Atrium CarceriSome artists/bands whose album(s) didn't make the list, but deserve a mention: Altar of Plagues, Asphyx, Astra, Atrium Carceri, Augury, Clutch, Devin Townsend, dälek, Dysrhythmia, Ghost Brigade, Goatwhore, GREYMACHINE, Jesu, Krallice, Lustmord, Nicole, OM, Portal, Riverside, Swallow the Sun, The Chasm, The Devil's Blood, The Mars Volta, The Red Chord, Totalt Jävla Mörker, Urfaust, Voivod, Weedeater, Zoroaster
30. Napalm Death - Time Waits For No Slave
To be honest, I didn't expect an album this good. It took Napalm Death a surprisingly long time of 3 years to get this album out, and it truly shows - Time Waits for No Slave proves that Barney & co. can still grind their asses off, and create songs that sound fresh in these times of horrible plastic music.
Highlight track:
Time Waits For No Slave
29. Karl Sanders - Saurian Exorcisms
Nile's Karl Sanders' anticipated second solo album proved worthy of the five-year wait. Saurian Exorcisms is nothing more or less than quality dark ambient from the beginning to the last sample.
Highlight track:Shira Gula Pazu
28. Temple Of Baal - Lightslaying Rituals
Fact: Lightslaying Rituals is the angriest, most ruthless album I've heard all year. Maybe even too angry at times, as it seems like this French machine sometimes tends to forget innovation and variation, and just settles for destroying everything in their way, which is fine too...at least for a couple of listens.
Highlight track: Piercing The Veils Of Slumber
27. Skeletonwitch - Breathing The Fire
A rare gem in the sea of mediocre 21st century thrash. Not as good an album as its predecessor Beyond the Permafrost, but still a powerful thrash assault with A LOT of great riffs.
Highlight track:Where the Light Has Failed
26. Drudkh - Microcosmos
While it's definitely not the Ukrainians' best release, Microcosmos is still a damn great album with all the things you can expect from a solid Drudkh album: Slavic mythology, pure emotion, and beautiful soundscapes.
Highlight track: Distant Cries of Cranes
25. Cobalt - Gin
Propably one of the most interesting bands in the rapidly growing scene of psychedelic American black metal, but there's still something that prevents me from enjoying this album full-heartedly. Maybe a few more listens will enlighten me to Cobalt's ways, but until then Gin shall stay at 25. in this list.
Highlight track: Arsonry
24. Isis - Wavering Radiant
The second straight non-memorable album by arguably post-metal's biggest name. Wavering Radiant is best described as "dissapointing, but still good".
Highlight track:20 Minutes / 40 Years
23. Black Cobra - Chronomega
Dark, sludgy, heavy, and nasty= another great sludge metal album by Black Cobra.
Highlight track:Chronosphere
22. Porcupine Tree - The Incident
The album is massive with its two cds and length of 75 minutes, but Steven Wilson still somehow managed to keep things in order. The Incident is definitely a grower, but I still feel that there's just too many fillers to justify it a higher ranking.
Highlight track: Octane Twisted
21. Sunn O))) - Monoliths & Dimensions
Another massive album by the masters of drone doom, and yet another showcase of how powerful the practise of minimalism can be. Attila Csihar provides, once again, some of the creepiest vocals mankind has ever encountered. Another day at the office.
Highlight track: Aghartha
20. Wolves in the Throne Room - Malevolent Grain + Black Cascade
Pure psychedelic black metal madness. Some say that Wolves in the Throne Room are losing their edge, but that's total bs. Black Cascade might not be WitTR's best work, but it's still a respectable addition to their discography. Note: Malevolent Grain EP acts as a great intro to Black Cascade.
Highlight track:Ahrimanic Trance
19. Lightning Bolt - Earthly Delights
Brian Chippendale and Brian Gibson show once again why they rule the noise rock scene supremely. The beauty of the organized chaos this duo creates album after album is beyond comprehension, and Earthly Delights is no aberration to the familiar pattern. Earthly Delights is a lovely album filled with content not so delightful for any sane listener's ears.
