Günlük

Albums I'll be looking forward to this year and beyond!

1. I Built The Cross - The Gap Between Mind And Heart
- I noticed that being Atheist or Anti-Christian is cool now. It's become the new thing among mosh warriors who still, despite their anti-religious/anti-christ beliefs, still get presents on Christmas. So, to hear a band call themselves Christian (Brutal/Slamming/Technical/Whatever you want to call it now) Death metal is pretty refreshing. I'm a Catholic myself, but that doesn't affect my opinions on music, hell, I'd listen to jewish deathgrind if a talented band called themselves that. IBTC is basically what they have said about themselves, "Spirit-Led Technical Death Metal, with a little hardcore influence sprinkled here and there." New CD is coming out "as soon as possible". The Big C is currently recording them!

2. Despised Icon - Day Of Mourning
- After watching all of the studio updates, I can't wait to hear their new CD. Having guest vocals from vocalists of Beneath the Massacre, Ion Dissonance, The Last Felony, and more.

3. Disfiguring The Goddess - ???
-My first listen to DTG I hated them. But after giving them numerous listens I really started to enjoy them. After listening to all the demo songs, I'm hoping for a well produced, recorded, and well written full-length from them.

4. At the Throne of Judgment - Twilight Kings
- The best hardcore influenced melodic death metal I've listened to, FROM RISE RECORDS TOO! Who would have thought? I'm so fucking pumped for this release. After calling it quits, then coming back to write a CD sometime soon, probably not tour. Nonetheless, new material! Fuck yes.

Adding more...

Abeyance *
Abigail Williams *
The Acacia Strain **
The Agony Scene *
All That Remains *
Animosity *
Anterrabae **
Arsonists Get All The Girls *
As Blood Runs Black *
As I Lay Dying *
At the Gates *
Atreyu **
Behold, The White Horse **********
Beneath the Massacre *
Between the Buried and Me **
The Black Dahlia Murder *
Black My Heart **
The Bled *
Bleeding Through *
Blessed by a Broken Heart ***
The Blood Brothers **
Boys Night Out *
Brand New **
Bradley Hathaway *
Bring Me the Horizon *
Broadway calls *
The Burning Season *
Bury Your Dead ***
Cannibal Corpse **
Carnifex *
Cattle Decapitation **
The Chariot ***
Cherem **
Chiodos *
Comeback Kid *
Contra *
Converge *
Danger Radio *
Dead to Fall **
Dear Whoever **
The Deep *
Despised Icon *
The Devil Wears Prada *
Dillinger Escape Plan **
Discordance Axis *
A Dying Dream *
The Early November *
Eighteen Visions **
Ed Gein **
Emery **
Evergreen Terrace **
Every Time I Die **
The Faceless **
fall of troy *
Fall Out Boy **
Fear Before the March of Flames ***
The Format *
The Fortunate *
Four Letter Lie *
Four Year Strong *
From a Second Story Window **
Gaza *
Girl Talk *
Give Up the Ghost *
Glass Casket *
Greeley Estates *
Haste the Day ***
Hatebreed *
Have Heart *
He Is Legend *
Heavy Heavy Low Low ***
Hellogoodbye *
Himsa **
The Hope Conspiracy *
Hopesfall **
HORSE the band **
Hot Cross *
The Human Abstract *
The Hush Sound *
I Killed the Prom Queen *
IMA Robot *
Impending Doom **
Inked in Blood **
Into the Moat **
Ion Dissonance ***
It Dies Today *
A Life Once Lost *
Maylene and the Sons of Disaster *
mewithoutYou **
Minus the Bear ***
Misery Signals *
My Children My Bride **
My Sexy Assassin *****
Necrophagist *
Nights Like These *
Number Twelve Looks Like You **
On Broken Wings *
Parkway Drive *
Pelican *
The Red Death **
The Red Chord *
Reflux *
Remembering Never ***
The Scene Aesthetic *
Senses Fail *
Shai Hulud *
Showbread **
Taking Back Sunday *
Terror **
Through the Eyes of the Dead **
Throwdown ***
Thursday *
Trash Talk *
Underoath **
Unearth *
Vanna *
Walls of Jericho ***
The Warriors ***

.Edit.Sasquatch2009List.
Bon Iver
Girl Talk
Deadmau5
Chromeo
Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
TV on the Radio
Animal Collective
Nine Inch Nails
Crystal Castles
Blind Pilot
The Murder City Devils
Erykah Badu
The Knux
Owl City
Explosions in the Sky
Fleet Foxes
Santigold
Mos Def
Kings of Leon
Passion Pit
of Montreal
Gogol Bordello



And Way More That I Can't Remember.
[* indicates how many times seen]

