dimanche 28 Déc 2008, 15h35m
This took me three days to be finished. Thanks for reading, check out bands you don't know and comments are highly appreciated.
-64-
Blacklisted
Heavier Than Heaven, Lonelier Than God
-63-
Die Mannequin
Unicorn Steak
-62-
Ashes Divide
Keep Telling Myself It's Alright
-61-
The Subways
All Or Nothing
-60-
Misery Signals
Controller
-59-
Trap Them
Seizures In Barren Praise
-58-
Dagoba
Face The Colossus
-57-
Rise Against
Appeal To Reason
-56-
This Town Needs Guns
Animals
-55-
Coldplay
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
-54-
Elysia
Lion Of Judas
-53-
In Flames
A Sense Of Purpose
-52-
United Nations
United Nations
-51-
Funeral For A Friend
Memory And Humanity
Let's start off the review section. FFAF were pretty fast with releasing another album sine last year's Tales Don't Tell Themselves which made my last year's list at a tied place 44. This one being on 51 doesn't necessarily mean it's worse but it's not really a progression. It's a mix up of their older style with the change on the last album, but staying closer to the latter. Some songs are pure filler but some are just too good to be mad at them. Not a perfect album, but I don’t think FFAF will ever release one.
Highlights:
Constant Illuminations, You Can't See The Forest For The Wolves, Constant Resurrections
-50-
Genghis Tron
Board Up The House
As a drummer, drumcoputers are my natural enemy and besides Genghis Tron I think I don't like any band that uses them. Maybe I'd really like this record better if they had a "real" drummer, as stupid as it sounds. But even more likelier I'd like this one better if it was all as good as it starts. Too many forgettable songs and probably it was not the best idea to put the best three tracks to be the opening three. They have the talent, some tracks show what they are able to do, and they have the passion needed. That’s why I think they can do much better.
Highlights:
Board Up The House, Endless Teeth, Things Don't Look Good
-49-
See You Next Tuesday
Intervals
This time a bit more serious, but still keeping their style of Death Metal (or whatever genre you want to call them I don't care). I guess if you look at their shoutbox you know that they really are a love or hate thing.
I find myself agape when listening to them numerous times. Good one, but it would be nice if they had more songs that are longer than 2 minutes.
Highlights:
I can't determine Highlights. This one needs a full-through listen to be appreciated the way it should be.
-48-
Trenches
The Tide Will Swallow Us Whole
There you go, that’s better than the last band vocalist Jimmy Ryan was in. Trenches are playing sludge influenced metalcore, I’ve never heard any band that sounds like this. The whole album has a nice dark feeling to it, but sometimes they should let loose a bit more I guess. Some faster songs would have been great for the record. Besides I think pathways stands out a little too much, but you really can’t blame them for writing a good song.
Highlights:
Eyes open, sacrament, pathways
I never expected a band like this to be from Germany. Very very talented group of people who deserve all support they get. This album is a blow to the face. A recorded earthquake. Musical turmoil. No rest. Relentless they blow out your ears for 52 minutes. But the closer you listen the more "melody" you will find. If you have not listened to them and like bands like Ion Dissonance, Converge, Botch and the likes you pretty much have to get this one. But don’t expect them to sound like a ripoff of those bands, they have a very own sound. Also this is a nice demonstration to all the bands that really overdo the amount of protool sound (and there sadly are too many to count these days)
Best release of a German band in 2008!
Highlights:
Ghost, Jealousy Is A Demon That Never Sleeps, Carcass1 And Vulture2 In Love
-46-
Phantom Planet
Raise the Dead
I don’t know how they can only be know for california… They should be way more popular, because their last album phantom planet was fantastic. This one is too, but not that fantastic. Some songs on raise the dead have a way darker feeling to them then any songs they have ever done. Those are the best on this record and I’d like to hear what a full album of those songs would sound like. Not all of the “happy” songs are that good, but luckily most.
Highlights:
dropped, demon daughters, geronimo
-45-
bleeding through
declaration
I didn’t expect Bleeding Through to become this brutal with this album but there you go. It’s still typical BT, just a lot tighter and heavier. The keys are now fitting into the sound much better and don’t sound cheesy at all anymore. Same goes for the clean vocals, you almost can’t believe it’s the same guy who sang on the truth. Nice progression, but here’s the catch: most songs just sound too similar and some are just not that good anyway. But sister charlatan has to be the best song BT have ever written.
