Brutal's Highest Scoring Albums of 2017

Brutal Resonance may have a small staff but each and every single one of us have our own opinions, tastes, and favorites in music. Some of us agree on albums, sometimes we do not, and sometimes we find each other's tastes so God awful that we settle things in an underground fighting club complete with a steel cage. That being said, it's near impossible for us to do an album of the year countdown or something similar as each of us has our own thoughts as to what are the top albums of the year. So, I have decided to do a bit of a year in review where we look at the top 29 highest scoring albums of 2017. These albums are in blocks depending on their score (for example, #28 to #18 were all rated an 8.5 but the order does not represent favoritism to one album or the other), but are albums that scored anywhere from a fantastic 8.5 to the legendary ten out of ten. So, without further ado, here were my and the staff's favorite albums of 2017 that we were able to cover on the website: 

28. Pyrroline - In the Dawn of Freedom

In the Dawn of Freedom strayed from Pyrroline's sometimes recurring themes of science fiction and went in a darker direction focusing on the Croatian War Of Independence from 1991-1995 when Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia. Loss of life and blood shed was bound to happen, but in the end a new era was born and Pyrroline captures that essence in their 2017 album. 


27. Level 2.0 - Resurgence

"Coated in melancholy and nostalgia with punctuated bursts of light, Resurgence is an exploration, an advancement, ultimately, an improvement of Level 2.0’s sound. The album covers some dark and sad territory, but there is a theme of optimism and hope through all of it. Within Resurgence there is no certainty of happiness, but there is at least the possibility thereof."


26. Microchip Terror - Microchip Terror

Microchip Terror's self-titled album astounded Luke when he first listened to it - and probably still does every single time he hits the play button. He stated in the original review that the album is "..an absolute display of raw power and harnessed energy wrapped up in a metal-synthwave-EBM outer crust that hits hard from beginning to end."


25. Preemptive Strike 0.1 - Through the Astral Cold

Nothing gets my blood pumping faster than Preemptive Strike 0.1's blast beats and dark electro aggression. Through the Astral Cold was a return to roots for the project after they toyed around with Greek mythology in their music, and later incorporated lot of metal elements, including bringing on guest vocalists. But this return to their dark electro and aggrotech roots was still just as fun - they're back doing what they know best. 


24. Fïx8:Sëd8 - Foren6

"If for whatever reason Fïx8:Sëd8 managed to escape your attention - like he did mine for all these years - then now would be the perfect time to discover Martin Sane for the first time. His attention to detail is near perfect and he is not just another band that lists early electro-industrial as an influence. This is a mechanized beast who enraptures the cold, old-school electronic heart and gets the cyber blood pumping with an adrenaline shot of pure chaos."


23. Spectra*Paris - Retromachine Betty

"Spectra*Paris has possibly made the best record in her career with Retromachine Betty. Her voice, as usual, is magical and always matches the beat, tone, and overall suggestion of every single one of the songs. Like a chameleon, she blends in with her environment with ease. That being said, the electropop on the album is equally as impressive as her voice, always differing one song completely from the other without ever pausing the action. Retromachine Betty is coming for you with the full force of addicting dance beats and a songstress for the ages. Two thumbs up!"


22. Anima Nostra - Atraments

"Anima Nostra's best feature is practically their unpredictable nature; I am able to catch on to some acts in the same and similar genres pretty easily, but when combining the power of two fantastic producers it is not so easy to be such a psychic. The most powerful moments on this album were the tribal elements fusing with the rough and tough vocals; it truly brought out a feeling of dread and fear, as if God himself were coming down from the Heavens and you could only sit and wait knowing that no matter what you did there was no saving yourself. I believe that vulnerability is exactly what Anima Nostra was trying to play upon and if they were they did it extremely well. I am honored to have listened to this and easily slap it with an 8.5 out of 10. Good job gentlemen; do not let this beautiful collaboration end just yet. I want to hear more - and I'm sure there's an army out there wanting more just as much as I."


21. He Dreamt of Ascension - Hypnagogia

"Hypnagogia is a great album. I had never heard of He Dreamt Of Ascension before pulling them from the promo pool, but holy fuck I'm glad I did. I'm eagerly anticipating future music from HDOA and so should you."


