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General Chat => Music => Topic started by: Barrington Boots on 19 November, 2020, 11:44:12 AM

Title: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Barrington Boots on 19 November, 2020, 11:44:12 AM
Despite almost everything else being awful 2020 has been a good year for music for me - one of the benefits of 8 months working at home is that I've had time to explore new releases and really get into a lot of new music whereas in previous years I've got a bit jaded and struggled to get into more than a couple of records.

I think my 2020 top ten in terms of pure enjoyment (in no order) would be:

Magic Sword - Endless
Temple of Void - The World That Was (topical title on this one!)
Wayfarer - A Romance with Violence
Eternal Champion - Ravening Iron
Just Before Dawn - An Army at Dawn
Black Royal - Firebride
Lord Vigo - Danse De Noir
Paradise Lost - Obsidian
Villagers of Ionna City - Age of Acquarius
The Wizar'd - Subterranean Exile

I've also enjoyed the new stuff by Ulver, Moscow Death Brigade, We are Magonia, Bergeton, Graceless, Ectoplague, Elay Arson..

With music being highly subjective and emotive I don't expect anyones choices to align with mine, but I'm interested to hear what fellow Squaxx's favourite records of 2020 were and I'll totally listen to them if I can.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Greg M. on 19 November, 2020, 08:26:58 PM
Kull - Exile
Ulver - Flowers of Evil
Cirith Ungol - Forever Black
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Funt Solo on 19 November, 2020, 11:41:12 PM
I don't get drawn much to albums these days and instead tend to surf the Youtube algorithms of my cache. Sometimes I wonder if the visual interest is outweighing the aural. So, erm, this is my playlist of no year whatsoever. But it's my 2020.

- Childish Gambino - This Is America
- Twenty One Pilots - Ride
- Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
- Empire of the Sun - We Are The People
- Public Enemy - State of the Union (STFU)
- Lorde - Royals
- Goyte - Somebody That I Used to Know
- Charles Bradley covers Changes
- Chris Rodriguez & the Spoon Lady: Angels in Heaven
- Steve 'n' Seagulls cover Thunderstruck

Well, some of those are from 2020. Also, if you need to lead your clan to battle you could do worse than hire these fellas to keep the morale up: Clanadonia (https://youtu.be/fwWmcMz0ZVk)
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Barrington Boots on 20 November, 2020, 09:58:22 AM
Quote from: Greg M. on 19 November, 2020, 08:26:58 PM
Kull - Exile
Ulver - Flowers of Evil
Cirith Ungol - Forever Black

That Ulver album is sublime and builds on ..Julius Ceaser which is the first time for a while I can remember where they haven't totally changed sound. Would have been in my top 10 but for it being a very sad listen, menaing I haven't played it so much in this dark year.
I'm listening to the Cirith Ungol now. Lovely 80s style production on it.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Lorenzo on 20 November, 2020, 11:06:50 AM
Quote from: Barrington Boots on 19 November, 2020, 11:44:12 AM
Despite almost everything else being awful 2020 has been a good year for music for me - one of the benefits of 8 months working at home is that I've had time to explore new releases and really get into a lot of new music whereas in previous years I've got a bit jaded and struggled to get into more than a couple of records.

I think my 2020 top ten in terms of pure enjoyment (in no order) would be:

Magic Sword - Endless
Temple of Void - The World That Was (topical title on this one!)
Wayfarer - A Romance with Violence
Eternal Champion - Ravening Iron
Just Before Dawn - An Army at Dawn
Black Royal - Firebride
Lord Vigo - Danse De Noir
Paradise Lost - Obsidian
Villagers of Ionna City - Age of Acquarius
The Wizar'd - Subterranean Exile

I've also enjoyed the new stuff by Ulver, Moscow Death Brigade, We are Magonia, Bergeton, Graceless, Ectoplague, Elay Arson..

With music being highly subjective and emotive I don't expect anyones choices to align with mine, but I'm interested to hear what fellow Squaxx's favourite records of 2020 were and I'll totally listen to them if I can.
God, this post makes me feel old - or you live in an alternate (death metal?) universe - I've never even heard of any of these groups, let alone listened to them  :lol:
I'm still very much one of those people that buys physical copies of music - you know, those shiny silver things - and I actually buy quite a lot.