Как говорится, кто ждет, тот всегда дождется. Новый альбом безумных технарей во главе с великим и ужасным гитарным монстром Кристофером Арпом (на данный момент, это единственный участник группы, играющий со дня её основания), таки вышел. Многие томились в ожидании, многие успели облить его грязью за песню "The Burning Halo", которая была выложена на их майспейсе, а также за уход многих участников группы, но никто не был равнодушен.Итак, альбом. Заметьте, это третий альбом (см. пару моих записей ранее), а это что-то да значит. Я не хочу сравнивать этот альбом с предыдущим, ибо ну что там можно сказать - тяжелее, темнее по атмосфере, яростнее, жестче, экспериментальнее.
Я же хочу сказать, что этот альбом ещё бы чуть-чуть и по уровню ярости и тяжести дотянул бы до уровня "Solace" за авторством Ion Dissonance.
То был по истине шедевральный альбом. Только Ion Dissonance взяли совсем не тот курс, который хотелось бы, и ушли в Meshuggah-подобные дебри. К слову, уже играют на 8-струнных гитарах, так что продолжения "Solace" не жди.
А вот PsyOpus, видимо, учли всё необходимое, сделали выводы и пришли к этой работе. Господа, так должны были звучать Ion Dissonance. Невероятный напор ярости врывается в уши прямо с первого интро ".44". Жесточайший вокал Брайана Вудраффа в сочетании с режущей слух невероятно техничной игрой Арпмена плюс взрывающая всё барабанная и басовая партии. Если музыканты на первых двух альбомах медленно, но верно копали и уходили всё глубже и глубже в своем звучании, то здесь они буквально вгрызаются в звук с остервенелым взглядом и рвут его на части.
Гитара здесь заслуживает не то чтобы отдельной статьи, а целой книги. Это просто праздник нарциссизма Арпмена. Невероятная скорость, огромнейшее количество всяческих свипов, флажолетов, диссонансов. Ничего "обычного" вы здесь не услышите. Таким образом жесткое вступление к "The Burning Halo" звучит как насмешка над современными канонами тяжелой музыки."Choker Chain" звучит как припадок эпилепсии с его повторяющимися семплами со словами "Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me?...I miss you. I miss you. I miss you...I love you. I love you. I love you...etc." и стеной звука между оными.
Также музыканты решили сделать некое связующее звено с прошлыми работами в лице трека "Imogen's Puzzle Pt 3", который ко всему прочему записан и проигрывается в обратном порядке. Причем что самое интересное, даже играя в обратном порядке этот трек приобрел некое подобие ритмического рисунка.
Но отдельного звучания заслуживает предпоследний трек, который меня очень сильно удивил, являя собой длинный инструментал, состоящий из партий гитары, скрипки и виолончели. Многие спорят, настоящие ли это скрипка и виолончель, но какая разница. Холодно или жарко от этого не станет. Главное, не как записано, а что записано. А композиция эта, если это слово вообще применимо к творчеству PsyOpus, очень красива. Сочетая в себе что-то средневековое, что-то эпохи ренессанса и то, как может звучать PsyOpus в акустике. Не знаю почему, но почему-то этот трек напомнил мне альбом Venetian Snares "Rossz Csillag Allatt Szuletett".
Бонусом здесь является (а он так и зовется, "bonustrack") последний 20минутный трек, который, если можно так сказать, расслабляет ваш слух после всего этого буйства. Помесь некого джем-сейшна с семплами разговоров людей звучит весьма оригинально.
Суперальбом.
И после прослушивания так и хочется сказать "Wow, that's so interesting, tell me more".

Hsart (RU)
*Genre(s): depressive black metal
*Lyrical theme(s): Suicide, Hate, Despair, Depression, Pessimism, Misanthropy, Loneliness
*Origin: Siberia, Russian Federation
*Formed in: 2008
*Current label: None
*Current line-up: Hsart - All Instruments, Vocals
*Additional notes: Depressive Black Metal from frosty Siberia
*Discography:
Слежение за старой тусовкой (7” Vinyl) (2008)
И опять не о чем разговаривать (2009)
*Links: http://www.last.fm/music/Hsart/+albums - free download

Influences:
Burzum, Drudkh, Xasthur, Vlad Tepes, Cannibal Corpse, HORSE the band, Ion Dissonance, Lil' Wayne, Crowbar, Swampboy, iamerror, Dark Funeral, Sky Eats Airplane, Pig Destroyer, Sabrepulse, Haus Arafna

✖ Gringos:
MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE - Unbreakable
Inhale Exhale - I Swear...
Dead and Divine – The Fanciful
Agraceful - The Great I Am
Blessed Is He – Prepare For Battle
Showbread - Anorexia & Nervosa
Sky Eats Airplane – Sky Eats Airplane
Closure In Moscow – The Penance And The Patience
Johnny Truant – No Tears For The Creatures
Bleeding Through – Declaration
Whitechapel – This Is Exile
Bring Me the Horizon – Suicide Season
Escape the Fate – This War Is Ours
Cancer Bats – Hail Destroyer
I Am Terrified – I Am Terrified
Carpathian – Isolation
Oceana – The Tide
Fear Before the March of Flames – Fear Before
Fei Comodo – They All Have Two Faces
The Irish Front – Universe
House vs. Hurricane – Forfeiture
I Set My Friends On Fire – You Can't Spell Slaughter Without Laughter
The Famine – The Raven and the Reaping
Norma Jean – The Anti Mother
Confide – Shout The Truth
Unearth – The March
I Am Alpha and Omega – Georgia May
Chiodos – Grand Palace Ballet: Grand Coda
The Mars Volta – The Bedlam in Goliath
Eternal lord – Blessed Be This Nightmare
Dead Swans – Southern Blue
Before Their Eyes – The Dawn Of My Death
Reggie and the Full Effect – Last Stop: Crappy Town
Light This City – Stormchaser
Before We Forget – l.t.d.
Protest the Hero – Fortress
A Current Affair – Life In An Hourglass
Portugal. The Man – Censored Colors
Heavy Heavy Low Low – Turtle Nipple And The Toxic Shock
akissforjersey – Victims
Greeley Estates – Go West Young Man, Let The Evil Go East
Enter Shikari – We Can Breathe In Space, They Just Don't Want Us To Escape
Genghis Tron – Board Up The House
The Real You – Better Now Than Never
A Day to Remember – Old Record
Emarosa – Relativity
For Today – Ekklesia
A Static Lullaby – Rattlesnake!
Dead Flesh Fashion – Anchors
A Bullet for Pretty Boy – Beauty In The Eyes of the Beholder
Beyond the Citadel of Coup de Grâce – Bang! the Whiskey Mask
Dividing The Line – Foundations
VersaEmerge – Perceptions
The Seduction – Betrayed
Dance Club Massacre – Circle of Death
You Me At Six – Take Off Your Colours
The Human Abstract – Midheaven
Circus! Circus! – Brooklyn Nightlife
We Butter The Bread With Butter – Das Monster aus dem Schrank
Today We Rise – Overcoming The Archetype
We Came As Romans – Dreams
War of Ages - Arise & Conquer
Saosin - The Grey
The Sound of Animals Fighting - The Ocean and the Sun
A Skylit Drive – Wires... And the Concept of Breathing
Omar A. Rodriguez-Lopez – Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fungus
Ion Dissonance – Minus The Herd
Here I Come Falling – Oh Grave, Where is Thy Victory
Blessed by a Broken Heart – Pedal To The Metal
Burden of a Day – BLESSED BE OUR EVER AFTER
Gwen Stacy – The Life I Know
iamerror – Trout Yogurt
Dr. Acula – Silver Lipped Operator Of Bullshit
Consider The Thief – Soldiers And Saints
Cinematic Sunrise – A Coloring Storybook And Long Playing Record
Jamies Elsewhere – Guidebook For Sinners Turned Saints
Our Last Night – The Ghosts Among Us
Once Nothing – First Came The Law
DragonForce – Ultra Beatdown
The Black Noise Party Boys – Party All The Time
A Hope For Home - The Everlasting Man
I Am Abomination - Jaw Dropper
Attila - Soundtrack to a Party
Elysia - Lion Of Judas
Outrun The Gun - Rooms
Texas in July - Salt Of The Sea
Misery Signals - Controller
Heaven Shall Burn - Iconoclast
This Providence - The Bright Lights
Hinder - Take It To The Limit
Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger
We Are The Emergency - Seizure
Lower Definition - The Greatest Of All Lost Arts
Glamour Of The Kill - Glamour of the Kill
Trivium - Shogun
Bullet For My Valentine - Scream Aim Fire
Black Tide - Light From Above
All That Remains - Overcome
Walls of Jericho - The American Dream
I Am Ghost - Those We Leave Behind
Armor for Sleep - The Way Out is Broken
The Fall of Troy - Phantom on the Horizon