Highlights:
declaration, there was a flood, sister charlatan
Pissed about Beloved breaking up? Well, this one’s for you. 3/5 of Beloved are the foundation of Advent, including the shouter and former drummer Joe Musten. I never expected the follow up band of Beloved to be this heavy. They really take no prisoners on this one. blackout shows you the way from the get go and there’s no letting go from there. Except for when the strings in (the best and very well written track) three seasons begin. Some more tracks that’d give you some rest or less tracks on the album would have been perfect, but still this album is very good the way it is. Besides the lyrics fit well with the feel of the album. It’s almost a synthesis, the angrier the lyrics, the angrier is the music and vice versa. Lets hope this bands exists longer than Beloved.
Highlights:
blackout, reflection, three seasons
-43-
36 Crazyfists
The Tide And Its Takers
What stands out the most to me about this record are the guest appearances. Especially the tracks with walls of jericho’s Candace Kucsulain are standing out. The way every guest fits perfectly and really contributes to the song is worth every mention. 36CF themselves remain to do what they always do, becoming better on their instruments and songwriting with every record. This time there are no doubts anymore, that Brock Lindow really can sing. But sadly this album to me has no golden thread. Or maybe some songs are just not good enough. However, it’s a good release and with 36CF progressing from record to record I am looking forward to what they do next.
Highlights:
clear the coast, vast and vague, northern november
-42-
The Classic Crime
The Silver Cord
This one is simple; it would have been a much better album if they had put less tracks on it. There are too many fillers, and with the album being 54 minutes long I can’t see why they didn’t leave them out. The good news is: There are hits on this one, very good hits. Worth every listen and especially for this type of music well written. The powerful voice of Matt MacDonald really is a pleasure every time you hear it. At last I need to say that the production is perfect. Pop Rock is too often overproduced/ too polished, not this one. Good job. Next time no fillers please, then we’ll be friends forever ;)
Highlights:
gravedigging, Abracadavers, medisin, the beginning (a simple seed)
-41-
Scars on broadway
scars on broadway
Well I don’t like to focus on comparisons too much but you can’t help yourself when listening to this one… I always find myself thinking about system of a down when I listen to it, and I know I’m not alone with this… But the bottom line is, if this would have been a SOAD record it wouldn’t be their best, but also not their worst. That pretty much says it all. I bet Malakian is holding back way better songs for SOAD that just wait to be recorded. But this one’s a very good diversion until they do so.
Highlights:
exploding/reloading, babylon, cute machines
I didn’t know Dead to Fall until this year and a week after I got into them they broke up. I think I have something in me that does this to bands because this sure isn’t the first time this happened…
Now to the actual review: The album is good. The fast tracks make it a very good one, most of the slower tracks are not. But probably they knew and just didn’t care enough. I feel like this review is sounding way more criticizing than I wanted it to but I’m running out of ideas. Just listen to the damn record.
Highlights:
stupid?, sleeping bag, major rager
I hate that intro, it just sounds weird. But luckily it eventually gives way to 11 very amazing thrash metal songs. The new singer is not worse than the old one, he actually sounds pretty similar. The guitar work is stunning as usual, some solos are beyond sick. Sadly not every song has its own touch. They all sound like Darkane songs of course but some just lack the special idea that would be something to look forward to every time you listen to this record. But as a whole this album is good enough to be heard by a lot more people than those who already know Darkane.
Highlights:
leaving existence, demonic art, soul survivor
Max Cavalera should be a synonym for output. This is the first Soulfly album I have and it’s one hell of a ride. Max said that a travel to Egypt was the main influence for all the different instrumentations and sounds he uses, if that’s true send him there every year. The preferences though are of course the metal parts and they also are very good. Some riffs are a bit too simple and too often repeated though, but the solos all make up for this 110%.