Highlight track: Transmissionary
18. Kylesa - Static Tensions
Static Tensions is a great album by a (formerly) average band, and also one of this year's biggest surprises for me. Although resembling Baroness' Red Album, Kylesa still come of clean from being copycats as Static Tensions is sludge metal at its best. The opening song "Scapegoat" is a noteworthy contender for this year's best song.
Highlight track:Scapegoat
17. Ajattara - Noitumaa
This is an album that you just can't call "ok". You either like Ajattara's acoustic black metal masterpiece, or you don't. It's that simple. I find Noitumaa a truly interesting album. Beneath the mentally sick and occultist lyrics and music is just something that makes this album work for me. Hard to explain, but just take a listen and judge Noitumaa yourself.
Highlight track: Kielletyn sanat
16. Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect
About what was to be expected, and just a little more. My favourite work to date by them, and yes, I prefer The Great Misdirect over the almighty Colors.
Highlight track: Obfuscation
15. Hacride - Lazarus
Lazarus has to be my #1 choice for the most pleasant surprise of 09. I'm still shocked that a band this mediocre can come up with something as good as Lazarus. In a more quiet year Lazarus could've easily made the top 10, or heck, even top 5.
Highlight track: To Walk Among Them
14. The Axis of Perdition - Urfe
Actually this is more of a horror soundbook than a proper album, as most of the 90 minutes are spoken word with an ambient background and there's only a few metallish parts. The story and storytelling are magnificent and truly bring the listener to the edge of his/her seat. The alternating and playing with feelings of disgust, anxiety, pure horror and ultimately relief, is so brilliantly done that there isn't a single moment when you lose concentration. In addition, the ending minutes of the first cd are some of the most intense I've ever experienced.
Highlight track: Grief Of The Unclean VI
13. Nile - Those Whom The Gods Detest
I didn't really expect too much of this album after the massive dissapointment caused by Ithyphallic, but Nile is back! Those Whom the Gods Detest is pure Nile in the vein of In Their Darkened Shrines and Annihilation of the Wicked. The lyrical content is still a bit dull (compared to the first few albums), but this is, nevertheless, a damn great album.
Highlight track:Iskander D'hul Karnon
12. Baroness - Blue Record
It was clear that Baroness couldn't possibly make a record better than Red Album, but they came close. At first I had mixed feelings about Blue Record's more "poppish" sound and lo-fi production, like most Baroness fans, but it turned out to be a great album.
Highlight track: The Sweetest Curse
11. Mastodon - Crack The Skye
The endless evolution of Mastodon continues to...prog rock/metal? If this lighter approach is what the band always wanted to sound like, like Brent Hinds mentioned in an interview, I wonder what their next masterpiece will sound like.
Highlight track: Crack The Skye
10. Harvestman - In A Dark Tongue
Steve von Till and his endless Holy grail of awesomeness have once again awarded us with an epic album. Nothing more to add.
Highlight track:By Wind and Sun
9. Doomriders - Darkness Come Alive
The first album by this supergroup already promised a bright future, but their new one tops the expectations easily. Darkness Come Alive is some of the most fresh sounding stoner metal released in a while.
Highlight track: Come Alive
8. The Ruins of Beverast - Foulest Semen of a Sheltered Elite
After two pretty good albums Alexander von Meilenwald has created something that will never be forgotten by fans of experimental black metal. Foulest Semen of a Sheltered Elite is a pure showcase of what black metal sounds like at its best.
Highlight track: Blood Vaults (II: Our Despots Cleanse the Levant)
7. Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Agorapocalypse
Rarely does an album's cover art represent so perfectly what you're about to hear. Scott Hull's latest creation is just as chaotic and freakishly composed as you can assume from what you see above, and also has some of the most genius and hilarious lyrics I've encountered in a long time. Modern grindcore at its best.
