El Cactus Magico

Rating vinyl releases

[el-cactus-magico]

Top 20 releases of 2020 - 17

Kadavar - The Isolation Tapes

Country: Germany

When I first heard the single "Everything is Changing", I didn't like it. I feared that this album just wouldn't be for me. As a fan of the band I found that a strange thought. Then they released "Eternal Light" and I loved that song. So what would the album be like?

Good. It's a very good album that is totally different then what they have made in the past. It is psychedelic and sometimes poppy. Most of all it is very dreamy. Perfect for the shit year 2020 was. Is it the best Kadavar album? Hell no. Would I want more like this? Nope. But for one album, for one go, this was beautifully done and will stand out in the Kadavar catalogue for years to come. I still don't like "Everything is Changing" though...

20. Pallbearer - Forgotten Days

19. Valkyrie - Fear

18. Bismut - Retrocausality

17. Kadavar - The Isolation Tapes

[el-cactus-magico]

Top 20 releases of 2020 - 18

Bismut - Retrocausality

Country: The Netherlands

The first of 3 bands from the Netherlands in this top 20. These guys play instrumental space rock in a very clear and clean way. This isn't the most fuzzy album, but it does take you to mars and back. Where bands like Earthless have a very 70s feeling in the instrumental jams, Bismut gives a more clean and present day feeling. With the faster parts tending to a more metal sound. The one thing that bothered me with this album is the lack of marked sides A, B, ... You have to look at the engravings and I don't like that.

Overall, this is a refreshingly different approach to space rock, give it a listen!

20. Pallbearer - Forgotten Days

19. Valkyrie - Fear

18. Bismut - Retrocausality

[el-cactus-magico]

Top 20 releases of 2020 - 19

Valkyrie - Fear

Country: USA

If Baroness had to slow it down, evolve more towards rock than metal, I wish it would have sounded like this. Valkyries sound has a hint of Baroness, but brings a more 70s hard rock/proto metal flavour that really enriches the whole. There is a completeness here that makes this Valkyries best work so far.

20. Pallbearer - Forgotten Days

19. Valkyrie - Fear

[el-cactus-magico]

Top 20 releases of 2020 - 20

Pallbearer - Forgotten Days

Country: USA

No longer an up and coming band in doom, but for me one of the bands of the last 10 years to claim a top spot in the genre. The overall theme of the album, death, is a beautifully throbbing presence through the different songs. Creating feelings of sadness, but also giving comfort at the same time. For me this is Pallbearers best outing to date.

20. Pallbearer - Forgotten Days

[el-cactus-magico]

Top 20 releases of 2020 - honorable mention

Baardvader (self-titled)

Country: The Netherlands

In the bands own words: "Baardvader is a fuzzrock three-piece inspired by 70s and 90s bands mixed with stoner elements. A familiar but unique sound presented in a modern way."

I felt the need to do an honorable mention quit simply because this band deserves some spotlight. They aren't nr 21, but they put out a great debut album nonetheless. It is not an easy thing for a band to describe themselves as perfectly as Baardvader does here. The first thing that pops out when listening to the album is the wall of fuzz mixed with a 90s grunge sound. But then you start to hear the influences from the 70s in there, being intertwined more subtly in the music.

In the end it is a strong and broad stoner rock album. Check it out!

[el-cactus-magico]

Greetings fellow musical travellers and searchers of that magical moment. That moment when you forget your every day life. That moment of utter zen. That moment when the hair on your arms is standing upright and shivers are running down your spine. That moment of complete happiness or sadness. That moment often referenced to as the "eargasm".

Why this blog you may ask? Are you doing anything new? Nope. Nothing new or innovating here. Just a guy writing about something he enjoys. Rating vinyl. Mostly new releases but sometimes I'll throw something old on here aswell.

I search for new music online, on youtube and bandcamp mostly. I check a few songs and if I like it, I try to buy the vinyl. I try not to listen to the whole album online, it ruins the first moment I spin the vinyl.

I will start this thing of with my top 20 favorite releases of 2020. It was a complete pile of shit of a year, but the releases were really good.

Thanks for reading.