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.
I have only heard one album out of this ten but I'll say for sure that if the rest of these albums are anywhere near as good as Wasting Light is then they're all worth checking out. Great review buddy.
You got me here, movies guru I am, but albums not so much. All my music list I have heard on movies, so I can tell you which movie a song has been in, most of the time..haha...great round up though.
haha, you start with black metal, then gradually decline and end with Foo Fighters... not bad. I really liked learning about Rival Schools. Never heard of them, hope they keep producing.
Most of these are too heavy for my tastes. "Conform to Deform" did however splash acid over my eardrums leaving them forever changed. I imagine I could listen to some of these bands for motivation while lifting heavy things at the gym.
I haven't heard of any these artists except the Foo Fighters, of course. LOVE Foo Fighters so I definitely agree with you on this one. As for the other ones I did really like the sound of Deafheaven and Rival Schools. I can appreciate the other ones as well!
thats awesome man. i dont even recall listening to any new punk last year. i miss them good ol days. as for that foo song i cant stand it. must change it everytime i hear it.
You've sold me on Deafheaven. I've never heard them before and this track is so nice and you're right, it goes with winter. And while reading Poe by the fireplace. Foo Fighters also, great choice.
Gotta admit I dont know many of these... obviously Foo Fighters are great... but Skeletonwitch!!! Damn thats gotta rule! Im gonna give them a listen...
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! 
I have only heard one album out of this ten but I'll say for sure that if the rest of these albums are anywhere near as good as Wasting Light is then they're all worth checking out. Great review buddy.
ReplyDeleteYou got me here, movies guru I am, but albums not so much. All my music list I have heard on movies, so I can tell you which movie a song has been in, most of the time..haha...great round up though.
ReplyDeleteThe releases by Trap Them and All Pigs Must Die were barely edged out on my lists. Fucking staggering albums. Going to have to give the rest a listen
ReplyDeleteI gave Ghostlimb a listen. Fucking awesome
DeleteI am sold at the covers. Tonite is Adele night. (No, I didnt break up with anyone). I will give these a listen
ReplyDeleteGreat post great music
ReplyDeletehaha, you start with black metal, then gradually decline and end with Foo Fighters... not bad. I really liked learning about Rival Schools. Never heard of them, hope they keep producing.
ReplyDeleteMost of these are too heavy for my tastes. "Conform to Deform" did however splash acid over my eardrums leaving them forever changed. I imagine I could listen to some of these bands for motivation while lifting heavy things at the gym.
ReplyDeleteWas a pretty bad year in terms of albums I think, I liked Watch the Throne but it wasn't as good as MBDTF from 2010.
ReplyDeleteOoooh Foo Fighters got in there. Nice.
ReplyDeleteLooks like I have some catching up to do, after I stop feeling old for only knowing two of these bands.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, great blog will be following
ReplyDeletelots of good music
ReplyDeleteNo doom metal?
ReplyDelete<3 Foo Fighters.
ReplyDeleteLove these! thanks for sharing :) I see everyone loves the Foo Fighters being in there, haha
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of any these artists except the Foo Fighters, of course. LOVE Foo Fighters so I definitely agree with you on this one. As for the other ones I did really like the sound of Deafheaven and Rival Schools. I can appreciate the other ones as well!
ReplyDeletethats awesome man. i dont even recall listening to any new punk last year. i miss them good ol days. as for that foo song i cant stand it. must change it everytime i hear it.
ReplyDeletenice reviews
ReplyDeletethe new ff was definitely great. i have the rivals school album dl'ed - should probably listen right now
ReplyDeleteWow that's a big old review ...so much in 2011
ReplyDeleteWouldn't agree with all these choices, but a good list none the less! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou've sold me on Deafheaven. I've never heard them before and this track is so nice and you're right, it goes with winter. And while reading Poe by the fireplace. Foo Fighters also, great choice.
ReplyDeleteGotta admit I dont know many of these... obviously Foo Fighters are great... but Skeletonwitch!!! Damn thats gotta rule! Im gonna give them a listen...
ReplyDelete