2009 Top Music Countdown and Review, Part 3

As promised, I give you now the third and final installment of my review of the year in hard rock and heavy metal. When I said at the end of Part 2 that I would deliver the most complete countdown of the year, I meant it. If you are able to read through this entire list, then you are a better person than me, because after making this list, I don't want to read it. It's long, it's comprehensive, and it's the epitome of what most reviewers would call "overdoing it."

DISCLAIMER: You are free, of course, to debate and complain about the ranking/inclusion/exclusion of any particular album on my countdown, as your First Amendment rights afford you. However, I beg you all to PLEASE keep the flame wars to a minimum. Let's face it, we're all going to have differing opinions on what's good and what's bad. Rather than whine and complain about what someone else's opinion is, how about we just state our own and leave it at that? Thank you in advance.

And now, without further ado, I give you the Top 200 Albums in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, as chosen by me, your resident Mad Scientist guy.

1. Daylight by West Gate
2. The Isolation Game and The Restless Memoirs by Disarmonia Mundi
3. Vigilance by Threat Signal
4. Lullabies for the Dormant Mind by The Agonist
5. Hordes of Chaos by Kreator
6. Earthsblood by God Forbid
7. The Great Misdirect by Between the Buried and Me
8. Slaves of the World by Old Man's Child
9. Sound Awake by Karnivool
10. Children of the Dark Waters by Eternal Tears of Sorrow
11. The Infection by Chimaira
12. War is the Answer by Five Finger Death Punch
13. Sot by The Few Against Many
14. Son of the Morning by Oh, Sleeper
15. Design Your Universe by Epica
16. The Mirroring Shadow by Miseration
17. Evangelion by Behemoth
18. When Legends Become Dust by Conducting from the Grave
19. Say Hello to Tragedy by Caliban
20. Across the Dark by Insomnium
21. World Painted Blood by Slayer
22. Daylight Deception by The Bereaved
23. Pray for Villains by DevilDriver
24. Night is the New Day by Katatonia
25. Urban Being by Destrage
26. Endgame by Megadeth
27. Retribution by Shadows Fall
28. Wrath by Lamb of God
29. Dark Matter Dimensions by Scar Symmetry
30. Force Fed Lies by Dirge Within
31. Black Gives Way to Blue by Alice in Chains
32. As Shadows Burn by Echoes of Eternity
33. Skyforger by Amorphis
34. Bringer of Plagues by Divine Heresy
35. Those Whom the Gods Detest by Nile
36. Esoteric by Skyfire
37. Crack the Skye by Mastodon
38. The Slaughter by Incite
39. A Taste of Extreme Divinity by Hypocrisy
40. From Afar by Ensiferum
41. Time Waits for No Slave by Napalm Death
42. Necropolis by Vader
43. Black Clouds & Silver Linings by Dream Theater
44. Hatebreed by Hatebreed
45. Omnicide - Creation Unleashed by Neaera
46. By the Light of the Northern Star by Týr
47. The Incident by Porcupine Tree
48. Ruination by Job for a Cowboy
49. Deathless by Throwdown
50. A Dialogue by Gwen Stacy
51. Deflorate by The Black Dahlia Murder
52. Waking Into Nightmares by Warbringer
53. Old Crows/Young Cardinals by Alexisonfire
54. Passiondale by God Dethroned
55. In Ancient of Days by Thy Will Be Done
56. A-Lex by Sepultura
57. Blue Record by Baroness
58. Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt by Gorgoroth
59. Kingdom of Might by Woe of Tyrants
60. All Shall Fall by Immortal
61. Double Brutal by Austrian Death Machine
62. Fragmentary Evidence by Augury
63. Evisceration Plague by Cannibal Corpse
64. Fed Through the Teeth Machine by The Red Chord
65. Cosmogenesis by Obscura
66. The Eternal Return by Darkest Hour
67. The Days of Grays by Sonata Arctica
68. Order by Maroon
69. Agorapocalypse by Agoraphobic Nosebleed
70. The 13th Floor by Sirenia
71. Romulus by Ex Deo
72. Wormwood by Marduk
73. The Grand Partition and the Abrogation of Idolatry by Success Will Write Apocalypse Across the Sky
74. Wearing a Martyr's Crown by Nightrage
75. Planetary Duality by The Faceless
76. Blood Oath by Suffocation
77. It's All Happening by Iwrestledabearonce
78. Constellations by August Burns Red
79. The Onslaught by Lazarus A.D.
80. Halestorm by Halestorm
81. Infected Nations by Evile
82. The Lustrate Process by The Project Hate MCMXCIX
83. A Higher Place by Born of Osiris
84. Breathing the Fire by Skeletonwitch
85. The Reckoning by Arise
86. Njord by Leaves’ Eyes
87. The Great Stone War by Winds of Plague
88. Acedia by Dark Age
89. New Moon by Swallow the Sun
90. Gather the Faithful by Cain's Offering
91. Descend Into Depravity by Dying Fetus
92. Above by Samael
93. The World Outside by Eyes Set to Kill
94. Endless Echo by Construcdead
95. Spectrum by Starring Janet Leigh
96. Silent Echoes by D Creation
97. The Root of All Evil by Arch Enemy
98. Sleepwalking by Memphis May Fire
99. Attitude by Susperia
100. Mirror of Retribution by Chthonic
101. April Rain by Delain
102. Carver City by CKY
103. Portals by Arsonists Get All the Girls
104. Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus by Dark Funeral
105. Executioner by Mantic Ritual
106. Sci-Fi Crimes by Chevelle
107. Diabolical Figures by Graveworm
108. Mothra by Slowmotion Apocalypse
109. Darkest Day by Obituary
110. Disciples of Doom by Misery Speaks
111. The Dethalbum II by Dethklok
112. Homesick by A Day to Remember
113. My Fatal Kiss by Krypteria
114. Death Domination by Impious
115. Depravity by A Plea for Purging
116. Polaris by Stratovarius
117. Years in the Darkness by Arkaea
118. The Serpent Servant by Impending Doom
119. Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us by Paradise Lost
120. Until We Surrender by Heartsounds
121. Almost Home by Evergreen Terrace
122. Human Museum by Icon in Me
123. To Die As Kings by The Ascendicate
124. Skeletons in the Closet by Children of Bodom
125. Profugus Mortis by Blackguard
126. Massive Aggressive by Municipal Waste
127. Meet Your Maker by As We Fight
128. With Roots Above and Branches Below by The Devil Wears Prada
129. Crógacht by Suidakra
130. The Tropic Rot by Poison the Well
131. Memories of the Afterlife by Human Error
132. Stone's Reach by Be'lakor
133. Spirit Black by Jorn
134. Carving Out the Eyes of God by Goatwhore
135. Fear No Evil by Doro
136. In the Constellation of the Black Widow by Anaal Nathrakh
137. The Absence by Luna Mortis
138. Awake? by Zao
139. As Silence Breaks by As Silence Breaks
140. Cult of Static by Static-X
141. Relentless by For the Fallen Dreams
142. The Darker Shades of White by Corpus Christi
143. Vae Victis by Enraged by Beauty
144. No Time to Bleed by Suicide Silence
145. Naked and Cold by Advent
146. The Final End Principle by Bloodwork
147. To the Nines by Hatesphere
148. Total World Domination by Sworn Enemy
149. New Junk Aesthetic by Every Time I Die
150. Enemies by Marionette
151. Walpurgis Rites - Hexenwahn by Belphegor
152. Out of Ashes by Dead by Sunrise
153. Static Tensions by Kylesa
154. Phoenix by Agathodaimon
155. Origin of the Storm by The Sorrow
156. Resurrection Through Fire by Burning Human
157. Bury Me Alive by Inhale Exhale
158. The Quietude Plains by Ablaze in Hatred
159. Call of Schizophrenia by Fear of Domination
160. Day of Mourning by Despised Icon
161. Night Storms Hailfire by Arise and Ruin
162. Shallow Life by Lacuna Coil
163. 16.6 (Before the Devil Knows You're Dead) by Primal Fear
164. Ares by Salt the Wound
165. Wars and Rumors of Wars by The Chariot
166. Portraits by For Today
167. Grounded: Chapter Eight by Metalium
168. Dead Harvest by This Ending
169. And Every Knee Shall Bow by The Great Commission
170. Battle Sluts by Destroy Destroy Destroy
171. Ego Anthem by Tracedawn
172. The Echo Verses by The Arusha Accord
173. The Resting Sonata by Rose Funeral
174. Tales from the Grave in Space by Gama Bomb
175. Bones as Armour by Enemy Logic
176. Lividity by It Dies Today
177. Into the Labyrinth by Saxon
178. Hollow Crown by Architects
179. No Sacrifice, No Victory by Hammerfall
180. Messiah by Soulgate’s Dawn
181. Confess by Too Pure to Die
182. Killswitch Engage II by Killswitch Engage
183. Out of Body Experience by Degradead
184. III by Maylene and the Sons of Disaster
185. The Campaign by Into the Moat
186. The End of Tomorrow by Ravage
187. The Great Depression by Trigger the Bloodshed
188. The Everhaunting Past, Chapter IV: A Splendid Retrospection by Fragments of Unbecoming
189. Sons of Thunder by Sleeping Giant
190. Survivalist by ABACABB
191. A Clear Perception by The Eyes of a Traitor
192. Harmony of Discord by The Destro
193. Reflection by As You Drown
194. Depths by Oceano
195. Out of Darkness by In the Midst of Lions
196. Avatar by Avatar
197. Felony by Emmure
198. Karkelo by Korpiklaani
199. Autumnal by Dark Moor
200. Mordium by Mordium

