#also metal and folk punk my absolute beloved <3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[birdyverdie]

Posting my wrapped just for funsies

[teddybasmanov]

Hi hi hi! Thank you so much for the song recommendations and I really really really like this one

https://open.spotify.com/track/54NjeZb0simhLFopv6KiFl?si=WT4TM_O3SsWF7qLEI2uTSQ&utm_source=copy-link

(I'm sorry I can't find it in the insert audio option)

And I would absolutely love the guide to Russian rock!!! Thank you!!!!!

You're very welcome and I'm glad you liked it! (There's a fun music video for it which further shows that it's actually deeply political.)

Shake me a bit and musical recs start falling out.

Here's the "guide" (don't take it too seriously):

1. Louna - hard rock, alternative, metal, a lot of social and/or political themes.

2. Lumen - alternative metal, grunge, punk - usually sad and depressing.

3. Agatha Christy - gothic, punk, art, glam - psychedelic, dark, sometimes fantasy themed.

4. Aquarium - my absolute beloved - very old and usually like psychedelic chill, uses a lot of different instruments and genres from experimental rock to reggae and blues - in general just absolute classics.

5. Aria - hard rock, classical rock - also old, would probably describe as dad-rock, a lot of fantasy and historically themed songs.

6. Bravo - rock'n'roll and pop - absolutely ancient and very sweet. Inexistent.

7. DDT - rock, hard a bit of folk and indie - also some political topics, pretty old, also experiment with styles.

8. Zoopark - rock'n'roll, blues, hard - old and already inexistent but quite interesting.

9. Kalinov Bridge - folk, art-rock (Christian rock apparently) - folk and historical songs.

10. Kino - rock - classics - usually politically-themed or at least have such undertones. Doesn't exist anymore.

11-12. King and the Jester - fathers of the Russian punk - incredibly cool, fantasy-themed songs with plots (two songs included because for vampire-related reasons). Doesn't exist anymore (two bands heirs are Knyazz and the Northern Fleet).

13. Kukriniksy - punk, gothic - pretty artistic, have an album of singing Esenin's poems.

14. Time Machine - rock, rock'n'roll, author song - absolute dinosaurs, one the first if not THE. Technically do exist but not really.

15. Windmill - folk rock all the way - fantasy-themed very nice.

16. Nautilus Pompilius - rock, alternative, simfo-rock - very artsy for the lack of a better word, super poetic lyrics. Exist in odd ways and combinations.

17. Leg Fell Asleep (yes, it's their name) - punk, alternative, indie - awfully psychedelic, almost never make any sense (cue - have a song which is literally gibberish) but pretty fun.

18. Night Snipers - alternative, pop-rock, indie-rock - a lot of poetic romantic songs with some unexpectedly queer vibes.

19. Picnic - indie, rock, new wave, avant-garde - fairly old, also psychedelic but more fantasy and myth vibe than just a drug trip.

20. Pilot - punk, hard, alternative - usually fairy depressive, but cool.

21. Secret - rock'n'roll, blues, pop - nice, kind of old band, with a lot of love songs and just fun ones.

22. Splean - alternative, pop, indie - usually more dramatic romantic songs with deep poetic lyrics.

23. Cockroaches! - punk, alternative - a bit of trash /pos songs, some political.

24. Chaif - country, blues, rock'n'roll - another old one, a lot of slow sad or just calm songs, but not all of them.

25. Black Obelisk - heavy, trash-metal, hard - they are not actually that good I just have a bit of a soft spot for them. Sometimes good lyrics, but then the leader who was writing them died.

26. Chizh&Co - blues, folk, romance, rock'n'roll - very different genres, some songs with a plot, some romances, some war songs.

[abyssfemme]

Top five formative albums kirbs gimme em

Of course best friend! Note: not in order. 1. CALIGULA - Lingua Ignota (symphonic metal, industrial music, “godkilling music”) Kristin Hayter writes these absolutely obliterating albums about overcoming trauma and destroying those who’ve hurt you, but also about the emotional toll that rage and that despair can have on a person. This is my favorite record of hers - I have it on vinyl - and I’m so excited that she’s putting out a new album this year. Her songs calm me down. Favorite Track: “FRAGRANT IS MY MANY FLOWER’D CROWN”, “DO YOU DOUBT ME TRAITOR” or “SPITE ALONE HOLDS ME ALOFT” 2. Carrie and Lowell - Sufjan Stevens (folk, singer-songwriter, guitar-based)

