Death is June - Ossuary : "Abhorrent Worship"

This is the debut full-length from this band featuring members of Jex Thoth. Funny enough, drummer Nick Johnson also plays drums for Zola Jesus. The overall sound is dark and gritty, with some sonic depth and a very stark atmosphere to this more Incantation-like school of death metal. The second song has a more angular pulse to the verse riff than the heavier, more misanthropic feel of the opener. The ghastly approach to the snarl of the vocals is effective, though it is buried further back in the mix on the second song. I like the fact that they are purposeful in what they do and not just hitting you with a blur of double bass. To some, it might seem more like death doom. 

"Forsaken Offerings" is a lot of sound to come from jsut three people. The oppressive chug is surrounded by sonic layers of guitar with depressive melodies grinding through the throb, attacking you. This is the first song where they hit you with a blast, and it works because they have given you a more downtrodden tempo to contrast with. Another strength of this album is the crusty guitar tone, which contributes to the organic darkness; all too often, death metal bands overdo the overdrive and it creates an almost machine like feel, where the guitar here have more in common with bands from the late 80s, just with out the reverb that makes those albums feel a little dated at times.  

The chug they hit you with on "Instinctual Prostration" is hard not to headbang to. The tempo slowly builds to more of a subtle thrashing speed. The march of "the Undrownable Howl of Evil" finds the first half of the song falling more along the lines of what you expect from your typical death metal band. It eventually descends into the kind of mood that has set this album apart from that. The guitar solo offers a more ambient breakdown, rather than being a pointless shred fest. "Barren Lamentations" has a powerful riff that drives the verses, and the song moves well, but its intent is a little less focused than some of the previous songs, while still proving effective. I will give this one a 9.5, it is one of the year's best death metal albums so far, certainly makes me more of a believer with its darkness than what some of the genre's more recognizable names have offered. 

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the Top 10 Albums of 2022

At the end of the day...year these are the albums I listened to the most. The reason that makes these the best is because I listened to over 2000 albums this year and these are the ones that endured the influx of new music that hit My inbox every morning and made me want to hear them again and again. Yes, this is the culmination of all the other lists done up to this point for other blogs and was refined down to this master list of all genres.  So here ya go...

10-Vision Video- "Haunted Hours"

 Athens based band won a spot on this list due to the catchy and melodic nature of what they do drew me in for more repeat listens. They remind me of the Twilight Sad, so I am fine with that. They are also huge fans of the 80s and pay homage while crafting wonderfully infectious songs. 

Abysmal Hymns: Gothtober- Vision Video: "Haunted Hours"

9-Zola Jesus - "Arkhon"

One of my favorite singers of the past decade, I breathed a sigh of relief when I pressed play and found this album is another step into the darkness instead of taking a poppier turn. This time rather than taking everything on herself she worked with producer Randall Dunn, and former David Bowie drummer Matt Chamberlin. With each album she has become ore sure of herself as a singer and the songs continue to soar with the benefits of this.  

Abysmal Hymns: Zola Jesus : " Arkhon"

8-Ozzy Osbourne- "Patient Number 9" 

Releasing album 13 at the ripe age of 73, Ozzy is holding up better than expected, especially when you consider the tour cancelling issues of the past few years. This album has less of a pop sheen and feels more like a rock record than "Ordinary Man". He brings Zakk Wylde back, along with Toni Iommi, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. So, the big guns of rock guitar.  They helped him crank out a batch of songs that I have not heard him get as catchy since "Ozzmosis"   

Abysmal Hymns: Ozzy Osbourne : "Patient Number 9 "

7-Tension Span - "the Future Died Yesterday"

Here is how punk should be done. Bleak and grim. It is brought to you by Noah Landis of Neurosis and members of Asunder and Dystopia. The songs deal with the impending apocalypse the world is heading toward. Dark and tense as post punk, but it has the middle finger pointed at the sky as punk should. An aggressive drive not unlike Black Flag with burning chug infusing the guitars. Thought at times they back off to create more of an atmosphere that is more Post-punk, which has always been one of the under currents that influenced Neurosis, but it fits into the cross roads where early punk came from and lines of sub-genres we define music now by where not yet common place. An album you can just leave on an let play. 

Abysmal Hymns: Tension Span : " The Future Died Yesterday"

 

6-(16) - "Into Dust"  

After 2020's "Dream Squasher" proved to be a slab of sonic devastation I am still listening to 2 years later, the bar could not be higher for this California band. The continued to bring it with this album firing from all cylinders with their foot to the gas of this tank. The weighty sludge rolls over you, but with a bit of swing and hook.  There is more rock n roll flowing through their veins this time around. It is most commonly bled out on the frets of the guitars. Catchy song writing does not mean they are any less in your face or forceful in their intentions.

Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom- (16) : " Into Dust"

 

 

5-Hangman's Chair- "A Loner"

The French band's 2018 album took the top spot as the doom album of the year. Their reign of bleak continues, even though the more over metallic edges is dialed back. They make up for this is the mood they have captured which is as dark as the glory days of Katatonia. There is a driving riff when the opening track kicks in once the clouds of atmosphere have lifted. The lead single "Cold & Distant" is more accessible than anything we have heard from them thus far. Driving hooks with being too poppy. Songwriting is where they dominated and just because there is a more accessible slant to this album it is not a sign of weakness.

Abysmal Hymns: Hangman's Chair : "A Loner"

4-Bush- ' the Art of Survival"

Here is an album that grew on me with each listen. In some ways this is a Bush album in name only, as Gavin Rossdale is the only original member. It does still retain the gritty grunge feel of their 90s work. This band came across as a less of a band wagon jumper in their prime and had an emotional grit that told me Rossdale had deep personal wounds he was processing through his music. At the same time, he had record companies breathing down his neck and pressure on his to get radio hits. He has delivered more solidly than most of his peers from this era have yet to

Abysmal Hymns: Bush : "the Art of Survival"

3-Brutus - "Unison Life" 

Thankfully this Belgian band is back. I was a big fan of their last album. This time around they are leaning more into the atmosphere set against a bigger more rock like sound as the Bjork like quality still lingers in her voice. It can be hard to define what they are doing here, though at their core this is shoe gaze with a post-hard-core punch.  This is run through a filter of matured songwriting. It is this song writing that earned the number one spot because not only is this the best of the shoe gazing album released this year, but these songs stand up against albums of other genres as well. 

Abysmal Hymns: Brutus : "Unison Life"

 

2-Birds in Row- "Gris Klein" 

This French hard-core band is ready to live up to the anticipation for their newest album bringing all the explosive energy and urgent emotional catharsis. The shouted vocals are very serious even though their anguished screams at time sound more like punk than what we think of as hard core today, but the term hardcore, used to be hard core punk, and this is a good example of what that is, while not just sticking to the most commonplace blueprint. The sonic passages, feel more like what screamo bands have been doing over the past twenty years. Even in the fact of all the intensity they are expelling in these outbursts, they have still crafted dynamic, melodic songs. The nuanced interplay between the bass and drums, proves what great musicians these guys are. They do not need mathematic acrobatics but work of jerking grooves. This album is a must for anyone who wants emotional hard core with a sense of adventure

Abysmal Hymns: Birds in Row: "Gris Klein"

 

1-Taylor Swift - "Midnights"

Imagine a pop album not overrun by an assembly line of producers and outside songwriters. Taylor has got you covered with that. Having started off as a musician and song writer before fully wading into the pop waters, she has an advantage over her peers with whom she shares the radio waves. Taylor continues to excel while making music in a genre that normally vomits up disposable jingles for audiences who fall for anything sold to them, so imagine pop music with some thought behind it, what a concept. She writes great songs with clever lyrics which carries an infectious nature that found her beating out everyone else. 

Abysmal Hymns: Taylor Swift: "Midnights"

the Top 10 Electronic Albums of 2022

After past few years created a more isolated culture and with that drug use is on the rise. Here is the music you should have been doing them to. Electronic here means music not organic, so your less guitar driven industrial, house, synth wave, new wave, all the waves and witch house too have been included in this discussion. Much like in years past sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. The fact these artists made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 electronic albums of 2022

10-Scalping- "Void"

This Bristol based project is gaining momentum with their new album that was released back in April. The fact that they are so electronic focused, while not out of place at a goth /industrial night, the bang on a dance floor but when it comes to being actual songs., begin to run together. The fact they have guitar puts them ahead of most electronic acts who rely on button pushing. It sounds like someone might be beating on an actual drum kit at time and when the more rapped vocals come in comparisons to Massive Attack can be drawn. 

Abysmal Hymns: Gothtober- Scalping :" Void"

  9-Boy Harsher - "the Runner" 

This was a soundtrack to a "horror" movie they made. By horror a dark art film. Just because this is a soundtrack does not mean it is just an atmospheric back drop for the movies as these are fully formed songs that stand on their own. This does not mean it is just business as usual for them and they are picking up where they left off. The production is less murky, making the overall sound not as dark. There is more of an 80's analog synth sound. Her vocals are also more refined, with more noticeable polish on the songs. 

