I love metal and I absolutely love the year end metal review. It gives me a chance to go back over my notes and recall all of the great releases and moments of the year and say, “Holy shit, I forgot about [[[Through The Eyes of the Dead]]]’s “Skepsis,” or “I definitely need to check out [[[Kylesa]]] live again,” and “that was so fucking cool when Betty White went death metal on SNL.” In my opinion, 2010 has been nothing short of stellar when it comes to heavy metal music.
Unfortunately, though, for me and I’m sure countless others, the one event that remains prevalent in our minds is the passing of one Mr. Ronald James Padavona. He succumbed to his short battle with stomach cancer on May 16th. It is always shocking when someone famous, someone whose musical career you have followed for your entire life passes away, but it is even more shocking when you didn’t expect it to happen so soon. I thought that [[[Ronnie James Dio]]] was on the road to recovery when I heard the news, but alas, life goes on and I’m sure he wouldn’t want us all sitting around sulking, but instead enjoying his music… LOUD! Horns up!
I’d also like to send condolences on the behalf of myself and the entire METALBUZZ staff one more time to the families and friends of the following: Peter Steele ([[[Type O Negative]]]), Makh Daniels ([[[Early Graves]]]), Paul Gray ([[[Slipknot]]]) and Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan ([[[Avenged Sevenfold]]]).
With all that said, the following represents my take on some of the best releases of 2010 (in no particular order):
Aeon – Path of Fire
This album is a giant slab of blackened death metal packed to the rim with heaping globs of Christianophobic lyrics, rage and fire. There is enough brutality here to rip out your spine and show it to you before your lifeless body falls limp to the cold, cold floor. Each song here will leave you feeling more assaulted and mentally and physically violated than the last. I now know why I never became an altar boy, and why I would never let my son become one.
Boris & Ian Astbury – BXI
There is no better collaboration of talent this year than that of Boris and The Cult’s Ian Astbury. While not as heavy as most of our list, you do get to hear what it would have sounded like if Jim Morrison sang for an under produced version of the Stone Temple Pilots.
Facebreaker – Infected
If you’ve never heard of this band before, consider yourself lucky because now you have. Your welcome! Eleven songs = eleven slabs of “face breaking” metal. Quick and to the point! Stand out tracks include “Mankind Under Seige,” “Creeping Flesh” and “Bloodthirst.”
Dragged Into Sunlight – Hatred for Mankind
Almost every second of every song on DIS’ latest effort is filled with a non-stop assault of extremely blackened brutal death metal.
The Commander In Chief – Battle for the Mind
The CIC is no less than a triple threat. Not only can she sing her ass off, (she is classically trained in opera), and hit notes so high that dogs look at each other and go “what the fuck,” this 21yr-old Norwegian born shredder can mangle the fret board of her seven string axe with untapped ability and lightning speed. Check out the cover of Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid.”
Kataklysm – Heavens Venom
This is a band that I have been aware of, but never really heard from until now, and the timing couldn’t have been better. “Heaven’s Venom” oozes fucking metal perfection from every pore. Check their back catalog. You will not be disappointed.
Street Sweeper Social Club – The Ghetto Blaster EP
What is it about this ep that makes me want to fight, smash and win? S.S.S.C. is the new FUCK YOU!
Mose Giganticus – Gift Horse
Sounds like Relapse cloned Mastodon with a spritz of The Sword. The song “Demon Tusk” evokes, well, demons and is a killer tune. Other strong tracks are “The Left Path” and “White Horse.”
Kylesa – Spiral Shadow
If bassist/vocalist Laura Pleasants & Mastodon’s Brent Hinds stay together and have a baby, the baby would be a musical genius. Check “Tired Climb,” “Back and Forth” and “Don’t Look Back.”
Apocalyptica – 7th Symphony
Make no mistakes about this one. These guys are the real deal and this release blows away previous efforts. Killer guests include Dave Lombardo(Slayer), Joe Duplantier (Gojira), Lacey Mosley(Flyleaf) and Gavin Rossdale(Bush).
Ratt – Infestation
This is Ratt doing what Ratt does best. Stephen Pearcy still sounds great and axemaster Warren Di’ Martini can still play like there is no tomorrow. Check the guitar work on “Eat Me Up Alive.” This album fits right in amongst the classics “Out Of The Cellar” and “Invasion Of Your Privacy.” For some reason, though, I do find it funny that Quiet Riot’s Carlos Cavazo is in the band.
The Sword – Warp Riders
“Warp Riders” offers a diverse sound that doesn’t stray too far from the cutting edge that The Sword initially created. While it is not just plain heavy like their previous two efforts, it’s heavy in its own right and still an outstanding addition to an already classic catalog. If you have a problem with that, then may the fleas of one thousand lamenting Aurochs infest your armpits.
