Articles : Metal Obsession’s Best Albums of 2015 (so far)

2015 is shaping up to be a great year for new albums and tours. As we reach the half way point, it seems only fitting we compile a list of our top albums for 2015 (so far), in no particular order.

Mitch Booth

Rosetta – Quintessential Ephemera
After a stint in an angrier direction, Rosetta have delved back into the spacey post-metal they do so well. Armed with an additional guitarist who also contributes clean vocals, it’s both some of their most melodic and most powerful music to date. Listen with your headphones on and your eyes closed. Check out “(Untitled V)”.

Hope Drone – Cloak of Ash
These Brisbane guys signed to Relapse to release this masterpiece of blackened sludge/post-whatever and they 100% deserve it. It’s a monster at 80 minutes long, with a 20 minute piece starting things off, but when there’s not a dull moment the length simply doesn’t matter. Check out “Every End is Fated in its Beginning”.

Bosse-de-Nage – All Fours
More blackened not-actually-black-metal. These guys throw things ever so slightly into hardcore territory. It is one of the few albums of the style where the drumming is a clear highlight, alongside being a prime example of the whole “don’t judge a book by its cover” thing. Check out “At Night”.

Alkaloid – The Malkuth Grimoire
One of the most interesting death metal releases in some time (from members of Blotted Science, Dark Fortress, Aborted, etc.). It’s proggy, techy, jazzy, atmospheric, and still totally brutal when it needs to be. There are so many cool things going on throughout that it’s one that truly takes multiple listens to take in. Check out “Carbon Phrases”.

Ghost Bath – Moonlover
Deafheaven were 2014, Ghost Bath are 2015. Same-same but different, with a more mysterious image. Is it really one man in China, or is that just a publicity thing? Who cares, the music is good, and that’s what matters. Check out “Golden Number”.

Jonathon Besanko

Ensiferum — One Man Army
I remember finding myself left rather wanting with 2012’s ‘Unsung Heroes’. And in a small way, I felt at the time that Ensiferum had lost a bit of that “special something” they had back in the days of their self-titled album and ‘Iron’. With ‘One Man Army’, all of that changes. This is one of the most enjoyable folk metal albums I have heard in quite some time. Ensiferum manage to channel here everything that made them brilliant as a band to begin with, and return it ten-fold. Frontman Petri Lindroos hasn’t sounded this good since the days of ‘Victory Songs’. In fact, he sounds better. This is Ensiferum as they are meant to be. Check out  “One Man Army”.

Orpheus Omega — Partum Vita Mortem
Whilst Orpheus Omega’s third studio album, ‘Partum Vita Mortem’, isn’t officially out until July 24th, I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this album for review. It has stuck with me since, and I knew that it had to be added. As an interesting conceptual parallel, where ‘Partum Vita Mortem’ chronicles the human condition from birth, life, and then ultimately death, this record similarly orchestrates the progression of Orpheus Omega themselves. This album shows a band seasoned in the game. A band who continue to push the boundaries of their own ability and musical talents. The result is one of the strongest melodic death metal albums to grace this humble country of ours. Check out “Karma Favours The Weak”.

Sulphur Aeon — Gateway To The Antisphere
Where many bands in the past have been inspired by the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, what Sulphur Aeon have forged with their second album, ‘Gateway To The Antisphere’, is nothing short of breathtaking. This album is a phenomenal piece of musical ingenuity and inspired songwriting. There is an overwhelming and resonant atmosphere that carries across with this album, and the haunting, caustic notes bear the weight of this album’s ominous foreboding. The riffs claw at your throat, the lugubrious vocals beckon the deep, and the melodies coax you into the leering shadows. ‘Gateway To The Antisphere’ is quite simply death metal at its finest. Check out “Diluvial Ascension – Gateway To The Antisphere”.

Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody — Prometheus — Symphonia Ignis Divinus
The sophomore release from Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody is not only one of the strongest albums I have heard so far this year, but it is also one of the most innovative and unique albums I have ever sat down to listen to. ‘Prometheus — Symphonia Ignis Divinus’ is not so much simply a metal album as it is an orchestral and symphonic masterwork. Inspired by the great film composers of the past few decades, what Luca Turilli has created here can rightfully stand alongside the greats as a work of cinematic-styled ingenuity. This album takes Luca Turilli’s strengths as a founder of the symphonic power metal movement of the ‘90s, and then instills that with a melodious and cinematic breath. This album is a real treasure trove among a familiar horde of sameness. Check out “Prometheus”.

Blind Guardian — Beyond The Red Mirror
Their first album in five years, ‘Beyond the Red Mirror’ brought with it much anticipation and speculation. This album delivers on its promise in more ways than one. Lyrically-speaking, this album is a sequel to 1995’s ‘Imaginations from the Other Side’. The overarching tale Hansi Kürsch has crafted with this album is both complex and imaginative. Every variation and progression that you hear throughout this album feels like the musical equivalent of the turning of a page. One of the highest credits I can award ‘Beyond the Red Mirror’ is that you feel as if you yourself are in the shoes of the protagonists of this story. As a fan of fantasy and sci-fi, it is a highly rewarding journey. Check out “Twilight Of The Gods”.

