TOP PICKS OF 2009

FRANK ALLAIN TOP 10

2. The Black Dog – ‘Further Vexations’ (Soma Records)
Essentially a sequel to 2007’s ‘Radio Scarecrow’, this follow-up continues to explore the intricate, sinister-yet-melancholic soundscapes of its predecessor whilst nevertheless injecting some moments of light into a sombre palette of captivating electronica.

3. Mono – ‘Hymn to the Immortal Wind’ (Temporary Residence)
Bringing on board a full orchestra has injected the Japanese quartet’s melodramatic instrumental post-rock with even more grandiose textures. Hopelessly romanticised though this album may be, it’s evocative, soaring sounds don’t fail to hit the spot.

4. Cobalt - 'Gin' (Southern Lord)
Redefining the conceptual boundaries of black metal, this 2-piece shoot through their abbrassive, physical style with a tangible sense of personal deterioration and intoxicated self-disgust. Emotion oozing from every note, drum hit and scream, this is harrowing stuff.

5. Funeral Mist – ‘Maranatha’ (Norma Evangelium Diaboli)
Arioch returns six long years after 2003’s landmark ‘Salvation’ debut. Whilst not quite as dementedly vehement as that particular slice of blasphemy, Maranatha still reaffirms that when it comes to violent orthodox black metal, the man’s conviction cannot be called into question. A bile-fuelled black odyssey.

6. Blut aus Nord – ‘Memoria Vesta II (Dialogue With the Stars)’ (Candlelight)
Having thoroughly ploughed the dirty, urban, avant-garde furrow on their last few records, BaN return to deliver a sequel to 1996’s ‘Memoria Vesta’ album with spectacular results. A strong sense of melody underpins the traditional BaN assault, rendering this the band’s most successful album for some time.

7. Deathspell Omega/S.V.E.S.T – Split (Normal Evangelium Diaboli)
Two harrowing journeys into black metal’s outer limits, the first band here need no introduction having been at the forefront of pushing the technical, dissonant side of the genre for a few years now. S.V.E.S.T. however are the surprise package, offering three bewildering, chaotic and frankly addictive tracks.

8. Katatonia – ‘Night is the New Day’ (Peaceville)
The long-running Swedish combo continue to hone their ultra-smooth, obsidian-like approach to emotive dark metal with suitably polished results. No great revelations on this album, just great songs delivered flawlessly.

9. Tenebrae In Perpetuum – ‘L'Eterno Maligno Silenzio' (Debemur Morti)
Third album for this obscure Italian outfit and the addition of Vidharr on vocals has reaped dividends, expanding upon the band's trademark frosty soundscapes with a diversity of voices. Cold, hook-laden and captivating.

10. Wolves in the Throne Room - 'Black Cascade' (Southern Lord)
Not a massive stylistic shift here, more an assured honing of their distinctive sound. Some have criticised this album's lack of invention but in truth, with 'Black Cascade' WITTR have simply reasserted their mastery of droning, arboreal black metal.

SPENNY BULLEN TOP 10

1. Hospital of Death - Surge Kill Steal (Self Released).
Yep, these self financing, self effacing, cheese nibbling metal ultra warriors have hit my top spot for a second year running, and deservedly so! Showcasing absolutely top quality musicianship with a self deprecating humour, H.O.D. have again delivered onto the world a CD that has had me grinning like the proverbial Cheshire Cat ever since it arrived. Fine thrash mixed with lashings of NWOBHM, all wrapped up in a superbly produced yet affordable package makes this a must buy. Hey, if you’re a cheapskate, the band even lets you download it for free. If you chose to be a pussy and not pay for their CD, at least spend a very few quid on their classy merchandise! A true metal, true underground band!

2. Ravens Creed - Albion Thunder (Doomentia Records).
Brutally heavy British metal bringing together a punk sensibility with riffs guaranteed to grab the listener by the scruff of the neck and slap them around the face until they agree to go gratefully into the nearest available mosh pit! This metal “super-group”, featuring members of Sabbat, Orange Goblin, and Iron Monkey are here to drink your beer, kick your arse, and steal your women! Now a four piece, despite triumphant shows with two guitars, the band has jettisoned the previously intricate guitar solos for a blitzkrieg attack of audio suppression. Undeniable class!

3. Firebird - Grand Union (Rise Above Records).
Bill Steer may be better known to metal fans for his extreme pioneering grind/death work with Napalm Death and Carcass, but on this latest album he displays his indisputable classic chops with lashings of the best blues guitar work you could hope to hear. Riffs and solos that harkens back to a bygone era of flares and lava lamps fill this album with quality from the first note to the last. The BBC have recently been firing out a season of “guitar heroes” on their digital channels of late; give it a listen and revel in the history, and future, of rock.

4. Clutch - Strange Cousins From the West (Weathermaker Music).
Another classic slice of bourbon soaked blues rock from the modern masters of the form. Stepping away from the major labels to ensure control of their product, this band doesn’t comprise from their million selling formula. Throw in a sell out tour, and the ability to recreate their stripped back sound live, with even more power and passion, this band deserves your attention.

5. Big Elf - Cheat the Gallows (Powerage).
Psychedelic prog from the Los Angeles four piece steeped in UK 70’s rock. Keyboards are played to the fullest effect, as the listener is taken on a journey through the cosmos. Classic acts like Deep Purple, ELP, and Pink Floyd are respectfully referenced in an album of undeniable quality. Timeless.

6. Heaven & Hell - The Devil You Know (Roadrunner Records).
There can be no doubt that the original Black Sabbath is the very DNA from which most metal evolved. From the pounding rhythm of Bill Ward and Geezer Butler to the doom laden riffs of Tony Iommi, fronted by blues shouter Ozzy Osbourne, classics like Paranoid and War Pigs stand out as classics after so many decades. However, few could convincingly argue that Ronnie James Dio was not the better vocalist, and even now after almost half a century flexing his considerable vocal chords, cancer and all, he still sounds good. This reformation of the second classic version of Sabbath under a new name has produced another great album, and set a challenge to wannabe acts everywhere. I’ve no doubt that that the master of metal will conquer his cancerous dragon, but even if this is his swansong, he should be massively proud!

7. Saxon - Into The Labyrinth (SPV).
After 30 years of pumping out riffs into the world, Biff and co are still producing quality, classic metal. ‘Battalions of Steel’ stands proud as a monument to the band’s ability to produce epic riffs, and can hold itself easily against all the favourites in their massive back catalogue that fans cry out for at gigs. Inexplicably relegated to a support slot at Bloodstock, with a performance that truly deserved to headline, Saxon continue to prove why they are so long lived, and why they deserve to continue to sell out stadia around the globe.

