1. Metallica - 'Death Magnetic' (Warner Brothers)
Warner Brothers Records
The songs on Death Magnetic aren't short, radio-friendly singles. The shortest track is five minutes. That gives plenty of room for solos and musical exploration, and Metallica takes full advantage. Kirk Hammett is one of the best guitarists in metal, and his full repertoire of classic riffs and shredding solos is on display.
There's a nice amount of diversity as well. Old school, balls-out thrash, mid-tempo groovy jams and slower songs like "Unforgiven III" show a lot of range and versatility. For me, Death Magnetic didn't click instantly. After the first listen I thought it was good, but not spectacular. Subsequent spins hammered home the catchiness of the riffs and the intricacy of the songwriting, and now I'm sold.
2. Amon Amarth - 'Twilight Of The Thunder God' (Metal Blade)
Metal Blade Records
Some new elements along with Amon Amarth's trademark sound make Twilight Of The Thunder God a familiar yet fresh album. There are more melodies and hooks than ever, with a lot of very catchy songs. There's still plenty of brutality, with intense guitars and Hegg's raspy vocals.
Amon Amarth's songwriting skill is on full display on this CD. Crushingly heavy riffs are moderated by really catchy melodies, and they also utilize keyboards to create a dark and ominous atmosphere. The lyrics, as usual, are about various aspects of Norse mythology with tales of epic battles and heroic acts. Twilight Of The Thunder God has everything you expect in an Amon Amarth album/
3. Evergrey - 'Torn' (SPV)
SPV Records
After bringing in outside producers and focusing and polishing their sound last time around, Torn was produced by the band. The songs are also a return to Evergrey's classic sound: dark, heavy and atmospheric. They've kept some elements of Monday Morning Apocalypse, but overall it's more in the vein of albums like Recreation Day.
The songs on Torn blend power and progressive metal with a lot of melody. The riffs are heavy, and the keyboards are utilized very effectively, injecting atmosphere and mood without being too obstrusive or distracting. Tom S. Englund has a distinctive voice. He sings with a lot of emotion and really sells the lyrics. He also has a good amount of power and range.
4. Hollow Corp. - 'Cloister Of Radiance' (Prosthetic)
Prosthetic Records
Cloister Of Radiance is a difficult album to categorize, but an easy one to enjoy. Hollow Corp. blends the extremity of death and black metal with the creativity of progressive and the heaviness of doom. Take Meshuggah, Opeth, Mastodon, Gojira, Cult Of Luna and Isis, put them in a blender, and the result will sound something like Hollow Corp.
Sometimes technical and clinical, sometimes down-tuned and doomy, and other times free form and progressive, the songs twist and turn in surprising and interesting ways. They are long, but their ebbs and flows are always compelling. The vocals are mainly death metal style growls, gruff yet understandable. There are also periodic higher pitched screams, and melodic singing.
5. Trivium - 'Shogun' (Roadrunner)
Roadrunner Records
Trivium's latest CD Shogun combines elements of both Ascendancy and The Crusade. Most noticeable is the return of screaming vocals. There were very few on The Crusade, as Matt Heafy used James Hetfield-esque singing. This time around there's a mix of both, with screaming being slightly more prevalent.
Shogun keeps those thrash elements, with fast galloping riffs and plenty of shredding solos. Trivium balances those old school influences with modern touches. Trivium's songwriting has improved, as has their musicianship. The riffs are really good throughout the album, starting with the first song "Kirisute Gomen," one of the best songs on the CD. I also particularly liked "Insurrection" and "Like Callisto To A Star In Heaven."
