Last Updated: 8 January 2024
I’ve been listening to a lot of music recently. Primarily diving into my love for Metal and its various sub-genres, this post will be focusing on my favourite albums inside the Metal world and ones you need to check out.
You will be seeing quite a common theme in these albums, my favourite sub-genre of Metal is Stoner Sludge/Doom and Death Metal, so brace yourself.
BongCauldron – Binge
Band: BongCauldron
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Release Date: 30th November 2017
Format: Digital & Vinyl
Total Runtime: 39:05 [39 minutes, 5 seconds]
Label: APF Records
“Binge” by Bong Cauldron was the first album that led me into my love for everything Stoner, Sludge, and Doom. Unfortunately, this would be the only full-length album Bong Cauldron would produce together, before their split in 2019.
But nonetheless, “Binge” will remain a gateway album of mine and would be right for me to share this with anyone else to discover this sludgy side of Metal.
This album is everything you want in a sludge, doom metal album. Full of bass, distortion, and earth pounding drumming. It is also worth mentioning that this album was recorded with Chris Fielding of Conan in his Skyhammer Studio. Which goes without saying, this album brings out the darkness of BongCauldron.
Portrayal Of Guilt – CHRISTFUCKER
Band: Portrayal Of Guilt
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Release Date: 5th November 2021
Format: Digital & Vinyl
Total Runtime: 27:53 [27 minutes, 53 seconds]
Label: Run For Cover Records
An album that is ultra-provocative and is what I would consider marmite. I love it, but some also don’t like it.
For me, Black Metal has always been a genre of metal that has been difficult for me to get into, but I do appreciate it and would never just turn around and say “it’s all shit”.
“CHRISTFUCKER” was that for me, it took me a few separate listening sessions to really get into it. The mix of scorching Black Metal and abrasive industrial-noise rock really sat comfortably with me.
Like I said, this album will not be for everyone. But for the certain few who have an appreciation for the dark and depraved depths of Metal, it’s a hell-hole worth falling into.
Obituary – Frozen In Time
Band: Obituary
Location: Gibsonton, Florida
Release Date: 12th July 2005
Format: Digital, CD & Vinyl
Total Runtime: 34:16 [34 minutes, 16 seconds]
Label: Roadrunner Records
An album that kick-started my love for Death/Doom Metal and a gateway to my love for Metal all together (well, tell a lie, that would be Slipknot, but who’s telling).
You will find many online reviews that praise this album for the band’s return and creating an album that fuses their old sound with new technology. Although I recommend this album, I would highly recommend you go and check Obituary’s ’89 and ’90s albums: Slowly We Rot, Cause Of Death, and The End Complete.
Frozen In Time is a fantastic album, however, it did have pretty big shoes to fill coming from the releases they made in the 90s. But nonetheless, Obituary will remain pioneers of the Death Metal.
Cannibal Corpse – Eaten Back To Life
Band: Cannibal Corpse
Location: Buffalo, New York, USA
Release Date: 16th August 1990
Format: Digital, CD & Vinyl
Total Runtime: 35:56 [35 minutes, 56 seconds]
Label: Metal Blade Records
The infamous debut album from Cannibal Corpse. Featuring the original lead vocalist, Chris Barnes.
This album will sit firmly as my favourite album of all time, with this being the beginnings of one of my favourite Death bands and is the sort of album where you can pick up on Cannibal Corpse’s Hardcore routes within the NY Hardcore scene.
Some people who find themselves in a rabbit warren finding new music can sometimes forget about the band’s debut albums, and this is one of those that is well worth checking out.
Belzebong – Sonic Scapes & Weedy Grooves
Band: Belzebong
Location: Kielce, Świętokrzyskie, Poland
Release Date: 11th April 2011
Format: Digital, CD & Vinyl
Total Runtime: 30:00 [30 minutes, 0 seconds]
Label: Independent release, then re-released via Heavy Psych Sounds 2022.
The Polish instrumental Stoner Doom wizards. Whenever you need to just mellow out, have some heavy background music to unwind after a stressful day, or just as a heavy playlist whilst getting lost in your favourite video game.
Belzebong come packing with the headbanging basslines, mind-wandering riffs and overall grittiness you would expect to find. In some cases, you’re sat waiting for the vocal to come creeping in from somewhere, but you happen to just then get lost in a world of riffs.
I hope you enjoy these selections, if you want to check out what I’m listening to daily then follow me on Spotify (linked here).
Let me know what you’re listening to in the comments, and who your favourite/influential bands or musicians are.
Peace!