8. The Gates of Slumber - Hymns of Blood and Thunder (Rise Above Records).
Another slice of fantastic doom tinged metal from this Indianapolis three piece, with even more intricate guitar work then before. Delving into the realms of classic fiction, leaning heavily on R. E Howard, with 2010’s release of the Soloman Kane movie, this blistering three-piece deserve every success. I was offered the CD for free, but I chose to cough up the cost; treat yourself and send your money in the direction of this classic metal band.

9. Beatallica - Masterful Mystery Tour (Oglio Entertainment).
True metal fans may scoff at this hybrid homage to Burton era Metallica and The Beatles, but I’ve caught Beatallica both times they played the UK, and each time had a ball. The humour of this album can sometimes disguise just how good a bunch of musicians the band are, but you’d need a heart of stone not to at least grin at tracks like ‘The Thing That Should Not Let It Be’. Be proud; be loud; be Beatallica!

10. Tankard - Thirst (AFM Records)
Good time thrash, the way it’s meant to be, and bloody good live too! I’ve done my best (and succeeded) in catching Guerre, Frank (even if he is looking more and more like Stan Laurel every time I see him), and their cohorts whenever they’ve hit the UK, and had a blast every time. Played with the skill of veterans on top of their game who know how to please the crowd; what can be wrong with that? (This actually came out in 2008 LH)

An honourable mention must go to Mutant (the editor insists no EPs, a favourite of so many Metal Team reviewers: Laserdrome (Self Released). Okay, it’s only a 4 track EP, but it deserves recognition. The band has finally managed to get some of their sound onto CD, and in this release Mutant have encapsulated their combination of thrash and humour. Here’s to a full length album soon, please.

There you go; my top ten for the year. Anyone who knows my tastes may well be surprised by the exclusion of Evile’s Infected Nation. There is a simple reason for that, and it’s in the formula I devised at the top of the list. I bought the album, and had only listened to it once before I was meant to get to the album release show. That one listen had me convinced it was a classic and a natural evolution in a band that is destined to be massive. Work then changed my shifts without notice so I missed the show, and then the next thing I knew was the massively sad news of the death of Mike Alexander. I will listen to the album again, a fitting tribute to a man always willing to share a laugh and a pint, there is not doubt of that, but not right now. Go to www.mikealexander.co.uk to pay your respects, and help support his family.

OLIVER CASS TOP 10

1. Joint first: Secrets Of The Moon - ‘Privilegivm’ (Lupus Lounge – Prophecy)
The album I’d been waiting 18 months for. I knew I’d never love it as much as ‘Antithesis’, but it most definitely has its merits – well it would have to claiming the joint #1 spot! Their fourth offering took a different approach, steering further away from Black Metal and the aggression of the previous record, becoming darker, more structured and more rock- oriented. sG’s lyrics became very hateful and LSK added another dimension vocally with her anguished tones.

1. Joint first: Endstille - ‘Verfuhrer’ (Regain Records)
Considering six albums ago Endstille declared they stood for the limitation of Black Metal, they’ve managed to churn out a surprising amount of captivating noise. ‘Verfuhrer’ is undoubtedly one of their finest moments, backing down on the rather clean sounding ‘...Reich’ and going back to the atmospheric murk of ‘Navigator’, but with better song-writing skills. Bloody fantastic it is and I really can’t put either of these firsts above the other, being so completely different in nature yet so brilliant in musical quality.

2. Forscor - ‘Groans to the Guilty’ (Temple of Darkness Records)
Well this is an unlikely entry, and one that’s forced its way in at the last minute, skipping straight into second place. ‘Groans to the Guilty’ is a remarkably memorable album which slowly unravels itself, revealing its progressive nature with every listen. Their Opeth influences are blatant at times, but are fortunately incorporated very well into their own sound; a melodically dark Black Metal release which really hits the spot.

3. Archgoat - ‘The Light Devouring Darkness’ (Blasphemous Underground Productions)
The Finnish filth-mongers’ sophomore album turned out to be both cleaner than the first, but still unmistakably bestial. The fuzz was mostly removed but still a good deal of musical squalor remained...obviously in a good way. Once again, the goats provided us with memorable, satisfyingly wretched slabs of Black/Death/Doom, lovely!

4. Aosoth - ‘Ashes of Angels’ (Agonia Records)
Aosoth’s self-titled debut sadly didn’t inspire me much. The main problem was that it was completely different to what MKM had done with Antaeus in the past and clearly I just wanted another Antaeus record. After having distanced the two in my mind, Aosoth released ‘Ashes of Angels’ which was far more to my liking. The songs were musically a lot darker, the production more challenging and MKM’s vocals extremely evocative. In fact I’d say this is one of his best performances, if not his best. The discordance levels also flew off the scale too, challenging the likes of Endstille, and for that I say thank you BST.

5. Belphegor - ‘Walpurgis Rites, Hexenwahn’ (Nuclear Blast)
It cannot be denied that where aesthetics are concerned, Belphegor have absolutely no taste whatsoever, so it’s just as well their song-writing is good (on this record at least – don’t mention ‘...Goat Zombie’). ‘Walpurgis...’ turned out to be surprisingly accessible in places, though still retained that idiosyncratic savage side that Belphegor should never be without. A huge improvement on their last monstrosity.

6. Vorkreist - ‘Sickness Sovereign’ (Trendkill Productions)
‘Sublimation XXIXA’ was a good mixture of Death and Black Metal with plenty of hooks and good dynamics. With ‘Sickness Sovereign’ not only have they written a better album, but now boast the deranged and unique voice of Saint Vincent of the mighty Parisian Black Industrialists, Blacklodge, adding another dimension to their already distinct sound. This is also bassist LSK’s second contribution to my list, so kudos to her!

7. Arkona - ‘Goi, Rode, Goi!’ (Napalm Records)
In my review of ‘Goi, Rode, Goi’ I came to the conclusion that at almost 80 minutes, it should have been trimmed. A couple of weeks later, I lay in bed listening to it, not wanting it to stop, so perhaps it’s the right length if the mood is right and the time is there. The material is probably not as heavy as its predecessor but is just as engaging and I very highly recommend this if Pagan Folk Metal is your thing; it outclasses the majority of the Folk scene with ease.

