It’s time for some small redemption. There are a few heavy hitters we missed when they were just released. Whether it was because we didn’t get the promo or simply didn’t find the time amidst the avalanche of Metal we receive every second (yes, per second!), these albums deserve recognition—especially if they don’t make it to any of our end-of-the-year lists. Consider this an apology for past and future mistakes. Convenient, right? Anyway, some of these albums you’ve probably listened to death, while others might not have even appeared on your radar. Let’s get to it!
Thou – Umbilical: Let’s start with what might be my most glaring miss of the year. When the blog was still young, and that month packed with great releases, Umbilical somehow slipped through the cracks. That was a mistake because this album is a clear contender for Sludge/Doom/Post/whatever Album of the Year. It finally does what I’ve always wanted from Thou: embracing all of its aggressive potential. This album is hostile, unwelcoming, nasty, and downright irrational. It reminds me of that old phrase, “Do not ask who I am and do not ask me to remain the same“. Thou doesn’t have bad albums, but this is the one I find myself wanting to return to the most. As impenetrable as it can be, I just love how violently it wallows in its own filth.
Atræ Bilis – Aumicide: Let’s get one thing out of the way: that’s some disturbing cover art right there. This year was the year of mutant baby art in Metal (we’ll touch on that again in part two of this article). It’s hard to pin down exactly what style Aumicide is going for. Sure, it’s Tech Death and Deathcore, but it also has moments of Melodic Death Metal that, despite coming out of nowhere, fit perfectly. Fair warning: this album is heavier than the guilt you feel raiding the fridge at 3 a.m. It’s blunt and unapologetic, delivering mind-bending breakdowns that don’t suck. Do you know how rare that is? Most bands can’t resist overdoing it, but for Atræ Bilis, it’s just another day at the office.
Mother of Graves – The Periapt of Absence: Let’s end this article on a tragic note. “Why, Catto?” you ask. Well, my iron grasshopper, life itself is a tragedy when you really think about it—and that’s funny! Anyway, this album not only boasts stunning cover art, but it also has the riffs to back it up. Unforgiving Death/Doom with a Draconian/Edge of Sanity approach to pain, but with the gothic elements dialed way back. That might sound bad in theory, but in practice, it leads to a focused and committed exploration of a subgenre that’s been as exploited as workers in a sweatshop. Yet Mother of Graves manages to give a fresh spin to an old formula—one that’s crying out for reinvention. Plus, this album has an excellent sense of pacing, something that’s hard to find in Death/Doom. Appreciate it, kid.
And there you have it—the first part of all the releases we missed and your benevolent tyrant thinks are worth a slice of our short time on Earth. Soon, we’ll bring more surprises and, of course, plenty of weirdness—because we’re all about weirdness here at MER. So keep reading; who knows? Your own album might end up here. Cheap marketing move? Sure! But hey, we’re all just playing the game, right?
Metal Eclipse Reviews 
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