In alphabetical order.

Alcest
Souvenirs d’un autre monde
Website: Official, Myspace
Label: Prophecy Productions

1. Printemps Émeraude
2. Souvenirs D’Un Autre Monde
3. Les Iris
4. Ciel Errant
5. Sur L’Autre Rive Je T’Attendrai
6. Tir Nan Og

This was almost nothing like I expected it to be, but it felt EXACTLY like I wanted it to feel, and makes me wonder what Neige will do with his Alcest project next. After the release of “Le Secret”, which may end up being greatly influential down the road to black metal bands who are tired of the clichés, I figured “Souveniers” would have a similar style to it. However, except for the occasional tremolo and blast beat, Souveniers has little to do with black metal. This album more closely resembles something Slowdive would have released at one point during their career. While only 40 minutes in length, this is one of the few albums I can listen to which invokes feelings of nostalgia, and dare I say happiness, while allowing me not to feel completely manipulated into such moods.

Standout tracks: Souvenirs D’Un Autre Monde, Les Iris

Angantyr
Hævn
Website: Official, Myspace
Label: Independent

1. Et Varsel Om Død
2. Thulens Ord
3. Baghold
4. Tågefolket
5. Danemordet
6. Fødslen Og Byttet
7. Blod For Blod, Liv For Liv

This is a totally enthralling release that I’m certain will fly under the radar for most people this year. This is partly because Angantyr is not signed, and self-releases all of his albums, but partly because the black metal here is also fairly standard. However, what is written and performed here is absolutely extraordinary in terms of direction, production, and song writing. It has a relentless, cold atmosphere with a great deal of folk melodies and an almost Viking tinge to the melodies, but remains primarily black metal among all else. While this record might not be pivotal on the cluttered landscape of black metal, it’s an important release in Angantyr’s career. Someone sign this man as soon as possible, I want vinyl.

Standout tracks: Blod For Blod, Liv For Liv

Dälek
Abandoned Language
Website: Official, Myspace
Label: Ipecac Recordings

1. Abandoned Language
2. Bricks Crumble
3. Paragraphs Relentless
4. Content to Play Villain
5. Lynch
6. Stagnant Waters
7. Starved for the Truth
8. Isolated State
9. Corrupt (Knuckle Up)
10. Tarnished
11. (Subversive Script)

It’s funny, a lot Dälek fans didn’t seem very happy about this release because the music involves a bit less abrasive noise compared to previous releases. Dälek are pretty much known for doing something that nobody else does, and doing it extremely well. This is why they’re on Ipecac Records, who (as far as I know) have no other hip-hop acts on their roster, but is full of experimental projects usually of the metal persuasion. So it’s safe to say that Dälek pretty much defy anything “normal” in the hip-hop world, and with this release they even defy themselves… because of this some fans are certainly liable to dislike it. I’d say that because of this, Abandoned Language is their boldest release yet, simply because they continue to challenge their own standards, as well as the petty standards everyone else has established for them.

Standout tracks: Abandoned Language, Content to Play Villain, Tarnished

Deathspell Omega
Fas - Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum
Website: None
Label: Norma Evangelium Diaboli

1. Obombration
2. The Shrine of Mad Laughter
3. Bread of Bitterness
4. The Repellent Scars of Abandon and Election
5. A Chore for the Lost
6. Obombration

How do they do it? Not only that, but how do they continually do it? The old Deathspell Omega was fairly standard Darkthrone-esque black metal, but some time between 2002 and 2004 they said “enough is enough”, made some line up adjustments, and released “Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice”, one of the most respected black metal albums to come out this decade. With the new one, they’ve taken some steps to reinvent their sound again, but not in a way to stray from their focused artistic vision. “Fas” has some of the most suffocating atmosphere I’ve ever experienced, and for good reason considering the metaphysical subject matter. Complaints have arisen about the songs “all sounding the same” which I suppose I can understand, but also intensely disagree with. The layers of melody and brutality seem to be so intricately applied that I doubt anyone outside of the band will ever truly know how wonderfully painful it might have been to compose this album.

Standout tracks: Bread of Bitterness

Moonsorrow
V: Hävitetty
Website: Official, Myspace
Label: Spinefarm Records

1. Jäästä Syntynyt / Varjojen Virta
2. Tuleen Ajettu Maa

This is completely epic. The album is a mere two tracks in length, but both exceed 25 minutes, with not a single moment that feels drawn out or pretentious. In fact it could be a pivotal album in Moonsorrow’s already illustrious career. While many long time fans feel this isn’t quite up to par compared to older material, it is my opinion that Hävitetty makes all of their imitators completely obsolete. The greatest problem about this album is that it’s only an effective experience if you have a full hour to listen to it without interruption. As wonderful as the experience withheld here is, it’s always an hour well spent. A full review is here.

Standout tracks: both

Rosetta
Wake/Lift
Website: Official, Myspace
Label: Translation Loss Records

1. Red in Tooth and Claw
2. Lift (part 1)
3. Lift (part 2)
4. Lift (part 3)
5. Wake
6. Temet Nosce
7. Monument

Few bands stir my emotions and invigorate my imagination like Rosetta does. With tongue planted in cheek, they are self-described as “space metal” and their last album, The Galilean Satellites, is still a staple in my listening rotation. This release will surely continue this practice with immediate continuity in both lyrical themes and sweeping soundscapes that ever-so-subtly wash over your ears with a calming sense of solitude. You’ll also find a hearty dose of moments so dense and heavy that they could likely crumble small buildings. Drumming that never ceases to be uninteresting, bass guitar looming with atmosphere, lead guitar continually ringing like an encore at a bell-choir concert and roaring vocals that ache with conviction and exigency — Wake/Lift is anything but disappointing. Listening to this could be described as the aural equivalent of the most intense viewing of 2001: A Space Odyssey you’ll ever have.