Abysmal Hymns: Boy Harsher : "the Runner"

8 Dance with the Dead - "Driven to Madness"   

This is different as it is a synth wave project that leans heavily onto analog synth sounds to create a version of metal in some form Their 6th album finds them with an abundance of 80s sounds. It is more dancey than head banging. They did use some organic instruments on these songs, but I would say this a more electronic effort than not. There is a more party 80s metal tone and by 80s metal I am thinking the more progressive bands from that time

Abysmal Hymns: Dance With the Dead ; " Driven to Madness"

7-Carpenter BRUT- "Leather Terror"

The French synth wave project comes perhaps their closest yet to making a rock album with the more aggressive percussion leading into the album. One thing that makes this album stand out are the guest vocal appearances. The come from Gunship, Greg Puciato , Ulver, Slyvaine and Jonka from Tribulation. This music is just as all over the place, but at the end of the day it works. 
 

 Abysmal Hymns: Carpenter Brut : "Leather Terror"

6-Ritualz -"RADICAL MACABRO 

After Salem I would say this project is one of the most important names in Witch House. Though this album finds them going in a more industrial direction, with a black metal vocal commanding the darkness they sonically summon here. Things are given a heavier pulse and the overall throb of the proceedings has more sonic heft than their earlier work.   

Abysmal Hymns: RITUALZ : "RADICAL MACABRO "

5-Sacred Skin- "the Decline of Pleasure" 

This album by the LA duo came out in May and flew under the radar. Their synths summon sounds that are pleasing to my ears as the carry a familiar New Romantic ring to them not unlike the earlier work of Depeche Mode. They nail the 80s new wave sound, which is a sweet spot, and while they are darker than the pop music of the day, the craft memorable grooves and are clever songwriters.

Abysmal Hymns: Gothtober - Sacred Skin:' the Decline of Pleasure"

4-Bjork-"Fossora" 

There was a time when I was a huge Bjork fan. However, her 2004 album was the last I really dug. To her credit she is already miles ahead of most of today's music, just due to the fact she only has one co-writer on three of the 13 songs. Her writing is very subtle as it takes a couple listens for the opening track to grow on me. She still retains a surreal quality to her sound as the minimal approach to her arrangements owes more to jazz, run through a glitchy filter of electronics.

Abysmal Hymns: Bjork : "Fossora"

3-Crosses - "Permanent. Radiant" 

Chino's side project with Far guitarist Shaun Lopez. It used to have more of a witch house feel, and as production values raised over the year has a more of a Massive Attack feel and at many points on the album you could say it sounds like an electronic version of the Deftones, without the screaming, but Chino rarely does any of the more aggressive vocals these days. He does his trademark softer croon on the opening track. This EP grew on me as a mood unto itself.  

Abysmal Hymns: Crosses : "Permanent . Radiant"

 

2-Editors - " EBM" 

The album title is understood as soon as the thick bassline locks into the groove of the opening track. This time around they might be more preoccupied with moving the dance floor than jangling out the starker vision of post-punk. The vocals still hold a great deal of quirk to them. Mood-wise they are not happy as the music they are dancing to would lead you to believe. The hooks are well written enough to almost fool of the fact. This sounds like a long-lost album from the 80s. They merge electronics in the most organic manner possible. 

Abysmal Hymns: Gothtober- Editors:"EBM"

1-Zola Jesus - "Arkhon"

One of my favorite singers of the past decade, I breathed a sigh of relief when I pressed play and found this album is another step into the darkness instead of taking a poppier turn. This time rather than taking everything on herself she worked with producer Randall Dunn, and former David Bowie drummer Matt Chamberlin. With each album she has become ore sure of herself as a singer and the songs continue to soar with the benefits of this.  Of the albums on this list, this is the one I listened to the most. 

Abysmal Hymns: Zola Jesus : " Arkhon"

the Top 10 Albums of 2022 ... So Far

 

This year has half slipped away from us. More comprehensive of what has been released than you might expect, considering that I am already getting promos for August releases in my in-box. There is a fair cross-section of genres represented as I already did my metal list so while there are some hard rock artists, this is the top 10 non-metal albums that have been released this year so far.  Pop, goth, indie rock, post -punk and progressive rock are all represented here in varied shades. All of these albums a solid shot for the number one spot at the end of the year, depending on how they grow on me.  I make the overall top ten for the year and at this rate December will be here before we know it. What makes them the best is how much I actually listen to them. I guess we will see how these albums hold up over the course of the year.  I am posting links to the reviews if you want to check these albums out.

