My Picks for the Best Metal Albums of 2010
1. Ironbound by Overkill
2. Snakes for the Divine by High on Fire
3. Ritual Abuse by Cough
4. Relentless Retribution by Death Angel
5. Periphery by Periphery
6. Path of Fire by Aeon
7. Nightmare by Avenged Sevenfold
8. Option Paralysis by Dillinger Escape Plan
9. Hell Chose Me by Carnifex
10. Encounter The Monolith by Martriden
11. Blood of The Nations by Accept
12. Diamond Eyes by Deftones
13. Dark Ages by Bison B.C.
14. Final Frontier by Iron Maiden
15. On Divine Winds by Hail Of Bullets
Honorable Mentions
Mutiny Within by Mutiny Within
Contagion by Oceano
Omen by Soulfly
Daath by Daath
Slaughtered by Severe Torture
Order of the Black by Black Label Society
Warp Riders by The Sword
Top 10 Rock Albums of 2010
1. Korn III: Remember Who You Are by Korn
2. Cold Day Memory by Sevendust
3. The Oracle by Godsmack
4. AB III by Alter Bridge
5. AM Conspiracy by AM Conspiracy
6. Black Water Rising by Black Water Rising
7. Feeding The Wolves by 10 Years
8. Drowning Pool by Drowning Pool
9. Asylum by Disturbed
10. Audio Secery by Stone Sour
Honorable Mentions:
Shine by Shaman's Harvest
Set The World On Fire by Dangerous New Machine
Red Right Return by Janus
Moment of Impact by Eye Empire
Alive in The Fire by Under The Flood
Dystopia by Hourcast
Distorted American Dream by Depswa
Love is the Bullet by Atom Smash
iMerica by Anew Revolution
Worst Album of 2010:
A Thousand Suns by Linkin Park
They might as well of called this '101 Ways to Alienate Your Fanbase' because this album sounds nothing at all like Linkin Park's early albums. Yes, I know it's a good thing for a band to expand their sound and not always release the same record, but Linkin Park completely abandoned what made them famous to begin with. There are barely any guitars and synths and faux industrial hip hop anthems run rampant. Hopefully the band's core fans will start to turn on them and truly realize what sellouts they are.
Worst "Supergroup" of 2010:
The Damned Things
Oh Scott Ian, what were you thinking? Hey Rob Caggiano, I'm looking at you too. You guys are nuts, and not in a good way. Instead of working on the long overdue new Anthrax album, why did you think that joining forces with Fall Out Boy members, who are now seemingly out of work due to the band's apparent split up, and members of the mediocre southern metalcore group Every Time I Die is a good idea in any way shape or form? The result was a boring and generic rock album, that you could've chose to release any time. You really tarnished your legacy Scott. Why not make music like Stormtroopers of Death instead of this phlegm band? Let's hope this band disappears fast so Ian and Caggiano can work on new Anthrax and try to redeem themselves for this travesty of a group.
Albums to look for in 2011:
Liar in Wait by Amon:
This band features the Hoffman brothers who gained fame (or possibly infamy) by playing in the notorious and legendary Floridian death metal band Deicide. The brothers have been absent from the metal scene since leaving Deicide in 2004. Eric Hoffman suffered a heart attack in 2006 and recovered while his brother Brian worked at the Dean guitar shop in Florida. They have recently reformed their first pre Deicide band Amon. When asked how the musical direction of AMON will be different to that of Deicide, Eric Hoffmann told BLABBERMOUTH.NET simply, "The music will speak for itself."
Grim, Scary Tales by Macabre:
This Chicago, IL based trio are considered to be something of underground death metal icons. They've been kicking around since the 80s, releasing some really great albums like 2000's concept album about serial killer Jefferey Dahmer simply titled Dahmer. The band's morbid lyrics and odd blend of death metal, grindcore and even nursery rhymes and folk melodies has gained the band a cult following. See what all the buzz is and check out this album for yourself when it's released sometime next year.
Omnivium by Obscura:
The band's first major label release Cosmogenesis was a tech-death classic to me and the band says that this next release will be a continuation of that album's sound. In my humble opinion, this band is our generation's answer to Death since they are continuing in the same direction of Chuck Schuldiner and Co, writing progressive tinged tunes that never cease to push the boundaries of death metal music. The only major difference between Death and Obscura is that Obscura is far more technical than Death, but not to the point of boring the listener. Obscura features ex-members of Necrophagist who appear to be inactive for the time being.
