Blog

1. What's your favorite song by 15?
Arcturus
Kinetic

2. How did you get into 20?
Amon Amarth
Either from friends or general exploration of viking-ish bands

3. Who is your favorite member in 1?
Carcass
It's gotta be Ken Owen! ever since his appearance at Bloodstock 08

4. What’s your favorite lyric bit by 29?
Devin Townsend
And Music? Well it's JUST ENTERTAINMENT, FOLKS!

5. Have you ever seen 22 live?
DevilDriver
no

6. What's your favorite album from 10?
Immortal
At the Heart of Winter

7. Do you own any merchandise from 3?
Children of Bodom
uh, a flag, a signed limited LP and not much else really.

8. What is a good memory you have of 7?
Septic Flesh
every time I listen to the crushing riff in Sangreal

9. Is there a member of the same age as you in 2?
Moonsorrow
uh, no.

10. When did you first get into 8?
Municipal Waste
At bloodstock, having never heard them before. (I thought they were from the 80s!)

11. Who likes 4 along with you?
Devin Townsend Project
SEAN!

12. Which song did you first hear from 16?
Korpiklaani
Wooden Pints, I think.

13. What song made you fall in love with 5?
Finntroll
Vindfärd / Människopesten. EPIC KEYBOARD

14. Which song do you not like by 18?
In Flames
not so keen on the first 2 albums, but I love every other song they've ever done.

15. Why do you like 14's songs?
Vesania
If Dimmu Borgir weren't dicks, weren't so theatrical, and so much more KVLT and TRVE, then you'd have the makings of a band like Vesania. so much darker and just generally better.

16. Where did you first hear 6?
Behemoth
On my recommended station

17. How long was 19 a band before you liked them?
Strapping Young Lad
They'd already split up, sadly.

18. Does 13 have a song that gives you a bad memory?
Dethklok
Absolutely not.

19. When did you get into 17?
Slayer
Not soon enough! I curse my parents for not playing it to me in the womb.

20. How long have you been into 9?
Kreator
Since Bloodstock, when I got the best black eye of my life in the pit!!

21. If 11 had a concert 300 miles away, would you drive there to see them?
Hypocrisy
no, not only because I don't have a license

22. How many CDs do you own of 12?
Black Label Society
1 - Mafia

23. Does 21 have a song that makes you cry?
Genghis Tron
I'd be too damn confused to cry!

24. Does 27 have a song that makes you happy?
HIM
They all do, in a sort of melancholy tragic gothic romance kinda way.

25. Does 23 have a song that makes you smile?
Bloodbath
that AWESOME riff in Devouring the Feeble!

26. What's the last song you've listened to from 28?
Devin Townsend
I'm listening now, to Deep Peace, from Terria

27. Is there a song by 32 that you've listened to more than 30 times?
Down
Probably Stone the Crow

28. What is a song from 50 that you've only listened to once?
Hawkwind
no

29. Is there a song you are sick of hearing by 24?
Opeth
no! how could I?!

30. What song got you into 40?
Gama Bomb
Bullet Belt

31. What is your favorite single by 25?
Dimmu Borgir
The Serpentine Offering

32. If 49 hated you, what would you do?
Iron Maiden
kill myself for sure

33. What would you say if 42 or one of the members from 42 asked you out?
Exodus
respectfully decline

34. Would you care if 41 had a boyfriend/girlfriend?
Iced Earth
not really

35. Who has the best voice in 46?
Ramones
they all sound the same

36. Do you think 26 is/are good looking?
Dissection
in a strange swedish black metal way

37. How many times have you listened to your favorite song by 36?
Brujeria
Matando Gueros, countless times

38. How many CDs do you own of 30?
Swashbuckle
none

39. Is there a song from 38 that makes you mad?
Entombed
most of them... I'm sure they're doing something right then!

40. Which member from 31 do you want to see go solo? If 31 is only one artist, what would you do if they joined a group?
Graveworm
pah, they should stay as they are

41. What does your favorite song from 48 remind you of?
Eluveitie
they remind me of Burn's Night, when I dressed as Braveheart!

42. Did you hate 43 at first?
Dream Evil
no, i never hated the METOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!