Still, the best I can come up with for this year off the top of my head is:

Bombay Bicycle Club - Everything Else Has Gone Wrong
I Break Horses - Warnings
Tame Impala - The Slow Rush
Bibio - Sleep on the Wing

I have a strong suspicion this isn't your kind of thing... !!
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Greg M. on 20 November, 2020, 12:46:33 PM
Quote from: Barrington Boots on 20 November, 2020, 09:58:22 AM
I'm listening to the Cirith Ungol now. Lovely 80s style production on it.
Yeah - The Frost Monstreme is a particularly excellent track. The Kull record is my album of the year though - Bal-Sagoth but with a different singer. I hadn't realised what a Jonny and Chris Maudling-shaped gap there was in my musical life till this came along and reminded me of the glory days of Starfire Burning.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Barrington Boots on 20 November, 2020, 02:31:58 PM
Quote from: Lorenzo on 20 November, 2020, 11:06:50 AM
God, this post makes me feel old - or you live in an alternate (death metal?) universe - I've never even heard of any of these groups, let alone listened to them  :lol:
I'm still very much one of those people that buys physical copies of music - you know, those shiny silver things - and I actually buy quite a lot.

I am also pretty old but I do live in a bit of a death metal bubble.
Physical consumption of music is 100% the way to go! 2020 has been good for me for having time to listen to records on Youtube / Bandcamp a few times to let them sink in, but then I much prefer buying an actual CD (or vinyl, if feeling flush) so enjoy properly with a sleeve and everything.

Quote from: Lorenzo on 20 November, 2020, 11:06:50 AMI have a strong suspicion this isn't your kind of thing... !!

Doesn't matter, hopefully everyone who comments will have some very different stuff! Outside of what you might hear on the radio, music needs to click with the listener on a personal level somehow so I wouldn't expect anyone to agree with me really.
I suspect it might be the case that these aren't my thing too, but I like hearing new music and I haven't heard of any of these records, so I'll check them out.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Barrington Boots on 20 November, 2020, 02:40:11 PM
Quote from: Greg M. on 20 November, 2020, 12:46:33 PM
the glory days of Starfire Burning.

"The bloodying is at hand!"
We used to listen to that a lot in my university days. I haven't heard any Bal-Sagoth in years.

Digging the Cirith Ungol. I skipped it on release because I thought it might suck, I was wrong.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: sintec on 20 November, 2020, 02:48:24 PM
I've been trying to cut back on CDs this year. Now I'm not commuting by car I find I tend to just listen to everything by streaming it off my server. Oh and I've also been warned that once I've filled my cabinet (about 100 more CDs) it's one in one out so I'm being picky.  Still buying vinyl for anything which has great cover art but otherwise it's digital from bandcamp mostly.

Anyway this years picks for me would be:


The art from that Somatics EP:
(https://img.discogs.com/jelzZyxSDpq-3vuI9hDimB41ZsU=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-16235705-1605735306-3670.jpeg.jpg)
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: BPP on 20 November, 2020, 02:49:34 PM
Idles
Space Dimension Controller
Shed
Ellen Allien
Metz
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Barrington Boots on 23 November, 2020, 11:23:41 AM
Quote from: sintec on 20 November, 2020, 02:48:24 PM


  • Oranssi Pazuzu - Mestarin Kynsi
  • Theologian & Lament Cityscape - Soft tissue (primarily for the cracking cover of PILs The Order of Death on the digital re-release)
  • Killdren - Dismembers Of Parliment
  • Clipping - Visions Of Bodies Being Burned
  • JG Thirlwell & Simon Steensland ‎– Oscillospira
  • 3Phaz - Three Phase
  • Human Impact - Human Impact
  • Somatic Responses ‎– Interlinked EP (ordered the limited print of the art for this as well as the 12" as it's gorgeous)
  • Monolog - Everything At Zero
  • Metalogue - Anomaly

Been listening and some really interesting stuff on this list!
That Somantic art is great. I think great art is something that suffers on digital releases and is one of the reasons I keep buying CDs and vinyl.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Barrington Boots on 23 November, 2020, 01:40:13 PM
Quote from: Lorenzo on 20 November, 2020, 11:06:50 AM
I Break Horses - Warnings

I'm enjoying this!
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: sintec on 25 November, 2020, 03:49:42 PM
Loved that Wayfarer album.  Hadn't heard of them before will definitely be giving that another listen and may grab a copy at some point.

The Eternal Chamion isn't my kind of thing, a bit too Man-O-War for my tastes. Commenting mostly to say that album cover has some of the most ludicrous boobs I've seen in a while (and I rewatched Heavy Metal at the weekend so that's saying something).