Highlights:
blood fire war hate, fall of the sycophants, doom
-37-
cavalera conspiracy
inflikted
This one and Soulfly are pretty much the same albums but this one doesn’t have the world music parts and somehow (even though they sound so similar) has a very different feel to it. A different type of anger. I don’t know what it is but for the most part it’s good.
Highlights:
inflikted, black ark, hex
-36-
architects
ruin
One of the many bands I stumbled over this year. A lot of very good bands are coming out of th UK these days, this is one of the ones I put most hope in. Architects sure know what they do, their technical abilities is enough for two bands. This plus the passion Sam Carter puts in on vocals equals a very very good record. I don’t know why they didn’t use clean vocals more often because they don’t sound genre typical whiney or anything like that. Besides what genre do they fint into anyways? They have a very own sound, on this album on some tracks maybe too similar but that’s ok. I am pretty sure We’ll see them again in my next year’s list :)
Highlights:
buried at sea, heartless, save me
-35-
Senses Fail
Life Is Not A Waiting Room
Senses Fail seemed to be in a rush to release the follow up to last year’s still searching. And I guess that was not good for the album. It’s not as good as Still Searching. But I have to say that Still Searching raised the bar pretty high for them. It’s nice to see that they have found their sound, are even getting heavier at times but still don’t recreate their last album. This is their third full length and it’s their second best. Not too bad and leaving space for progression can be a good thing aswell.
Highlights:
wolves at the door, hair of the dog, ali for cody
Bayside are a little but of a phenomenon to me because they should be way more popular, I don’t know why they aren’t having the same crowds my chemical romance do. They could be way more like any average rock band and could suck, but they aren’t and I guess mainly because they do not take themselves too seriously and just know how to write good songs. Also the lyrics and Anthony Raneri’s voice stand out a lot from all the wannabe MCR bands I think. I hope they have a lot more success because they deserve it. Then why is this album not on #1 you ask? I somehow can’t find myself listening to it for more than two weeks for whatever reason, that’s why and sadly the longest song is the least good, that somehow spoils a lot for me.
Highlights:
a call to arms, demons, have fun storming the castle, moceanu
-33-
bury your dead
bury your dead
After a lot of trouble with the abandoned singer spot after their last album beauty and the breakdown I think their current vocalist Myke Terry is the best they ever had. This album is more diverse and slightly different than everything BYD have done in the past. The guitarwork is way more melodic and a little more diverse. A very good step for the band, progression all around. Still not perfect, sometimes a little too similar / written after the same schema, but lets see what the future holds, they just need the courage to take it one step further.
Highlights:
fever dream, year one, fool's gold
With their last release now, diabolical Satyricon have won me over, that album still is worth every listen. I was very anxious to see if they’d keep the sound they had on that record or go back to a more straight black metal sound. Well, actually for the most part they mixed the styles. The sound of Now, Diabolical is way more dominant though. Musically this one may be better. But The Age of Nero as a whole is not as good as Now, Diabolical for a simple reason: some of the songs are just not as good as the highlights. Besides even on one of the highlights, die by my hand, I think you can see another mistake. It’s too long without clear reason. Please don’t get me wrong it’s a very good album. I just like to complain on a high level ;P
Highlights:
black crow on a tombstone, die by my hand, my skin is cold
-31-
The Red Shore
The Red Shore
Out of nowhere these five Australian Kangaroo Jacks gave me a death metal slap in the face just when I needed it. Incredible album, especially for a debut. Technically they above a lot of other bands out there, and I if I’m not wrong they also are pretty young. I’m not worrying about death metals future anymore if there are bands like this one ready to take on the big bands. Not that this album would already be good enough for that, but lets see what they are able to do in time. Musically I see the potential needed. Hope for the best.
Highlights:
misery hymn, deception: prologue, the forefront of failure
-30-
The Streets
Everything Is Borrowed
Because almost everyone told me that it’s not very good I didn’t even listen to The Streets last effort, the hardest way to make an easy living because I hate to waste my time on bad records. With this one I was going for it and wasn’t disappointed. It has a (at times almost too) positive vibe to it and some of the songs are the best Mike Skinner has ever released. The way a lot of different instruments are included is also a nice to hear. Skinner is still telling stories in his own style. I don’t think this would work without his accent (although exactly that’s what spoils the way of the dodo a bit for me). The lyrics are often about the end of life and the worth of the time being alive. A nice one, lets see what The Streets’ fifth and last album will sound like.