20. GEA - Pink

"Fans of Bjork, Sigur Ros or Sia are likely to enjoy GEA’s folkish and experimental take on indie pop. Her airy, emphemeral vocals paired with subtle electronic beats and classical elements create a confluence of all the best elements of each of these styles. Add Haapoja’s brilliant arrangements and production, and this album truly shines."


19. Paranoia Inducta - From the Depths

"Anthony Armageddon Destroyer has created another vast and powerful album that pitted me in the heart of darkness itself, flew me across rivers of blight, and cast rain and shadows across my mind. Though dark and ominous throughout most of its run, From the Depths is also a fascinating execution of death industrial, dark ambient, and drone music. Sometimes epic, sometimes alluring, and sometimes sinister From the Depths is an album that marks another milestone in Paranoia Inducta's lifetime."


18. Grendel - Age of the Disposable Body

"Age of the Disposable Body is another timeless classic from Grendel that will most likely remain a staple for years to come. The rock solid production, addicting themes and rhythms has already won over industrial enthusiasts throughout the world and we at Brutal Resonance have been caught in this wave of euphoria."


17. Dice and Bass - Infinity

"At just over twenty-eight minutes, the six tracks are all DJ usable in an ambient set, minimal house set and trance sets as wind up, break or even end set tracks. The sounds are all encompassing and beautifully worked. Heavy basses are accompanied by clipped beats echoed throughout and incidental reverse and dubbed percussion noises and occasional vocal interludes. Bright melodic stabs and pads break the groove intermittently and then drive you back into the hypnosis of rhythm."


16. Mikroben Krieg - Intrascape

"There can be a problem with instrumental albums in that we are more than likely used to hearing a vocal hook that makes us feel familiar to a song. Not so in the case of Intrascape. Mikroben Krieg composes soundscapes not just songs and in that, your vocal hooks now become melodies and aural signatures. And they will pop into your head as familiar as any vocal hook. And you will want to listen to it again. And again. And again."


15. Vacant Stations - Clones

"We are invited to self-examine as we ponder the meaning of single-word track titles like 'Lapse', 'Penultima' and even 'Publix'. Who would have associated that bustling grocery chain with the ominous string of underwater chimes like a deadened jingle that haunt this latter piece with such melancholy? Certainly no shopper in the daylight hours, comparing packages of frozen broccoli and thinking about getting to soccer practice."


14. Nightcrawler - Beware of the Humans

"Nightcrawler has poured his nightmare reality into a work of fiction, and through this I hope some resolve is met for this fantastic producer. The slashing, clean cut presentation of the album as well as the wonderful, stark cover art and red vinyl are to die for. The music fits perfectly in for this Halloween season so get a move on and get listening to this. I'm not giving it a nine out of ten for no reason."


13. Dana Jean Phoenix - Synth City

"There is a competition for Miss Universe out there, but if ever there were to be a competition for Miss Synthwave there is no doubt in my mind that Dana Jean Phoenix would be handed over the tiara and title without any arguments. She has a beautiful voice, powerful beats, and she has the flare and attitude that made the 80s everlasting. Give it up for the Queen of Synthwave - she's struck again and her hot streak will not stop anytime soon." 


12. Verena Von Horsten - Alien Angel Super Death

"Alien Angel Super Death it a truly brave piece of work as it’s not only cooky, different and experimental, but it’s fraught with real emotion and a real issue which von Horsten faces head on and declares war against. This combination of free creativity and open, vulnerable emotion is why Verena von Horsten should be counted among the greats, and it’s definitely why anyone who’s lost a loved one or battled with mental illness should listen to Alien Angel Super Death."


11. Peter Bjargo - Animus Retinentia

"Once a famous English philosopher Alfred Whitehead said, “The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order." As can be seen from Animus Retinentia, Peter Bjargo doesn’t stand still and proves himself capable of finding a new path of awakening of the heart and imagination of the listener, cultivating a full aesthetic perception of music art without betraying the long-term traditions. And, of course, this CD claims an honorable place in my humble collection alongside all other wonderful projects of this indefatigable Swede."


10. Shiv-r - Requiem For The Hyperreal

"Though SHIV-R's latest and greatest album Requiem for the Hyperreal has been out for a little over three weeks now, my busy schedule has prevented me from sitting down and really listening to it. However, I have finally found the allotted time and pressed the play button earlier this morning on the album. My ears thanked me for the engaging electronic wake up songs as I fluttered from one to the other on this fifty minute ballad. While Wax Wings Will Burn began a rebirth for the project that coincided with better production and a newfound vocal set that set itself to the music more than before in the past, Requiem for the Hyperreal is a better understanding of every mature aspect SHIV-R has shaped and carved since their debut in 2008."


