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2015, black metal, constantly off, covers, death metal, djent, doom metal, ep, eps, exgenesis, experimental, experimental hip-hop, fight amp, Foo Fighters, g.l.o.s.s., girls living outside society's shit, gloss, hardcore punk, heavy metal, hip hop, ho99o9, horror, horrors of 1999, jazz, kiss, list, lupe fiasco, meanwhile in burbank, metal, Metallica, Music, opacities, pharaoh height, post-hardcore, prog, prog metal, progressive metal, punk, rap, rock, saint cecilia, sikth, sludge metal, songs from the laundry room, stone sour, the beyond, the beyond/where the giants roam, thundercat, where the giants roam
Along with some phenomenal albums, 2015 provided us with some great EPs. Let’s take a look at some of the best the year had to offer.
10. Thundercat – The Beyond/Where the Giants Roam
I’ll be the first to admit I had problems with The Beyond/Where the Giants Roam, the latest “mini-album” from jazz bassist Thundercat. But when it hits, believe me it hits. Admittedly at times it feels rushed, but tracks like “Lone Wolf and Cub,” and “Them Changes” are fantastic additions to Thundercat’s resume. It may be a mixed bag, but the highs were enough to earn it a place on this list.
9. Foo Fighters – Songs from the Laundry Room
While the band’s sound may not have changed much, in some ways the Foo Fighters that brought us Sonic Highways last year couldn’t be further from the band that brought us their self-titled debut in 1995. While Sonic Highways was overblown and full of guest musicians, Foo Fighters was pleasantly simple and performed almost entirely by Dave Grohl. Songs from the Laundry Room brings us back to that simpler time, with four demos from the era, including an infectiously fun cover of “Kids in America.” A small release, but not one Foo Fighters fans should overlook.
8. SikTh – Opacities
In the absence of progressive metal heavyweights SikTh, a new batch of talent arrived sporting their influence. With djent bands like Periphery claiming heavy SikTh influence, one had to wonder whether new material from the band would hold up next to their descendants. Returning bigger than they ever were before they broke up, there was a lot of pressure on the band to deliver. Opacities wastes no time showing you that, yes, SikTh still have what it takes in 2015. Blasting through six songs, the band make their offspring seem almost amateurish. They may have influenced many, but SikTh prove that they cannot be beaten.
7. G.L.O.S.S. – Girls Living Outside Society’s Shit
When I named Against Me!’s Transgender Dysphoria Blues my favourite album of 2014, I praised it for its anger and ferociousness. Well, going just on those metrics, Against Me! have nothing on G.L.O.S.S. The hardcore punk band consists of five transwomen venting their frustration at the patriarchy, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find an angrier release this year. In a year that saw a lot of focus on trans rights, G.L.O.S.S. are at the forefront.
6. Stone Sour – Meanwhile in Burbank…
It may seem odd to put a covers EP on a list like this, but I can’t deny how much I loved Meanwhile in Burbank…. From Corey Taylor’s blistering vocals on their version of Metallica’s “Creeping Death,” to a cover of “Love Gun” that puts the original Kiss tune to shame, it’s clear that Stone Sour were having a blast making this EP. Fortunately, that fun energy translates to the covers found here. While the band’s follow-up, Straight Outta Burbank was a bit of a disappointment, this release remains a fun dash through some of Stone Sour’s influences.
5. Foo Fighters – Saint Cecilia
Sometimes it’s good to get back to basics. After the muddled mess that was Sonic Highways, Foo Fighters returned this year with a new EP dedicated to fans. Taking unused riffs and ideas from throughout the band’s history, Saint Cecilia feels like a short history of the Foo Fighters. At times it’s familiar and nostalgic, bringing back memories of the band’s previous work. Where Sonic Highways tried and failed to broaden the band’s horizons, Saint Cecilia is them retreating back to what they know, and I mean that in the best way possible.
4. Ho99o9 – Horrors of 1999
Ho99o9 provide a blend of hardcore punk and hip-hop on their debut EP. While comparisons to Death Grips aren’t exactly unwarranted, it would be wrong to imply in any way that this band is unoriginal. Horrors of 1999 is a menacing blend of two very different genres, yet two that when utilised properly can work very well together. Fortunately, Ho99o9 know just how to do this, and the result is something dark, original and well worth a listen.
3. Fight Amp – Constantly Off
This doom and sludge metal outfit have been releasing music for a while now, but I don’t think they’ve ever sounded as good as they do here. Constantly Off in my mind excels Fight Amp, an already great band, into the top of their genre, sitting among the likes of Melvins and Crowbar. Full of fire and energy, the band do not let up on this release for a moment. Tracks like “Survival is Strange” allow their post-hardcore influence to shine, bringing a unique aspect to the band’s music.
2. Exgenesis – Aphotic Veil
What surprised me about Aphotic Veil wasn’t exactly how good it was, but how confident it felt in itself. This EP sounds like the work of seasoned death metal veterans, yet it’s the band’s debut. Still, Exgenesis manage to impress, adding just a hint of black metal to their death sound, providing a menacing collection of songs. Tracks like “Cloudburst” blew me away upon first listen, with just how good this band is. Given that this is their first release, I can’t wait to see what they have in store for the future.
1. Lupe Fiasco – Pharaoh Height
As much as I adored Lupe Fiasco’s Tetsuo & Youth, I have to admit it was a little lacking in fun. While it’s serious nature suited that album, I was starting to miss the Lupe we saw on The Cool who could be both thoughtful and entertaining. Pharaoh Height, a semi-sequel to Fiasco’s Fahrenheit series of mixtapes, is exactly what I needed. While it manages to be as political as much of Lupe’s modern work, and indeed some of his best early work, it’s also fun in a way we haven’t really consistently seen from Lupe since at least Lasers. Special notice has to go to the closer, “Schemes,” which sounds like Lupe Fiasco rapping a fanfiction he wrote about himself. Featuring daring stunts, over-the-top plot twists and a clear Metal Gear Solid influence, it’s exactly what I needed from Lupe after Tetsuo & Youth.
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