Fun fact: my very first panic attack was to “John My Beloved”. I’ve gone through two copies of this record on vinyl - not because I’ve burnt them down but because I donated one to the radio station I worked for and one was given to a friend as a gift after she brought me Gatorade during a blinding sick spell. Sufjan Stevens is an absolutely magical songwriter and his music plucks a chord in my chest that makes me weep. Favorite Track: “No Shade In The Shadow of the Cross”

3. Begin to Hope - Regina Spektor (singer-songwriter, pop, piano-based) Baby’s first brush with hipsterism. I listened to this record a ton in high school and Regina’s piano work and voice just resonated in my head really beautifully. I’ve had the great luck to go to two of her concerts and I loved them both. If you’re going to listen to a version, I highly recommend the Deluxe since that has “Uh-Merica” on it and that’s one of my favorite tracks by her in general. If you’re only going to listen to the original version - which is still valid - then my favorite track is below. Favorite Track: “Apres Moi” 4. Self-Titled - Violent Femmes (pop punk-esque, classic rock) Probably the first punk-y album I ever fell in love with, I could listen to this album on repeat a couple of times before I ever got bored with it. There’s something about the mild level of DIY-esque vibes on this thing that get to me, make me happy stim. Plus, you cannot listen to “Blister in the Sun” and not wiggle a little bit in place. Favorite Track: “Blister In The Sun” or “Gone Daddy Gone” 5. 69 Love Songs - The Magnetic Fields (electro-pop, despair pop, gay) The first ever explicitly gay group I ever got into, The Magnetic Fields are still an absolute #1 and will always be. This isn’t my favorite record of theirs (that’s a tie between Distortion and Love at the Bottom of the Sea) but it has left the biggest impact on me overall. It’s the first time I ever saw despair employed really well over a dance beat and it’s the first time I ever saw real death in a song and understood it. It’s just a neat record. Favorite Track: “Papa Was A Rodeo”, “Boa Constrictor”, “The Night You Can’t Remember” or “How to Say Goodbye”.

give me a top 5 category and i’ll tell you my top 5!

[patricksilvrrozartistry]

Top 10 Favorite Albums of 2018

It's time to present you guys with my top 10 favorite albums of 2018. There were a lot of amazing albums this year, but these 10 stole my heart. If you want to see my top 5 favorite EP's of the year, you can check out that post here. And just like on that post, we're going to see the honorable mentions first before we dive into the top 10. Let me explain my ranking system before we dive into this first though. If a release is followed by **, that means that I really enjoyed the album, but it wasn't enough to make it to the top 10. Now if a release is followed by ***, that means it had the potential of being on the top 10 and was an amazing release. One last thing before we get into this: I am a metalhead, so majority of the albums are metal albums (which I have the genres listed next to each release so you'll get to see that first hand). Ok, time to get on with it and look at the MANY honorable mentions.

