FMC Luke's top 5 of 2011

2011 has been a great year for me, as I feel that I have accomplished a lot personally, Newcastle have been playing well, and I have had some generally great experiences. In terms of what the metal world has offered however, there has certainly been a mixed bag cast forward by bands the world over, something most spectacularly seen in Morbid Angel's latest album "Illud Divinum Insanus", that should have seen them sectioned at best and executed at worst. Nevertheless, there have been some quality offerings this year, and my top 5 list is home to just a small number of them.

5. Burzum - Fallen

With this album, which sees the infamous Varg Vikernes adopt clean vocals alongside his usual screeching, the listener is tormented by an unusual mix and a concoction of ferocious, discordant melody, all part of the appeal of Burzum. "Fallen" sees Burzum offer up some much needed freshness into the world of atmospheric black metal, and Varg's capacity to constantly push his own boundaries in certainly to be admired.


4. Dark Forest - Dawn of Infinity

An intense whirlwind of traditional heavy metal and folk awaits those who choose to dance the waltz of Dark Forest's latest offering "Dawn of Infinity". Melodic harmonies provide catchy hook lines, and perhaps the best example of this is found in the truly anthemic "Under the Greenwood Tree", which features a rousing chorus and the kind of riffing that would easily have Manowar and Ensiferum fans jigging in unison.


3. Anaal Nathrakh - Passion

Ridiculously hysterical to some, and crushingly brutal to others, Anaal Nathrakh are a band that make no concessions in their approach to extreme metal. "Passion" draws influence from grind and blackened metal styles to leave the listener feeling violated in a pool of savage extremity and vile rage.


2. Autopsy - Macabre Eternal

Back with their first full length since reforming, Autopsy are doing what they do best with this gallery of diverse, yet always reassuring old school, death metal. The vocals and lyrics are positively repulsive, and the general sound of the band is crushing at times and ripping at others. Autopsy is a death metal beast that continues to embarrass those that have let themselves and their fans down in the most hilarious way (Morbid Angel). Kings of death metal? Autopsy, step right up!


1. Warbringer - Worlds Torn Asunder

Topping my list is the third album from American thrashers Warbringer, who have certainly cemented their place in the modern scene as a vitally important band with this release. Combining their ferocious blend of thrash with old school black metal and death metal styles has proved to be a very successful avenue for Warbringer to pursue. This album has, for me, been unmatched this year, with the addition of Carlos (drums) to the band clearly providing them with some spectacular versatility.


A special mention must also go to Metallica and Lou Reed, who have created the finest work of comedy ever to have graced these ears with "Lulu", well done lads!



It wasn't a joke!?

/L

Pit Yakker Chuck's Top 10 of the year!

2011 was a good year for Metal, in terms of releases. Some great albums where put out by bands. However we had a few very bad disappointments. ( Morbid Angel, Queensryche etc) However the good really did outweigh the bad. Also I was very privileged to see Judas Preist on their final "Epitath" world tour. Bloodstock 2011 with its amazing line up. Seeing Coroner reunion show and Immortal first show in the uk for nine years. Looking back their was actually some really fucking cool experiences. I also saw many a local show and got involved with my local scene. Formed my own band after months of searching for members.

Right moving on from ranting on about nostalgia here is my top 10 list, I will also include personal disappointments and horrible mentions at the end. 


Number 10 - Destruction Day Of Reckoning

A solid thrash album from genre legends destruction. Great technical riffs, catchy and overall just a solid album. Great production also.


Number 9 - Autopsy Macabre Eternal

Autopsy return after 15 years since their last album. Some will be thinking this is low on the list. Personally I really enjoyed this release. It sounds like the album they could have done in-between Severed Survival and Mental Funeral. Good production, great Autopsy riffs etc. However I just consider this to go on for way to long.

Number 8 - Symphony X Iconoclast

Prog power masters deliver the goods yet again. Taking the ideas and style displayed on Paradise Lost to an even further level. Much more progressive and Michael Romeo continues to show he may be the best guitar player in metal. Inspiring stuff. 



