17. Tómarúm - "Beyond Obsidian Euphoria"

This record is all about optimism in the darkness. It is a highly personal tale of overcoming depression, and for all its heavy brutality, it is a positive, uplifting tale of the resilience of the human spirit. The musician at play is intricate, complex and of an off-the-charts calibre. It uses death metal but not in a hum-drum manner. Instead, this is a euphoric transcendental record where the heaviness is channelled into self-affirmation and belief. Big and expansive, this is the sound of optimism and confidence.