HB420's Top 15 2011 Albums

[hb420]

15. Batillus - Furnace


Batillus's first full length comes after two highly regarded EPs and one split. They play an oppressive mixture of black metal, doom metal, sludge, post rock, industrial and drone. It's a dense and tiring listen through, but completely rewarding the more time you give it to soak in. Then the addicting melodies creep in on songs like at the 4:35 mark of "The World Is As Night To Them". Or the punishing groves of "Deadweight" and "What Heart".

[Natrlhi]

Originally Posted by hb420

15. Batillus - Furnace

Batillus's first full length comes after two highly regarded EPs and one split. They play an oppressive mixture of black metal, doom metal, sludge, post rock, industrial and drone. It's a dense and tiring listen through, but completely rewarding the more time you give it to soak in. Then the addicting melodies creep in on songs like at the 4:35 mark of "The World Is As Night To Them". Or the punishing groves of "Deadweight" and "What Heart".

I almost bought this album at their show in Chicago last week. It's great stuff on album, but it was a little off-putting in a live setting. It's hard for me to explain why, but I'll try to figure it out soon so I can post about it in my upcoming gig report.

[hb420]

Originally Posted by Natrlhi

I almost bought this album at their show in Chicago last week. It's great stuff on album, but it was a little off-putting in a live setting. It's hard for me to explain why, but I'll try to figure it out soon so I can post about it in my upcoming gig report.

That's a little disappointing to hear, how were Yakuza and the Atlas Moth? That is an amazing line-up you got to see. Really jealous of those that got to see the Batillus/Atlas Moth tour. It skipped New Mexico.

[larvtard]

Dude, pretty much everything you post about on here you label as either "incredible" or "amazing," so I have no idea how you managed to dwindle these down to 15... you better post a fuckload of honorable mentions, man, I wanna hear 'em all.

[Natrlhi]

Originally Posted by hb420

That's a little disappointing to hear, how were Yakuza and the Atlas Moth? That is an amazing line-up you got to see. Really jealous of those that got to see the Batillus/Atlas Moth tour. It skipped New Mexico.

It was a great show. I promise I'll get the gig report up soon.

EDIT: ...and for the record, Batillus definitely didn't suck. Their set was just...aw, tune in later and I'll explain it.

[hb420]

Originally Posted by larvtard

Dude, pretty much everything you post about on here you label as either "incredible" or "amazing," so I have no idea how you managed to dwindle these down to 15... you better post a fuckload of honorable mentions, man, I wanna hear 'em all.

Haha yeah I know, I'm pretty easily satisfied and blown away. Atleast at first, it's the stuff I keep coming back to that survives. Even after dwindling that down, it was still hard for me. So I just cut it down to these fifteen albums that are IMHO perfect or nearly perfect. I will have quite a bit of honorable mentions though.

14. Giant Squid - Cenotes


Giant Squid from their first EP have been on a roll. Getting better by each recording. Developing their brand of Progressive/Post/Sludge. The biggest turning point for them where they went from good to great, was when Jackie Perez Gatz (who is one of the most awesome musicians in metal today) joined before the recording of the Itchyologist. It pushed the band's already unique sound to greater heights. While that album was their best to date, it was a little lengthy, and unfocused at points. With Cenotes they completely change that. Aaron's gargantuan riffs and guitar tone is fiercer than it ever has been before. Jackie's cello weaves through the music so gracefully and the bass and drums thunder over everything. From the heavy as balls opener Tongue Stones to the epic closing title track this EP is pure sludge perfection.

[Natrlhi]

Originally Posted by hb420

14. Giant Squid - Cenotes

Giant Squid from their first EP have been on a roll. Getting better by each recording. Developing their brand of Progressive/Post/Sludge. The biggest turning point for them where they went from good to great, was when Jackie Perez Gatz (who is one of the most awesome musicians in metal today) joined before the recording of the Itchyologist. It pushed the band's already unique sound to greater heights. While that album was their best to date, it was a little lengthy, and unfocused at points. With Cenotes they completely change that. Aaron's gargantuan riffs and guitar tone is fiercer than it ever has been before. Jackie's cello weaves through the music so gracefully and the bass and drums thunder over everything. From the heavy as balls opener Tongue Stones to the epic closing title track this EP is pure sludge perfection.

The Nat approves this post.

[Seventhzealot]

Originally Posted by hb420

Haha yeah I know, I'm pretty easily satisfied and blown away. Atleast at first, it's the stuff I keep coming back to that survives. Even after dwindling that down, it was still hard for me. So I just cut it down to these fifteen albums that are IMHO perfect or nearly perfect. I will have quite a bit of honorable mentions though.

14. Giant Squid - Cenotes


Giant Squid from their first EP have been on a roll. Getting better by each recording. Developing their brand of Progressive/Post/Sludge. The biggest turning point for them where they went from good to great, was when Jackie Perez Gatz (who is one of the most awesome musicians in metal today) joined before the recording of the Itchyologist. It pushed the band's already unique sound to greater heights. While that album was their best to date, it was a little lengthy, and unfocused at points. With Cenotes they completely change that. Aaron's gargantuan riffs and guitar tone is fiercer than it ever has been before. Jackie's cello weaves through the music so gracefully and the bass and drums thunder over everything. From the heavy as balls opener Tongue Stones to the epic closing title track this EP is pure sludge perfection.

Loved this. Agree about Jackie too. Apart from this and Grayceon, loved her compositions on 'Marrow of the Spirit' too.

[illuminatus917]

Originally Posted by larvtard

Dude, pretty much everything you post about on here you label as either "incredible" or "amazing,"

That's because a lot of the stuff HB420 likes is either "incredible" or "amazing"
I have the same tendency to be overwhelmed at first, before time puts things into perspective.

Haven't heard the new Batillus

[Natrlhi]

Originally Posted by illuminatus917

That's because a lot of the stuff HB420 likes is either "incredible" or "amazing"

TRU DAT MY NEGRO

Originally Posted by illuminatus917

Haven't heard the new Batillus

Yeah, it'd be good if it was heavy or something...