METAL ALBUMS POLL 2016 VOTING AND CAMPAIGNING THREAD. [Voting ends Friday December 16 11.59pm GMT]

Thanks to seandalai for running this and setting up the voting forms and stuff. But he has time constraints so only one week for voting and you must all have your votes in by NEXT friday december 16 11.59gmt.

The rollout must be finished before most ilxors finish work for the hols and seandalai cant do the poll after xmas due to the big site poll.

Most people just vote in he last week anyway so It shouldn't make much difference.

You can vote for upto 50 albums from the nominations list which you can find the link to on that there voting form

Please copy/paste your votes directly from the nominations spreadsheet:

Please still campaign for albums as it really does make a difference.

Please post on the thread that you voted so we can make sure your vote went through.

There is a collaborative Spotify playlist so everyone can add their nominations here
spotify:user:pfunkboy:playlist:5jWlgqW5pvNHmO7BTqXIT7

Happy Voting!

I wasn't going to do the whole 'false metal' thing this year, but I AM stoked someone manages to sneak a Horse Lords nomination in here. That's tentatively my album of the year, and so is probably gonna,place high in my ballot here too...

I haven't heard it but I have seen plenty raving about it. What is it like?

my shortlist is exactly 50. Might do some listening before voting.

recommend me some albums you really like you think I wont have heard!

Xoth
LLNN
Hail Spirit Noir (maybe)?

seriously do try the Dawnwalker

I know Hail Spirit Noir and like them a lot

add those albums to the spotify playlist and I'll give them a listen tomorrow but I'm off to bed now.

the Xoth album can only be found on Bandcamp:
https://xoth.bandcamp.com/album/invasion-of-the-tentacube

v impressed with Dawnwalker on first pass!

Horse Lords = avant-psych microtonal minimalism with afrobeat inflections. Very mesmeric

https://horselords.bandcamp.com/album/interventions

tags: experimental - just intonation - microtonal - musique concrete - polyrhythms - rock - saxophone - Baltimore

There's two entries for Atomikylä - Keräily on the spreadsheet

Oh wow really? I thought I searched before nominating

I've been out of the loop the last 6 monthes, anyone feel like giving me, say, 5 albums I really need to check out before voting? Things I like from this year: Oranssi Pazuzu, Sumac, Deathspell Omega, Wrekmeister Harmonies, Woman is the Earth, Aluk Todolo, Mars Red Sky, Bloodiest. No thrash or heavy metal please.

Preferably on bandcamp.

I like most of those things too, so hopefully you'll find something to like from the below.

https://carbomb.bandcamp.com/album/meta - crazy oscillating djent. At times like Oceansize, at times completely brutal. Great melodies
https://mesarthim.bandcamp.com/album/pillars-e-p - see all hype in nominations thread. Completely entrancing space black metal
https://oathbreakerband.bandcamp.com/album/rheia - female-fronted super-heavy blackgaze (if that isn't a contradiction in terms). Furious
http://ophidianforest.bandcamp.com/album/susurrus - lo-fi grimy mystical forest
https://wormed.bandcamp.com/album/krighsu - this is wild. It's absolutely horrible

If, judging by your list there, you like the somewhat oddball stuff, I'd rec

Furia: https://paganrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ksi-yc-milczy-luty

Hail Spirit Noir: https://hailspiritnoir.bandcamp.com/

Howls of Ebb: https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/cursus-impasse-the-pendlomic-vows

Furia is kind of slow moving and loose, but very well put together if you give it time to play out. I only say this because the last time I rec'd it (elsewhere) the response was "there's nothing happening, I kept fast forwarding and it was more nothing." This was utterly perplexing to me, as its one of the best flowing albums I've heard all year. Every song has (at least) one huge crescendo, and there's not a moment that loses my interest. It is kind of droney though, but whenever it's mellow, it doesn't stay mellow for too long -- and even that "mellowness" feels ominous as fuck.

I thought nobody has voted yet but I just looked and we got 2 ballots overnight but could everyone please post here when they have voted so
a)we can check it went through ok
b)might encourage others to vote

Enjoying the Furia. Doesn't feel unbearably slow to my ear either, and I have an incredibly short attention span. I like the various fake endings of track 4!

I'm going to rep for the doomy crushing death that is this Krypts record. It's short, it's atmospherically doomy, and it has a great OSDM feel. I listened to it twice last night while reading the "Choosing Death" book, and found it to be a great soundtrack.

I like psychedelic flourishes in my Black Metal, and while the Oranssi Pazuzu takes the cake in that regard, I also gotta rep for Entropia's 'Ufonaut' - I constantly come back to this one because it's a fun headphone album and the drums, keys and gtrs have great interplay and space ya out.

While the new Ulcerate is my fave Tech Death this year, coming up close to it is Virvum's debut 'Illuminance' - really title track that melts yr face off, and the other songs are pretty damn good, too.

"there's nothing happening, I kept fast forwarding and it was more nothing."

can't imagine thinking this about the furia. it's one of the most dynamic records i've heard this year!

