Metal continues to evolve quickly and this year saw Iron Maiden end their longest studio drought, death metal icons make triumphant comebacks, djent become even broader and black metal become even darker. Furthermore, several bands with potential were introduced that are sure to become major influences.
Where Owls Know My Name
Rivers Of Nihil has always produced outstanding work, but in Where Owls Know My Name they seem to have found the formula for death metal as art form. The album takes the concept of changing seasons and decay into new directions without losing track of what makes the band unique; from jazzy paradiddles, clean chordal sections, atmospheric space-fillers topped off with dynamic technical death metal that blasts your mind away to more personal lyrics dealing with themes like depression and loneliness – where Owls Know My Name seems like their masterpiece!
Technical death metal bands frequently struggle with maintaining their brand and aesthetic while at the same time exploring new influences. Doing this successfully is often very challenging, particularly when changing genres to create albums like Where Owls Know My Name by RIVERS OF NIHIL. They have managed to successfully do just this with Where Owls Know My Name.
Indeed, this album marks a distinct change to their previous releases and marks their first venture into exploring atmosphere, non-standard instruments, and even death metal saxophone elements – making this album truly remarkable and sure to please many listeners.
This album is an esoteric feast sure to delight fans and surprise newcomers alike. While still featuring technical death metal elements, less emphasis was put on riffs than on filling your mind’s infinite staging room during listening sessions with music that floated like Pink Floyd songs while rocked like Dream Theater ones and ached like post-metal opus songs on this record.
Where Owls Know My Name is an astonishing work of death metal music that may become the standard-bearer for generations to come. No other band could match what this album has achieved and should serve as an inspiration for acts around the world to find what their own artistic expression can achieve when given free reign to follow their muse.
Rivers Of Nihil
Rivers of Nihil has made clear with the release of their fifth full-length album, The Work, that they no longer content themselves with simply creating technical death metal music. Instead, this collection showcases their melodic side in an impressive manner while showing their depth and sophistication as a band.
Rivers of Nihil’s latest album features unconventional instrumentations and musical expression from all corners of metal music, taking influence from diverse corners of metal and beyond. An extremely introspective record that balances its more violent moments with emotional weight.
Production wise, the album is generally well-produced, showcasing the complex musicianship of drummer Ron Nelson and bassist Adam Biggs to its fullest extent. Riffs range from crunchy slams, rapid fire death metal tremolos and chaotic crawling blackened riffage – and move from crunchy slams, rapid fire death metal tremolos, chaotic crawling blackened riffage all within an engaging listen. Wave after wave comes and takes control before returning back into an immersive crushingly heavy groove – repeat!
Old Nothing may be pulverizing and abrasive, yet its emotional depth makes it much more meaningful and emotional than anything the band had previously produced. Dreaming Black Clockwork offers stunning instrumental interlude while The Void From Which No Sound Escapes provides swirling sonic kaleidoscope that will appeal to a range of listeners.
Even though it might seem surprising to some to see a tech-death band take such a unique direction, The Work is an approach that works incredibly well for them. While more prog-death than many might expect might come as a shocker at first, that’s part of what makes them great – they dare to step outside of their comfort zone while not falling flat on their faces like another band from Missouri that also begins with “O”. For technical death metal fans looking for something fresh yet familiar The Work is the album for them! If you enjoy technical death metal but get bored easily then The Work is the album for you – if that sounds familiar then The Work album won’t disappoint either!
Jinjer
Jinjer have continued the momentum built from their 2009 debut release with Ukrainian metal by creating something their own way and breaking every rule in heavy metal’s rulebook. Wallflowers is no exception: its signature progressive groove metal sound has been elevated into an emotionally charged blend of technical musicianship and emotional fury to match today’s ever-intensifying world conflict situation.
Jinjer quickly hit the road following their debut release Inhale, Do Not Breathe and quickly garnered recognition across Europe and beyond. While many bands in their position might settle with what has already been accomplished, Jinjer are eager to continue and strive to become one of metal’s leading exports.
With their debut LP Demon Bitch, Demon Flayer are on the cusp of becoming an unparalleled force within traditional heavy metal music. Riffs are massive while vocals are explosive – this album should not be missed by fans of heavy metal!
This album should not be taken lightly and will leave listeners stunned by their incredible skills and capabilities. Their uncompromising and often brutal music adds another level of interest, while every detail of production was given careful thought.
This album’s lineup differs significantly from its predecessor; Maksym Fatullaiev departed to America and Tatiana Shmailyuk was brought in as his replacement, joining bassist Eugene Abdukhanov, guitarist Roman Ibramkhalilov and drummer Vladislav Ulasevish in its ranks.
Marrow of the Spirit by Agalloch is an explosive metal album and deserves to top this list. A testament to both their immense talents as musicians as well as Agalloch’s uncanny ability to defy expectations and produce something truly remarkable, they once more raised expectations for what can be expected from modern metal bands with Marrow of the Spirit; an album which could easily have found itself at number one!
Chevalier
Heavy metal music 2010 saw many classic 1980s bands make impressive comebacks with new albums, from Iron Maiden ending their longest studio drought with The Final Frontier to death metal icons like King Diamond and Mercyful Fate returning with incredible new material, Norwegian veterans such as Enslaved, Darkthrone Kylesa Godflesh all contributing new material while black metal continued pushing its limits with artists like Agatus Gorguts showing their songwriting ability.
In the 2010s, new metal bands began emerging, particularly those in genres such as technical death metal, doom metal, noise and experimental subgenres like noise. Thrash saw numerous bands reinvent their sound with innovative new ideas and approaches reviving old styles and approaches.
Here are the finest examples of heavy metal music from 2010. Agalloch’s Marrow of the Spirit was an underrated release. After four years without releasing their fourth full length album, they released one that was as dark and heavy as it was mystifying; its sound combining black metal, industrial and even some elements from neoclassical metal to produce an incredible record that took metal music to new heights.