Liking the Just Before Dawn so far.  Reminding me of classic Bolt Thrower.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Barrington Boots on 25 November, 2020, 04:43:15 PM
Quote from: sintec on 25 November, 2020, 03:49:42 PM
Loved that Wayfarer album.  Hadn't heard of them before will definitely be giving that another listen and may grab a copy at some point.

I think this is probably the 'best' album on my list. It's a really immersive listen.
There's been a lot of use of folk instruments and sounds in BM over the years but this is the first band I've heard doing it with American folk ("cowboy music")
Their previous album is well worth checking out too if you liked this.

Quote from: sintec on 25 November, 2020, 03:49:42 PMThe Eternal Chamion isn't my kind of thing, a bit too Man-O-War for my tastes. Commenting mostly to say that album cover has some of the most ludicrous boobs I've seen in a while (and I rewatched Heavy Metal at the weekend so that's saying something).

Yes and yes... I don't really like Manowar but I do like this, it's got an earthier feel to it, less bombastic. It's very much of that ilk though.
The cover is awful. Yet on some levels, amazing.

Quote from: sintec on 25 November, 2020, 03:49:42 PMLiking the Just Before Dawn so far.  Reminding me of classic Bolt Thrower.

Totally! If you're going to listen to band heavily influenced by Boly Thrower this is the best one! Different vocalist on each track.

Really chuffed you checked these out and liked a couple!
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Magnetica on 25 November, 2020, 09:36:28 PM
I hadn't heard of Wayfarer before, but off the back of the comments on this thread I had a listen. The music seems really good, but I just can't get on with that vocal style, so it's a pass for me.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: sintec on 26 November, 2020, 05:05:44 PM
Liking the Villagers of Ionna City one too.  Gonna play this to my partner at the weekend think she will really dig it.

Quote from: Barrington Boots on 25 November, 2020, 04:43:15 PM
Really chuffed you checked these out and liked a couple!

Always good to check out some new stuff. I drifted away from metal a bit in the 2000s and rediscovered it again in the 2010s when I stopped DJ'ing and clubbing quite so much. There's so much out there these days I find the best way to find new stuff is following recommendations from friends and internet forums.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: NapalmKev on 29 November, 2020, 07:08:46 AM
Not much for me this year which is rare as music is my primary concern. Apologies Tharg!

Sepultura - Quadra. Excellent follow-up to Machine Messiah which itself was a stunning return to form, IMO.

From the album - Isolation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2nZ3n8_e3k)
                          Guardians of Earth (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yNxUYIEkuA)

Brave The Cold - Scarcity. New Death/Grind project featuring Mitch Harris (Napalm Death) and Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth). Great debut album and quite a lot of noise for a two-piece outfit.

From the album - Blind Eye (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEBmxtir57k)
                          Hallmark of Tyranny (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVwjA6WjJL8)
Both of these songs have really good animated videos.


Rajju Baba - Shamanic. Which is an hour long mix of some of the artists previous releases and can be found Here. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K4omt7P_ps)


And not forgetting Napalm Death - Throes Of Joy In The Joys Of Defeatism which I may have mentioned before on this forum.


Cheers
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: dweezil2 on 29 November, 2020, 11:43:28 AM
Old school hard rock and metal fan here, as well as most other genres.

Albums that I listened to this year were a bit thin on the ground to be honest.
But Ozzy Osbourne's, Ordinary Man album hit me in the feels and there were excellent albums from Grunge stalwarts, Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots.
Iron Maiden released the simply magnificent live album, Nights Of The Dead, Legacy Of The Beast Live In Mexico City which must rank as one of their best (up the Irons!!).
The criminally underrated British rock band, UFO also released the definitive 8 disc version of their seminal live album, Strangers In The Night, an absolutely essential purchase.

Of releases next year, I'm particularly excited to hear the new album from another unjustly ignored British band, Thunder, with Danny Bowes still having one of the finest voices in rock.

It should prove to be a hard rocking new year, whatever else it promises!
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Barrington Boots on 30 November, 2020, 09:29:11 AM
Quote from: dweezil2 on 29 November, 2020, 11:43:28 AM
Iron Maiden released the simply magnificent live album, Nights Of The Dead, Legacy Of The Beast Live In Mexico City which must rank as one of their best (up the Irons!!).