And thus ends my review of the year 2009 in hard rock and heavy metal. If any of you happen to find a list longer than mine, please let me know so I can see what other people are looking at. Long live music!

2009 Top Music Countdown and Review, Part 2

Part 2 of my end-of-year review involves a genre-by-genre breakdown of the hard rock and heavy metal scene, covering the best of each area and why one album is better than another. If you would like to know what a particular genre sounds like (or in some cases, should sound like and yet usually doesn't), these are the albums you should check out. Enjoy!

Best Rock Album:
Daylight by West Gate
Really, was there any question about this? This is the best rock album of the decade for me.

Runners-Up:
Sound Awake by Karnivool
The Incident by Porcupine Tree
Black Gives Way to Blue by Alice in Chains


Best Melodic Death Metal Album:
The Isolation Game by Disarmonia Mundi
This album tells us two things about melodic death metal. One, the Gothenburg sound is far from dead, and can still be executed tastefully without sounding stale and overdone. Two, balance is everything with this genre. Blending the perfect degrees of thrash-infused brutality with beautiful, catchy melodies that stick with you for hours on end, Disarmonia Mundi have succeeded in delivering another masterpiece.

Runners-Up:
Children of the Dark Waters by Eternal Tears of Sorrow
Sot by The Few Against Many
Across the Dark by Insomnium


Best Metalcore Album:
Lullabies for the Dormant Mind by The Agonist
All three albums listed here are in contention because of how much they don’t sound like typical metalcore. However, The Agonist does it best because they stay true to what they started on their first album. God Forbid and Five Finger Death Punch both venture into new territory sonically, which is good for them, but The Agonist has the most cohesion in their sound, and they’ve put together a solid, complete package.

Runners-Up:
Earthsblood by God Forbid
War is the Answer by Five Finger Death Punch


Best Black Metal Album:
Slaves of the World by Old Man’s Child
While Gorgoroth were busy finishing their legal battle and Immortal were brushing the dust off their amps, Old Man’s Child were putting together yet another solid, crushing black metal opus. Galder chose the perfect drummer for this album, bringing in Peter Wildoer from Darkane, and the payoff is obvious. One of the best albums of Galder’s career.

Runners-Up:
Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt by Gorgoroth
All Shall Fall by Immortal


Best Thrash Album:
Hordes of Chaos by Kreator
At this point in time, America’s Big 4 have got nothing on Germany’s Big 3, and if anyone still has lingering doubts about that, Kreator put those doubts to rest with one of the best thrash albums in recent memory. Slayer and Megadeth don’t slouch on their new albums by any sense, but even their renewed metal senses can’t top Kreator’s consistency.

