2008 Non Metal Top 10
The Top 10
1) Rose Kemp - Unholy Majesty
Some people may consider this a metal album, but I don’t. It has an inherent pop sensibility about it, even when the sounds chug heavily away behind some of the songs. For each of those heavier tracks, there are an equal number of folk-pop and acoustic driven moments of gentle enjoyment. Coming from a family of well known folk musicians, I suppose it was inevitable in some sense that Rose Kemp would have a folk sound somewhere within her music. And indeed this does. Certainly far darker in sound than her previous release - probably already given away by the album title - this is a fantastic album of dark folk infused guitar rock.
2) Norvargr - Pyrrhula
It’s no secret that I am a massive fan of Henrik Nordvargr Bjorkk. I think I have declared on more than one occasion I would like to have his babies. Nothing has changed in that respect. This is an album that for me captures some of the bleakest moments of life, some of the sickest and most twisted. It is claustrophobic, full of menace, and downright evil. Fantastic dark room listening and utterly essential. Second only to Unholy Majesty as it is so unfalteringly bleak that it takes a special mood to sit through it all.
3) Triarii - Muse in Arms
Triarii have at times been linked to HNB, as he has done some production work. As martial/martial-industrial goes it’s hard to go past Triarii. They capture a profound sense of the militaristic, without ever sounding pomp, unlike some of their contemporaries. With each album they seem only to improve, with bigger and more fleshed out sounds, a wider range of instrumentation, and growing confidence. Some truly great classical moments lay within. Music to go to war to.
4) Earth - The Bee’s Made Honey in The Lion’s Skull
Part of what makes Earth so special is their minimalistic sound. That may seem a very obvious thing to state, but the fact their sound is so stripped of impurities, so exposed, really does mean anything that is not executed perfectly, and any song that is not very carefully constructed, will end up sounding vague - vacant, rather than minimal. No such problems here. A beautiful, and somewhat more experimental sound in terms of historical output from Earth, but thoroughly enjoyable. A great listen for a Sunday afternoon.
5) Capricorns - River Bear Your Bones
Capricorns are one of the better non-vocal bands around today. They have a great ability to tell stories, to evoke feelings and moods, without using a single word. Again some people may argue that this is a metal album, but it’s just not. It is a prog stoner album, and a fine one at that. Covering many different ends of the sound spectrum, but always retaining that stoner vibe, that feel that the desert is never far from view, even during the more frenetic moments.
6) Orplid - Greifenherz
Orplid are a band I discovered when I first began to explore neo-folk. An inexplicably varied genre of bands grouped by thematic concepts rather than sounds. On this album Orplid take a slightly less disjointed and experimental tack, and produce a more purely musical album. Still firmly rooted in neo-folk styles, the album perhaps evokes a slightly more 80’s alt-goth feel as well. Excellent recording quality abounds Thoroughly enjoyable and although one or two songs feel a bit vague, overall a very rewarding listen
7) Diamanda Galas - Guilty Guilty Guilty
Ah the blues. Many mainstream music fans may listen to this and ask, “What the fuck?” - and rightly so given what many people think blues is, and is about these days. Diamanda Galas has been confounding mainstream press and musicians since not long after I was born with intense and heartfelt performances and recordings. Her voice is unparalleled and capable of making sounds no other human possibly could. Political as always and intensely focused, this album serves as a great reminder of why she is so well regarded. Her rendition of Timo Yuri’s “Time (Interlude)” is a real surprise for long term fans as well, as it is an often unheard side of her vocal performance - a very straight and simply delivered one. As amazing as always.
8) Steve Von Til - A Grave is a Grim Horse
Some of you may recognise the name and think “Hang on, isn’t he the front man for neurosis? What’s this doing under non-metal?”. Well. SVT has recorded a solo project that is a long way stylistically from Neurosis. A very long way. This is an album of broody folk/acoustic music. But that isn’t to suggest it is soft in any way. As proof of his musical talent, this album still carries the weight and force of Neurosis, but with a different vehicle of delivery. If this sort of writing underpins Neurosis, it certainly helps explain why their sound is as weighty as it is, without being overblown. A really revealing and impressive piece of work - hopefully only the start of SVT’s solo career.
9) Black Mountain - In The Future
Black Mountain play Modern Canadian Progressive rock with a slightly twist. We are lucky enough to actually have them landing on our shores in the near future as part of the Perth International Arts Festival. And what a great show it should be! Each album by these guys has impressed me that little bit more, “In The Future” is no exception. A great blend of pure nod along rock, slightly psychedelic style and 70’s groove. Party on.
10) Rome - Masse Mensch Material
Another fine neo-folk release of moody goth sounding quasi-rock, martial and neo-classical soundscapes. Rome may not have varied things hugely over their albums, which have been released in reasonably quick succession, but they do what they do so well, that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Honourable mentions
Boris - Smile
Smile see’s Boris at the more accessible end of their style. Still thick, sludgy and stoner/psychedelic infused, and a top listen
Deutsch Nepal - Dystopian Partycollection
Ripper of an album, very close to a top ten, if not for a few weak songs. Some satisfyingly grating pieces of music here, with an instant classic in Drugmother - what a fucking little ripper of a screwed up song!
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Nick Cave and co rarely release a bad album, and this is no exception. Great indie pop rock.
Rudimentary Peni - No More Pain (EP)
Long awaited new music by RP! Not much has changed in terms of their sound, still short sharp melodic blasts of punk sensibility.
Dishonourable mentions
Guns ‘n Roses
All that time. For what? Fuck me sideways with a car.