✖ Brazilians:
Clemence - Prefácio
Buried Yesterday - Only Salvation For Us
Little Joy - Little Joy
Cavalera Conspiracy - Inflikted
Jeffrey Dahmer - Aurora
Manshuria - Manshuria
Device Rock - Ecos do Silêncio
Cine - 80's
Hold Your Breath - Progress In Between The Dead Things

✖ Fails:
Funeral for a Friend – Memory And Humanity
Haste the Day – Dreamer
Avenged Sevenfold - Diamonds in the Rough
Guns N' Roses - Chinise Democracy
Mötley Crüe - Saints of Los Angeles

You're band or company needs are webpage? Trust in Nahuel Martiniello.
Awesome webpages!! Real gem. Contact him for the webpages. Prices etc: Ask him..

"Sininen WebDesign offers a wide range of professional designs. The future of your business is on the Web
Sininen WebDesign efficiency, quality and value at your fingertips."

sin.webdesign@hotmail.com
+5492346571752

For those you did not understand what the fuck this is: This is an advert for WEBDESIGNS. By Nahuel Martiniello. He is very good.

MetallicaCorrosion of ConformityInto EternityLamb of GodSlayerAnnihilatorPanteraGojiraKreatorProfane OmenKiuasDeath AngelDevilDriverAlestormIced EarthAnthrax3 Inches of BloodDiabloTexturesShadows FallPain ConfessorTriviumCarcassZonariaStam1naPofonyChildren of BodomGravewormThe HauntedAll That RemainsSoilworkNortherUnearthLegion of the DamnedStoneDark AngelOpethMachine HeadAt the GatesDeathRotten SoundDamageplanMegadethmyGRAINNuclear AssaultG.O.R.E.DisturbedTracedawnPainArch EnemyGodsmackTurmion KätilötIll NiñoRytmihäiriöNicoleSanctityAsh & ElmTestamentDisarmonia MundiDaathSystem of a DownCastoreumDiecastSotajumalaMokomaBlack Label SocietyAs I Lay DyingDeicideForbiddenHypocrisyAmorphisKillswitch EngageGod ForbidProngSOiLMors Principium EstNasumRob ZombieIvianIn FlamesKotiteollisuusEvileMastodonMunicipal WasteCalibanMystic ProphecyMedicatedThrowdownScar SymmetryAC/DCExodusAmoralBlood Stain ChildWarrel DaneMeshuggahAll Shall PerishJob for a CowboyNevermoreCrowbarAgonizerIron AngelSonic Syndicate2nd SuicideNightrageGorefestSuidAkrAEktomorf BehemothThe DuskfallWhite ZombieEluveitiePrestigeVolbeatNightwishPrimal FearAirbourneCapharnaumHatesphereRotting ChristXentrixDiscoreCripperDark TranquillityKeep of KalessinStatic-XObituaryDroneThe AbsenceStonegardSadusVelcraChimairaThe CrownGrip Inc.ImperanonMaple CrossThe ZombiHigh on FirePro-PainDark MoorHellyeahScarveCarnal ForgeFear My Thoughts Dream TheaterHoly MosesShadowSymphony XEmergency GateArchaiosHacrideThis EndingSepulturaHiraxLacuna CoilNoxaNapalm DeathMedeiaBloodbathDownControl DeniedWhitechapelVio-LenceBefore the DawnBattleheartVaderProfanatorAmon AmarthDeathchainRammsteinSpineshankThe BerzerkerCannibal CorpseNeaeraEn ForceGama BombTarotNaildownFall of SerenitySylosisMnemicKill the RomanceSuperjoint RitualEdge of SanityOne Man Army and the Undead QuartetDagobaSoulflyMoonspellDivine HeresyFive Finger Death PunchFirewindScars on BroadwayBetzeferRaunchyDisbeliefNileDew-ScentedZakk WyldeThe AgonistElvenkingThe ScourgerEyehategodDeathboundDeadlockSkyfireKrisiunBlack SabbathPath Of AnnihilationProject 86DefleshedWarbringerBiomechanicalBonded By BloodCancerSuicidal TendenciesCommunicZuul FXOtepGoatwhoreThe Black Dahlia MurderHell WithinCadacrossJeff LoomisMachine InsufficiencyScent of FleshGodfleshHorse Called WarGodzillaQuo VadisCataractThunderstoneDead Shape FigureTimo Rautiainen2Times TerrorMoonsorrowAjattaraHeaven Shall BurnSacred ReichApocalypticaSarcófagoD CreationSuffocationHateformMiserationCystKalakaiOrphaned LandIon DissonanceKillwhitneydeadFrostbitten KingdomNecrophagistToxicbleedTimo Rautiainen & Trio NiskalaukausHydra VeinAs Blood Runs BlackEnsiferumViolencerCoronerNibiruthKataklysm