43. Does your best friend also listen to 33?
Lamb of God
they all do

44. Do you think your parents would like 37?
Svartsot
actually yes

45. Does 47 have a song that makes you want to dance?
Vomitory
they make me want to crush some skulls!

46. Have you ever seen 34 in person?
Machine Head
sadly not

47. Do you like 44's name?
Satyricon
one of those names that I wish I had thought of

48. Is there someone in 35 that you want to go out with?
Pain
Peter Tagtgren- I would!

49. Do you know anyone that hates 39?
Chimaira
I know alot of people who probably would

50. Have you ever danced to a song from 19?
Strapping Young Lad
All the time, baby

1. Wenn es sein muss - dann aber sofort (0:37)
2. Hans Zimmer - Leaving Wallbrook, On The Road (2:53)
3. DT 64 - O-Ton DT 64 (1:29)
4. Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung - Neandertal (3:45)
5. Morgue - Chain Reaction (4:21)
6. Altern 8 - Frequency (5:27)
7. Sara Noxx - Colder And Colder (Dust Of Basement Remix) (4:14)
8. Finntroll - Eliytres (3:46)
9. Claire - Freunde (4:05)
10. In-D - Virgin In-D Sky (4:05)
11. Ljungblut - Facades (4:26)
12. Accept - No Time To Lose (4:36)
13. Freak Style - Electric Boogie (3:44)
14. Psy'Aviah - Broken Child (IC434 Remix) (4:51)
15. Love Decade - So Real (Massive Mix 7'' Version) (3:22)
16. Moonsorrow - Sankaritarina (13:50)
17. Veljanov - In My Room (2:55)
18. Beastie Boys - She's On It (4:18)
19. Ladytron - Discotrax (Lamacq Live 12-Nov-01) (3:55)
20. Abwärts - Aufruhr (4:58)
21. Frühstyxradio - Sampler Werbung (1:11)
22. The KLF - 3 A.M. Eternal (The Original Edit) (3:38)
23. Static Threshold - The Foreign Land (Dust-Mix) (4:58)
24. Chris & Cosey - Haunted Heroes (3:16)
25. The Soundlovers - Run-A-Way (3:09)
26. Walls Have Ears - Morgen (3:47)
27. Kirlian Camera - The Fourth Lake (Carpatia) (5:20)
28. Carl Cox - I Want You (Forever) (Full On Mix) (6:13)
29. Totenmond - Steinkopf (1:47)
30. Coinside - Das Parfüm (5:29)
31. First Aid 4 Souls - Wings Of Morpheus (5:00)
32. Teen-Rock - Set Me Free (Dub) (7:11)
33. The Jesus and Mary Chain - April Skies (3:59)
34. Bit Max - Dance (Just Dance For Me) (Violenza Mix) (3:58)
35. Freestyle - It's Automatic (5:41)
36. Severe Illusion - Beautiful (4:15)
37. Hape Kerkeling - Hurz!!! (Habicht Mix Featuring MC Lurch) (5:31)
38. Bathory - Destroyer Of Worlds (4:51)
39. Gridlock - Metro (Sickness Demo) (4:34)
40. And Also the Trees - Slow Pulse Boy (5:12)
41. Data Bank A - Static Song (5:44)
42. R.J.'s Rule - Rave This Nation (5:04)
43. Madness - In The City (3:01)
44. Hubert Kah - Wenn Der Mond Die Sonne Berührt (3:33)
45. Clock DVA - Eternity (4:37)
46. Hithouse - Jack To The Sound Of The Underground (Acid Mix) (6:57)
47. Vomito Negro - The Man Factory (3:44)
48. House Arrest - House Arrest (Pumpgunkillamix) (5:56)
49. Beborn Beton - Im Innern Einer Frau (4:30)
50. Position Parallele - Hotel Du Nord (4:01)
51. Vaya Con Dios - Nah Neh Nah (2:56)
52. Abscess - Slinking Shadows (4:05)
53. Bryan Ferry - Kiss And Tell (Dub Mix) (5:40)
54. In the Nursery - Blueprint (5:03)
55. Ghentlon - Cheebala (Jolly Boy Mix) (5:05)
56. modern mannequins - The Story (3:50)
57. royksopp - This Must Be It (4:46)
58. Last Delay - Fire (6:45)
59. Westbam feat. Marusha - The Mayday Anthem (5:38)
60. Der Expander des Fortschritts - Fremdgeh'n Durchs Land (5:51)
61. Amanda Lear - The Sphinx (X-Tended UltraTraxx Mix) (7:51)
62. Various Artists - ALT USSR Megamix (15:48)
63. Dies Natalis - Ein Wanderer Also Am Ende Seiner Reise (6:01)

Just saw someone doing this and I just steal this idea.
Yes I know, I'm a focking thief!

Seen live:

Legion of the Damned(3x + 1 upcoming + once I was queing when they played)
Vader(2x)
Slayer(1x +1 upcoming)
Marduk(2x)
Finntroll(2x)
Dimmu Borgir(1x)
Amon Amarth(5x)
Satyricon(1x + 1 upcoming)
Kataklysm(2x + 1 upcoming)
Vreid(1x :( )
Korpiklaani(3x)
Ensiferum(2x)
Morbid Angel(1x)
Moonspell(1x)
Mayhem(1x)
Benighted(1x)
Sonata Arctica(power metal :D) (2x)
Heidevolk(2x)
Tyr(fucked up tags) (2x)
Týr(fucked up tags) (2x)
Moonsorrow(1x)

(21/50) that is... Not too bad right?


Now what bands did I not see (yet)?
Here is the list and the reason why.

