Dark TranquillityWith less than a month to go until the end of all that is related to 2009, I decided to make a small start on the obligate yearlist(s) journal. So this is in no way final, a lot of things can still change
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If you ask me what I think about 2009 in regards to music, I'd say it's one of the best years of the '00 years. The amount of high quality albums and gigs to remember is astonishing. And what better way to reminisce about this year than to make some cliché lists?
The album top 10
Might as well start with the most clichéd list you can think of for these kinds of journals: the top 10 albums of 2009! And the most clichéd list is also one of the hardest this year, never before did I had so much trouble putting together a top 10. Especially the top 5 was hard. And because this is not the final version, it will keep changing, so expect a different list when I make this journal final.
So without further rambling, here it is.
1. Ghost Brigade – Isolation Songs
Top 3 songs: Suffocated, Into the Black Light, A Storm Inside.
This album really took me by surprise. Based on the positive reviews I was expecting a good album. But an album this good? Never. The way they are able to blend the best elements of Neurosis and Katatonia together without sounding like a copy of both bands is a sign of talent.
2. Epica - Design Your Universe
Top 3 songs: Kingdom of Heaven, Semblance of Liberty, Design Your Universe
I really didn't think they would top The Divine Conspiracy like this. Sure, based on the teasers and the 2 songs they released before the album came out I expected it to be better, but to blow their previous album out of the water like this was something I didn't see coming (and I think a lot of people weren't expecting it either)
3. Anaal Nathrakh - In the Constellation of the Black Widow
Top 3 songs: Terror in the Mind of God, In the Constellation of the Black Widow, So Be It
Extreme, more extreme, Anaal Nathrakh. Every year they release an album the world gets another soundtrack for its ending. And it's not just extreme for the sake of being extreme. By using different elements in some of the songs they make sure their sound stays fresh and unique. One can only wonder what will happen on their next album. But for now I will stay loyal to this gem.
4. Sólstafir - Köld
Top 3 songs: 78 Days in the Desert, She Destroys Again, Goddess of the Ages
I don't even know what to say about this album. This is one of those albums that you just can't explain; you have to listen to it to understand what makes it so special. So do that. Because I'm not going to try and make something up so I can put something interesting here, it's just not possible.
5. Devin Townsend Project - Addicted
Top 3 songs: Awake!, Hyperdrive!, Resolve!
He's back! And he never lost his touch. After releasing the mellow, almost intimate Ki (good album, just didn't make the top 10), Addicted rocks my socks! The combined vocals of Devin and Anneke (ex-The Gathering, Agua de Annique) are catchy as hell and I was singing along to the songs after I listened to the album once. 10 amazing songs with a very slight hint of Strapping Young Lad, I love it!
6. Katatonia - Night Is the New Day
Top 3 songs: Onward Into Battle, Departer, Inheritance
It pains me that I had to put this on the sixth place, because it's yet again an amazing album. But when the previous albums are better I have no choice. Katatonia released their best album with Night Is the New Day. It has all the elements that made their previous albums great albums combined with some new elements: multi-layered vocals, strings and a fantastic guest performance from Kristen Linder (Enter the Hunt), whose vocal contribution turns Departer into one of the bleakest songs Katatonia has ever written.
7. Amorphis - Skyforger
Top 3 songs: Highest Star, Majestic Beast, From Earth I Rose
I lost sight of Amorphis a few years ago, but their performance at Summer Breeze earlier this year convinced me to get reacquainted with them. And it's a decission I will never regret. Skyforger is easily their best album with Tomi on vocals. Eclipse was fantastic, Silent Waters a small step back, but with Skyforger they are back with full force.
8. Mastodon - Crack The Skye
Top 3 songs: The Last Baron, The Czar, Crack the Skye
You want a good summary of this album and the band itself? Listen to The Last Baron and you will know enough. From the passages that make you drift away like Pink Floyd are able to do to the freaky passages The Dillinger Escape Plan are known for. Mastodon has drawn the tin line between them. I never understood the amount the praise Leviathan got, it's good, but it was nowhere near as good as Remission. Crack the Skye on the other hand has surpassed that album.
9. Dark Tranquillity - Where Death Is Most Alive
Top 3 songs: Insanity's Crescendo. Yesterworld/Punish My Heaven, Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive)
My favorite band releasing my new favorite live-album? No surprises there. Dark Tranquillity just doesn't disappoint me. The setlist is perfect, the band is in its best shape and the audience is just as enthusiastic as they should be, they add a substantial amount of atmosphere to the performance.
10. Kreator - Hordes of Chaos
Top 3 songs: To the Afterborn, Amok Run, Hordes of Chaos (A Necrologue for the Elite)
Four years after the highly acclaimed Enemy of God, Kreator still show no sign of losing quality. And for a band that's been around for as long as Kreator has that's a fantastic accomplishment. From the opening riff in Hordes of Chaos until the last tones in Demon Prince, there's no sign of any weak spots.
