Best of 2020 : Death, black, hardcore & sludge

 Here are my 10 favourite death metal, black metal, hardcore and sludge albums released in 2020. Alphabetical order. Click on the name to go to the review.

Cytotoxin - Nuklearth

 

Dephosphorus - Sublimation

 

Dropdead - Dropdead 

Eye Flys - Tub of Lard

Fange - Pudeur

Ils - Curse

 

Imperial Triumphant- Alphaville

Khthoniik Cerviiks - Æquiizoiikum

Oranssi Pazuzu - Mestarin Kynsi

Skeletal Remains - The Entombment of Chaos

 

 

 

Khthoniik Cerviiks - Æquiizoiikum (2020)

Æquiizoiikum (released this year with Iron Bonehead productions) is the second album from Khthoniik Cerviiks. It's another masterpiece in their unique Khaotik Hallucigenik black/death metal. The voivodian / progressive element is maybe slightly more present than on their previous works, but it's still definitely extreme metal at the same time. With this new album they confirm they are among the most interesting and best extreme metal band.

The Bandcamp page.

 

 

Howls of Ebb / Khtoniiks Cerviiks (split 2017)

Howls of Ebb and Khtoniiks Cerviiks are easily among the best, more interesting and innovative recent death metal bands (their latest albums were on my favourite albums list for last year). So obviously this split beetween the two of them is more than welcome. It had to be done. and it does not disappoint. It brings the expected amount of chaotic free Deiphago meets Voivoid death metal madness highs. Excellency in expectedly unexpected forms. It's not just higly recommended it's mandatory.

The Bandcamp page.

Khtoniiks cerviiks - SeroLogiikal Scars (Vertex of Dementiia) (2016)

SeroLogiikal Scars (Vertex of Dementiia) is the first album of the german trio Khtoniiks cerviiks. Their excellent demo Heptaedrone (that I reviewed HERE) set the expectations on a high level and, even if I miss the raw, barbaric and chaotic feel more present on the demo, I can say I'm not disappointed by the album. Their old school death metal kept it's weird and original character, putting a bit the brutality aside (while staying clearly on the black / death side of metal) helped them pushing their weird sound forward, with a clear techno-thrash flavour (reminding bands like Voivod and Coroner) combined with a bit of more contemporary dissonant elements (evoking the "occult" death metal scene and avant-garde french black metal). We need more bands like them, taking the old school death / thrash metal further onto paths less travelled.

The Bandcamp page.

Khthoniiks cerviiks - Heptaedrone (2014)

Khthoniiks cerviiks is a german trio playing some twisted dark death metal. Heptaedrone, released last year, after some demos is excellent and really interesting, with a potent hypnotising effect. Their sound has a dark occult death / black metal flavour but with also a chaotic and somewhat experimental element to it. The weird dissonant guitar work is really good and original (it's more riff based than is the "occult death metal" scene. you can actually distinguish what the guitarist is playing!  It evoques sometimes the epic and otherworldly element in Morbid angel), the bass is buzzing nicely, but maybe it's their drumming that is the most striking, not a lot of blast beats but instead a chaotic and nearly "free" feel (although it's quite simple, very effective) that adds a lot to the songs and to the uniqueness of the band. Their  "power trio formation" help the impact  of each elements and the cohesiveness of the whole. The songwriting is creative and surprising. Khthoniiks cerviiks is my favourite recent discovery in death / black metal and I highly recommend that you give them a listen!


The BC page