They didn't make the list, but I should give honourable mention to Matthew Good's Vancouver, which has some of his best songs in years, Epica's Design Your Universe, Within Temptation's An Acoustic Night at the Theatre, Behemoth's Evangelion, Nile's Those Whom the Gods Detest, Karl Sanders' own Saurian Exorcisims, Paradise Lost's Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us, Mastodon's Crack the Skye, Mesh's A Perfect Solution -- which makes an amazing use of the interstitials between songs to create one long cohesive piece of music -- and Current 93's Aleph at Hallucinatory Mountain. All of which are decent releases from this year, worth a listen or two. Depending on the day, any of these may have made the list instead.
Them Crooked Vulture's self-titled debut should probably be on the list, but isn't. It's a hands down fun album, well-crafted with a nice groove, but for some reason it just hasn't fully clicked with me yet. I like it, but it feels like something's missing. I'll probably revisit the album in a few months, see if I can figure out why I can't get past a few listens.
10. THIS IS WAR - 30 Seconds to Mars (December 4)
A squeaker onto the list, this album almost didn't make it. Basically, it was between this album and Chevelle's Sci-Fi Crimes. I'm a fan of Jared Leto as an actor, his performance in Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream is still haunting, and by extension, I have grown a fondness for his band. I think I probably liked their self-titled debut more than A Beautiful Lie, but both were good, strong albums. This is War is a slightly different creature, more vulnerable than the other two, and it adds a sincerity and heart that I think was missing from the earlier albums. The soft-loud-soft-scream dynamic is still here, so if you didn't like that on previous releases, you still won't, but I can't help but find myself humming some of the tracks. I think "Hurricane" is probably the best track on the album. The version that made it, without Kanye West's collaboration, is better without it, somehow more atmospheric. Other stand outs are "Search & Destroy", "Night of the Hunter", "Kings and Queens" and the song that I almost swore could have been an homage to The Cure, "Alibi".
9. TWO SUNS - Bat for Lashes (April 7)
I find new things, new sounds on this album each time I listen to it. Natasha Khan herself makes me think of a musical love-child of Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush and Tori Amos.
8. THE CROWN OF WINTER - Forest Stream (August 11)
Think epic, grandiose music; symphonic black metal at its finest. Although very different, Russia's Forest Stream are the first band in a very long time to remind me of black metal gods, Emperor, if, of course, you mixed in some British-styled doom. The music itself is gorgeous and lush, the only problem ever comes with Sonm's clean vocals which tend toward the pedestrian, but otherwise, this is flawless. The title track is a near twelve-minute sonic assault that throws in just about anything possible, mixing darkness and light, beauty and depression. I couldn't help but be overwhelmed when I first heard this song. Things only get better from there, soaring guitars, complex polyrhythms, and excellent use of harsh vocals -- layered one upon the other to an interesting effect. Standout tracks include the title track, "Mired" and "Autumn Dancers".
7. ABOVE - Samael (March 6)
6. PRIVILEGIVM - Secrets of the Moon (October 6)
5. SING ALONG SONGS FOR THE DAMNED & DELIRIOUS - Diablo Swing Orchestra (September 22)
4-tie. OLD CROWS/YOUNG CARDINALS - Alexisonfire (June 23)
4-tie. BILLY TALENT III - Billy Talent (July 10)
You may say that they just keep releasing the same album over and over again. I think they just keep refining it, honing their sound to precision, with each subsequent release. Benjamin Kowalewicz's vocals are still an acquired taste, but they fit Billy Talent's brand of alterna-punk perfectly. This album also allows Ian D'Sa to open up a bit more with his guitar work, leading to some nice hooks on "Rusted From the Rain" and the Muse-inspired fuzz to "Saint Veronika". Originally, I rated this one lower, but relistening to it while writing this list, I realize that there is not a single bad track on the disc. From start to finish, this album is an engaging experience. My favourite tracks on this album kept changing over the course of the year, but what still really stands out are "White Sparrows", "The Dead Can't Testify" and "Turn Your Back".
3. SKYFORGER - Amorphis (May 29)
2-tie. WAVERING RADIANT - Isis (April 21)
2-tie. MONOLITHS & DIMENSIONS - Sunn O))) (May 26)
2-tie. WHAT WE ALL COME TO NEED - Pelican (October 27)
2-tie. GENEVA - Russian Circles (October 20)
1-tie. C IS FOR [please insert sophomoric gentilia reference HERE] - Puscifer (November 10)
1-tie. NIGHT IS THE NEW DAY - Katatonia (November 10)
"Departer" is probably the best song written this year.
1-tie. THE RESISTANCE - Muse (September 14)
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