Album of the Year 2017 – Number 23
Welcome to day 8 of my ‘Album of the Year 2017 top 30 countdown’.
As I sit here typing this post, the heavens have opened and that rarest of events on the east coast of the UK is in full swing – we have snow in Suffolk! It means that we are well and truly nearing the end of the year, a year that has been hugely impressive for me when it comes to my music of choice.
Today is a great example of what I am saying. Any other year, this pick would have certainly been higher up my list, maybe in the top 10-15. But as it is, the best death metal album of 2017 in my opinion instead sits at 23.
As always, keep the comments, shares and general interaction coming – I genuinely like the banter that my choices provoke and I try to respond to it all, positive or negative.
If you have missed any of the previous posts in this series, links can be found at the bottom of this post along with links to the entire countdowns from previous years.
Number 23
Deserted Fear
Dead Shores Rising
Century Media Records
“I remember the days when I heard Entombed for the first time or Obituary, Dismember or even At The Gates. To a greater or lesser extent, these are all good reference points for the output of Deserted Fear and I get the same kind of overall feelings listening to ‘Dead Shores Rising’ as I did when I first listened to the aforementioned. The power, the brutality, the malevolence, the clandestine melodies, and the more overt hooks – it is all there and it is thoroughly absorbing.
But it is the compositions themselves that transform what is an already strong blueprint into something rather brilliant. Nothing is extraneous, nothing is unnecessary. Each composition is a tight, well drilled and excellently executed slice of extreme heavy metal.
‘Dead Shores Rising’ is a totally compelling album that has completely renewed and reinvigorated my love for death metal. It is bold, it is savage and it kicks some serious butt. What more could you possibly want?
Read the full review here.
Prior to the release of ‘Dead Shores Rising’, I’d never heard of Deserted Fear before. However, the German trio have well and truly made an impact on me this year.
An early 2017 release, it has remained a steadfast companion over the past several months. Like the proverbial moth to the flame, I frequently find myself gravitating towards the addictive and compelling sounds of Deserted Fear. The output of the band would have you firmly believe that these Germans were actually Swedes in disguise – huge dirty riffs, groove by the bucketload and enough melody to keep things interesting and engaging, I’m firmly reminded of the likes of At The Gates and Dismember to name but a couple of obvious reference points.
In fact, as I listen, I get the same kind of immense buzz that I experienced the very first time I heard ‘Slaughter of the Soul’ – it has that same kind of aura about it, the way that it is so focused, so honed and recreates that perfect blend of brutality and accessibility.
The crucial difference for me however, is the production. ‘Dead Shores Rising’ is an album released in 2017 and it has a production to match. The Germans could have gone for a less polished sheen to replicate more closely their obvious influences but to my personal delight they didn’t. I make no apologies for liking a strong and clear production and Deserted Fear duly oblige. For me, it is the icing on the cake and makes this album stand out more than it otherwise might have done.
When death metal is this good and it gets its malevolent claws into you, it is almost impossible to escape. The thing is, I don’t want to.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjRp_eaI4lI&w=560&h=315]
If you missed either of my 2017 ‘honourable mentions’ posts, here they are should you be interested:
Album of the Year 2017 – honourable mentions Part 1
Album of the Year 2017 – honourable mentions Part 2
Previous posts in my 2017 Top 30 countdown:
Album of the Year 2017 – Number 24
Album of the Year 2017 – Number 25
Album of the Year 2017 – Number 26
Album of the Year 2017 – Number 27
Album of the Year 2017 – Number 28
Album of the Year 2017 – Number 29
Album of the Year 2017 – Number 30
And from previous years:
Album of the Year 2016
Album of the Year 2015
Album of the Year 2014
Album of the Year 2013
Album of the Year 2012
