After last year’s so-so year for metal where it was pretty tough to get a Top 10 list together, 2009 was a year where fans could be proud of metal. With a plethora of albums out this year, this year’s list came together far easier than in the past. There were albums that were still good- but after listening, aren’t really truly metal records (Killswitch Engage put out a great hard rock record, but not exactly metal. Same thing with Clutch as well).
it’s going to be pretty tough to beat this year in 2010, but we wont worry about that just yet. I am running down the 10 best records of the year in descending order. Here we go:
10. Chimaira- The Infection- This album is a bit of a departure from the band’s past few records, and the pace and delivery of the album is a bit more subdued and eerie. The Cleveland band’s fifth record may not have the thrash moments of the past, but singer Mark Hunter’s vocals are as haunting as ever and the music sounds as bleak as ever (in metal- that’s a good thing).
Key Tracks: “Coming Alive” and “Impending Doom”.
9. The Black Dahlia Murder- Deflorate- The hometown purveyors of keeping metal fun did it again this year and delivered an album that sounded evil, but didn’t take itself too seriously at the same time. Bringing in former Arsis guitarist Ryan Knight have the band a new element to the band’s sound that gives the band the edge of exposure outside of death metal.
Key Tracks: “Necropolis” and “I Will Return”.
8. Satyricon- The Age of Nero- Ok, people in metal circles will want to debate if the Norwegian is death metal, black metal, whatever. No matter which way you cut it, Satyr and Frost dumped the corpsepaint and took a different look and sound that showed some new wrinkles to the ever evolving band. Between us, “Black Crow on a Tombstone” might be the best metal song all year and the tracks seem as cold as the winter weather in Norway.
Key Tracks: “Black Crow on a Tombstone” and “Commando”.
7. Slayer- World Painted Blood- Anytime Slayer releases an album, it generally ends up in metal Top 10 year end lists. After their 2006 album, “Christ Illusion” was above average at times, “World Painted Blood” only suffers through a weak opening track before unleasing hell on the masses for the remainder of the album. It becomes the band’s most fully realized album of the decade.
Key Tracks: “Hate Worldwide” and “Public Display of Dismemberment”.
6. Goatwhore- Carving Out the Eyes of God- With their hometown of New Orleans decimated by Hurricane Katrina between albums, the band’s fifth record sounds as focused as the band has ever been. Released back sworth checking out once again.
Key Tracks: “Apocalyptic Havoc” and “Razor Flesh Devoured”.
5. Darkest Hour- The Eternal Return- Featuring some of the best guitar solos of the year, the DC based metal band was a more back to basics record and just sounded more angry than the previous record, the still strong “Deliver Us”. This is going to be one of those bands that will be a major influence for the next generation of bands coming in the upcoming years- so that’s even more reason to see what the big deal is about.
Key Tracks: “No God” and “Death Worship”.
4. Shadows Fall- Retribution- A lot of bands are angry- but unlike some bands, Shadows Fall actually had a real reason too. After fans ripped their last album and they were dropped by a major label, Brian Fair and company unleashed hell on the ears as they delivered an album that was just as pummeling as “The War Within”, and perhaps even more so. Good job for reversing the fortune of the band for the future.
Key Tracks: “War” and “King Of Nothing”.
3. Baroness- Blue Record- Consider Baroness the small band that crashed this year’s Top 10 list. After releasing a great debut record with the “Red Album”, the Georgia based band wowed everybody with their classic rock meet stoner metal triumph. With a group of similarly minded bands such as Kylesa and Torche, Baroness proves that you don’t have to go all crazy and evil in order to keep the head’s banging.
Key Tracks: “Jake Leg” and “The Sweetest Curse”.
2. Mastodon- “Crack The Skye”- Let’s ask this- is this even a metal record? The debate will rage on as the band released their fullest and freshest album to date. At times, some of the songs would sound like the best thing on a regular rock radio station, and owe a lot to 1970’s prog-rock The concept record about Rasputin wowed critics and gave the band a new legion of fans that marveled at the drumming of Brann Dailor and the vocal trade offs between Troy Sanders and Brent Hinds. Metal, hard rock, whatever- this is a album to be remember 10 years from now.
Key Tracks: “The Last Baron” and “Crack The Skye:
1. Lamb of God- Wrath- 2009 was the year where the Virginia based band got major exposure beyond metal circles, thanks to being on the road with Metallica most of the year. “Wrath” strips the studio polish of 2006’s “Sacrament” and hits the listener in the jaw with politically fueled thrash metal that harkens material from “Ashes of the Wake”. It is on this record that drummer Chris Adler and guitarist Mark Morton take the lead on the strength of their musicianship, while vocalist Randy Blythe lays down his always fierce and intense delivery. Until further notice, Lamb of God remains the current king of the metal scene.
Key Tracks: “Contractor” and “Fake Messiah”.
(Albums Also Considered: Hatebreed- Self Titled, The Red Chord- Fed Through the Teeth Machine, Devildriver- Pray For Villains, God Forbid- Earthsblood & Winds of Plague- The Great Stone War)
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