Number 7 - Pagan's Mind Heavenly Exctascy

Another great prog power album this year. Pagan's Mind are one of my favourite bands and after the disappointing Gods Equation. I was sceptical of this release. Pagan's Mind proved me wrong, progressing with a much more melodic and slightly more accessible release. Riffs catchier than a common cold and the guitar leads are some of the most impressive melodic lead lines I have ever had the pleasure of hearing. Pagan's Mind are back.


Number 6 - Thulcandra Under a Frozen Sun

Paying tribute to the Swedish black metal scene of the mid - late 90's. Thulcandra come more into their own on this release. But still can't help paying tribute to their obvious hero's Dissection. That's fine by me as this is my favourite style of black metal. Backed by an icy modern production and some really pulsating blackened death metal riffs. Thulcandra show great diversity with this one. Combining great riffs with epic structure. The song "Aeons of Darkness" has one of the most heavy riffs of 2011 in there. Epic. 


Number 5 - Vektor Outer Isolation

Vektor blew me away with this. I was anticipating this greatly for months. I have a lot of respect for this band. One of the few progressive thrash bands around at the moment. Every thing is so unique here. The riffs, structures the solo's. Everything is mind numbing and the vocals are just some of the most insane and unique I have ever heard.


Number 4 - Havok Time Is Up

Man. I can remember first getting this, waking up on a fine morning. Sticking on the opener and getting blown away. It brought a lot of good times. Drinking beer in my garden listening to this, great memories and great times. As far as the actual music goes this is my favourite new thrash album. A one that can stand up to the classics of yesteryear and that's saying something. You can read my full review of this on here and metal archives. So I won't dive into specifics about the music with this. But this album really brought back the feeling of thrash for a while. Made me go back and listen to some classics, drink a lot of beer and shoot the shit to this album on the I-pod dock in the garden. Good times thrash. 


Number 3 -Vader Welcome To The Morbid Reich

This album full on smokes. Any metal head into death and thrash should be able to realize that this is the best death metal album of 2011. A vast improvement on their last album Necropolis. Which I thought was good but some of the songs where too short and didn't have the room enough to be epic riff fests, which the songs had the potential to be. The production is as strong as ever, a pulsating guitar tone. Intense high speed blasts. Fast thrash breaks, brutal mid paced riffs. The addition of the new guitar player "Spider" brought a fresh feeling to the band, with his brilliant riffs and leads. This is the one of the best modern day death metal albums. 


Number 2 - Power Quest Blood Alliance

Wow. This is what I have been listening to whilst doing this list. Possibly the only British power metal album that can stand up to euro power metal. I did a full review of this so if you want you can check that out on here and metal archives. This really quiet special and one that brings a good feeling when I listen to it. I watched these play Bloodstock 2011, they played 5 songs of it and it was amazing. One of the most professional bands I have ever watched. This album has accompanied me on a lot of good times this year. I listened to it mostly in the summer which is the best time to listen to power metal in my opinion (happy times) Just pure magic.

Number 1 - Obscura Omnivium

This was the album I anticipated the most this year and did this band deliver the goods. From the opening notes of the first track you know your in for an intense experience. This is how modern Technical/Progressive Death Metal albums should be done. Every time you go back and listen you hear something new. Just fucking amazing.

Honourable Mentions.

Stratovarius, Jag Panzer, Warbringer, Hate Eternal, Pestilence, Blut Aus Nord (777 Sects), Fleshgod Apocalypse, Dream Theater, Wolves in the Throne Room,

Disappointments

Anubis gate, Megadeth, Decapitated, Morbid Angel, Revocation.