8. Florence And The Machine - ‘Lungs’ (Universal – Island Records)
Florence has a penchant for writing really energetic, emotional and infectious songs which stay with you long after you’ve cut the girl with one eye’s heart out for making you cry. Yes, indeed, a rather brilliant indie/rock/whatever the genre is album for 2009.

9. Marduk - ‘Wormwood’ (Blooddawn Productions – Regain Records)
I honestly haven’t enjoyed a Marduk album this much since 1999’s ‘Panzer Division...’ and really hadn’t expected it after the Swedes’ last effort ‘Rom 5:12’ left me feeling unmoved. Perhaps it’s because Morgan has been encouraging the other members to write material and so the newly penned music has a fresher feel, some of which does brings to mind the fury of Funeral Mist (a funny thing that!). It’s probably their most abrasive since the aforementioned ‘Panzer...’ too.

10. Urgehal - ‘Ikonoklast’ (Season of Mist Underground Activists)
‘Ikonoklast’ follows on musically from ‘Goatcraft Torment’ but of course with a slicker production and surely the harshest vocals Nefas has recorded. I’m not entirely sure whether the songs are as memorable as on the previous platter, but time shall tell. This is another late comer which shows plenty of potential.

11. Shakira - ‘She Wolf’ (Epic – Sony)
Yes this has to go in! The gym has already been blamed for introducing Goldfrapp to my CD collection and now Shakira has managed her way into it. With the exception of the track featuring Wyclef Jean, this has some great melodies and catchy songs which apparently even a bloody Black Metaller like me can’t resist. Aaaannnd, being so incredibly fluffy, give Aosoth a whirl straight after the ‘She Wolf’ and the French duo will sound supremely bloody abyssal.

Worthy mentions:

Deathspell Omega – Chaining the Katechon (Norma Evangelium Diaboli)
This would have been in the above list, had EPs been allowed.
Funeral Mist – Maranatha (Norma Evangelium Diaboli)
Katatonia – Night is the New Day (Peaceville)

Festival of 2009
Party San (I bet nobody saw that coming!) (Sure that's not Party In The Park? ;) LH)

Most anticipated albums of 2010
Blacklodge – Time
Helrunar
Farsot
Fear Factory
Krv
Gabriella Cilmi!

Musical moments of 2009

I’m not going to do a ‘best gig’ thing this year because as some people know, I went on gig strike, being completely bored with it all and am planning on starting again with Marduk next year. Instead the moments are:

Summer Breeze – Secrets of the Moon

This involved head-banging for the final time with long hair to ‘Lucifer Speaks’, which was quite a significant thing for me as I had my hair cut a week later. No I can’t really head-bang anymore, but I haven’t looked back as maintaining that ball of fuzz was an absolute swine. Cut your hair and worship Satan!

LARS CHRISTIANSEN TOP 10

2. The Chasm - Farseeing the Paranormal Abysm (Lux Inframundis)
The hugely enjoyable return from everyone’s favourite boys from Mexico was certainly worth waiting for. Who needs Earache Records anyway? Not these guys, that’s for sure. This self released slab of awesomeness reeks of prime ‘metal’. No airs and graces, no posing or posturing - just white knuckled riffage coated in a tangible supernatural power.

3. Cannibal Corpse - Evisceration Plague (Metal Blade)
Everyone knows what to expect from these Godfathers of death metal. For years they’ve been delivering the goods, and their most recent effort is no exception. Crushing brutality one moment, crazed technicality the next – all held together by one of the best rhythm sections in the business. The fact you can almost feel Corpsegrinder’s spit on your face from his tortured pitbull vocalwork is merely the cherry on the bun (dependant on your ‘visage/saliva = baked good’ disposition, naturally).

4. Absu – Absu (Candlelight Records)
Despite being pretty much an entirely brand new line up from Absu’s fantastic ‘Tara’ album, Scottish (ha!) laddy Proscriptor still managed to put together an excellent album full of his usual occultist & mythological song topics, extra-long winded song titles and most importantly – prime fillets of black thrashing riff-meat. Bon Appétit!

5. My Dying Bride - For Lies I Sire (Peaceville Records)
My Dying Bride were always my favourite out of the unholy three UK death/doom originators, not only because they were the ones to stray least from their shadowy paths, but for the fact they had one of the most expressive, fraught vocalists in the entire scene. The swathes of sorrow still ebb and flow, even though you’d have thought that the Bride in question would surely have popped her clogs by now, they still seem pretty miffed by her drawn out death. Pure dark emotion, without too much of the OTT vein opening ‘emo’.

6. Candlemass - Death Magic Doom (Nuclear Blast)
After a slight mis-step with their painfully average ‘King of the Grey Islands’, Leif and co. sat down and decided to plan their two steps up with ‘Death Magic Doom’. If you were unsure, as I was, of Robert Lowe’s abilities to REALLY show his worth in Candlemass, this album proves that he more than fills Messiah’s oversized sandles. Now if only he could just master the ’doom dance’….

7. Graveland - Spears of Heaven (No Colours Records)
As upset as a lot of people get, I’ve never been one to shy away from bands who have dubious political or social views if their ‘music’ is as good as this. To me, it’s plain to hear that the spirit of Bathory lives on in Rob Darken’s music, it’s just a shame that the medieval ideals of the mind behind it will stop a lot of people from ever wanting to experience it.

8. My Own Grave – Necrology (Pulverised Records)
Like your metal hosed down in a thick coating of ectoplasmic slime? Like your riffs to drop like piano from a tenth story building into your face? Enjoy Swedish death metal with REAL character? Bingo. You won’t find any guitar clinics or any other flashy shit here – this is an old school, drooling beast of an album. Check it out.

9. Týr - By the Light of the Northern Star (Napalm Records)
For me, Týr’s previous album ‘Land’ was a let down. However, the Faroese foursome returned with another platter of joyous folksy Viking metal which almost topped their ‘Pièce de résistance’ (a.k.a ‘Eric the Red’). The track ‘Hold the Heathen Hammer High’ also serves as a great tongue twister when you’ve supped a little too much mead from your drinking horn.

10. Nirvana 2002 - Recordings 89-91 (Relapse Records)
Yes, so the recordings themselves weren’t done in 2009, but this 2009 compilation can’t slip past without getting the credit it deserves. Like the Swedish death metal sound? In particular, the Stockholm sound? Nirvana 2002 are one of the best to spawn from that early 90s scene. They never had the fanfare the likes of Entombed, Dismember or Grave did, in fact, they never even managed to release a full length album. So, check out this compilation packed with their demo material, and you’ll soon see why so many people would happily utter these guys names in the same breath as any of the greats.

