It’s been a while since I’ve posted one of these articles showcasing the bands that have been plaguing my ears as of late, mostly because my playlist has been so repetitive throughout the Fall season. Now that winter slowly approaches, my musical taste has embraced the frightening frigid wasteland that is New England in December.

The Spirit

Serpent as Time Reveals

This album is all you need to satisfy a thirst for frost bitten black metal. It’s a traditional take that proves such a formulaic approach to black metal will always succeed if done properly.

Kylesa

Ultraviolet

If ever a modern heavy album was to express itself with multiple personality disorder, this would be one of the best examples. The album goes beyond that of a traditional sludge record by transforming the traditional warm sludgy sound into a cold and bitter experience that still warms your bones.

Immortal

Sons of Northern Darkness

The production on this album is almost as cold as my black little heart this time of year. That’s probably why I keep growing fonder of these songs every year that passes to coincide with my ever expanding cynicism.

Dimmu Borgir

Enthroned Darkness Triumphant

Here we have another example of how an albums production can influence your surroundings. This album shines thanks in part to its use of glassy keyboard beds that drown me in a bleak blanket of wintry solitude.

ISIS

Panopticon

A band that lays the groundwork for solemn and solitary sounds. The compositions breathe and grow as they progress, which in turn creates a mood that rivals a snowy storm outside my window. A great companion for days when I get trapped inside, surrounded by walls of ice and powder.

Neurosis

A Sun That Never Sets

Since we’re on the subject of solemn and solitary sounds, why not introduce a band that’s all too familiar with sonic landscapes that penetrate the deepest wounds in our souls. This album is a great companion to the ISIS album I just mentioned, with similar production and compositional elements that compliment each other beautifully.

Testament

The Gathering

As a huge fan of the album Dead Heart In a Dead World by Nevermore, I was immediately drawn to this once I heard producer/guitarist Andy Sneap’s creative genius was on full display here. The overall sound is quite similar to the Dead Heart album, but these songs are so aggressive and infectious that it’s almost impossible not to play it over and over again.