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Showing posts with label Top 10 Albums. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Top 10 Albums. Show all posts
Thursday, December 12, 2013
The Top 10 Metal Albums of 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Top 10 Albums of 2012
Here's the listing of my favorite albums from 2012. Not necessarily the
best or greatest but the ones that left the biggest impact on me and
warranted the most repeated listens. Not ranked in numerical order, all
rule pretty hard (IMO). Feel free to take listen:
Converge- All We Love We Leave Behind
It's pretty much unanimously agreed upon that Converge's Jane Doe was the best metal album of the 2000's. Their first album of the new decade is no slouch either. The riffs are still crushing and the technical spazz parts still turn lesser minds into spaghetti, but this really is one of the bands most catchy/accessible albums to date. Clean vocals that don't offend the ears and memorable, infectious songs, this album is the prefect starting point for Converge rookies.
Gaza- No Absolutes in Human Suffering
The ugliest and unfortunately, most truthful album of the year. No Absolutes is like the evil twin of Converge's All We Love We Leave Behind. Both albums blend punk and metal into a slammin' hybrid but while Converge use clean vocals and uplifting melodies to spice things up, Gaza only slow down to further bludgeon the listener with lumbering riffs and some of the most menacing howls/vocals this side of the insane asylum.
The Hives- Lex Hives
No one will accuse The Hives of being the most prolific band around, but it had been so long since their last album (2007's rather disappointing The Black and White Album), even I was afraid the band might have lost a step. Well rejoice world, Lex Hives marks the band's triumphant return from the dark realm of major label land, back to high octane world of punk meets retro rock where they reign supreme. Nobody does poppy, infectious and snarling 4/4 rock music like The Hives. This new album proves it.
The Hives - Go Right Ahead (Official video) from Bold Faces on Vimeo.
Ghostlimb- Confluence
The follow up to their awesome 2011 album Infrastructure does not disappoint. Another quick jolt of thinking mans hardcore, that isn't afraid to bring the galloping tempos and screams to a crawl and simply rock the fuck out. The first time I heard this song "Candiae" I wiped the drool from mouth and hit replay instantly, it's that good and represents all that is awesome about Ghostlimb and their entire new album.
Black Breath- Sentenced to Life
This record was the surprise of the year. I've seen Black Breath live before, I dug their last album fine but holy balls I did not expect to love Sentenced to Life so much. It's the perfect blend of thrash and crust punk by way of old school Swedish death metal. Basically, I start having visions of circle pits and frozen cemeteries when this comes on. The production, dear LAWD the production, is phenomenal. Every instrument is clear and distinctive, it sounds modern and high def but still has that classic dirge us metal heads fiend over. Catchy energetic songs that will make even the most casual observer thrash like a madman and bang their fucking heads.
Phobia- Remnants of Filth
This new Phobia record is not unique or all that distinguishable from the rest of Phobia's epic grindcore catalog, but something about this album just stuck with me. Enough to edge out new albums from grind legends like Napalm Death, Pig Destroyer and fiery upstarts The Secret. All those albums slayed, but something about this new Phobia record just won out. It's simple grind but done to perfection. For the none grind fiends out there, imagine The Ramones on a cocktail of steroids and meth and you've got Phobia's latest album.
Torche- Harmonicraft
The happiest album of the year? Torche have roots in sludge and stoner metal, but they have progressed into the best heavy rock and roll band nobody knows about on the planet. They're so good it's not even funny. One tour with the Foo Fighters or Red Hot Chilli Peppers would put this band into the stratosphere. Steve Brook's vocals are warm and inviting, the guitar tone is both heavy, and saccharine sweet at the same time. Torche's rhythm section is unfuckwithable and they prove it on Harmonicraft. I even saw grown ass *gasp* metalheads dancing, yes dancing, to Torche's new songs in concert I shit you not.