Dave “Higgo”Higgins

Harlott – Proliferation
Little Melbourne thrash band does good. Anyone who has seen these guys live will attest to how bloody good they are. This album is a ball-tearer from start to finish, and now the world will know about this band thanks to Metal Blade signing them. Check out “Denature”.

Jericco – Machine Made The Man
Another Melbourne band, and this, their 2nd album, not only delivers the goods, but is a noticeable step forward in songwriting. This is one for your collection if you like an atmospheric wall of sound. Really great stuff. Check out “Animal”.

Thy Art Is Murder – Holy War
Hype always makes me uneasy with albums, but this has delivered in furious brutal blows. Lyrically brilliant, technically sublime; this takes the heaviest of genres and smacks it in the nuts. If you thought theses lads were doing well before, stand by. Check out “Holy War”.

Coal Chamber – Rivals
This long awaited return from Coal Chamber is a ripper. From the moment it starts, it belts you with Coal Chamber sounds. Fat-foot, stomping riffs – fat everything. This is an overweight album. Not to be missed. Check out “Rivals”.

Cosmic Psychos – Cum The Raw Prawn
What can I say about Cosmic Psychos that hasn’t already been said? This is just more of the shit you love from this band. If this doesn’t make you smile, you’re dead inside, fuck off. Check out “Better, Not Bitter”.

Notable mention:
The Answer – Raise A Little Hell
REALLY dug this album from the Northern Irish lads. This is classic hard rock with a 2015 twist. Fat riffs, thumping bass and drums, and from the moment you hear “Long Live The Renegades” you’ll be tapping your feet wanting more. Check out “Long Live The Renegades”.

Anwar Rizk

Blind Guardian – Beyond The Red Mirror
The Bards return with yet another masterpiece filled to the brim with amazing musicianship and orchestration. The album is a continuation of the 1995 release ‘Imaginations From The Other Side’. The album offers a spectacular story which continues to demonstrate how amazing these guys really are, and what they can achieve some 30 years later after their inception. Check out “Twilight Of The Gods”.

Orden Ogan – Ravenhead
Utilising both power and folk metal elements, German metal band Ordan Ogan offer a great variety of musical influences that collide into a storm of heavy riffs, galloping drums, and catchy as hell metal anthems, yet finishes on a rather sombre number. A seamlessly flawless album with production to match. Check out “F.E.V.E.R”.

Nightwish – Endless Forms Most Beautiful
‘Endless Forms Most Beautiful’ is the first studio album to feature Nightwish’s new singer, Floor Jensen. I think the bold move into unknown territory in relation to the album’s lyrics, which are inspired by naturalist Charles Darwin is a fantastic move. I love the band’s fantasy driven classics as much as the next person, but for a band that has been doing the aforementioned for an extended period of time, it’s great to see them delve into something different – especially one as grand in scale as the meaning of life and our evolution – and deliver an album that will stand the test of time. Check out “Endless Forms Most Beautiful”.

Harlott – Proliferation
If being signed to Metal Blade Records is anything to go by, then Melbourne’s Harlott deserve everything that is coming their way. ‘Proliferation’ continues to show off what a good thrash metal band can create when intelligent lyrics and well structured songs meet. Check out “Systematic Reduction”.

Shape of Despair – Monotony Fields
‘Monotony Fields’ is my first introduction to Finnish funeral doom metal six-piece, Shape of Despair. The album is a beautifully crafted atmospheric masterpiece, delivered with haunting vocals and doom-laden ambient keyboards which boast the already bleak aura of the album. Check out “Monotony Fields”.

Notable mention:
LORD – What Tomorrow Brings (EP)
I was completely blown away when I heard this new 25+ minute track from LORD. The attention to detail in production, and musical influences ranging from AOR, thrash, 80’s pop, melodic metal and just about everything else you can think of had me hooked from start to finish. The story retraces the life of a man who has lost everything and leads him to a point where he must make the ultimate decision. This is LORD at their finest and most diverse. The EP also contains a slue of classic covers and unreleased material, including Haunted (unreleased), Message in a Bottle (The Police cover), The Sun Always Shines On Tv (A-Ha cover), plus loads more.  Check out “What Tomorrow Brings”.

Martin Michea

Tempest Rising – Transmutation
I don’t know quite why or how, but this is album is so goddamn addictive. Half a year later it is still one of the best releases I’ve heard in 2015. Delicious, groovy metal at its best! As I said in my original review of the album: “It’s only February, and my first review of the year, however I can already see ‘Transmutation’ being a contender for my top 10 list when the year is over.” Check out “Devil In Me”.

Nightwish – Endless Forms Most Beautiful
I haven’t listened to much on this one for a while now, but even though I am quite disappointed in the release overall, the quality is still good enough to make it onto this list. It is a very uneven record, but the tops are stellar. Seeing Nightwish live in Australia for the first time next year is something I am very excited about. Check out “Élan”.

