Ba'al

One more monthly playlist before the year is out, showing you what all five of us have been listening to. Then we’ve got something else to come on here before the year is out – it might not surprise you…

Nick – Guitar

TLC – No Scrubs

This one gets rotated a lot at work so naturally it’s perpetually one of the most listened to songs in my day to day. Interestingly the synth line during the chorus is remarkably similar to a piece of incidental music from the 2002 video game, Nightfire, which holds a great deal of nostalgic value. ‘No Scrubs’ is a great song anyway but perhaps the repeated reminder of an enjoyable period in my life enhances my appreciation of it.

Cranial – Faint Voice

I’ve made a point about having an unexplainable knack for discovering German sludge bands that have already split up before. Thankfully these haven’t split up so I should be able to enjoy more releases by this great band in the future, barring a heart-breaking sting in the tail.

A.A. Williams – Control

I wrote A.A. Williams off a while ago having only heard one song which I didn’t like. Now however, I can’t get enough of her and feel liberated for it. Shame it’s technically an EP and not an album so it can’t make it onto my albums of the year list on a fucking technicality. Life is shit.

Slow Crush – Ease

Another EP that unfortunately cannot be included on my album of the year list. Had it been an album and not an EP, it would surely be on there. Sadly, life is a crock of oppressive shite.

Full of Hell – Armory of Obsidian Glass

Really sucky what happened to Full of Hell, seems like they’ve received more than enough donations to get up and running again and a nice gesture to donate the rest to charity. Also their new album absolutely SLAPS.

Tom – Guitar

Slowdive – Sugar for the Pill

Just a simple beautiful song, and the guitar sounds are really nice.

My Bloody Valentine – Only Shallow

The opening track of Loveless is a classic blend of chaotic noise and pop sentiments.

The Clash – I Fought the Law

Always loved The Clash and this keeps coming on the radio and gets played a lot at home as well.

Pink Floyd – High Hopes

Best track off The Division Bell and the slide guitar at the end is beautiful.

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds – Galleon Ship

One of the standouts from the new record. Minimal and mournful yet achingly beautiful.

Joe – Vocals

Winterfylleth – The Ruin

A band that clearly love Drudkh as much as I do. Brilliant melancholy riffs, true atmosphere.

Deadwood Lake – Into The Unknown

A band formed as a tribute to frontman Bruce Powell’s late brother. The lyrics to this track leave a lump in my throat.

Germ – Under Crimson Skies

Entrancing atmospheric black metal from Australia; a fine tapestry of dreamlike dissonance and wails.

Azaghal – In Deathlike Silence

Criminally underrated black metal, true darkness.

Dying Fetus – Vengeance Unleashed

Sometimes you just want something pummeling. This is good pummeling….. pummeling.

Richard – Bass

White Ward – Stillborn Knowledge

An absolute gem of a band I’ve discovered recently who marry gorgeous post-black metal with electronic and jazz elements, including some saucy sax playing. It all works perfectly; this first album has been called ‘black metal Perdition City‘, and I can’t argue with that. Can’t wait to air their new one.

Zhrine – Empire

Another great recent black metal find for me. Zhrine take the overwhelming avant-garde sonic assault of bands like Deathspell Omega and make it more palatable by slightly dialling down the insanity and increasing the overall heaviness. Wallop.

Blanck Mass – Dead Format

I’ve been mad into both Blanck Mass and Fuck Buttons this year, and went to see him recently – bangers aplenty. It may be an obvious choice, but this track really stood out on the night. My thoughts on his new album are changing on a daily basis, so we’ll ignore that one for now…

Kontinuum – Breathe

Solstafir meets The Cure meets prog. What is about Iceland that makes artists sound so unique? This album, Kyrr, is so unassuming but so well done that I can’t stop listening to it.

Dizraeli – Oi Oi

There’s very little chance the new Dizraeli won’t be in my top albums of 2019. There’s no one else in UK hip-hop (if you can really even call him that anyway) like him, and his last few releases, this included, have shown him to be a continually unique, inventive and vital voice.

James – Drums

Gojira – Low Lands

Gojira is a typical band for me to listen to. Lately though it’s been this track that has me gripped. Not as heavy as some of my favourite tracks of theirs, but loving the haunting melodies and polyrhythms. Their drummer has been a favourite of mine for a while now.

Devin Townsend – Singularity

Dev’s latest album Empath has caused quite a split among my friends. Personally I love it, and this has to be the biggest journey on the album I reckon; crossing more avenues of music than any track I’ve ever heard. Brutal in parts and delightfully silly in others.

Deftones – Digital Bath

One of my favourite tracks of theirs. Between the juxtaposition of Chinos soulful voice and the almost playful drumming, it sets a contrast I often still look for in bands.

Amon Tobin – Freeformed

I’ve been following Amon Tobin for the last few decades. When I’m not listening to metal, this is often the first track I’ll put on to wind down. Like most of his work it’s both interesting and weird…

Gunship – Tech Noir

These are just a nostalgia trip for me to my childhood in the 80s. The last month has seen this track played the most. It reminds me a lot of film scores from many 80’s classic neon-baked sci-fi’s and distant future type films that were common when I was growing up.