Voted

Hey, this Entropia album's really good.

new Mesarthim ep
https://mesarthim.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-filter-e-p

I'd forgotten about this album I bought earlier this year on bandcamp. Has anyone else heard it?

https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/album/spire-entropy

haha I totally forgot to nominate Clouds Taste Satanic this year! The album obviously didn't make the same impression on me their first two made. Everyone should go listen to it, though, great stoner doom. Digital copy is only $3 from their Bandcamp!

https://cloudstastesatanic.bandcamp.com/album/dawn-of-the-satanic-age

I like this Borknagar album so far. Assuming it's vastly inferior to the rest of their catalogue, what should I check out by them?

thanks for the recs!

I hope everyone gives the mark s approved Schammasch album
https://schammasch.bandcamp.com/album/triangle

...a listen

and dont sleep on

https://thycatafalqueuk.bandcamp.com/

https://aluktodolo.bandcamp.com/album/voix

https://entropia.bandcamp.com/album/ufonaut

That Entropia album is great! It's the first entry on my bandcamp saves list from this year.

What other great doom has there been this year? I liked Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard a whole lot but have failed to find anything else really distinctive or powerful. Will give that CTS a try, but does anyone else have any other suggestions?

Subrosa
Inverloch
Lycus

Haha okay I like all of those too. I forgot

I like this Borknagar album so far. Assuming it's vastly inferior to the rest of their catalogue, what should I check out by them?

― Tom Violence, Saturday, 10 December 2016 18:29 (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I wouldn't say it's vastly inferior, but it is a step down from it's predecessor Urd which is the shit, and I'm not much into folk metal usually

xxp If you don't mind weird in your doom, Horse Latitudes "Primal Gnosis" is pretty good. Sludgy, weird, noisy, occult, Finnish. Occasional Hawkwind-y Moog.

http://ritualproductions.bandcamp.com/album/primal-gnosis

Dagger Moon has vague hardcore-ish vibes, but I really dig the use of 1980s horror movie synths.

http://citadel666.bandcamp.com/

I also dug the Eerie (very lightly blackened doom), Wretch (ex-Gates of Slumber Obsessed vibes), Spirit Adrift (psychedelic doom), Obed Marsh (gnarly blackened death doom).

Wow, thanks for the Horse Latitudes recommend, I'm really liking it! Will check out your other recommendations as well!

Cool! They're one of my favorite discoveries of the past year or two.

Voted. Thank you so much for making this happen.

got it, thanks. We have 4 votes now in.

Listening to Deathspell Omega while making waffles. Why is this album so short? I'm not ready for it to be over! And my waffles aren't done yet!

I have voted. Watch out for Russian hacking.

oh hey the Wormed is cool

the Wormed album will be on my ballot for sure

I keep trying with Mithras but I don't think I "get" it

Anyone who likes the Timeghoul/Demilich etc. side of death metal shouldn't overlook Zealotry - The Last Witness, I think it's one of the best examples of this kind of thing.

This Horse Latitudes is thrilling! So dark, so heavy. Occultxmas.

I voted tho I know in a few days I will likely want to change the order slightly but seandalai prefers the co poll runner to vote early so i cant be influenced by other ballots

If you have forgotten who won in previous years check out this thread

Previous Metal Poll EOY Results Thread

6 ballots so far. Voting finishes on Friday so we can finish roll out before everyone is off for the holidays

I'm going to wait until the deadline to give time to a few more albums. I want to see if I can get into Astronoid.

ok

I was just looking at my 2000-2015 ILX metal poll ballot and I am positive that two records from 2016 would take the one and two spots if 2016 was magically included: Vektor - Terminal Redux and Ulcerate - Shrines of Paralysis - was lucky enough to see both on tour this year and they brought the quality of those records to the live show, too.

https://play.spotify.com/user/siegbran/playlist/1LGm4Oh56ZP2wrJ8SsnwJA">Spotify playlist of some of my 2016 favourites, all awesome of course.

let's try that again

I found some good stuff browsing your noms, Siegbran. Desaster is awesome.

hell yeah this virus album

Just realised the Blues Pills album wasnt nominated so I'm going to have to redo my ballot

the blues pills album. I highly recommend it to those who heavy psych 70s hard rock like jex thoth , blood ceremony, jess & the ancient ones, the devil's blood

https://open.spotify.com/album/5GesYfGXuFg6D7my26u8ZO
spotify:album:5GesYfGXuFg6D7my26u8ZO

I *really* liked the previous BP album but this one didn't grab me at all

I admit its more a grower of the album but the title track is stunning I think. If there was a tracks poll It would be my #1.

But I do urge everyone to give it a listen.
I resubmitted my ballot with it firmly in my top 10 (dunno how i forgot to nominate it as its in my albums of the year so far thread on facebook that I started ti avoid exactly this!)

so if anyone wants to resubmit a ballot you can do.

Voted - digging the horseback and wormed but too late for my list.

Horse latitudes even

Like I said you can resubmit my Friday should you choose. It happens quite a lot in these polls

tt has asked me to boost Sinistro itt as she is too 'lazy and depressed' to do so herself

i have heard the Sinistro album now and would concur that it's worth a listen, especially for track 5, 'Reliquia', which is flat-out stunning

what kinda stuff is it?

people please campaign for albums because we arent even near 10 ballots yet so lets encourage everyone to take part!

it's very smooth melodic sludge-doom with almost trip-hop production, from portugal. the opening track also worth hearing

everyone with even a slight interest in psych-metal or doom needs to hear mammoth weed wizard bastard

^^^ seconding that MWWB rec. I've played it for a few people who don't much care for doom and they've enjoyed it, with one guy ordering the album immediately.

plus they really are the nicest people (or at least were when tt and i met them)

Another horse band, that I saw recently who are very promising are Horseburner. Roots in early Mastodon/Baroness but with very youthful rock 'n' roll energy.

https://horseburner.bandcamp.com/album/dead-seeds-barren-soil

A band that deserves more attention is Spirit Adrift. It's actually just one guy, but he may have a band assembled for live gigs.