Better Left Unsaid – Only The Dead To Witness
In a world filled with everybody and their brother having a band and a page on MySpace and Facebook, it’s refreshing to hear a great band release an even greater album that reeks of blood, sweat and tears. Key tracks: “To The Last Man,” “Reaper of Malice,” “Vindication.”
I Declare War – Malevolence
To quote my friend Moe V. Gina… “This band fucking destroys!” Check out their unforgettable cover of “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” done the way it should be.
Big Ball – Hotter Than Hell
AC/DC didn’t release a follow up to “Black Ice?” Are you sure? If this was them they sound a little down and dirty again, reminiscent of the Bon Scott era. Check “Hell Whores & High Heels” and “Double Demon.” Refreshing.
Del Rey – Immemorial
Another sludgy instrumental metal band from Chicago? Thank you Bejebus! These guys are phenomenal and “Immemorial” boasts classic song titles like “These Children That Come At You With Knives” and “E Pluribus Unicorn.”
Deftones – Diamond Eyes
I really wish for nothing but Chi Cheng’s complete recovery, but at the same time I am glad that the Deftones decided to release an album this year. It is one that Chi would be proud of. “Rocket Skates,” “Prince” and “Diamond Eyes” are standout tracks.
Ozzy Osbourne – Scream
Ozzy’s ‘heaviest’ album to date. Don’t get me wrong. ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ and ‘Diary of a Madman’ are stellar albums in their own right (God bless you Randy Rhoads), but ‘Scream’ takes it up to 11. Even the slower songs are heavy.
Through The Eyes Of The Dead – Skepsis
Talk to Justin Longshore if you ever get the chance. He is a very intelligent musician and a really cool dude! Glad this band made it through the rough patch a couple years ago. Check out “The Manifest,” “Defaced Reality” and the title track “Skepsis.”
Monster Magnet – Mastermind
It’s great that Dave Wyndorf(sp) is clean and sober but you would never know that listening to this drug laden album.
Soundgarden – Telephantasm
Any disc by these Seattleans that contains the songs “Birth Ritual” and “Room A Thousand Years Wide” works for us. Bonus: Jesus Christ Pose (Live).
Melvins – The Bride Screamed Murder
Ahhh, the other great King and company made some great music this year. We love us some “Electric Flowers” and “The Water Glass.” There is no better cover of The Who’s “My Generation” period.
Torche – Songs For Singles
See Porcupine Tree above, except in this case its Steve Brooks & co. taking the dump.
Whitechapel – A New Era of Corruption
We really like these guys and this release is a great follow up to 2008′s “This Is Exile.” Phil Bozeman has one of the best voices out there. Stand out tracks include “The Darkest Day of Man” and “Single File to Dehumanization.”
Enslaved – Axioma Ethica Odini
Enslaved have come a long way since their birth in 1991 as a traditional Norwegian black metal band. Still, after a few experimental and psychedelic albums, they returned to the hellfire of earlier offerings with ‘Axiom Ethica Odini.’ Crushing, atmospheric and structurally solid, songs like ‘Ethica Odini,’ ‘Raidho’ and ‘Giants’ are simultaneously feral and melodic.
Triptykon – Eparistera Daimones
After dissolving Celtic Frost for the second time — seemingly for good, this time — frontman Thomas Gabriel Fischer assembled Tripkyton to continue expressing the misery, hatred and bleak spirituality he has specialized in since the mid-’80s. Lucky for fans of black doom, that well never seems to run dry.
Dukatalon – Saved By Fear
Heavy heavy heavy joy joy, heavy heavy joy joy! Check out “Electric Site,” “Run” and “Mekonenet.”
Porcupine Tree – Atlanta (Live)
If Steven Wilson and company recorded themselves taking a group shit it would make our list. All songs on this disc sound incredible live.
Calm Hatchery – Sacriledge of Humanity
See, it’s true. Poland does give us more than just pierogis.
We didn’t finish commenting but love the following releases no less!
Iwrestledabearonce – It’s All Dubstep
Cephalic Carnage – Misled By Certainty
Fatal Embrace – Empires of Inhumanity
High On Fire – Snakes for the Divine
The Devil’s Blood – The Time Of No Time Evermore
Negligence – Coordinates of Confusion
Fleshwrought – Dementia/Dyslexia
Motorhead – The World Is Yours
As I Lay Dying – The Powerless Rise
Bison b.c. – Dark Ages
Salome – Terminal
Brain Drill – Quantum Catastrophe
The Ocean – Heliocentric
The Ocean – Anthropocentric
Torche – Songs For Singles
Dawnbringer – Nucleus
Agalloch – Marrow of the Spirit
Hour of 13 – The Ritualist
The Absence – Enemy Unbound
Cryptic – Infinite Torment
Humanfly – Darker Later