10-Dead Register - "Alive" 

This album picks up where they left off, but in a more refined manner. The grooves are smoothly syncopated with an industrial stomp, but with none of the gear grinding abrasion. There is more of a 90s grunge influence in the drumming this time around. The blend of brooding shadows in the verses is streamlined as the song writing is more noticeably matured

Abysmal Hymns: Dead Register : "Alive"

9-Marissa Nadler- the Wrath of Clouds" 

This EP consists of three unreleased songs and two covers. The originals she had forgotten about during the "Path of Clouds sessions", She went back into the studio and emerged with this. It splits the difference between the more atmospheric tone of her early work and where she is currently at with a more layered sound.

Abysmal Hymns: Marissa Nadler : "Wrath of Clouds"

 

 8-Rumours - 'the Lower We Sink the Less We Care" 

This Swedish band are skilled weavers of sonic gloom, it's laced with a punchy hint of 70s rock. The instrumentation is warmly recorded in analog. The retro thing is not the band trying too hard to capture a bygone era. With a sound that is very much their own, at time they occupy a sonic space similar to Rope Sect . The vocals are more dynamics as the singer belts it out with a great deal of convincing power.

Abysmal Hymns: RUMOURS : "the Lower We Sink, the Less We Care"

  7-Placebo- "Never Let Me Go" 

2006's "Meds" was the last album I want into by this British glam band.  I think the key to Brian's success as a songwriter lies in his ability convey the struggle of his anger, darkness, metal health and addiction. It is in that struggle where their music has found its fire. Moloko succeeds in recapturing that moodiness on their new album. I think it is important that Stefan is still working with Brian as that duo is clearly Placebo and not just Brian Moloko solo album. There is none of the kinetic punk tension that colored their early work. It works off smooth grooves and melodies, with sonic layers of guitar embellish the dynamics

Abysmal Hymns: Placebo : "Never Let Me Go"

6-Christain Death- "Evil Becomes Rule" 

The band's 15th album, I like the Valor albums and I like the Rozz albums I think Valor has carried the spirit of what the band was doing over the years. They continue to move in a less punk more metallic and darker direction, though it wonderfully melodic and there is an excellent choice in sonic colors they paint the sounds of this entire album.  

'Abysmal Hymns: Christian Death : "Evil Becomes Rule"

 5- Midlake-" For the Sake of Bethel Woods" 

When I press play on their new album, I cannot for the life of me have good reason as to why I have not listened to them until this point. They are moody and melodic in all the way I like for this kind of music to be. Their drummer is really on it. There is a folk thing, but they are also very melancholy and thoughtful. 

Abysmal Hymns: Midlake : " For the Sake of Bethel Woods"

 

4-Zola Jesus -"Arkhon" 

One of my favorite singers of the past decade, I breathed a sigh of relief when I pressed play and found this album is another step into the darkness as she could have taken a poppier turn. This time rather than taking everything on herself she worked with producer Randall Dunn, and former David Bowie drummer Matt Chamberlin The former's influence can be felt the most. The second song moves with a more organic fluidity to its groove. Are some of her vocal passages more accessible here? Yes, but I am not sure I would call this pop music as it is more complex in both arrangement and laying

Abysmal Hymns: Zola Jesus : " Arkhon"

 3- Charli XCX- "Crash" 

Quirky British pop singer Charli XCX is back. This time she is showing us that she makes an album with a half dozen less songwriters and producers than the likes of the Weeknd or Lil Nas X . She does continue a slick 80s retro path and I am not sure any of the songs strike me as bumping as hard as she did on; "How I'm feeling now" . She has a knack of riding the beats with odd chanted vocal lines, which she works off of coming out of the gate. The best Pop album of the year so far. 

Abysmal Hymns: Charli XCX : " Crash"

  2- Hangman's Chair- " A Loner" 

The French band's 2018 album "Banlieue Triste" took the top spot as Doom album of the year. This time around things are dialed back in the metal department. They straddle the fence sonically in a zip code closer to post-nu metal Deftones and Katatonia. They know there is more than one way to be heavy  the album as a whole is more about capturing a mood, which they have. I respect that they did not try to recreate the previous album and made steps forward,

Abysmal Hymns: Hangman's Chair : "A Loner"

1-Tears for fears - "the Tipping Point" 

After 18 year silence , the dup found themselves bucking record label pressure in 2013, until they found who they were in today's world free of the radio trappings that could have been imposed upon them. This makes for a great deal of surprises as the album spans genres from the folky opener to the controls being set to sizzle as they reflect the new wave 80s vibe while working in modern electronics.