Spirit Adrift is Arizona based Nate Garrett’s one-man doom band. Like Khemmis, he has a background in sludge, black and death metal (Gatecreeper and Take Over and Destroy). His shift to doom may be surprising to some, as it was part of his healing process to overcome alcoholism. So with a name that invokes uplifting transcendence, Garrett proceeds to dive deep into terror and dread in most of his songs, battling his demons with guitars, possibly atop a desert mountain. While there is a base in the traditional epic doom of the likes of Candlemass, Garrett is also a fan of Waylon Jennings, Neil Young and Thin Lizzy. The result is some really unique chord structures and sounds that even Garrett can’t explain exactly where they came from. The music is just flowing out of him, and we’re lucky to hear it. While his vocals have a soaring, emotional quality that can be compared to Pallbearer’s Brett Campbell (especially when tracked into harmonies), they’re also imperfectly original. On “Form And Force” and “Psychic Tide,” Garrett shows how putting every ounce of his ability into getting a great vocal performance makes a huge difference in setting Spirit Adrift apart from a massive sea of doom bands. The album peaks with the last and longest track, “The Hum Of Our Existence,” packed with attention-grabbing drum and bass parts and memorable riffs. The one thing that could make Spirit Adrift even greater is if Garrett could get a full band together and on the road, and translate it into a more dynamic recording. Whatever Garrett does though, I’m on it. | http://fastnbulbous.com/heavy-metal-rundown-2016/

loving the Virus right now too, although it's really a metal-tinged post-punk album (and a superb one too) - that bassist is brilliant

Clustered together with Mammoth Speed Wizard Bastard on my playlist are these bands, which share compatible vibes FWIW:

11Paranoias – Reliquary For A Dreamed Of World (Ritual)
https://ritualproductions.bandcamp.com/album/reliquary-for-a-dreamed-of-world

Spider Kitten – Ark Of Octofelis (Undergroove)
https://spiderkitten.bandcamp.com/album/ark-of-octofelis

Another band that's been under the radar is Norwegian band Madder Mortem.

Madder Mortem – Red In Tooth And Claw (Dark Essence/Karisma)
https://maddermortem.bandcamp.com/album/red-in-tooth-and-claw
http://fastnbulbous.com/madder-mortem-red-in-tooth-and-claw/

They've been kicking around since 1999, evolving from avant prog and doom metal (plus extra witchy goth) to this album they seemed to have absorbed some influences from Devil’s Blood, Jex Thoth, Blood Ceremony, Jess & The Ancient Ones and Purson.

Keep em coming. Remember you can add albums to the Spotify playlist

Voted! Thanks to everyone involved. I listened to about 60 releases in the past 2 weeks so my list is a bit wonky after the top 20 which were sure shots.

Got it, 8 ballots in now.

Thanks to all organizers, now that the Cohen poll is wrapped I can focus on the next most important thing: metal

I just added a load of albums to the spotify playlist. If everyone could add their noms that arent on it already that would be a great help to everyone.

Please everyone subscribe to it!

ILM Metal Spotify Playlist

Also nominations are open in the big poll. Please nominate there!

ILM's 2016 End of Year Albums & Tracks Poll / NOMINATIONS THREAD

Only 9 ballots so far. Is this the year metal died on ilm?

It's only Tuesday, there's plenty of time to vote left. I plan on getting a ballot in by Friday afternoon, but not much earlier.

I didn't care much for Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard (aside from the amazing band name). The ethereal vocals didn't hold my attention. The whole thing was surprisingly wispy for a stoner doom record.

Only 9 ballots so far. Is this the year metal died on ilm?

― Cosmic Slop, Tuesday, December 13, 2016 5:30 PM (forty-nine minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

tbf, it's been in the mail a long time

I think this Wo Fat record is going to spring into my top 10. Great stoned heavy riffs. "There's something sinister in the wind..."

Only 9 ballots so far. Is this the year metal died on ilm?

― Cosmic Slop, Tuesday, December 13, 2016 3:30 PM (two hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

you ask this every year

amon (eman) wrote this on thread My reaction to the TWILIGHT CD on Southern Lord - holy crap! on board I Love Music on Nov 16, 2005

ILM Metal theads R.I.P. 2005

Interment - Scent of the Buried
I guess this kind of meat-and-potatoes OSDM (Old School Death Metal). Well-recorded, nice warm guitar sound, with catchy riffs. Over multiple listens it becomes clear the songs are well thought out. Doesn't get monotonous.
https://interment666.bandcamp.com/album/scent-of-the-buried-cd-lp-2

Absolute Power - Absolute Power
Screamo, but metal-adjacent. Obviously some likeness to grind, but they even slow down and throw in the occasional death metal riff. On the short side for an album, which is just fine with me. Nicely varied.
https://youthattack.bandcamp.com/album/absolute-power

