Diabolical Conquest Webzine Staff - Best Albums of 2007
Here is the list of albums which we self-appointed elites consider to be the best of 2007. We may not have heard each and every album that has been released in that year but we have heard enough music - both underground and mainstream - to come up with a list worthy enough for you to blindly spend your money on.
With the support of the labels, bands, and our wallets, we have tried to review as many albums as we could from the list (you will find them linked to our reviews) just so that you know why exactly we think so highly of them.
Kunal N. Choksi (India)
Demiurg - Breath of the Demiurg [Mascot Records]
Necros Christos - Triune Impurity Rites [Sepulchral Voice]
Tu Carne - Culto a la Muerte [Bizarre Leprous]
Impureza - Reincremation Split material [Nihilistic Holocaust]
Majestic Fall/Ansia - Split [Solitude Productions]
Deathevokation - Chalice of Ages [Xtreem Music]
Funebrarum / Interment Split [Conqueror of Thorns]
Syphilic - Erotishock Therapy [Cephalic Records]
Worship - Dooom [Endzeit Elegies]
Afgrund - Svarta Dagar [Lifestage Productions]
Longing for Dawn - A Treacherous Ascension [Grau Records]
Alcest - Souvenirs d'un autre monde [Profound Lore Records]
Immolation - Shadows In The Light [Listenable Records]
Defeated Sanity - Psalms of the Moribund [Grindethic Records]
Marblebog - Forestheart [Autopsy Kitchen Records]
Kauan - Lumikuuro [Badmood Man]
Funeralium - Funeralium [Total Rust Music]
Inveracity - Extermination of Millions [Unique Leader Records]
Undefined - Of Xenoglossy and Saturn [Scythecut Records]
Malignancy - Inhuman Grotesqueries [Willowtip Records]
Rubufaso Mukufo - Underclass (split material with Opitz) [Khaaranus Productions]
Aeon - Rise To Dominate [Metal Blade Records]
Eardelete - Zombielogy [Obscene Productions]
Inhume - Chaos Dissection Order [Osmose Productions]
Baz (UK)
Yacopsae - Tanz, Grosny, Tanz... [Obscene Productions]
Abscess - Horrorhammer [Peaceville/Tyrant Syndicate Records]
Afgrund - Svarta Dagar [Lifestage Productions]
Corpulate - Boundless Expansion [Comatose Music]
Crepitation/Kastrated/Ingested - Northwest Slamfest [Grindethic Records]
Defeated Sanity - Psalms of the Moribund [Grindethic Records]
Destructive Explosion of Anal Garland - Sealing off the Vagina by Sewer Lid [Bizarre Leprous Productions]
Devil Driver - Last Kind Words [Roadrunner Records]
Eardelete - Zombieology [Obscene Productions]
Feist - The Reminder
Foetopsy - In the Bathroom [Barbarian Records]
Human Rejection - Torture of Decimation [Pathologically Explicit Recordings]
Blood Duster - Lyden Na [Obscene Productions]
Richard Thompson - Sweet Warrior
Roisin Murphy - Overpowered
Splitter - Avskrackande Exemplar [Obscene Productions]
Tegan and Sara - The Con
theStart - Ciao Baby
Vanessa Carlton - Heroes and Thieves
Travis (US)
Diagnose: Lebesgefahr - Transformalin [Autopsy Kitchen]
Watain - Sworn to the Dark [Season of Mist]
Azrael - Act III: Self + Act IV: Goat [Moribund]
Wolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters [Southern Lord]
Bergraven - Dödsvisioner [Hydra Head]
Shining - V - Halmstad [Osmose Productions]
Candlemass - King of the Grey Islands [Nuclear Blast]
Darkthrone - FOAD [Peaceville]
Moonsorrow - V: Hävitetty [Spinefarm Records]
Månegarm - Vargstenen [Black Lodge Records]
Peste Noire - Folkfuck Folie [De Profundis]
Circle - Katapult [No Quarter]
(Not really metal, but I've been spinning it so much it deserves a mention. Their most eccentric, layered album yet.)
Grave Temple - The Holy Down [Southern Lord]
Acid Eater - Virulent Fuzz Punk A.C.I.D. [Time Bomb Records] (Also not metal, but ¯\(º_o)/¯ )
Impaled Nazarene - Manifest [Osmose Productions]
Sigh - Hangman's Hymn [The End Records]
Alcest - Souvenirs d'un autre monde [Profound Lore Records]
Therion - Gothic Kabbalah [Nuclear Blast] (Despite the odiously horrible album title...)
