[Reaper16]

15.) Ulcerate – The Destroyers of All


Ever heard a metal band from New Zealand? Neither have I, until I came across this stunning release. Ulcerate uses guitars to create heavy post-rock soundscapes that take surprising turns. Think Pelican at their best. Only the rhythm section is incredibly technically precise. Tracks like “Cold Becoming” sound like the slow expanse of Isis combined with the precision death metal of Nile. Tracks like “Omens” (linked above) sound like Explosions in the Sky hooked up with Ansur. This album is plenty heavy, but it takes time to breath. And during that breathing it sort of sprouts wings and flies up in the air and starts gliding around cities that might be on fire. The word “epic” is thrown around entirely too much these days, but that’s what this album is: pretty epic.