1. Orphaned Land - 'The Never Ending Way Of Orwarrior' (Century Media)
Century Media Records
The songs on The Never Ending Way Of Orwarrior are complex and layered, painstakingly constructed and diverse. There are elements of traditional metal blended with a lot of progressive parts and some Middle Eastern flavor. The 15 tracks on the album are weaved together to form a cohesive musical tapestry. If you deconstruct that tapestry, you'll find a multitude of tempos, intensities, textures and emotions.
Right off the bat, “Sapari” introduces female vocals to the mix along with Kobi Farhi's singing and growling. “From Broken Vessels” is a seven minute plus song that combines heavy riffs and harsh vocals with lengthy instrumental sections, folky parts and catchy melodies.
2. Heathen - 'The Evolution Of Chaos' (Mascot)
Mascot Records
Heathen takes it back to the old school with The Evolution Of Chaos, but also has a few new tricks up their sleeve. Altus and Kragen Lum use all the weapons in their guitar arsenal, from thick riffs to shredding solos. The songs on the album are long, leaving plenty of room for extended instrumental sections that showcase the band's musicianship.
After a Middle Eastern tinged intro, Heathen kicks into thrash mode with “Dying Season.” David White is the band's vocalist, and in addition to the thrash style speaking vocals, is also able to croon melodically, which adds a NWOBHM vibe to some of the songs. “No Stone Unturned” is an epic 11 minute long track, with a really long instrumental section in the middle before the vocals resume.
3. Overkill - 'Ironbound' (E1)
E1 Music
Ironbound is Overkill's fourteenth studio album, and they show no signs of slowing down. There are no huge surprises here, just track after track of first-class thrash metal. “The Green And Black” kicks off the album, and it's the longest Overkill song (8:12) since 1989's The Years Of Decay. It's packed with great riffs and enough changes and variety to maintain interest through the entire song.
Dave Linsk and Derek Tailer turn in standout performances on Ironbound, especially on songs such as “Bring Me The Night.” Their chops are showcased throughout, and whether they are playing thick riffs, intricate solos or rhythmic fills, the guitar work is spot on.
4. Charred Walls Of The Damned - 'Charred Walls Of The Damned' (Metal Blade)
Metal Blade Records
Charred Walls Of The Damned opens with the first single, “Ghost Town,” a song that immediately establishes the tone of the album as technical, melodic, thrash with a basis heavily grounded in traditional heavy metal. Fast riffing from Jason Suecof overlays drummer Richard Christy’s opening blasts, but the song quickly segues into a slow melody with virtuoso soloing from Suecof.
Suecof and Christy form the dynamical basis throughout, but the vocal performance from Tim "Ripper" Owens really stands out over the course of the album. Owens’ vocal delivery alternates between gruffness and soaring, epic melody, providing a perfect accompaniment to the shifting highlights of the music.
5. Vasaeleth - 'Crypt Born And Tethered To Ruin' (Profound Lore)
Profound Lore Records
Crypt Born and Tethered To Ruin doesn’t sound polished. It sounds like it was recorded in my grandma’s basement, a cesspool of gargling sounds and riffs that ably ride the line between music and noise. Vocalist O.A.’s insanely guttural low vocals will remind listeners of the early '90s, when former Cannibal Corpse vocalist Chris Barnes took his voice to extreme lows.
There are frequent hints of Autopsy's masterpiece Mental Funeral, touches of Immolation and Monotheist- era Celtic Frost. Discernable riffs only occasionally show up on tracks like “Curse Seeping Through Flesh;” the rest are vacuumed into a pit of sound. Yet the CD is somehow invigorating and better than the retro old-school death metal that seems to be the latest trend.