most of the shows i've been to:

06/24/09 - Hank Williams III @ Music Hall
06/06/09 - Mind Eraser @ Cake Shop
05/30/09 - Secret Chiefs 3, Kayo Dot @ Music Hall
05/24/09 - Bolt Thrower, Sigh, Devourment, Trap Them, Antigama, Catheter, Despise You, Splitter, Kill the Client, Magrudergrind @ Sonar
05/23/09 - General Surgery, Phobia, Pig Destroyer, Birdflesh, Rotten Sound, Flesh Parade, Pretty Little Flower, Maruta @ Sonar
05/22/09 - Asphyx, Victims, Venomous Concept @ Sonar
05/21/09 - Ghoul, Pulling Teeth, Pigsty, JIG-AI, Marrow @ Sonar
05/17/09 - Rotten Sound, Crowpath, Pigsty, JIG-AI, Sulaco, Kill the Client, Maruta, Chainsaw to the face, Copremesis @ Europa
05/16/09 - The Communion, buckshot facelift @ The Charleston
05/16/09 - Dead Infection, Splitter, Gadget, Sayyadina, Defeatist, Man Will Destroy Himself, The Communion @ Europa
05/15/09 - Bastard Noise, The Grey Wolves @ Music Hall
05/08/09 - Crude, Blacklisted, Unit 21 @ The Studio
04/26/09 - Bane, Have Heart @ Europa
04/07/09 - Destruction, Krisiun @ B.B. King's
03/28/09 - Les Claypool @ Terminal 5
03/28/09 - Fall of Efrafa, Protestant @ ABC No Rio
03/27/09 - Converge, Genghis Tron, Ceremony, Coliseum, Rise and Fall, Pulling Teeth @ Europa
02/07/09 - The Dillinger Escape Plan, Knife the Glitter, Caverns @ The Studio
01/10/09 - Youthviolence @ ABC No Rio
01/03/09 - Mammoth Grinder, Surroundings @ ABC No Rio

11/23/08 - Bane, Cruel Hand, Energy @ Gramercy Theatre
11/17/08 - Have Heart, Blacklisted, Ceremony, Let Down, New Lows @ Knitting Factory
11/15/08 - Defeatist, Triac, Chainsaw to the face, Rogyapa @ ABC No Rio
09/18/08 - Opeth @ Nokia Theatre
09/16/08 - Sigh, Unexpect @ B.B. King's
09/13/08 - Crom, Rogyapa, Path To Misery, Aura @ ABC No Rio
09/08/08 - Impaled, Phobia, Maruta @ Knitting Factory
09/06/08 - Carcass, Suffocation, Aborted, Rotten Sound @ Nokia Theatre
08/28/08 - Ceremony, Poverty Bay Saints, Spanish Bombs @ Cake Shop
08/25/08 - Super 8-Bit Brothers @ Gramercy Theatre
08/18/08 - PsyOpus, Fuck the Facts @ Knitting Factory
08/17/08 - Brutal Truth, Macabre, Devourment, The Communion @ Rebel
08/15/08 - Regina Spektor @ McCarren Park
08/14/08 - GridLink, A.S.R.A., HAYAINO DAISUKI, Weekend Nachos, The Communion, Religious As Fuck @ Wreck Room
08/08/08 - Behold...The Arctopus, Intronaut @ Knitting Factory (tap bar)
08/04/08 - The Police, Elvis Costello & The Imposters @ Jones Beach
07/13/08 - Suffocation @ B.B. King's
07/09/08 - At the Gates, Municipal Waste @ Irving Plaza
06/29/08 - Russian Circles, Daughters @ Music Hall
06/26/08 - The Black Dahlia Murder, Vader, Aborted, Psycroptic @ Irving Plaza
06/14/08 - Backstabbers Incorporated, Vermefüg, luau @ ABC No Rio
06/11/08 - Arsis @ B.B. King's
06/06/08 - Phobia, Skarp, Magrudergrind, A.S.R.A. @ Knitting Factory (tap bar)
05/25/08 - Blood Duster, Impaled, Dead, Circle of Dead Children, Hellnation, Gruesome Stuff Relish, Engorged, Japanische Kampfhörspiele, Copremesis @ Sonar
05/24/08 - Anaal Nathrakh, Ghoul, Fuck...I'm Dead, Disfear, Flesh Parade, Defeated Sanity, Behold...The Arctopus, Keitzer, Trap Them, Defeatist @ Sonar
05/23/08 - Squash Bowels, Phobia, The Day Everything Became Nothing, Ingrowing, Torsofuck, Afgrund, Skarp @ Sonar
05/17/08 - Coffins, The Endless Blockade, A.S.R.A., The Communion @ ABC No Rio
04/28/08 - Toxic Holocaust @ B.B. King's
04/01/08 - Converge, The Red Chord, Baroness, Genghis Tron @ Gramercy Theatre
02/29/08 - The Red Chord @ Gramercy Theatre
01/16/08 - The Black Dahlia Murder, 3 Inches of Blood, Decrepit Birth @ B.B. King's

