10. Shogun--Trivium (Thrash/Metalcore) 
A very matured offering from Heafy and the guys. Lots of great thrash riffs with equal amounts of clean melodies. The screaming vocals are back, and it's all good, for me atleast.
Killer Tracks: Kirisute Gomen, Insurrection & Like Callisto to a Star in Heaven.
A very matured offering from Heafy and the guys. Lots of great thrash riffs with equal amounts of clean melodies. The screaming vocals are back, and it's all good, for me atleast.
Killer Tracks: Kirisute Gomen, Insurrection & Like Callisto to a Star in Heaven.
9. Antithesis--Origin (Technical Death Metal)
This was my introduction to Origin, and damn!! was I blown away. The perfect mix of brutality and technique(sweep arpeggios as riff elements anynone??? whoa!!); hyperspeed shredding with even faster blast beats all the way through. Definitely one of the better extreme metal albums this year.
Killer Tracks: The Aftermath, Finite & Wrath of Vishnu
8. Agony of Death--Holy Moses
(Thrash Metal)
(Thrash Metal)These German thrashers' claim to fame(if they ever had any) is Finished with The Dogs(1987), a rare gem of extreme thrash metal from the late eighties. Anyway, with Agony of Death these Germans have achieved quite a remarkable blend of old school madness and modern aggression here. Clocking in above the 1 hour mark, it tends to get a bit repetive at times.
Killer Tracks: Imagination, Alienation & Angels at War
7. Oblivion Beckons--Byzantine 
(Neo-Thrash)
(Neo-Thrash) Imagine a Nevermore on adrenaline and that's precisely what this album sounds like. Pulverizing riffs and grooves reminiscent of Pantera and Machine head with plenty of melodic interludes; this is definitely one of the most complex and punchy albums out this year. A must own!
Killer Tracks: Absolute Horizon, Oblivion Beckons & Pattern Recognition
6. Ultra Beatdown--DragonForce (Speed Power Metal)
Oh yes, the fastest band on the planet is back. Not as refreshing and awe inspiring as their last 2 albums, it still has everything for a great Dragonforce album. Synths are just a tad more prominent this time around, and the prolonged seering solos and video-gamesque licks still form the main backbone.
Killer Tracks: The Fire Still Burns, The Last Journey Home & The Warrior Inside
5. War Waithout End--Warbringer(Speed/Thrash Metal)
Aaaah!! I have no words, read my detailed review for more information.
Killer Tracks: Uh..all of 'em!
4. Killing Season--Death Angel (Thrash Metal)
A monster thrasher from they bay area moshers. The full review can be found here
Killer Tracks: Lord of Hate, Dethroned & Resurrection Machine
3. Formation of Damnation--Testament (Thrash Metal)
I've always questioned the term "Big 4 of Thrash". One, because it only involves US bands and two, because even then it is Testament that deserves the fourth place, not Anthrax. Anyway, these guys have proved again that the old school still knows how to thrash in the modern world. A brilliant album from Skolnick Inc. once again.
Killer Tracks: More Than Meets the Eye, Title Track & The Persecuted Won't Forget
2. Southern Storm--Krisiun (Brutal Death Metal)
This could very well be the most DEVASTATING album I've heard in a loooooong time, yes, 
even more pulverizing than Nile's 2005 mammoth-Annihilation of The Wicked. Clean, clear, gut wrenching riffs, with blazing solos and vocals that are actually understandable(quite a feat in my book). Max's drumming creates an atmosphere which manages to overtake the Niles and Absus. A modern Death Metal classic in the making for sure.
even more pulverizing than Nile's 2005 mammoth-Annihilation of The Wicked. Clean, clear, gut wrenching riffs, with blazing solos and vocals that are actually understandable(quite a feat in my book). Max's drumming creates an atmosphere which manages to overtake the Niles and Absus. A modern Death Metal classic in the making for sure.Killer Tracks: All of 'em...but do check out the splendid rendition of Sepultura's Refuse Resist if nothing else.
....and the best metal album of 2008 is....
1. Death Magnetic--Metallica (Thrash Metal)
As if you didn't know :), well, I don't know...maybe my judgement was a little fogged because of the sheer happiness to hear Metallica in such a form. Nevertheless, it is still my most 'listened to' album of 2008 and it IS really good, and possibly contains THE best metal tune of 2008 in All Nightmare Long.
Killer Tracks: All Nightmare Long, Suicide and Redemption & My Apocalypse
2 comments:
very useful post. now write something on Chinese Democracy. I'm listening to it as I write this comment and also formulating a post of my own on the same. But would love to read your insight on the topic.
Chinese Democracy..hmmm..yeah... I should do a proper review of that. Will put it up in a while :)
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