Electric Wizard - Witchcult Today [Rise Above Records]
Deathspell Omega - Fas - Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum [Ajna Offensive/Southern Lord]
Marblebog - Forestheart [Autopsy Kitchen]
Ride For Revenge - The King of Snakes [Northern Heritage]
Lifelover - Erotik [Total Holocaust]
Kauan - Lumikuuro [Bad Mood Man]
Seraphim Slaughter - Scum Terror [AIDS Needle]
Witchcraft - The Alchemist [Rise Above]
2007 Disappointments:
Dodheimsgard - Supervillain Outcast (The little Thorns that couldn't.)
Megadeth - United Abominations (Mustaine, why are you such a tool now?)
Nin Chan (Canada)
1. PALE DIVINE - Cemetary Earth
2. WITCHCRAFT - The Alchemist
3. REVEREND BIZARRE - III: So Long Suckers
4. NECROS CHRISTOS - Triune Impurity Rites
5. DARKTHRONE - F.O.A.D.
6. HIGH ON FIRE - Death is this Communion
7. OM - Pilgrimage
8. EARTHLESS - Rhythms from a Cosmic Sky
9. PRIMORDIAL - To the Nameless Dead
10. TROUBLE - Simple Mind Condition
Mike Reeves (UK) 1. Odious Mortem - Cryptic Implosion [Willowtip Records]
2. Scarve - The Undercurrent [Listenable Records]
3. Beneath the Massacre - Mechanics of Dysfunction [Prosthetic Records]
4. Cephalic Carnage - Xenosapien [Relapse Records]
5. Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works [Relapse Records]
6. Nile - Ithyphallic [Nuclear Blast]
7. Sickening Horror - When Landscapes Bled Backwards [Neurotic Records]
8. Dam - The Difference Engine [Candlelight Records]
9. Defeated Sanity - Psalms of the Moribund [Grindethic Records]
10. Martyrium Christi - We Will Kill ... for You! [Nice To Eat You Records]
Rob Aloi (US)
Anima Morte - Face the Sea of Darkness [Dead Beat Media]
Inquisition - Nefarious Dismal Orations [No Colours Records]
Electric Wizard - Witchcult Today [Rise Above Records]
Blood Freak - Multiplex Massacre [Razorback Records]
Nominon - Terra Necrosis [Deathgasm/Ibex Moon/Konqueror Records]
Defeated Sanity - Psalms of the Moribund [Grindethic Records]
Bestial Mockery - Slaying the Life [Season of Mist]
Type O Negative - Dead Again [SPV]
Fondlecorpse - Blood and Popcorn [Razorback Records]
Cobalt - Eater of Birds [Profound Lore Records]
Godless Rising - Battle Lords [Moribund Cult]
Anal Vomit - Depravation [Displeased Records]
Dodsferd - Cursing Your Will to Live [Moribund Cult]
Nunslaughter - Hex [Hells Headbangers]
Alex Donks (Netherlands)
I haven't heard a enormous amount of new stuff last year, but what I
have heard has been pretty good all around. Here are my picks for
good-to-great albums from 2007, in no particular order:
Cryfemal - Apoteosis Oculta [Oniric Records]:
Awesome Spanish black metal with
an old-school vibe, great riffs and excellent atmosphere.
Satriarch - S/T EP [Dark Realm Records]:
Don't let the symphonic black metal tag scare you off, this up-and-coming American act is all about
the riffs and uses the keys in a nice backing role.
Sael - Océan [Pictonian Records]:
A pretty cool, somewhat progressive black
metal act from France. Some really nice surprises here, but thankfully
nothing ridiculous. Solid songwriting that doesn't stay in the realm
of the mundane.
Bann - Antiocha [Grief Foundation]:
Medieval black metal with a
definite cinematic flair from Germany, which seems to have a monopoly
in bands like this. One to get lost in.
Plutonium - One Size Fits All [Khaoz Star Records]:
Riff-oriented
Swedish industrial black metal that tosses a mountain of influences
into a blender and creates a wholly new monster from the mangled
remains. Kicks serious ass.
Sauron - The Channeling Void [Carnal Records]:
Awesome Dutch black
metal band that beats the Swedish acts at their own game. Best Dutch
metal album of 2007 without a doubt.
Svartsyn - Timeless Reign [Carnal Records]:
One of the oldest (and
still most obscure) Swedish black metal acts still in existence and
they can still show how to make old-school, fast-paced black metal
without becoming stale. Serpentine riffs and truly demonic drumming.
