I'm a sucker for yearsend-lists, as long as there's some comments involved - I couln't find one here so i'm first out - in no particular order:
Af Ursin "Trois memoires discrètes" LP (La Scie Dorée)
It's all about the horns.
Anenzephalia "Kaltwelt" LP (Tesco)
While my initial thoughts were quite negative and there's still some tracks that could have been excluded, the return of Anenzephalia felt great. A undoubtedly more "musical" approach these days, than earlier (and still better) material.
Arktau Eos "Unworeldes" LP (Svart)
If you look beyond the visuals this is actually very good ambient music, without the usual total reverb-overload that the ambient scene seems to occupied with these days. I can't really put my finger on where and how, but it takes me elsewhere.
Clew Of Theseus "Rehearse the right life" TAPE (Husk)
I honestly did not care much about the COT-tapes on Cathartic that came out in 2011 so I was very positively surprised by this return to more gritty form and with the right depressive touch. I guess you could compare this to some works by MB, considering it is made with synths (?) but this is more monotone, minimalistic and less layered.
Dusa "Glesbygdsbox" 4XTAPE-BOX + 7" DUBPLATE (Åderlåtning)
Simply because there's no one else doing this kind of plunderphonics elsewhere. Far from any kind of industrial. Big plus for the thoughtful inserts!
Golden Serenades "The age of swing" LP (Wendy)
Hard competition between this and the new Testicle Hazard CD on Freak Animal but the format and somewhat more diverse material puts this in top. I honestly didn't listen much to harsh noise the past year but GS's blend of hard attack, midtempo and crunch suits me just fine.
Haare "Rautapilvi" ONE-SIDED LP (Prison Tatt)
Actually not that far from Arktau Eos LP above, but with a slight filthier and stretched-out approach. I still don't understand the meaning of one-sided LPs though.
Helm "Impossible symmetry" LP (Pan)
Funny how a release can be interpreted, just by being released on a certain label and using other than "usual" artwork. Manipulated concrete sounds, with more droning ambient parts and partly also "intelligent" rhythm patterns which works great together.
Hutchinson, Hal "Wreckage and reconstruction" LP (Unrest)
There's something very relaxed about this recording that I enjoy thoroughly - not so much aggressive metal screech, instead a moderate interest in sound, "academic" if you will - something to delve deep in, in a similar way as with Jeph Jermans music.
Olsson, Kristian "Ligranorex" TAPE (self released)
I was more or less blown away by Kristian's performance at the last Segerhuva-fest in april and there are similarities with this work, one loooong, stretched out track of industrial drone with a completely bleak edge. Upcoming on CD I recall?
Honorable mentions: Enklav / Krökta Rum / Orquere (tracks on "Svenska dokument" 3XTAPE-BOX)
Seems all the projects here involves Viktor Ottosson, hah! Anyway, just so good sense of structure, despite slightly different styles on all these!