Furia - Księżyc milczy luty
Some kind of sui generis Polish black metal. One of the more creative metal albums I've heard this year. Like last year's Mare Infinitum, it seems to embody its own genre. Great atmosphere.
https://paganrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ksi-yc-milczy-luty

Occult Burial - Hideous Obscure
Sounds like it may have been recorded in someone's garage, but gets the important things right. Kind of thrashy OSDM, with the not unpleasant sensation of being played slightly faster than is completely safe.
https://invictusproductions666.bandcamp.com/album/hideous-obscure

Re: Absolute Power: Haha wait, Will Killingsworth is actually IN a band?

o. nate all of those records sound right up my alley (except the furia which is already one of my favorite albums of the year) thank you

Hmmm maybe you arent giving ppl enough time to vote...?

cant be helped. seandalai is on a strict schedule it was now or never

Voted!

got it, thanks!

I am no longer too lazy or depressed to rep.

Sinistro - Semente
Like if Portishead were sludge and scary, but still retaining a magical lightness. The last three tracks are beautiful.
https://projectosinistro.bandcamp.com/album/semente

Wormrot - Voices
Furious grind from Singapore that is nevertheless very fun. Manages to be intense and melodically varied across mere seconds. Great cover art too.
https://wormrot.bandcamp.com/album/voices

this Sinistro album is really fucking cool!

Just voted. I almost reached 50, too, but of course almost half of those were albums I just listened to in the last two weeks.

Voter fraud inquiry: Is it better to vote for more or fewer records if I want my top pics to get the most points?

doesnt matter. the top album will get the most points unless you do unweighted. Always do a ranked ballot.

Also larger ballots help make it a top 100 instead of 50 in roll out as ties are less likely.
the last time someone else ran it there was only a top 50 and ppl moaned that they dont discover anything new in a smaller roll out.

so the larger the ballots the better from that pov

I asked on facebook if people think its been a good or bad year for metal and most have said its been a good year.

For me, it's been great -- however, I have three days to vote, and right now, I'm looking at 15 records I can vote for in good conscience. So, do I knock myself and listen like crazy to fit in 5 or 10 more? Or, do I take care of the baby, safe in the knowledge that my top 5 is probably better served by a smaller ballot anyway?

bung them all in for the good of the poll

cheers, and really, for the good of the baby too

For the good of the baby(metal)

When I vote im not voting to get albums higher in the poll. Its simply a bunch of albums I like in order.

Thats why I rank.

in all-time polls then i may go for a mix weighted poll as its much harder to choose.

but eoy polls is easy. If you have only heard 10 albums you can rank em or listen to more to have a bigger ballot if you want.

if you have heard and liked 50 albums just do that. they dont need to be 50 albums you think are equally as good.

But if you do have a larger ballot it can help bring attention to albums others may have missed which, for me, is the whole point of the poll.

Every year i pick up great albums only a few voted for but because they did it made the poll and was brought to mine (and everyone elses) attention.

and trust me on this, try to listen to more albums before you vote to get a larger ballot because, and I can guarantee this, an album will place and you will go "I wish I had heard that so I couldve voted for it"

happens every year.

Always.

At least four or five off of my ballot are by acts I only heard of through another year's 101-200.

Really enjoyed that Xoth album!

11 ballots in

Going to do mine tonight, hopefully.

Really enjoyed that Xoth album!

high on my ballot fer sure

I'm def. going to give Sinistro and that Madder Mortem album. I heard Madder Mortem in the early 00's and was not into it, glad to hear they have evolved to something more interesting.

give them a listen, I mean.

Let me attempt to drum last minute support for Mutterlein's "Orphans of the Black Sun," which isn't really metal in the traditional sense, but is pretty heavy. Influences from metal, neofolk, gothic rock, Swans, etc. Droning church organs (think Italian horror soundtracks or Antonius Rex or something), pounding drums and rattling percussion, prophetess-of-doom vocals... there's really nothing like it.

http://sundustrecords.bandcamp.com/album/orphans-of-the-black-sun

Sundust is the Blut Aus Nord guy's record label FWIW.

I have voted. From Hell's heart I stab at thee, etc. My top 10 is surprisingly unorthodox, for me.

got it, thanks

http://www.stereogum.com/1914718/the-40-best-metal-albums-of-2016/franchises/2016-in-review/

To get an idea of how decentralized metal became in 2016, you need look no further than Decibel’s list of the year’s 40 best albums. I think it goes without saying at this point that Decibel is the most respected and vital metal-specific publication in the world right now (as it has been for about a decade),

If the world only includes North America.

Europe has it's own magazines and I'm sure other places do too

I just found out that none of my nominations (permalink) are in the spreadsheet. Can I still vote for them?

This little Moon Tooth album is very cute, I like it.

ArchCarrier - yes, go for it. I'll add them to the spreadsheet

Cool, thanks

I like Schammasch, yeah. I'm on the first track of the Moon Tooth. So far, it sounds something like a grungey Mars Volta. At moments, I think of Shudder to Think. Nice lead guitar tone.

Moved on after four songs. I might come back but I don't think it will make my ballot. Now on to Gorguts. I listened to this right when it came out and loved it but never bought it so didn't keep listening. Listening now, it is sounding as good as any other metal from this year (unless you count Horse Lords). Will most likely buy this and give it a solid vote.

