Year-End Top 5
05. Obsequiae
Aria of Vernal Tombs
20 Buck Spin
Street: 05.12
Obsequiae = Summoning + early Rotting Christ + Aquilus
Rarely do I get the chance to call an album “exquisite,” but Obsequiae have created one of the most elegant and delicate underground metal albums I’ve ever heard. Aria of Vernal Tombs takes the musical and instrumental structure of early Rotting Christ–style black metal and sifts it through the melodic motifs of medievalist neoclassical music. Twin guitars pluck out divergent, harmonious melodies, evoking a bardic lilt and swing through each song that, despite its evident beauty, nevertheless carries a heavy and powerful rhythm. Harp-plucked interludes induce a somber, subdued emotional state, and often serve to introduce the melodic theme of the songs that follow them, proving that Tanner Anderson‘s distorted guitar passages translate seamlessly to the harps that gave birth to the medieval melodies Obsequiae are so obviously inspired by. Aria of Vernal Tombs is an exquisite piece of music, the kind of album that, even after countless listens, still yields up new treasures to the patient ear.
04. Macabre Omen
Gods of War—At War
Ván Records
Street: 02.20
Macabre Omen = Bathory + Kawir + Varathron
Alexandros knows his way around a triumphant riff, and he brings his full arsenal to bear on his first full-length album in just over a decade. Gods of War—At War summons forth a grim heroism in the midst of its chaotic black metal soundscapes, as though heralding the arrival of Achilles or Leonidas in the midst of a heated battle. It’s precisely that sense of awe and hard-set determination which elevates Macabre Omen to new heights on this record. By juxtaposing elements of musical chaos and melodic triumph, Alexandros embeds the theme of heroism into the very musical character of each song. Though there is a clear Hellenic black metal sound on this record, there are times when it vaunts to the heroic heights of Bathory, and though none can truly claim to dwell in the same empyrean realm as mighty Quorthon, Macabre Omen deserve their share of praise for crafting such a magnificent piece of epic black metal. Perhaps one track title says it better than I ever could—“Hellenes do not Fight like Heroes, Heroes Fight like Hellenes.”
03. Visigoth
The Revenant King
Metal Blade
Street: 01.27
Visigoth = Sinister Realm + Manilla Road + Omen
Raising their banners to the cold winds of destiny, Visigoth ride forth with their debut full-length, The Revenant King. Heavy riffs rumble forth from the guitars of Jamison Palmer and Leeland Campana while Jake Rogers weaves his vocal spell with all the force and charisma of a live performance. Matt Brotherton‘s bass grooves give the album its deep, heavy tone, and Mikey T.‘s rock-solid drumming pushes the pace ever faster. This underground metal album turned plenty of heads when it dropped early this year, and it’s no surprise why—these guys have mastered their own particular niche of melodic heavy metal, drawing from a wide array of influences from NWOBHM to Swedish heavy metal to inform a complete and unique sound in the genre. The Revenant King really should be seen as a prelude to this band’s extraordinary live set, which is pretty much essential for any Salt Lake City metal fan. Come sing the chorus to “Iron Brotherhood” and do the doom-stomp to “Mammoth Rider.” Chances are, I’ll be in the crowd with you, singing and stomping right along.
02. Manilla Road
The Blessed Curse
Golden Core
Street: 02.13
Manilla Road = Cirith Ungol + Ageless Wisdom
No list of top underground metal releases would be complete without the kings of underground American heavy metal themselves, the legendary Manilla Road. These regal rock n’ rollers never rest on their laurels, and The Blessed Curse signifies yet another fantastic journey into the golden horizon. Frontman Mark Shelton wields his magic wand with the unmistakable hand of an artisan, wending his wyrd-touched guitar sorceries into a remarkable, awe-inspiring album-long performance. From start to finish, this album takes on the character of a traveler sifting through human history, venturing deep into the forgotten clay of Sumeria and emerging to cast its eyes to the stars that lie just beyond the reach of mankind. The Blessed Curse, despite its evident maturity and patience, dances to the whims of a wild and youthful heart, questing along fierce, brutal riffs as easily as the sand-streaked winds of acoustic guitar. Shelton and crew have crafted a masterpiece in this underground metal album, and though I recognize the audacity of saying so, this is their most brilliant and breathtaking release to date. Crystal Logic made us all feel the call of adventure’s long and dusty road, but The Blessed Curse pauses along the path to look up and contemplate the infinite mysteries of the universe.
01. Terminus
The Reaper’s Spiral
Stormspell Records
Street: 06.09
Terminus = Isen Torr + Eternal Champion + Argus
It’s difficult to truly explain what it is about Terminus that makes them worthy of my number one underground metal pick of 2015. Part of their undeniable allure comes from the sheer catchiness of their sound, which has prompted me to listen to the whole album all the way through no less than 40 times over the last three months. It comes from somewhere between their Solstice-worshipping doom riffs played at Isen Torr tempos and their Isaac Asimov–inspired lyrics, a deep and primal place that just wants to bang its head to snappy riffs executed with razor precision and extraordinary efficiency. There is absolutely no fat and no filler anywhere in the whole 42-minute runtime, and every riff is polished to a bright mirror sheen. This straightforwardness helps the weird epic doom influence from Argus and Atlantean Kodex to truly shine, bringing raw immediacy and intensity to every unconventional turn of melody. Gavin Coulter and Paul Duffy summon forth the full reserves of their guitar-wielding alchemy on The Reaper’s Spiral, leaving an undeniable impression with every resounding riff. Meanwhile, James Beattie‘s gritty baritone belts out gloriously nerdy lyrics about Foundation, genetic destinies and other great sci-fi fare, bringing an extra layer of melodic force to each song. “The Encyclopedists” and “Poseidon’s Children” pummel the listener with upbeat, driving riffcraft, “Fortress Titan” disrupts what could be a classic Iron Maiden riff with a start-stop rhythm that nevertheless sounds like a high-speed battle between deep-space starship armadas. It takes a deft hand (or 10, I suppose) to give the slow-moving politics of Foundation a rip-roaring intensity, but I feel like Terminus could be writing songs about international tariffs and the tax code and I’d still be headbanging just as hard. The fact that the lyrics touch on the psychohistorical prophecies of Hari Seldon and the legendary political maneuverings of Salvor Hardin is just the icing on this heavy metal cake. Terminus embody the true spirit of underground metal, playing music that is wild and free while also paying due tribute to their forebears. I can’t wait to see what lies in the future for this incredibly talented band.
Underground Metal Lives On!
If you’re looking for even more metal mayhem to break in that new stereo system you bought yourself for Krampusnacht, you should check out our ’15 Top 5s:
Top 5 Black Metal Albums that were More Relevant than Deafheaven
Top 5 Extreme Metal Albums You Lost When Your Mom Cleaned The Basement
Did we miss one of your favorite underground metal releases of 2015? Let us know in the comments!