Belgium's Amenra are one of the most compelling and uncompromising metal/hardcore bands on the modern circuit, offering up live and recorded rituals that aim for transcendence through catharsis and pain. Over the course of 2018, the band toured tirelessly in support of its excellent Mass VI LP, including treks with like-minded heavy-hitters Neurosis and Converge, and next year, they'll hit the U.S. again, opening for similarly forward-thinking riff-worshippers YOB and Voivod. As guitarist Lennart Bossu looks back on 2018 and toward 2019, we asked him to share some of his highlights from the past 11 months and counting. Below is what he offered up.
Low - Double Negative
I find it fascinating how a band that has so many albums and a sound of their own can reinvent themselves after all those years and still stay completely true to themselves. An inspiration.
Mount Eerie - Now Only
I had seen Mount Eerie live a couple of months before this album came out and it was one of the live experiences that cut the deepest in recent years. Hearing these songs again on an album always brings back that memory.
Thou - Magus
I had never really gotten into this band, but with this release they've really won me over. A perfect heavy album.
Mark Kozelek - Mark Kozelek
Mark Kozelek just being himself over some beautiful guitar lines. What more can one wish for?
Searching
I coincidentally saw this movie on a plane. I hadn't heard of it before, but found it kind of original in its approach. It shows that you don't need mega budgets to make something entertaining, just some clever ideas will do.
The Death of Stalin
Pitch black humor that is unfortunately often very close to reality.
McQueen
The tragic story of a young genius that I was mostly unaware of.
Wild Wild Country
One of the most entertaining things I've seen this year. It proves that reality sometimes surpasses fiction.
BoJack Horseman
This latest season is so ambitious and well constructed. May it be an inspiration to other series.