Trist - Hin-Fort [Cold Dimensions]:
The black metal ambient project of
the frontman for the now-defunct Lunar Aurora. This exquisite 2-cd
digipack houses one hour of fully instrumental black metal in the vein
of Strid and another hour of soundtrackish ambient.
Black Funeral - Waters of Weeping [Behemoth Productions]:
Massive
changes compared to the last few albums because Diabolus from Vrolok
handled all the song-writing for this heavily thematic album. It takes
a while to get into, but it's definitely worth the effort.
Furze - UTD [Candlelight]:
Furze's split album with Furze. Be warned:
the Furzements contained in this aural document of Furze might be too
much for most to handle. Also, this is one of the coolest bands out
there.
The Ruins of Beverast - Rain upon the Impure [Van]:
Heavy,
experimental and apocalyptic, a nigh impenetrable wall of sound
hiding some of the most awe-inspiring material recorded last year.
Graveland - The Will Stronger than Death [No Colours]:
Graveland has
been getting progressively heavier with the last couple of albums and
this one sounds incredibly huge. The changes might be too few and too
small for some to bother with another new Graveland album, but I just
cannot get enough of Darken's bombast.
Graveland - Drunemeton [Forever Plagued Records]:
The first official
cd reissue of Graveland's third demo Drunemeton. It's a bit clumsy
perhaps, but very atmospheric, pretty eclectic in sound and very
sinister. It's not a huge jump from this to 'In the Glare...'. Also
contains 'Children of the Moon' (the one new track from the follow-up
promo 'Epilogue') as a bonus track.
Kroda - Fimbulvinter [Hammermark Art]:
And for the best album of the
year, the Ukrainian pagan black metal band Kroda. This pretty much
devastates the competition from their home country, which isn't a
small feat to be sure. This is simply some of the most inspiring pagan
metal I have ever heard. And the visual art is also sublime. For those
not turned off by nationalist ideologies, this is a must-have album.
And get the rest of their discography while you're at it.
Mütiilation - Sorrow Galaxies [End All Life]:
For the first time in ten years Mütiilation has real drums. This is just one of a bunch of positive changes, with the long and more involved songs being perhaps the second thing one notices. Astonishing return to form.
Belenos - Chemins de Souffrance [Northern Silence Productions]:
For the first time in ten years Belenos is back to being a one man band with a drum computer. The first half is a complete rerecording of the third demo and the second half is all new material in the vein of Belenos' first years. Belenos hasn't sounded this haunting in a while.
Krohm - The Haunting Presence [Debemur Morti Productions]:
One of the very few depressive USBM bands I can stand, Krohm not only doesn't dissapoint, but massively improves on the debut. The traditional doom metal influence is as present as ever, along with the nods to Norway and France, but this is still its own entity.
And now for my disappointment of the year -
Deathspell Omega - Fas - Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum [Norma
Evangelium Diaboli]:
Bland technical chaotic death metal with the
occasional black metal rehash of earlier material from Kenose and the
two splits spliced in at random. I do not see why everyone is creaming
their pants over this (and I loved everything they did up to this
point, so it's not like I set out to hate it). It's not innovative,
since bands like Cryptopsy already did this ages ago, the songwriting
is a clusterfuck, there's preciously few memorable riffs, the
drumming, while technical, is a complete detriment to the sound and
the christianity-in-reverse ideology they purloined from their Swedish
pals is an affront.
Roman Temin (US)
1. Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - In Glorious Times [The End Records]
2. Immolation - Shadows In the Light [Listenable Records]
3. Sigh - Hangman's Hymn [The End Records]
4. Primordial - To the Nameless Dead [Metal Blade Records]
5. Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet [Atlantic Records]
6. Root - Daemon Viam Invenient [Shindy Productions]
7. Portal - Outre [Profound Lore Records]
8. Deathevokation - The Chalice of Ages [Xtreem Music]
9. Monstrosity - Spiritual Apocalypse [Metal Blade Records]
10. Blackfield - II [Snapper/Atlantic]
11. Slough Feg - Hardworlder [Cruz Del Sur Music]
12. Deathspell Omega - Fas-Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternam [Norma Evangelium Diaboli]
13. Alchemist - Tripsis [Relapse Records/Chatterbox]
14. Watain - Sworn to the Dark [Season of Mist]
15. Melt-Banana - Bambi's Dilemma [A-Zap]
Chaossphere (New Zealand)
1. Dropkick Murphys - The Meanest of Times
2. Immolation - Shadows in the Light [Listenable Records]
3. Trimonium - Son of a Blizzard [Einheit Produktionen]
4. Nile - Ithyphallic [Nuclear Blast]
5. Shining - Halmstad [Osmose Productions]
6. Ulcerate - Of Fracture and Failure [Neurotic Records]
7. Aeon - Rise to Dominate [Metal Blade]
8. Vassafor - Vassafor [Asphyxiate Recordings]
9. Behemoth - The Apostasy [Regain Records]
10. Asphyxiate - Desolation [Self Released]
Adam Conrad (US)
The Top 3:
DEATHEVOKATION - THE CHALICE OF AGES (a new classic) [Xtreem Music]
ABSCESS - HORRORHAMMER (their best since Tormented and maybe their best over all) [Peaceville/Tyrant Syndicate Records]
EX DEMENTIA - THOU SHALL REPULSE (youthful exuberance) [Kitchen Vomit Records]
The gap between Abscess and Ex Dementia is rather large, but newer band Ex Dementia brings some much needed fun to this year's list of DeathMetal gold
Keep in mind I have STILL YET TO HEAR the new Monstrosity!!!