Highlight track: Agorapocalypse Now
6. Sólstafir - Köld
Looks like these Icelandic cowboys have finally discovered their identity with Köld. After a few good, but not too great, albums they have created something truly unique.
Highlight track: Love Is the Devil (And I Am in Love)
5. Amesoeurs - Amesoeurs
Neige delivers again with yet another atmospheric masterpiece, and is becoming a true household name in the French music scene. The first, and last, Amesoeurs album is at times beautiful and subtle, at times heavy and raw, but always awe-inspiring.
Highlight track: La Reine Trayeuse
4. Oranssi Pazuzu - Muukalainen Puhuu
I have no idea where these guys came from, but their combination of black metal, psychedelic rock, and even dub, is something I fell in love with immediately. I felt sad when Kuolleet Intiaanit announced a break, but if Juho Vanhanen and Oranssi Pazuzu continue to make records like this I can't complain.
Highlight track:Kangastus 1968
3. Blut aus Nord - Memoria Vetusta II - Dialogue with the Stars
The fourth French album in this list... these baguette biters are truly raising the French flag high on the mountain of modern metal. Blut Aus Nord is arguably the most praised French black metal band, so it's not a surprise that people expected an epic album when the follow-up for 1996's Memoria Vetusta I: Fathers of the Icy Age was announced. I don't think that anyone expected something this epic, though. Memoria Vetusta II is pretty close to a perfect album in my books. The fact that this one is ranked only third shows what a great year this was for music.
Highlight track:The Formless Sphere (Beyond the Reason)
2. Deströyer 666 - Defiance
Another one that took me by surprise. Although as great a band as Deströyer 666 is I never believed that something this tight was on its way. Defiance was close of being named as my album of the year, but is still, in my opinion, topped by one release.
Highlight track:Human All Too Human
1. Converge - Axe To Fall
Axe to Fall is one hell of an album. Although any of the albums listed in my top 6 could have made it to the top spot, I still decided to go with Converge's newest one for obvious reasons. The alternating between pure chaos and atmospheric parts, and Jacob Bannon's intense and sincerely emotional vocal attack (that has been lost since Jane Doe) make Axe to Fall easily their best release since 2004, and that's a lot said right there.
Highlight track:Dark Horse
30. Napalm Death - Time Waits For No Slave
To be honest, I didn't expect an album this good. It took Napalm Death a surprisingly long time of 3 years to get this album out, and it truly shows - Time Waits for No Slave proves that Barney & co. can still grind their asses off, and create songs that sound fresh in these times of horrible plastic music.
Highlight track:
Time Waits For No Slave29. Karl Sanders - Saurian Exorcisms
Nile's Karl Sanders' anticipated second solo album proved worthy of the five-year wait. Saurian Exorcisms is nothing more or less than quality dark ambient from the beginning to the last sample.
Highlight track:
Shira Gula Pazu28. Temple Of Baal - Lightslaying Rituals
Fact: Lightslaying Rituals is the angriest, most ruthless album I've heard all year. Maybe even too angry at times, as it seems like this French machine sometimes tends to forget innovation and variation, and just settles for destroying everything in their way, which is fine too...at least for a couple of listens.
Highlight track: Piercing The Veils Of Slumber
27. Skeletonwitch - Breathing The Fire
A rare gem in the sea of mediocre 21st century thrash. Not as good an album as its predecessor Beyond the Permafrost, but still a powerful thrash assault with A LOT of great riffs.
Highlight track:
Where the Light Has Failed26. Drudkh - Microcosmos
While it's definitely not the Ukrainians' best release, Microcosmos is still a damn great album with all the things you can expect from a solid Drudkh album: Slavic mythology, pure emotion, and beautiful soundscapes.
Highlight track: Distant Cries of Cranes
25. Cobalt - Gin
Propably one of the most interesting bands in the rapidly growing scene of psychedelic American black metal, but there's still something that prevents me from enjoying this album full-heartedly. Maybe a few more listens will enlighten me to Cobalt's ways, but until then Gin shall stay at 25. in this list.