Hell City - Flesh and Bones** (hard rock) Dimmu Borgir - Eonian** (symphonic black metal) Kamelot - The Shadow Theory** (symphonic power metal) Visions of Atlantis - The Deep and the Dark** (symphonic power metal) The Atlas Moth - Coma Noir** (sludge/stoner metal) CupcakKe - Ephorize** (rap/hip hop) Purest of Pain - Solipsis** (death metal) Fairy Bones - 0% Fun** (punk/alternative rock) Orphaned Land - Unsung Prophets and Dead Messiahs** (oriental symphonic metal) Elephants in Paradise - Wake Up** (hard rock) Anna von Hausswolff - Dead Magic** (dark ambient) Chaostar - The Undivided Light** (classical/dark ambient) Profane Burial - The Rosewater Park Legend** (symphonic black metal) Shadowrise - Shadowrise** (symphonic metal) Miss FD - Transcendence** (industrial) Collibus - Trusting the Illusion** (djent/progressive metal) Alexandra Martin - Fragments and Reflections** (classical) Caliban - Elements** (djent/metalcore) Whyzdom - As Time Turns to Dust** (symphonic metal) Lyria - Immersion** (symphonic metal) Graveshadow - Ambition's Price** (symphonic metal) Temperance - Of Jupiter and Moons** (symphonic power metal) Light Among Shadows - Under the Waves** (gothic metal) Emphasis - Soul Transfer** (progressive symphonic metal) Neophobia - Monstermind** (symphonic metal) Caligatum - Epidemus** (symphonic gothic metal) Apparition - The Awakening** (symphonic metal) Caedeous - Domini Tenebrarum** (symphonic black metal) Amorphis - Queen of Time** (melodic metal) Little Dead Bertha - Age of Silence** (blackened symphonic death metal) Midnattsol - The Aftermath** (symphonic metal) 11th Dimension - Paramnesia** (progressive metal) Witch Moutain - Witch Mountain** (doom metal) Inner Core - Soultalker** (symphonic metal) Lovelorn Dolls - Darker Ages** (gothic rock/metal) A Sound of Thunder - It Was Metal** (heavy metal) Sinistro - Sangue Cassia** (post metal) Meden Agan - Catharsis** (symphonic metal) Phosphenes - Find Us Where We're Hiding** (ambient/post rock) 69 Chambers - Machine** (progressive metal) Aeternitas - Tales of the Grotesque** (symphonic gothic metal) Florence + the Machine - High as Hope** (indie pop) Distorted Harmony - A Way Out** (progressive metal) Exlibris - Inertia** (power metal) Sacrificed - Enraged** (hard rock) Frozen Crown - The Fallen King** (symphonic power metal) Manes - Slow Motion Death Sequence** (dark alternative metal) Ängie - Suicidal Since 1995** (trap hop) Cinnamun Beloved - Stain** (gothic metal) Opera Queen - Phantasmagoric Symphony** (symphonic metal) Beyond the Black - Heart of the Hurricane** (symphonic power metal) Black Mirrors - Look into the Black Mirror** (psychedelic rock/rock n roll) Ethernity - The Human Race Extinction** (progressive metal) Cher - Dancing Queen** (pop) Zahna - Red for War** (alternative metal) Sick N' Beautiful - Element of Sex** (heavy metal) Mother Feather - Constellation Baby** (punk) Sylvaine - Atoms Aligned, Coming Undone** (shoegaze/post metal) Promethee - Convalescence** (progressive metal/metalcore) Dark Sarah - The Golden Moth** (symphonic power metal) Haken - Vector** (progressive metal) And Then She Came - Kaosystematiq** (alternative metal) Shadygrove - In the Heart of Scarlet Wood** (folk) My Merry Machine - Ignition** (gothic rock) I:Scintilla - Swayed** (industrial) Northward - Northward** (hard rock) In the Woods... - Cease the Day** (progressive doom metal) Décembre Noir - Autumn Kings** (doom death metal)

MaYaN - Dhyana*** (symphonic death metal) Amaranthe - Helix*** (modern metal) Rivers of Nihil - Where Owls Know My Name*** (progressive death metal) Ionnalee - Everyone Afraid to be Forgotten*** (synth-pop) Sanguine Glacialis - Hadopelagic*** (progressive gothic death metal) Realm of Glass - Reveries From the Haunted*** (progressive metal) Eleine - Until the End*** (symphonic gothic metal) TesseracT - Sonder*** (djent/atmospheric progressive metal) Kobra and the Lotus - Prevail II*** (heavy metal) Follow the Cipher - Follow the Cipher*** (power metal) Pryapsime - Epic Loon*** (avant-garde metal) Crownless - Confines of Silence*** (symphonic power metal) Trillium - Tectonic*** (symphonic power metal) Purple Nail - Red Sky*** (gothic metal) Dol Ammad - Cosmic Gods: Episode II - Astroatlas*** (progressive symphonic metal) Elyose - Reconnxion*** (symphonic modern metal) Dimilight - Kingdom of Horrors*** (symphonic extreme gothic metal) Piqaia - Artifact*** (djent/atmospheric progressive metal) Sirenia - Arcane Astral Aeons*** (symphonic gothic metal) Poppy - Am I a Girl?*** (experimental pop) Meg Myers - Take Me to the Disco*** (alternative) Solborn - Dark Lights of Delirium*** (symphonic metal) Enemy Inside - Phoenix*** (hard rock/metal) The Anix - Shadow_Movement*** (synth-rock) Circus of Fools - Rex*** (gothic metal) Marcela Bovio - Through Your Eyes*** (chamber prog) Circles - The Last One*** (djent/progressive metal) Voices From the Fuselage - Odyssey: The Founder of Dreams*** (djent/ambient/progressive metal) Aeonian Sorrow - Into the Eternity a Moment We Are*** (atmospheric gothic doom metal)

Now for my absolute favorite releases of the year!

