The year is coming to its end and the Bloodstained Metal team has selected the best albums of the year!
PAULI HODJU:
🩸TOP 5 – Unsigned🩸
1. Torchia – Arcane Magicae
2. Alias Noone – Weight of the World
3. Lights to Remain – Damnation (still to be released this year!)
4. Deathropy – Deathropy
5. Numento – The Antimatter Fantasy
🩸TOP 5 – Signed🩸
1. Kanonenfieber – Die Urkatastrophe
2. Bad Omens – Concrete Jungle
3. EMINEM – The Death of Slim Shady
4. Nightwish – Yesterwynde
5. Octoploid – Beyond the Aeons
🩸Honorable mentions🩸
Folkrim – Embers
Turmion Kätilöt – Reset
KING SATAN – The Devil’s Evangelion
Wintersun – Time II
Pauli´s comments on his top picks: ”This year it was exceptionally difficult to pick top lists, as one great album after another kept rolling out from all directions! The best part is seeing the hard work and ambition in the “unsigned” scene, where many rising bands are gradually getting their foot in the door and, as a result, gaining amazing opportunities. My own top list ended up consisting of albums that had earworms, were unique, and stood out in some way.
Torchia kicked off the year with an insanely strong album that immediately blew everyone away and showed what Tampere has to offer! At times, the Children of Bodom vibes (almost to the point of copying) were a bit off-putting, but thankfully they were only a minor element, and the album always returned to pure, authentic Torchia. Edward’s voice tears souls to shreds, and “There’s a Witch Among Us” is hands down the best song of the year!
In addition to these top albums, I’d like to give a honorable mention to a band that didn’t make it onto the list! Folkrim, the folk metal band from Rauma, made a strong impression with their work and even with a ”hint” of self-confidence! These rascals will definitely be seen more at our events!
On the ”signed” side, picking a top 5 was nearly impossible. Bad Omens dominated the top spot on my list for a long time, until… Kanonenfieber came out of nowhere with an old panzerwagen and steamrolled over everything, showing how it’s done!! Absolutely the best album of the year, with not a single weak or filler track, and when the album ends, you’re left craving even more. The album concludes perfectly with a stunning acoustic track that bids farewell to fallen brothers-in-arms.
The biggest honorable mentions go to Turmion Kätilöt, whose album hit like a thousand electric leather whips. King Satan’s The Devil’s Evangelion brought pure chaos, and last but not least, the divisive Wintersun’s Time II. It’s a bit like comparing Roger Moore’s Bond films to Daniel Craig’s — “It was better in the old days!” — even though the new material is pure brilliance as well.”
PETRI VOLFRAM:
🩸TOP 5 – Unsigned🩸
1. Numento – The Antimatter Fantasy
2. Warfarer – A Tale Beyond the Pale
3. Torchia – Arcane Magicae
4. Ignis Eternum – Beginning of the End
5. Beyond the Hate – Darkest Times
🩸TOP 5 – Signed🩸
1. Curse Upon a Prayer – The Worship: Orthoprax Satanism
2. Nightwish – Yesterwynde
3. Fleshgod Apocalypse – Opera
4. Swallow the Sun – Shining
5. Wintersun – Time II
Petri´s comments on his top picks: ”On their 3rd album, Numento crystallized their sound and song structures. It’s an album without weak tracks, packed with catchiness that makes one to return to the album again and again.
After discovering Curse Upon a Prayer at a random gig night, I was mesmerised by their live intensity and amazing songs. I had to wait a couple of months for this album to be released, and when it finally came out, it certainly didn’t disappoint. An album that restored my faith in black metal.”
ANTTI MAANTIEHINNO:
🩸TOP 5 – Unsigned🩸
1. Deathropy – Deathropy
2. Alias Noone – Weight of the World
3. Lights to Remain – Damnation
4. Folkrim – Embers
5. Numento – The Antimatter Fantasy
🩸TOP 5 – Signed🩸
1. Cemetery Skyline – Nordic Gothic
2. EMINEM – The Death of Slim Shady
3. One Morning Left – Neon Inferno
4. Oranssi Pazuzu – Muuntautuja
5. Sum41 – Heaven :x: Hell
Antti´s comments on his top picks: ”Cemetery Skyline’s Nordic Gothic album stands out due to its blend of atmospheric, gothic themes with Nordic influences. The album combines diverse musical styles, from gothic rock to black metal, with rich guitar sounds and melancholic lyrics that explore dark, philosophical themes. This fusion of elements creates a captivating work that resonated with my taste.
Deathropy’s album is compelling due to its energetic intensity, technical proficiency, and raw authenticity. The album showcases high-level musicianship, especially in guitar work and drumming, while maintaining a raw, unfiltered energy that adds to its authenticity. I´ve always been a huge fan of melodic death metal and it is exciting to find something new and interesting like this!”
PETER MUSTONEN:
🩸TOP 5 – Unsigned🩸
1. Deathropy – Deathropy
2. Numento – The Antimatter Fantasy
3. Folkrim – Embers
4. Warfarer – A Tale Beyond the Pale
5. Ignis Eternum – Beginning of the End
🩸TOP 5 – Signed🩸
1. Kanonenfieber – Die Urkatastrophe
2. Cemetery Skyline – Nordic Gothic
3. Korpiklaani – Rankarumpu
4. Firewind – Stand United
5. Powerwolf – Wake Up the Wicked
Peter´s comments on his top picks: ”Melodic deathmetal as a genre has been my favourite for the longest of time but as years the have passed a certain peak interest has gone away as most bands sound same as the last one but this Deathropy album has filled the void that I had for the longest of time and re-kindled my interest in the genre.
As you can tell by looking at my previous choices my interest has mostly been in the folk- and mainstream metal but as I was going to the BS event in Alimus with Pauli, he put Kanonenfieber – Die Urkatastrophe on in the car and after that the clear numero uno album was found. No if’s and But’s.”