Runners-Up:
World Painted Blood by Slayer
Endgame by Megadeth
The Slaughter by Incite
Waking Into Nightmares by Warbringer


Best Death Metal Album:
The Mirroring Shadow by Miseration
Behemoth had this spot locked up for quite awhile, but then Miseration decided to release their album a little earlier than previously expected. And thus, everything got thrown into confusion, until Miseration came out on top with one of the most solid straight-up death metal albums of recent memory. Removing much of the melodic influences from their previous album, The Mirroring Shadow sounds like it would fit right into Ceremonial Oath’s discography, with its seamless and brutal death metal sound.

Runners-Up:
Evangelion by Behemoth
Those Whom the Gods Detest by Nile
A Taste of Extreme Divinity by Hypocrisy


Best Industrial Metal Album:
Vigilance by Threat Signal
Industrial metal is a genre that doesn’t often have a high output of albums from year to year, and thus, the annual output of quality albums is often even smaller. However, this year was an exception, as three excellent industrial metal albums revitalized the genre in many ways. Threat Signal is definitely the best of the group, delivering a brutal onslaught reminiscent of Fear Factory’s glory days. “Through My Eyes” alone is enough to make this album the best of the year for industrial metal.

Runners-Up:
Daylight Deception by The Bereaved
Urban Being by Destrage


Best Progressive Metal Album:
The Great Misdirect by Between the Buried and Me
This album is ridiculously good in so many ways. As progressive metal bands go, Between the Buried and Me are definitely the most chaotic of the bunch, but this album has a gorgeous flow to it. The song structures are perfect, and all the intricate tidbits taken from music theory make this album a joy for any musically trained person to listen to.

Runners-Up:
Crack the Skye by Mastodon
Black Clouds & Silver Linings by Dream Theater


Best Groove Metal Album:
The Infection by Chimaira
Chimaira, DevilDriver, and Lamb of God have unknowingly become the chief producers of groove metal on the US scene. All three of their albums this year were good, and none of the bands show any signs of slowing down. However, Chimaira takes the cake here because they delivered an album that none of the fans could have ever anticipated or expected. Their newfound affinity for sludge and grime makes this a totally unique album for them, and it’s a lot of fun to listen to.

Runners-Up:
Pray for Villains by DevilDriver
Wrath by Lamb of God


Best Gothic Metal Album:
Design Your Universe by Epica
The gothic metal scene may be looking tired and overdone to many, but there are still a plethora of talented bands out there, as well as a ton of new faces showcasing their new style and take on the genre. Epica is part of the former group, and they are miles ahead of the competition in that area. Epica’s releases always deliver something that makes your emotions stir, and on this album, Simone Simons outdoes herself in her vocal performance to deliver the most powerful stirring she can. This album moves in ways previously unseen in the gothic metal scene.

Runners-Up:
As Shadows Burn by Echoes of Eternity
The 13th Floor by Sirenia


Best Deathcore Album:
When Legends Become Dust by Conducting from the Grave
The deathcore train is starting to run out of gas, but bands are still jumping on like crazy, trying to grab one of those last seats. Conducting from the Grave is a band that managed to snag one, and like many other bands appearing throughout my review of the year, it’s because they did something outside the box. Melding numerous other subgenres into their deathcore foundation, they found a way to not make their music predictable. That puts them miles ahead of most of their peers.

Runners-Up:
Fed Through the Teeth Machine by The Red Chord
The Great Stone War by Winds of Plague


Best Folk Metal Album:
Esoteric by Skyfire
The only thing that pushes Skyfire ahead of the competition here is the five-year waiting period between Esoteric and its predecessor, Spectral. Were it not for that, this category would be too close to call for me. All three albums are excellent displays of folk metal’s finest characteristics.

Runners-Up:
From Afar by Ensiferum
By the Light of the Northern Star by Týr


Best Post-Hardcore Album:
A Dialogue by Gwen Stacy
Post-hardcore is, for me, one of the only genres where catchiness can actually turn me off to something. However, Gwen Stacy turned that on its head with this new album. The songs are ridiculously catchy, but the best parts of the songs are the ones that stay with you. Their sense of melody is much more fine-tuned than on their debut, and it shows very clearly.

Runners-Up:
Old Crows/Young Cardinals by Alexisonfire
The World Outside by Eyes Set to Kill
Sleepwalking by Memphis May Fire


Best Doom Metal Album:
Night is the New Day by Katatonia
Under normal circumstances, doom metal is definitely not my music of choice. However, Katatonia have delivered an album that simply blows my mind. As a band, Katatonia can best be described as Opeth’s Damnation album stretched into an entire band. But Night is the New Day does so much more, delivering a doom metal album that is far outside the box with its progression and outside influences, while still maintaining a bleak and appropriately dark atmosphere.

Runner-Up:
New Moon by Swallow the Sun


Comeback Album of the Year:
Black Gives Way to Blue by Alice in Chains
The best comeback story in music in years. Layne Staley is looking down on the new Alice in Chains with a smile on his face.

Runners-Up:
All Shall Fall by Immortal
Carver City by CKY


Best Debut Album:
Daylight by West Gate
Once again, were you really expecting anything else? Come on, this has got to be predictable by now.

Runners-Up:
Sot by The Few Against Many
When Legends Become Dust by Conducting from the Grave


Song of the Year:
“With Time” by West Gate
If my iPod could only hold two songs, this would be one of them. The other one would be “Zombie Autopilot” by Unearth, which, as everyone knows by this point, is my favorite song ever written. “With Time” is my second favorite, and if after listening to it you don’t understand why, then I pity you, because this song is a masterpiece.

Runners-Up:
“Flare” by Disarmonia Mundi
“Through My Eyes” by Threat Signal
“24 Years” by Caliban
“Contractor” by Lamb of God
“Ascension Chamber” by Scar Symmetry


There you have it, friends! Keep your eyes peeled for Part 3 of my review...the most complete countdown of the year 2009 in hard rock and heavy metal that you will find ANYWHERE! Be ready!

2009 Top Music Countdown and Review, Part 1

Part 1 of my 2009 Top Music Countdown and Review will be my thorough review of what I consider to be the best of the best for this year. But first, as always, for those albums that didn't quite make the Top 10, here are my honorable mentions for the rest of the Top 25:

25. Urban Being by Destrage
24. Night is the New Day by Katatonia
23. Pray for Villains by DevilDriver
22. Daylight Deception by The Bereaved
21. World Painted Blood by Slayer
20. Across the Dark by Insomnium
19. Say Hello to Tragedy by Caliban
18. When Legends Become Dust by Conducting from the Grave
17. Evangelion by Behemoth
16. The Mirroring Shadow by Miseration
15. Design Your Universe by Epica
14. Son of the Morning by Oh, Sleeper
13. Sot by The Few Against Many
12. War is the Answer by Five Finger Death Punch
11. The Infection by Chimaira

And now, the moment we've all been waiting for. I present you with the Top 10(-ish) Albums in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal of 2009, as chosen by me!

