Merry Christmas, you filthy animals! You know me, I'm much of a Death Metal person. Even so, this list will not be only that. Also, I'd like to say that these are my personal favorites, not oficially the best written or performed albums of 2017, since some picks may be pretty controversial. Also, I know it may be a bit of a pussy out, but I just couldn't narrow it down to 5 albums. I simply could not. Also, I couldn't really order all these, since they are all more or less on the same level of quality in my book.
Honourable mentions:
1. Cradle Of Filth - Cryptoriana: The Seductiveness Of Decay
I love Cradle, I really do, and their 2015 release Hammer Of The Witches is really top-notch. Almost nothing to complain about when it comes to that, so when I heard Cryptoriana I expected a lot. Heartbreak and Seance was absolutely genius, but sadly it's the only remarkable track on this album for me.
2. Overkill - The Grinding Wheel
I consider Overkill to be my favorite Thrash band, so of course I was pumped for their 2017 album, considering the trinity of Ironbound - The Electric Age - White Devil Armory may be my favorite run of albums in Thrash. The Ginding Wheel did not perform accordingly, and I have hardly listened to it since it came out. It still has some great songs though.
3. Decrepit Birth - Axis Mundi
Axis Mundi is a very good brutal death metal album, but it sadly can't stand tall amongst the other offerings from the DB camp. They went for a more traditional style than I was used to from them, so I can't give them all the props they would have needed to be on this list.
4. Broken Hope - Mutilated And Assimilated
While this record has a very cool theme and a lot of great moments along the way, it simply isn't good enough to enter the list for me. It sits quite comfortably though in the Mentions list.
5. Decapitated - Anticult
While the riffs presented here are really some of the best this year, the vocals drag the whole affair down from Best Of 2017 material to Honourable Mentions contender. You should still check this out for the riffs though.
Alright, now that that's out of the way, let's get on with the real list. Keep in mind that it's in no particular order.
1. Helpless - Debt
This is a very good example of slower, hateful Grindcore that simply blows most of the competition away. The vocals are in a league of their own, you can really feel the anger and vitriol theh express, and I feel that makes Grind so much better.
Best song: Out of Commission
Helpless - Debt
2. Desecresy - The Mortal Horizon
This album's strongest suit is the amazing atmosphere that it creates. The drumming is also used very fittingly for the band's intentions. What might put you off at first is the oddball production job that makes this record a very weird experience. The vocals are completely impossible to understand and drowned under a lot of instrumentation, but after you get used to it you can really get into Desecresy and their work.
Best song: Percussive Necromancy
Desecresy - The Mortal Horizon
3. Suffocation - ...Of The Dark Light
The injection of fresh blood into Suffocation's veins has really woke them up and compelled the band to write one of their best albums. The riffs are tasty and a joy to listen to in general, and the vocals are brutal while still understandable. I'm glad they kept the entire affair short, with a fair 36 minute runtime, having no space for filler. Only killer.
Best song: Return To The Abyss
Suffocation - ...Of The Dark Light
4. Dying Fetus - Wrong One To Fuck With
Now, I don't know how good Dying Fetus were until this album, but this record, the entire 50 minutes of it, is an absolute monster and an experience for the years. Every song is packed with amazing riffs and the vocals are marvelous, I love it. I'm guessing half of you knew all this already, but still it's worth reminding. Pray this post doesn't get fucked because of this album.
Best song: Panic Amongst The Herd
Dying Fetus - Wrong One To Fuck With
5. The Killers - Wonderful Wonderful
Breaking the mold a bit with this one, I absolutely adore this record. I have no idea about The Killers' status or general career, but I know that Wonderful Wonderful is an emotional, catchy and fun 44 minutes that I'm so happy I found out about. I guess here's not really the place for this kinda music, right?
Best song: The Calling
The Killers - Wonderful Wonderful
6. Morbid Evils - Deceases
The second album by Rotten Sound's vocalist's side band, Deceases is a 40 minute death fest of the slow kind, tormenting the listener with the worst ways to die the band could think of while kicking them over the head with the rotting atmosphere they created. A really interesting listen for sure.
Best song: CASE IV - Tumour
Morbid Evils - Deceases
7. Obituary - Obituary
One of my favorite death bands came back this year with another album and it quickly rose to the top of their discography for me. I love the fun feeling that goes with this album and the relaxed attitude the band have. They also write good death metal, of course. John Tardy's vocals are still a force to be reckoned with and a joy to listen to.
