album list 2020
what kind of year was that?? did we ever think that something like this could happen, not just in the apocalypse movies but in real life?? it’s been crazy, it’s been insane, i’ve been frustrated so many times, angry, sad, disappointed.. but what can you do. life goes on. and with it music. wardruna’s new album was postponed to 2021, i was really pissed about that. but here is the rest, some really awesome gems amongst them.
mortiis - spirit of rebellion
this album is based on, as the name already tells us, Ånden som gjorde opprør, but mortiis soon realised that the album started to develop into its own, individual work. it’s such a great album, it does remind of era 1, it’s of the same spirit and highly enjoyable. I’m so happy to see mortiis is continuing and it actually doesn’t matter where he’d going, i’m following and i love everything i hear.
kawir - adrasteia
Kawir!! i love them very dearly from the moment i discovered them. if you remember, their drummer is actually my former boss :D so yea, also this work is fantastic. i love how they take some theme from greek mythology and create their masterpieces with a concept behind it.
aherusia - NOSTOS~An Answer (?)
and then aherusia!! same goes for aherusia. they use traditional greek elements and their music is also a work of art in a way, tying together old and new. absolutely fantastic music, glad to see they continue in their own niche and with their own style.
oranssi pazuzu - mestarin kynsi
finns are represented here, too, with oranssi pazuzu. their newest album didn’t strike me immediately, but also with their previous albums it’s like this. they need time to develop and you need to concentrate on them and let the music suck you in. astonishing new album!
solstice - angleland
this is a compilation of live tracks, some demos, rare tracks and such. i’m always eager to hear unreleased stuff from them, because until now i loved whatever they put out. here it’s a great mix for the true fans.
nomagik aka akizzbeatzz - urbanized desert stories
my former workmate and his great project is continuously evolving. he put out a new full album and it’s great relaxing music, full of rhythm, drums, beats. something really different from the rest of my discography, but i love it!
emyn muil - afar angathfark
WOW!!! i fell in love with this album immediately. yes, it’s very summoning oriented, but it’s so so good! i think the best until now. it catches the spirit totally and is full of great moments.
dwarrowdelf - evenstar
Also dwarrowdelf released a new album and i like it a lot. It has some clean vocals and some unexpected parts, but it’s really good and it’s a great evolution of dwarrowdelfs sound. well done!!
in slaughter natives - skända din nästa
this is a compilation kind of album with older assorted songs. i love this one, so dark, so hypnotizing, so soul crushing!!
Árstíðir lífsins - Saga á tveim tungum II: Eigi fjǫll né firðir
these icelanders were my newcomers this year because all other bands were already known to me. this album is great metal inspired by iceland, vikings, traditions. beautiful to listen to their language, what a fantastic album.
ulver - flowers of evil
I love ulver! even more so since I’ve seen them live. their new album is the same style than their last and it’s very catchy music. danceable, electronic, very entertaining!! this is a must!
havukruunu - uinuos syömein sota
oh, some more finns! havukruunu have created a great album with also a huge fanbase, according to bandcamp!! i’m very happy for them, their album, the artwork, the specific Finnish metal sound, it’s all there!
EPs
yoth iria - under his sway
a new project by jim mutilator!! fantastic two track with slow, menacing sounds, exactly what i like. can’t wait for the full album!
ville valo - gothica fennica vol.1
ville is back!! i’ve been so excited to hear his new EP and it’s very much alike HIM and it’s so good. it’s what we’ve all been missing since HIM quit!
ihsahn - telemark \ pharos
ihsahn has become one of my favourite artists, who would’ve guessed! but seeing him live played a huge role here. his new EPs speak to me even more, since one is titled after his birthplace in norway and the second bears a greek name. so that’s pretty cool. and the songs are fantastic with the title track pharos being my favourite. and some fun cover tracks thrown in, too :D
mortiis - the shadow of the tower (full), remixes, the great leap remixes, bleed like you remixes, sins of mine, blood becomes water
ok, mortiis put out the full album and then a bunch of other stuff. i think i didn’t even write down all of it here. i can’t get enough and he’s been fantastic in sharing with us everything he’s working on. that’s also part of the cult of thee black wizards i’m part of, a secret mythical club, of only initiated wizards and witches, hehehehehehe!! :D
encloaked - isolation suite, beacons burning on the winter horizon, hyperborean hands
I discovered also encloaked, this is synth music, very hypnotic and drawing you into another world. beautiful music to relax and escape.
xelyruth - where pages scream
this is a greek project and this album was part of the book/music project called the metal chapters. i read the book and some of the songs accompany small stories. really great concept and awesome metal!
live concerts
well.. there wasn’t going on much due to corona.. but at least in the beginning of the year i still managed a few concerts.
rotting christ heretics tour
rotting christ had to postpone the athens show due to weather problems on sea. so the concert moved to the new year. it was so great to see them again, i had missed them!! the tolis brothers are now accompanied by two new guys and i was first sad to see vagelis and george go, but actually they found good replacements. this was so fun and i enjoyed this so very much!!
under the pagan moon II
i’ve been to the first, of course i had to go to the second instalment, too!! i saw sear bliss. black metal with a trumpet!! and this works so well, it really surprised me! and then kawir. oh yes!! it’s been a joy to see them live again, as well as my former boss. they played music from their entire career. i’m more into the mythological stuff than the pure black metal tracks, but there is something for everyone. great evening!
ved buens ende
this concert was on march 6th. just a few days later we were hit with a lockdown. we were so incredibly luckily to see them live. they are a band who do not play many live shows and they decided to come to athens!! how awesome. this was a fantastic concert, and i didn’t even know their stuff previously. absolutely fantastic, so happy i got to see this all star norwegian black metal band :D
and well.. then everything stopped. and i haven’t seen any more bands this year. hoping for a better 2021, hoping that the mortiis/mayhem show will actually take place. let’s keep our fingers crossed!!
best song of the year
emyn muil - hall of the fallen
wow, simply wow!! this is so much in the vein of summoning and it’s SO good. love this song so very much, really reminds me of the best summoning songs ever composed.