Beneath The Massacre- Incongruous
This band is on some next level shit. Technical death metal for angry T-800 model terminators. The whole album is a whirlwind of bloops and bleeps (guitar doodling), machine gun fire (double bass drumming & blast beats) and demonic vacuum cleaners (growling vocals). This was THE death metal album I went back to all year (edging out new records from Spawn of Possession, Gorod, Nile & Cryptopsy). Your brain is not ready for this.
Anaal Nathrakh- Vanitas
No band frightens or excites me as much as Anaal Nathrakh does. Their extreme (and I mean extreme) blend of black metal and grind, is like the soundtrack to Armageddon. Vanita's production sounds like it was recorded in the cold and terrifying depths of outer space, while it's music was written in the chaotic agonizing pits of hell. Bits of traditional "heavy metal" guitar melodies and soaring operatic singing mixed with a barrage of drum machine madness, blitzkrieg tremolo picking, and the most terrifying vocals shrieks you'll ever hear. Check out the final scream/outro of this song for proof.
Deftones- Koi No Yokan
This band is fired up. They've adjusted to the lineup change brought by Chi Cheng's tragic accident, and are attacking the current musical landscape like a band possessed. Koi No Yokan is the Deftones 2.0's second stellar album in a row (following 2010's amazing Diamond Eyes). The production sounds a little less gorgeous than their previous record, but the songs, the songs are just as haunting and unlike their string of albums from the 2000's, truly dynamic.
Converge- All We Love We Leave Behind
It's pretty much unanimously agreed upon that Converge's Jane Doe was the best metal album of the 2000's. Their first album of the new decade is no slouch either. The riffs are still crushing and the technical spazz parts still turn lesser minds into spaghetti, but this really is one of the bands most catchy/accessible albums to date. Clean vocals that don't offend the ears and memorable, infectious songs, this album is the prefect starting point for Converge rookies.
Gaza- No Absolutes in Human Suffering
The ugliest and unfortunately, most truthful album of the year. No Absolutes is like the evil twin of Converge's All We Love We Leave Behind. Both albums blend punk and metal into a slammin' hybrid but while Converge use clean vocals and uplifting melodies to spice things up, Gaza only slow down to further bludgeon the listener with lumbering riffs and some of the most menacing howls/vocals this side of the insane asylum.
The Hives- Lex Hives
No one will accuse The Hives of being the most prolific band around, but it had been so long since their last album (2007's rather disappointing The Black and White Album), even I was afraid the band might have lost a step. Well rejoice world, Lex Hives marks the band's triumphant return from the dark realm of major label land, back to high octane world of punk meets retro rock where they reign supreme. Nobody does poppy, infectious and snarling 4/4 rock music like The Hives. This new album proves it.
The Hives - Go Right Ahead (Official video) from Bold Faces on Vimeo.
Ghostlimb- Confluence
The follow up to their awesome 2011 album Infrastructure does not disappoint. Another quick jolt of thinking mans hardcore, that isn't afraid to bring the galloping tempos and screams to a crawl and simply rock the fuck out. The first time I heard this song "Candiae" I wiped the drool from mouth and hit replay instantly, it's that good and represents all that is awesome about Ghostlimb and their entire new album.
Black Breath- Sentenced to Life
This record was the surprise of the year. I've seen Black Breath live before, I dug their last album fine but holy balls I did not expect to love Sentenced to Life so much. It's the perfect blend of thrash and crust punk by way of old school Swedish death metal. Basically, I start having visions of circle pits and frozen cemeteries when this comes on. The production, dear LAWD the production, is phenomenal. Every instrument is clear and distinctive, it sounds modern and high def but still has that classic dirge us metal heads fiend over. Catchy energetic songs that will make even the most casual observer thrash like a madman and bang their fucking heads.