Cradle of Filth – Hammer Of The Witches
Only a couple days old, I haven’t had that much time with this album yet, but ‘Hammer Of The Witches’ is without a doubt Cradle’s best release since ‘Godspeed…’ in 2008. Having two guitarists in the lineup once again, they are for sure resurrected, and a tour in Australia in the middle of 2016 seems to be on the agenda for the band according to mister Filth himself. Check out “Right Wing Of The Garden Triptych”.

We Came As Romans – S/T
I listened to this album before I interviewed the band ahead of their show in Sydney in June and I was pleasantly surprised! There’s a good mix of heavy hitters (“Tear It Down”, “Regenerate”) and sing-a-long anthems (“Memories” and “Blur”, to name a few). We Came As Romans are veterans in the metalcore genre by now and I really hope that they can come back out here soon for a headliner tour! Check out “Regenerate”.

Lindemann – Skills In Pills
No words could possibly describe this album accurately. You need to listen to it to completely and fully to comprehend the kind of madness that is going on here. Rammstein is my favourite band of all time so I am probably biased, but this is just a wonderful piece of art. It’s probably quite predictable (it really sounds like PAIN with Till’s vocals), and the lyrics are more or less Rammstein in English. I don’t really care about the fact that there are no surprises here, I love every single second of this album. “Children of the Sun”, “Praise Abort” and “Cowboy” are the go-to tracks if you’re interested. Check out “Praise Abort”.

Prarthana Venunathan

Sulphur Aeon – Gateway To The Antisphere
Lovecraftian death metal from the deepest depths of Germany. Sulphur Aeon win the top spot for me in 2015 so far with their latest offering to the world, ‘Gateway To The Antisphere’. I was at a complete loss when I first listened to their debut album and they have certainly outdone themselves this time around. This album has it all: dark, crushing, death metal riffage, and epic blast beats to balance out the doom-laden melodies. The vocals are fierce, venturing into the realms of the classic Norwegian black metal style. The muscianship is a stunner to say the least and has truly exhibited Sulphur Aeon’s ability to carve their own niche in the metallic world. Unique and creative with that ever-magnificent underlying hint of mysticism. Check out “Diluvial Ascension – Gateway To The Antisphere”.

Der Weg einer Freiheit – Stellar
The album title is self-explanatory of how brilliant this album is. Might I add, ‘Stellar’ captivates the listener with a flawless production of the most versatile and high quality metal you could possibly come across. A melancholic atmosphere with an unpredictable nature (I’ve listened to this album several times now and I still never know what to expect next). Unpredictability has always been a winning factor for me and it keeps the listener hooked till the end. ‘Stellar’ incorporates a number of different elements with black metal as the backbone, making it a stand-out release this year. Check out “Replusion”.

Tempel – The Moon Lit Our Path
Tempel are a two-piece instrumental metal band from Phoenix, Arizona but their sound is absolutely masssive. They have created music which is quite frankly very hard to label and categorize purely for the fact that any genre you attach it to doesn’t do enough justice to the ingenuity of the music. The effortless, dynamic drumming and blast beats, coupled with the relentless groove-laden riffs, balance out the melodic structure of these tracks. Combining the best of eerie and elegant progressive instrumental with the magnanimity of black metal, Tempel has won my heart. Check out “The Moon Lit Our Path”.

Lamb of God – VII: Sturm und Drang
Lamb of God dropping ‘Still Echoes’ in the most intriguing way and just out of the blue was how I managed to bruise a good part of my elbow, going completely apeshit. The tracks are EXACTLY what you’d expect from the Richmond metallers,crushing, brutal and intense, ripping your sense of hearing to shreds. The band’s experiences reflect on this album very strongly – there is so much going on, that there’s no time to stop for a breather except for when Randy forges his way through ‘Overlord’ with his clean vocals. It’s fierce, powerful and as I always like to say, will blow your brains out your arse. Check out “512”.

Carach Angren – This Is No Fairytale
Everything they told you about happy endings from the books and on Disney when you were but a mere child was one big, ugly lie. Carach Angren take every ‘happy after’ and turn it into a blood-curdling series of grim, death metal nightmares. I love stories. I love metal. And I love horror. It’s all there as one brutal package in ‘This Is No Fairytale’. Haunting, orchestral intros, elegant and beautiful melodies that mislead you before the tracks pummel out into gruesome and glorious aggression. That would essentially sum up Carach Angren’s style and they have mastered it perfectly. Check out “There’s No Place Like Home”.

Notable mention:
Lustre – Blossom
This is one that I came across just about two weeks ago that blew me away completely. Lustre is a one-man band formed by multi-instrumentalist Nachtzeit. Ambient, black metal at it’s finest, Lustre captures the beauty of the dark and it reflects in his thought-provoking and majestic album, creating an absolutely incredible album. A definite must-have for those of you who truly like to go on a visual journey with your music. Check out “Blossom Part 3”.

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