Gorguts made a great EP that I also found not much time to listen to this year. I will certainly vote for it, but for me, and completely unjustly, they suffered from having made something of equal quality to their last relatively recent (for them) full length -- in fact, I think the EP might actually be more engaging in parts, due to its softer sections

kind of in awe at the virus tbh

Pretty much exactly how I feel. xp

aye me too

Virus sounds like some sort of goth rock so far.

I wish I could get into Virus, because I am generally first in line for anything Carl-Michael Eide does

It's growing on me.

ya it took me 3 listens for it to click. all about those basslines

its not like it doesnt sound like previous Virus albums so I assume imago and sund4r hadnt heard them before?

had only heard them after the extreme metal...wait was it the 2015-present day poll....one of the polls this year

I assume imago and sund4r hadnt heard them before

I hadn't, you're right.

blood incantation's starspawn is really growing on me

brad I think it was you who first alerted us to Anicon's Exegeses? I caught them on election night and now they are seared into my memory (and list) forever

i have no idea what that is

oh wait, i do, but i completely forgot for some reason. great record

Cast a ballot for seven albums because I didn't want to listen to any more 2016 metal albums. I'll definitely listen to Oneida/Rhys Chatham when I get a chance, though.

thanks, I think we're up to 15 ballots in with a day and a bit to go

None of the regular lurkers have voted yet for some reason so if you're reading please vote.

I usually put lurkers welcome in the title but surely that wouldnt put anyone off because I didn't this time.

oh cronos smith still voted whoever he/she is. Would love to know who it is

I voted :)

youre not a lurker. everyone invite friends to vote if you want

I was just telling you I voted, bad timing on my part I guess

non-lurkers fuck off

Im trying hard to transition into lurker-ness

Anyways, big news from me is Forgotten Spell, which for all its weirdo rep, mostly for the frantic off time drumming that shows up here and there, is just a massively epic metal album. Totally killer.

Listening to Schammasch rn, not as into it, but its pretty good. I'm halfway thinking about putting together a tracks ballot for the main poll now just so I can put "Metanoia" on it... (...but I think this is finally the year I hold fast to my abstaining impulses wrt to that)

Ok and "Above the Stars of God" just came on, second disc of Triangle is p much the sweet spot, huh, Kerr?

oh btw I reiterate this pledge if anyone feels up for an extra layer of tomfoolery

FYI everyone I will be offering a **special metal mystery prize** to whoever most accurately guesses the top 20

*N. Americans only, fuck intercontinental postage

yeah most favour the 2nd disc tho the 3rd ambient disc has almost as many fans
xp

i hope you vote george. under 20 ballots with only one day to go

Any ballot 1 album to 50 albums welcome

Im not getting up early to check out a bunch of '16 metal albums only to not fill out a ballot ;)

You think seandalai will do his usual thing, where voting actually ends whenever he wakes up Saturday morning? All of a sudden I have to work Friday night, too :-/

quite possibly but if he's busy he might want to get the results done straight away how he used to (as did glenn before him) so its maybe best not to second guess as I really dont know.

We are on a strict schedule and need to get the rollout done before everyones packed up for holidays

Hey did I rep the Volur album? Weird, folky doom prog with bass/drums/violin lineup, male and female vocals.

http://volur.bandcamp.com/album/disir

Nope but I think you just did..

Please more recs as clearly most people still have to vote so boosting might help!

Just finished a long drive listening to Metallica and then the Desaster album twice - I already voted but mayb I should've placed the latter even higher. Clearly the best thrash record of the year, and playing it back to back with Hardwired (which I do like!) is interesting. Desaster might be a bit younger (and more indebted to Kreator than Bay Area style) but they've still been doing this for 20+ years, and they are so full-on heads-down aggressive and the singer puts in an amazing performance, the producton is so alive, it's really no contest.

Hey did I rep the Volur album? Weird, folky doom prog with bass/drums/violin lineup, male and female vocals.

What is THIS? So glad you remembered to rep for it.

The Disir are women, powerful spirits. Some wicked, some good, some benign. Mothers, daughters, lovers, murderers, widows and explorers... The white phantom appears as a vision through the forest and stills the hearts of men.

Great concept. Not enough terrifying women so far.

I can think of one

<3

Seriously though, this Völur is stunning. Every doom release should heavily feature piercing violins.

holy shit this is indeed kind of extraordinary

Just voted, managed a 24-album ballot although there are definitely some things towards the end I think are just 'OK with standout moments' and/or which I need to revisit.

Not enough terrifying women so far.

DO check out that Mutterlein album if you haven't!

Every doom release should heavily feature piercing violins.

Couldn't hurt! On the more crusty/black/sludgy side Blood Folke are pretty good and have viola.

http://initrecords.bandcamp.com/album/my-heart-in-the-brilliance-of-fire

I did in fact check out the Mutterlein earlier. It had a great sound, but didn't quite resonate with my primal self like this Völur is doing.

Will certainly give Blood Folke a listen too. Running out of time!

Oh that Blood Folke is from a couple of years ago, btw, just thought I'd mention it!

