Oh man, I really didn't want to do this. I like to discover albums when they come in, not months before. I'm sure that there's a lot of awesome stuff to be found in my inbox at the moment.  Yet, since Björn & Paul already came up with their lists, I have to join in, no? So I did a little search around the internet and came up with ten albums that I'd really like to listen to in 2016?

Explosions In The Sky - The Wilderness (facebook)

This has always been an important band for me, not only because they made me discover post-rock but also because of something special that bloomed during a gig I watched years ago. So for me, perhaps Explosions In The Sky is a bit of a synonym for love...

Bathsheba - ??? (facebook)

2015, for me, was the years of Bathsheba with two awesome gigs and a brilliant release. According to their facebook page, they enter the studio to record a first full-length in 2016. Yeah, it's an album I'm going to need...

Nine Inch Nails - ??? (facebook)

When Trent said 'something new is coming', that thing goes right in into my 'wanna-hear' list. I don't even care what it is, and I don't even care if I'm going to like it or not.  I just have to hear it.

Ulver - ATGCLVLSSCAP (facebook)

Ulver do things I like and Ulver do things I don't like. Yet, they also do something that awakes my interest.  So, pretty much like Nine Inch Nails, I may not be extremely fond of it but it just might be one of the best records ever.

Conan - Revengeance (facebook)

​It's Conan, can't be anything else that Conan! Fuck yeah Conan. I mean, ever since I discovered these guys, they have been the standard for this version of doom metal and very few bands have ever come close.

Oranssi Pazuzu - Värähtelijä (facebook)

Quite honestly, I didn't know this psychedelic black metal horde yet, until I played a song to see if I would go to their gig in Antwerp. Since that day, I'm sure I'm going, I'm buying, I'm sold.

Jozef Van Wissem - When Shall This Bright Day Begin (facebook)

Here's one for the quiet evenings in this household.  I first saw Jozef Van Wissem and his lute at the Incubate festival a few years ago and I love his music ever since.  

Darkestrah (facebook) / Al Namrood (facebook) - split 

Al Namrood has pleasantly surprised me last year with their inventive, Arabic version of black metal. So it's always nice to see them coming out with something new, certainly when Darkestrah is involved as well.  This should be nice.

The KVB - Of Desire (facebook)

Again a band I discovered at Incubate and certainly one that awoke the old new waver in me. Their sometimes harsh & dark music is always great to hear and they are both very nice people too.

So my partner Bjorn put together a cool list of album releases he is looking forward to this year. Serge sold me to it being killer so here is mine, but only up till about May and also includes non-full lengths, I'm thinking I will make a new list every few months. Bjorn won't you too? 

Tombs - All Empires Fall (facebook)

although only an EP these Brooklyn NY fuckers can jam. I saw them live and was sold on them. then went back to check out "Path of Totality" and released I missed the the boat on them, but not anymore!

​

Discharge - End Of Days (facebook)

Do I need to say anything about these guys? The pioneers of the D-beat in my mind! No it's not going to sound like "Grave New World".

Cliteater - From Enslavement to Clitoration (facebook)

Seriously, with the play off of one of Napalm Death's classics how can you not be interested in this? Killer cover art! And Yes it will be better then "Cliteaten Back to Life"!  :)

Anthrax - For All Kings (facebook)

I'm just kidding....

Lvthn - Eradication Of Nescience (facebook)

Hey look, they are from Belgium :) -  this is their first real full length, hoping they mix up the tempo's more throughout....

Amon Amarth - Jomsviking (facebook)

YES I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!

​Graves At Sea - The Curse That Is (facebook)

The title track is on their bandcamp, a short 11 plus minute piece. Look, they are heavy and dark as hell, love 'em! It's their first full length too! Hell yea!!!

Primitive Man (facebook) / Sea Bastard (facebook) - Split

Limited to 500 copies, fuck I hope I can get one! Nothing else need said!

leave some comments on what you think or what you are looking forward too! ​

After I started writing the review for the Necro Deathmort EP, which I was looking forward to very much, I was wondering which releases from other artists I was looking forward to in 2016. Turns out there's quite a bit of exciting stuff coming up this year, not to mention all the exciting stuff I'm not even aware of. So without further delay: this is what gets me pumped this year (in no particular order): 

John Carpenter - Lost Themes Part 2 (facebook)

Last year's Lost Themes was a return to form for the legendary director/composer and to think that there's a Part 2 coming out is very, very exciting indeed

Night School - Blush (facebook)

This band that mixes Doo-Wop, '60s girl groups, garage rock and shoegaze already released a brilliant earworm of an EP (check that out) that was so irresistible that I'm ready for another dose.

Nothing - Tired of Tomorrow (facebook)

Nothing, the shoegaze band that had metalheads going ape-faeces over is up for their second full-length on the very same Relapse that is home to countless deathmetal and grindcore bands. 

Dälek - Asphalt For Eden (facebook)

I can't stand hiphop  (and it's inbred relative, R&B). I know that's pretty limiting for someone who considers himself open-minded when it comes to music, but I just can't help it. However, I love Dälek. Truth be told, Dälek is hardly stereotypical hiphop. If their previous albums are anything to go by, their mix of Hiphop, Industrial, Noise, Shoegaze and Krautrock is sure to be one of the highlights of this year. 

Devin Townsend (facebook)

I love the DTP. I follow Devin with an almost religious fervour. On his tours, I go to several shows in the same week if I have the chance. So if he announces a new album, I go all giddy like a schoolboy...

Wrath of the Weak - ? (facebook)

J. of Wrath of the Weak posted a mysterious message on the WotW facebook page: 'big news eventually'.... I consider WotW my favorite black metal(ish) band ever, of all time. I love it even more than I love Ildjarn. And I frigging looooove Ildjarn. So if that 'big news' means there's new material coming out, that's close to saying 'Bjorn of Merchants Of Air's best album of 2016 already known'.. 

Book Of Sand - several releases (facebook)

Book Of Sand are a highly polarising US act that stretch the boundaries of what can be considered black metal. Taking influences from US folk, Indian and Far East music, implementing exotic instruments like gamelans, blurring their black metal to almost ambient-like qualities: all of it makes for an exciting listen and all new material is much, much welcome

This is just a handful of stuff, no doubt there will be countless of amazing releases. And Merchants Of Air will be your faithful friend to keep you updated. Feel free to comment what you're looking forward to!!

​Björn