20. Anaal Nathrakh - 'In The Constellation Of The Black Widow' (Candlelight)
Candlelight Records
In The Constellation Of The Black Widow is a powerful and diverse album that mixes elements of black, death, industrial and grindcore. After a brief intro, the title track launches like a punch to the gut, vaulting out of the gate at lightning speed with frenetic drums and a wall of extremity. Throat ripping screams and growls are tempered by brief melodic vocals.
Anaal Nathrakh writes memorable songs that are sometimes oppressive and suffocating, sometimes cold and majestic, sometimes melodic, but always interesting. V.I.T.R.I.O.L. (Dave Hunt) does a really good job with the vocals, showcasing everything from evil rasps to piercing shrieks to ominous growls to melodic singing. It’s an extreme metal tour de force.
19. Asphyx - 'Death...The Brutal Way' (Ibex Moon)
Ibex Moon Records
Asphyx don’t just play old school death metal, they helped build the school from the ground up. Now, with Death…The Brutal Way, they’ve returned to educate and decimate the public. It’s everything a long-time fan would hope and dream for—signed, sealed and delivered by a band that’s being reliable, not predictable.
A simple, old school, fuzzed-out sound encases the unyielding and unforgiving onslaught of riffs that are sewn together with great care. Tempos range from the “Children of the Grave”-like doom crawl of “The Herald” to the title track’s fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants thrash drive. What is surprising, however, is the fiery passion and energy with which they perform. It’s to the extent that bands half their age should be ashamed.18. Coalesce - 'Ox' (Relapse)
Relapse Records
It's been a decade since the last Coalesce full-length studio CD. Ox is a welcome return. For the uninitiated, Coalesce was one of the early purveyors of what became metalcore, and adjectives like mathcore and post-hardcore have also been used to describe their unique sound.
It's a really diverse album. Complex riffs, constantly changing tempos and unexpected twists lurk around every corner. Coalesce can pummel you into submission, but they also ease off the throttle with interludes and mellow sections in songs such as "Dead Is Dead." There are bands that play music that's really technical and complex, but they don't make it sound as natural and emotional as Coalesce does.17. Candlemass - 'Death Magic Doom' (Nuclear Blast)
Nuclear Blast Records
Candlemass does a good job of mixing things up on Death Magic Doom. It kicks off with the uptempo "If I Ever Die," that's packed with hooks and really memorable riffs. That segues into the more traditional and aptly named "Hammer Of Doom," which is slow and alternates crushing riffs with lighter moments.
The rest of the album is packed with Sabbath influenced riffs and mid to slow paced tracks. Robert Lowe's vocals are perfect for Candlemass. He sings with power and emotion, and his tone is flawless. Candlemass has been around for a long time and has released some of the definitive and pioneering albums in the doom metal genre, so expectations are always high for any new release. Death Magic Doom lives up to those lofty expectations.16. Immortal - 'All Shall Fall' (Nuclear Blast)
Nuclear Blast Records
With All Shall Fall, their first album back after a seven-year hiatus, Immortal shows exactly why they’re one of the most important bands in black metal history. They certainly reference the scathing, blistering cold approach of the blasting classic Blizzard Beasts with “Hordes to War,” but the album generally boasts dramatic and epic sensibilities that pay more attention to majestic, somber and otherworldly atmospherics rather than simple, misguided aggression.
This is without a doubt the best, most crisp production the band has ever been blessed with (can the word “blessed” be used in a black metal review?), thanks to Peter Tagtgren, augmenting the almost hard rock quality and comparative structures that have been introduced.15. Amorphis - 'Skyforger' (Nuclear Blast)
Nuclear Blast Records
Amorphis uses the Finnish national epic Kalevala as their lyrical inspiration once again on Skyforger, and the music is similar in style to their recent releases, combining progressive, dark, melodic death and folk metal.
Skyforger is very melodic, with hooks aplenty and memorable choruses, but also has plenty of punch. The album kicks off with a couple of medium tempo tracks before slowing down on "From The Heaven Of My Heart." It's a radio friendly song with melodic singing from Tomi Joutsen. A couple songs later Amorphis amps up the intensity with "Majestic Beast." It features heavy guitars and mostly growling vocals. There are some melodic parts as well, and the word majestic really describes the song well.14. The Gates Of Slumber - 'Hymns Of Blood And Thunder' (Rise Above)
Rise Above Records
The Gates Of Slumber have upped their game with Hymns of Blood & Thunder. It’s leaner and more sinewy and packed with a mix of songs that stand on their own while paying tribute to the doom masters. The Indianapolis trio have stuck to their vision and sound despite the trends. It’s paid off with what might be the best album of their career.
Where can you start when there is so much goodness crammed into less than an hour? Right at the beginning, with the powerful riff of “Chaos Calling,” which would fit perfectly on Sabotage. “The Doom of Aceldama” reverts back slightly to Conqueror, but the strength is the song’s minimalism. There’s also the inevitable Wino-St. Vitus touch on “Bringer of War.”
13. Katatonia - 'Night Is The New Day' (Peaceville)
Peaceville Records
Night Is The New Day gets off to a rousing start with “Forsaker.” Heavy guitars give way to an acoustic section before kicking back in. Mellow and progressive sections ensue, along with more intense parts. “The Longest Year” veers into electronica, with synths and poppy sections alternating with more traditional metal.
Night Is The New Day is a true album, with each song filling in a piece of a larger palette. The individual songs are their own are excellent, but taken as a whole take on a whole new dimension of power and cohesion. From the atmosphere to the musicianship to the songwriting to Jonas Renske’s emotional vocals, it’s one of those albums that reveals something new and different with each listen.12. Goatwhore - 'Carving Out The Eyes Of God' (Metal Blade)
Metal Blade Records
Carving Out The Eyes of God fuses Celtic Frost, early Venom and Motorhead catchiness with a black metal sensibility. It combines the crust punk irascibility of their early work like The Eclipse Of Ages Into Black with the slight technical edge of A Haunting Curse and adds musical chops earned during non-stop touring.
There’s nary a song on this album that’s more than four minutes and no room for embellishment save an occasional solo. Every note on this album is earned. And nearly every track—particularly scorchers like “Reckoning of The Soul Made Godless” and “Razor Flesh Devoured” - is lined with the punchy old-school groove that made songs like “Fires Of The Judas Blood” and “Blood Guilt Eucharist” concert staples.11. Revocation - 'Existence Is Futile' (Relapse)
Relapse Records
Existence Is Futile is a blow of crippling velocity; one which is destined to send shockwaves and fallout amidst all those who hear it’s sickeningly savage sense of urgency. Seriously, this album is a riff-lovers wet dream, with the band’s vocalist and sole guitarist Dave Davidson tossing up enough dizzying fret-gymnastics on this one album to rival other, lesser acts’ entire discographies
Meanwhile, the rhythm section of co-vocalist/bassist Anthony Buda and skinsman Philip Dubois-Coyne practice their own brutal brand of stop-on-a-dime precision with merciless intensity, creating with Davidson a power trio version of Voltron: a bad-ass, sum of its parts machine which devastates all in its path.
The Top Metal CDs of 2009 Numbers 10 to 1