Abysmal Hymns: Tears For Fears - " the Tipping Point"

Zola Jesus : " Arkhon"

 

One of my favorite singers of the past decade, I breathed a sigh of relief when I pressed play and found this album is another step into the darkness instead of taking a poppier turn. This time rather than taking everything on herself she worked with producer Randall Dunn, and former David Bowie drummer Matt Chamberlin.  The former's influence can be felt the most. The second song moves with a more organic fluidity to its groove. Are some of her vocal passages more accessible here? Yes, but I am not sure I would call this pop music as it is more complex in both arrangement and laying.  Something similar could be said of "Undertow". How her vocals sit in the mix, is not pop either nor is the ambiance weaved in the song. 

"Into the Wild" sets her voice more against ambiance than groove. It reminds me musically of Bjork in the intangible sparseness that floats around her voice, which has greatly matured. The song doesn't really become solid until the last minute. "Dead and Gone" is a little more dramatic and straightforward, with strings backing her. It showcases her belting it out in a more conventional sense. "Sewn" is a more interesting song due to the darker sonics and actual groove that moves it.  When it comes to the more delicate piano ballad " Desire" it is hard to deny her vocal talent. It almost reminds me more of something Kate Bush might do. Is it what I prefer when it comes to her music? No, I want something more like the previous song, but I can not fault her for doing this and respect her talents.  

"Fault" reminds me the most of her earlier work, though gone are any of the 80's Siouxsie and the Banshees ghosts haunting the sounds. "Efemra" falls someone between her past and present. In so doing it is a highly effective song as it reaches a blend of sonic colors she excels at . The vocals sit back in the reverb, but are stil forward enough in the mix to be the focal point. This album is very well produced as it aids in creating a sonic balance. I had to hear the last song few times before it sunk in,. There is almost a shoe gaze like vibe to it's haze. I approve of this as it offers a more surreal swirl of shadows to envelope her.  I will round this up to a 10, which makes it perhaps take more warming up to in some places than her past work, but she is much more sure of her voice.This album comes out May 20th on Sacred Bones .   

The Top 40 Female Artists of All Time : 20 - 11

It's 2020 we are making a bigger deal out of how wet the nether regions are rather than the quaity of music being made. Granted the people doing this must have never heard of Lil Kim. This also gives me the chance to take  break from the lists of androgynous guys and  makes this one.The top 40 hottest female artists, might come one day  I am bored at some point but right now we are just focusing on the music. After all if you are writing good songs that stick in my head I do not care what you look like. You are not going to see artists here that I feel are covered by those who do what they do better or are such originators in their genre why listen to imitators. Not only does this list give commonly under rated artists their proper place, but I dig into as expected from me both harder and darker artists not mentioned in the same breath as pop artists. Speaking of that is covered by a handful of ladies as more would be redundant. There is one big one here in particular that takes care of everything . Only one rapper, and they are unique , and this is about their impact on music as a whole so iconoclasts not strippers with prodiucers or entertainers alone. Since this the Abysmal Hymns list there will of course be a darker slant and singer's with any gospel leanings that are blasphemous are obviously disqualified. So here we go...




20- Beth Gibbons - Portishead




This is a case of where an artists greatness is truly revealed in the number of artists they went on to influeced. While I love Beth's haunting passion, it is the impact she has that earns her place here.






19-Miny- Parsonz-Royal Thunder

Parsonz does what Lizzy Hae does better. With has more of a Joplin like grit and one of the best female rock voices going today .


 




18-Zola Jesus


She stands alone when it comes to modern dark pop. AHer sound has evolved yet her music remains distinct. I only wish she would put out a new album sooner than later.


 



17-Anneke van Giersbergen- the Gathering


Before female sirens adding a romantic touch to things became more common place in metal Anneke was waeaving a spell without even trying to be a witch like many of today's singers do. Having her on this list elimantes the need to include singers who followed in her steps such as Nightwish or Delain


.


16-Emma Ruth Rundle


This singer songwriter fronted the prog band Marriages before embarking on her darker solo venture. There is a great deal of depth to her voice, but it's her knack as a song writer that solidifies her place here





15 -Sinead O Connor



This singer become known for controversy and ecentric nature , in truth she has an amazing versitile voice and while I like the Cranberries , if Sinead is on the list then I have that base covered already and she does it better.



 



14- Chelsea Wolfe



If this was a list of todays female rock singers then she would top the list , this is more encompassing and the top ten has women who influenced her.


 

13- Taylor Swift 


She has grown past pop country and past pop stardom with her newst album really cementing her as not only some one to be taken seriously , but worthy of her place on this list.



 


12-Pj Harvey


Not punk enough to fall into the whole riot grrrl trend, too angry to fit neatly into the singer song writer thing. She has enough grunge to her sound and a dynamic enough voice to fil the gap where other people might gravitate to Patti Smith.