Immortal - Haven't been near me in ages.
Occult - Renamed to Legion of the Damned, so I've seen the bandmembers play, just not the band
Belphegor - This is gonna change in January!
Gorgoroth - Totally missed it when they were here the last time. I have seen Gaahl and Kvitrafn with Wardrunathough
Behemoth - Never really had the urge to see them
Cradle of Filth - I don't even know why this is in my top 50, I don't listen to them, they just drop by allot when playing a random playlist
Windir - Obviously not possible, seen Vreid though
Bathory - Obviously not possible
Heaven Shall Burn - Not that big of a metalcore fan, but 1 or 2 ablums are just awesome
Watain - I hope this will change soon!
Taake - Desperatly want to see them.
Stratovarius - Powermetal!
Hackneyed - Hd the change at summerbreeze, but a man has to eat right? Gonna see them in december though
Children of Bodom - Same story as Cradle of Filth
I - They only had 1 gig to date, and I didn't know them back then let alone travelled that far to see them.
Borknagar - Who? How did this end up un my top 50?
Iron Maiden - No thanks
Vesania - I'll probably go when they play here (which I doubt)
One Man Army and the Undead Quartet - Actually only know 1 album and bassed on that I would like to see them.
The Prodigy - Not really a band eh? The only electronic music in my list.
Apocalyptica - Not my style
Iced Earth - No thanks
Celtic Frost - Just read they broke up (again) last year
1349 - Would see them if they ever came here!
Elvenking - Powermetal :D Had the chance to see them at Summerbreeze. But I valued my sleep more
Falconer - 1 album is sublime, the rest is just standard Powermetal. So... NO
Dark Funeral - Gonna change this summer(breeze)
Carpathian Forest - Would go
Ragnarok - Would go

[ 1 & # ]

[ A ]
A New Silent Corporation (ita) 1x
Alight (south-tyrol !!!) 3x
Amon Amarth (swe) 1x
Arbok Norij (south-tyrol !!!) 4x
As I Lay Dying (usa) 2x

[ B ]
Behemoth (pol) 1x
Black Cow (south-tyrol !!!) 3x
Blood Edition (south-tyrol !!!) 2x
Bolt Thrower (gbr) 1x
Burning Black (ita) 1x

[ C ]
Caliban (ger) 1x
Cataract (sui) 1x
Chaos Disorder (south-tyrol !!!) 5x
Chili Con Carne (south-tyrol !!!) 1x
Coma (south-tyrol !!!) 2x
Cremation (aut) 1x

[ D ]
Dagoba (fra) 2x
Dark Tranquillity (swe) 1x
Darkest Hour (usa) 1x
Deadlock (ger) 2x
Debauchery (ger) 1x
Devastating Enemy (aut) 1x
DevilDriver (usa) 1x
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter (ger) 3x
Doro (ger) 1x
Dread (south-tyrol !!!) 5x
Dschezzi (south-tyrol !!!) 2x

[ E ]
Ektomorf (hun) 1x
Eluveitie (sui) 2x
Emil Bulls (ger) 2x
Ensiferum (fin) 1x
Eternity Ends (south-tyrol !!!) 3x

[ F ]
Fear My Thoughts (ger) 3x

[ G ]
Gojira (fra) 1x
Graveworm (south-tyrol !!!) 3x

[ H ]
Himsa (usa) 1x

[ I ]
Illdisposed (dan) 1x
In Extremo (ger) 2x
In Flames (swe) 3x
In Slumber (aut) 1x
Intoxication (south-tyrol !!!) 1x

[ J ]
Jammin' Void (south-tyrol !!!) 1x
Justice (ger) 1x

[ K ]
Killswitch Engage (usa) 2x
Korpiklaani (fin) 1x

[ L ]
Lamb of God (usa) 1x
Legion of the Damned (ned) 1x
Lost Dreams (aut) 2x

[ M ]
Maroon (ger) 3x
Mellowmood (south-tyrol !!!) 3x
Metallica (usa) 1x
Mnemonic (dan) 1x
Moonsorrow (fin) 1x
Mustasch (swe) 1x

[ N ]
Neaera (ger) 2x
New Redemption (south-tyrol !!!) 1x
Nightrage (swe) 1x
Noréan (south-tyrol !!!) 1x

[ O ]
Obsidia (aut) 1x
Old-Hate (south-tyrol !!!) 7x
Outcry (ita) 3x

[ P ]
Pain (swe) 1x
Phidge (ita) 1x
Porcocane (south-tyrol !!!) 2x
Prehate (south-tyrol !!!) 1x

[ Q ]

[ R ]
R.O.T. (south-tyrol !!!) 2x
Rattaplan (south-tyrol !!!) 1x
Replica (aut) 1x
Right2Silence (south-tyrol !!!) 1x

[ S ]
Scar Symmetry (swe) 1x
Scott (south-tyrol !!!) 1x
Scrat Till Death (south-tyrol !!!) 1x
Sepultura (bra) 2x
she (south-tyrol !!!) 1x
Silentium Noctis (south-tyrol !!!) 5x
Slayer (usa) 1x
Slowmotion Apocalypse (ita) 2x
Slowtorch (south-tyrol !!!) 2x
Sonic Syndicate (swe) 1x
Soulfly (usa) 4x
Suffocation (usa) 1x
Suncold (south-tyrol !!!) 2x