10. Phantom Elite - Wasteland (symphonic metal)

If you enjoyed Marina La Torraca in Exit Eden, then you'll be able to get a different feel for her voice on this album. This is her main project outside of Exit Eden and their sound is so cool. The mixing could've been a bit better, but that doesn't bother me too much. In fact it gives it some extra character. I'm really excited to hear what these guys come up with next. This album really took me by surprise to just how good it turned out to be and how dramatic it got at times.

Favorite songs: 1. Revelation 2. Wasteland 3. Siren's Call

9. My Indigo - My Indigo (indie pop)

When I found out that Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation) was going to be releasing a solo album, I was really curious about what kind of sound she'd go for. I couldn't have imagined a better sound for her. Not a single dud on this album. It's so lovely and a breath of fresh air for her. You get a really great feel for her vocal range and there's some pretty cool vocal lines on here. Definitely a beautiful and touching album from start to finish.

Favorite songs: 1. Starcrossed Lovers 2. Out of the Darkness 3. Lesson Learned

8. Marmozets - Knowing What You Know Now (alternative rock)

I don't remember ever subscribing to their YouTube channel, but I'm so glad I did, because I found one of my top 10 favorite albums of the year because of it. Their sound is so in your face and on the verge of being alternative metal, but it's toned down enough to not be at that level. It definitely works for them. The music is so fun and absolutely wonderful to just jam out to. One of the most random discoveries I've made that I absolutely adore.

Favorite songs: 1. Play 2. Major System Error 3. Habits

7. Dream Ocean - Lost Love Symphony (symphonic metal)

I learned about these guys through a Facebook friend at the beginning of the year and wound up really enjoying them. This album is pure symphonic metal. It's got drama, power, energy, strong riffs, amazing orchestrations, and a mezzo-soprano with a gorgeous voice. I find it kind of funny that Mark Jansen is featured on a track called Never Enough knowing full well that Epica have a song of the same name. I'm definitely am gonna be keeping my eye on these guys.

Favorite songs: 1. Somewhere Untouched 2. The Last Dance 3. Divine Light

6. The Hardkiss - Залізна ластівка (progressive pop/rock)

These guys are evolving so much. This album is definitely a lot more on the rock side, but it still has a bit of that pop element. I'm waiting for them to take the plunge and release a full blown metal album. I think this album is a good first step in that direction. The production gives this album a bit of a sci-fi feel to it that I really like. It's so different compared to their previous releases and really stands out. I also really like how majority of the songs are in Ukrainian. It's always been the other way around for them, so it's a nice change.

Favorite songs: 1. Complicity 2. 00:00 3. Koxaнці

5. Silent Stream of Godless Elegy - Smutnice (folk doom metal)

I really started taking a liking to these guys in the later part of last year after falling madly in love with their song Mokoš, so I knew I had to check out the new album when it dropped. This album turned out to be a lot more pretty than what I was expecting it to be. It's so beautiful and powerful. Every song has its own dynamic to it and not one song sounds similar to the other. And I just adore the folk instruments they use. It really adds to the beauty of the album.

Favorite songs: 1. Malověrná 2. Synečku 3. Za nevěstou

4. Witchcraft - Cinema (progressive gothic metal)

It was so hard to rank this one at number 4, because it's neck and neck with my number 3 pick. This album turned out to be so much better than I had anticipated it being. It's beautiful, raw, and very unique. I love the samplings to other iconic songs on a few tracks (Requiem for a Dream and the themes for Silent Hill and The X Files are the ones I easily picked out). Their sound has evolved so much over the years and I feel as if this is the best of their releases. It shows off everything that is absolutely amazing about this band.

Favorite songs: 1. Реквием 2. Silent Hill 3. На разных планетах

3. Oceans of Slumber - The Banished Heart (progressive doom metal)

Winter was a wonderful album, but holy shit did they outdo themselves with this album. It's a lot darker, a whole lot darker. Cammie's voice also sounds a lot better on this album. I don't know what it is, but seems as if her voice is a lot stronger and has more emotion attached to it on these songs. There also just seems to be a lot more emotion in these songs in general. It's such a stunning album from start to finish. If you wanted Winter to be more doomy and intense, The Banished Heart definitely lives up to that want.

Favorite songs: 1. The Banished Heart 2. No Color, No Light feat. Tom Englund (Evergrey) 3. At Dawn

2. Elvellon - Until Dawn (symphonic metal)

It shouldn't come as any surprise that this album is high up on my list. This was my favorite album of the year for the longest. It's such an amazing symphonic metal album that was definitely worth the wait (in terms of it being released, not in the shipping issues that I ran into with receiving it). These guys are definitely ones to look out for in the symphonic metal scene. Nele's voice just stands out so much compared to the many ladies in the scene. The stories told in each song are absolutely wonderful and the production is everything.

