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I’ve had the pleasure and displeasure of listening to a shit ton of really good (and really bad) metal these past 12 months. Granted, I haven’t had the opportunity to review all of those that I really wanted to, I did particularly enjoy the following releases. They may not have been the best crafted albums or the best material, but for one reason or another they have stuck with me through 2011, constantly showing up in playlists and in the stereo more often than some of them probably should have.
So, without any further nonsense on my part, here are the top fifteen (in no particular order) albums that I reviewed this year.
Withered Dualitas
A good deal of inner turmoil amongst the band caused all but Mike Thompson to leave the band. That, however, only proved to re-fuel his creative efforts and he, along with a new cast of characters, released what I would consider the band’s best material to date.
God Dethroned Under the Sign of the Iron Cross
Having finally just found their sound over the past two releases, God Dethroned broke up shortly after releasing this blast of war-themed death metal. Dig a fox hole out in your front yard before throwing this beast of an album on. You’ll need the cover.
Dragged into Sunlight Hatred for Mankind
No album released or re-released in 2011 matched the ferocious malevolence that these blacked death mongers vomited out with this U.S. debut back in March. Unrelenting hatred for mankind indeed.
Kvelertak Kvelertak
Catchy, raucous and delivered with more than enough swagger this was another re-release (for the first time in the U.S. in 2011) that really lef tit’s mark on metal. This was the album that you’d put on prior to going out for the night. It’s aggressive, infectious and down right fun to listen to.
Rotten Sound Cursed
Easily one of the best, if not the top release, of these Finnish grinders lengthy career. Destructive, tight and balls-to-the-wall, Cursed delivered the goods quickly and efficiently — only as Rotten Sound could have done.
Amon Amarth Surtur Rising
There’s just something about these guys’ brand of “viking metal” that really gets me amped up. Anthemic and epic in sound, the tracks on the band’s latest full-length came together for the groups most complete album to date.
Trap Them Darker Handcraft
Trap Them’s debut effort a couple of years ago was pretty damned impressive, but it was scatterbrained and a bit messy. There’s no sophomore slump for these guys as they delivered a concise and dissonant helping of caustic metal that outshined their debut.
Blaspherian Infernal Warriors of Death
Infernal Warriors of Death may not have been the best old school death metal release of the year, but, damn it, the album still slayed with elements of Cianide and Incantation hurled about as blasphemously as possible.
Hate Eternal Phoenix Amongst the Ashes
Easily the most sonically destructive and technically awe-inspiring release of the year, Eric Rutan and crew delivered my album of the year with this blast of frenetic death metal. No one else could touch the sheer apocalyptic power that this album carved into my skull.
The Gates of Slumber The Wretch
Foregoing the wizards and dragons of material past, Gates of Slumber focused more on themselves with this latest helping of doom. As a result, they have enfolded me into their realm of fandom. It’s a kick ass album.
Deceased Surreal Overdose
One of the most under-rated underground acts of the past couple of years, Deceased may very well break out into the open with this latest helping of infectious death/thrash. I would gleefully be force-fed the band’s blend of galloping riffs, melodic hooks and aggression.
Exhumed All Guts No Glory
I initially past up on this album at first, but am thankful to all things gorefully unholy that I finally threw it into the stereo. The band’s death/thrash injected new life into the genre with catchy hooks and memorable tracks. This was another album that I had to crow-bar out of rotation in order to review other discs.
Morbus Chron Sleepers in the Rift
There were so many great old school Swedish death metal released this past year (I still have a couple of reviews yet to be published before 2011 is over), but it was Morbus Chron’s offering that really caught my ear. The band’s unique blend of the Swedish influence along with the likes of Autopsy produced one of the more unique albums of the year.
Revocation Chaos of Forms
If it weren’t for Hate Eternal, this would have wound up my favorite album of the year. It showcassed the group’s technical chops without going over the top, instead opting for a more measured approach that infused their proficencies with excellent song structure, catchy choruses and more. A classic album for years to come.
Brutal Truth End Time
When is Brutal Truth not on every year end list? Their latest helping of unrelenting, dissonant grind was over the top as the band’s patented wall of sound approach required more than one or two listens to fully digest everything the album had to offer.
Honorable Mention:
Acid Witch Stoned
This album was beyond addictive for me. Acid Witch’s sophore album blended psychedelic, doom, death, sludge and more into an evil concoction of massive slab riffs, catchy groove and Black Sabbath worship. I loved every second of it.