Album Of The Year: The Cure Songs Of A Lost World
Top 5 Contenders:
Anciients Beyond The Reach Of The Sun
As I stumble into my fourth
time of doing this Top 6 album list, I’m seeing a pattern emerge since 2021. I don’t think it’s because I only like
certain bands, but I suppose it could be. This year I have two bands repeating in my Top 6. I guess they’re just that good! For certain, Cavalera and Leprous are that
good. Previously, Ihsahn placed as the
best of 2016 with Arktis in my Favorite Albums From 1970 Through 2024
post so it’s no shock he’s included this year.
Maybe I’m just not inclined to venture beyond my established preferences
these days. Maybe other bands should be
putting out better records. I’ll roll
with that. I’ve changed my choice for
Album Of The Year 3 times already, but easily and without a doubt my favorite
album of 2024 goes to The Cure.
They sent a huge lightning bolt with Songs Of A Lost World to cut
through my confusion. It’s not often
that we are graced with a new record by the world’s most revered
alternative band. With a lengthy 16-year
hiatus, it better be great, right? Be
assured, it is and it’s everything you want from them; especially for those who
appreciate their duskier aesthetic. Songs
Of A Lost World is their best material since 1992’s Wish and can
easily hang with their other pinnacle releases.
I’m captivated by The Cure’s greatness and this album. My initial pick for top album was from Ihsahn. His self-titled opus is a swirling adventure
in avantgarde black metal. As I noted in
my review, he embodies innovation, relevance, uniqueness, and danger. It’s how he writes and it’s exactly what
defines him. The album is phenomenal and
breathes life into a sometimes stagnant metal realm. The second time I changed my pick for top
spot was when Leprous dropped Melodies Of Atonement. This freaking record lived on my turntable
for at least a month straight. The power
and dynamics conveyed on this recording are bananas; off-the-charts, next-level
stuff from Einar and company. Their
prog-pop amalgam becomes stronger every record.
Next…I’ve made my negative opinions about re-recorded albums known, but,
yet again, another re-recorded album from Cavalera is in my favorites of
the year. I felt that Schizophrenia
was right on that boarder of, “yes, we should record it one more time” and “no,
it doesn’t need it.” Well, they made the
absolute correct choice since it crushes the original. Now they can stop. I truly have appreciated the three
re-recordings they’ve done, but please, Max and Igor, leave Beneath The
Remains alone. Out of nowhere Anciients
delivered a knockout with Beyond The Reach Of The Sun. Rising from the dead after 8 years of
silence, the band returns with what is easily their best album. They’ve dropped much of the overly obvious
early-Mastodon influence and now focus on
their progressive tendencies while embracing a even more aggressive sound. This is heavy.
I
cannot say enough positive things about this album! The song structures are amazing and the use
of clean and death metal vocals are executed flawlessly. I’ll go here...I was under the impression I’d
be writing about the new Opeth album in my top 6. Well, Anciients wrote the Opeth album I was hoping
for this year. While prog metal often
risks sounding contrived or overly complex, Anciients strike a perfect balance
between sophisticated composition and maintaining a high level of energy, ensuring
the listener’s engagement throughout.
With an album this good, I’m willing to wait another 8 years for the
next one. I’m writing about Ulcerate
last, but they are definitely not least.
This year, every extreme metalhead is drooling on themselves about the
new Blood Incantation release, while Uclerate’s Cutting The Throat Of God
is seething and pacing frantically in its cage waiting to escape and annihilate
any death metal record released in 2024.
For the fucking life of me I cannot understand how this band isn’t one
of the larger acts of the genre. Their
quality of output is relatively unrivaled and they just continue their upward
trend on every release. The relentless
nature of this record is accompanied so well by the melody intertwined in the
technical and avantgarde chaos. Although this is Ulcerate through and through, I'm hearing hints of Deathspell Omega which is neither a bad thing nor easy to accomplish. Ulcerate
have created their heaviest, moodiest and most violent release of their career. For those who haven’t dared delve into their
world just yet, buckle up because this will ravage your senses. That’s it from 2024. Happy New Year!
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