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
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