10. Children of the Dark Waters by Eternal Tears of Sorrow
Genre: Melodic Death Metal, Symphonic Metal
Origin: Finland



In the world of metal, there are always bands that go unnoticed and are underappreciated. The Finnish melodic death metal scene is the hallmark of this, as seemingly every band that comes from that scene is endlessly compared to Children of Bodom, the only band from the scene to gain a significant worldwide fan base. Thus, bands like Kalmah, Eternal Tears of Sorrow, Mors Principium Est, and many others are never given the chance to excel on a worldwide scale, which is unfortunate, since many of these bands have delivered high-quality releases in the past few years that deserve recognition. Eternal Tears of Sorrow is the latest in that group, with their sixth full-length album, Children of the Dark Waters. This album is undoubtedly EToS’s best to date, because the band have finally perfected their mix of powerful, driving death metal with haunting, doom-laden melodies. There are very few bands that attempt this brand of melodic death metal, and EToS is one of the best.

Recommended Tracks:
#2 Baptized by the Blood of Angels
#4 Summon the Wild
#7 Diary of Demonic Dreams
#9 Nocturne Thule


9. Sound Awake by Karnivool
Genre: Progressive Rock
Origin: Australia



Have you ever experienced the sensation of your brain imploding? Well, I can tell you from personal experience that it’s not as unpleasant as you might think. My brain implosion occurred when I heard Sound Awake by Karnivool, a band that has proven themselves to be among the most promising young talent worldwide. With a refreshing and vibrant new brand of progressive rock, Karnivool are one of the smartest bands I’ve heard in a long time. What separates their variety of progressive rock from others is their willingness to avoid formula. Their songs shy away from repeating passages while still maintaining excellent structure. The shorter songs have just as many elements and intricacies as the longer songs, and the band does things with music that make my head spin. I say music here because this has nothing to do with instruments. The songwriting on this album is absolutely phenomenal. I can guarantee that what you hear from Karnivool on future albums will be similarly mind-blowing.

Recommended Tracks:
#1 Simple Boy
#3 New Day
#4 Set Fire to the Hive
#10 Deadman


8. Slaves of the World by Old Man's Child
Genre: Black Metal, Symphonic Metal
Origin: Norway



If you look at the timeline of black metal, controversy abounds everywhere. Almost every band in the scene has experienced some form of conflict that has brought them negative attention of some form. Even Dimmu Borgir, one of the most stalwart bands in the scene, became entangled in an internal battle, with core members Shagrath, Silenoz, and Galder firing bassist I.C.S. Vortex and keyboardist Mustis, and Mustis then filing legal action against the band. However, Galder’s other band, his solo project Old Man’s Child, is one of the few black metal bands that has consistently released high-quality material while avoiding controversy and drama. Slaves of the World is the latest opus of evil to come from Galder’s twisted mind, and he really raises the bar on this album, creating compositions that rank among the most unique and memorable in the genre. What really sets this album above the rest of the band’s discography is the choice of drummer for the album. Peter Wildoer of Darkane/Pestilence fame really takes this album from solid to astounding with his outstanding skills. Old Man’s Child truly has set the standard for symphonic/melodic black metal with this album.

Recommended Tracks:
#1 Slaves of the World
#4 Unholy Foreign Crusade
#6 The Spawn of Lost Creation
#7 On the Devil’s Throne


7. The Great Misdirect by Between the Buried and Me
Genre: Progressive Metal
Origin: USA



I’ve already talked about the best progressive rock album of the year in my countdown. But now we get into the best progressive ANYTHING album of the year. Between the Buried and Me drew me in with their last album, Colors, which was definitely an enjoyable album and really displayed their skills. But the thing that held the album back for me was that, despite it being a concept album, there was no continuity or flow to it. Well, BTBAM found their continuity with their new album, The Great Misdirect. This album pushes the boundaries of progressive metal further than they’ve been pushed in a long time. With songs changing genres internally and compositions that baffle even the most stalwart music theorist, BTBAM have managed to put together an album that actually feels like a complete album. That is so rare nowadays, and I’m extremely pleased that they pulled it off.

Recommended Tracks:
#2 Obfuscation
#3 Disease, Injury, Madness
#4 Fossil Genera - A Feed from Cloud Mountain
#6 Swim to the Moon


6. Earthsblood by God Forbid
Genre: Metalcore, Thrash Metal
Origin: USA



God Forbid have frequently been described by some of my peers as a “hit-or-miss” band, and while I don’t agree with that statement, I will admit that I didn’t enjoy 2006’s IV: Constitution of Treason as much as I liked 2004’s Gone Forever. However, their new album, Earthsblood, surpasses both of these albums and all their previous work as well. Instead of delivering a full-on concept album like Constitution of Treason, Earthsblood just has an overarching theme built into most of the songs. The thing that makes this album excellent is the expansion of sound that God Forbid have added here. Bringing in influences from progressive metal and upping the thrash content significantly, this album breaks many metalcore boundaries and truly shows just how talented God Forbid are. I hope they continue showing this diversity on future releases.

Recommended tracks:
#3 Empire of the Gun
#4 War of Attrition
#8 Bat the Angels
#9 Earthsblood


5. Hordes of Chaos by Kreator
Genre: Thrash Metal
Origin: Germany



I’m a person who appreciates consistency, and consistency is what makes me think that Germany’s Big 3 of thrash have, at this point, far surpassed America’s Big 4. The number of disappointing thrash releases from America is at least triple what it is from Germany, without a doubt. Of the German Big 3, Kreator have been the most consistent by far, releasing album after album of straightforward, in-your-face thrash that doesn’t compromise on lyrical content. Hordes of Chaos follows the vein of its predecessor, 2005’s Enemy of God, with punishing riffs and solos that melt entire bodies, not just faces. This album is a model of modern thrash that will surely influence the new generation of young thrash bands worldwide. The older thrash bands around the world would also do well to take some lessons from this masterful release.