Phobia- Remnants of Filth
This new Phobia record is not unique or all that distinguishable from the rest of Phobia's epic grindcore catalog, but something about this album just stuck with me. Enough to edge out new albums from grind legends like Napalm Death, Pig Destroyer and fiery upstarts The Secret. All those albums slayed, but something about this new Phobia record just won out. It's simple grind but done to perfection. For the none grind fiends out there, imagine The Ramones on a cocktail of steroids and meth and you've got Phobia's latest album.
Torche- Harmonicraft
The happiest album of the year? Torche have roots in sludge and stoner metal, but they have progressed into the best heavy rock and roll band nobody knows about on the planet. They're so good it's not even funny. One tour with the Foo Fighters or Red Hot Chilli Peppers would put this band into the stratosphere. Steve Brook's vocals are warm and inviting, the guitar tone is both heavy, and saccharine sweet at the same time. Torche's rhythm section is unfuckwithable and they prove it on Harmonicraft. I even saw grown ass *gasp* metalheads dancing, yes dancing, to Torche's new songs in concert I shit you not.
Beneath The Massacre- Incongruous
This band is on some next level shit. Technical death metal for angry T-800 model terminators. The whole album is a whirlwind of bloops and bleeps (guitar doodling), machine gun fire (double bass drumming & blast beats) and demonic vacuum cleaners (growling vocals). This was THE death metal album I went back to all year (edging out new records from Spawn of Possession, Gorod, Nile & Cryptopsy). Your brain is not ready for this.
Anaal Nathrakh- Vanitas
No band frightens or excites me as much as Anaal Nathrakh does. Their extreme (and I mean extreme) blend of black metal and grind, is like the soundtrack to Armageddon. Vanita's production sounds like it was recorded in the cold and terrifying depths of outer space, while it's music was written in the chaotic agonizing pits of hell. Bits of traditional "heavy metal" guitar melodies and soaring operatic singing mixed with a barrage of drum machine madness, blitzkrieg tremolo picking, and the most terrifying vocals shrieks you'll ever hear. Check out the final scream/outro of this song for proof.
Deftones- Koi No Yokan
This band is fired up. They've adjusted to the lineup change brought by Chi Cheng's tragic accident, and are attacking the current musical landscape like a band possessed. Koi No Yokan is the Deftones 2.0's second stellar album in a row (following 2010's amazing Diamond Eyes). The production sounds a little less gorgeous than their previous record, but the songs, the songs are just as haunting and unlike their string of albums from the 2000's, truly dynamic.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Top 10 Albums of 2011
Here's the listing of my favorite albums from 2011. Not necessarily the best or greatest but the ones that left the biggest impact on me and warranted the most repeated listens. Not ranked in numerical order, all rule pretty hard (IMO). Feel free to take listen:
Trap Them- Darker Handcraft
Punk and metal have never sounded so rockin' together. Trap Them's latest album retains the anger of their earlier releases but this time, boasts an amazingly polished (for them) production. You'll want to tap your feet and punch someone in the face at the same time.
TRAP THEM "The Facts" by Prosthetic Records
Burzum- Fallen
Varg Vikernes may be a convicted murder, arsonist, anti-Semite, homophobe and all around scum bag...but he steams a good ham...and knows how to craft some damn good tunes. Case in point, Burzum's latest album. I love me some raw ass black metal just like the next guy, but Varg's latest offering amps up the ethereal elements and will leave you breathless in the process.
Deafheaven- Road to Judah
The soundtrack to my brief but gloomy winter (we don't really have weather here in SoCal). Beautiful, atmospheric post-rock fused with good ol' misanthropic black metal. This album came out of nowhere, but based solely on number of plays on my iPod, has earned it's spot in my top 10.
Maruta- Forward Into Regression
It's grindcore played by pissed off T-800 model terminators. Manic bursts of energy reeled in by a lumbering heaviness, reminiscent of AT-AT Walkers from The Empire Strikes Back. You see what I'm getting at with this. The album's title is dead on. Futuristic technical grind meets cave-man slams FTW. Too bad they broke up =/
All Pigs Must Die- God Is War
Pummeling punk metaller's bring the hurt with this, their debut album. You've heard of in your face? Well, this is through your face. When you've got DrumTHRONE honoree, Converge's own Ben Koller, leading the charge you can expect lots of fast paced, high intensity shenanigans. Surprisingly, I love the album's slower, grimy moments like the album's title track.
