Author's Choices

Best of Jan-March 2020 (Patrik Transcended)

Cornershop – England is a Garden
(Rock/Alternative)

Brit-Rock meets a touch of Psychedelic sound structures – the 60s/70s meet the present. An album that maybe unfolds its qualities on a road trip, at a BBQ or a cosy round on the balcony or terrace. The virtuoso playing is timeless and has the quality to become an all-time classic good mood album for a lot of situations. Unfortunately, this album was released right between the Brexit and the breakout of the Corona Virus and its wave of news, which is why it was getting ignored. If you look for a good and positive album, listen to it.

Myrkur – Folkensange
(Nordic-Folk)

An experience that surprised me, because I was expecting to listen to an album similar to the previous ones. But this emotional and playful Folk album maybe is one of the best from the past years. Myrkur gives us a personal trip through her feelings and origins, with classical instruments and a beautiful voice.

Heaven Shall Burn – Of Truth and Sacrifice
(Metalcore/Melodic Death Metal)

After four years, Heaven Shall Burn, maybe the biggest Metalcore band from Germany, released their new album in March – 19 Songs, over 90 minutes of excellent Metalcore. If I was to critcize something, maybe the album is two or three songs too long, but HSB is an band that has achieved to never become boring for 20 years and nine albums – always going on new paths and delivering high quality songs that are good enough to be in your song rotation after a few years: “Protector” and “My Heart and My Ocean” are no exceptions.

Toundra – Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari
(Post-Rock/Soundtrack)

When my passion for music crosses my passion for movies and cinema, then you can achieve a lot from my perspective. Toundra did an excellent job with this new interpretation of the silent-movie classic “Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari”. The corona virus epidemic forced them to stop their live tour where you would have been able to watch the movie while the band was playing a live performance, but they uploaded a version on Vimeo – there you can see what power music can give to a movie.

https://vimeo.com/404533057?fbclid=IwAR3zZk4qGLynwIyMcT6zmYXW2uyfYYkp-crb6v3kdXvXj-Yia8aWKH5xTcU

Porridge Radio – Very Bad
(Alternative)

To make it short: a very very good guitar Rock album that is always welcomed but still not common in the past years. Like the Cornershop release, a little bit forgotten, but worth your time. I predict that this album will be on a lot of AOTY lists at the end of the year, and maybe watchable and hearable on a lot of festivals in the future.

The Night Flight Orchestra – Aeromantic
(Classic Rock/AOR)

What I wanted to say about that album, I did it in my Author’s Choice.

Acid Mammoth – Under Acid Hoof
(Doom Metal/Psychedelic Rock)

Roman did a review on this album in January and was very hyped about it. So I gave it a chance and what could I say except – it blew my ears away. What a power, what a force. That’s music I liked from time to time to push you, to forget stuff around you and just nod your head because you are into it. One of my biggest surprises this year, this combination of Stoner Rock and Doom Metal is worth giving it a chance.

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