Recommended Tracks:
#2 Warcurse
#5 Destroy What Destroys You
#6 Radical Resistance
#10 Demon Prince


4. Lullabies for the Dormant Mind by The Agonist
Genre: Metalcore, Technical Metal
Origin: Canada



There are plenty of female-fronted metal bands out there that get a lot of spectacle just because they have a beautiful lead singer. However, The Agonist is one band that deserves more recognition for having a beautiful lead singer AND playing amazing music. Taking cues from their countrymen in Into Eternity, The Agonist have added highly technical elements to their songs, including split-second time changes and intricate polyrhythms. The drumming on this record is some of the best I’ve heard in a long time. Simon McKay really outdoes himself on this album. Alissa White-Gluz’s vocals, though, steal the show here. Easily one of the most talented singers in all of metal, her effortless shifts from guttural rasps to gorgeous singing emphasize different parts of different songs perfectly, and the diversity of her screaming styles give her depth that many singers lack. In short, The Agonist are everything that metalcore should be and so often isn’t. They have originality, brutality, melody, and technicality in equal measure, and no one is even attempting to do what they do right now. That sets this band far above all of their contemporaries.

Recommended Tracks:
#2 …And Their Eulogies Sang Me to Sleep
#5 Waiting Out the Winter
#6 Martyr Art
#9 The Sentient


3. Vigilance by Threat Signal
Genre: Industrial Metal
Origin: Canada



I enjoyed Threat Signal’s debut album, Under Reprisal, and I knew that they had lots of potential. I never expected what I got with Vigilance, though. This album is a genre-definer. In much the same way that Fear Factory’s Demanufacture became the foundation on which all industrial metal albums were built until now, Vigilance sets the standard for all future industrial metal albums. With crushing guitars, tight drums, and Jon Howard’s immensely talented vocal prowess, Vigilance has everything that an industrial metal fan could want and then some. It doesn’t hurt, of course, that legendary ex-Fear Factory bassist/guitarist Christian Olde Wolbers was in the producer’s chair for this album, like he was for Under Reprisal. Regardless of who’s producing, though, Threat Signal are quickly becoming one of the best young metal bands out there, and if they continue to put out albums that are as good as Vigilance, they will surely become one of the best metal bands, period.

Recommended Tracks:
#2 Through My Eyes
#6 Another Source of Light
#8 Severed
#11 In Repair


2. The Restless Memoirs and The Isolation Game by Disarmonia Mundi
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Origin: Italy



Very few bands have put out two releases in one year that are equal in terms of talent and listener enjoyment. DMX did it in 1998 with his two groundbreaking albums, It’s Dark and Hell is Hot and Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood. System of a Down also managed it in 2005 with Mezmerize and Hypnotize (we’ll put aside the fact that those two albums were actually a double album split in half). And now, in 2009, we have Disarmonia Mundi releasing both an EP, The Restless Memoirs, and their fourth full length album, The Isolation Game. What we learn from these albums, first and foremost, is that Disarmonia Mundi functions just fine without Bjorn “Speed” Strid of Soilwork assisting on vocals. Although Speed does appear on at least one track on The Isolation Game, Claudio Ravinale is the main vocalist on both releases, and he is finally able to come into his own. We also learn that Ettore Rigotti is one of the most talented musicians and composers in all of Europe, although fans of the band probably knew that already. Simply put, Disarmonia Mundi is the best melodic death metal band in the world that almost no one knows about. If The Restless Memoirs was a full-length album, it would occupy its own space on the countdown. But since it’s an EP, both releases take one spot on my list. I know, I'm cheating just a bit, but honestly, both of these releases deserve a spot, so they'll both get one.

Recommended Tracks on The Restless Memoirs:
#1 Across the Burning Surface
#2 Flare
#3 Kneeling on Broken Glass
#4 Spiral Dancer

Recommended Tracks on The Isolation Game:
#1 Cypher Drone
#2 Structural Wound
#5 Stepchild of Laceration
#10 Losing Ground


1. Daylight by West Gate
Genre: Hard Rock
Origin: USA



If you are surprised by this, then you don’t know me at all. I’ve been raving about this album since I knew it was being recorded back in January. My ravings only increased in May after I heard the album in its entirety, two months before its release. And when it was released in July, I listened to it for a month straight. You can call it devotion or insanity, whichever you prefer. The point is, there’s a reason why this is my top album for the year. I defy you to find me a rock album with this level of maturity and skill from a bunch of guys who just graduated college. I will save you a lot of time and tell you that one doesn’t exist. For a band that has only been active for about three years, West Gate already has the musical expertise to take the stage alongside some of the biggest names in rock. If you are a fan of rock music at all, you can’t not like this band. They’re just too good for any rock fan to dislike them. Without a doubt, Daylight is one of my top five favorite albums ever. And things will only get better for West Gate moving forward.

Recommended Tracks:
#1 Bleeding Out
#3 Ordinary
#7 Soul Searching
#10 With Time


And there you have it, folks! Part 2, my categorical awards, and Part 3, the full rankings for 2009, will come later, so keep an eye out for those! In the meantime, if you haven't heard any of the albums listed here, I highly recommend you check them out! If you are a fan of their genres, you won't be disappointed!

2009 Music Review is under way!

I've started making my annual Music Review of the Year lists. I'm doing things very differently this year, adding to my review to include not only my Top 10 albums of the year, but also my top picks by genre, as well as some other categories. I encourage you all to offer me your input, because surprisingly, as thorough as I have been about getting 2009 albums lately, it's always possible that I missed something. Therefore, if you heard any excellent albums that you think I should consider, let me know, and if I don't have them I'll check them out!

The year in music so far

I had meant to do this at the end of June, but that obviously passed without incident. So I will do it now, at the two-thirds point in the year, so that it's done.