Agree on this, it's a brilliant live album. Good to hear stuff like The Clansman live as well instead of a lot of the usual suspects. Wasn't out when I posted my list else it'd have been on it for sure.

Quote from: dweezil2 on 29 November, 2020, 11:43:28 AMThunder

... :o
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Barrington Boots on 30 November, 2020, 09:31:46 AM
Quote from: sintec on 26 November, 2020, 05:05:44 PM
Liking the Villagers of Ionna City one too.  Gonna play this to my partner at the weekend think she will really dig it

Hope she did. I find a lot of bands of this style quite ordinary but this album is pretty special. I love the incorporation of the Turkish bagpipes. There's some awesome bands coming out of Greece at the moment.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Barrington Boots on 30 November, 2020, 09:39:23 AM
Quote from: NapalmKev on 29 November, 2020, 07:08:46 AM
Brave The Cold - Scarcity. New Death/Grind project featuring Mitch Harris (Napalm Death) and Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth). Great debut album and quite a lot of noise for a two-piece outfit.

This is pretty cool!
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: sintec on 30 November, 2020, 02:38:29 PM
Quote from: Barrington Boots on 30 November, 2020, 09:31:46 AM
Hope she did. I find a lot of bands of this style quite ordinary but this album is pretty special. I love the incorporation of the Turkish bagpipes.

Yeah went down well.  Think this and the Wayfarer will be joining the ever growing to-buy list.

Listening to the Wayfarer again today reminded me of Horseback https://horseback.bandcamp.com/album/the-invisible-mountain They're another band who are somewhere on the margins of black metal and incorporating all kinds of other influences into their sound.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Barrington Boots on 01 December, 2020, 10:49:55 AM
Quote from: sintec on 30 November, 2020, 02:38:29 PM
Listening to the Wayfarer again today reminded me of Horseback

I'd never heard of this band but I'm really enjoying it so far. It's desoltae stuff which I fond really evocative.

After this I'm giving the new Pearl Jam a try as recommended by dweezil2, for a proper styles clash.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: dweezil2 on 01 December, 2020, 09:28:38 PM
Quote from: Barrington Boots on 30 November, 2020, 09:29:11 AM
Quote from: dweezil2 on 29 November, 2020, 11:43:28 AM
Iron Maiden released the simply magnificent live album, Nights Of The Dead, Legacy Of The Beast Live In Mexico City which must rank as one of their best (up the Irons!!).

Agree on this, it's a brilliant live album. Good to hear stuff like The Clansman live as well instead of a lot of the usual suspects. Wasn't out when I posted my list else it'd have been on it for sure.

Quote from: dweezil2 on 29 November, 2020, 11:43:28 AMThunder

... :o

Glad you enjoyed the Maiden album as much as me, dude!!!

Give the Thunder album Robert Johnson's Tombstone a go, an absolute corker!  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: DrRocka on 02 December, 2020, 12:08:20 AM
The Wildhearts - 30 Year Itch is the best live album since No Sleep Til Hammersmith to my ears, an absolute belter.

Other than that, Pearl Jam - Gigaton got me through summer lockdown. Album of the year for me.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: dweezil2 on 02 December, 2020, 10:28:20 AM
Quote from: DrRocka on 02 December, 2020, 12:08:20 AM
Other than that, Pearl Jam - Gigaton got me through summer lockdown. Album of the year for me.

Yeah GIGATON was a great album.
Had tickets to see Vedder and the boys at Hyde Park, until COVID put the kibosh on the whole escapade!!!  :'(
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: DrRocka on 02 December, 2020, 10:47:41 AM
Gutted for you there, dweezil, but I think they're rescheduling?
Last time I saw 'em was (I think) on the Backspacer tour in Manchester with Gomez supporting. One of the best gigs I've ever seen! Stone Gossards amp caught fire halfway through. Eddie lit a joint on it and blissfully smoked throughout the chaos of roadies with fire extinguishers while the band played on. Nonchalant sod.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: pauljholden on 02 December, 2020, 11:17:03 AM
folklore for me, chums.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Leigh S on 02 December, 2020, 11:32:33 AM
Liar, Flower's (Katie Jane Garsides latest incarnation) Geiger Counter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT0SYaqKyFc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT0SYaqKyFc)

Adrienne Lenker's Songs and Instrumentals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKcQyUszdhw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKcQyUszdhw)