12/16/07 - The Dillinger Escape Plan, Genghis Tron, Shat @ Gramercy Theatre
12/14/07 - Dub Trio, Tub Ring @ Luna Lounge
09/09/07 - Aesop Rock, Cage, Yak Ballz @ Irving Plaza
08/17/07 - Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Tub Ring, Made Out of Babies @ HighLine Ballroom
08/09/07 - Beastie Boys @ McCarren Park Pool
07/29/07 - Rage Against the Machine, Wu-Tang Clan, Cypress Hill @ Randall's Island
07/28/07 - Rage Against the Machine, Wu-Tang Clan, The Roots, Public Enemy, Mos Def & Talib Kweli, Cage, EPMD, Pharoahe Monch, Immortal Technique, Jedi Mind Tricks, Lucky I Am, Supernatural, Rahzel @ Randall's Island
07/14/07 - Immortal @ B.B. King's
07/08/07 - Cephalic Carnage, Cattle Decapitation, Ion Dissonance, Beneath the Massacre @ B.B. King's
06/30/07 - Look Back and Laugh @ ABC No Rio
06/16/07 - Pig Destroyer, Genghis Tron, Car Bomb, Total Fucking Destruction, A.S.R.A. @ Europa
06/10/07 - Melt-Banana, Dropdead @ Knitting Factory
06/05/07 - Method Man, GZA/Genius @ Webster Hall
06/02/07 - Les Claypool @ Nokia Theatre
05/27/07 - Gut, Cripple Bastards, Birdflesh, Ghoul, Retaliation, Odious Mortem, Jigsore Terror, Fuck the Facts, Exhale @ Sonar
05/26/07 - Extreme Noise Terror, General Surgery, Gorerotted, Rotten Sound, Cock and Ball Torture, Skitsystem, Gorod, Nunwhore Commando 666, Flagitious Idiosyncrasy in the Dilapidation @ Sonar
05/25/07 - Dead Infection, Mortician, Malignancy, Regurgitate, Fuck the Facts @ Europa
05/15/07 - Tub Ring, Foxy Shazam @ Rebel
05/14/07 - Watain, Angelcorpse, Nachtmystium, Dimentianon @ B.B. King's
04/26/07 - Dimmu Borgir @ Nokia Theatre
04/22/07 - Jedi Mind Tricks, Sean Price @ Gramercy Theatre
04/10/07 - Estradasphere, Jerseyband @ Southpaw
04/09/07 - Peeping Tom, Miho Hatori, Pigeon John @ Irving Plaza
03/31/07 - Down @ Roseland Ballroom
03/30/07 - Heaven and Hell @ Radio City Music Hall
03/22/07 - El-P, Rob Sonic, Yak Ballz, Hangar 18, Slow Suicide Stimulus @ Bowery Ballroom
03/20/07 - Clutch, Dub Trio @ Irving Plaza
03/15/07 - Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Secret Chiefs 3 @ Bowery Ballroom
02/15/07 - Cage, xo skeletons, Yak Ballz @ Knitting Factory
02/15/07 - Slayer @ Hammerstein Ballroom
02/08/07 - Unleashed, Krisiun, Belphegor @ B.B. King's
02/05/07 - Destruction, Into Eternity, Municipal Waste @ Studio B
01/28/07 - Overkill @ B.B. King's
01/24/07 - The Essex Green @ Warsaw
01/10/07 - Dark Funeral, Enslaved, Abigail Williams @ B.B. King's
01/07/07 - Goatwhore, Mnemic, The Human Abstract, Arsis @ B.B. King's

