Brütal Legend (2009)

I’ve just finished the video game Brütal Legend finally after many takes through many years but this time I took it to the end; although it was not that big deal in terms of time (or difficulty for that matter) even though I am quite a completionist.

So. This is easily one of my most rewarding and awesome gameplay experiences ever. And reminds me again how rich the lore of heavy metal is. Nothing compares. Really. Nowadays I tend to listen to more electronic music than metal but still, the world around heavy metal with all its characters, icons, legends, elements and stories, let it be imaginary or based on the real world – you just cannot beat it. And Brütal Legend brought all this to life in the most beautiful way possible. I loved to be sucked into that world.

Thank you Tim Schafer, thank you Double Fine, thank you Jack Black. And my heart went boom listening to the voices of Lemmy Kilmister, Rob Halford, Ozzy Osbourne and Lita Ford. I may easily go back to do some achievements just to meet the Guardian of Metal and the Kill Master again.

Wovenwar – Honor Is Dead

When at 1:30am you cannot not play this loud and shout along. Melodic hardcore and industrial metal riffs at best.

And the track Silhouette? This is… what is this? ‘90s pop tune with this melodic metal atmosphere. This is a powerful pop metal thing, that’s what it is.

Thy Catafalque – Sgùrr

Got hooked on this one for quite some days, terrific orchestration and blend of styles. Some electronic music styled beats, but acoustic instruments, then going deep ambient, dark textures and full-blown metal, always with a hint of folk. The mountain shape drawn by the length of the tracks is a nice subtle thing to discover. Totally surprising entry in my best of 2015 list.