Highlights:
i love you more (than you like me), on the flip of a coin, alleged legends, the escapist
-29-
The arcane order
in The wake of collisions
First off – something is going wrong with Germany. Denmark is way smaller but has way more very good metal bands. Especially the drummers are always stunningly good. Morten Løwe Sørensen surely is no exception at all. What he does is indescribable. But also the rest of the band is worth every mention. On vocals we hear Kasper Thomsen, known as the lead vocalist of raunchy. In the Wake of Collisions is a concept album about (who would’ve thought) collisions, and that really nails it, that’s what it sounds like. The songs grab you, throw you around and never let you go. They are all very long but never get boring. Nice surprise.
Highlights:
the serpent tower, eruptions of red, sanctity of allegiance, horizons buried
-28-
The Ghost Orchid
The Ghost Orchid
I’m not lying: This is the first instrumental band I got into. And alone for that they have a special place in my heart. This is very warm, yet melancholic music that is very inspiring and calms you down all at once. Some of the songs consist of only one idea and seem more like a demo but that’s really not always a bad thing. I love them already and look forward to their future releases.
Highlights:
living daylights, a way home, upstairs, in the end
-27-
from first to last
from first to last
After a band loses their front vocalist they almost always have to make a big change in their sound. FFTL also have, but they have found a nice way of going back a little to the sound of their debut cd dear diary, my teen angst has a bodycount and an all new sound. Matt Good’s voice is very powerful and clear, it pleases your ear. His guitar work does aswell, they get better with every record, drummer Derek Bloom is one of the best drummer in this genre since their debut. But maybe it would be nice to incorporate a little more of the feeling they created on heroine, because that one created more of a long-term pleasure.
Highlights:
the other side, we all turn back to dust, tick tick tomorrow, deliverance!
At the time this one was released I thought it would make my top 5 for sure. So what happened? Well, pretty much all of this is top 5 worthy but not the slower songs. I dislike them, they are too long and too boring. Liam Cornier’s voice is way better when sounding pissed as hell like smiling politely (featuring Benjamin Kowalewicz of billy talent) showcases. I always get chills when I hear this track. Kowalewicz is doing his part very intensely aswell, amazing. Besides him are Tim McIlrath (of Rise against) and Wade MacNeill (of alexisonfire) doing an amazing job at providing guest appearances on vocals.
In a nutshell, if they really want to make me happy and release a perfect record they should scrap the slower songs like Lucifer’s Rocking Chair (can’t believe they even made a video for that one…) and concentrate on their beyond good songs.
Highlights:
hail destroyer, sorceress, smiling politely, pray for darkness
After last year’s release marrow of a bone marked a bit of a changing point into more quiet and progressive directions Dir En Grey are now really going for the progressive way but at the same time bring back more old sounds. The first real song vinushka shows the direction right off the beginning and with it’s length of 9:37 minutes it’s not easy to swallow. Like usual Dir En Grey are capable of playing with the listeners emotions, from beginning to end you go through different shades of black and grey and you can never be sure what hits you next, a sledge hammer or an acoustic guitar. Not only have they produced a lot of progressive moments, they furthermore have written a lot of aggressive songs that remind you of the older records. Uroboros is not created for listening to it while jogging, or some stupid stuff like that. You have to give it time to really understand it and then you’ll find new sounds and new favourite parts with every listen. That’s hard but for the most part you are rewarded generously.
Highlights:
vinushka, glass skin, reiketsu nariseba, dozing green
This one is a bit of a disappointment. But only because I think I had too high expectations for this one because they were talking about releasing a heavier album closer to O' God, the Aftermath. But it’s not, this one is the complete opposite, it’s even way closer to rock than to mathcore. But when I look at this record objectively, it’s a good one with a lot of good songs. The best ones clearly are the ones that really are the heaviest but that might just be me. Maybe next time ;)
Highlights:
vipers, snakes, and actors, birth of the anti-mother, murphy was an optimist, and there will be a swarm of hornets
For those who don’t know already: from autumn to ashes is no more. And that’s very fine with me, because Francis Mark and Rob Lauritsen have founded a new band that only consists of them two playing all instruments. And if this aint a fair enough replacement I don’t know what is. The riffs are phenomenal and Mark’s vocals are even a notch better than on the last FATA record. This is probably what the next FATA would have sounded like anyways. And it’s fine. Very fine. It has a very raw, stripped down honest and a bit dark feeling to it which makes you become addicted.
