33 Words on 33 Albums from 2015 (Part 2)

Here’s 33 more words on 11 more albums! Is a theme emerging? I can’t really tell. There are some albums in this list that are probably top-ten material. Can you guess which ones??

Thou / The Body – You, Whom I Have Always Hated (Black vinyl)

The follow-up to 2014’s Released from Love. It is wholly irresponsible to allow these bands to continue collaborating. We are but mere mortals, impotently plugging our ears against the unrelenting bellows of gods.

Sunn 0))) – Kannon 

I don’t know if a drone band can strip down, but it feels that way on the almighty Sunn 0)))’s Kannon. This is the organic confluence of roots and wires, the primal techno-body.

Cattle Decapitation – The Anthropocene Extinction (Compact Disc)

How this band went from a quasi-joke Locust side-project to the best death metal band to maybe ever exist is beyond me. Like Monolith of Inhumanity before it, this record is effectively flawless.

Expo 70 – Solar Drifting (Gold cassette)

A collection of singles from 2008-2011, Solar Drifting still manages to feel cohesive. This is what it sounds like when a guitar mainlines psilocybin and chills on the edge of a black hole.

Cold Waste / Burnt Hair – Burnt Waste (White cassette)

Burnt Hair / Ars Phoenix – Shinju (Black cassette)

Three bands! Two cassettes! One grand ol’ time! Burnt Hair’s murky, harsh bedroom synth mixes well with Cold Waste’s frigid post-punk and Ars Phoenix’s gothic euphoria. Solid representation of the 80s revival scene.

Moving Mountains / Prawn – Split LP (Blue vinyl)

This record makes me think Steven and I do control the universe, albeit unpredictably. Moving Mountains’ soaring post-rock emo combines with Prawn’s twinkly and sparkly ebullience in a celebration of heart and soul.

Torche – Restarter (White tape)

It feels like this album came out forever ago, and, checking the stats, it did. Steve’s vocals aside, this is the most Florche record since Meanderthal. Still poppy, but the riffs got bigger.

Jenny Hval – Apocalypse, girl (Black vinyl)

I read through a few Best Of lists and this album was conspicuously missing. Are we really letting this feminist dream pop gem fly totally under the radar? I’m disappointed in you, everyone.

Cult Leader – Lightless Walk (Black cassette)

It should come as no surprise that 3/4ths of the walking monstrosity Gaza continues to make music that can really only be described as painfully ugly. This is like a more straightforward Coalesce.

Senior Fellows – Shallow Grave for a Dying God (Red marble vinyl)

Oklahoma second-best export and certainly it’s evilest. Senior Fellows follows up an excellent 2013 debut with another offering of Thou-esque politically minded doom. This album consists of riffs and sacrilege. No complaints here!

Diat – Positive Energy (Black vinyl)

Sean is a good friend and told me to stop being stupid and listen to this album. “It’s this year’s Typical System,” he said. He’s not wrong! It’s like Joy Division with muscles.

If you actually want to hear something from Kannon, just search for it. If you don’t find that Peppa Pig video funny, I’mma pray for you. The final eleven albums get revealed tomorrow!