalemoon.bandcamp.com/album/night-of-eternal-darkness-np-xiii
15. Ebony pendant – Incantation of Eschantological Mysticism:
This is that super cold dead of winter stuff that puts a fine layer of frost on my bones. Always a necessity.
https://ebonypendant.bandcamp.com/album/incantation-of-eschatological-mysticism

14. Witchtower – Witches’ Domain:
A powerhouse of everything that is right with heavy metal. A dash of Scorpions sleaze and squeeze of Mercyful Fate into the cauldron.
https://witchtowerspain.bandcamp.com/album/witches-domain
13. Frigoris – In Stille..:
Though the mood has to fit for it to hit right, this is one of the most beautiful post atmospheric black metal albums I’ve heard. This was the first thing I put in on many mornings.
https://hypnoticdirgerecords.bandcamp.com/album/in-stille
12. Ergholae Somptator – Eau Ardente:
A volcanic blast of misanthropic riffs that fits perfect with the stained-glass imagery. Uncontrollable and well-constructed.
https://marwolaethrecords.bandcamp.com/album/eau-ardente

11. Dammerfarben – Des Herbstes Trauerhymnen:
The sounds of the sun rising, setting and casting glorious light on everything below but in epic black folk metal form.
https://daemmerfarben-northernsilence.bandcamp.com/album/des-herbstes-trauerhymnen-mmxx
10. Maquahuitl – At the Altar of Mictlampa:
Puts the battle-ready fire in your veins. This band always delivers some of the best NABM. Catchy, Pounding, Raw, Enlightening, and full of engaging spirit. Each song is like an anthem of praise for the land and sky.
https://balamku.bandcamp.com/album/at-the-altar-of-mictlampa
9. Wolves in Exile – Frost and Ruin:
This is “At the Heart of Winter” from another kingdom across the planet. Cold Majestic Black Metal with Heavy Metal influence.
https://ukemrecords.bandcamp.com/album/frost-and-ruin

8. Begotten – If All You Have Known is Winter:
DSBM for Melodic Atmospheric BM fans. Amazing Canadian band putting out top notch heart wrecking turmoil.
https://begottendsbm.bandcamp.com/album/if-all-you-have-known-is-winter
7. Hellraiders – Fighting Hard:
My beer drinkin’ album of the year. Heavy Speed Rock from Italy, undeniably fun. People tend to skip this kind of stuff but fun albums are important, they pull you out of a funk, and they get more spins than you pretend to notice.
https://hellraiders.bandcamp.com/album/fighting-hard
6. Spirit Possession – Self Titled:
The old school black thrash attitude played with the modern elements of creativity and chaos. Puts off the atmosphere of being haunted by an out of focus headless banshee that shrieks out of its neck hole. Time to move.
https://spiritpossession.bandcamp.com/album/spirit-possession

5. Forgjord – Laulu Kuolemasta:
Harrowing songs of the death worshiping dread that dissolves my mental health and will to live and it’s really catchy.
https://werewolfrecords.bandcamp.com/album/laulu-kuolemasta
4. Grimah – Intricacies of Bowed Wisdom:
Monumental cascading black metal, spiritually epic like communicating with the mountains and valleys.
https://grimah.bandcamp.com/album/intricacies-of-bowed-wisdom
3. Oldowan Gash – Hubris Unchained:
Blistering High Tone black metal that sounds messy but it’s done to perfection. Breaks the Chains.

2. Goats of Doom – Tie on Hanen Omilleen:
My introduction to a band that I’ve done my damnedest to pick up their whole discography. Fast Harsh Melodic Finnish Black Metal. Every track is an utmost banger.
https://goatsofdoom.bandcamp.com/album/tie-on-h-nen-omilleen

- Leiru – Ido:
A unique blend of heavy / post black / cosmic / goth that never gives up on the riffs.
https://sunandmoonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/id
Honorable mentions or 5 albums that could easily be switched out with most of these given the kind of day it’s been
Rebel Wizard – Magickal Mystical Indifference

https://rebelwizard.bandcamp.com/album/magickal-mystical-indifference
Mongrels Cross – Arcana, Scrying, and Revelation
https://mongrelscross.bandcamp.com/album/arcana-scrying-and-revelation
Ymir – Ymir
https://werewolfrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ymir-2

Stormkeep – Galdrum
https://stormkeep-odl.bandcamp.com/album/galdrum
Weald and Woe – the Fate of Kings and Men
https://wealdandwoe.bandcamp.com/album/the-fate-of-kings-and-men
Thanks for the list Sir (A huge thanks for the links and the order) as is typical I believe I’ve heard only a few of those listed. Suffice it to mention this fellow rarely ceases to amaze me with his choices. Get those digits to keyboard, there’s a great deal to explore here, especially if your audio penchants run to the less traversed, darker arena of the Metal universe.
Funfact; whenever I type any of He11fir3’s lists my spellchecker goes absolutely bonkers.
-Cult