Shame it doesn't count. It sounds lovely

what the actual hell is this forgotten spell stuff

yet to work out how much i like it but it's unlike anything else

Feel like I'm just stating a lot of opinions with little substance behind them, but I'm loving Forgotten Spell. It's completely mad.

obviously i like it very much, i cannot dislike or even feel neutral about anything this completely unhinged

it's also making me think that i could make a metal album

but would it be this kickass

Voted

This would seriously be threatening the very top of my list had I heard it a couple of weeks earlier. Thank you ultros and DAM for highlighting it. Pure chaos. Weirdly inspiring.

yeah uh this was, in the end, the most metal album

i voted, with my somewhat uninformed ballot of 13 unholy albums

Völur is pretty cool. Doom metal with no guitar is a weird idea.

Om!

OK this Forgotten Spell is fucking crazy.

I thought about boosting it but didn't think anyone would give a fuck, ILM continues to surprise me

wow this new ulcerate record. dudes really are at the top of their game

Ok one last, probably too late one, but I loved this record. Nox Formulae:

http://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-hidden-paths-to-black-ecstasy

Greek occult black metal, solid songwriting and enough leftfield ideas to make it distinct and very listenable, with some deathrock/goth influence I hear in the riffs and minor-key melodies.

whoa the moon tooth record might be everything i like about music

Yeah, I just heard that one. The guitarist is awesome.

yeah it's really something

the track Igneous is like Tool on some sort of insane thrash-metal tip, except I like it more than either

8 hours left to vote!

26 ballots in , well down on previous years so please vote!

Hey CS, I just resubmitted my ballot.

ok seandalai will get that but it maybe means only 25 ballots so everyone reading who hasnt voted please vote especially those who think they dont know enough to vote - look at the nominations list and see if there's anything you like afterall

I'll vote when I get home (form blocked from work), but it will be RIGHT on the deadline, as I get home then.

no worries, I dont expect it to close until seandalai gets up tomorrow morning but if you intend on voting after midnight UK time please let him know here.

UK voters have no excuses tho so get in before midnight!

there will be no rollout starting tonight. Hopefully tomorrow afternoon as its been the past few years.

Who does still intend to vote ?

And remember simon h's offer to those who vote of a free prize for the winner of his challenge

oh btw I reiterate this pledge if anyone feels up for an extra layer of tomfoolery

FYI everyone I will be offering a **special metal mystery prize** to whoever most accurately guesses the top 20

*N. Americans only, fuck intercontinental postage

― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.),

Only open to voters!

ok think I was able to do vote from phone

you can always resubmit later if you want to change anything just let us know here

Me and imago will be voting at around midnight, of course

what other albums are you still to listen to?

Working on my ballot. Here's a cluster of doom albums that I hope aren't overlooked:

Troll – Troll
Goatess - Purgatory Under New Management
Lord Vicar - Gates of Flesh
Cardinals Folly – Holocaust Of Ecstacy And Freedom

Well that sucks, we forgot these EPs:

Dawnbringer – XX EP
Black Sabbath – The End EP

It's a bit late now since most have voted but i can add them to the spreadsheet but im not sure they would get enough votes regardless when they were nommed

Agreed, it's too late. EPs wouldn't get much traction anyway. Too bad, that's Dawnbringer's final output.

Aww I didn't know that re: Dawnbringer

added anyway but only ep i ever remember doing well was the 1st Bolzer and before that a Meshuggah 1 track ep

scott seward always bemoans bands not starting off with a few ep's before albums like how it used to be but I guess it's just not the modern way?

the Ghost album won last year but I'll eat my hat if the ep nominated wins this poll.

I already voted but here it is: https://dawnbringer.bandcamp.com/album/xx-2

I think it's worthy of being considered among the albums. The Black Sabbath, Ghost, Pallbearer and Witch Mountain EPs are just a hodgepodge of leftovers and covers mainly.

you'll eat your pope hat xp

I mean, I like the new Witch Mountain song, "Burn You Down" a nice intro to their new singer. The other track is a re-do of "Hare's Stare."

we broke the 30 ballot mark but thats more than 50% down on recent years so fingers crossed lots of people will still vote before the end

I'm a big doom fan, but this was the year that Sludge metal records totally kicked Doom Metal's ass composition-wise. That Goatess record grew on me, and probably should have made my top 50, but got shut out by SubRosa and Spirit Adrift just slightly.

I just voted

I voted

Id say its pretty safe to say that you all have until 8am uk time to vote but dont just leave it to last minute incase it changes

I fully support Spirit Adrift pushing Goatess off yr list!

While that's the end of Dawnbringer, I'm hoping elements will turn up in Chris Black's next solo project as Professor Black. At Alehorn of Power he played songs from all his bands - Superchrist, Dawnbringer, High Spirits and Pharaoh, with a few different players rotating on stage.

Voted! A 22-strong ballot in the end, much of which has been added over the last few days. Handing the laptop over to tt now for her go. The last thing I added to the ballot was Deathspell Omega after one final listen, at the end of which tt wrote I'M AN ATHEIST on my hand

we're close but not past deadline, yah? i'm in process of voting, should be done soon.

lol why is Sunwatchers nominated

Voted. Apooogies for everything that I nominated that didnt make my ballot; youll be up for consideration when I nake my main albums ballot...