1) Rose Kemp - Unholy Majesty
Some people may consider this a metal album, but I don’t. It has an inherent pop sensibility about it, even when the sounds chug heavily away behind some of the songs. For each of those heavier tracks, there are an equal number of folk-pop and acoustic driven moments of gentle enjoyment. Coming from a family of well known folk musicians, I suppose it was inevitable in some sense that Rose Kemp would have a folk sound somewhere within her music. And indeed this does. Certainly far darker in sound than her previous release - probably already given away by the album title - this is a fantastic album of dark folk infused guitar rock.
2) Norvargr - Pyrrhula
It’s no secret that I am a massive fan of Henrik Nordvargr Bjorkk. I think I have declared on more than one occasion I would like to have his babies. Nothing has changed in that respect. This is an album that for me captures some of the bleakest moments of life, some of the sickest and most twisted. It is claustrophobic, full of menace, and downright evil. Fantastic dark room listening and utterly essential. Second only to Unholy Majesty as it is so unfalteringly bleak that it takes a special mood to sit through it all.
3) Triarii - Muse in Arms
Triarii have at times been linked to HNB, as he has done some production work. As martial/martial-industrial goes it’s hard to go past Triarii. They capture a profound sense of the militaristic, without ever sounding pomp, unlike some of their contemporaries. With each album they seem only to improve, with bigger and more fleshed out sounds, a wider range of instrumentation, and growing confidence. Some truly great classical moments lay within. Music to go to war to.
4) Earth - The Bee’s Made Honey in The Lion’s Skull
Part of what makes Earth so special is their minimalistic sound. That may seem a very obvious thing to state, but the fact their sound is so stripped of impurities, so exposed, really does mean anything that is not executed perfectly, and any song that is not very carefully constructed, will end up sounding vague - vacant, rather than minimal. No such problems here. A beautiful, and somewhat more experimental sound in terms of historical output from Earth, but thoroughly enjoyable. A great listen for a Sunday afternoon.
5) Capricorns - River Bear Your Bones
Capricorns are one of the better non-vocal bands around today. They have a great ability to tell stories, to evoke feelings and moods, without using a single word. Again some people may argue that this is a metal album, but it’s just not. It is a prog stoner album, and a fine one at that. Covering many different ends of the sound spectrum, but always retaining that stoner vibe, that feel that the desert is never far from view, even during the more frenetic moments.
6) Orplid - Greifenherz
Orplid are a band I discovered when I first began to explore neo-folk. An inexplicably varied genre of bands grouped by thematic concepts rather than sounds. On this album Orplid take a slightly less disjointed and experimental tack, and produce a more purely musical album. Still firmly rooted in neo-folk styles, the album perhaps evokes a slightly more 80’s alt-goth feel as well. Excellent recording quality abounds Thoroughly enjoyable and although one or two songs feel a bit vague, overall a very rewarding listen
7) Diamanda Galas - Guilty Guilty Guilty
Ah the blues. Many mainstream music fans may listen to this and ask, “What the fuck?” - and rightly so given what many people think blues is, and is about these days. Diamanda Galas has been confounding mainstream press and musicians since not long after I was born with intense and heartfelt performances and recordings. Her voice is unparalleled and capable of making sounds no other human possibly could. Political as always and intensely focused, this album serves as a great reminder of why she is so well regarded. Her rendition of Timo Yuri’s “Time (Interlude)” is a real surprise for long term fans as well, as it is an often unheard side of her vocal performance - a very straight and simply delivered one. As amazing as always.
8) Steve Von Til - A Grave is a Grim Horse
Some of you may recognise the name and think “Hang on, isn’t he the front man for neurosis? What’s this doing under non-metal?”. Well. SVT has recorded a solo project that is a long way stylistically from Neurosis. A very long way. This is an album of broody folk/acoustic music. But that isn’t to suggest it is soft in any way. As proof of his musical talent, this album still carries the weight and force of Neurosis, but with a different vehicle of delivery. If this sort of writing underpins Neurosis, it certainly helps explain why their sound is as weighty as it is, without being overblown. A really revealing and impressive piece of work - hopefully only the start of SVT’s solo career.
9) Black Mountain - In The Future
Black Mountain play Modern Canadian Progressive rock with a slightly twist. We are lucky enough to actually have them landing on our shores in the near future as part of the Perth International Arts Festival. And what a great show it should be! Each album by these guys has impressed me that little bit more, “In The Future” is no exception. A great blend of pure nod along rock, slightly psychedelic style and 70’s groove. Party on.
10) Rome - Masse Mensch Material
Another fine neo-folk release of moody goth sounding quasi-rock, martial and neo-classical soundscapes. Rome may not have varied things hugely over their albums, which have been released in reasonably quick succession, but they do what they do so well, that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Honourable mentions
Boris - Smile
Smile see’s Boris at the more accessible end of their style. Still thick, sludgy and stoner/psychedelic infused, and a top listen
Deutsch Nepal - Dystopian Partycollection
Ripper of an album, very close to a top ten, if not for a few weak songs. Some satisfyingly grating pieces of music here, with an instant classic in Drugmother - what a fucking little ripper of a screwed up song!
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Nick Cave and co rarely release a bad album, and this is no exception. Great indie pop rock.
Rudimentary Peni - No More Pain (EP)
Long awaited new music by RP! Not much has changed in terms of their sound, still short sharp melodic blasts of punk sensibility.
Dishonourable mentions
Guns ‘n Roses
All that time. For what? Fuck me sideways with a car.