Manky's 2011 Year-End Review Extravaganza!

[mankvill]

2.

Anaal Nathrakh - Passion



This was difficult for me, but after a lot of listening and thinking, Anaal Nathrakh is my #2 for this year. And it's really hard because I honestly think this is my favorite album from them since The Codex Necro, or maybe tied with Hell Is Empty. I say that because I feel like it's really a return to chaotic, abrasive, apocalyptic sounding songs. I mean, even more-so than normal. It also features the best Anaal Nathrakh guest track ever. Honestly, it's insane how good Bethlehem's vocalist does on "Tod Huetet Uebel" that it's almost scary. But at the end of the day, Passion should satisfy every Anaal Nathrakh fan. Fans of each album, fans of the soaring vocals, fans of the harsh vocals, fans of the insane drumming, fans of the explosive intensity that comes from nowhere, etc. I am so excited for my favorite band in 2012.

Highlight: Post Traumatic Stress Euphoria, Drug-Fucking Abomination

[mankvill]

1.

Touche Amore - Parting The Sea Between Brightness And Me



Easy. I honestly don't remember the last time I emotionally connected with an album as much as I do with Touche Amore's latest. There are several songs that I can relate to so much it's scary, but what makes it fantastic is that on the songs I can't relate to personally, they're done in such a good and honest way that I can understand exactly what the music and lyrics are meant to convey. If you can't find at least one song on this album where the lyrics move you, you're either lying to yourself or you have never felt emotions ever.

Aside from the emotional connections, the music here is great. It's short and catchy enough that the songs will get stuck in your head for days (and trust me, they will), but long enough that the album will emotionally drain you by the end. If you really take a listen to this album, from start to finish, you should feel a huge range of emotions. I feel like Touche Amore wrote this album for themselves, but ended up writing it for everyone else as well. A masterpiece.

~
Pathfinder
The Great Repetition
Art Official
Uppers/Downers
Crutch
Method Act
Face Ghost
Sesame
Wants/Needs
Condolences
Home Away From Here
Amends

[MPF]

HOW IS Anaal Nathrakh NOT NUMBER 1?????????


Ahhhh, that is why, damn fine list sir, damn fine!

[mankvill]

Originally Posted by MPF

HOW IS Anaal Nathrakh NOT NUMBER 1?????????


Ahhhh, that is why, damn fine list sir, damn fine!

<3

[SomewhereInTime72]

I honestly expected you to put Anaal Nathrakh at number 1 too!

[treghet]

Originally Posted by mankvill

1.

Touche Amore - Parting The Sea Between Brightness And Me

Easy. I honestly don't remember the last time I emotionally connected with an album as much as I do with Touche Amore's latest. There are several songs that I can relate to so much it's scary, but what makes it fantastic is that on the songs I can't relate to personally, they're done in such a good and honest way that I can understand exactly what the music and lyrics are meant to convey. If you can't find at least one song on this album where the lyrics move you, you're either lying to yourself or you have never felt emotions ever.

Aside from the emotional connections, the music here is great. It's short and catchy enough that the songs will get stuck in your head for days (and trust me, they will), but long enough that the album will emotionally drain you by the end. If you really take a listen to this album, from start to finish, you should feel a huge range of emotions. I feel like Touche Amore wrote this album for themselves, but ended up writing it for everyone else as well. A masterpiece.

~
Pathfinder
The Great Repetition
Art Official
Uppers/Downers
Crutch
Method Act
Face Ghost
Sesame
Wants/Needs
Condolences
Home Away From Here
Amends

It's weird, a few years back a friend of mine was getting into hardcore and he always talked about Touche Amore. At the time they were just a local band playing in tiny rooms with no stages. I don't even remember knowing anybody else who listened to them. I didn't really get into their music until last year when I actually started exploring hardcore, but it's just odd to witness a band that went from nobodies to one of the biggest names in the genre right now. I can't believe how far they've come since then.

[larvtard]

Been listening to Parting the Sea so much lately. It's probably creeped into my Top 15.

[jd091]

Good choices. Personally, I can't really connect with Touché Amore like everyone else, but I think it's really unique, genre-defining music that's gonna be super important 10 years from now.

[jd091]

Oh, and

[Rocco44]

Its funny, Touche Amore should be something I love, but for what ever reason I find it boring as shit. Maybe I'll give it another spin, and worse case scenario, I lose 20 minutes of my life haha.