Albums that exceeded my expectations
1. "Daylight" by West Gate
I don't even need to say anything about this album because of how good it is. Also, every good thing I have to say about it is in my review of the album. Suffice to say, there is only one way that this album could end up not in the #1 spot in my end-of-year countdown, and that would be if Disarmonia Mundi releases "The Isolation Game" before the year is out. Unless that happens, I already have my Album of the Year.
Recommended Tracks: Bleeding Out, Ordinary, With Time

2. "The Restless Memoirs EP" by Disarmonia Mundi
I'll be honest here - I wasn't sure how good Disarmonia Mundi would be without Bjorn Strid in the line-up. Well, forget any uncertainty. The six tracks of this EP are enough to convince me that Disarmonia Mundi is going to be amazing no matter who is with them, as long as Ettore Rigotti and Claudio Ravinale remain. If "The Isolation Game" comes out this year, Disarmonia Mundi will appear twice in the top three of my year-end list, which is unprecedented for any band. That's how good this EP is.
Recommended Tracks: Across the Burning Surface, Flare, Spiral Dancer

3. "Hordes of Chaos" by Kreator
With their last album, "Enemy of God," Kreator reminded everyone of two things. First, that thrash metal is supposed to sound a certain way, and they were doing it right. Second, that the Germans have done thrash better over time than the Americans. Kreator, Destruction, and Sodom have stayed true to the old thrash sound while Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and (to a much lesser degree than the other three) Slayer have all strayed from the formula at one point or another, and in some cases, stayed lost instead of coming back to it. "Hordes of Chaos" proves these points even more firmly, and gives a blueprint of thrash for new metalheads to follow.
Recommended Tracks: Warcurse, Destroy What Destroys You, Radical Resistance

4. "Earthsblood" by God Forbid
For a band that has consistently tried to distance itself from the American metalcore movement, God Forbid wasn't having much success with that until now. "Earthsblood" is a marked step of progression for the band, incorporating more thrash into their sound and also using Opeth-like prog structures on some songs, showing just how diverse their sound can be. This album provides them the separation they wanted, and they can keep it if they continue like this on their next album.
Recommended Tracks: Empire of the Gun, War of Attrition, Bat the Angels

5. "Children of the Dark Waters" by Eternal Tears of Sorrow
I've always considered Eternal Tears of Sorrow to be the most underrated of Finland's many symphonic/melodic death metal bands, especially because EToS places the highest emphasis on the symphonic elements of any of the band's I've heard playing that genre from Finland. "Children of the Dark Waters" is the album that should raise EToS from the realm of obscurity. The beautiful melodies captured on this album contrasted with the punishing death metal sections make for an intense, well-balanced sound that will draw in new listeners from all ends of the spectrum
Recommended Tracks: Baptized by the Blood of Angels, Diary of Demonic Dreams, Nocturne Thule

6. "Lullabies for the Dormant Mind" by The Agonist
The Agonist's debut album, "Once Only Imagined," showcased a band still in its growing stages but with an excellent future in front of them. "Lullabies for the Dormant Mind" is an amazing sophomore album that not only sets The Agonist far apart from the rest of the female-fronted metalcore field, but really puts them in a realm of their own. Their razor-sharp, technical music, combined with their socially conscious lyrics filled with deep imagery, are what make The Agonist truly unique, and this album capitalizes on those things to create an amazing musical soundscape.
Recommended Tracks: Birds Elope With the Sun, Martyr Art, The Sentient

7. "Slaves of the World" by Old Man's Child
If Dimmu Borgir is the polished, clean, sell-out face of black metal that the fans say it is, then Old Man's Child is its evil twin - dark, brooding, vicious, evil. One-man force of blackness Galder (who incidentally also plays guitar in Dimmu Borgir) has created his finest opus yet in this album, bringing together the darkest parts of black metal, epic symphonic passages, and blazing thrash to create a titanic sound that dominates listeners. The drumming talents of Peter Wildoer (Darkane, Pestilence) only add to the musical excellence.
Recommended Tracks: Saviours of Doom, Unholy Foreign Crusade, Servants of Satan's Monastery

8. "The Infection" by Chimaira
Chimaira usually impress me with each new album they put out because they show evolution with each release. However, "The Infection" surpasses my expectations of improvement because the band has taken their sound in a whole new direction, bringing their groove metal influence to the forefront of their sound while allowing hardcore to take a backseat. The slowed-down tempos, basement-level downtuning, and guttural vocals give Chimaira a new face and show that their talents can give them success on any front.
Recommended Tracks: Frozen in Time, Secrets of the Dead, On Broken Glass

9. "Time Waits for No Slave" by Napalm Death
I know many of you are thinking, "Woo-hoo, Napalm Death's fourteenth album. What's so special this time around?" Well, how about the fact that this Napalm Death album features ambient passages and keyboards during songs, as well as a simultaneous return to the band's grindcore roots? Interested now? I thought so.
Recommended Tracks: Diktat, Time Waits for No Slave, Fallacy Dominion

10. "When Legends Become Dust" by Conducting from the Grave
When I first heard of Conducting from the Grave, I was expecting yet another boring chug-chug deathcore band. Boy, was I wrong. These youngsters have melded a deathcore base with countless other influences to display a unique, diverse sound that can only be described by listening to it firsthand. If you want a new take on deathcore, give these guys a try.
Recommended Tracks: The Calming Effect, Eternally Gutted, Improper Burial

11. "Evangelion" by Behemoth
After the straightforward death metal sound of "Demigod" and "The Apostasy," I was expecting a similar approach to Behemoth's new album. But I was pleasantly surprised. Not only have Behemoth returned to the blackened death metal sound that made them famous in the first place, but they've further expanded their sound to display a strong progressive edge, even managing to attain a Gojira-like sound on some tracks. It's no wonder Nergal says this is his favorite album from his band.
Recommended Tracks: Shemaforash, He Who Breeds Pestilence, The Seed ov I

12. "Across the Dark" by Insomnium
Another excellent opus of doom-laden melodic death metal from Insomnium is always welcome. "Across the Dark" fits that bill perfectly. The clean singing utilized on this album is what sets it apart from its predecessors. It comes unexpectedly but it makes a wonderful addition to Insomnium's soundscape. The instrumentation is still fairly similar to older material from Insomnium, but that's not at all a bad thing.
Recommended Tracks: Down With the Sun, Where the Last Wave Broke, The Lay of Autumn