 

11-Jarboe - Swans


Yes she has done solo stuf, she has worked with Neurosis and other bands however her work with the Swans alone is enough to put her here. Granted the Swans are one of my top 10 bands of all times, so I might be dias but she provided the light to Gira's darkness , even Chelsea Wolfe counts her as an infuence so that why she is here and Chelsea is down where she is.

What is This That Stands Before Me ? : Sacred Bones Black Sabbath Tribute

This is an easy sell. Sacred Bones a label who has kept the new wave of goth alive , takes the artists on their roster and does a Black Sabbath tribute album. Up first is the Soft Moon, who almost nails "Black Sabbath" , the groove on the "coming round the bend" section of gets lost in the murk though they get heavier at the end. The only artist I was not familiar with was Russian synth wave act Molchat Doma, who gets props for taking on "Heaven & Hell". The bulk of Sabbath tributes neglect anything that is not Ozzy. The guy is no Dio. Singing in his native tongue , well I guess this would be a good way to learn a little Russian since I already know the words. The spoken part is a little meh. I do not see these guys listening to a great deal of Sabbath in their free time as it sounds like the are more into Kraftwerk. Thou is the heaviest band here, so they have to nail "Supernaut" which might be the easiest song here. They guitar tone is pretty mean. They use snarled vocals .

Of course Marissa Nadler is going to knock "Solitude" it seems like an almost too obvious choice. I would have spaced Hilary Woods out from Nadler , maybe had her second to last as their styles are somewhat similar. Though Nadler has more of a country thing going. Woods proves to be more atmospheric, as this song is almost not there. If I was her I would have played the bass line with the left hand on the piano. Zola Jesus doing changes is also very obvious. But she sings the hell out of it. If I still smoked pot I would find Moon Duo's take on "Planet Caravan" more compelling. There is actually more going on than the Sabbath version. Dean Hurley does what he calls the bar band version of "the Warning" . The feel of the song is there.  Not familiar with this guy so I am impressed.

Energy wise I know what I was going to get from Uniform doing "Symptom of the Universe". I that the vocal were going to be more of an issue. He is doing more of a punk shout , yes he is a little flat but it comes closer than I would have expected as the vocals are always a sticking point with those guys. I will give it an 8.5 , as the obvious choices that gave it a mellower mood could have been darker. I should not have to say it could have been darker when it comes to Sacred Bones artists.

Gothtober -The Weekly Playlist vol 12

Rather than try to out spooky myself, I thought I would let this week's play list just happen in an organic manner , so I just hit shuffle on my iPod and went with that . My day to day listening is still going to be darker than any combination of songs you might dreg up from your nightmares to try to make a sound track for Halloween. I think based on the artists alone, if you are a regular reader or actually know me in real life, not just the inner web world then you can attest to the fact it's pretty consistent with my normal listening So these are just songs I have been listening to a lot recently. Happy Halloween, it is in fact a holiday for devil worshiping so I hope I have inspired you to do some.

 Dax Riggs - "Demon Tied to a Chair in My Brain"

 

 Zola Jesus- "Tower"


 

 Samhain- "Death in it's Arms"


 

 Rob Zombie - "Living Dead Girl"

 


My Dying Bride - "All Swept Away"


 

 Chelsea Wolfe -"Sick"


 

 Skinny Puppy- "Downsizer"

 

 Type O Negative - "Creepy Green Light"


 

 Slipknot -"Vermilon"


 


 Ritual Howls- "Spirit Murder"


 

Gothtober -The Top 10 Goth Albums of All Time

The year was 1987 when I realized there was music out there that spoke to the shadows inside of me that way not heavy metal. The album was "Darklands" by Jesus and the Marychain, if I did the top 20 albums list it would be on their so these are albums I have listened to more than that one. It is more on the post-punk side and if you notice the lack of Joy Division that is because I am not counting post-punk. There might be a couple albums that lean in that direction, but the difference between post-punk and goth is pretty clear here, post- punk lacks the romantic elegance of goth.There is not much in the way of dark wave, and that is because even in the case of  Sisters of Mercy who would have also made the top 20, those bands tend to have some good songs, but not albums that are as awesome all the way through as what is represented here.

Many of these albums have set the bar for their respective sub-genres. I am not just sticking to the old guard , even though I can be as get off my lawn as anyone, I do recognize that there is some ew music that measures up just fine against the Cures and Bauhaus' of the old guard bat cave. These lists do lend themselves to a great deal of complaining and butt hurt so let me go ahead and nip it in the bud with one question...over the course of a year how many people read what you have to say about goth music? If that number is less than 100,000 and go ahead add up all the publications you write for then shoot me an email and we can talk about it, because if you or on that tier then you probably already have my email address.