Highlights:
profit over people, wounded paw, where's your leash, the waiting list
I was very very critical with this one. At first I did not like it at all. I heard it for a few weeks after it was released but then left it for dead, disappointed that it’s not a second iowa. I really had in mind that it’s full of whiney singing and no riffs at all except for the title track. But then I listened to the album again and was surprised of how heavy it is. Yes I know, of course not all songs. Yes the singles are the weakest songs (along with gehenna). And yes, it’s not a second Iowa, it doesn’t recreate the feeling of that album at all. But you have to take the album for what it is and I like what it is. Slipknot will never release something like Iowa again. And it would be too forced now anyways. And who could imagine Slipknot doing a dong such as snuff? At last Corey Taylor needs to have his own honorary mention. His singing is flawless and the lyrics have progressed into more personal and political related subjects.
There you go, hate it or love it I guess.
Highlights:
gematria (the killing name), vendetta, snuff, all hope is gone
-21-
from a second story window
conversations
Another band that sadly doesn’t exist anymore. FASSW leave us with the good feeling of having released the best record they’ve created in their career. I don’t think it’s the best they could have done if they would have continued they would have had a hard time raising the bar above this one but I think they could have done it. Though Conversations is almost flawless. There is one big flaw to it (when harry lost sally, but the rest is marginal. It’s in the same vein as previous album delenda, but yet very different because it has way more singing and a way more straight forward feeling to it. And that suits most of the songs better and makes them more rememberable. A nice way to say goodbye.
Highlights:
most of us are normal, self admitted, leaving the earth, stolen lands
-20-
filter
anthems for the damned
I remember when I was maybe 13 years old and heard Filter for the first time. I was hooked, but had no money at all and there was no birthday or xmas around the corner. So I forgot about them until two or three years ago when I heard where do we go from here again. But somehow I never got to get an of their albums. Anthems for the Damned therefore marks the starting point for me and Filter and I am very happy I gave it a shot. A very good album, Richard Patrick’s voice is one in a million. He makes this album special. All songs are good instrumentally already but his singing makes them what they are. The melodies of the choruses are catchy but not cheesy and will stay in your head even when you don’t expect them to. Most songs are mid tempo but as soon as they’re let off the chains they show that they sure can write good fast songs that are aggressive and melodic at the same time. Another surprise for me.
Highlights:
the wake, cold (anthem for the damned), lie after lie, the take
A progressive metal monster like Lazarus Bird is always hard to review because you always have a hard time describing what you hear. This is not a perfect album, some tracks have parts in them that I don’t like but on the opposite hand you have way more tracks with at least unbelievably great parts. I also ask myself what type of feeling this album transmits. It’s not happy, that’s for sure but it’s also not the darkest shade of black. It is a ride, definitely. I guess the best description that comes to my mind is hopeful anger. The clean vocals are not for everyone, I don’t like them in all parts, but they are another addition to what makes this a special album.
Highlights:
i exterminate the i, cripple god, (we watched) the silver rain, city cloaked
I hesitated a long time with listening to this. I don’t even really know why. I liked st. anger when it came out. But I like Death Magnetic better. It’s just the better album, it sounds exactly like a combination of ...and justice for all and load. And done in a good way. There are only three things I feel I have to complain about, #1 being Lars Ulrich, he’s getting worse and worse over the years, #2 being the instrumental track suicide and redemption – ten minutes is waaay too long for this one because it basically has nothing special to it at all, and finally #3 the cover art. I mean, that looks like… Or is that just pervert me? xD
Well, however, the music is fine, it’s their best album in ages and I’m pleased.
