Historically, the words “fertile metal scene” and “Nashville” haven’t landed in many of the same sentences, at least not in publications outside of the state. But Music City’s evil sounds have been getting a lot more attention as of late, and the past year has seen maybe the best crop of metal albums Nashville’s ever yielded, with none better than Alraune’s The Process of Self-Immolation. And if Nashville isn’t known for metal, it really isn’t known for black metal. Nevertheless, Alraune’s grim, cold sound stands toe to toe with damn near any other USBM record of 2014. Drummer Tyler Coburn also plays in Yautja, and really, picking this record over the sludgy hardcore of Yautja’s Songs of Descent is just splitting hairs.
Best Metal Album
Alraune, The Process of Self-Immolation
