Samstag, 23. Apr 2011, 3:51
2010 was really the first year that I really got in to the new metal music as it was being released. I found some hidden gems, and I found myself to be surprisingly accepting of some high-profile releases. So, here's the list!
10. Nominon - Monumentomb
A blackened death metal group out of Sweden, these guys have been inconsistant at best in their 10 years of existence. However, Monumentomb is by far my favorite outing by them. It has an old-school attitude to it, along with a fresh production. The vocals, although not godly, are incredibly strong, and present a kind of icy shriek as well as the brutal growling needed. The drumming is very impressive, although the production was decent in that aspect. However, the strong point of this album, and the reason I keep coming back are the guitars. Some tracks (Mountain of Hate) they take the song by the reigns and lead it along with riff after riff, many of them being some kind of melodic/technical death metal hybrid. Other songs (Mantra Reverse) they take an impressive backseat to the drums and vocals, but play some great melodies underneath. Overrall a fantastic release, and for all you death-heads out there, I'm sorry, but this is the only death metal album that made my list.
9. Negative - Neon
I am not usually one for glam metal. Some of those fun 80's ones are a good listen once in a while, but nothing that would usually be topping album-of-the-year charts. These guys started out 10 years too late to make it big anywhere, and being about as far from the Sunset Strip as possible (Finland) doesn't help either. However, calling these guys straight glam metal is an insult. Keyboards are used to absolute perfection to compliment the guitars and bass, and the drumming is incredibly efficient. The band perfectly combines a meloncholy sound in to their pop-rock elements. It makes for a very intriguing listen, and is an album that really does not get boring.
8. Freedom Call - Legend of the Shadowking
I truly believe this band is power metal at its finest. The first 3 songs of this album are some of the greatest power metal tracks to be recorded in my opinion. The album is a little top heavy, but with the opening trio of scorches, accented by Resurrection Day and The Darkness it is hard to argue against this album. The vocals are about as cheesy and soaring as you can get. They echoe and flash their way to some of the catchiest hooks you will ever hear. The drumming hear is also magnificent, the symbol heavy playing lays out a fantastic background for the soaring melodies over the top. The drumming also leads the way for many dynamic changes, and sets a great atmosphere. The guitars are not exactly mind-blowing, but they don't hold anything back either. The riffs spread from heavy, to just hook-filled power metal.
7. Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini
These Norwegian vets have been running the progressive black metal scene for the last 10 years, and they don't get caught up here at all. The tightness that this group plays at is legendary. The drums and the guitars accent each other beautifully, while the vocals lay down a powerful base for the song to otherwise take over. Dynamic changes, as well as mood and vocal changes are aplenty here. Going from chillingly depressive to groovy rock in a matter of seconds gives the album a great unpredictability, and is something that really keeps the album going.
6. Striker - Eyes in the Night
This speed metal band from Canada is a testament to all that was right in the 80's. Taking huge influences from the likes of Accept, Krokus, and maybe some early Crue, these guys roll it all in to one modern blast-from-the-past. The riffs on their debut are undeniably catchy, and the vocals are incredibly strong. The only downers would be the repetitive bass grooves, and the simplistic drumming, but they are both adequate enough to keep the album going. The lyrics are cliche, but thats just how I love em in this style. Great shout-along vocals, with a driving tempo.
5. Nevermore - The Obsidian Conspiracy
Only Nevermore can slightly disappoint me, and still end up in the top 5. This album does not compare to This Godless Endeavor, Enemies of Reality, or Dreaming Neon Black, but none of that matters. It kicks ass. The sheer talent that this band displays, through their insanely heavy low-register riffs, combined with the heavy bass, the precise drumming, and the always on-task Dane on vocals, is an absolutely pure recipe. The technicality is still in this album in full force, and Dane, although having dropped some of his falsettos, has possibly my favorite performance of storied career. My only problem with the album is that it does not retain the epic concept their previous ones had. The straight-forward thrashers blaze like none others in their discography, but when they try to slow it down, it comes off as a little calculated. Regardless, fantastic album yet again by these guys.
4. Death Angel - Relentless Retribution
"Too much new-school vocals!" "Too modern!" is about all I heard about this album going in to it. I was expecting much less than what I got. The way this band was able to combine their old-school thrashy chaos with the modern production and some newer-style vocals floored me on the first listen. The riffs are absolutely fantastic, and the vocals are admitably best when Osegueda uses his classic style, but the new school stuff does add a cool dimension to the music. It comes off as a very desperate, anxious sounding album. It keeps me on the edge of my seat everytime. The slow guitar melodies over the top of the shredding riffs, and the less-than-mind blowing speed of the drumming adds for a very cool, almost stoner-metal vibe throughout the album.
3. Echoes - Nature|Existence
100% fantastic musicianship. It has been a long time since a band has so quickly gotten my complete faith to perform even the most daring of tasks. From saxophones to latin percussion instruments, these guys bring huge amounts of influence in to their melting pot of progressive/post metal. Although not hugely technical in the sense of Dream Theater or newer Opeth, they have an eerie efficiency and flow to them that reminds me more of Three. Huge influence changes, flawless instrumentation, and very Chris Cornell-esque vocals create one of the most vibrant, grabbing albums of the year.
2. Heidevolk - Uit Oude Grond
Fun loving folk metal from the Netherlands. These guys paint a clear picture of heroic actions not through story-telling interluedes, but through up-tempo songs, Danish-only lyrics, fantastic guitar riffs, and great vocal melodies. Songs such as Ostara have a great driving riff, while Beest Bij Nacht displays some of the catchiest classic metal to ever be recorded.
1. Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare
I know, I know. They're metalcore, they're lame, they're sellouts, talentless, media driven, posers, metal version of boy bads, etc. I don't give a fuck. This album is moving. Gone are the days of light-hearted metalcore, or their animated heavy metal stylings of the past few records. This album, although experimenting many differant styles, is very dark (with the exception of the title track.) M. Shadows' voice has always appealed to me. It is very unique, and can deliver hooks whenever needed. God Hates Us releases some fantastic riffs, while Natural Born Killer displays insanely technical and precise drumming by Mike Portnoy. The versatility is shown on songs like Victim, Fiction, and the ballad-turned-rocker Buried Alive. The album in my opinion captures the band perfectly, and has great variety.