Lol 'Apooogies'. That might be my favorite typo

I expect that you have another 8 or 9 hours as seandalai wont be tabulating til he wakes up in morning

ps never heard of sunwatchers

this Marsh Dweller album is rad

(thx CS)

false metal usually gets nommed by imago or george so own up

just a reminder (and I think it should only be open to voters but that's up to simon h)

oh btw I reiterate this pledge if anyone feels up for an extra layer of tomfoolery

FYI everyone I will be offering a **special metal mystery prize** to whoever most accurately guesses the top 20

*N. Americans only, fuck intercontinental postage

― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.),

I was surprised to see Sunwatchers here too

I still voted for it (further down) because it rules

Our computer has been on the fritz so tt will need a few more minutes...nearly done!

well that midnight UK time but basically you have until seandalai gets up in morning and closes the voting.

If you intend on voting I suggest you mention it here so he can look out for it

except imago of course ;)

i just voted.

prob should've asked this before sending, but i voted for one thing that wasn't nominated. that's not gonna break your all's system, is it?

nope, thats ok. Just means it wont make the poll because you forgot to vote for it and no one else will have voted for it

oh cool, Jute Gyte released another thing a couple of days ago, deffo resubmitting :p

YOU HAVE UNTIL SEANDALAI WAKES UP IN THE MORNING TO VOTE
He will post here when voting is closed

Done! Made it to 50 this year!

I assume yours will likely be the last ballot received since nobody else has stated they intend on voting

It's true, I nominated Sunwatchers

Resubmitted my ballot! That really will be the last word. Just had to add the new Jute Gyte, then also Ophidian Forest and then bump up Forgotten Spell one place because like omg

I'm re submitting my ballot too

ok

but how can an album imago only found about after he had his ballot have been heard enough to really call it one of the albums of the year?

I assume as seandalai hasnt posted yet there's still time to vote if you havent already

I'm a big doom fan, but this was the year that Sludge metal records totally kicked Doom Metal's ass composition-wise.

Like Slabdragger? Damn. I saw it in the Terrorizer list and realized I forgot it. I wish more people would have talked up some of their faves per Kerr's request.

Brb googling Surbiton

Terrorizer Top 50 Albums of 2016

50. TESTAMENT ‘Brotherhood Of The Snake’ NUCLEAR BLAST
49. KRYPTS ‘Remnants Of Expansion’ DARK DESCENT
48. SABATON ‘The Last Stand’ NUCLEAR BLAST
47. THE WOUNDED KINGS ‘Visions In Bone’ SPINEFARM
46. SLABDRAGGER ‘Rise Of The Dawncrusher’ HOLY ROAR
45. HORSEBACK ‘Dead Ringers’ RELAPSE
44. KVELERTAK ‘Nattesferd’ ROADRUNNER
43. WARDRUNA ‘Rudaljod – Ragnarok’ SEASON OF MIST
42- WRETCH ‘Wretch’ BAD OMEN
41. KATATONIA ‘The Fall Of Hearts’ PEACEVILLE
40. DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT ‘Transcendence’ HEVY DEVY/INSIDE OUT
39. CONAN ‘Revengeance’ BLACK BOW
38. DÄLEK ‘Asphalt For Eden’ PROFOUND LORE.
37. BÖLZER ‘Hero’ IRON BONEHEAD
36. GRAF ORLOCK ‘Crime Traveller’ VITRIOL
35. ROTTING CHRIST ‘Rituals’ SEASON OF MIST
34. INTERMENT ‘Scent Of The Buried’ PULVERISED
33. INTER ARMA ‘Paradise Gallows’ RELAPSE
32. DARKHER ‘Realms’ PROPHECY
31. BOSSK ‘Audio Noir’ DEATHWISH
30. GADGET ‘The Great Destroyer’ RELAPSE
29. SWANS ‘The Glowing Man’ MUTE
28. IHSAHN ‘Arktis’ CANDLELIGHT
27. INQUISITION ‘Bloodshed Across The Empyrean Altar Beyond The Celestial Zenith’ SEASON OF MIST
26. DESTRÖYER 666 ‘Wildfire’ SEASON OF MIST
25. ALCEST ‘Kodama’ PROPHECY
24. PURSON ‘Desire’s Magic Theatre’ SPINEFARM
23. THE BODY ‘No One Deserves Happiness’ THRILL JOCKEY
22. BOSS KELOID ‘Herb Your Enthusiasm’ BLACK BOW
21. GOJIRA ‘Magma’ ROADRUNNER
20. WORMROT ‘Voices’ EARACHE
19. URFAUST ‘Empty Space Meditation’ VÁN.
18. GRAVES AT SEA ‘The Curse That Is’ RELAPSE
17. ANAAL NATHRAKH ‘The Whole Of The Law’ METAL BLADE
16. OPETH ‘Sorceress’ NUCLEAR BLAST
15. VEKTOR ‘Terminal Redux’ EARACHE
14. BLOOD INCANTATION ‘Starspawn’ DARK DESCENT
13. DISCHARGE ‘End Of Days’ NUCLEAR BLAST
12. THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN ‘Dissociation’ PARTY SMASHER INC.
11. DEATHSPELL OMEGA ‘The Synarchy Of Molten Bones’ NORMA EVANGELIUM DIABOLI