Best song: Sentence Day
Obituary - Obituary
8. Septicflesh - Codex Omega
Symphonic death metal is a thing of its own, and while this year the mighty Fleshgod Apocalypse didn't release anything, the duties fell on these Greeks' shoulders and they performed very well, creating what may be one of their best albums in the modern run since they cojoined Septic and Flesh.
Best song: 3rd Testament
Septicflesh - Codex Omega
9. Kraanium/Analepsy - The Kraanialepsy Split
I know this isn't really a full-lenght, but come on, 10 songs, half an hour, it's basically a Slam album, so why complain? I absolutely adore Kraanium (to the point where I stomach their weird sexual obsessions) and I like Analepsy, and this is a very fitting and respectable swansong for Martin Funderund. Analepsy fill their role very well, and everything seems bright enough for me to shit my pants in waiting for Slamcosis next year. This is grade A Slam, absolutely lovely.
Best song: Double Barrel Penetration (Kraanium)
Kraanium/Analepsy - The Kraanialepsy Split
10. Exhumed - Death Revenge
I was really upset not to see Death Revenge on any endyear list. For me, this is a mature record from a very versatile band in the death metal realm, coming from a now-smarter frontman that isn't afraid to display his influences with pride. Beyond the melodic touches and the sometimes obvious Schuldinergasm, Death Revenge has once and for all got me as an Exhumed fan.
Best song: The Anatomy Act Of 1832
Exhumed - Death Revenge
11. Paradise Lost - Medusa
I think that Medusa is a gateway to doom metal for any extreme music fan, since it combines the doom with a gothic touch with some MeloDeath riffing and vocals. I absolutely love this release, since it can very easily combine the atmosphere of grief and sorrow with the might and unusual catchyness of MeloDeath.
Best song: Fearless Sky
Paradise Lost - Medusa
12. Kreator - Gods of Violence
How can you keep up your legendary run of Thrash albums and legacy of brutality (Kreator were once the most agressive band along Slayer, in the scary '80s) while also expanding upon your new discovery that you showed off in your latest record, MeloDeath? Simple, do what the German band has done and release an album on the level of Gods of Violence. These 52 minutes are full of the most headbangable riffs this side of 2k17 has heard and anthemic passages, making Kreator's latest a very engaging and fun ride. Love it.
Best song: Death Becomes My Light
Kreator - Gods of Violence
13. Cannibal Corpse - Red Before Black
Do I even need to comment? Cannibal Corpse, I think, is one of the easiest bands to fanboy over. Their style unchanged, their legacy undisputed, their influence unquestionable, George Fisher and the Gang reign supreme above most of death metal bands. Red Before Black is yet another brick in the wall of excellent records, making their run of incredible standard since 2006's Kill even more impressive. I'm done, that's all you need to know. Fucking love them.
Best song: Hideous Ichor
Cannibal Corpse - Red Before Black
14. Cannabis Corpse - Left Hand Pass
The two CCs on this planet meet at last! Take care, Cannabis Corpse is a whole different beast than the inspiration for their name. Their whole branding might be one big (hilarious) joke, but their songwriting sure ain't. Good riffs, off-the-wall vocals and general greatness, these guys sure are more than a joke.
Best song: The 420th Crusade
Cannabis Corpse - Left Hand Pass
15. Firespawn - The Reprobate
Swedish death metal is still alive and well, with an overabundance of albums especially this year, but I think The Reprobate is a touch better than most. Again, the strong suit of this record are the pairing between the riffs and the vocals, everything being trademark swedeath, especially the famous vocalist L-G Petrov of Entombed fame.
Best song: Serpent Of The Ocean
Firespawn - The Reprobate
16. Leng Tch'e - Razorgrind
This is apparently a record from old masters of Grindcore, but what strikes the listener immediately is the amazing quality here. Nothing else to add really, this is just Grindcore done impressively and remarcably right, something for a lot of bands to be jealous over.
Best song: The Red Pill
Leng Tch'e - Razorgrind
17. Gwar - The Blood Of Gods
Gwar have really been struck by misfortune lately. Brockie died, Flattus Maximus died and now another guitarist has blood cancer. I'm not their biggest fan, but I recognize quality where I see it. At first (Fuck This Place) I was suuuper sure this album was going to suck and be a cash-grab, but as the material came along I started to like it and in the end love it. The new vocalist has done the unthinkable and, apart from being part of a great and diverse album, has won me as a fan of his. Good job, guys.