/C

REANIMATED CORPSES - DEATH METAL IN THE 21st CENTURY

DEATH METAL, a genre characterised by raw aggression, filth-ridden production and savage vocals that spit forth tales of murder and the occult, is one that has arguably shaped extreme music more than any other. Are we to be deceived that this dark form of art died as ear expanders came into fashion and bands started producing merchandise on lo-cut tops, the kind of which would be welcomed spectacularly in most spicy nightclubs? I for one refuse to believe that death metal collapsed with the demise of Morbid Angel after Covenant or as Deicide became absolutely ridiculous. The truth is that the underground will never die, nor does it rest, it simply waits to be found...

MISTRESS - IN DISGUST WE TRUST (2005)

The first of my deadly modern trio hail from Birmingham in England and are definitely a band that have escaped the radar of most death-heads the world over. The now defunct Mistress play a primitive style of death metal, a term which I use with the greatest of respect to describe their crushing variation between mid paced groove, grinding speed and sludgy doom passages. With lyrics more blue than a dead blue-tit ("Fucking Fuck" anyone?), Dave Cunt (Dave Hunt also of Benediction and Anaal Nathrakh) ferociously splutters forth venomous bile about his hatred for mankind, with equal amounts of intellect and vulgarity being present in his now iconic vocal tones. This album provides a modern take on the genre yet remains firmly rooted in the grindcore crossover style of old school bands like Repulsion, and never feels sterile as each track is diverse enough to always maintain interest. No more so is this evident than in the song "Static", which incorporates an eerily melodic and catchy chorus amongst the chaos of sickening sludge. The rumbling of the bass guitar is positively filthy  and this aids the pounding groove superbly. Mistress are surely one of the forgotten gems of not only the UKDM scene, but within DM in general - Highly recommended for fans of Benediction, Repulsion, Fukpig, Iron Monkey, Entombed and Autopsy.

DEATH BREATH - STINKING UP THE NIGHT (2006)

It is often argued that one should not judge a book by it's cover, and it seems as though this logic should also be naturally applied to albums also, but for "Stinking Up The Night" by Sweden's Death Breath (ex Entombed) an exception should surely be made. This album contains 10 perfect slices of raw, punked up and almost rocky death metal that isn't afraid to include some enticing melodies, with the opener "Death Breath" conjuring a sense of the most deathly foreboding imaginable, before a rocking riff enters the audible fray. Death Breath take no prisoners when it comes to their vicious onslaught upon the ear and journey between thrashy death metal riffage and all out crushing doom raids with ease and great success. Lyrical subjects are light hearted and a welcome relief from all of the mindless porn/gore subjects associated with the genre nowadays- who can fail to crack open a sly smile when Pehrsson screams chilling warnings to those with horrific dental hygiene, or gives a dark prophecy of the "flabby little things from beyond"? With this album's relentless musical intensity, Death Breath have created one of the most stunning releases of the 00's so far, so if bands like Possessed, Celtic Frost, Repulsion and Autopsy are your kind of thing, prepare to fully immerse yourself in this foul creation of emphatic decay and rot.

VANHELGD - CHURCH OF DEATH (2011)

The final members of this unholy union also haunt the cold air of Sweden, but take a far more serious approach to the art of music extreme than their compatriots Death Breath. Vanhelgd have emerged from the blackened mist of ambiguity as genuine contenders in the modern scene, with their latest album "Church of Death". The vocals are hysterical, the rhythms versatile and powerful, the production is thick, and the guitar tone possesses a violent buzz in this destructive whirlwind of death, doom and blackened styles. Melancholic harmonies bind themselves to the heaviness of the thunderously held chords, and their ominous presence throughout this release marks this album out as a kind of sinister brother to more conservative death metal bands. Blistering pace gives way to crushingly slow sections, and it is precisely this depth to the release that makes it so successful. It would be easy for a band to continue to rehash the same old tried and tested formula, however well it may work (some bands have built their career on it and power to them), but this is not the way of Vanhelgd, who even go as far as to incorporate folk style influences into their work on this album - A raw attack of increasingly rare originality. Recommended for fans of Entombed, Watain, Autopsy and Unleashed, as well as anyone who likes their death metal like they like their coffee. BLACK.

/L