Standout tracks: Lift (parts 1, 2, 3), Monument

Rotting Christ
Theogonia
Website: Official, Myspace
Label: Season of Mist

1. Χαος Γενετο (The Sign Of Prime Creation)
2. Keravnos Kivernitos
3. Enuma Elish
4. Nemecic
5. Phobos’ Synagogue
6. Gaia Tellus
7. Rege Diabolicus
8. He, The Aethyr
9. Helios Hyperion
10. Threnody

The Greek masters have an amazing release on their hands here. In fact, I think it’s probably my new favorite Rotting Christ album. For a while, I didn’t think that this one compared very well to their previous album, “Sanctus Diavolos”, but now I’m pretty sure it blows it out of the water. Something about the atmosphere they capture, despite having extremely excellent production, is absolutely perfect. With black metal roots a subtle “gothic” angle to their melodies, and some very catchy hooks, I can’t find a single flaw when listening to this. Sakis Tolis (guitar, vocals) not only wrote all the songs on this album, but produced it as well. As far as bands that have been around for 15+ years, Rotting Christ certainly hasn’t lost any momentum, and have absolutely no reason to “quit while they’re ahead”.

Standout tracks: Nemecic, Gaia Tellus, He, The Aethyr


Turisas
The Varangian Way
Website: Official, Myspace
Label: Century Media Records, Album site

1. To Holmgard And Beyond
2. A Portage To The Unknown
3. Cursed Be Iron
4. Fields Of Gold
5. In The Court Of Jarisleif
6. Five Hundred And One
7. The Dnieper Rapids
8. Miklagard Overture

This is probably my favorite surprise of the year. I absolutely loved Turisas’s last album, Battle Metal, because it teetered on the edge of epic viking metal and cheesy power metal so blatantly that it was always a fun, triumphant listen. Artistically it was good, but nothing to write home about, and I fully expected 2007’s The Varangian Way to be more of the same. Boy was I wrong. What we have here is something that feels like a ridiculous grandiose score to an over the top stage musical about Vikings and grand battles, which I would pay to see over and over. Not only does the album contain vast epic qualities, but the musicianship has improved a great deal since their past album, and I’m almost certain that Mathias “Warlord” Nygård (vocals) has taken some voice lessons between the two releases. Because of this album, Turisas has been moved from bands I have fun listening to, to bands I take seriously - and because of this direction, I’m excited to see what they do next. “Five Hundred And One” is one of my picks for “most epic songs of 2007″, and for good reason.

Standout tracks: Five Hundred And One, Miklagard Overture

Ulver
Shadows of the Sun
Website: Official, Myspace
Label: Jester Records

1. Eos
2. All the Love
3. Like Music
4. Vigil
5. Shadows of the Sun
6. Let the Children Go
7. Solitude (Black Sabbath cover)
8. Funebre
9. What Happened?

By now, anyone who has heard of Ulver knows that whatever they do will be unexpected and most likely wonderful. “Shadows of the Sun” is by no means an exception, with a dark neo-jazz feel that is every bit as, and I quote, “Low-key, dark, and tragic. As we are”. Shadows of the sun is a bleak and lovely listen that is obviously constructed with a great deal of attention toward the delicacy of delivery and atmosphere. Ulver never ceases to impress me, and as always, I’m practically gawking at what ever it is they dare to do next.

Standout tracks: Vigil, Let the Children Go

Walknut
Graveforests and Their Shadows
Website: Official, Myspace
Label: Stellar Winter Records

1. Hrimfaxi
2. Motherland Ostenvegr
3. Come, Dreadful Ygg
4. The Midnightforest of The Runes
5. Grim Woods
6. Skinfaxi

I may have to wait another 3 years for a new Negura Bunget album, and becase of this, Walknut is my saviour. That’s not to say they rip off the enigmatic Romanian trio, but I definitely hear a bit of influence when listening to this. Walknut really seemed to come out of nowhere, forming merely a year before putting out one of the better atmospheric black metal albums I’ve heard this year. “Graveforests” is simple in nature, but it has a stunning quality of integrity and direction applied to it. Among what seems to be a growing interest in pagan-infused metal that focuses more upon the trees and mountain peaks, rather than inverted crosses and lamb’s blood, Walknut could potentially be one of the revered leaders in this pack.

Standout tracks: Motherland Ostenvegr, Grim Woods

Wolves in the Throne Room
Two Hunters
Website: Official, Myspace
Label: Southern Lord Records

1. Dea Artio
2. Vastness and Sorrow
3. Cleansing
4. I Will Lay Down My Bones Among the Rocks and Roots

It’s pretty difficult to describe how much I’ve fallen in love with this album. If blues are the true roots of metal, then this album could be one of the few that brings that relationship to a full circle. Wolves in the Throne Room have taken their Weakling influenced style of song structures and simplified it, without dumbing it down. Each song has its own distinct feel and emotion to it, and there’s almost a cinematic polish thanks to some minimalistic keyboard programming and a subtle layer of female vocals. While they still use black metal as their medium for delivery of their craft, they’ve taken some very bold steps to defy everything that most black metal has come to represent these days. From their first album, this new direction they’ve taken is refreshing, and I firmly believe that Two Hunters is something I’ll still be listening to ten years from now.

Standout tracks: Dea Artio, I Will Lay Down My Bones Among the Rocks and Roots

_____________________
Honorable mentions:

Alatyr - Alatyr
The Austrasian Goat - The Austrasian Goat
Drudkh - Estrangement
Mayhem - Ordo Ad Chao
Om - Pilgrimage
Wormtongue - The Solstice Funeral