[ T ]
Tankard (ger) 1x
The Black Dahlia Murder (usa) 1x
The Boots (south-tyrol !!!) 3x
The Mercury Arc (ger) 2x
The Sorrow (aut) 3x
The Vaffanculos (south-tyrol !!!) 1x
THE WITCH (south-tyrol !!!) 3x
Through your Silence (ita) 2x
Tool (usa) 1x
Týr (fro) 1x

[ U ]

[ V ]
Voices of Decay (south-tyrol !!!) 2x
Volbeat (dan) 4x

[ W ]
Watch Me Bleed (ger) 1x

[ X ]

[ Y ]

[ Z ]

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead (aug 07)
1349 (aug 07)
30 Seconds to Mars (may 07)

About (jul 06) (sep 06)
Aerosmith (jun 07)
Aeternus (dec 06)
Æthenor (with Garm from Ulver, jan 09)
After Forever (feb 06) (sep 07)
Agua de Annique (feb 08)
Akron/Family (may 09)
All Shall Perish (jul 09)
Amazing Baby (jul 09)
Amenra (apr 09) (jul 09)
Amon Düül II (apr 09)
Amorphis (aug 07)
Anathema (dec 06)
Animal Alpha (aug 07)
Animal Collective (jul 07)
Anouk (jun 08)
Arcade Fire (nov 07)
Arch Enemy (aug 06) (dec 06)
Arctic Monkeys (may 07)
Asphyx (dec 07) (aug 09)
Au Revoir Simone (jul 07)
Autumn (sep 05)
The Australian Pink Floyd Show (jun 07)

Babylon Circus (sep 09)
Baroness (apr 09)
Bat for Lashes (sep 09)
Battlelore (jul 07)
beehoover (apr 09)
Ben Folds (jun 08)
The Black Seeds (jul 08)
Black Sun Empire (dj set, apr 08) (dj set, may 08)
Black to Comm (sep 08)
Blind Guardian (aug 07)
Blitzkrieg (aug 07)
Blood Red Shoes (jul 09)
Bohren und Der Club Of Gore (apr 07) (apr 09)
Bonne Aparte (jul 08)
Boris (Japan) (apr 08) (apr 09)
Brent Coughenour (jan 09)
Buck 65 (jul 06)
Bumble Bees (jul 09)

Candlemass (jul 09)
Cannibal Corpse (aug 07)
capacocha (jul 08)
Carach Angren (sep 09)
Caribou (jul 09)
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone (sep 08)
Children of Bodom (aug 06)
Chrome Hoof (jul 08)
ChthoniC (aug 07)
Le Club Des Chats (jul 08)
Coldplay (sep 09) (sep 09)
Colour Haze (apr 09)
Counting Crows (jun 08)
Cruachan (dec 07)

Danko Jones (aug 06)
Death Angel (jul 09)
Death Sentence: PANDA! (jul 09)
Deerhoof (jul 09)
Def Leppard (jun 08)
Delain (jul 09)
DéspairsRay (aug 06)
The Devil's Blood (apr 09)
The Dillinger Escape Plan (jul 09)
Dimmu Borgir (aug 07)
Dinosaur Jr. (jul 08)
Dir en grey (aug 07)
Dirge (sep 08)
Disillusion (aug 07)
Do Make Say Think (may 07) (nov 09)
Do The Undo (jul 07)
Doddodo (dec 08)
The Dodos (jul 09)
Les Doigts de l'Homme (aug 03)
Dozer (nov 08)
Drive Like Maria (jul 09) (sep 09)
Drumcorps (dj set with live guitar, jun 08)

Eagle Twin (okt 09)
Earth (apr 09)
Eats Tapes (jul 08)
Ed Cox (dj set with accordion, may 08)
Electric Eel Shock (aug 07) (may 08)
Electric Kettle (dj set, may 09)
Electric Wizard (sep 08)
Emperor (aug 06)
Enablers (mar 08)
End Of Green (aug 06)
Enge Buren (jul 05)
Enslaved (aug 07) (okt 07)
Envy (apr 09)
The Ex (with Getatchew Mekurya, dec 09)

Fair to Midland (aug 07)
Falconer (aug 07)
Fear Falls Burning (apr 08)
Fear Factory (aug 06)
Fear My Thoughts (jul 07)
Final Fantasy (jul 06)
Finntroll (aug 06) (jul 08)
The Flaming Lips (sep 09)
Flesh Made Sin (dec 06)
The Fratellis (may 07)
Freaky Age (jul 08)
The Freeks (sep 08)

Gabriel Rios (jun 08)
Genghis Tron (nov 08)
Getatchew Mekurya (with The Ex, dec 09)
God Dethroned (dec 07)
Gojira (jul 09)
Golden Earring (sep 09)
Gotthard (jun 08)
Grails (apr 09)
Grave Digger (aug 07)
Growing (with Atsuo from Boris, apr 08) (apr 09)

Haemorrhage (dec 07)
Haggard (aug 07)
handicapped terror
The Happiness Project (sep 09)
Harvestman (apr 09)
A Hawk and a Hacksaw (jul 07) (may 09)
HEALTH (jun 09)
heidi mortenson (dec 08)
De Heideroosjes (sep 09)
Heidevolk (jul 09)
Helrunar (apr 06)
Hollenthon (dec 07)
Holy Moses (dec 07)
Hospital Bombers (aug 06)
Howlin' Rain (jul 09)
HṚṢṬA (with Mike Moya from Godspeed You! Black Emperor) (feb 08)