CHRIS DAVISON TOP 10

1. Slough Feg – Ape Uprising (Cruz Del Sur)
Easily the most played album of the year in the Davison household. The kings of obscure, geek-fuelled traditional heavy metal have produced the most thrilling, most…um…ape filled opus of the year. An amazing, unashamed romp through all that makes heavy metal so great.

2. For Ruin – Last Light (For Ruin Music)
For years the uncontested heavyweight champions of the Irish demo scene, For Ruin have gone all grown up and finally produced what they have threatened for so many years. This album brings together the disparate worlds of melodic death metal and doom/death, puts them in a blender and then decides to drink whiskey alone by the fireside instead.

Candlemass – Death Magic Doom (Nuclear Blast)
– Robert Lowe continues to show why he should now be considered the quintessential doom vocalist. Heavier than ever before, and now with added creeping NWoBHM guitar touches and tempo changes, Candlemass have never been so direct, nor so essential.

3. Immortal – All Shall Fall (Nuclear Blast)
The band that launched a thousand shoops return with the album that many thought would never be. More than just “Sons of Northern Darkness” part two, the likes of Norden On Fire show that Abbath and co. are considerably more epic than you.

4. Cales – KRF (Metal Breath)
Do you like pagan folk metal? Are you fed up with non stop hey-nonny-nonsense ? Then Czech crew Cales prove that not all folk metal has to sound like the instrumental backdrop to a Disney sponsored Viking cartoon.

5. Daath – The Concealers (Century Media)
Proof that not all modern American heavy metal has to feature some cunt in a sleeveless T-shirt looking anguished. Daath (hate the name, love the band) produced a perfect smorgasbord of all death, thrash and progressive metal that excited as much as it intrigued.

6. Sanctification – Black Reign (Pulverised)
Brutal death metal does not have to be the preserve of morons pasting rotten.com pictures on their album covers. Sanctification took the excesses of blasting death and tempered it with a cold fury and malicious intent, and sounded classy while doing it.

7. 11th Hour – Burden of Grief (Napalm Records)
A solemn, terrifying concept album based on the dying moments of a lonely man, 11th Hour are so damned doom that they make My Dying Bride look like Take That.

8. Obituary – Darkest Day (Candlelight)
“Waaaah, it sounds like all their other albums!” “Waaaaaah, it’s so old school!” “Waaaah, there are no new ideas!”. Fuck off. This is Obituary. You want invention, get yourself down the patent office. Me? I’ll have a nice slice of “Hauuuuuuuuuuuuuurgh” thanks Mr Tardy.

9. Ghost Brigade – Isolation Songs (season of Mist)
Is it doom? Is it prog? Is it a plane? It’s all of these things except the last one. A dizzying, classy collection of emotional songs that almost impossibly manages to improve upon “Guided by Fire”.

10. Crescent Shield – The Stars of Never Seen (Cruz Del Sur)
Almost heroically old school, melodic heavy metal that’s so solid and proud that you can almost smell the denim as the disc plays. More metal than a dozen Saxon back patches, this is a brilliant, honest album.

ANDREW DOHERTY TOP 10

2. Nahemah - “A New Constellation” (Lifeforce Records)
A magnificent blend of Progressive darkness, deep moods, emotion and power, “A New Constellation” is even better than its predecessor “The Second Philosophy”. Sublime.

3. Spheric Universe Experience - “Unreal” (The Laser’s Edge)
Spheric Universe Experience was a discovery for me in 2009. Originating from France, they were responsible for this rich Progressive album. It’s heavy and electronic, interspersed with light and memorable passages. This is one of the most technically proficient albums I’ve heard, but without being self-indulgent. The technical quality just makes it more pleasurable for the listener.

4. Diablo Swing Orchestra - “Sing Along Songs for the Damned and Delirious” (Ascendance Records)
Diablo Swing Orchestra manage to surpass even their own bizarre standards with this crazy, refreshing and highly original Swing Metal album. It blends loads of styles from a host of genres, it moves and it’s great fun too.

5. Astra– “The Weirding” (Rise Above Records.
A masterpiece of mellow, dreamy retro-style Prog, reminiscent of Pink Floyd. “The Weirding” specialises in developing themes without going off on tangents, and for that reason it’s such a captivating listen.

6. Cryptic Tales – “VII Dogmata of Mercy” (Empire Records)
It’s not the most original Black Metal album ever, but it’s melodic and majestic of the kind that Polish bands are so good at creating. Uplifting and enjoyable.

7. Katatonia - “Night is the New Day” (Peaceville Records)
This is one of Katatonia’s gloomiest works, even by their standards. Instrumentally sophisticated, Renske’s voice and lyrics subtly add to the lingering sense of failure.

8. I Wrestled a Bear Once – “It’s All Happening” (Century Media)
Grind meets industrial techno, with jazz and a dreamy vocal performance thrown in, not to forget the momentary sound of an ice-cream van. This piece of discordant anarchy is surprisingly easy to get hold of, once you’ve re-tuned your ears.

9. Chthonic - “Mirror of Retribution” (Spinefarm Records)
Taiwanese Black Metal intensity with a twist. There’s a sinister feel in the air as if the crows are circling. “Mirror of Retribution” even features the melancholic tones of the erhu, one of my favourite instruments. Aggressive on the outside, this album is more subtle than it first appears.

10. Impiety - “Terroreign (Apocalyptic Armageddon Command)” (Agonia Records)
Music to burn your ears off. No scope for sentiment here. Just violent, vomiting Black Metal from beginning to end as you’d expect from Impiety.

I’d also like to give honourable mention to the EP “The Land, The Ocean, The Distance” by Heights (self-released). This debut work is a tightly controlled invitation into a world of Post Doom/Hardcore. Interesting and varied, it’s evident from this 3 track work that the band has the strength of ideas to be able to create an impressive atmosphere.

STEVE JONES TOP 20

2.Converge - ‘Axe To Fall’ (Epitaph)
A record of our times, fuelled by bitter rage at a corrupt world, ‘Axe To Fall’ is an essential release for anyone who likes their metal as ferocious as it is technical.