12/31/06 - John Zorn, guy licata, Bill Laswell, Milford Graves, etc. @ Tonic
12/28/06 - Sick of It All, Suffocation, Crowbar, Full Blown Chaos @ Roseland Ballroom
12/16/06 - Matisyahu, Mr. Lif @ Hammerstein Ballroom
12/14/06 - The Red Chord, Municipal Waste @ Irving Plaza
11/22/06 - Bathtub Shitter, id., Defeatist, Negativehate @ North Six (downstairs)
11/20/06 - Regina Spektor, Only son @ Warsaw
11/11/06 - Anal Cunt, Hirax, Deathcycle, Disnihil @ North Six
11/09/06 - Primus, Rasputina @ Roseland Ballroom
11/08/06 - Suffocation, Hypocrisy, Decapitated @ B.B. King's
10/31/06 - La Coka Nostra, Subliminal Orphans, The Lordz@ Nokia Theatre
10/27/06 - Dropdead, Celebrity Murders, Deathcycle @ North Six (downstairs)
10/22/06 - Katatonia, Daylight Dies @ B.B. King's
10/17/06 - Del tha Funkee Homosapien @ B.B. King's
10/02/06 - Stratovarius @ B.B. King's
10/01/06 - Dismember, Vital Remains, Grave, Demiricous, Withered @ B.B. King's
09/29/06 - Peeping Tom @ Irving Plaza
09/19/06 - Jedi Mind Tricks, R.A. the Rugged Man, OuterSpace @ S.O.B.'s
09/14/06 - Celtic Frost, 1349 @ B.B. King's
09/08/06 - Necro, Ill Bill, Danny Diablo, Sabac @ B.B. King's
09/06/06 - Carnivore @ B.B. King's
09/05/06 - Venom, Goatwhore, Early Man @ Irving Plaza
08/18/06 - Origin, Mortal Decay, Estuary, Fecal Corpse @ Downtime
08/17/06 - Peeping Tom @ Central Park SummerStage
08/16/06 - Peeping Tom, Dub Trio @ Warsaw
08/15/06 - Dog Fashion Disco @ CBGB
08/10/06 - Suffocation, Still Remains @ Nokia Theatre
08/02/06 - The Dillinger Escape Plan @ Bowery Ballroom
07/31/06 - Asesino @ B.B. King's
07/25/06 - Deeds of Flesh, Vile, Decrepit Birth, Odious Mortem @ Downtime
07/23/06 - Ghoul, Fuck the Facts, Defeatist, The Dream Is Dead, Exactly Violent Style, Burn the Masses @ Fireproof
07/15/06 - Les Claypool, The Coup @ Nokia Theatre
07/14/06 - Emperor, Daylight Dies @ B.B. King's
07/13/06 - Emperor, Daylight Dies @ B.B. King's
07/09/06 - Soilent Green, Demiricous, Disassociate @ CBGB
06/25/06 - Skinless, Dehumanized @ CBGB
06/16/06 - Slayer, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Children of Bodom, Thine Eyes Bleed @ Continental Airlines Arena
06/15/06 - Cattle Decapitation, Job for a Cowboy @ CBGB
06/03/06 - Phobia, Mouth Sewn Shut, Terror level red @ ABC No Rio
06/02/06 - Unholy Grave, Yacøpsæ, Magrudergrind, Deathcycle @ North Six (downstairs)
05/31/06 - Demilich, Electro Quarterstaff, Mucupurulent, Biolich @ North Six (downstairs)
05/30/06 - Genghis Tron, Electro Quarterstaff @ Knitting Factory (tap bar)
05/29/06 - Necrophagist, Cattle Decapitation, Arsis, Neuraxis, Alarum, Vicious Circle @ B.B. King's
05/26/06 - Pungent Stench, Machetazo, Splatterhouse, Mucupurulent, Putrid Pile, Villains @ CBGB
05/24/06 - Rompeprop, Malignancy, Cliteater, Fecal Corpse, Sexcrement @ Downtime
05/23/06 - Dog Fashion Disco, Tub Ring, Look What I Did, Karate High School @ Knitting Factory (tap bar)
05/20/06 - Vital Remains, Impaled, Skinless, Anal Cunt, Quinta Essentia @ Speed
05/14/06 - General Patton vs. The X-Ecutioners, Dalek @ Irving Plaza
05/13/06 - Disfear, 9 Shocks Terror, Disassociate, Phobia, Strong Intention, Locked In a Vacancy, Deathcycle @ CBGB
05/12/06 - Devourment, Misery Index, Dehumanized, Digested Flesh @ Downtime
05/02/06 - DragonForce, Protest the Hero, Sanctity @ Avalon
05/01/06 - Gamma Ray, Into Eternity @ B.B. King's
04/30/06 - Exodus, Suffocation, Immolation, Skinless @ B.B. King's
04/21/06 - Bela Fleck & The Flecktones @ B.B. King's
04/11/06 - HORSE the band, The Fall of Troy @ Ritual
04/09/06 - Behemoth, Krisiun, Despised Icon @ B.B. King's
03/04/06 - Pig Destroyer @ Knitting Factory
03/03/06 - Pig Destroyer @ North Six
02/27/06 - Green Carnation, Beyond The Embrace @ Knitting Factory (tap bar)
02/26/06 - Kreator, Napalm Death, A Perfect Murder @ B.B. King's
02/25/06 - Look What I Did, Fast Eddie @ Knitting Factory (tap bar)
02/23/06 - Opeth @ Town Hall
02/06/06 - Soilent Green, Raging Speedhorn, Decapitated, With Passion @ B.B. King's
02/03/06 - Ill Bill, Immortal Technique, Jedi Mind Tricks, Q-Unique, Sabac, Slaine @ CBGB
01/18/06 - Sonata Arctica @ B.B. King's
01/12/06 - Behold...The Arctopus @ Knitting Factory (tap bar)
01/08/06 - Sodom, Finntroll @ B.B. King's
01/01/06 - Painkiller vs. Method of Defiance @ Tonic