Albums that met my expectations
1. "Wrath" by Lamb of God
I knew that this new album from Lamb of God would be a solid album. They have never released an album that was not good. However, I knew that this would not be the album that everyone claimed it would be. The critics were waiting for "As the Palaces Burn" part 2. Instead they got "Sacrament" part 2. As I said, it's a good album, but too many parts feel far too similar to "Sacrament." In the end, though, I'm satisfied with what I got.
Recommended Tracks: Set to Fail, Contractor, Choke Sermon

2. "Pray for Villains" by DevilDriver
I love everything DevilDriver does. Let me make that clear right from the start. This album is likely going to make my top 10 list at the end of the year. But there really wasn't any way that they could exceed my expectations here. I knew it was going to sound like DevilDriver, and I knew I was going to love it. What more can I say about it?
Recommended Tracks: Fate Stepped In, Resurrection Blvd., Waiting for November

3. "Crack the Skye" by Mastodon
When I saw the track listing and track times for "Crack the Skye" online, I knew this album would be far different from anything else Mastodon had released thus far. It definitely was. I liked the result quite a lot. It's nothing less than I'd expect from Mastodon, one of the most talented groups of musicians of this age.
Recommended Tracks: Divinations, The Czar, Crack the Skye

4. "The Great Stone War" by Winds of Plague
Winds of Plague, the progenitors of symphonic deathcore, have separated themselves from the mass of new deathcore bands by playing with keyboards. That much was well established on "Decimate the Weak." But "The Great Stone War" does little more than to continue this tradition. It's a nice tradition to keep up, though, because the deathcore pack needs some variety. So I say, let Winds of Plague continue on the fine path they've started, because it still is better than 90% of the garbage deathcore on the landscape.
Recommended Tracks: Soldiers of Doomsday, Creed of Tyrants, Classic Struggle

5. "Omnicide - Creation Unleashed" by Neaera
If Caliban and Heaven Shall Burn are the established stars of the German metalcore/death metal scene, Neaera are the fast-rising upstarts with everything on the line. With that in mind, you'd think they'd be doing everything possible to make each album they release excellent and memorable. "Omnicide" definitely is excellent, but it's not as memorable as "Armamentarium" was, even with the subtle changes from one album to the other. That's the problem - the changes on "Omnicide" were too subtle. Nonetheless, this album is still a great listen.
Recommended Tracks: Prey to Anguish, Grave New World, Caesura

6. "In Ancient of Days" by Thy Will Be Done
After Thy Will Be Done's impossibly good debut, "Was and Is to Come," it seemed impossible that anything could top it. Well, so far, that's correct. "In Ancient of Days" doesn't surpass its predecessor, but it comes damn close. This is an excellent album and shows that Thy Will Be Done have a bright future ahead of them. Which is great, because for me, it's always nice to see a hometown band succeeding.
Recommended Tracks: Mourning Without the Sun, Ex Morte Vita, A Solemn Oath

7. "The Absence" by Luna Mortis
Unfortunately for Luna Mortis, they came into the female-fronted metalcore game a little late, and thus their sound seems to be heavily borrowed from The Agonist and In This Moment. However, that doesn't stop them from delivering a solid album. "The Absence" is another fine example of strong melodic metalcore, and what it lacks in originality, it makes up for in strong musicianship and well-crafted songwriting.
Recommended Tracks: Ruin, The Absence, Phantoms

8. "No Time to Bleed" by Suicide Silence
Suicide Silence brought deathcore into the mainstream with "The Cleansing." "No Time to Bleed" continues where it left off, with its chaotic onslaught of breakdowns, technicality, and indecipherable vocals. However, there still doesn't seem to be much direction to their sound. Suicide Silence still seems intent on just punishing their listeners with the heaviest possible music they can make. Two albums of that is fine, but if the band hopes to continue to be successful, they need to find a way to solidify their end goals and make that evident in their music.
Recommended Tracks: Lifted, Something Invisible, Your Creations

9. "The Grand Partition and the Abrogation of Idolatry" by Success Will Write Apocalypse Across the Sky
Finally, a band not called Soilent Green that does deathgrind properly. When I first heard of S.W.W.A.A.T.S. (no, I am not writing that moniker out every time I talk about them), I thought they were just another deathcore band with an unnecessarily long name trying to sound tough. But upon listening to this album, I discovered a fine gem of deathgrind waiting to be served up. The mix of death metal and grindcore is perfect, and for a debut album, it's clear that S.W.W.A.A.T.S. certainly have the chops to make their incredibly long name a popular one among metalheads.
Recommended Tracks: The Realization That Mankind is Viral in Its Nature, Despot, Automated Oration and the Abolition of Silence

10. "Wearing a Martyr's Crown" by Nightrage
This album is not as good as "A New Disease is Born," but the excellence of that album left Nightrage very little room for error. That being said, "Wearing a Martyr's Crown" is still a good album. Getting used to Antony Hämäläinen's vocals will take some time, but hopefully in time the sound will grow on me.
Recomended Tracks: Collision of Fate, Among Wolves, Futile Tears

Albums that did not meet my expectations
1. "Killswitch Engage II" by Killswitch Engage
The first misstep of Killswitch Engage's career was when they decided to let Brendan O'Brien produce their new album. The second misstep was when Howard Jones decided that writing negative lyrics, as seems to be the trend among countless metal bands, was a good idea. This album is a severe disappointment because of Jones' negative lyrics and the saturation of melody that drowns out almost all the heaviness that Killswitch used to have. There are a few redeeming tracks, but not nearly enough to counter the rest of the disappointments contained within.
Recommended Tracks: Never Again, The Forgotten, Save Me

2. "Show Your Colors" by Amoral
For three albums, Amoral played some of the best technical death metal out there. However, Amoral have changed their sound to generic pop power metal, and taken on a vocalist who is an abysmal failure at sounding even remotely good, never mind sounding remotely metal. Whatever steered Amoral off the path they were on is a travesty, because the new Amoral is something I never want to listen to.
Recommended Tracks: NONE

3. "Shallow Life" by Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil have definitely Americanized their sound as time has gone on, and "Shallow Life" is the final step in the process. The gothic elements of their old sound have taken a back seat to the alt-metal sound they've adopted in recent years. It's nowhere near as good as the older material the band put out, and while this album has some bright spots, most of it lacks the original Lacuna Coil sound.
Recommended Tracks: I Survive, Spellbound