Favorite songs: 1. King of Thieves 2. Fallen into a Dream 3. Shore to Aeon

1. Once - After Earth (symphonic metal)

This is the album that took Until Dawn's place of being my favorite release of the year. I honestly wasn't expecting to love this album as much as I do. This album is so powerful, dramatic, beautiful. It even has a whimsical vibe to it that I absolutely adore. The writing, production, and execution are everything with this album. You get a beautiful feel for Alina's voice on this album and just how talented she is. The orchestrations are turned up a bit high on this album, but it doesn't take away from the experience, but instead compliments it so well. This album is just perfection and I can't wait to see what these guys have in store for us.

Favorite songs: 1. The Sins of Saints 2. Awake 3. The Hour of Eden's Fall

Like I mentioned earlier, there were a lot of amazing releases this year. I can't wait to see what next year has in store for us. I just know it's gonna be a wild one. I hope you all will enjoy these releases as much as I did if you haven't heard them before. What were some of your favorite releases of the year and which ones are you looking forward to next year? I'm always down to check out new music.

[zoetropia]

Zoetropia’s Top 10 Albums of 2018

Well, here we are, later than usual but I couldn’t let myself not do it. I didn’t do any music writing this year so this thing is going to be longer than usual, with a lot more extensive honorable mention section than normal. That means I’ll probably lose most of you until you get to the top 10 but oh well. I listened to 163 2018 releases by the time of this writing. These are my favorite.

HONORABLE MENTIONS (in no order)

Yo La Tengo - There’s a Riot Going On: Solid, but solid for YLT is career-best material for most other acts. This band has been around for 34 years and they’re still this inventive, playful, and relevant. Incredible.

Mount Eerie - Now Only: Incredibly powerful (how could it not be?) but it’s more Mark Kozelek than Phil E. this time around.

Foxing - Nearer My God: A swelling, generous Emo magnum opus and its reach extends ever so slightly beyond its grasp by the end. But those first 5 tracks are an absurd collection of excellent songs.

Mitski - Be the Cowboy: Mitski goes full art rock in a very fine of collection of songs that show her range but struggle to cohere.

Phosphorescent - C’est La Vie: Matthew Houck and his band can still cut a lovely and rousing tune, and this album finds him growing up, settling down, and accepting the weight of the rest of his days. But yet, I miss his anger and rebellion. Some might say losing your rage is a sign of maturity. I don’t know if I agree.

Fucked Up - Dose Your Dreams:  Bursting at the seams with pretty much every style of rock that’s possible, but ultimately too shaggy to be a Great album. Still, there’s so much to like in this album, and it’s not afraid to give you more and more of it.

Joey Purp - Quarterthing: Wild, ranging, but most of all fun. Joey Purp finds himself stretching across styles, beats, rhymes, and samples but always sounds like himself. Maybe the most exhilarating rap release of the year.

Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs: And way out on the outer edges of what rap can be, we have Earl using his extensive powers of wordplay to explore his psyche and fill out the sketches of production that loop samples filled with tape hiss and record pops. It’s a rap record that feels both tossed off and intricate. In a word, effortless.

IDLES - Joy as an act of resistance.: A bit of a sophomore slump for one of my favorite new acts. Maybe they rushed to get the new record out to capitalize on the word of mouth of their bracing debut and a new record is always easier to publicize over a reissue. Still, there are some great, pummeling punk tunes here, and welcome additions to the set of one of the more raucous and rowdy live acts I’ve seen in a while.

Daughters - You Won’t Get What You Want: Brutal and uncompromisingly dark, this is one of the most frightening records I’ve listened to this year (I don’t listen to too much metal). Isolation, alienation, apocalypse, terror, despair. All the good stuff is in here! And while the unrelenting bleakness is part of its “appeal”, I just wish it wasn’t so one note.

The Sueves - R.I.P. Clearance Event: A relentless garage rock record, pumping up and speeding up some of your fairly groovy rock n roll to maximum distortion and maximum speed. They’re loud, they’re snotty, and if they’d leave Chicago, I’d love to see them in a tiny, sweaty venue soon.

Mastersystem - Dance Music: We miss you, Scott.

