EPS OF THE YEAR

Because shorter albums deserve plenty of love too

JINJER

Micro

A herald of the full-length album, Macro, the Ukrainians’ five-tracker was still a dazzling achievement in its own right, wielding time-stretching djent to elevating vocal refrains.

WORMED

Metaportal

Sci-fi and death metal have long been bedfellows, and these long-running maniacs from Madrid upped the warp factor to dizzying levels of technical, ambience-invaded delirium.

BLOOD COMMAND

Return Of The Arsonist

A hyperactive explosion like a riot under neon lights, the Norwegians’ EP was smart, and smarting, incendiary agit-pop strewn with anthemic hooks.

LVCIFYRE

Sacrament

Proving the occult DM scene still had hellfire in its belly, London’s

Lvcifyre unleashed five tracks of blackened, consciousnessclogging animosity with the baleful intent of demons hammering in a forge.

A.A.WILLIAMS

A.a.williams

The metal world has embraced a lot of non-traditionally ‘heavy’ artists, but A.A. Williams’ debut EP reached deep into our hearts, its glacial, twilight ruminations proving an achingly transformative experience.