Iced Earth (aug 07)
Immortal (aug 07)
In Extremo (aug 06)
In Flames (aug 07)
INXS (jun 07)
Isis (apr 09)

Jaune Toujours (jul 09)
Jesu (dec 07)
Jason Lytle (from Grandaddy (may 09)
Journey (jun 08)
Justin Nozuka (jun 08)

Kap Bambino (jul 09)
Kansas (jun 08)
Kataklysm (jul 09)
Keep of Kalessin (okt 07) (jul 09)
De Kift (dec 07)
KISS (jun 08)
KK Null (with Z'EV, okt 09)
Knifehandchop (dj set, jul 06)
Korpiklaani (aug 06)
Krakow (jul 07)
Krause (jul 08)

Late of the Pier (jul 08)
Leafcutter John (jul 07)
Legion of the Damned (aug 06)
Lenny Kravitz (jun 08)
Liars (jul 08)
Limewax (dj set,may 08)
Linkin Park (may 07)
Live (jun 08)
Lucky Dragons (jul 09)
Lucy Love (jul 09)

The Mad Trist (jul 09)
The Magic Numbers (may 07)
Mahjongg (jul 09)
Mala Vita (apr 07)
Malkovich (apr 08)
Marduk (dec 07)
Maxïmo Park (jun 08)
Meindert Talma & The Negroes (jul 07)
Melechesh (dec 06)
Mêlée (jun 08)
Members of Marvelas (apr 07)
Meshuggah (jul 09)
Michael Gira (from Swans) (dec 07)
Mindless (aug 08)
Ministry (aug 06)
Minsk (apr 09)
Miss Montreal (sep 09)
MoHa! (jul 08)
The Moi Non Plus (aug 07)
Moke (sep 07)
Mono (Japan) (apr 09)
Moonsorrow (dec 06) (aug 07)
Moonspell (aug 07) (jul 09)
Motörhead (aug 06) (jun 08)
Motorpsycho (dec 07) (okt 08) (apr 09)
Mucky Pup (aug 09)
Municipal Waste (aug 09)
Mythlorian (aug 07)

Napalm Death (aug 07)
Neaera (aug 07)
Negură Bunget (apr 09)
Neurosis (apr 09)
New Killer Stars (jul 08)
Nifelheim (dec 07)
Nightmare (France) (feb 06)
Nisennenmondai (jul 09)
NoMeansNo (jul 07)

Obeah (sep 09)
Oceana Company (may 09)
of Montreal (feb 09)
OM (apr 09)
Omega Massif (apr 09)
Opeth (aug 06)

Pelican (sep 08)
Peter Quistgard (jul 09)
Pivot (jul 08) (jun 09)
The Presets (jul 07)
Primal Fear (aug 06)
Primordial (dec 07)

Racoon (jun 08)
Radio Moscow (sep 08) (apr 09)
The Rapture (jul 07)
REO Speedwagon (jun 08)
Riders on the storm (jan 07) (jun 07)
Roger Hodgson (from Supertramp) (jun 07)
Roger Waters (from Pink Floyd) (may 07)
Rose Kemp (solo, aug 08) (with band, apr 09)

Saint Vitus (apr 09)
Sat2D (jul 08)
Satyricon (jul 09)
Saxon (aug 07)
Scar 7 (sep 09)
Scissor Sisters (may 07)
Scorpions (aug 06) (jun 07)
Scott Kelly (apr 09)
Scout Niblett (dec 07)
Sennen (The Netherlands) (may 07) (mar 08)
seven that spells (apr 09)
Shadowlord (apr 06)
Shining (Norway) (with Grutle Kjelsson from Enslaved, okt 07)
Shitmat (dj set, may 08)
signe tollefsen (jul 07)
Six Feet Under (aug 06)
Six Organs of Admittance (solo, apr 09)
Skullflower (apr 09)
Skyforger (dec 06)
Sleepy Sun (jul 09)
The Smashing Pumpkins (may 07) (feb 08)
Snöleoparden (jul 09)
So So Modern (feb 09)
Sodom (aug 07) (dec 07)
Solo (apr 07)
Sonic Youth (aug 08)
Soulfly (aug 06)
Speedranch (dj set with live drummer, dec 08)
Spinvis (with band, apr 07) (solo, may 09)
De Staat (aug 08)
Stahlzeit (aug 09)
Starsailor (jun 08)
Stephan Mathieu (okt 09)
Steve Von Till (apr 09)
The Strange Death Of Liberal England (dec 07)
Subway to Sally (aug 06)
The Suicidal Birds (sep 07)
SuidAkrA (aug 07)
Sun Ra Arkestra (sep 08)
Sunn O))) (with Attila Csihar from Mayhem, apr 07) (dec 07) (with Atsuo from Boris, apr 09) (may 09) (with Attila Csihar from Mayhem and Steve Moore from Earth, okt 09)
Supergrass (aug 08)