THE TOP 10

10. Superchunk - What a Time to Be Alive: Superchunk continue to justify their existence after their hiatus with their tightest and angriest collection of songs maybe ever. Always good to have the vets show the kids that they can rock just as hard, and be just as mad at the direction of the world.

9. Darlingside - Extralife: An absolutely gorgeous folk record, filled with beautiful male vocal harmonies and just the right amount of flowing instrumentation to build worlds of warmth. It’s thankfully free of fast strumming and floor stomping and sparingly uses the one-trick of a rousing crescendo in every song to explore more nuanced song structures. But when the trick is pulled out, it’s perfect.

8. Courtney Marie Andrews - May Your Kindness Remain: I love Kacey Musgraves and I was a big fan of her record this year, but this is my favorite country record of this year in a walk. The songwriting is strong and simple, foregrounding Andrews’ powerful voice and sad, longing words, and her strong backing band fills the space in just enough to color in the emotion.

7. Typhoon - Offerings: An enormously ambitious indie rock opera about life, death, art, and memory. Vividly detailed, intelligent, and impeccably orchestrated, this is the kind of record that’s aimed right at what I love. Oh, and it also quotes 8 1/2 so it was never not going to be on this list.

6. Parquet Courts - Wide Awake!: Never ones to shut up and play the hits, Parquet Courts goes full political with this one. Full of righteous ideological anger and the best and most varied songs of any of their releases, Wide Awake! tackles collectivism, environmentalism, economic inequality, violence in America, and how to stay aware, stay sane, find love and companionship, remain peaceful, and take care of yourself and others in a crumbling world. I can’t think of a record that captures this sociopolitical era more completely. And fuck Tom Brady.

5. Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy (Face to Face): Will Toledo’s ongoing deep dive through his psyche takes a backwards turn as he remakes one of the more beloved of his “Bandcamp” albums with a full band this time. And these songs are worth the rework, as they are some of the brightest, heartbreaking, insightful, and detailed that Toledo has written in his young career. The new production doesn’t give them too much shine but instead fills out of enough of the sound to let them speak for themselves. Plus he did it all in a way that still fit the concept of the record. Pretty impressive.

4. Saba - Care For Me: Where Quarterthing is wild and Some Rap Songs is experimental, Care For Me is focused. It’s a sad, angry record about grief, loneliness, and depression. Saba’s flow seems to need to erupt out of him at times, culminating in the astonishing climax of PROM/KING as he describes the moment he found out about the murder of his cousin. It’s powerful, devastating music, and easily my favorite rap release this year.

3. Jon Hopkins - Singularity: It’s been 5 years since Jon Hopkins’ last LP and immediately upon listening to this new record, the time just seems to disappear. This is an album that could have taken a decade to make, or could have just appeared in the sleepless work of one night. As all of Hopkins’ work, it is precise and detailed, intricately textured and arranged. And as much as we know that every song on this album was worked over and perfected note-by-note, it still somehow feels organic and natural. Astounding.

2. Low - Double Negative: Despite being one of the figureheads of the genre, it really felt like Low had exhausted all the possibilities of “slowcore”. While they’ve never made a bad album, the formula of slowcore seemed to be inhibiting them more than anything, and it being 25 years into their career, it would be forgivable for Low to just continue making, say, Ones and Sixes over and over again. This is not what they did. This is easily best album Low has ever released. They twist and warp and distort their sound into shapes that are at once gorgeous, ominous, foreboding, isolating, and expansive. It is a remarkably cohesive album united around a sound that ebbs and flows, builds and decays, resolves and dissolves constantly and consistently. This is the undisputed masterpiece of Low’s career and I hope they keep getting better.

1. Beach House - 7: Similar to Low, it also seemed like Beach House had exhausted the possibilities of their brand of widescreen dream pop. To my mind, Bloom was the album they were working to all along and after that, they seemed a bit lost. Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars had some nice tunes, but they were records that made it seem like the band didn’t know what to do now that they’ve reached their destination. And the two records made at the same time definitely didn’t help counter the impression that they lost their focus. But 3 years later, Beach House returned with their (duh) seventh album, and it’s the most focused statement of their career. It’s swirling and immersive, dialing up their shoegaze influence to build every song to an enveloping world of sound. It’s the perfect album to crank up my headphones and get lost in and Beach House is the perfect band to deliver that kind of album. It mines all the peaks of their previous records and melds them into one massive record that so consistently aims at my musical pleasure center that it seems a bit unfair to all other acts. I’m so glad that they found they way back, and that the way still points upward.