Highlights:
that was just your life, the day that never comes, all nightmare long, the unforgiven III
The second instrumental album I ever listened to and it’s even more amazing. Writing a twenty minute song that feels like it’s a five minute song because it is not getting boring at any time is true musical talent. Four songs, two breaks, 53 minutes. A true highlight, especially the in my opinion best song the man with the hammer is unbelievably great.
Highlights:
silent state optimizer, the man with the hammer, totem & tabu
-16-
Sky Eats Airplane
Sky Eats Airplane
I know this band since the first time I heard Long Walks On Short Bridges this year and right away knew that this is an extremely talented band. Their singer was the first one who stood out to me because he has a very clear, powerful and unique sounding singing voice and his throat vocals sound like they’re done by a completely different person, yet also very very good. Jekyll and Hyde. Consequently a lot of songs are built around his voice and it’s good that way. Most of the songs are in mid tempo, which makes the ones who are not stick out even more. The drummer is truly the foundation or the backbone if you will. He plays difficult rhythmic patterns but still keeps the whole song together because the guitars are either sounding “mathcoreish” or playing a power chord with sometimes weird tact changing. All of this fused together plus the electronic samples (listing a Mac as band member is always a win ;P) equals a great album from a highly talented band.
Highlights:
Long Walks On Short Bridges, Transparent, Numbers, Machines
Moonspell blew me away with this one. I certainly did not expect this album to be this good. Especially not because I usually am not into anything related to gothic- or dark metal at all. Though I’m not too sure if they are still. I don’t know any of their older albums. But this one is pleasing me enough for at least two. All the songs seem very thought through, perfect producing and mixing (thanks to Tue Madsen) top this album off. The only little problem with me and that’s why it didn’t get a top ten position is the single and certainly most poppy song on the album scorpion flower. Nothing for me but absolutely bearable.
Highlights:
at tragic heights. night eternal, moon in mercury, first light, age of mothers
the dead eye still is a masterpiece to me. Due to that this album was set to have a hard time topping it. It does not completely but is coming very close. It doesn’t have the same sound, most of the creepy, melancholic sounds had to leave for more aggressive songs. But as long as The Haunted are writing them as good as these on this record I’m happy. The quiet track skuld is a little unneeded if you ask me though. But you get what you ask for; 40 minutes of The Haunted. What more can you ask for?
Highlights:
moronic colossus, little cage, trenches, crusher, rivers run
-13-
bring me The horizon
suicide season
I never cared about how singers or other persons in bands look like and I never give a shit about what other people think about bands. I care about the music only. So far I didn’t like the music BMTH had made. But I like Suicide Season. And here’s why: It’s a very well written, kind of catchy, very good produced record that is fun to listen to for weeks and then some. You just can’t deny that this is a clear progression. I guess everything else has been said already in a million other reviews so I’ll keep this one short: Very good album.
Highlights:
the comedown, chelsea smile, diamonds aren't forever, the sadness will never end, No Need For Introductions, I've Read About Girls Like You On The Backs Of Toilet Doors, suicide season
-12-
underoath
lost in the sound of seperation
With define the great line Underoath have outdone themselves. No doubt about that. But Lost In The Sound Of Separation is following it’s footsteps and sometimes can fill them just fine. It’s a even darker album than Define and concentrates more on the screaming voice of Spencer Chamberlain than on Aaron Gillespie’s clean vocals. All in all it sounds a bit techier and angrier, but also more personal. It’s raw but not cold, it’s about the end but not without hope. I can’t imagine how much I’d love this band if they weren’t such Godworsippers and had lyrics like, let’s say refused. I hope for their next album they stay on their way to even more metal sounds and don’t go two steps backwards. Luckily this one is not as disappointing as Norma Jean.
Highlights:
anyone can dig a hole but it takes a real man to call it home, emergency broadcast: the end is near, the only survivor was miraculously unharmed, desperate times, desperate measures
-11-
Thrice
The Alchemy Index: Vol. 3 & 4: Air & Earth
Last year Thrice released the first half of the alchemy index The Alchemy Index: Vols I & II/Fire & Water. That one was on tenth position last year. But as a whole I like this one better. I think it has more feeling and depth to it and ultimately that makes the songs better. These tracks are even more stripped down, a lot are even without drums. Most of the songs have an almost hypnotic feel to them and make you really listen to the lyrics and all instruments used. In the end I have to say that the ending quarter, Earth, is the one I like the most out of all of Alchemy Index’s element project. Nice to see there are some real artists out there still.