Highlight track: Arsonry
24. Isis - Wavering Radiant
The second straight non-memorable album by arguably post-metal's biggest name. Wavering Radiant is best described as "dissapointing, but still good".
Highlight track:
20 Minutes / 40 Years23. Black Cobra - Chronomega
Dark, sludgy, heavy, and nasty= another great sludge metal album by Black Cobra.
Highlight track:
Chronosphere22. Porcupine Tree - The Incident
The album is massive with its two cds and length of 75 minutes, but Steven Wilson still somehow managed to keep things in order. The Incident is definitely a grower, but I still feel that there's just too many fillers to justify it a higher ranking.
Highlight track: Octane Twisted
21. Sunn O))) - Monoliths & Dimensions
Another massive album by the masters of drone doom, and yet another showcase of how powerful the practise of minimalism can be. Attila Csihar provides, once again, some of the creepiest vocals mankind has ever encountered. Another day at the office.
Highlight track: Aghartha
20. Wolves in the Throne Room - Malevolent Grain + Black Cascade
Pure psychedelic black metal madness. Some say that Wolves in the Throne Room are losing their edge, but that's total bs. Black Cascade might not be WitTR's best work, but it's still a respectable addition to their discography. Note: Malevolent Grain EP acts as a great intro to Black Cascade.
Highlight track:
Ahrimanic Trance19. Lightning Bolt - Earthly Delights
Brian Chippendale and Brian Gibson show once again why they rule the noise rock scene supremely. The beauty of the organized chaos this duo creates album after album is beyond comprehension, and Earthly Delights is no aberration to the familiar pattern. Earthly Delights is a lovely album filled with content not so delightful for any sane listener's ears.
Highlight track: Transmissionary
18. Kylesa - Static Tensions
Static Tensions is a great album by a (formerly) average band, and also one of this year's biggest surprises for me. Although resembling Baroness' Red Album, Kylesa still come of clean from being copycats as Static Tensions is sludge metal at its best. The opening song "Scapegoat" is a noteworthy contender for this year's best song.
Highlight track:
Scapegoat17. Ajattara - Noitumaa
This is an album that you just can't call "ok". You either like Ajattara's acoustic black metal masterpiece, or you don't. It's that simple. I find Noitumaa a truly interesting album. Beneath the mentally sick and occultist lyrics and music is just something that makes this album work for me. Hard to explain, but just take a listen and judge Noitumaa yourself.
Highlight track: Kielletyn sanat
16. Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect
About what was to be expected, and just a little more. My favourite work to date by them, and yes, I prefer The Great Misdirect over the almighty Colors.
Highlight track: Obfuscation
15. Hacride - Lazarus
Lazarus has to be my #1 choice for the most pleasant surprise of 09. I'm still shocked that a band this mediocre can come up with something as good as Lazarus. In a more quiet year Lazarus could've easily made the top 10, or heck, even top 5.
Highlight track: To Walk Among Them
14. The Axis of Perdition - Urfe
Actually this is more of a horror soundbook than a proper album, as most of the 90 minutes are spoken word with an ambient background and there's only a few metallish parts. The story and storytelling are magnificent and truly bring the listener to the edge of his/her seat. The alternating and playing with feelings of disgust, anxiety, pure horror and ultimately relief, is so brilliantly done that there isn't a single moment when you lose concentration. In addition, the ending minutes of the first cd are some of the most intense I've ever experienced.
Highlight track: Grief Of The Unclean VI
13. Nile - Those Whom The Gods Detest
I didn't really expect too much of this album after the massive dissapointment caused by Ithyphallic, but Nile is back! Those Whom the Gods Detest is pure Nile in the vein of In Their Darkened Shrines and Annihilation of the Wicked. The lyrical content is still a bit dull (compared to the first few albums), but this is, nevertheless, a damn great album.