[patricksilvrrozartistry]

Current Music Obsessions: June 15 - 30, 2017

Sorry for being so late with this one. I was busy all week last week and didn't have enough time to post the final list for June. I have A LOT of stuff this session since I purged through my watch later playlist, but a shorter list should be coming next month. So let's begin with the honorable mentions.

The Oblivion - New Messiah Cinnamun Beloved - So Far Vandroya - You'll Know My Name The Project Hate MCMXCIX - Reign Ravenia - Creators of the Apocalypse Amethys - Miss Fairy Lullaby Walk in Darkness - Alexandria The Haunting - No One Saves Us but Ourselves Skuggsjá - Vitkispá NeraNature - Ego Death Frou Frou - Must Be Dreaming Mother Mooch - Hive Mind Fairy Bones - No One Can Suffer Like I Can Real Life - Send Me an Angel The White Swan - The White 8th Floor - ผลสุดท้าย [DreamBreaker] Iced Earth - Clear the Way (December 13, 1862) All but One - Persistence Rings of Saturn - Inadequate Zuberoa Aznarez - Uraren Abestia Silent Descent - Vortex feat. Bjorn Strid Cyclocosmia - Seasons in the Abyss (Slayer cover) Dust in Mind - I'm Different Rise Against - Make it Stop (September's Children) Trigger - Dead Sun Royal Blood - Lights Out Kandia - Alone Chelsea Wolfe - 16 Psyche Manntra - Lanterne Face Off - Massive Make Them Suffer - Fireworks A Midnight Grace - Deceit Walk in Darkness - Eternal River Flow Need - Rememory Xandria - When the Walls Came Down (Heartache was Born)

Now for the many obsessions.

1) Devil in Dorian - Don't Waste My Time

This song definitely caught me by surprise. I don't normally like songs like this, but I kept finding myself listening to it, jamming and having it stuck in my head. It's like a blend of punk and classic style heavy metal. Great song to jam out to.

2) Beneath My Sins - My Rules

This is a symphonic metal band I've known about for a minute now. They were originally called Evolvent, but now go by Beneath My Sins. This song is so good. The choirs and synths are so good and truly what make this song as epic as it is.

3) Voluspaa - Av Sin Klokskap

I came across this band while on the Metal Archives one day trying to see if Catherine of Mortal Love had been featured in anything in recent years. She's only in backing vocals on this track, but nonetheless, this song is epic. I'm so picky about folk metal bands since so many sound so similar to one another, but this one is looking to be one that I'll love.

4) Lovelorn Dolls - Mother of the Universe feat. Helen Vogt (ex-Flowing Tears, Lighthouse in Darkness)

I came across this song while seeing if Helen was featured in anything since the end of Flowing Tears (which is how I learned about Lighthouse in Darkness) and found out she was featured on one of Lovelorn Dolls' releases. I've known of this band for a minute, but haven't really dabbled that much into them, yet every song I've heard from them are absolutely amazing. This song is no exception. Definitely check it out.

5) Adagio - Darkness Machine

I discovered this band through ProgPower USA's Facebook page and I am in love with this track. Progressive power metal with a tinge of djent. This track is so epic. I'm surprised at how much I enjoy the singer (I'm not usually a fan of singers like him). I'm definitely going to look more into this band, because this song is the tits.

6) Psyborg Corp. - Interdimensional Hyperdrive

I finally got around to listening to Psyborg Corp.'s debut album after knowing about it since its release many years ago. If you are a fan of industrial/harsh EBM, definitely give these guys a listen. This song is amazing to listen to when wanting to chill, but is also very danceable.

7) Aperion - U

I discovered this band a few years ago, but just decided to look more into them. I came across this music video and fell in love. It's so good, dramatic and theatrical. If you're into symphonic metal bands that have more of theatrical sound, definitely give these guys a listen.

8) Hallatar - Mirrors

This is a doom metal project created to honor the life of Aleah Stanbridge (Trees of Eternity) and the songs are composed of poems and other writings of hers. The vibe and sound this song has took me by surprise, because Aleah was known for doing ambient music; this is pure gothic doom metal. It's so haunting and broody. Definitely give it a listen.

9) Qveen Herby - Gucci

Karmin got a face lift and are now Qveen Herby, which has more of a hip-hop/R&B vibe to it than the original stuff from the Karmin era. I kept finding myself singing the chorus to this great jam almost every day. "You should buy it for me. Bury me in Gucci." So simple, but so catchy and great. Definitely am gonna listen to full release.