12/29/05 - Dalek @ Warsaw
12/28/05 - Mike Patton & Rahzel, Dub Trio, Glenn Kotche @ Warsaw
12/14/05 - Children of Bodom, Trivium, Amon Amarth @ Irving Plaza
12/09/05 - The Dillinger Escape Plan, Between the Buried and Me, HORSE the band @ Bowery Ballroom
11/30/05 - Mudvayne @ Nokia Theatre
11/26/05 - Rumpelstiltskin Grinder @ CBGB
11/21/05 - Kamelot, Seven Witches @ B.B. King's
11/16/05 - Exhumed, Mutilated @ The Pyramid
11/07/05 - Suffocation, Cryptopsy, Vader, Decapitated, Aborted, Despised Icon, Dew-Scented @ B.B. King's
11/05/05 - George Carlin @ Beacon Theatre
11/05/05 - Ed Gein, Lords @ ABC No Rio
11/03/05 - Opeth, Nevermore, Into Eternity @ Webster Hall
10/27/05 - Fast Eddie @ Irving Plaza
10/21/05 - Les Claypool, Hella @ Nokia Theatre
10/01/05 - Rumpelstiltskin Grinder, Affirmative Action Jackson, Total Fucking Destruction @ ABC No Rio
09/25/05 - Cephalic Carnage, Into the Moat @ Knitting Factory
09/16/05 - Cryptopsy, Despised Icon @ Don Hill's
09/06/05 - Obituary, Napalm Death @ B.B. King's
08/23/05 - Megadeth, Dream Theater, Fear Factory, Symphony X, The Dillinger Escape Plan @ Jones Beach
08/17/05 - 3 Inches of Blood @ Irving Plaza
08/14/05 - Fast Eddie @ Arlene's Grocery
07/26/05 - Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Mudvayne, Shadows Fall, Black Label Society, In Flames, Mastodon, The Haunted, Soilwork @ PNC Bank Art Center
07/18/05 - Soilent Green, A Perfect Murder, Into the Moat, Watch Them Die @ Knitting Factory
07/01/05 - Fast Eddie @ Trax Tavern
06/26/05 - Into Eternity, Jungle Rot @ B.B. King's
06/21/05 - Sleepytime Gorilla Museum @ North Six
06/15/05 - Fast Eddie @ Arlene's Grocery
06/04/05 - Lord Gore, Biolich, Fast Eddie @ The Backstage
05/30/05 - Deicide, Immolation, Skinless, Despised Icon, With Passion @ B.B. King's
05/27/05 - Impaled, Aborted, Malignancy, Leng Tch'e, Digested Flesh, Fecal Corpse @ North Six
04/29/05 - Cephalic Carnage @ Knitting Factory (tap bar)
04/20/05 - King Diamond, Nile, The Black Dahlia Murder, Behemoth @ B.B. King's
04/19/05 - King Diamond, Nile, The Black Dahlia Murder, Behemoth @ B.B. King's
04/01/05 - Fast Eddie @ Stevens Institute of Technology
03/27/05 - Cryptopsy, Skinless, Cattle Decapitation @ B.B. King's
03/20/05 - Into Eternity, Single Bullet Theory, With Passion @ B.B. King's
03/19/05 - Fast Eddie @ Blaggards
02/17/05 - Mudvayne @ CBGB
02/16/05 - Suffocation, Behemoth, Cattle Decapitation, Misery Index @ B.B. King's
02/13/05 - Behold...The Arctopus @ CBGB
02/12/05 - Fast Eddie @ Limerick
02/08/05 - The Dillinger Escape Plan, The End @ The Downtown
01/20/05 - The Dillinger Escape Plan, God Forbid @ Virgin Megastore (Times Square)
01/15/05 - Mod Flanders Conspiracy @ Red Zone
01/11/05 - Arsis @ Southpaw
01/09/05 - Trivium, The Acacia Strain, Locked In a Vacancy @ CBGB
01/08/05 - Fast Eddie @ Opaline

11/18/04 - Marilyn Manson, Slunt @ Roseland Ballroom
11/15/04 - Children of Bodom @ The Downtown
11/11/04 - Slayer, Killswitch Engage @ Roseland Ballroom
10/20/04 - Goatwhore, Cattle Decapitation, Misery Index @ B.B. King's
10/15/04 - Pig Destroyer, Zeke, Buried Inside @ Downtime
10/13/04 - Lamb of God, Fear Factory, Children of Bodom, Throwdown @ Roseland Ballroom
10/01/04 - Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, Gabby La La @ Roseland Ballroom
09/20/04 - Deicide, Goatwhore, Cattle Decapitation, Jungle Rot @ B.B. King's
09/19/04 - Vehemence, Abazagorath, Dimentianon, Abhorred @ North Six
08/30/04 - Lamb of God @ Irving Plaza
08/22/04 - Dog Fashion Disco, Tub Ring, Bad Acid Trip, Fast Eddie @ Knitting Factory
08/17/04 - The Dillinger Escape Plan, Drowningman, [artist]An Albatross @ Knitting Factory
08/16/04 - The Dillinger Escape Plan, Planes Mistaken for Stars, Daughters @ Knitting Factory
08/07/04 - Machine Head, Chimaira @ Irving Plaza
07/30/04 - Mod Flanders Conspiracy @ Red Zone
07/25/04 - P.T. Grimm, Fast Eddie, Mod Flanders Conspiracy @ Arlenes Grocery
07/16/04 - Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Slayer, Dimmu Borgir, Superjoint Ritual, Slipknot, Hatebreed, Lamb of God, Every Time I Die, Unearth, Otep @ PNC Bank Arts Center
07/05/04 - Cannibal Corpse, The Black Dahlia Murder, Severed Savior @ B.B. Kings
06/22/04 - Primus @ Radio City Music Hall
06/01/04 - In Flames @ Roseland Ballroom
05/30/04 - Pig Destroyer, Dysrhythmia, Behold...The Arctopus @ Knitting Factory (tap bar)
05/29/04 - Mod Flanders Conspiracy @ Red Zone
05/27/04 - Exhumed, Misery Index, Uphill Battle, Profanity @ Downtime
05/16/04 - Dog Fashion Disco, All That Remains, Beyond The Embrace @ The Downtown
05/07/04 - Vital Remains, Cattle Decapitation @ Knitting Factory
04/29/04 - Iced Earth, Children of Bodom, Evergrey @ B.B. Kings
04/23/04 - Tub Ring, Retard-O-Bot, Fast Eddie @ Red Zone
04/20/04 - Metallica @ Nassau Coliseum
04/18/04 - Suffocation, Satyricon, Premonitions of War @ B.B. Kings
04/12/04 - Slipknot, Fear Factory, Chimaira, Sworn Enemy @ Roseland Ballroom
04/04/04 - Skinless, Misery Index, Locked In a Vacancy, Wetnurse @ North Six
03/11/04 - Mike Patton & Rahzel, JS-One @ Irving Plaza
02/27/04 - Opeth, Moonspell, DevilDriver @ Irving Plaza
02/21/04 - Mod Flanders Conspiracy @ Hamilton St. Cafe
01/23/04 - Iron Maiden, Arch Enemy @ Hammerstein Ballroom
01/11/04 - Dog Fashion Disco, Fast Eddie @ Don Hill's