Skeletonwitch- Forever Abomination
Thrashy black metal that brings a smile to my face. This album finally provides Skeletonwitch with the proper sounding studio album they've always deserved. Highlighting their Iron Maiden/ Bay Area Thrash/ and Norwegian Black Metal influences into one ass kicking hodgepodge of awesomeness. Oh yeah, and they have some catchy ass songs too!
Craft- Void
Raw, ugly and heavy. That's all folks. That's what I love about Craft, they don't mince words or fuck around musically. With previous gems in their catalog like Fuck The Universe and Total Soul Rape, they've stripped things down to an even more debased center. Void. Some would call this simplistic black metal. I call this, anti-music.
Ghostlimb- Infrastructure
Snarling hardcore, with a tender side. Ghostlimb's third full length album is righteously pissed, with most songs barely clocking in over a minute and thirty seconds long, this record is like a swift kick in the gut. The raging speed and rabid, barking dog vocals accomplish their goals quite nicely, but it's the album's clean guitar sound and moments of clarity that have haunted me all year.
Rival Schools- Pedals
I've kept their debut album spinning in my stereo all throughout their near decade hiatus. To say this new record had some big shoes to fill would be an understatement. Thankfully, the boys in Rival Schools came through BIG TIME. Amazing album of solid, yet thoughtful rock & roll tunes. This solidifies Walter Schreifels as the most underrated songwriter, ever!
Foo Fighters- Wasting Light
Dave Grohl is KING. End of story. This is probably my most played album of 2011. Wasting Light wasn't a slow grower, more like a charging horde...my poor ears never stood a chance. There's not a bad/filler song on this record, it's that good. If you don't know the Foo Fighters by now, some two decades into their marathon of awesomeness, starting here wouldn't be such a bad idea.
Trap Them- Darker Handcraft
TRAP THEM "The Facts" by Prosthetic Records
Burzum- Fallen
Deafheaven- Road to Judah
Maruta- Forward Into Regression
All Pigs Must Die- God Is War
Skeletonwitch- Forever Abomination
Thrashy black metal that brings a smile to my face. This album finally provides Skeletonwitch with the proper sounding studio album they've always deserved. Highlighting their Iron Maiden/ Bay Area Thrash/ and Norwegian Black Metal influences into one ass kicking hodgepodge of awesomeness. Oh yeah, and they have some catchy ass songs too! Craft- Void
Ghostlimb- Infrastructure
Rival Schools- Pedals
Foo Fighters- Wasting Light
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Top 10 Albums of 2010
Here's the listing of my favorite albums from 2010. Not necessarily the best or greatest but the ones that left the biggest impact on me and warranted the most repeated listens. Not ranked in numerical order, all rule pretty hard (IMO). I selected a few youtube clips of some of the less extreme stuff for all you normal people to (try and) enjoy. Feel free to take listen:
The Dillinger Escape Plan- Option Paralysis
Dillinger's trademark math metal attack is more refined, while their avant-garde Mike Patton-isms shine even brighter. New drummer Billy Rhymer does not disappoint.
Nails- Unsilent Death
Raw and dirty powerviolence tinged grindcore. Less than 15 mins long, but epic as fuck.
Starkweather- This Sheltering Night
Mind-bending. Amazing musicianship coupled with the most insane vocal performance of the year. THIS is what it sounds like when those invisible insects start crawling under your skin.
Julie Christmas- The Bad Wife
The singer for Made Out of Babies solo debut. At times it's heavy, beautiful and a tad bit creepy. Everything I've come to love about Julie. Here's her cover of a Dusty Springfield classic:
Withered- Dualitas
A haunting slab of sludgy black metal. This album confirms it, Withered deserve to be much higher in the current pantheon of Georgia based metal bands.