Best song: War On GWAR
Gwar - The Blood Of Gods
18. Six Feet Under - Torment
Stop right there and listen up. I am fully aware Chris Barnes is a shit vocalist and sounds worse than a disease-ridden, bullet-wounded, dying bear. I know the clean production isn't supposed to go well with the brand of death metal that he's doing. I know that the metal community thinks this band is the pits and is worse than dying. I don't care. I love rocking out to Torment and having fun with Barnes's vocals. I love the groove in half of these tracks. I love the drums, bass and riffs. I love Torment. I f you want to take something away from this blog, take than sometimes you should listen to albums with an open mind.
Best song: Skeleton
Six Feet Under - Torment
19. Sinister - Syncretism
Sinister are a stellar band, living legends of the underground, kicking around since the '90s with unfuckwithable energy and a constantly fresh attitude. Syncretism is probably my favorite album of theirs, taking into account all the amazing things they do on this record. It's really lovely to see oldsters like these still put out amazing material.
Best song: Neurophobic
Sinister - Syncretism
20. Immolation - Atonement
Another case of not going silently into the night. Immolation have always been one of the top bands in the death metal scene, always being a step ahead in doing anything their peers attempted. Even their more traditional brand of brutal death metal in 2013 was welcome, but in 2017 they returned to the haunting roots that made them famous, with creeping riffs and horrifying atmosphere.
Best song: When The Jackals Come
Immolation - Atonement
21. Pathology - Pathology
Pathology were my introduction to Slam this summer, making me an instant fan of the niche with effective riffs, monstruous vocals and general attitude. I owe a lot to this record (37 slam albums is the count right now) and of course I love it very much thanks to that. Yea, it will also split your head in two with its heavy brutality.
Best song: Lamentation
Pathology - Pathology
22. Sepultura - Machine Messiah
I couldn't care less about post-Arise Sepultura, but I somehow decided to check Machine Messiah and I was blown away by the quality here. It's a really diverse album too, showcasing the band's different faces and ways of playing their music. Maybe some atypical percussion will surprise you on Phantom Self, or maybe you'd like the orgasm-inducing riff on Sworm Oath. Something to find for everyone.
Best song: Sworn Oath
Sepultura - Machine Messiah
23. Morbid Angel - Kingdoms Disdained
I knew, I just knew that the masters' K album will be a win for the ages. The signs predicted it, and we all knew how much of a visionary Trey and the gang have always been. The return of Steve has been nothing but good news to me, since I've always been a fan of his album with the band. And sure enough, Kingdoms Disdained did not dissapoint. The group sounds just as tight as ever, blasting and crashing through riffs and amazing basslines without a sweat, showing the community again why they are considered by many to be the best the genre has to offer.
Best song: Paradigms Warped
Morbid Angel - Kingdoms Disdained
24. Alestorm - No Grave But The Sea
This is the most fun I've had this year while listening to an album. Every sing is just as good and Alestorm still manage ti remain a flawless and fresh band 5 albums in. From the original version to the amazing redux for dogs that they made, No Grave But The Sea will keep you partying 'till 2018, no sweat.
Best song: To the End of the World
Alestorm - No Grave But The Sea
25. Foo Fighters - Concrete And Gold
The post-Nirvana rockers Foo Fighters, out again to issue their emotional yet energising brand of hard rock, have completely captivate me with their latest outing Concrete and Gold. The production is huge and epic, and the songs are either sad songs about different things (Arrows, Happy Ever After or half of Dirty Water) or all-out bangers (the other half of Dirty Water, Run, The Sky Is A Neighbourhood). All in all, a great break from the Slam and Grindcore this year.
Best song: Arrows
Foo Fighters - Concrete And Gold
Download Cranial Engorgement - Horrific Existence
Download Devourment - Molesting the Decapitated
Download Devourment - Unleash the Carnivore
Download Degrade - Lost Torso Found
Download Colpocleisis - Fallopian Fallout
Download Putrid Pile - Blood Fetish
Download Phalloplasty - Smear
Download Phalloplasty - Systematic Mutilation
Download Acrania - Totalitarian Dystopia
Download Gorepot/Pestilectomy/Embryonic Decay/$lutrot - $lam $eason
Download Abominable Putridity - The Anomalies of Artificial Origin
Download Abominable Putridity - In the End of Human Existence
Download Diphenylchloroarsine - Post Apocalyptic Human Annihilation
Download Crepitation - The Violence of the Slams
Download Acranius - Reign of Terror
Download Pestilectomy - Purgatory of Punishment
Download Devouring Humanity - Eradication of Living Human Shit
Download Agonal Breathing - Pure Agony