Tank 86 (nov 08)
The Teenagers (jul 08)
Telemetrik (dj set, mar 09)
Temperatures (sep 08)
Tesla (jun 07)
Textures (aug 09)
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band (apr 08)
Therion (aug 07)
Thin Lizzy (jun 07)
This Leo Sunrise (feb 08)
Torche (sep 08)
Tribes of Neurot (apr 09)
Triggerfinger (may 08) (jul 08) (aug 08)
Les Truttes (jul 04) (jul 05)
Turbonegro (aug 07)
Turisas (aug 07)
TV Buddhas (jul 09)
Twisted Sister (jun 08)
Two Gallants (jul 07)

Unleashed (dec 07)

Vandal X (may 09)
The Vision Bleak (apr 06) (aug 07)
Vreid (dec 07)

Warbringer (jul 09)
Watain (sep 08)
We vs. Death (jul 06)
White Hills (apr 09)
White Lies (sep 09)
Whitesnake (aug 06) (jun 08)
WHY? (jul 08)
Wild Light (nov 07)
Wintersun (aug 06)
Wire (sep 08)
Witchcraft (nov 08)
Wolfmother (may 07)
Wolves in the Throne Room (apr 09)
The Wooden Constructions (jul 09)
Woven Hand (aug 08) (nov 08)

Xavier Rudd (jun 08)
Xystus (sep 05)

Years (nov 09)
The Young Gods (acoustic gig, nov 08) (regular gig, apr 09)

Z'EV (sep 08) (with KK Null, okt 09)
Zu (apr 09)

"With" refers solely to musical collaborations, not to support acts whatsoever. Bold are gigs that were especially brilliant.

Apocalyptica x2
HIM
Turisas x2
Goran Bregovic
Blackguard
Swashbuckle
Primordial
Dope Reach Squad
Moonsorrow
The Prodigy
Lord of the Dance
Powerglove
K'naan x2
Damian Marley
Stephen Marley
Skindred
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Týr
Gogol Bordello
Ensiferum
Korpiklaani

Actually, 2009 hasn't been a bad year at all for new releases. Having initially thought it was one of the most dreadful years on record for new music [which is what I tend to think every year] there were some good new discoveries and great older releases to unearth.

We're still a few weeks away from the mid-December Rubicon, but in what is becoming a mini early-November tradition, here are my personal thoughts on the best so far this year.

Halo Manash - Am Kha Astrie:



Halo Manash's previous albums were a little too droney and self-indulgent for my liking, a lot of the time sounding like 60 minutes of a football rattle in a wind tunnel. Am Kha Astrie, along with The Language of Red Goats , is a much more ambient and mature effort. Split across seven tracks with numbers ranging from disquieting to demonic, it's possibly the most composite and rounded album the band have yet produced.

Atrium Carceri - Souyan:



AC gets a lot of flack from the dark ambient crowd, mainly because they've been around longer and are one of the most popular bands. Previous albums were way too oversampled but this time round AC have really reigned in the atmosphere, dropped the sampling to its lowest since Cellblock and come up with an album of perfect dark ambient combinations.

Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition:



This would be higher up the list if it weren't for the first three minutes of the album, Mariusz's crooning of "I hope my sell-by date didn't expire yesterday" being horribly cringeworthy. After this though, things rapidly improve and with ADHD Riverside have put out their best work since Second Life Syndrome. After the rather lost and directionless Rapid Eye Movement, ADHD is a far more realised work with the band actually making an effort to write decent music rather than coasting for 70 minutes of wankery.

Tome / Seven Morgues - Deep in Marble:



This split album is the combination of two projects from the same artist, Israel's Oren Ben Yosef. Most of the time just using pure vocal combinations, Tome and Seven Morgues build up an atmosphere of disenchanted, dark and demonic rituals. The use of clean vocals, hums and tortured, hissing cries is a devastating and disturbing combination, and as a result Deep In Marble comes across as one of the most difficult listens in ambient music I can remember. I recall a time when Enemite and even raison d’être seemed difficult to get through, but there's always another album to eventually take things to the next level - which Deep in Marble has done effortlessly and admirably.

Katatonia - Night is the New Day:



The almost perfect successor to the almost perfect In The Great Cold Distance, NITND develops the maturity and focus of its predecessor but gives it a heavier coating. Even though the atmosphere and colour of the album are exactly in the same class as I've come to expect from Katatonia, there is a slight feeling that they're going through the motions and letting the ball roll of its own accord rather than influencing its direction anymore. Nevertheless, it's a high quality album and one of the classiest 'metal' releases this year.

Keelhaul - Keelhaul's Triumphant Return to Obscurity:



Having previously played a kind of progressive metal/metalcore fusion, the band's 2009 album sees them more or less veer straight into technical metal. The album is largely instrumental with beefy, solid production, catchy riffs and the odd passage which is so confounding it keeps you coming back out of pure intrigue. This is one of the few metal albums I have to sit down and pay attention to to digest, a musical Rubik's cube which needs time and focus to appreciate. Along with its humorous - and intentionally mocking - song titles, it's a highly interesting and captivating piece of work.