3. Baroness - ‘Blue Record’ (Relapse)
Unpicking the fabric of sludge and weaving it into a more melancholic cloth, Baroness are laying the foundations of their own burgeoning reputation with muscular intensity. With a strangely compelling melodic undercurrent, ‘Blue Record’ is intriguing as well as heavy.

4. Earth Crisis - ‘To The Death’ (Century Media)
Their first studio album for nine years shows that Earth Crisis have not lost the qualities that made them one of the best hardcore bands on the planet. this is as simple as concrete and twice as heavy.

5. Megadeth - ‘Endgame’ (Roadrunner)
Metalli-who? (I’d just like to leave it like that, if you’d excuse me for being frivolous! However, in case you prefer, here’s a supplementary bit)
‘Endgame’ proves that Mustaine is still as angry, skilled and masterful as ever. If you ever needed proof that Megadeth are still relevant, this album is it.

6. No Made Sense - ‘The Epillanic Choragi’ (Basick Records)
Ten years in the making, this is an astonishingly assured debut. As intelligent as it is intense, this young Reading trio display an ambition and talent far beyond their years.

7. Alice In Chains - ‘Black Gives Way To Blue’ (Virgin / EMI
The grunge legends were never ones to shy away from darkness, and in the long shadow of Layne Staley’s death have opened a whole new chapter in their history. Powerful and poignant, and with songwriting to match, ‘Black Gives Way To Blue’ is their ‘Back In Black’.

8.Kylesa - ‘Static Tensions’ (Prosthetic)
Sludge metal with progressive tendencies is in rude health, and ‘Static Tensions’ has surprises with every listen. Two drummers and dynamic guitars firmly place Kylesa squarely amongst the metal aristocracy.

9. Heaven & Hell - ‘The Devil You Know’ (Roadrunner)
Never one to rest on their laurels, Heaven & Hell’s metal royalty have crafted this year’s best doom album. Epic, timeless and essential for anyone with a passing interest in metal, and played with all the precision you’d expect from such veterans.

10. Kreator - ‘Hordes Of Chaos’ (Steamhammer)
The German thrashers’ twelfth album shows they are capable of kicking up a storm as ever. Packed to the gunnels with riffing goodness and frenzied drumming, this is as rock solid as anything Kreator have ever recorded.

11. Porcupine Tree - ‘The Incident’ (Roadrunner)
Once again proving himself a genius, Steven Wilson has crafted an album of such ethereal beauty that you’ll be enthralled from the very first moment you hit play, forging an album that gently takes you in and never lets you go.

12. Pelican - ‘What We All Come To Need’ (Southern Lord)
Elegant and powerful, Pelican have taken their naturalistic approach to post-metal to the next logical stage. Evocative passages of rugged beauty as fresh as summer storms await you on Pelican’s latest long player.

13. Between The Buried & Me - ‘The Great Misdirect’ (Victory)
A BTBAM record is always an event, and this is no exception. A jazzy take on the death metal genre, ‘The Great Misdirect’ constantly surprises and delights through all its myriad twists and turns.

14. Wolves In The Throne Room - ‘Black Cascade’ (Southern Lord)
This is black metal, pure and simple. With not an ounce of compromise, ‘Black Cascade’ returns to the roots of the genre. Vicious barbed riffs and corpse-sick vocals lash out in a display of savage majesty that’s almost unequalled.

15. Behemoth - ‘Evangelion’ (Nuclear Blast)
If ever you needed something to scare away Jehovah’s Witnesses, this is it. Quite possibly the most brutal record released this year, ‘Evangelion’ is an absolute beast of an album, and more than lives up to its protagonist’s name.

16. Portal - ‘Swarth’ (Profound Lore)
Quite simply, astonishing. Deceptively complex, Portal have crafted an hypnotic masterpiece that challenges all expectations you might have had about black metal being conservative and inward-looking by incorporating a healthy dose of prog into their midnight black cacophony.

17. Lightning Bolt - ‘Earthly Delights’ (Load Records)
Totally unlike any other band out there, ‘Earthly Delights’ is a bizarrely catchy collection that’s totally unlike anything else released this year. A glorious application of confusion and noise.

18. Devildriver - ‘Pray For Villains’ (Roadrunner)
Now, this is moshpit material. Devildriver have been steadily improving with every album, but ‘Pray For Villains’ see them take a giant groovy leap forward...

19. Minsk - ‘With Echoes In The Movements Of Stone’ (Relapse)
A meticulously layered take on doom, this American act are putting a new slant on doom with their second album.

20. Therapy? - ‘Crooked Timber’ (Demolition Records)
The very definition of “stalwart”, Therapy? have weathered every storm that’s come their way, and used it to fuel a record that fuses all their influences into something that is indisputably their own sound.

MARTIN HARRIS TOP 20

LUCI HERBERT TOP 20

1. Madder Mortem – Eight Ways (Peaceville)
With her turbulent vocal style, Agnette Kirkevaag is in a league of her own, and that doesn’t even scratch the surface of why this album is so good. Whether the mellow dreaminess of Don’t Leave Me Out or the madcap affair that is Monster, this is all done with a sophistication and air of self-confidence that makes Eight Ways a dark progressive masterpiece.

2. Solstafir – Kold (Spinefarm)
Unlike the freak weather of December, this album certainly didn’t leave me Kold. This album blew me away with its post-black, retro-Goth sound all wrapped within a layer of tripped-out psychadelia and topped with clean, soaring vocals that are simply superb.

3. 1349 – Revelations Of The Black Flame (Candlelight)
These Norwegians mix up their usual atavistic fury with a more experimental approach and the result is something so spectacular it has rarely left my stereo for the past 6 months. From the bowel-shattering distortion of Horns to the claustrophobic intensity of Uncreation this is all done with the 1349 stamp of quality and steeped in atmospheric unrest. This would have been much lower down if not for me getting very well-acquainted with this while laid up with flu over Xmas; great music for dying to!

4. Swallow The Sun – New Moon (Spinefarm)
Swallow The Sun are fast becoming one of my favourite bands and while this came out late on in the year it still managed to make a huge impact. Soporific, sorrowful melodies blend with crushing rhythm sections to create another excellent slab of death-doom that won’t be laid to rest in a hurry.

5. Amesoeurs – Amesoeurs (Code666)
Sadly, this captivating debut from Alcest members Neige and Winterhalter is also the last as the band disbanded shortly after its release. With enchanting female vocals, jangly post-punk guitars and overall vibrancy, this is a great album for when you just want to keep things mellow. The French ain’t all bad…even if the name is a bitch to spell correctly!

