IN ROTATION: Our most played albums in December 2018

GOTH MARK’S MUSICAL STIMULANTS

SEXTILE – A Thousand Hands

A high quality export from Los Angeles, calling themselves “Primitive post punk from outer space” – Sextile first landed in 2015 with their ‘A Thousand Hands’ debut album which exploded onto the scene with critical acclaim; bringing together influences such as The Cramps and The Birthday party to their sound. Hugely infectious and with boundless energy, tracks such as ‘Can’t Take It’ veer into stomping death rock territory that sound like a cross between Bauhaus and 45 Grave in the best possible way as a particular stand out track. Dark, brooding, and mysterious – Sextile find unique ways of boring into your brain.

Sear Bliss – Letters From The Edge

A band that has appeared in many metalhead’s album of the year lists, our Hungarian chums Sear Bliss have a comprehensive discography; blending together trumpets and trombones into their weird flavour of black metal that on paper sounds completely bonkers but works incredibly well indeed. ‘Letters From The Edge’ clearly shows the band are still at the height of their powers, and long may they explode people’s minds.

HOLYGRAM – Modern Cults

Hailing from Cologne, Germany – Holygram initially released a couple of EP’s (one of them being a remix) and then really ramped up the ante with their superb ‘Modern Cults’ album. Sounding like a darker, moodier New Order with shimmering guitars, clunking bass guitars, with a toe lightly dipped into synth wave influences help add an extra dimension to their sound – sounding the best 1980s goth band you’ve never heard. An absolute banger that narrowly missed my album of the year list.

Discharge – Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing

A band that needs no introduction and hugely influential upon the metal scene, Stoke on Trent’s Discharge blew the world apart back in 1982 with a searing, white hot punk scorcher that has burned itself into the musical landscape; leaving an indelible crater that felled all in its wake. The fact that Max Cavalera (ex-Sepultura) was spotted wearing their band shirts at gigs back in the day tells you all you need to know. If you don’t have this album in your collection, then quite frankly you’re not as metal as you think you are – and it’s advised that you address this right away.

Wiegedood – De Doden Hebben Het Goed III

Active since 2014 and rapidly going from strength to strength, Wiegedood (roughly translated as ‘Death in the Cradle’ or ‘Infant Death’ – depending on your interpretation) are a band that means business. Hailing from Ghent (a Flemish town more widely known for manufacturing the smaller ranges of Volvo cars), Wiegedood released an absolutely feral black metal attack, with musical tips taken from Burzum and Dissection – but adding their own raw identity to the proceedings that’s very old school black metal in its approach, to hugely addictive effect. The opening track ‘Prowl’ in its own right is a colossal tune that should have you stage diving from your coffee table.

Wildcard album: Abney Park -Through Your Eyes on Christmas Eve

What in actual fresh hell is this? A steam punk Christmas album? Yep, just when you think you’ve heard it all – self professed steam punk weirdos Abney Park released an album that’s based upon weird moody interpretations of popular Christmas anthems. Strangely charming in a Tim Burton-esque way, but inexplicably likeable and an enjoyable alternative to the endlessly tiresome sonic fluff that is belted out at nauseam for the last two months of every single bloody year – that is maddeningly inescapable. Strange, but true.