10-Zola Jesus - "Conatus"


Since this list is being ranked by how many times I have listened to these albums, this is way Zola beat out Siouxsie to make it on here. Siouxsie would have made the top 20. The beats on this album are just more infectious.

9-Skinny Puppy- "Too Dark Park"


This is not the top 10 industrial albums. This album however is dark enough to earn it's place here. If you were goth when this album came out you owned it if not you were a poseur.

 

8-Beastmilk - "Climax"


This is the only album that is arguably post-punk, but the vocals are so impassioned they tip the balance and thus is belongs here. The best thing of the revival.

 

7-Type O Negative - October Rust


These guys are a metal band, and this album does have some heavy moments, but the sum of its parts is more goth and then metal and it's beautifully produced and written, pretty much perfect in every way


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6-Dead Can Dance- "Into the Labyrinth"




Goth can be many things, even world music as this project proves and does so by creating the most beautiful music ever.

5-Swans - White Light From the Mouth of Infinity


From their noisy beginnings this band evolved into some thing sonically powerful but still darkly elegant. This could very well be in the number one spot but Last Fm told me the four above this one were listened to more.

 


4-Bauhaus- "In the Flat Field"

No one in their right mind would dispute if they should be on this list so it's more of a question of what album. This one seems the darkest to me and it's also the one Last Fm said I have listened to the most.


 




3-Chelsea Wolfe- "Pain is Beauty"



When I have talked to her she is quick to say she is not goth. She probably gets annoyed for me referring to her as goth after she tells me that , but this album says different.


 

2- Christian Death - "Only Theater of Pain"

This pretty much defined a genre. It has all the darkness and sleeze you could ask for against the elegant delivery of Rozz Williams. It was not only the album they could never touch again , but no one else could either.

1-the Cure- "Disintegration"

Not only the best goth album, but one of the best album's period. It might not be the darkest album on the list, but what it lacks it darkness it makes up for in the other key ingredient of goth, melancholy romantic longing.

Zola Jesus : "Okovi"

After her last album I really needed her to get back to darker places. That is what happens after a weird atmospheric introduction. She combines sweeping strings with tracks that sound like they came from one of Bjork's nightmares. "Soak" is a pop song with a strong hook that proves pop does not have to be a bad word. My ex-wife used to complain that she sang in too nasal or throaty of a tone, but the clear vocal tones on " Ash to Bone" ends that argument. The atmosphere is pretty thick. So much so that in comparison to the first two actual songs, it almost feels more like an interlude. The lushly orchestrated "Witness" picks up where the previous song left off, but with a more melodic grace. The hints of soul in her voice are more fleshed out here. I prefer her more new wave side, though it's hard to make a case of the quality of singing here.

The chorus vs the verse of "Siphon" is a tug of war between her earlier work and this more mature turn to conventional pop. The song backs off from the groove til the chorus. The first beat that really makes you report to the dance floor is on "Veka" which starts of with a more introspective ambiance and builds into something more physically moving. I kept hearing that there were trap beats on this album, and I am not hearing it. The vocal refrain of "Wiseblood" carries the song. The beat is interesting and big with a tribal hint. There is an 80's sci-fi pulse to "Remains". Her voice really sounds great here. The song gets weird in the sense it feels like the 80's are colliding with 90's electronica as there is more of a break beat to this one. By the end the pace picks up and ebbs back down. The vocal production shines here, there is perfect blend of effects on her voice to compliment her natural tone with out taking away from it and creating a radio conformity.

It was a little disappointing that the last song was instrumental as well when it comes to Zola Jesus I want to hear her singing. So this is not the perfect album, but it is a welcome addition to her legacy and finds her voice continuing to live up to it's potential. I think it's a good compromise in terms of darker electronic music and pop. I don't see this propelling her into Katy Perry or even Sia status in terms of radio play, but that is not what she is going for or she would be there. I'll give this one a 9.5.