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That's it for now, expect more lists in the days/weeks to come.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you ask me what I think about 2009 in regards to music, I'd say it's one of the best years of the '00 years. The amount of high quality albums and gigs to remember is astonishing. And what better way to reminisce about this year than to make some cliché lists?
The album top 10
Might as well start with the most clichéd list you can think of for these kinds of journals: the top 10 albums of 2009! And the most clichéd list is also one of the hardest this year, never before did I had so much trouble putting together a top 10. Especially the top 5 was hard. And because this is not the final version, it will keep changing, so expect a different list when I make this journal final.
So without further rambling, here it is.
1. Ghost Brigade – Isolation Songs
Top 3 songs: Suffocated, Into the Black Light, A Storm Inside.
This album really took me by surprise. Based on the positive reviews I was expecting a good album. But an album this good? Never. The way they are able to blend the best elements of Neurosis and Katatonia together without sounding like a copy of both bands is a sign of talent.
2. Epica - Design Your Universe
Top 3 songs: Kingdom of Heaven, Semblance of Liberty, Design Your Universe
I really didn't think they would top The Divine Conspiracy like this. Sure, based on the teasers and the 2 songs they released before the album came out I expected it to be better, but to blow their previous album out of the water like this was something I didn't see coming (and I think a lot of people weren't expecting it either)
3. Anaal Nathrakh - In the Constellation of the Black Widow
Top 3 songs: Terror in the Mind of God, In the Constellation of the Black Widow, So Be It
Extreme, more extreme, Anaal Nathrakh. Every year they release an album the world gets another soundtrack for its ending. And it's not just extreme for the sake of being extreme. By using different elements in some of the songs they make sure their sound stays fresh and unique. One can only wonder what will happen on their next album. But for now I will stay loyal to this gem.
4. Sólstafir - Köld
Top 3 songs: 78 Days in the Desert, She Destroys Again, Goddess of the Ages
I don't even know what to say about this album. This is one of those albums that you just can't explain; you have to listen to it to understand what makes it so special. So do that. Because I'm not going to try and make something up so I can put something interesting here, it's just not possible.
5. Devin Townsend Project - Addicted
Top 3 songs: Awake!, Hyperdrive!, Resolve!
He's back! And he never lost his touch. After releasing the mellow, almost intimate Ki (good album, just didn't make the top 10), Addicted rocks my socks! The combined vocals of Devin and Anneke (ex-The Gathering, Agua de Annique) are catchy as hell and I was singing along to the songs after I listened to the album once. 10 amazing songs with a very slight hint of Strapping Young Lad, I love it!
6. Katatonia - Night Is the New Day
Top 3 songs: Onward Into Battle, Departer, Inheritance
It pains me that I had to put this on the sixth place, because it's yet again an amazing album. But when the previous albums are better I have no choice. Katatonia released their best album with Night Is the New Day. It has all the elements that made their previous albums great albums combined with some new elements: multi-layered vocals, strings and a fantastic guest performance from Kristen Linder (Enter the Hunt), whose vocal contribution turns Departer into one of the bleakest songs Katatonia has ever written.
7. Amorphis - Skyforger
Top 3 songs: Highest Star, Majestic Beast, From Earth I Rose
I lost sight of Amorphis a few years ago, but their performance at Summer Breeze earlier this year convinced me to get reacquainted with them. And it's a decission I will never regret. Skyforger is easily their best album with Tomi on vocals. Eclipse was fantastic, Silent Waters a small step back, but with Skyforger they are back with full force.
8. Mastodon - Crack The Skye
Top 3 songs: The Last Baron, The Czar, Crack the Skye
You want a good summary of this album and the band itself? Listen to The Last Baron and you will know enough. From the passages that make you drift away like Pink Floyd are able to do to the freaky passages The Dillinger Escape Plan are known for. Mastodon has drawn the tin line between them. I never understood the amount the praise Leviathan got, it's good, but it was nowhere near as good as Remission. Crack the Skye on the other hand has surpassed that album.
9. Dark Tranquillity - Where Death Is Most Alive
Top 3 songs: Insanity's Crescendo. Yesterworld/Punish My Heaven, Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive)
My favorite band releasing my new favorite live-album? No surprises there. Dark Tranquillity just doesn't disappoint me. The setlist is perfect, the band is in its best shape and the audience is just as enthusiastic as they should be, they add a substantial amount of atmosphere to the performance.
10. Kreator - Hordes of Chaos
Top 3 songs: To the Afterborn, Amok Run, Hordes of Chaos (A Necrologue for the Elite)
Four years after the highly acclaimed Enemy of God, Kreator still show no sign of losing quality. And for a band that's been around for as long as Kreator has that's a fantastic accomplishment. From the opening riff in Hordes of Chaos until the last tones in Demon Prince, there's no sign of any weak spots.
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That's it for now, expect more lists in the days/weeks to come.