10) Alina Lesnki - How Soon is Now feat. Agordas (The Smiths cover)

I've talked about Alina and her covers many times before, but this one has to be my favorite one she's done in a while. Such a great tune and still captures the essence of the original, while still having Alina's own symphonic metal flare to it. And don't get me started on the harmonies. The harmonies are EVERYTHING.

11) Karkaos - Kolossos feat. Morgan Lander (Kittie)

I discovered this band one day when scrolling through my main tumblr and decided to give them a listen. I immediately became hooked on this song. I don't know how to describe it. It's a bit metalcore, symphonic, deathish, but it's all around some extreme proggy goodness and I need to hear more from them.

12) Little Mix - Power feat. Stormzy

I would've never thought to listen to this group on my own, but when I found out that Willam, Alaska and Courtney were featured in the video, I had to check it out. I actually fell in love with the song. It's just so fun and empowering. A great summer jam.

13) Dear Apollo - Closure

For fans of Look Right Penny, you will be happy to know that the singer is in a new project that has a similar vibe to LRP, it's just a bit more proggy. This song is so simple, but it leaves such a huge impact and is so catchy. Can't wait to hear more from them.

14) Silentium - Hangman's Lullaby

This was one of those random YouTube finds that turn out to be absolutely wonderful. This gothic metal band has definitely gotten my attention with how absolutely gorgeous this song is. Reminds me of the stuff you would hear from Norwegian gothic/gothic doom metal bands from the 90's (which is my favorite style of gothic metal). Definitely am gonna listen to more from them.

15) Selene - This Life

I recently discovered this band not too long ago. They're your standard symphonic metal band, but this song stands out so much compared to the few other songs I've heard from them. It's a ballad track and is so soft and pretty. A beautiful song to chill to.

16) Nox - Signed in Blood feat. Helena Michaelsen (Imperia)

I got bored one day and decided to see if Helena was ever featured in another band and came across this band. They're not really my cup of tea, but this track is so good. I think part of it has to do with Helena's bits in it. She just demands your attention in this song and hits some pretty impressive high notes. If you're into blackened death metal, this is a pretty good band to check out.

17) Mortad - Hollow Tomorrow

I discovered this band one day when checking out a playlist centered around women in extreme metal bands and/or bands with female screamers/growlers. This song is a beautiful ballbuster. I never thought I would ever describe a track like that. So much energy and the chorus is so lovely. Definitely will check out more from them.

18) Ionnalee - Not Human

This is the second single from this project and I am in love with it. It's so lovely, catchy and fun to jam out to. Between this and Samaritan, this has to be my favorite. Partly because of the instrumentals, but also because of how beautiful the chorus is. Definitely check this track out if you're into ambient/experimental pop music.

19) Clouds - In the Ocean of My Tears feat. Natalie Koskinen

This is a doom metal band that I discovered one day while checking out Luna Obscura's Facebook page. Their front woman, Gogo, is going to be featured on their upcoming release, so I thought I'd check out a few of their songs. This is the second song by them I've heard and I absolutely love it. So haunting, broody and melancholy.

20) Biffy Clyro - Many of Horror (When We Collide)

I discovered this song through Melanie Murphy's Insta Story one day. It's so lovely and pleasant. Such a beautiful song to just chill out to. It's so simple, but leaves such a huge impact because of how it was executed.

21) Circus of Fools - Another World Within

Here's another random YouTube discovery that turned out to be absolutely amazing. This is a melodic gothic metal band that has a symphonic element to them. The video is so cool and slightly creepy (the outfits and filters give it a slightly unsettling atmosphere) and suits the song really well. Definitely will check out more from them.

22) Xandria - A Theater of Dimensions feat. Henning Basse (MaYaN)

HO. LY. TITS. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever imagine that Xandria would produce such a chaotic and proggy song like this. Theater of Dimensions is an excellent album, but this song is the best one off it and probably their best song to date. So much raw emotion and power. They definitely explored Dianne's vocal talents completely with this album and entirely with this song. So theatrical, campy and emotive. DEFINITELY give this song a listen!

That is it for the month of June! Like I mentioned above, shorter lists should be returning for the next month. I'm also thinking that I'll bring a smaller version of this series back to my YouTube channel when I return from my hiatus next month, so look forward to seeing the return of CMO videos!