Highlights:
the sky is falling, a song for milly michaelson, moving mountains, the earth isn't humming, child of dust
Let’s face it: A whole lot of the reunions of Metal bands who used to be great suck. But not Cynic. Gone for 15 years, that means I couldn’t have known them before (not everyone is born a metalhead ;P), they show a lot of bands how progressive metal is supposed to be. Traced in Air is a creative, intelligent and technically perfect album. I think I never heard anything like this. Words sometimes aren’t enough. Especially written ones. Some parts of this just put a smile on my face, that’s how great they are. I hope they don’t split up again, I couldn’t wait 15 years for the next record.
Highlights:
the space for this, evolutionary sleeper, king of those who know
I honestly don’t think The Bronx can release a bad record. This may even be their worst, but worst is not bad when it’s very good. Vocalist Matt Caughthran himself said that this is their „most laid back record“ and that’s true. It does not have the energy of their first cd but what am I complaining about. This one is better than almost all the other shit that’s out there these days. Way better. The Bronx are The Bronx, stay The Bronx. And I love The Bronx.
Highlights:
knifeman, inveigh, six days a week, ship high in transit, digital leash
My first highlight of the year and I was addicted to it for months. Technically this is the most insane record this year. What bassistArif Mirabdolbaghi and guitarists Tim Millar and especially Luke Hoskin are showing off on this one is beyond belief. But aswell the way Moe Carlson is holding it all together and the progression of Rody Walker’s vocals is amazing. He really stepped up a notch. But not as much as the overall songwriting. Amazing is the only word that comes to my mind all the time. I seriously listened to this for months but it took a while for it to get any worn out. Almost every track was my favourite one over time. Besides I like the artwork a lot, it matches (and I’m a proud owner of one of the white pre order shirts :]). If I hadn’t over-listened this one earlier in the year it surely would have been in my top 3.
Highlights:
the dissentience, sequoia throne, limb from limb, wretch, goddess gagged
-7-
scar symmetry
holographic universe
I don’t like that much melodic death metal, it’s tough to write this type of music the right way I guess. Scar Symmetry surely do it the right way. With the title track holographic universe they even wrote a melodeath blueprint. This is how it should be done I think. That track and the Ghost prototype sequel shows perfectly what defines this type of music. Christian Älvestam seriously is an incredibly talented beyond believe man. I never heard anyone who has such a variety of sounds in just one voice. From the highest highs to the deepest growls, the man can do it. Sadly he’s not in the band anymore, but I will follow his career for sure (lets hope the two guys that will replace him are able to fill his footsteps). But the rest of the band is no exception. You must check out this band if you haven’t heard them before and like metal. Definitely.
Highlights:
quantumleaper, ghost prototype i - measurement of thought, fear catalyst, trapezoid, holographic universe, ghost prototype II - deus ex machina
Now this is how Death Metal should sound like. Raw, brutal and passionate. I never expected a death metal album to be this high up in my charts, but Traitors is almost flawless, I can’t help it. Every time I hear the ending of traitors I get chills. There is not really one track on this that I don’t like. I’m not that big of a fan of black sites (I know a lot of people are), but I know without it the album would be a bit more “boring” (for the lack of a better word). It changes up the sound. Though the other tracks aswell each have their moments, too many to list them all here. Also the whole concept of the lyrics and the artwork is great. Everything put together is the best death metal release 2008.
Highlights:
theocracy, partisans of grief (last.fm mistagged it as partisans), traitors, ghosts of catalonia, black sites
-5-
raunchy
wasteland discotheque
Raunchy is one of those underrated, known by too less bands where you always ask yourself why they aren’t more popular. They deserve it for sure, especially with this album. They have a great talent for writing rememberable riffs and choruses and are all extremely talented. Since they’re from Denmark their drummer has to be incredible, he (of course) is, both vocalists are doing a flawless job and I really can’t find anything bad about this album. The cover song somebody’s watching me may be a bitter pill for some but I like it a lot. One of the best covers I’ve heard in ages. Oh cover is the catchword, the cover art sucks, but that does of course not affect the music at all. Even the lyrics deserve to be mentioned. English is not their mother tongue aswell, so I know how hard it sometimes is to write good lyrics, but they do a good job. All around.
