Drummer Nick Yacyshyn played on not one but three of 2018's best heavy-music albums: SUMAC's Love in Shadow, Baptists' Beacon of Faith and Erosion's Maximum Suffering. And he listened to way more records that he didn't play on over the course of the last 11 months and counting, and he loved a lot of them. We asked him to share some of his favorite music from the past year; below is the extensive list he offered up.
Mass Grave - Our Due Descent
One of the best bands of all time. Every record completely rules and this one is another killer offering in every way. Some of the sickest riffs and vocals going in extreme music. Also, the pairing of longtime engineer/mixer Jesse Gander with Mass Grave is noteworthy and just plain savage.
Westerbur & Rowe - 2018 LP
Stumbled upon this band while waiting to load in to a show in their native Detroit a few years back. Their 2015 LP was playing in a record store down the street that we were killing time at and both Aaron [Turner, SUMAC singer-guitarist] and I bought copies almost instantly. Each release of theirs seems to be better and better somehow, and they always end up being my most listened-to records of any given year they come out. Synth and drum duo with layers and layers of incredible atmosphere and expansive, moving arrangements. Very good.
Infernal Coil - Within a World Forgotten
I've been lucky enough to follow Blake's musical career over the past handful of years and to see his output become more and more brutal is heartwarming. This LP totally and thoroughly destroys. Dissonant riffs with extremely fast drumming at the foundation with a true sense of horror and depravity being the No.1 priority. Unsettling and cavernous, frightening and overwhelming.
Aura Noir - Aura Noire
I'm a relatively new fan of this band and uhhh, well, holy fuckin' shit. Something about this record just makes me feel great. Insane guitar playing ... super creative riffing, heavier than heck and faster than shit.
Goat - Double Date Soundtrack
Haven't seen the movie, but this soundtrack is damn near perfect. The full-band approach reminds me of Seventies Italian horror soundtracks, but the general vibe I got was closer to Alain Goraguer's Fantastic Planet score. Goat's catalog rules and I was stoked to be this psyched on their take of scoring a movie.
Knelt Rote - Alterity
This band doesn't disappoint. Devastatingly brutal shit. Menacing and crushing, exciting stuff. In the words of my friend Andrew Drury: "Nasty."
Mammoth Grinder - Cosmic Crypt
All of our friends had been anxiously waiting for this record and it held up it's end of the deal big time. Stripped-down, stomping, heavy-as-hell death punk or whatever. Killer riffs all over the place. Chris Ulsh doesn't make bad music and this ain't any different.
Thom Yorke - 'Suspiria' Soundtrack
Once I got over the whole "He's singing! Why is he singing!!" initial reaction and realized that my preconceptions or skepticism have literally nothing to do with how good or bad a record is, I instantly became a huge fan of this soundtrack. The "song" songs are gorgeous and haunting, and the instrumentals are super creepy. I love the use of motifs in film scores and this one delivers the goods all over the place.
Jóhann Jóhannsson - 'Mandy' Soundtrack
The love theme is outstanding, and the final track could be an hour longer and I'd still think it's too short. Love the heavy guitars, love the tension. Just wish the Jeremiah Sand song was included in the official release! Many repeat listens. Side B is my jam.
Johnny Jewel - Digital Rain
Loved his Windswept LP and had to grab this one right away. Beautiful stuff. This is a go-to record at the drum shop and I can't wait to see what he does next.
Also...
Demilich - Em9t2ness Of Van2s1ing/V34ish6ng Of Emptiness demos compilation
Bootlicker - Who Do You Serve?
Chain Whip - 7"
Craft - White Noise and Black Metal
Our Place of Worship Is Silence - With Inexorable Suffering
Innumerable Forms - Punishment in Flesh
Justin Foley - Drone Loops EP 1
Hot Snakes - Jericho Sirens
Superstition - Surging Throng of Evils Might
Nordra - Pylon II
Mortuous - Through Wilderness
Jaye Jayle - No Trail and Other Unholy Paths
Bone Sickness - Theatre of Morbidity
Mortiferum - Altar of Decay
Hashteroid - Hashteroid
Portal - Ion
Brainoil - Singularity to Extinction