Fiona Apple's Fetch the Bolt Cutters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM63Tzv-uZg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM63Tzv-uZg)

and the one fifth of Jessica Lea Mayfield's album (Emotional Abandonment? Who knows!) release on 7 inch so far....Let's hope she goes with that as the title rather than the rather unsettling (but great) .....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUm1EJqQjzo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUm1EJqQjzo)

Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Definitely Not Mister Pops on 02 December, 2020, 12:31:59 PM
The Chats - High Risk Behaviour

Angry Aussie kids playing proper punk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDzalvW9J_U)

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - K.G

More 'Strayans. A bit disappointed they only managed one studio album this year, but they're always doing something new and weird (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05s4dEcAgMI)
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Magnetica on 06 December, 2020, 10:09:47 AM
Quote from: dweezil2 on 01 December, 2020, 09:28:38 PM
Quote from: Barrington Boots on 30 November, 2020, 09:29:11 AM
Quote from: dweezil2 on 29 November, 2020, 11:43:28 AM
Iron Maiden released the simply magnificent live album, Nights Of The Dead, Legacy Of The Beast Live In Mexico City which must rank as one of their best (up the Irons!!).

Agree on this, it's a brilliant live album. Good to hear stuff like The Clansman live as well instead of a lot of the usual suspects. Wasn't out when I posted my list else it'd have been on it for sure.

Quote from: dweezil2 on 29 November, 2020, 11:43:28 AMThunder

... :o

Glad you enjoyed the Maiden album as much as me, dude!!!

Give the Thunder album Robert Johnson's Tombstone a go, an absolute corker!  :thumbsup:

I'm a big Maiden fan too - the new live album seems to be getting roundly criticised on various Iron Maiden Facebook groups. That has put me off buying it, but then again I only have two of the many they have released over the years (Live After Death and Rock in Rio).
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Barrington Boots on 08 December, 2020, 01:02:48 PM
I haven't seen this but I am not big in social media. Why has it taken a kicking, out of interest?

I find live albums are often a bit pants in general, but I listened to this one online a few times first before investing in it.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Colin YNWA on 08 December, 2020, 01:13:36 PM
I assume the correct answer to this is 'Future Teenage Cave Artists' by Deerhoof, cos ya know Deerhoof. But I've not got around to buying it so some reason*.

*That reason being I'm a bloody idoit!
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Magnetica on 12 December, 2020, 08:23:35 PM
Quote from: Barrington Boots on 08 December, 2020, 01:02:48 PM
I haven't seen this but I am not big in social media. Why has it taken a kicking, out of interest?

I find live albums are often a bit pants in general, but I listened to this one online a few times first before investing in it.

I've not seen an actual reason given. The analysis was at the level "it's not very good". 😉
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: low down dirty drokker on 13 December, 2020, 12:24:25 PM
Billy nomates-No
Bill Fisher- mass hypnosis and the dark triad
Anything by the church of the cosmic skull.
Ian brown- ripples
The weeknd- after hours.
And finally...colour comics suck... Bring back black and white..
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: MumboJimbo on 13 December, 2020, 06:06:06 PM
I've been enjoying the album Sugungga by South Korean band LEENALCHI. They've had their songs used in a great tourism campaign recently:  https://youtu.be/ePrDTbeq5ws (https://youtu.be/ePrDTbeq5ws)
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: The Mind of Wolfie Smith on 14 December, 2020, 09:07:52 AM
Galore by Oklou

Transcendent, sad, beautiful and bewitching. I needed this album this autumn, it being 2020 and all that. And all the year's horribly familiar constrictions slipped away ...
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Barrington Boots on 14 December, 2020, 09:20:30 AM
Quote from: low down dirty drokker on 13 December, 2020, 12:24:25 PM
Anything by the church of the cosmic skull.

Yes to this.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: Barrington Boots on 14 December, 2020, 09:23:09 AM
Quote from: MumboJimbo on 13 December, 2020, 06:06:06 PM
I've been enjoying the album Sugungga by South Korean band LEENALCHI. They've had their songs used in a great tourism campaign recently:  https://youtu.be/ePrDTbeq5ws (https://youtu.be/ePrDTbeq5ws)

..wow... This is truly nuts and well worth worth a watch / listen.
Title: Re: Albums of the Year 2020
Post by: norton canes on 02 February, 2021, 12:41:36 PM
1. ATNA - Made By Desire
2. Belbury Poly - The Gone Away
3. Cabaret Voltaire - Shadow of Fear
4. Purity Ring - Womb
5. Mentrix - My Enemy My Love