Highlights:
somewhere along the road, the bash, warriors, wasteland discotheque, a heavy burden, the comfort in leaving
First off, I love how Last.fm still scrobbles them under their old name. Though the name change really does make sense in a way because their sound has changed so much and this is how I called them anyways. the always open mouth may be one of my all time favourite albums. That’s another good reason the change in their sound was a good decision because they reached a peak. This one may not be as defining as TAOM was and still is but the talent still shines. The new drummer is also a nice addition, he has the same drum sound but a different style which fits more than perfect. I needed some time with this album and for long it didn’t look like it was even going to be in the top ten. But as you can see, it grew as time went by. It deserves all of the time and will have more in the years to come, I’m sure about that.
Highlights:
i'm fine today, jabberwocky, everything's not shitty, bad days, review our lives (epic)
I’d like to know how I found out about them. I love myself for doing so because this album is a blast (in every meaning of the word). How pissed can you be? I don’t want to know where this anger would have led Joey Southside if he hadn’t recorded this album. My goodness I love this one. Every single second of it. There is no better record to listen to when you’re pissed. A perfect combination of hardcore and metal with the unreal amount of anger and darkness and there you have Frailty. At first you think this album is nothing but noise, a pure wrecking ball, but the closer you listen you see the signs of light. The hidden melodies of the guitars. Thank you for making this album The Banner, it kept me sane this year.
Highlights:
a hellbound heart, sphrenia, funerals, dusk, ratflesh, the father and the wayward son
Though it still absolutely sounds like the same band, you can’t compare Cult Fiction to te masterpiece that self-help is. But Cult Fiction is also a masterpiece, but they both have a very different sound and especially feel to them. Self-Help was almost pure hate and depression, whereas Cult Fiction is more of an anger about something you love(d). Self-Help had lost all hope, Cult Fiction hopes for hope. If that makes any sense at all. Throughout the album we hear Jim Jones several times. All taken from the “suicide tape” that he recorded before and during the mass suicide of his cult followers. That tape has music in the background, it sounds so weird and creepy because it is backwards and played too slow. That is the exact feeling Spitfire transmit with their sound. It never lets you go, it haunts you, it scares you when you don’t even expect it. This is another one of those album that took a long time for me to love but rewarded me gracious in the end. I just needed to get over the fact that this is not a second Self-Help, it has a completely different feel to it. As soon as you fall for that you are addicted. Like me.
Highlights:
chemo therapist, apnea 1, crossed, mother earth in labor, track marxist, meth monster, in vitro, Ω
-1-
johnny truant
no tears for the creatures
I was sure about this being my number one album of the year since weeks. It never stopped to grow on me and now it means a hell of a lot to me. Desperation and resignation, with the anger and sadness that come with it along with loss, love and religion are the main themes of this album, musically aswell as lyrically. I don’t know what style of metal this album is and I don’t care at all. However, this is how metal should always be. I don’t know when I last heard this much honesty and brutal passion to this amount in music and I never expected Johnny Truant to create an album like this one. The way their whole sound has stepped up so much is unbelievable. Everyone has improved more than just a lot, but I have to mention two of them especially: Olli Mitchell for his voice being much more striking and powerful and the unbelievably great lyrics and Paul Jackson for his insane drumming witch can only be described by one word: perfection. He has groove, speed, feeling all of the things that you need and more. The way it sounds and fits into the whole is incredible. Besides No Tears really shows what a difference the addition of a second guitarist can make.
No track is a second too long, no track is not perfect, this album is flawless.
Now they have broken up, I still need to know a reason for that. Because every time I listen to No Tears For The Creatures it hurts so bad to know that they probably will never record an album again. The best always die too early.
Highlights:
the grotesque, death rides, last arms of the apocalypse, widower, crush and devour, in alcoholica, dead ships sinking, sunshine diver, fog lights, the weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth