EPs form a vital part of the output of many artists. From up and coming bands who may not have the financial resources to record an entire album to more established artists who want to try something stylistically different that may not sit comfortably on a full length piece of work. As with some of the artists here, they can also be released as an addendum to albums that have been recently released. Whichever is the case, EPs can give listeners a taste of what a band has to offer without committing to buying a complete album or for avid fan, the chance to obtain even more by their favourites. Here are ten I have thoroughly enjoyed this year.
10: Tyler Bryan and the Shakedown – Dirty Work
After releasing the Shake The Roots album last year (a splendid amalgamation of blues rock and rock and roll), Dirty Work builds on the musical and lyrical directions explored on that opus. Balanced to allow for enough space for instrumentals featuring blistering guitar (Strike), melodic choruses (Sho Been Worse) and tracks of mellower contemplation (Dirty Work), the EP covers each element of the band’s sound within its 20 minutes.
Favourite track: Burnin’
9: Karmanjakah – Ancient Skills
Two years ago, Karmanjakah surprised everyone with a full-length debut that took many elements of djent, enticingly mixed them with circling clean vocals, and spun them effortlessly into a kaleidoscope of colourful atmospheres. Venturing more heavily into more ethereal synth-driven areas (without losing the creative guitar tones), Karmanjakah blend songs leaning towards the more melodic moments of Tesseract while retaining the vivacity of Periphery.
Favourite track: Flying
8: Draxhan – Transmutations (Act 1)
French synthwave metal does not seem to be the most likely of successful combinations; however, Volkor X (the brains behind Draxhan) has found a beguiling approach to such a conundrum. Teaming up with vocalist Sab Elvenia, the duo channel influences from Meshuggah to Dark Funeral to the ocean. Transmutations takes the listener on a pummelling but celestial journey. Both menacing and entrancing, this EP will expand your horizons of what metal can be.
Favourite track: Atomic Cult of Resurrection
7: Lords of Ruin – Coda Revival
Building on the versatile, technical hard rock and alternative metal elements exemplified on their 2022 debut EP Ruin Within, Lords of Ruin seek to attain the next level with their new offering Coda Revival. At 18 minutes long, it is the perfect introduction to Lords of Ruin for the uninitiated. Fans of melodic hard rock, metal and more traditional British metal will find much of interest here. See my full review of the EP here: https://shorturl.at/pENX6
Favourite track: Universal
6: Sublime Eyes – From Light Unto Darkness
Blending thrash and epic melodic death metal, Sublime Eyes returned with an EP which explored the temptation of evil and the evil committed by man against man. This EP also marks the first release with drummer Tommy Utsola, and the last to feature longtime bassist Jørn Helseth. Three of the five tracks feature contributions from other artists including Tobias Netzell of In Mourning and Ol Drake of Evile. Emphatically powerful, From Light Unto Darkness is a tantalising glimpse of what to expect on Sublime Eyes’ upcoming fourth album.
Favourite track: Victims From The Grave
5: Gozer – The Path Always Leads To The End
Yorkshire based Gozer (formed from the ashes of Archelon) released this four track post-metal EP in November. The trio allow the music to progress naturally on its meandering passage through 16 minutes of unease and disquiet – imagine the more darkly ambient moments of work by John Carpenter meshed with the quieter elements of atmospheric black metal trio Fen – echoing the feeling of being followed down a dark road on a foggy night.
Favourite track: Where The River Meets The Ocean
4: Orbit Culture – The Forgotten
Following support slots with Trivium and Meshuggah, melodic death quartet Orbit Culture end the year (this was only released on 1st December) with a three track EP of colossal riffs, pulsating grooves and absorbing vocal performances. Assuming these three songs were chosen not to feature on Descent (their full-length album released in August), they are indication of the strength of music Orbit Culture still have in the vault.
Favourite track: Sound of the Bell
3: Insomnium – Songs of the Dusk
As with Orbit Culture, Insomnium released this EP in the same year as their most recent album (Anno 1696 in February). Although over recent years Insomnium have clearly stuck to a formula that works, and at 20 minutes, Songs of the Dusk is a concise representation of what makes them such an intriguing and enduring band. Having seen them play live in November, they have lost none of their ability to captivate an audience and the (almost) title track (Song of the Dusk) of this EP was extremely well received.
Favourite track: Stained In Red
2: Blood Incantation – Luminescent Bridge
The rise of Blood Incantation has been fascinating to observe. Spanning the realms of technical death metal and more psychedelic moments, their second album (2019’s Hidden History of the Human Race) was a cosmic odyssey through intricate compositions and thought-provoking lyrics. 2022 saw the release of the phenomenal Timewave Zero - a full-length dark ambient album, elements of which were only hinted at on their first two albums. Luminescent Bridge features two tracks (both nearing the 10-minute mark) – one from each corner of their past. Obliquity of the Ecliptic is tormenting and harsh - firmly routed in technical black metal - while the title track could easily have featured on Timewave Zero. It will be fascinating to see where Blood Incantation travel to with their next full-length album.
Favourite track: Luminescent Bridge
1: Ihsahn – Fascination Street Sessions
Without doubt, Ihsahn is a genius within the realms of metal. Endlessly inventive, he is dedicated to infectious songwriting while pushing the boundaries of what is expected (his upcoming album will be released in both metal and orchestral versions). As with his version of a-ha’s Manhattan Skyline (which featured Einar Solberg) on 2020’s Pharos, Ihsahn covers another synthpop/rock track as Jonas Renske of Katatonia guest vocals on Dom Andra (originally by Swedish band Kent). His original metal songs are wonderfully constructed and Ihsahn continues his unique and discerning wanderings with his crown intact.
Favourite track: The Observer
Written: 3rd December 2023
Listen to my Top 10 Rock and Metal EPs of 2023 sampler (my favourite track from each release) below.
Comments