10. NAILS ‘You Will Never Be One of Us’ NUCLEAR BLAST
9. ORANSSI PAZUZU ‘Värähtelijä’ SVART
8. CULT OF LUNA AND JULIE CHRISTMAS ‘Mariner’ INDIE
7. COBALT ‘Slow Forever’ PROFOUND LORE.
6. SUBROSA ‘For This We Fought The Battle of The Ages’ PROFOUND LORE.
5. 40 WATT SUN ‘Wider Than The Sky’ SVART
4. TRAP THEM ‘Crown Feral’ PROSTHETIC
3. OATHBREAKER ‘Rheia’ DEATHWISH
2. DARKTHRONE ‘Arctic Thunder’ PEACEVILLE
1. NEUROSIS ‘Fires Within Fires’ NEUROT

Yes to #22 too
https://bosskeloid.bandcamp.com/album/herb-your-enthusiasm

OK, trying the Oathbreaker album because it's high up and somehow passed me by - probably going to stop it soon since it's literally a Deafheaven clone that just so happens to have a female vocalist (and not a very good one either...)

oh whoops i forgot to vote for katatonia

you have time to resubmit i guess as ive not heard from seandalai

eh it's ok

I'll vote if you can extend the deadline an hour

i imagine that's fine. If seandalai appears I know he will wait as you let him know

So anyone else wants to vote just post here so we know. I assume seandalai is at work so Id imagine you have a good few hours to vote so just let us know. The more the merrier

Man, where did Moon Tooth come from? They make it look so effortless here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPYjdgjrVXI

I voted, but no Boris/Merzbow and no Wolvserpent was stupid

Would have voted for Dalek too

yeah well they were disallowed by horrid metal elitists

That's dumb, plenty of records that made the list (including at least one I voted for) are only metal-adjacent at best.

I voted, but no Boris/Merzbow and no Wolvserpent was stupid

Guess I will throw those albums on the list

Oh wait that Boris/Merzbow is the mini-Zaireeka double-disc-simultanepus concept album, isn't it? Maybe not, after all

wait ... i missed the process, sorry. how was Dalek disallowed but Sunwatchers and Horse Lords are on the list?

might vote again with a Dälek write-in

disallowing albums is stupid imo

lol I just noticed the Tanya Tagaq album I put forward (and got at least one cosign for) was disallowed too, or at least not nommed

i am far from some sort of metal purist, but i actually think it's kinda dumb to have Sunwatchers and Horse Lords in a metal poll (no offense to the nominators // i love both those albums) BUT i don't know how you'd ever draw a line, so ... plus you can argue it's a poll of "metal thread's faves" vs. "best metal albums"

this is the first i've heard of something being disallowed. maybe imago was joking?

or maybe some nominations get missed. which i would understand! i mean, i don't know how the poll-runners do it ... i certainly wouldn't have the time to do it well.

I hate to be a pedant but iirc it has always been the metal *and* heavy/hard rock poll. "heavy" is a broad term.

Oh wait that Boris/Merzbow is the mini-Zaireeka double-disc-simultanepus concept album, isn't it? Maybe not, after all

like...why not?

lol CS openly disallowed it citing that it was hip-hop not metal. and sure MC Dälek himself would probably claim to just be hip-hop, but there's definitely a grey area. idk

xxpost: yeah, no, totally ... i get it. i actually don't care at all ... it's an ilm poll, after all ... maybe i meant the word "funny" in place of "dumb" or something.

Sunwatchers is heavy!

hoo boy I missed that xp

my threat to resubmit is basically a ploy to get seandalai out of his deep slumber, but fyi I have now primed a new ballot with Dälek in it so he'd best be quick

Aw, I really Oathbreaker. I've been convincing myself they don't sound like Deafheaven, but maybe they do and having a female vocalist was all it needed for me to like it. Fickle.

*really like...

how dare anyone like a band with a female singer!

I am now going to have a listen to that album after dinner

They really aren't very similar to Deafheaven at all (I say this as a person who likes Deafheaven)

I'm guessing Horse Lords made it in because CS hadn't heard them? (I still voted for them since it was my favourite album on the list. I would have voted for Tagaq too, if she were included, but I might not have included either of them if I were to make a list of metal albums myself.) I'm fine with him deciding the boundaries for his poll, and I think it's fair to have some kind of boundaries for a genre poll.

Disallowing records is dumb as shit, but if you don't like it start your own poll imo

Tagaq is iffy. I was partly seconding it in the "Hell yeah this non-metal thing is metal as fuck" sense, but "Aorta" and parts of "Retribution" certainly qualify.

Tagaq would have been in my top 5 sheerly in terms of 'favourite eligible albums' but imo we should just fight like fuck to get her into the main 77

It's pretty hard to get stuff into the 77 now. That poll gets 150 ballots or something and the days of getting something into the poll with 3 votes are gone.

And i think johnny fever says expanding to 100 wont make a difference as that kind of thing still struggles to get in and the 78-100 is just similar music to what gets in the 77.

plus voting blocs is cheating, right?

Seandalai is home and he says votings closed now

I'll start the roll out once i get the results

Re: Simon H: well for starters I only have one CD player...

Fuck Brumpxit its the 2016 Metal and Hard N' Heavy Rock Poll Results Thread (With spotify and bandcamp links)

take up Simon H's offer there