6. Absu – Absu (Candlelight)
It’s been almost a decade since the release of Tara; now Proscriptor and co. are back with another necro-thrashing slab of magickal Sumerian mayhem that has kept my head banging and horns high since its release date.

7. Damned Spirits Dance – Weird Constellations (Code666)
Weird? Yes. Schizophrenic? Sure is. Good? Fucking A! Certainly one of the most out-there metal releases of 2009, this takes various tips from the black metal rule book and throws out as many curveballs as it will (un)safely allow. This is metal at its maddest, most unpredictable, and it makes me want to join the damned spirits and dance!

8. Depressed Mode – For Death (Firebox)
This death-doom album came as a real treat, and hasn’t had chance to gather much dust between plays. With a horror-esque atmosphere, booming symphonics and sweeping vocal harmonies this is essential listening for anyone who likes their metal to have a dramatic twist.

9. Uninvited Guest – Malice In Wonderland (Maddened Media)
These Goth-tarts really put a Cheshire-cat grin on my face back in Feb, and has remained a firm-fave throughout the year. With tunes about dances, strange Gothic romances and Victorian night-time hooker-disembowelling prancers, this is one that drags you through the playground into a seriously warped world of wonder in which I’ll gladly reside, RSVP or not.

10. Den Saakaldte – All Hail Pessimism (Avantgarde)
With Niklas "Kvarforth" Olsson at the helm you know this isn’t going to be all roses and fluffy things. This is black metal, steeped high with depressive ambience and backed with an apocalyptic horn section. All Hail Pessimism indeed!

11. Fen – Malediction Fields (Code666)
This is music that will take you somewhere within deepest, darkest East Anglia where electricity hasn’t quite been discovered yet. It’s not hard to get swept away with this organic black metal offering that will have you reaching for those pine-scented joss sticks. Fentastic!

12. Evile – Infected Nations (Earache)
This sophomore album from these UK thrashers showed enough evolvement to brush off any accusations of retro-thrash gimmickry. With a darker, heavier approach Evile have really come into their own and are here to show they’re in it for the long-haul. Good stuff!

13. Ensiferum – From Afar (Spinefarm)
The chainmail-clad warriors return with more tunes that’ll have you polishing your sword and swigging mead from a giant horn (possible innuendo noted though not intended!) Perhaps their catchiest offering to date.

14. The Gathering – The West Pole (Psychonaut)
Upon first hearing this album I honestly wouldn’t have imagined it ending up in my top 20 but I found it to be a real grower. Silje Wergeland proves to be a welcome replacement, as her natural dreamy tones swim around in the mix of beguiling and rather soothing gothic metal. The result is stunning.

15. Marduk – Wormwood (Regain)
A truly crushing and oppressive offering from Morgan and co. that has undeniably been given a boost with thanks to Mortuus’ abilities in the department of writing funereal music.

16. Nazxul – Iconoclast (Eisenwald)
This Aussie troupe is really making up for 15 year break as they sprung back in 2009 with this rather excellent album of experimental yet relentless black metal. Proof Australia has more to offer than Neighbours.

17. Bloody Panda – Summon (Profound Lore)
How does one summon a bloody panda? Was the panda meant to be bloody, or was it just an incantation gone wrong? Unsurprisingly there are Japanese folk in this NY doom outfit, which explains why this album is so weird. In a good way, of course!

18. Leaves Eyes – Njord (Napalm)
Liv Kristine has one of the most distinctive voices in metal. Together with a backdrop of crunchy riffs, sweeping epic melodies and a touch of gothic romanticism this is all you’ll need to reign victorious in battle.

19. Darktrance – Beyond The Gates Of Insanity (BadMoodMan)
There are no two words in the English language that say it better; this is dark and trance-inducing…add to that emotional, beautiful, depressive and takes one on a cosmic tripped-out journey beyond the gates of…well, somewhere. A totally worthy last-minute addition to my list.

20. Defiance – The Prophecy (Candlelight)
I was going to throw a curveball and give Lady Gaga my final top 20 slot, but instead it goes to Defiance whose come-back album is a reminder of how a band can stay true to the old school yet still sound relevant.

CHRIS KEE TOP 20

LEE KIMBER TOP 10

2. Amorphis – Skyforger (Nuclear Blast)
A far cry from their Death roots, and maybe a bit too tame for some, but the revitalising effect that Tomi Joutsen has had since his arrival can’t be understated. Full of classic melodic doom anthems, and featuring one of the best songs of the year in Silver Bride, Skyforger is a future classic. 3. Process Of Guilt – Erosion (Major Label Industries)
The follow up to their stunning 2006 debut finds PoG exceeding all expectations and surely on the way to much deserved wider recognition. Slow, oppressive and yet somehow strangely uplifting deathly doom. 4. Napalm Death – Time Waits For No Slave (Century Media)
Napalm Death just keep getting better and better. This is a stunning example of a band at the very top of their game. Total crushing unrelenting brutality.

5. The Morningside – Moving Crosscurrent Of Time (Bad Mood Man Music)
A gorgeous serving of melancholy melodic doom from this emerging Russian quartet. This is the album that Katatonia should have released this year instead of their own disappointingly bland effort.

6. Nile – Those Whom The Gods Detest (Nuclear Blast)
Yet another Death Metal epic from Karl Sanders and co. 10 tracks of some of the most varied, technical and accomplished metal you will find anywhere, but then what else did you expect from Nile?

7. Belphegor – Walpurgis Rites – Hexenwahn (Nuclear Blast)
Unfairly maligned, like Bondage Goat Zombie before it; but when viewed on its own merits and not just by purists and fanboys, this is a damn good album that drips with evil.

8. Subhuman – Profondo Rozzo (Maple Metal Records)
A stunningly brutal slice of Italian Death Thrash that just gets better and better with every listen. Laden with aggression and lightning fast guitars and drums, it’s enough to make your speakers bleed.

9. Paradise Lost – Faith Divides Us Death Unites Us (Century Media)
Following up on In Requiem was always going to be a tall order, but the Halifax gloomsters managed to go one better with their heaviest and darkest album in 15 years.

10. Beherit – Engram (Spinefarm Records)
A surprising, and excellent comeback album. An essential Black Metal release to rival the classic Drawing Down The Moon.

Just missing out on the final list were Mastodon, Absu, Rammstein, For Ruin, Arckanum, Candlemass and Raventale.