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10 Other Gems from 2007 in alphabetical order:
Estuary-The Craft of Contradiction [Ibex Moon Records]
(much stronger, and more focused than the debut)
Evocation-Tales from the Tomb [Cyclone Empire Records]
(glorious early 90's Swedish style bliss)
Funebrarum/Interment-Conjuration of the Sepulchral [Conqueror of Thorns]
(Proud Bastions of dark, morbid and obscure Death meet with an Army of returning corpses to the battlefield)
Graveyard - Into the Mausoleum [Self Released demo]
New Spanish band bringing back the glory of the early 90's Scandinavian and South American style!!!
Immolation - Shadows in the Light [Listenable Records]
(their best in many years)
Malevolent Creation - Doomsday X [Nuclear Blast]
(it grew on me, too bad the production is a little weird)
Mandatory -…Where they Bleed demo [Asphyxiate Recordings]
(best demo band going today!)
Obituary - Xecutioner's Return [Candlelight Records]
(it's Obituary…)
Nerlich - Defabricated Process [Old School Metal Records]
(trend defying DeathMetal that reminds me of Adramelech mixed with Pestilence!)
Scent of Flesh - Deform in Torture [Firebox Records]
(a band reinventing themselves and setting a new standard for their own career)
Best albums of 2007 according to some of the respected and best labels in the scene
We thought you would find it interesting to know which 2007 albums the label heads of some of the finest labels in the scene today thought to be the best. Here are their lists -
Curby / Obscene Productions (Czech Republic)
INSECT WARFARE - World Extermination CD
(Definitely absolutely devastating grindcore album!!! It has everything, in one word - tornado!!)
BLOODY PHOENIX - War, Hate And Misery CD
(100% blistering, straight forward grindcore!!! A real must have for all grindcore fans!!!)
SPLITTER - Avskräckande Exemplar CD
(excellent new Swedish grind band with excellent full length album!!! This record that takes grindcore to next level!!!)
YACOPSAE - Tanz, Grosny, Tanz... CD
(this is exactly how to play short + fast + loud!!! Stop and go grind/fastcore fury!!!)
CRIPPLE BASTARDS - Blackmails And Assholism 2x DVD
(no other underground band did something like CRIPPLE on this DVD, it´s simply unbelievable document about 20 years of one very extreme band!!!)
PLANET TERROR Movie - I must mention this movie in my top 10, it´s gore, it´s fun, it´s everything!!! Funny and brutal!!!)
IMPALED NAZARENE - Manifest CD
(they were always cool band and probably they always will be till the end!!! Nuclear metal forever!!!)
IMPALED - The Last Gasp CD
(what a great and sick gore metal!!! Forget their previous really abortive album, this is what we love on IMPALED!!! Catchy riffs, sick cover and true metal slaughter!!!)
BLOOD DUSTER - Lyden Na 2xCD
(aussie sickos back on new album!!! One disc is sexy drink'n'roll, second one is true grindcore mayhem, then third is one big doom joke!!)
PIG DESTROYER - Phantom Limb CD
(they really suprised me!!! I never been their fan but this record is excellent!!!)