09. klack - Do You Klack?

"DO YOU KLACK? is a fantastic EP for those looking for old school EBM in a new age. While there are many projects and bands out there that attempt to hit the production value and dance floor fun found on DO YOU KLACK? few are able to achieve it. I am sure I will not be the only one to say this, but I am more than looking forward to a full length release from klack."


08. Cyanotic - Tech Noir

Through and through, Tech Noir comes off as an album that can both be smashing on the dance floor but one that procures a smorgasbord of science fiction images. Just listening to the album has gotten me in the mood for a three movie marathon consisting of Akira, Alien, and Terminator. So, I am going to leave now and do exactly that. Nine out of ten, easily. Give this a shot.  



07. She the Throne - She the Throne

"Upon hitting the play button for She The Throne's self-titled debut album, I made the silly assumption that the Manchester, UK based noise and experimental electronic duo was going to be yet another dark ambient and noise clone like so many other projects out there. With a bit of a yawn and a give-me-a-break attitude, I continued to listen to 'Rust Part 1' for some background noise as I tasked about doing Brutal Resonance business. But I soon found myself in a trance over the effective and hypnotizing noises, samples, and oddities that flowed from my headphones and into my ears."


06. Horskh - Gate



05. 3TEETH - shutdown.exe

" I do hold this album in high regards and it is hard to compare it to anything. Whenever I am asked about it I get the question, "How is it compared to their debut?" or something along the lines. I can only say that both albums are their own beasts. The real improvement I see within shutdown.exe is how 3TEETH has honed their craft and improved production. shutdown.exe is more crisp, clear, concise - it has maturity and sound manipulation written all over it. Thus I conclude that 3TEETH's shutdown.exe is one amazing fucking album that will likely hit End of the Year list's like crazy coming this winter season. It is heavy, it is synthetic, it is hard, and it might make your neighbor look at you weird. But just play the music louder and let the looks keep on coming - you do not need approval when you have 3TEETH."


04. Ships In The Night - Myiologues

"Ships In The Night is the type of band that profoundly confuses myself between extreme moments of mourning and rapture. Wherein one moment I feel the need to grab a box of tissues and wipe away coming on tears, I find myself in a delighted state of mind. But I believe this is the ideal of what Ships In The Night's Myriologues. Whatever the case, Leventhal has created a beautiful masterpiece exposing a delicate side of life that not many are willing to explore in a fantastic Gothic and dream pop bending manner. Utmost praise and respect unto her; Ships In The Night has gained a new fan today with many more hopefully to come." 


03. Gary Numan - Savage (Songs From A Broken World)

"wenty-one albums in and Numan keeps finding way to refresh and evolve his sound.  Trading in the decayed Victorian and broken machines aesthetic of Splinter (Songs from a Broken Mind), Savage (Songs from a Broken World) brokers in Middle Eastern sounds.  This is not the sound of a sheik’s palace situated in a lush oasis.  Rather, it is the transmission of a solitary nomad working with pieces of ruins and scattered fragments—the litter of the first world.  The effect is a sweeping, cinematic feel of desert winds blowing over lonely dunes in the middle of nowhere. Numan should dig deeper into the sands at some future point."


02. Zenxienz - Mind Sigh

"Whether it be IDM, electronocized jazz, hiphop or early experimental, zenxienz’s music is universally emotive and genuine. He exemplifies music’s universal power to heal, but he does it in a unique and surprising way. If he weren’t so vocal about his own struggle, his audience would never know the impetus for Mind Sigh. It is thus also very brave of him to attribute the album to his illness and recovery, as listeners may not only relate to and heal from this stellar music therapy, but they may also be inspired to use music and other alternative therapies in order to heal themselves."


01. Empathy Test - Safe From Harm/Losing Touch

"There has been a ton of blood, sweat, and dedication put into this double release that I can only begin to imagine. Perhaps it's Isaac and Adam's childhood bond they've kept all these years and the understanding of one another that comes from it that allows Empathy Test to be made of pure magic. Whatever it is it is not something that I can rightfully fathom. Their hard work and dedication has paid off big time. Together they have created not only what will probably be the best release of the year, but also one of the best releases I have ever heard in my entire life. Empathy Test is legendary."