well, what can i say.. i am sure i forgot so many things but checking my iTunes and other sources, these are probably the only new albums i listened to, haha! here we go then..
echoes of wizards chamber
A compilation of Mortiis cover songs! first of all it is amazing this exists. secondly, it is really good! the packaging actually really did it for me. beautiful layout and illustrations/pictures. worth every penny for any mortiis fan
mermaids + just a girl single - florence and the machine
a compilation came out and these two new songs. since i finally saw her live this year, i was absolutely in a trance and needed more new music. as always absolutely ethereal and capturing.
phantomime - ghost EP
YESSS new ghost!! also saw them live again this year and oh dear, it was one of my absolute highlights. do i have to say anything here? i love them to bits and pieces. I got a ghost christmas sweater, i am in love, haha!
apocryphal spells - rotting christ
also rotting christ I managed to see live this year!! and then this compilation of B-sides and unreleased tracks. so so so awesome. they always deliver, they always just burn the place down. they are for me the probably most loyal and unique and legendary black metal band ever.
the seven seals of the apocalypse - ΧΞΣ
this is sakis tolis, of course, with his solo material. it is just as good as the rotting christ stuff. absolutely smashing it with this one, too. i'm very happy that it seems he's not slowing down at all and on a roll here!
cruxshadows
the cruxshadows released a few songs on their website with a free/open for donations system. go check it out. Rogue is one of my favorite people and i will support everything he releases
twice born EP - ihsahn
hell yea. Ihsahn is again at it and it's his faster stuff, guttural singing, lovely. i do like his other songs, too, of course, but i love how this is again pure power here.
Eisenwald - label compilation
you can get this for one euro. do not miss this!! extreme dark pleasures for your ears. love it.
concerts
nightwish - insomnium - in flames
okaaaay! this here is just absolutely great. insomnium and in flames for the first time for me. highlight: sakis tolis on stage with insomnium. hell yea. in flames for old times sake, haha. and then nightwish. i had seen them in 2004 and 2005 three times, i think. always with tarja. and since then I have never seen them live again. i missed anette completely but really wanted to see them with floor again. and then they announced this and floor was heavily pregnant and still managed to absolutely entrance the place and headbang her ass off. big hats off to her. it was emotional for me to see them again. so beautiful.
candlemass - rotting christ - ghost
oh my goodness. a fantastic triple. i had never seen candlemass before and i really loved this since they are doom metal pioneers! fantastic set. then rotting christ! what a perfect bonus. the place went absolutely bonkers as always with them! fantastic pyro show. and then ghost. what can i say? i had seen them once before in 2016 i think in manchester with my sister. it was so so awesome. now they had an overwhelming stage setup, the sound was perfect. papa changed outfit, flirted with the crowd, an absolute joy. blasted ghost 666 dollars into the crowd. it was unforgettable.
florence and the machine
i love her! her words, her kind spirit, her beautiful soul, dancing, singing, dancing, sharing love, receiving love, sharing her energy.. i can hardly put into words what an experience this was. thank you florence.
she past away - absolute body control - sisters of mercy
i only got a bit of she past away, but they sounded really interesting! absolute body control where awesome. i danced myself into a small frenzy there, haha! and then the sisters. now they are a bit complicated, i know it. andrew is eccentric and will play his set, no matter what the people want. i really enjoyed it, though! enough of the awesome hits that we all know and want to hear and a few songs that need some time to get into it. still the sisters are legends to me and i enjoyed it seeing them again.
books of the year
agalloch - pale folklore
the reprint features also a book and this did it for me, i needed to have it. awesome album and awesome accompanying book with interviews, information, pictures. perfect.
the 69 eyes - biography (in finnish)
so the 69 eyes finally got a biography this year. they played a big role in my musical path towards dark, doom and black metal. i have seen them several times live and although i had at some time lost interest in them, i recently started to listen to them again since their newer albums are again a really cool dark rock mix with different influences and I really like it! the awesome thing about this book is that we get an overview of the rock scene back then in helsinki and that was fun to read! enjoyed this book a lot and can only recommend it.
swallow the sun - biography (in finnish)
finally!! members of the band used to be freetime drinking buddies basically every weekend in jyväskylä, haha. those were awesome times. i was a student and my ex was also a musician and knew the guys and they just had the first album out and he played it for me and i loved every second of it. so happy to see this book was finally written now and i got the edition with signatures. did not read it yet, cannot wait to do just that.