Highlight track:
Iskander D'hul Karnon12. Baroness - Blue Record
It was clear that Baroness couldn't possibly make a record better than Red Album, but they came close. At first I had mixed feelings about Blue Record's more "poppish" sound and lo-fi production, like most Baroness fans, but it turned out to be a great album.
Highlight track: The Sweetest Curse
11. Mastodon - Crack The Skye
The endless evolution of Mastodon continues to...prog rock/metal? If this lighter approach is what the band always wanted to sound like, like Brent Hinds mentioned in an interview, I wonder what their next masterpiece will sound like.
Highlight track: Crack The Skye
10. Harvestman - In A Dark Tongue
Steve von Till and his endless Holy grail of awesomeness have once again awarded us with an epic album. Nothing more to add.
Highlight track:
By Wind and Sun9. Doomriders - Darkness Come Alive
The first album by this supergroup already promised a bright future, but their new one tops the expectations easily. Darkness Come Alive is some of the most fresh sounding stoner metal released in a while.
Highlight track: Come Alive
8. The Ruins of Beverast - Foulest Semen of a Sheltered Elite
After two pretty good albums Alexander von Meilenwald has created something that will never be forgotten by fans of experimental black metal. Foulest Semen of a Sheltered Elite is a pure showcase of what black metal sounds like at its best.
Highlight track: Blood Vaults (II: Our Despots Cleanse the Levant)
7. Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Agorapocalypse
Rarely does an album's cover art represent so perfectly what you're about to hear. Scott Hull's latest creation is just as chaotic and freakishly composed as you can assume from what you see above, and also has some of the most genius and hilarious lyrics I've encountered in a long time. Modern grindcore at its best.
Highlight track: Agorapocalypse Now
6. Sólstafir - Köld
Looks like these Icelandic cowboys have finally discovered their identity with Köld. After a few good, but not too great, albums they have created something truly unique.
Highlight track: Love Is the Devil (And I Am in Love)
5. Amesoeurs - Amesoeurs
Neige delivers again with yet another atmospheric masterpiece, and is becoming a true household name in the French music scene. The first, and last, Amesoeurs album is at times beautiful and subtle, at times heavy and raw, but always awe-inspiring.
Highlight track: La Reine Trayeuse
4. Oranssi Pazuzu - Muukalainen Puhuu
I have no idea where these guys came from, but their combination of black metal, psychedelic rock, and even dub, is something I fell in love with immediately. I felt sad when Kuolleet Intiaanit announced a break, but if Juho Vanhanen and Oranssi Pazuzu continue to make records like this I can't complain.
Highlight track:
Kangastus 19683. Blut aus Nord - Memoria Vetusta II - Dialogue with the Stars
The fourth French album in this list... these baguette biters are truly raising the French flag high on the mountain of modern metal. Blut Aus Nord is arguably the most praised French black metal band, so it's not a surprise that people expected an epic album when the follow-up for 1996's Memoria Vetusta I: Fathers of the Icy Age was announced. I don't think that anyone expected something this epic, though. Memoria Vetusta II is pretty close to a perfect album in my books. The fact that this one is ranked only third shows what a great year this was for music.
Highlight track:
The Formless Sphere (Beyond the Reason)2. Deströyer 666 - Defiance
Another one that took me by surprise. Although as great a band as Deströyer 666 is I never believed that something this tight was on its way. Defiance was close of being named as my album of the year, but is still, in my opinion, topped by one release.
Highlight track:
Human All Too Human1. Converge - Axe To Fall
Axe to Fall is one hell of an album. Although any of the albums listed in my top 6 could have made it to the top spot, I still decided to go with Converge's newest one for obvious reasons. The alternating between pure chaos and atmospheric parts, and Jacob Bannon's intense and sincerely emotional vocal attack (that has been lost since Jane Doe) make Axe to Fall easily their best release since 2004, and that's a lot said right there.
Highlight track:
Dark Horse
- Great
- Good
- Letdown (but decent)