John Carpenter: "Lost Themes Remixed"

Its October, and for me it's Halloween every day, but October is an unabashed celebration of the life macabre. Here is a soundtrack for the wee hours of October nights, brought to you by John Carpenter who directed Halloween, the Thing, the Fog, Prince of Darkness,and Escape From New York. He created the theme to Halloween which along with the Exorcists "Tubular Bells" is one of the most recognized horror themes ever. So much like his movies his compositions are dark with a sci-fi edge to them. So its fitting goth and industrial artists should lend their talents to re-mix Carpenter's "Lost Themes" album. Pruient add another layer of density in their re-mix of the opening song "Purgatory". While the undercurrent of "Night" is very Carpenter, when Zola Jesus adds her vocals it sounds more like one of her songs.

 ohGr remixes "Wraith" his voice is kept in distance with the kind of distorted beats which dominated Skinny Puppy's more recent albums driving ahead Carpenters more ambient themes. "Vortex" is re-worked twice , the first time by Civil Servant the second time by Uniform. The synth attack is harsher like early nineties industrial, with a dancey throb injected into it. Faint guitar chords and sax color the corners of the background as the menacing pulse dominates the song. Uniform take their version of "Vortex" directly to the dance floor in a manner I was not expecting from them. The darker modes than Carpenter writes in are of course present creating an interesting juxtaposition of sounds. Blanck Mass which is one half of Fuck Buttons takes on the second song that gets two versions "Fallen" . There is a lot of movement in this song almost militaristic as the snare almost creates a marching pattern. It actually gets heavier than some of the songs from artist I would have expected to take it in that direction as it builds into something like older Nine Inch Nail, even with the buzz of guitar crunching into.

 JG Thirwell who 90s goths may remember under the name of Foetus stares into "Abyss". Harshly percussive synths and a robot snare march over what is otherwise kraut rock. These two work really well together it is hard to hear where one begins an the other ends though the main melody is Carpenters and Thirwells synths are dancing around it. This songs build into sharper melodies and adds some dramatic swell to its tension. It reaches an almost symphonic level. Berlin based artist Bill Kouligas who delves into electronic music under the name Family Battle Snake offers up the the most aurally abrasive level of experimentation as he also gives "Fallen" a shot. His version is very different. In some ways it is more minimalist than Blanck Mass's version, though it remains more amorphous in its atmospherics almost never taking form like some of Philip Glass' more minimalist work.

This is a much better re-mix album those I have heard in the past five years, given the nature of the experimentation involved by some of the artists the ambiance can over take the actual song. So with that in mind I'll give this one a 8. It is worth owning for the Zola Jesus, ohGr and Blanck Mass tracks alone, though their are some other solid moments aside from those, but they have to be my favorites. Out Now on Sacred Bones.


 

Top 15 Albums of 2014

In looking at the list 2014 was an odd year. Some of the greats didn't release what I would consider their best work, but even when the likes of Morrissey dials it in, the result is still better than what most do. Some younger bands stepped up their game and grew in ways that shifted them from one genre to the next. All of these albums either scored a ten or grew on me and proved their perfection down the road.

15- Kall -s/t

Lifelover is back, but not as black.This has a more droning black n roll feel. It just falls shy of being black metal, but an excellent melancholy affair .

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2014/12/kall-st.html



14-Emptiness -"Nothing But the Whole"

A stunningly desperate soundtrack. This album oozes both atmosphere and emotion defying sub genres.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2014/11/catching-up-with-2014-emptiness-nothing.html

13- Mayhem-"Esoteric Warfare"

If Mayhem had tried to make another "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" it would have bored the bullet belt right off me. Instead they release an album with pristine production, that takes chances and takes no prisoners. Attila has never sounded better and Hellhammer makes his case for being the best drummer in black metal. As Spinal Tap once asked "How much blacker can you get ? the answer was none then and it is none now.

12-Youth Code- A Place to Stand

One of the best industrial bands I have heard in some time. This duo is dark, mean and confrontational, even if their singer is a little blond girl.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2014/10/youth-code-place-to-stand.html

11- Atriarch- " An Unending Pathway"

They graduated from the metal chart to goth, as the death rock vibe is stronger. The metal elements are now more of a sonic Neurosis thing and they have left doom and black metal at home.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2014/10/atriarch-unending-pathway.html

10-Swans - To Be Kind

My favorite band this side of the Smiths takes the number ten, because "To Be Kind" is more like a  series of live jams they translated to the studio, but even when Gira is just playing around he is still better than most.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2014/05/swans-to-be-kind.html

9- Ice Age -"Plowing into the Field of Love"

These guys have grown in leaps and bounds, so much so the rock swagger injected on this album now makes them much more qualified for this list than being called post-punk.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2014/09/iceage-plowing-fields-of-love.html

8- Nasheim - "Solens Vemod"

The Swedish act is another one man show. The master mind behind this is Erik Grahn. Grahn  came out  of the gate on his first full length and killed it. This album sweeps you away. Combining the lush romanticism of Emperor, atmosphere and incredible arrangements, my only regret it not finding this masterpiece when it came out under the radar back in February.