Juggernaut of Justice by Anvil:
Another band that has somehow stood the test of time is Anvil. The band was featured in a 2009 documentary titled ANVIL! The Story of Anvil which was very Spinal Tap-esque, but the only difference was that Spinal Tap was fictional whereas Anvil is indeed a real band. Some of their exploits just seemed too silly to be true. The documentary helped bring the band out of metal obscurity and helped bring up sales of their albums like their most recent CD This Is Thirteen and their magnum opus to many, Metal on Metal. Vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow expects Juggernaut of Justice to be another solid album in Anvil's catalog.
TBA by Fair To Midland:
Fair to Midland's 2007 major label release Fables from a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True (which was released on System of a Down singer Serj Tankian's Serjical Strike label) turned a lot of heads in the metal and rock community. The band had a completely unique sound, combining folk metal, alternative metal , art rock and some nu metal to create an amazingly catchy sound. Combined with frontman Darroh Sudderth's completely odd yet riveting delivery of the songs, this album was considered a gem by many listeners. After many years of touring, it seems that Fair To Midland is finally recording a follow up to Fables from a Mayfly. Tracks considered for the record include "Musical Chairs", "Pour the Coal to 'er" (both recorded in demo form during the sessions for Fables from a Mayfly), "Rikki Tikki Tavi" (which Darroh described as a "death metal band doing their best version of Yellow Submarine), "A Loophole in Limbo", "Bright Bulbs and Sharp Tools", "Uh-Oh", "Coppertank Island", "Amarillo Sleeps on My Pillow", "Bravo Sierra", "Golden Parachutes" and "The Greener Grass".
TBA EP/album by Between The Buried and Me:
After releasing their 2009 album The Great Misdirect, Between The Buried and Me have split with their long time label home Victory Records and are rumored to have signed a new contract with Metal Blade Records. Let's hope this is true, because Metal Blade is a great home for a band like BTBAM. The band is currently working on an EP, which is assumed to be a prelude to the album that will follow. The band is also rumored to be working with legendary producer David Bottril, famous for his work on albums like Ænima and Lateralus by Tool, and he has also worked with bands like Godsmack, Flaw, V Shape Mind, Staind, Ultraspank, Dream Theater and many others. If Bottrill is at the helm with a progressive metal band, you know you can expect greatness to come.
TBA by Lamb of God:
The band is once again working with producer Josh Wilbur who also produced their 2009 classic Wrath. If this album proves to be a continuation of the aggression seen on Wrath, then we can hope this album is a progression of that album in every way.
TBA by Dirge Within:
I highly recommend this band to fans of Avenged Sevenfold, Slipknot, Bullet for my Valentine, Trivium Shadows Fall and other popular metal bands. Dirge Within features Shaun Glass on guitars, formerly of SOiL. If you like modern metal with lots of guitar solo's definitely check them out, starting with their first album, 2009's Force Fed Lies. You can expect their sophomore album to be a progression of what was heard on Force Fed Lies.
TBA(?) by System of A Down
Ok, this may just be wishful thinking on my part since I'm a diehard fan of SOAD. This may come out in 2011 by a slight chance or it may come out in 2012 or even, God forbid, 2013 and beyond. Hell, I think I may have jumped for joy (as gay as that sounds) when the band announced they'd be reforming for a European tour in summer of 2011. Does this mean a US Tour and possibly new music? Let's hope so. I'm hoping that the band is re-energized by all their performances together after 5 years of not playing together. If a new album does emerge, I pray that the sounds similar to Toxicity era material while not sounding exactly like that particular album while not being as pretentious as Mezmerize and Hypnotize. I really, REALLY will seriously also hope that guitarist Daron Malakian has realized that his voice did not sound good on songs and saves his side project band Scars on Broadway as his band to sing in. We'll have to just wait and see what happens when System of A Down reunites this summer!
Born This Way by Lady Gaga
Now I'm sure all the metalheads reading this and seeing a Lady Gaga album are crying in rage but hear me out. I think Lady Gaga is one of the most talented pop stars to emerge in the last ten years. She's not fake and too commercialized like say, Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera. It also makes a big difference that Gaga can actually sing and play instruments and continues to break grounds with not only her music but with all the crazy shit she does in public. I also find her music to be fun pop music that's done well and is immensely original. To me, Lady Gaga is this generation's answer to Michael Jackson. This upcoming album of hers, titled Born This Way is expected in early 2011. She promises that it will be one of the best albums of the new decade. On December 20, 2010, in an interview with Newsbeat, Lady Gaga confirmed that the first single from Born This Way will be released in February 2011, and that the album will arrive "shortly after." She also said the album is "a marriage of electronic music with major, epic, dare I even say, metal or rock 'n' roll, pop, anthemic style melodies with really sledge-hammering dance beats. Now let's be fair, when she says metal I think I can expect her idea of metal to be more close to Guns N Roses than say, Iron Maiden, but still, that's good enough for me. I anticipate this album's release.
