#25 - Top of 2018

Primordial - Exile Amongst the Ruins (Metal Blade)

The sombre sounds of these proud Irishmen echo once more as if hearing the steps of a Republican dissident heading to the gallows. In their 9th full length, the band continues in the same vein of all their previous releases since 2005's "The Gathering Wilderness". To those unfamiliar with the band, they play a blend of doom/black with mostly clean vocals, incorporating folk and post influences. In "Exile among the ruins", there is a certain tendency to re-approach their black metal legacy, with opener "Nail their Tongues" referencing the Lutheran Reformation, while followup "To Hell or the Hangman" has a more folk/punk aesthetic to it.  The rest of the album balances between an energetic revolutionary release and a solemn acceptance of the dark age we find ourselves in, while packing gigantic riffing and of course the -as always- exceptional vocal performance of   Nemtheanga.  Single "Stolen Years" deserves an extra notion, with a more approachable simpler tune, Nemtheanga's vocals almost unrecognisable, sounding as a bonus song from a Lake of Tears album in the late 90s. Overall, this work is as excellent as its 2 predecessors in this decade, and while not re-inventing the wheel, there are hints in it indicating that the next album from the band might be a very different one!

93.7/100

Below are the music videos for the titular track and "To Hell or the Hangman"

#8 - Top of 2016

Wolf Clan - Pagan Preachers (Independent )

Going into number eight, we have a truly obscure one! Wolf Clan are a very young and fresh band, founded in 2014 and releasing this (their first EP) in 2016. Drawing inspiration from mythological themes, while at the same time blending female-fronted modern metal with old school hard rock of the 70s, this band offers a refreshing new addition to the (already blooming) female-fronted metal/hard rock scene with a personal touch that is very promising for their future releases.
The EP kicks off with "Witch Hunt", a heavy metal track with a strong old school vibe that mixes in modern vocal approaches for a very satisfying and groovy final result. The second track, "Muses of the Underworld", is more catchy with a very melodic chorus, heavily influenced by Iced Earth. The third  track "Dear Lizzy", is more on the slow side and here the singer Elena "Mirabelle" Erokhina shows off a different aspect of her vocal range. The album continues with "Sins of our Fathers", with a more Sabbath-like riff and a very dynamic choral part that integrates flawlessly with the rest o the composition. The EP concludes with "Send me to the Sea" , a song where the folk influences of the band are unveiled with the song serving perfectly as a melancholic send-off. If the band continues on their own unique style, as they have here, I only see good things in their future!


95/100

Below is the audio for "Dear Lizzy".

#21 - Top of 2011

Welcome to another top list! This will be the last list we will be doing in chronological order before coming to the present to review the top 31 albums of 2016!

Primordial - Redemption at the Puritan's Hand (Metal Blade)

Primordial are, in a sense a historical band. They came out of the second wave of black metal back in the mid nineties along with all bands all over Europe (Mayhem, Rotting Christ, Moonspell etc.) that changed the landscape of how modern metal sounds like. Each of these bands followed its own road and the sound of Primordial changed by incorporating folk and post elements, forging a unique and personal sound, built around the heartfelt vocals of A.A. Nemtheanga (Alan Averill). Their song are grim and yet powerful, channelling the Irish spirit. "Redemption at the Puritan's Hand" is the seventh album of the band and follows the same powerful recipe that its predecessor ("To the Nameless Dead ") did. The album's lyrical themes revolve around the issue of death and how humanity tries to cope with it. It kicks off with "No Grave Deep Enough", an aggressive opener eager to tear you down. "Lain With the Wolf", which  follows, is a passionate mid-tempo track, angry and bitter. "The Mouth of Judas" is a sorrowful ballad, which climaxes almost flawlessly with excellent guitarwork throughout. The title track moves slowly from slow  melodies into wild Celtic folk riffs , full of energy. Finally, "Bloodied yet Unbound" sounds like a terrfiying recitation of AA Neamthanga speaking on the behalf of the spirits, declaring his anger and determination, Bloodied Yet Unbound indeed!. Overall it is one of the finest moments of Primordial and a good album to listen if you are unfamiliar with the band and want to see if they are "doing it" for you.




92/100

Below is a live performance for "Bloodied Yet Unbound".

#12- Top of 2012

Mostly Autumn- Ghost Moon Orchestra (Mostly Autumn Records) 

Ghost Moon Orchestra is the 2012 release of British prog-rock band Mostly Autumn and is their 10th studio album in a career spanning almost two decades. It has all the engaging elements that are representative of the band, including amazing female vocals by Olivia Spernnan and male vocals by Bryan Josh, excellent musicianship filled with guitar and keyboard tunes (by Iain Jennings) and an overall engaging flow from beginning to end! The powerful vocals can be noted especially in the equally great "King of the Valley" and "Wild Eyes Skies". The album is full of eerie ambient ballads such as the "Unquiet Tears" without missing out on heavier songs lead by powerful male vocal such as the "Ghost Moon Orchestra" and songs guided by acoustic guitars such as the "Working Man". The mood is set by rather dark melodies and lyrics which are describing a scary and eerie environment around a campsite.  Overall, it is a very good example of English and Celtic folk/ prog that can be appreciated by both prog fans and first timers in this particular music field!


94/100

Below is a lyric video for the song "Wide Eyed Skies"

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#8 - Top of 2014

Ian Anderson - Homo Erraticus (KScope)


On number 8 of the top albums for 2014, is the underrated gem by Ian Anderson, the main man of Jethro Tull. This release was inspired by Ian Anderson's manager Gerald Bostock, discovering an old manuscript in a bookshop near his home in Linwell, England. This manuscript was a summary of events past, present and future (!) by British amateur historian Ernest T. Parritt, entitled Homo Britanicus Erraticus. The author himself later died in a sanatorium.
Gerald was inspired by the material in the book and by collaborating with Ian, this album was made as a concept album relating all human history through the lens of aforementioned book. The album is brilliant mixing the old Jethro Tull vibe with newer music elements and incredibly witty lyrics, allegorically speaking about modern lifestyle choices and the futility of all things.


 97/100

Below is the Lyric Video from "Enter the Uninvited", one of the many highlights of the album.

#14 - Top of 2014

Celtic Legacy- The Lie Of The Land (Eternal Legacy Records)

"The Lie of the Land" is the fourth album of Celtic Legacy, a heavy/folk metal band from Ireland. Although this was initially pegged as a solo release from Dave Morrissey, as the band had disbanded since 2009, it was eventually developed into the fourth full length record by Celtic Legacy, with the addition of vocalist  Ciarán Ennis.
This album is a exquisite blend of classic heavy metal music with Irish folk undertones, which while not apparent throughout the record, give it a genuine feel and set it apart from other records of the same sub-genre. Some of the highlights of the record include the single "My People" and the song from which the album took its name "The Lie of the land". The band has since not released anything else and there are no news regarding its future, which given the state of the line-up does not seem to bode too well. Let's hope we will hear some new music from them soon!


94/100

Below is a tribute video for Gary Moore with the Celtic Legacy song "Emerald Eye" (from this record)  playing on the back . This was the only video relevant to this album that we could find!