Tom & Rhino / Grindethic Records (UK)
Beneath The Buried And Me - Colors
Cenotaph - Reincarnation In Gorextasy
Cephalotripsy - Uterovaginal Insertion of Extirpated Anomalies
Defeated Sanity - Psalms Of The Moribund
Dodsferd - Cursing Your Will To Live
Fen - Ancient Sorrow
Inveracity - Extermination Of Millions
Katalepsy - Musick Brings Injuries
Mucopus - Undimensional
Odious Mortem - Cryptic Implosion
Pyrexia - Age Of The Wicked
Watain - Sworn To The Black
Billy Nocera / Razorback Records (USA)
DENIAL FIEND - They Rise
FAITHXTRACTOR - Razing the World of Myth
BLOOD FREAK - Multiplex Massacre
DEATHEVOKATION - The Chalice of Ages
HOODED MENACE - The Eyeless Horde (demo)
VACANT COFFIN - The Thrashed Supper (demo)
FATALIST - Loss (demo)
Ruud / Neurotic Records (Netherlands) Divine Heresy - Bleed The Filth
Madball - Infiltrate The System
Watain - Sworn To The Dark
Marduk - Rom 5:12
Behemoth - The Apostacy
Ulcerate - Of Fracture And Failure
Queens Of The Stone Age - Era Vulgaris
Sickening Horror - When Landscapes Bled Backwards
The Opposites - Begin Twintig
Wumpscut - Body Census
Primordial - To The Nameless Dead
Disavowed - Stagnated Existence
Severe Torture - Sworn Vengeance
The New Dominion - 3-track promo
Makoto / Weird Truth Productions (Japan)
Worship - Dooom
Evocation - Tales from the Tomb
Candlemass - King of the Grey Island
Portal - Outre Brob - Empty Life
Imindain - And the Living Shall Envy the Dead
Novembre - the Blue
Reverend Bizarre - III: So Long Suckers
Funeralium - s/t
The Fall Of Every Season - From Bellow
Gad / Total Rust Music (Israel)
Funeralium S/T
Night Must Fall - Dissonance Of Thought
Mary Bell S/T
Atavist - II: Ruined
Aldebaran - Dwellers In Twilight
Fleshpress - Pillars
Mourning Dawn S/T
Sauron - The Channeling Void
Gallhammer - Ill Innocence
Lazarus
Blackstar - Funeral Voyeur
Darragh / Invictus Productions (Ireland)
Necros Christos - Triune Impurity Rites CD
Negative Plane - Et In Saecula Saeculorum LP (CD came out in 06, but the LP in 07)
Drowned - Viscera Terrae MCD
Primordial - To The Nameless Dead LP
Diocletian - Decimator MCD
Toroidh - Segervittring CD
Nifelheim - Envoy of Lucifer CD
Deathspell Omega - Fas - Ite, Maledicti...
Rotting Christ - Theogonia CD
Repugnant - Epitome of Darkness LP (finally released in 07)
Desaster - Satan's Soldier's Syndicate CD/LP
Immolation - Shadows in the Light CD
Angelcorpse - Of Lucifer & Lightning CD/LP
Kaamos - Scalves of Leviathan MCD
Roman / Bizarre Leprous Productions (Czech Republic)
Sublime Cadaveric Decomposition - Inventory of Fixtures
Rompeprop - "Menstrual Stomphulk" MCD
new JIG-AI full CD/dig
Rompeprop new CD/digi
Impetigo/Ingrowing split picture EP!!!
FID full CD
Masakatsu / Amputated Vein Records (Japan) Cephalotripsy - Uterovaginal Insertion of Extirpated Anomalies
Condemned - Desecrate The Vile
Defeated Sanity - Psalms Of The Moribund
Guttural Engorgement - The Slow Decay of Infested Flesh
Infernal Revulsion - Devastate Under Hallucination
Katalepsy - Musick Brings Injuries
Mucopus - Undimensional
Pencil Lead Syringe - Suffocated And Embalmed
Putridity - Mental Prolapse Induced Necrophilism
Suffocated Bastard - Acts Of Contemporary Violence
Tomasz / Time Before Time Records (Poland)
Nun Slaughter
Profanatica
Sepurchral Aura
Chainsaw (Chile)
Witchtrap
Revelation Of Doom
Bestial Mockery
Immolation
Diabolic Force
Obituary
Graveland
Forgotten Woods
Michael / Mighty Music (Denmark)
69 eyes
Amorphis
Audrey Horne
Biffy Clyro
Bloc Party
Bruce Springsteen
Candlemass
Clutch
Crash Diet
Dark Tranquility
Eden's Curse
Editors
Entombed
Gorefest
Kamelot
Machine Head
Masterplan
Pagan's Mind
Paradise Lost
Poodles, The
Primordial
Ritche Kotzhen
Rush
Symphony X
Vicious Art
Volbeat
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