Too Soon? Excretakano’s Best of 2016… So Far

I drool a little when I look at this list.  Actually, I drool a lot.  Gross?  Sure, but can you blame me, as long as I clean up after myself?  Several of these releases are more exciting to me than those bands’ last outings (Ihsahn, Monolithe, Gojira), some are just reassuring legacy-strengtheners (Gorguts, Wolvserpent, Nails), and one – the impressive Mortichnia! – strikes powerfully on the band’s first try (going to listen to the members’ previous band Wound Upon Wound now, too).  The array of moods, styles and heady philosophical meanderings on these recordings have defined much of my year so far.  Looking forward to whatever comes next!

Abbath – Abbath (Season of Mist)
Cobalt – Slow Forever (Profound Lore)
Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas – Mariner (Indie Recordings)
Deftones – Gore (Reprise)
Ghoulgotha – To Starve the Cross (Dark Descent)
Gojira – Magma (Roadrunner)
Gorguts – Pleiades’ Dust (Season of Mist)
Hands of Despair – Bereft (Deathbound)
Ihsahn – Arktis (Candlelight)
Inverloch – Distance | Collapsed (Relapse)
Monolithe – Zeta Reticuli (Debemur Morti)
Mortichnia – Heir to Scoria and Ash (Apocalyptic Witchcraft)
Nails – You Will Never Be One of Us (Nuclear Blast)
October Tide – Winged Waltz (Agonia)
Oranssi Pazuzu – Värähtelijä (Svart)
The Body – No One Deserves Happiness (Thrill Jockey)
Tombs – All Empires Fall (Relapse)
Withered – Grief Relic (Season of Mist)
Wolvserpent – Aporia:Kala:Ananta (Relapse)
Wormed – Krighsu (Season of Mist)