Strong comeback albums

[Eoin McLove]

This morning I've been kicking back and reading to the delightful strains of Beherit's 'Engram' and Burzum's 'Belus', two excellent comeback albums.

I haven't listened to 'Engram' in ages and I really enjoyed it.  It's much less bockety and all over the gaff than 'Drawing Down the Moon', more controlled and hypnotic,  and a most pleasant listen. 'Demon Advance' is a great, trancey way to finish the album using a grand total of two notes throughout its lengthy duration but works really well in its pacing and meditative atmosphere.

'Belus' has similarities but is far more melodic.  It's more melodic and bright than most of the early Burzum stuff as well which is often relentless in its gloominess. The comeback stuff sounds more positive and celebratory to my ear,  and I love it.  'Belus' and 'Fallen' are incredible albums and I return to them quite a lot. I listened to 'Umskiptar' the other day and realised it's a banger,  too,  but I let it slip past me as I always lumped it in with his plinky plonky stuff that doesn't really appeal to me.  I'll have to see if I can pick up a copy and get to know it a bit more.

Any other convincing comebacks that either recapture the band's original sound or expand into new and exciting territory?

[Carnage]

Celtic Frost's Monotheist immediately springs to mind. It had its own modern sound and style yet was recognisably Frost underneath it all. It's just a shame it was such a shortlived comeback.

[Paul keohane]

Gorefest-La Muerte ,mighty come back album.
Obituary-Frozen in Time was good too.

[Paul keohane]

Suffocation-Souls to Deny was another great come back.

[TurnTheAirBlue]

I think Souls to Deny was a great comeback too, the title track is one of their best. The first riff in that is so fucking evil!!!
I enjoyed Possessed's new one too. Pretty generic stuff, but that's ok with me, some great riffs on it.
It could have done with a less polished production, but that's nitpicking.
I'm probably one of the few that loved Dissections Reinkaos, some great songwriting on it. Simplistic and memorable songs.

[Ducky]

Souls to Deny is a beast of a record. Love the artwork too.

I'd give the nod to Cynic's "Traced in Air". Really didn't think it'd ever happen, nevermind be so fucking good.

Given how quickly Cynic went to shit and how good Exivious' two records are, I wonder how much of a hand Tymon had in TiA.

[lifeeternal]

Celtic Frost's Monotheist immediately springs to mind. It had its own modern sound and style yet was recognisably Frost underneath it all. It's just a shame it was such a shortlived comeback.

This. A million times this.
Hell with Human Remains.
Gorguts "Coloured Sands" by far my favourite Gorguts release.

[Juggz]

Monotheist and Traced in Air for sure.

I'm quite fond of

Atheist - Jupiter
Alice in Chains - Black Gives Way to Blue
Death Angel - The Art of Dying
Acid Reign - The Age of Entitlement

not sure if you can classify it as a comeback album as they've been on-off for a long time but Living Colour - The Chair in the Doorway was superb

[The Ancient Ones]

Surprised not to see Surgical Steel by Carcass mentioned. When you consider the drivel many of their contemporaries are releasing, Surgical Steel was far, far better than it had any right to be, and happily goes to to toe with any of their early releases.

Not sure if it quite counts as a comeback, but repeated listenings reveal Morbid Angel's Kingdoms Disdained to be a lot stronger than it may initially appear - at least equal to Formulas to my ears.

[Cryptic Stench]

Obituary-Frozen in Time

Awful album, sounded like they recorded it on auto- much like everything else they've done since.

Not sure if it quite counts as a comeback, but repeated listenings reveal Morbid Angel's Kingdoms Disdained to be a lot stronger than it may initially appear - at least equal to Formulas to my ears

Can't agree there. Had it on the other day and it's a chore to get through. Very one dimensional. There's an initial flurry of decent tracks but wears it's welcome out very quicky. Display's none of the diversity or creativity found on Formula's. The production is far too muddy on Kingdom's too, obviously they were going for a Gatweay's/Formula's vibe but some of the riffs are inaudible.

Carcass

Don't really rate Surgical either - it's probably the most solid out of whats been mentioned but Necrotism/Heartwork it ain't.

I'll have to agree with Mr. Mcclove with his inital statement, Belus is indeed a very fine record.

[Wiseblood]

Black Gives Way To Blue is the main one that comes to mind. It's an amazing piece of work.

Recently I've been impressed with Exhorder - Mourn the Southern Skies.

Would Pestilence - Hadeon be considered a comeback album? It's a fucking belter either way.

Faith No More - Sol Invictus is decent too.

[Trev]

Forbidden's Omega Wave is a great album, shame they split up before bringing anything else out

I enjoyed Sol Invictus a lot too. Probably place it somewhere in the middle of the other FNM albums in terms of quality, which is still high praise given how good their best stuff is

Another shout for Traced in Air and Jupiter too

[Pedrito]

Monotheist and Traced in Air for sure.

I'm quite fond of

Atheist - Jupiter
Alice in Chains - Black Gives Way to Blue
Death Angel - The Art of Dying
Acid Reign - The Age of Entitlement

not sure if you can classify it as a comeback album as they've been on-off for a long time but Living Colour - The Chair in the Doorway was superb

I´d second all of them. Brave New World and Firepower also. BNW was such a return to form. Cynic Traced in Air.

[blessed1]

Iron Maiden - Brave new world
Moonspell - Night eternal

[Pentagrimes]

Godflesh "A World Lit Only By Far" - both their reformation era albums are on a par with their early work for me.
Voivod - "Target Earth" was a fine return after Piggy (though "The Wake" is a better album)