Redemption - Snowfall on Judgment Day:



After the slightly disappointing Origins of Ruin, Redemption have returned with a much surer trajectory - hardly surprising given Nick's physical condition. This time round the feeling is very different in the Redemption camp. Gone is the nebulous "I can take it or leave it" feel of OOR, this time everything is sharpened: guitar solos, vocals, riffs, drumming. Everything is expertly - and emotionally - done, with Ray Alder delivering some fine vocal melodies conveyed through intensely personal lyrics.

Album of the year candidate(s):

This was very difficult indeed given the two at the top, both highly commendable for their own reasons. A very close second goes to:

Black Math Horseman - Wyllt:



In a time when most female-fronted metal has been defenestrated and decried by the large majority of fans, BMH have come out with something entirely different and welcome. OK, it may not be metal in the standard definition of the term, edging more towards post-rock/metal and ambient, but it's one of the freshest 2009 releases. Largely instrumental with only the odd smattering of echoey, pained female vocals, Wyltt is a lonely voice in the world of metal - vox clamantis in deserto - ringing out to be noticed and understood. This won't appeal to those looking for metal in its more standard forms, but for those needing something new and innovative. Each passage, each bar and each note has its own individuality and feeling, made even better by their simplicity. In the end it's the stark, bare-bones feel of the music which makes it even more powerful, effective and unnerving. A fantastic debut.

Leaving the primary spot to:

The Mars Volta - Octahedron:



TMV had already threatened to make a pop record after several albums of post-ten minute songs, indecipherable lyrics, dissonant guitar solos and frenetic tempo changes. It's easy to see why the band are both revered and reviled, but they're one of the most original, talented and inventive ensembles around. Octahedron is a sea-change from the loud and frenzied The Bedlam in Goliath and sees the band put out a more 'acoustic' and mellow album. Some of it may be a little too mellow in places, and it's a shock to the system that they can put something like this after the relentless, spasmodic Bedlam. Maybe this was exactly the point, and to be able to carry off both styles with convincing aplomb is a hugely impressive feat, especially when so many bands have failed to do so.

Pending albums of interest:

Kauan - Aava tuulen maa
raison d’être - The Stains of the Embodied Sacrifice
The Morningside - Moving Crosscurrent of Time

Discoveries not released this year worth mentioning:

Arcana - Le Serpent Rouge
Armin van Buuren - Imagine
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Cloudkicker - The Discovery
Coroner - Mental Vortex
Dieter Müh / Mnem - Atomyriades
Duke Ellington - Money Jungle
Fates Warning - No Exit
Fates Warning - Parallels
Fates Warning - Perfect Symmetry
Forgotten Silence - Kro Ni Ka
Herbst9 - The Gods are Small Birds but I am the Falcon
Katatonia - Dance of December Souls
Katatonia - Brave Murder Day
Katatonia - In the Great Cold Distance
Love Spirals Downwards - Flux
Lull - Like a Slow River
Maeror Tri - Myein
Metallica - Ride the Lightning
Moonsorrow - Verisäkeet
Moonsorrow - V: Hävitetty
Niyaz - Nine Heavens
Savatage - In the Hall of the Mountain King
The Mars Volta - Amputechture
The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath
Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly

1. How did you get into 29? Lamb of God

It was a long time ago when I first started listening to "extreme metal". I think a friend recommended them.

2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22? Kalmah

I think it was a song off The Black Waltz, but I didn't like it. I didn't start liking them until I heard Swamplord way later.

3. What’s your favorite lyric by 33? Emperor

Probably those from the song With Strength I Burn

4. What is your favorite album by 49? Helheim

Hard one, but I'm probably going to have to go with Av Norrøn Ætt, but the two previous ones are excellent as well

5. How many albums by 13 do you have? Mörk Gryning

All the full-lengths <3

6. What is your favorite song by 50? Falkenbach

Well I have to say Heathen Foray but there are alot of underrated Falkenbach songs as well.

7. Is there a song by 39 that makes you sad? Gorgoroth

Hardly. Gorgoroth aren't known for having sappy songs, I'll tell you that.

8. What is your favorite album by 15? Dismember

Now this is a hard one. I'm torn between Like An Everflowing Stream, Indecent And Obscene and Dismember.

9. What is your favorite song by 5? Amon Amarth

I think that Victorious March is their best, but really anything off Once Sent From the Golden Hall could qualify.

10. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy? Bathory

That would be Ring of Gold, because it is quite beautiful. R.I.P Quorthon

11. What is your favorite album by 40? Folkearth

By the Sword of My Father, no contest.

12. What is your favorite song by 10? In Flames

There are some really good ones from the early days. I'm thinking either Starforsaken, Behind Space or Biosphere.

13. What is a good memory you have involving 30? At the Gates

The first time I heard them and specifically the compilation Suicidal Final Art when I was just getting into melodeath, I sat spellbound throughout the first part (songs from the first two full lengths).

14. What is your favorite song by 38? Mastodon

March of the Fire Ants. The only song I know about an invasive species hah!

15. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy? Entombed

Well there are a few songs that have funny lyrics. That's When I Became a Satanist always brings a smile to my face. And while we're on the environmental topic, When it Hits Home is fucking righteous!

16. How many times have you seen 25 live? Einherjer

I wish I could have.

17. What is the first song you ever heard by 23? Týr

I youtube'd them and found the official video for Regin Smiður and I was hooked.

18. What is your favorite album by 11? Dissection

There are two albums I would rate 100%, The Somberlain and Storm of the Light's Bane R.I.P Jon.

19. Who is a favorite member of 2? Dark Tranquillity

Well it would have to be Mikael Stanne now, wouldn't it? It was awesome hanging with him at the Dismember show i Gothenburg. \m/

20. Have you ever seen 14 live? Darkthrone

Have they ever even played live? I think they might have a few times in their early career, when I was like 4, so no.

21. What is a good memory involving 21? Soilwork

That would be when I met them after the concert in Florida and hung out with them for two hours in their tour bus. Björn kan make one hell of a Margherita! Although truth be told I don't listen to them very much any more, only their old stuff is worthwile imo.

22. What is your favorite song by 16? Windir

Hard choise here, but Svartesmeden og Lundamyrstrollet is certainly a good candidate. R.I.P Valfar!

23. What is the first song you ever heard by 47? Twin Obscenity

Dark Millenium's End

24. What is your favorite album by 18? Thyrfing

I think Valdr Galga takes all prizes here, but the earlier ones are excellent as well.

25. What is your favorite song by 27? Summoning

March of the Grey Company wins this one, although Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame is prob my favorite Summoning album as a whole.

26. What is the first song you ever heard by 26? Hate Eternal

Behold Judas no doubt, I really liked Hate Eternal intensively a while and then I had enough.

28. What is you favorite song by 1? Enslaved

Ahh, jeez. There's hardly one song that overtakes all the others. But I guess the longer their songs are the more greatness they contain. Therefore this one is a tie between Større Enn Tid - Tyngre Enn Natt and 793 (Slaget om Lindisfarne)

29. What was the first song you ever heard by 44? Iskald

Warriors of the Northern Twilight

30. What is your favorite song by 8? Finntroll

Skogens hämnd probably, but I haven't listened to them in a while. Runners up are Slaget vid blodsälv, Grottans Barn, Asfågelns Död... solid band overall.

31. How many times have you seen 17 live? Moonsorrow

Never unfortunately, although their songs are so long it might be kind of odd in concert like when I saw Opeth, pretty short list of songs they have time to play.

32. Is there a song by 32 that makes you happy? Korpiklaani

Haha yes there is! Happy Little Boozer probably most so, but any of their drinking song are fun.

33. What is your favorite album by 12? Taake

This is a hard one. All the full lengths are awesome, maybe Hordalands doedskvad has the edge over the others though.

34. What is the worst song by 45? Strapping Young Lad

I don't care much for either City or Alien albumwize so probably a song off of one of them.

35. What was the first song you ever heard by 34? Månegarm

Unknown, first time I heard them I didn't like them and thus didn't remember what song I heard. But when I heard their newer stuff I started to like them alot. Vargstenen!

36. What is your favorite album by 48? The Duskfall

The Frail absolutely. They're all very good though, just that every song on The Frail is incredible.

37. How many times have you seen 42 live? Diabolical Masquerade

Again, another artist I've never even heard of touring. Probably hasn't and as such, no. Besides, I really only like Ravendusk in My Heart...

38. What is your favorite song by 36? Arch Enemy

Black Earth, which coincidentally is the best album even though that song is not on it.

39. What was the first song you ever heard by 28? Bloodbath

Mass Strangulation !!!

40. What is your favorite album by 7? Opeth

Ouch, this is hard. I've got five favorites! Orchid, Morningrise, My Arms Your Hearse, Still Life and Black Water Park. I guess I have to go with the first one.

41. Is there a song by 31 that makes you happy? Gehenna

What is with all this happiness??? I guess A Witch Is Born brings a malicious smile to my face.

42. What is your favorite album by 41? Ensiferum

Ensiferum, yup folks, self titled takes this one easily

43. What is your favorite song by 24? Insomnium

I suppose I could choose Shades of Deep Green, because of its uniqueness in their discography.

44. What is a good memory you have involving 46? Ivenberg

First time I listened through Leben heisst Sterben, quite a headbanger of an album imo.

45. What is your favorite song by 35? KromleK

Träskens näve, I really like the lyrics for one.

46. Is there a song by 9 that makes you happy? Kataklysm

Nope, not happy music.

47. What is your favorite album by 4? Hypocrisy

I really like the new one (A Taste Of Extreme Divinity) alot, and also Virus. But I think The Final Chapter might still take the prize here.

48. Who is a favorite member of 37? Dimmu Borgir

Don't really have a favorite member, actually I don't even know what they're doing in my top 50. For all tid and Stormblåst are good albums though.

49. What is the first song you ever heard by 43? Hatesphere

Murderous Intent. The Killing EP is my first and favorite release of them.

50. How many albums do you have by 20? Scar Symmetry

All of them, but I have yet to listen to the new one.