okay y'all let's post some results to keep the kids from screaming
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First one up is easy, this one has been leading the pack both listens through and it's not really hard to see why. Blackgaze stuff usually falls into the unfortunate trend of being pleasant enough to listen to but really lacking in the intensity proper black metal brings to the table but no, not here, this has a lot of those calmer, ethereal moments but still has enough ripping, intense moments to balance them out and keep the whole thing feeling dynamic and powerful. Even the ambient tracks here add a lot, the first one especially is just waves and waves of lush ambience that lead into the track following quite smoothly, and it doesn't overstay its welcome or get boring. My only real gripe is that I feel like the 15 minute closer might plod along just a little too long for its own good, but my opinion on that may change on further listens, 'cause yeah, this is one I'm likely gonna have to check out, it's good stuff.
Naturally an album like this could only come from the one, the only, Evermind with
Ultar – Kadath. Yep.
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#5: I kind of dig what they're going for here but I think I'd dig it more if it connected emotionally more often. Feel like this one's going to be a grower on relistens for that exact reason, though. Particularly reminds me of another band I'm fond of at times.
Surprise, guess what happened. Yeah, on second listen I was feeling this one a lot more than on first listen, maybe it was being more in the right mindset for it or something? I dunno. While it's a relatively low-key album overall, probably the chillest album of the entire round, it still finds enough diversity in its fusion of post-rock and math rock tropes, even with the occasional jazzier piece, and backs it all up with some real sense of build and swell in its tracks that allow the emotional climaxes to build. The Unforgiving Tide in particular was the standout from the listens I've given this, but I don't think there's a single track here I dislike and really I only see this one growing on me with further listens. I don't know if this one or the Ultar album is round winner qutie yet (will get back to you on that in a few days probably) but it's definitely among these two, both are quite good.
So yeah, pretty clear this one's home with
OWEL – OWEL.
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Tenative rankings, I guess
1. Ultar - Kadath
2. OWEL - OWEL
Like I already said, I know 6 of the 7 people who are safe already after just two listens through all of these, I'm gonna do relistens through everything anyways to at least get a better grasp on ordering things but there is a pretty clear divide between the top 6 and bottom 2 here.