4. "Years in the Darkness" by Arkaea
Arkaea is the union of ex-Fear Factory members Raymond Herrera and Christian Olde Wolbers with Threat Signal's Jon Howard and Pat Kavanaugh. Knowing the excellent material that those two bands have put out in the past, I expected Arkaea's debut to be a similar piece of musical greatness. However, this album falls far short of the mark. The industrial metal elements are not as prominent as they could be, and Howard's vocals do not have the power that they have with Threat Signal. There are some good tracks on this album, but the band needs to decide whether it wants to sound more like Fear Factory or Threat Signal, because the current mixture is mediocre at best.
Recommended Tracks: Beneath the Shades of Grey, Locust, War Within

5. "Revelations of the Black Flame" by 1349
1349's raw, straightforward black metal on previous albums was a cause for celebration among black metal fans who were looking for the next coming of Enslaved, Darkthrone, and Immortal. However, "Revelations of the Black Flame" moves away from that approach and adds in ambient passages, marking 1349 as the second "traditional" black metal band in the past year (Enslaved being the first) to abandon their raw sound and take up a much more atmospheric sound laden with synth elements. It's rather disappointing for raw black metal to be disappearing so fast from the landscape.
Recommended Tracks: Serpentine Sibilance, Uncreation, At the Gate...

Expectations for albums that will come out during the rest of the year
1. "Say Hello to Tragedy" by Caliban
After the excellence of Caliban's last album, "The Awakening," I firmly expect the band to continue sounding much better than their other albums were. The first single, "24 Years," definitely confirms this, because it is one of the best metalcore songs put out this year. Hopefully the rest of the album will have similar levels of greatness.
Release Date: August 25th

2. "Son of the Morning" by Oh, Sleeper
Oh, Sleeper has been (pardon the pun) the sleeper band on Solid State's roster. Poised for a big breakout, the band's live show and debut album, "When I Am God," have put them in position for that. "Son of the Morning" should hopefully push them into higher status, and the tracks debuted thus far on the band's MySpace seem to indicate a much more mature band that has a uniquely balanced sound.
Release Date: August 25th

3. "Here Waits Thy Doom" by 3 Inches of Blood
A lot has changed in the 3 Inches of Blood camp since 2006's "Fire Up the Blades." They have gone from a six-piece band to a four-piece, no longer have any original members in the band, changed record labels, and moved to yet another new producer. I don't know how this new record will sound, but I'm somewhat nervous as to how Justin Hagberg will do filling Jamie Hooper's shoes on screaming vocals.
Release Date: September 8th

4. "The Dethalbum II" by Dethklok
Dethklok is bringing metal to the forefront of pop culture slowly but surely. I'm happy about that. But can "The Dethalbum II" replicate the success of "The Dethalbum?" You bet it can. I expect "The Dethalbum II" to surpass "The Dethalbum" in sales easily. All that remains is to decide which one of these amazing tunes will be the first music video.
Release Date: September 8th

5. "Vigilance" by Threat Signal
It's been three years since Threat Signal stormed the scene with "Under Reprisal." Since then, Threat Signal has changed three-fifths of its line-up. But the song previews on their MySpace show that the band's sound has been retained, which is good because Threat Signal has one of the most unique sounds in metal. I hope that "Vigilance" displays the same level of skill and diversity as "Under Reprisal."
Release Date: September 8th

6. "From Afar" by Ensiferum
With Petri Lindroos out of Norther and Ensiferum now being his only focus, "From Afar" should have a bit more cohesion than 2007's "Victory Songs." That album suffered from a lack of unity that was so prominent on the band's previous two albums with Jari Mäenpää, who preceded Lindroos in the band. If "From Afar" is more unified, then Ensiferum should be in good shape to continue building their success outside of Finland. If not, then the band may want to consider some different strategies.
Release Date: September 9th

7. "Endgame" by Megadeth
People are saying that "Endgame" will be the best material Dave Mustaine has released since "Rust in Peace". I remain skeptical, though, because they said the same things about Dave's last two albums. I'm sure the album will be good, but whether it will surpass everything since Megadeth's landmark album is definitely not guaranteed.
Release Date: September 15th

8. "Retribution" by Shadows Fall
The one track Shadows Fall has released so far on their MySpace, which features D. Randall Blythe from Lamb of God on guest vocals, is promising for a return to form. After the missteps on 2007's "Threads of Life," Shadows Fall are hoping for a rebound with a self-released record and a return to the DIY ideals of their past. Let's hope success is on the horizon for them once again.
Release Date: September 15th

9. "War is the Answer" by Five Finger Death Punch
Five Finger Death Punch better not have gotten soft on us since "The Way of the Fist" debuted, because if they did, a great many people will be very put out. However, the tracks released so far by the band do not appear promising. We can only hope that the heavier material is waiting in the wings.
Release Date: September 22nd

10. "Double Brutal" by Austrian Death Machine
This may be the best news of the year. An Austrian Death Machine double disc? If there is anything that could be possibly cooler, I don't know what it would be. This album will satiate anyone looking for references to Arnold movies that Tam Lambesis missed on "Total Brutal," so Arnold fans the world over will be satisfied.
Release Date: September 29th

11. "All Shall Fall" by Immortal
It's been seven years since Immortal put out "Sons of Northern Darkness." Now Abbath and Co. are back with another black metal album that is sure to have the hordes raving. Being one of the most popular black metal bands out there now that people have realized that Abbath's face is hilarious, "All Shall Fall" should be a successful album that was far too long coming.
Release Date: October 6th

12. "Dark Matter Dimensions" by Scar Symmetry
If there is one release that I will remain skeptical about until I have heard it start to finish, it is this one. Most everyone knows how big of a fan of Christian Älvestam I am. The fact that he is no longer in Scar Symmetry, in my opinion, leaves a gaping hole in that band that no one man can fill. However, two men might be able to fill it. Whether or not Älvestam's replacements, Roberth Karlsson and Lars Palmqvist, are up to the task remains to be seen.
Release Date: October 20th

13. "The Isolation Game" by Disarmonia Mundi
I'm putting this album here because, if it comes out, I know that it will be in contention for my Album of the Year. There is no way that Ettore Rigotti and Claudio Ravinale could screw up an album badly enough to make it not be in the running. If "The Isolation Game" doesn't come out before the end of the year, then at least I know my Album of the Year for 2010.
Release Date: Unknown