Metal Reviews

Yes, I know it's only the end of April, but there have been some quality releases. I'm trying to figure out what I've missed. So, put up a list of standout releases for the year. I'm sure this will help others as well myself figure out what is a must listen.

For me:

Protest the Hero - Scurrilous - This is gonna be my album of the year. So many awesome moments on here. Every song has something to offer. I don't know how they are going to be able to follow this one up.

Born of Osiris - Discovery - This album has a very unique atmosphere that it carries very well throughout the whole album. Lots of great songs and some very nice leads on this one. If anything it's just a little too long.

Tesseract - One - This band is really cool. While they are probably considered "Djent," don't let that scare you off.

Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising - Solid effort from these guys. If you like them, you'll like this. If you don't, you won't.

Benighted - Asylum Cave - I need to listen to this one more, but my first impression is that these guys rule. Icon was awesome and this seems to be a worthy follow up.


So there are 5 albums that have stood out to me. I might have left something out, have to go back and check.

What other albums do I and other posters really need to check out?

Amon Amarth-Surtur Rising
Stratovarius-Elysium
Crowbar-Sever The Wicked Hand
Within Temptation-The Unforgiving
Jag Panzer-The Scourge of the Light

your forgetting the New Septic Flesh album...2011 isnt even close to over yet

Ava Inferi - Onyx - People keep missing this band, for some reason. Wonderful female-fronted doom with a delicious atmosphere.

Benighted - Asylum Cave - Death/Grind done fun.

Cavalera Conspiracy - Blunt Force Trauma - Blunt! blaargh Force! faargh! Trauma! traaaaaaamaaaaaaargh! Great album.

Crowbar - Sever The Wicked Hand - Sludge veterans at their best.

Septicflesh - The Great Mass - gets better each time I listen to it.

Moonsorrow - Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa: I still need to hear the new Septic Flesh, but so far this is the album of the year and it probably will remain that way until I've heard the new SF or Opeth's new album comes around.

Omnium Gatherum - New World Shadows: Melodeath the way it should be done. This genre would sound completely different were this released ten years ago.

Ixion - To the Void: Amazing atmospheric doom from France. A combination of clean and growled vocals, heavy yet melodic riffs and beautiful synths.

DoomSword - The Eternal Battle: Probably their best album yet.

Havok - Time Is Up: Retrothrash worth listening to.

I haven't heard a 2011 album all the way through yet.

I've been primarily digging up old material from bands I've missed out on over the years.

I only have four, nothing original either :

Benighted - Asylum Cave (Point already made in the review thread.)
Septicflesh - The Great Mass (Dum dum, dum dum *The Architeeeeect* dum dum dum, dum... - But other tracks kill as well.)
Turisas - Stand Up and Fight (a somewhat half-assed album, but the songs I like, I like A LOT.)
Motörhead- The Wörld is Yours (Unique band. Nöt their best, but awesöme enöugh.)

I have to listen to more 2011 stuff. I hope Power and True will be properly represented this year.

Trap Them - Darker Handcraft
Young Widows - In and Out of Youth and Lightness
Ken Mode - Venerable
Ulcerate - Destroyers of All
Krallice - Diotima (surely in only 3 days)

Add my approval to the already hailed:
Benighted - Asylum Cave
Protest the Hero - Scurrilous

And I did not like that newest Crowbar album at all.

I'm not forgetting it, because I haven't heard it yet. And yes, I know 2011 isn't even close to over yet. If I wait till December to figure out what I missed, I won't be able to catch up.

We should do a thread like this at the end of each month, or couple of months.

I haven't heard very many albums but I really like Protest the Hero and Young Widows'. And I like KEN Mode's (go trapt and Orion). And I think I really like 40 Watt Sun's but I'm only on the second listen right now. That's all I've heard.

haven't heard one. Can't wait for the new shining to come out though.

Septicflesh is leading the pack so far, closely followed by Benighted and Moonsorrow. I'm interested in the new Doomsword and Ixion, mentioned by Milan, sounds really interesting.

New Primordial should be good too, and I'm starting to dig the new Blut Aus Nord.

Motorhead - The World is Yours.

Only Moonsorrow.

Haven't heard Ulcerate the whole way through, though.

Burzum - Fallen

I second Protest the Hero, Young Widows, and Born of Osiris.

I also rly like the new Mogwai and Glassjaw (Coloring Book EP). As We Draw is also really good. I think Liturgy and Tyler, the Creator will probably make my list by the end of the year also.

Still need to check out: Benighted, KEN Mode, Amon Amarth

What's a good place to start with Glassjaw? I've been interested in them for a while now.

Forgot that one too.