Global Domination

GD's verdicts - Best of 2012: Habakuk

20/12/12  ||  Habakuk

1. Witchcraft: Legend

Habakuk (la di da):

I’m not sure if I fell for this huge hipster thing here, but what Witchcraft dish out on “Legend” is worth the risk. They’ve become more accessible, catchier and louder, but I can’t see anything bad with that. See, I’m a bit too young for the 70s, and if somebody manages to translate that whole thing into a modern version – which is admittedly lower on weed and fuzz – I might just dig it. That’s what happened here. So while the real genre lovers might be disappointed over what you could call commercialization, Witchcraft have gotten themselves a new fan here.
I REGRET NAUGHT.

Check ‘er out: It’s not because of you

2: Anaal Nathrakh: Vanitas

Not many bands can get away with so much over-the-topness as these Brits with the shit name. See: the entire “suicidal black metal” genre. The reason seems simple: this is listenable and well-written despite incorporating the weirdest screams, electronic drums, samples and effects and a huge wall of sound feel. And having those little bits of melody worked into it just make it hopelessly bad ass. 2012’s truly extreme album.

Check ‘er out: Of fire, and fucking pigs

3: Overkill: The electric age

I always considered these guys to be a solid, but rather rank and file thrash outfit with a somewhat annoying singer. Well, give them a few decades and they start churning out some serious quality. And without recycling the 80s, mind you. Thrash album of the year? I would very much think so.

Check ‘er out: Old wounds, new scars

4: Eluveitie: Helvetios

Normally, I wouldn’t go near anything “folk metal” if forced to, but fuck did this catch me off guard in Audio Autopsy. I don’t know what album this Will Cifer guy linked above listened to, but I have since February(!) enjoyed this album – nested somewhere between melodic death and folk – massively. Obviously some trve folk metalheads of Middle-Earth find something to nag about on this, but I don’t get it. Then again I don’t dress in chainmail and attend middle-age fairs. Me, I hear nothing but hooks, consistency and intensity here. Rolls all the right D20s for me, curiously.

Check ‘er out: Helvetios

5: Parov Stelar: The princess

What! No Metal! No! Electro Swing! Lounge! Yes, Parov Stelar, who had already made a name of themselves throughout the last years, have returned with a double album packed with a fine of melange of a brassy 20s feel and classy, unobtrusive house beats. Two discs, one of which caters more to a somewhat loungy athmosphere, the other one being a little more club-oriented, serve us with almost two hours of top-notch material. Stunningly consistent, both can stay on repeat forever, yet don’t lack in peak moments either. Be it through the stunning voice of Lilja Bloom that makes some appearances again, some of the ridiculously catchy instrumental lead sections, or simply a laid-back vibe, this shit stays ace front to back.

Check ‘er out: Milla’s dream / All night

Major disappointment of 2012:

Ahab: The Giant

It’s hard to write much about an album that left you entirely cold and you consequently didn’t listen to much, but yeah, I expected more here. And exactly the same statement could be applied to the recent Corrosion of Conformity. Hell, I don’t even remember the title.

Also awesome, by genre:

Old School Death Metal
Asphyx: Deathhammer
Chapel of disease: Summoning black gods
Grave: Endless procession of souls

Death Metal
Dying Fetus: Reign supreme
In Mourning: The weight of oceans
Nile: At the gate of Sethu
Pseudogod: Deathwomb catechesis
Psycroptic: The inherited repression

Doom Metal
Anhedonist: Netherwards
Evoken: Atra Mors

Heavy Metal
Accept: Stalingrad
Dawnbringer: Into the lair of the sun god

Rock, Stoner etc.
Orange Goblin: A eulogy for the damned
Torche: Harmonicraft
ZZ Top: La Futura

The rest
Marduk: Serpent sermon
Pig Destroyer: Book burner

Games you should have checked out for their soundtrack alone:

Hotline Miami
A GTA-like trip to Miami 1989, packed to the brim with drugged-out violence – shaky screens, hallucinations, killing, killing and killing, as well as an awesomely compiled, atmospheric soundtrack. If not earlier, the minute I shotgun cleared the dance floor, I was sold.

Bastion
Technically not a 2012 game, its inclusion in the 2012 Humble Indie Bundle V (where also I got it from) that provided it with massive exposure warrants an inclusion. Whatever genre (trip-hop?) all that stuff is, it’s awesome.

Frozen Synapse
Yes, this is from 2011 also. I don’t care, it stays. Count the 2012 addon, if it soothes you. I played this game for around 2 months straight IN TWO THOUSAND AND TWELVE and its music has been on constant rotation ever since. It was dubbed the best soundtrack since Deus Ex by some dude and I tend to agree. Cyberpunkish, sinister dubstep like the best of ‘em.