Daughters- Daughters
If Danzig hijacked a circus while on acid, it would sound like Daughter's self titled album.
Clinging To The Trees of a Forrest Fire- Songs of Ill Hope and Discontent
Easily, the nastiest, most pissed off album of the year. Re-read the album's title (or the band's name for that matter) and take the first horrid image that comes to mind and multiply that 10x...but with blast beats and growls/shrieks over it.
Triptykon- Eparistera Daimones
Tom G. Warrior strikes again! For those of you who liked (or remember) my Crunch Time: Celtic Frost post, you might fancy Tom's latest project's debut album. Dark, heavy and full of future Crunch Time riffs for sure.
Immolation- Majesty and Decay
One of the most consistent/innovative death metal bands around, Immolation continue their streak of releasing astoundingly heavy yet thought provoking slabs of brutality. Really, where do they get these time signatures and melodies from?
Arcade Fire- The Suburbs
I am rarely able to rank my favorite albums during these compilations but this record was the closest I've come to "ALBUM OF THE YEAR" in a while. If it weren't for the two filler songs toward the end, this would have been a flawless front to back album. Arcade Fire are huge so feel free to search the interwebz for the heaps of critical acclaim The Suburbs has received.
*Special Note*
There were a lot of great EPs released this year but two of them tied for my favorite:
Torche- Songs For Singles
&
Beneath the Massacre- Maree Noire
both of which I've already blogged about. Click the links for my previous posts about these awesome EPs.
The Dillinger Escape Plan- Option Paralysis
Dillinger's trademark math metal attack is more refined, while their avant-garde Mike Patton-isms shine even brighter. New drummer Billy Rhymer does not disappoint.
Nails- Unsilent Death
Raw and dirty powerviolence tinged grindcore. Less than 15 mins long, but epic as fuck.
Starkweather- This Sheltering Night
Mind-bending. Amazing musicianship coupled with the most insane vocal performance of the year. THIS is what it sounds like when those invisible insects start crawling under your skin.
Julie Christmas- The Bad Wife
The singer for Made Out of Babies solo debut. At times it's heavy, beautiful and a tad bit creepy. Everything I've come to love about Julie. Here's her cover of a Dusty Springfield classic:
Withered- Dualitas
A haunting slab of sludgy black metal. This album confirms it, Withered deserve to be much higher in the current pantheon of Georgia based metal bands.
Daughters- Daughters
If Danzig hijacked a circus while on acid, it would sound like Daughter's self titled album.
Clinging To The Trees of a Forrest Fire- Songs of Ill Hope and Discontent
Easily, the nastiest, most pissed off album of the year. Re-read the album's title (or the band's name for that matter) and take the first horrid image that comes to mind and multiply that 10x...but with blast beats and growls/shrieks over it.
Triptykon- Eparistera Daimones
Tom G. Warrior strikes again! For those of you who liked (or remember) my Crunch Time: Celtic Frost post, you might fancy Tom's latest project's debut album. Dark, heavy and full of future Crunch Time riffs for sure.
Immolation- Majesty and Decay
One of the most consistent/innovative death metal bands around, Immolation continue their streak of releasing astoundingly heavy yet thought provoking slabs of brutality. Really, where do they get these time signatures and melodies from?
Arcade Fire- The Suburbs
I am rarely able to rank my favorite albums during these compilations but this record was the closest I've come to "ALBUM OF THE YEAR" in a while. If it weren't for the two filler songs toward the end, this would have been a flawless front to back album. Arcade Fire are huge so feel free to search the interwebz for the heaps of critical acclaim The Suburbs has received.
*Special Note*
There were a lot of great EPs released this year but two of them tied for my favorite:
Torche- Songs For Singles
&
Beneath the Massacre- Maree Noire
both of which I've already blogged about. Click the links for my previous posts about these awesome EPs.
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