Earlier this year, Tombs released their new album Savage Gold. Savage Gold focused the awesome strength of the band’s previous works into one brilliantly dark post-punk and extreme black-metal masterpiece. Recorded and produced by Hate Eternal’s Erik Rutan (Cannibal Corpse, Goatwhore), Savage Gold both expanded upon the moody post-punk foundations that their prior albums explored while also bringing out the band’s most traditionally metal moments yet.
Formed in 2007 by Mike Hill (Anodyne, Versoma) in Brooklyn, NY, Tombs has become known for their captivating live performances and have toured extensively throughout North America and Europe with bands ranging from Isis, Pelican, Wolves in the Throne Room, The Secret and Kylesa.
Per usual, their latest album was a benchmark of modern metal that is sure to top discerning music fan’s “Best of 2014” lists. Ghettoblaster caught up with Tombs vocalist/guitarist/mastermind Hill to ask about his “best of” list for the year. This is what he told us.
Atriarch – An Unending Pathway
I’ve been a fan of Atriarch for many years. I first heard about them on their split with Alaric. An Unending Pathway is on constant rotation at my place. It’s night-time music: dark, emotionally heavy and intense. It challenges the listener, some traditional metal fans may not initially be into it, but I urge to give it the repeat listening that it deserves.
Black Anvil – Hail Death
This is the album that Black Anvil was destined to make. It’s a culmination of their years of banging it out in this thankless music scene. These guys are my brothers; I know where their coming from and when I listen to this record it makes me think of conversations that we’ve had about music over the years. Another record that is on the hard volume rotation.
Triptykon – Melana Chasmata
Tom Gabriel Fischer is a genius. Next to Greg Ginn and Henry Rollins, he has had the deepest influence on my music. Many people that have been in the game as falling off, entering their twilight years, but Triptykon may be his most focused, fully-realized band that he’s ever done. Melana Chasmata picks up where Eparistera Daimones left off, brutal and somber, a masterpiece.
Impetuous Ritual – Unholy Congregation of Hypocritical Ambivalence
Impetuous Ritual is probably the most unsettlingly unique band currently active. This record is not for the meek, it’s music for warriors and must be approached with a great deal of fortitude.
Blut Aus Nord – Memoria Vetusta III : Satyrnian Poetry
Each record by Blut Aus Nord pushes further into the solipsism and brilliance. I place them in their own category, similar to Godflesh; you know it’s them as soon as you hear that icy guitar tone and sullen vibe. This record gets heavy rotation in the van.
Godflesh – A World Lit Only by Fire
I’ve been waiting for over a decade for the return of Godflesh. Though I was a fan of Jesu, it never really resonated with me the way Godflesh did. This record isn’t just a blast of nostalgia, it is a definitive statement that Broderick and Green aren’t quite through with us.
YOB – Clearing the Path to Ascend
I’m embarrassed to say that I only found out about YOB within the last few months. I feel like a fool having slept on this band for so long. Anyway, better late than never I suppose. 100 years from now, if we don’t destroy ourselves, people will study this record the way Beethoven is studied.
Behemoth – The Satanist
Every new Behemoth record is one of my favorite records of the year. When it comes to blackened, satanic death metal, these guys are top of the food chain. I try to catch them live whenever I can. With all of that said, this record is a stylistic step forward for Behemoth, it’s still intensely brutal, but there is a bit more atmosphere and the slower tempos are a welcome departure from the relentless pace of their earlier material.
Swans – To Be Kind
Another new record by one of my all-time favorite bands? Sign me up! This is the perfect background music for a lonely Saturday night, sitting alone in your room.
Inter Arma – The Cavern
These guys are my homies. Inter Arma are one of the hardest working bands that I’ve ever come across. I can relate to their cross-genre proclivities. They seamlessly incorporate black metal, doom and psychedelic rock music and forge a slab of finely alloyed material that is truly their own.
(Visit Tombs here: https://www.facebook.com/TombsBklyn.)