RICK LAWSON TOP 10

2. Mastadon - Crack The Skye (Reprise) 3. Sepultura - A-Lex (Steamhammer) 4. Loch Vostock- Reveal No secrets (Nightmare/Silverwolf) 5. Asphyx - Death...The Brutal Way (Century Media) 6. Rammstein - Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da (Universal) 7. 3 Inches Of Blood - Here Awaits Thy Doom (Century Media) 8. Seregon - Disposable Suffering (Self Released) 9. Devildriver - Pray For Villains (Roadrunner) 10. God Forbid – Earthsblood (Century Media)

PAUL MADDISON TOP 20

2009 has been a pretty damn good year for metal, the old guard have produced some stunning albums, bands that have reformed have produced some good stuff instead of treading the boards with re-hashed old tunes and the new and upcoming bands from the UK (e.g. Trippy Wicked and Flayed Disciple) and around the world (Lifeless, Fatalist, and Nervecell to name but a few) have certainly been right up there with the best of them. Whilst other UK bands like Serpent Venom and Witchsorrow have been producing some killer live performances, we have to wait patiently until next year to see if the fruits of their labour get laid down in the studio (and of course the new Centurion’s Ghost album is also promised!). This year my top 20 has been dominated by old school death metal but surprises of the year came from Sacred Mother Tongue and London’s Dead Existence, both producing powerful debuts of very different styles and thankfully gaining more and more credit as the year progressed, we watch with baited breath how their promising musical vision and career progresses and I still cannot get the Bigelf album out of the stereo either.

In the “new” top 20 rules, EP’s and compilation albums could not be added to my list this year, but releases worthy of mention came from Mutant, Seregon, and Dark Forest with the ‘Swedish Death Metal’ Compilation album topping my year, all stunning releases and in the case of Mutant, most definitely worth the wait.

Let’s hope that 2010 continues with a heavy vengeance of relentless metal and the beer prices at venues lowers to a healthy level, although I am only sure that the former will come to pass in 2010!

Goodnight 2009, you have been a FANtastic audience!

1. Vomitory – Carnage Euphoria (Metal Blade)
2. Asphyx – Death the Brutal Way (Century Media)
3. Artillery – When Death Comes (Metal Mind Productions)
4. Hypocrisy – A Taste of Extreme Divinity (Nuclear Blast)
5. Fatalist – The Depths of Inhumanity (Ibex Moon Records)
6. RAM – Lightbringer (AFM Records)
7. Spiritus Mortis – The God Behind the God (Firebox Records)
8. Demonical – Hellsworn (Cyclone Empire Records)
9. Dead Existence – Dead Existence (Independent/Self Released)
10. Unanimated – In the Light of Darkness (Regain Records)
11. Sacred Mother Tongue – The Ruins of Man (Transcend Media)
12. Necrophobic – Death to All (Regain Records)
13. Candlemass – Death, Magic, Doom (Nuclear Blast Records)
14. Forsaken (Mlt) - After the Fall (I Hate Records)
15. Impious (swe) – Death Dominion (Metal Blade)
16. Avulsed – Nullo…The Pleasure of Self Mutilation (Ibex Moon Records)
17. Goreaphobia – Mortal Repulsion (Ibex Moon Records)
18. Megadeth – Endgame (Roadrunner Records)
19. Denial (Mex) – Catacombs of the Grotesque (Asphyxiate Recordings)
20. Kreator – Hordes of Chaos (SPV Records) – R.I.P.

SEAN PALFREY TOP 10

1. Swallow The Sun – New Moon (Spinefarm)
“I've always been in awe of Swallow The Sun – they have to be one of the best death-doom bands in the world today. 'New Moon' certainly sees the band kicking it up a notch from its predecessor, 2006's 'Hope'. As per usual, I can't wait for the next instalment of Gloom, Beauty and Despair.”

2. Katatonia – Night is the New Day (Peaceville)
“Katatonia's brand of melancholic dark metal is a great formula... so why mess with it? Well they didn't. 'The Great Cold Distance' was an exceptional album and the band have taken those blueprints and built another fantastic opus in the form of 'Night is the New Day'.”

3. Behemoth – Evangelion (Nuclear Blast)
“I think Behemoth really hit the nail on the head with this album. 'Thelema.6' was probably their high watermark from me, but production and writing-wise the band will have a tall order in trying to top this one.”

4. Anaal Nathrakh – In the Constellation of the Black Widow (Candlelight/Feto)
“Anaal Nathrakh are more Necro than thou... period. I therefore defy anyone to think of another band that can go toe to toe with the grim Brummies after they listen to this slab of brutal blackened-grind.”

5. Paradise Lost – Faith Divides Us Death Unite Us (Century Media)
“Lets face it – Paradise Lost are the godfathers of Goth Metal, and I don't give a shit what your definition of Goth Metal is either... All you need to know is that Paradise Lost invented it and when they want to, they can show you just how good they are at it.”

6. Napalm Death – Time Waits For No Slave (Century Media)
“Ever since Napalm Death rediscovered themselves on 'The Code is Red...' they have improved on every outing, and 'Time Waits...' is no exception. Continuing their tradition of progressive thinking Grindcore, this album stands out in a genre where their early releases are still copied ad nauseum.”

7. My Dying Bride – For Lies I Sire (Peaceville)
“Nobody does doom and gloom like My Dying Bride, and only they can go forward musically by going backwards. The violins have returned for added melancholic atmosphere, and the band have referred to their best past efforts to fully define what THE My Dying Bride sound is.”

8. Insomnium – Across The Dark (Candlelight)
“This band is like wine – the more it matures, the better it gets. 2006's 'Across the Weeping World' made me sit up and take notice, and with this year's follow up 'Across the Dark' they have really grabbed my attention.”

9. 1349 – Revelations of the Black Flame (Candlelight)
“1349 always prided themselves on being a 'primordial' sounding Black Metal band. But I think touring with Celtic Frost really rubbed off on them in a good way (so did getting Mr Warrior on the production team). 'Revelations...' is still fuelled by Hellfire, but there are many more points of interest beyond the sheer ferocity that is their signature.”

10. Sunn0))) – Monoliths and Dimensions (Southern Lord)
“Sunn0)))'s ambient, droning doom has been loosening bowels for ten years now, and to celebrate they seem to have come up with their most powerful and compelling album yet. Attila Csihar's vocals make a welcome return amidst the monolithic feedback, and add some fantastic brass arrangements and you have a classic for the band.”

