11) Deicide - The Stench Of Redemption (Earache)
It's as angry and brutal as ever, and the new guitarists breathe new life into Deicide's approach. You might not even notice because of all the blast beats and breakneck riffing, but there are some actual melodies here. They have added a subtle layer of complexity to the band's brutal arsenal, which makes the songs that much more powerful.Read the complete Deicide review.
12) Gorgoroth - Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam (Candlelight)
Gorgoroth plays black metal with a lot of death metal influences and even some doom metal sounds. It has great grooves and riffs, but also an overriding atmosphere of darkness. Frost (1349/Satyricon) is the drummer on this album, and he simply crushes. Gaahl's vocals are an evil rasp, and the lyrics deliver Gorgoroth's satanic message. This is an album that will leave you musically satisfied, and as with all really good black metal albums will also leave you feeling a bit unsettled.Read the complete Gorgoroth review.
13) In Flames - Come Clarity (Ferret)
On their latest album, In Flames has done a great job in keeping with their classic sound while also doing some experimenting and being relevant with today's metal scene. This album is the complete package that's both brutal and melodic. It's diverse in both style and vocals and has everything you want and expect from an In Flames album plus a few surprises.Read the complete In Flames review.
14) Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra (Inside Out)
This album is just like Devin Townsend: a little strange but filled with moments of musical genius. Unlike his Strapping Young Lad project, this has a lot more softer parts. Synchestra is so diverse that it is almost experimental. If it had to be categorized, progressive metal would be the closest genre, but it is so much more than that. There are soft acoustic songs, long prog metal influenced tracks, heavy thrash influenced songs and even a polka.Read the complete Devin Townsend review.
15) Napalm Death - Smear Campaign (Century Media)
Napalm Death invented grindcore, and of course that is still their bread and butter. But they are also able to dial back the tempo and get into a crushing groove. It's a good balance of lightning fast blast beats and breakneck riffs along with more ominous death metal style playing.Read the complete Napalm Death review
16) All That Remains - The Fall Of Ideals (Prosthetic)
All That Remains have broadened their style and on this album you'll hear everything from thrash to death metal to traditional metal to metalcore. The songs have tons of melody and memorable riffs, but also gallop along at maximum intensity. The dual guitars shine with crunchy leads, intricate interplay and creative solos.Read the complete All That Remains review.
17) Vader - Impressions In Blood (Candlelight)
On this CD Vader tempers their brutality with some very catchy moments. There are plenty of devastating blast beats and powerful riffs, but also some really groovy riffs and searing solos. They combine breakneck technical death songs with slower, more traditional death metal compositions. Vader also inserts some black metal style intros and interludes that give the whole CD a more epic sound.Read the complete Vader review
18) Strapping Young Lad - The New Black (Century Media)
Only a year after the very well received Alien, Strapping Young Lad has managed to equal and in many ways top that CD. The key word to describe The New Black is balance. As strange as that word may seem in describing this band, there really is a great balance between serious and tongue in cheek songs along with a balance of melodic and screaming vocals.Read the complete Strapping Young Lad review.
19) Intronaut - Void (Goodfellow)
Intronaut's unique sound blends the brutal and the experimental. At times the songs are doomy death metal with harsh vocals. Then all of a sudden there will be an instrumental break that's progressive and almost jazzy sounding. Then the brutality begins again.Read the complete Intronaut review.
20) Isis - In The Absence Of Truth (Ipecac)
Groups like Isis aren't tied down by conventional song structures, which makes them complex and interesting. On the downside, the lack of traditional hooks and choruses makes it harder for songs to be memorable. But with a few more listens you begin to appreciate the depth and complexity of what's going on, and discover that there actually are some very memorable things about this CD.Read the complete Isis review
Honorable Mention (CDs that nearly made the Top 20)
Agalloch - Ashes Against The GrainCattle Decapitation - Karma Bloody Karma
Cellador - Enter Deception
Communic - Waves Of Visual Decay
Cult Of Luna - Somewhere Along The Highway
Dragonforce - Inhuman Rampage
Enslaved - Ruun
Goatwhore - A Haunting Curse
God Dethroned - The Toxic Touch
Gojira - From Mars To Sirius
Hatebreed - Supremacy
I - Between Two Worlds
Impaled Nazarene - Pro Patria Finlandia
Kataklysm - In The Arms Of Devastation
Katatonia - The Great Cold Distance
Korpiklaani - Tales Along This Road
Krisiun - Assassination
The Melvins - A Senile Animal
Motorhead - Kiss Of Death
Sepultura - Dante XXI
Slayer - Christ Illusion
Vanden Plas - Christ O