12/10/03 - Mushroomhead, 40 Below Summer, Element 80 @ Irving Plaza
12/03/03 - Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, Lamb of God, God Forbid @ Irving Plaza
11/22/03 - Mod Flanders Conspiracy @ Red Zone
11/20/03 - Deftones, Poison the Well, Denali @ Hammerstein Ballroom
11/18/03 - The White Stripes, The Hentchmen @ Roseland Ballroom
11/14/03 - Primus @ Roseland Ballroom
10/22/03 - Marilyn Manson @ Roseland Ballroom
10/18/03 - Slayer, Hatebreed, Arch Enemy, Dry Kill Logic @ Roseland Ballroom
08/18/03 - Ozzy Osbourne, Korn, Disturbed, Marilyn Manson, Chevelle, Cradle of Filth, Voivod, Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, Twisted Method, Motograter, Sworn Enemy, Chimaira, E-Town Concrete @ PNC Bank Art Center
08/10/03 - Shadows Fall, Chimaira, Hotwire, Severed @ L'amour
08/08/03 - Chimaira, Sworn Enemy @ Irving Plaza
07/30/03 - Iron Maiden, Dio, Motörhead @ Madison Square Garden
07/29/03 - Dog Fashion Disco, Mod Flanders Conspiracy @ Don Hill's
07/28/03 - Type O Negative, Lacuna Coil @ Irving Plaza
07/08/03 - Metallica, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Deftones, Mudvayne @ Giants Stadium
06/30/03 - In Flames, Chimaira, Soilwork, Unearth @ Irving Plaza
05/07/03 - Soulfly, E-Town Concrete, Sworn Enemy @ B.B. King's
04/25/03 - Cold, Finger Eleven, Depswa @ Irving Plaza
04/21/03 - Nothingface, Shat @ Knitting Factory
02/11/03 - Napalm Death, Dark Tranquillity, Strapping Young Lad, The Berzerker @ B.B. King's
01/24/03 - The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Cassettes, Merciana @ Tribeca

12/26/02 - Hatebreed, Biohazard, Sworn Enemy, Full Blown Chaos, Locked In a Vacancy @ Roseland Ballroom
12/12/02 - Audioslave, Coldplay, Zwan, Queens of the Stone Age, Box Car Racer, New Found Glory @ Nassau Coliseum
11/01/02 - Mudvayne, Depswa @ The World
10/31/02 - Foo Fighters @ Supper Club
10/15/02 - Stone Sour, Chevelle, Sinch @ The World
09/28/02 - The Rolling Stones @ Giants Stadium
08/13/02 - Slayer, Soulfly, In Flames, Downthesun @ Roseland Ballroom
07/31/02 - Ill Nino, Diecast, 40 Below Summer @ The World
07/23/02 - Coal Chamber, Five Pointe O, Medication, Lollipop Lust Kill @ The World
07/20/02 - Ozzy Osbourne, System of a Down, Rob Zombie, P.O.D., Drowning Pool, Adema, Black Label Society, Hatebreed, Meshuggah, Lostprophets, Chevelle, The Apex Theory, Flaw, SOiL, Otep, Ill Nino @ PNC Bank Arts Center
06/08/02 - Vanilla Ice, Dog Fashion Disco @ L'amour
05/08/02 - Mushroomhead, E-Town Concrete, Five Pointe O @ Irving Plaza
03/13/02 - Coal Chamber, Ill Nino, 40 Below Summer @ The World
02/21/02 - Static-X, Soulfly, OneSideZero, SOiL @ Roseland Ballroom

12/14/01 - Dog Fashion Disco @ Knitting Factory
12/01/01 - The Haunted, Witchery, Diecast, Catastrophic, Afflitus, Human Decline @ North Six
11/16/01 - Reveille, Primer 55, Darwins Waiting Room, Dog Fashion Disco @ L'amour
10/31/01 - Slipknot, System of a Down, American Head Charge, No One @ Continental Airlines Arena
08/09/01 - Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Papa Roach, Linkin Park, Disturbed, Mudvayne @ Jones Beach
07/21/01 - Nothingface, Dog Fashion Disco @ Irving Plaza
06/29/01 - Fear Factory, Primer 55, Dry Kill Logic @ Hammerstein Ballroom
05/11/01 - Disturbed, Mudvayne, Spineshank, Nothingface @ Hammerstein Ballroom

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


-47-
Dead Flesh Fashion
Anchors

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


-44-
Advent
Remove The Earth

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


-40-
Dead to Fall
Dead To Fall

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


-39-
Darkane
Demonic Art

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


-38-
Soulfly
Conquer

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


-34-
Bayside
Shudder

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


-32-
Satyricon
The Age Of Nero

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!


-26-
Cancer Bats
Hail Destroyer

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


-25-
Dir en grey
UROBOROS

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


-24-
Norma Jean
The Anti-Mother

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

-23-
Warship
Supply And Depend

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


-22-
Slipknot
All Hope Is Gone

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


-19-
Burst
Lazarus Bird

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


-18-
Metallica
Death Magnetic

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


-17-
Leech
The Stolen View

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


-15-
Moonspell
Night Eternal

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


-14-
The Haunted
Versus

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


-10-
Cynic
Traced in Air

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


-9-
The Bronx
The Bronx

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


-8-
Protest the Hero
Fortress

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


-6-
Misery Index
Traitors

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


-4-
Fear Before
Fear Before

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)


-3-
The Banner
Frailty

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


-2-
Spitfire
Cult Fiction

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






thank you.