PETE WOODS TOP 20

Musically a far better year than last and one that even picking just 20 albums was not enough by a long chalk. I think the versatility of all our writers’ choices highlights this and it’s great to see the amount of both old and new artists as well as different labels represented.

1. Marduk – Wormwood (Regain)
Morgan’s troops have been reborn since Mortuus joined and his necrotic performance on this album is every bit as stunning as the flow between feral and cadaverous numbers. They backed it up with my show of the year too, crushing all at Party San.

2. New Model Army – Today Is A Good Day (Attack Attack)
How many bands on the eve of their 30th anniversary deliver an album as brilliant as the ones that established them a couple of decades ago? I can hear you thinking but you can’t name any can you?

3. Amorphis – Skyforger (Nuclear Blast)
Always reliable at bringing fantastic melodies to the table, Amorphis deliver another chapter from their sublime kalevala. Epic, mature and oozing in confidence, these are tales forged by legends.

4. Shining – VI Klagopsalmer (Osmose)
Counterpoising wretched suicidal craft with surprisingly joyous and upbeat anthems, Kvarforth and comrades let the music do the talking and put aside the drama on an album where musicianship and song-craft reign supreme.

5. Blut Aus Nord - Memoria Vestusta II Dialogue With The Stars (Candlelight)
After a few patchy and self indulgent albums the mysterious French entity BaN deliver a close encounter which although alien is one of both depth and beguilement, leaving the listener both illuminated and enlightened.

6. Swallow The Sun – New Moon (Spinefarm)
A late entry that demanded insertion. New Moon is a twisted fairytale leading down a myriad of paths, as enchanting as they are seeped in danger. If you like atmospheric doom you will find it here in spades, a necessary implement in these deep dark woods.

7. Trist – Willenskraft (Cold Dimensions)
The sea makes a compelling sound and here its tides call you into their arms and drown you in deep dark embrace. Ghostly, evocative and even at its most minimalist and ambient this is a dream laden voyage to the dark cold depths.

8. Madder Mortem – Eight Ways (Peaceville)
Agnete’s vocals are one of a kind and every bit as unique as her bands music. Put them together and you have a cracking album with songs and cover art as equally mystifying as they are addictive. Perfect Norwegian avant-gardism.

9. Arckanum – ÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞ (Debemur Morti)
Shamaatae unveils his own secrets of the runes with a blaze of anti-cosmic energy flung from deep, dark Swedish woods. Brimming with strident sermons this is a glorious return to form from the trollish overlord.

10. Fäulnis - Gehirn zwischen Wahn und Sinn (Karge Welten Kunstverlag)
Who cares if everything is in German, it just makes it all the more compelling. Fäulnis emotional rollercoaster ride through depressive states of mind unlocks plenty of portals but be warned, the mind is a terrible thing to taste.

11. Skaldic Curse – World Suicide Machine (Dark Essence)
UKBM a term of derision to many but after a huge wait Skaldic Curse finally get the deal and unleash their knives to an unsuspecting world. Negativity and misanthropy has never sounded so potent; a cut above the rest.

12. Fen - The Malediction Fields (Code 666)
Counterpoising lush and expansive moments of ambience with tumultuous barrages of blackened hate Fen are a band who will bog you down. Find a branch and you may just drag yourself out but only if it’s pine scented.

13. Colosseum - Chapter 2. Namquam (Firebox)
Miserable and bleak funeral doom which no doubt despises life as much as it hungers to devour it. This was another album that had me closing my eyes and drifting off to another place; dead but not dreaming.

14. Nightrage - Wearing A Martyr’s Crown (Lifeforce)
The Swedoriff may well be totally past it’s prime as well as all those bands from Gothenburg who invented it. It took a Greek man to remind us just how potent it could be. A pure, joyous, unadulterated, air-guitar scything album and a half.

15. 1349 – Revelations Of The Black Flame (Candlelight)
The tried and tested black Satanic rituals of 1349 may have never been subtle but here they decided to try a different more challenging spell of post doom hypnotism. As they set their controls to the outer limits we could but take a deep breath and follow.

16. Abgott – Godfather In Black (Helvete & Hate)
The black metal mafia is every bit as inventive as the Cosa Nostra itself. Using manic riffing as a weapon they stalk and kill all detractors in as complicated a fashion as they want, knowing full well that the best way to torment your prey is to play with it.

17. Amesoeurs – Amesoeurs (Code 666)
A sweet simple swansong that although not perhaps ‘metal’ per-se exists within our realm every bit as much as Neige’s equally enjoyable Alcest. If you used to love Indie and shoegaze bands this is like taking a trip back in time; delightful.

18. Den Saakaldte -All Hail Pessimism (Avantgarde)
A band who no doubt adhere to the glass (or bottle of Jim) being half empty principle. There is an overflowing abundance of talent in this bands rank’s and it pays off with added horn sections, depression, paranoia, anguish and death grunts.

19. Stream Of Passion – The Flame Within (Napalm)
Despite no involvement from Mr Lucassen this is a flame that still burns bright. Marcela’s voice just makes me melt and there are some fantastically catch songs here which even just thinking of make me all warm inside.

20. No Made Sense - The Epillanic Choragi (Basick)
I would never have expected to have a debut by a young band from Reading in my top albums of the year but by damn they deserve their place. Dynamic, experimental, well executed and even at 74 minutes captivating stuff.

And that is my 20 with no room for some other great discs by the likes of Immortal, Code, Diablo Swing Orchestra. I could go on believe me but instead, what of 2010?

Well I have already scoffed on new and rather good albums by Ihsahn, Borknagar, Sigh and a guaranteed top 20 album for next year by Rotting Christ but there are plenty more. I am mightily excited at the prospect of, Dark Tranquillity, Watain, Shining, Morbid Angel, Burzum, Triptykon, Killing Joke, Darkthrone, Cathedral, Primordial, Negura Bunget and that’s just to name a few. Yes bring it the fuck on!

JAMES YOUNG TOP 10

1. Megadeth - Endgame (Roadrunner)
2. Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings (Roadrunner)
3. Defect Designer - Wax (My Kingdom)
4. Porcupine Tree - The Incident (Roadrunner)
5. Bon Jovi - The Circle (Mercury)
6. Devin Townsend Project - Ki (Inside Out)
7. Dying Fetus - Descend Into Depravity (Relapse)
8. KISS - Sonic Boom (Universal)
9. Brutal Truth - Evolution Through Revolution (Relapse)
10. Katatonia - Night Is The New Day (Peaceville)