Chris’ Top 10 Metal Albums of 2011

#10 – Septic Flesh – The Great Mass

The band’s utilization of the Filmharmonic Orchestra and Choir of Prague made this album sound so sonically massive. With over 150 members, they helped every second of this album ooze with ominous cinematic quality. There was so much depth throughout; I still hear subtle nuances with each listen that seemed to go unnoticed in prior listens. While the heavier more epic moments sound that much bigger and evil with a full orchestra behind you, it’s the mellower moments in tracks and the use of the choir that really put this album on another level. There’s nothing quite like feeling in danger when you listen to a band, and no one did that better this year than Septicflesh

#9 – TYR – The Lay of Thyrm

The Faroese metallers strike again! While Tyr are not alone in the Viking Metal category, their use of strictly clean vocals and the dual guitar/vocal attack really set them apart from their Viking brothers. This album has its upbeat, frenzied anthems, as well as its slower ballads, but throughout the group employs extremely polished and precise playing. This album is packed with some of the most infectious guitar licks and catchiest choruses of the year. If you’re not singing along or have a riff stuck in your head after listening to this album, then something is seriously wrong with you.

#8 – Hate  Eternal – Phoenix Amongst the Ashes

Phoenix Amongst the Ashes skirted the track of my love for death metal with that “I can’t handle this much longer” feeling, and that’s exactly why it’s on my list. This album is as brutal as can be. Crushingly heavy, and horrifically fast, they don’t come much louder or more abrasive than this. The solo on the title track!? Brilliant. The brain blasting intro to “The Art of Redemption?” Unreal. There is nothing slow about it. An absolute mind-eraser of an album.

#7 – The Devin Townsend Project – Deconstruction

“It’s everything including the kitchen sink”- Devin Townsend

This is one of the most layered metal albums I have ever heard. There are so many ways to enjoy this album. From listening to each individual piece of a track and analyzing its intricacies to just sitting back and letting it hit you all at once, it’s mind-blowing no matter how you do it. A real retrospective journey through Townsend’s career, all while experimenting and trying new things. Add an all-star cast of guest musicians and employ my love for double cheeseburgers into a metal song and I’m SOLD!

#6 – Amon Amarth – Surtur Rising

Melodic death metal at its finest! The band continues to fine tune their now legendary Viking metal sound and the results once again are epic. Johan Hegg’s vocals are so raw, his best performance to date; and the music just continues to get better. The riffs are heavier, the leads are catchier, and the band is implementing just enough change to avoid their sound becoming stagnant. They move from strings in “Doom Over a Dead Man” to slamming down the hammer of Thor in “A Beast Am I” and continue to create mandatory head bangers like “Slaves of Fear.” I feel fucking invincible listening to songs like “Live Without Regrets.” Amon Amarth continues to strengthen their hold as one of my favorite bands.

#5 – Sylosis – Edge of the Earth

Guitarist Josh Middleton took over vocal duties and I think the band is better for it. He has a great range of harsh vocals, and the clean vocals aren’t nearly as forced and…whiny sounding as those on the previous album. The musicianship continues to grow among the band and the dynamic Middleton has with guitarist Alex Bailey is a pleasure to listen to. This album is packed full of speedy thrash riffs, soaring melodies, and plenty of intricate solos. The guitar tone on this album is killer. Clocking in at more than 70 minutes, there isn’t much filler throughout the album as most of the songs flow well throughout and the riff factory that the band operates keeps each song interesting. This band has a lot of potential, but no one really seems to have heard of them. Hopefully this album will change that.

#4 – Machine Head – Unto the Locust

If any band was capable of making a follow up to the “Metal Album of the Decade” or the “Modern Day Master of Puppets” it’s Machine Head. Whether it’s as good as The Blackening is questionable, what not is the fact the band have created yet another masterpiece. Rob Flynn has one of the best voices in metal and the guitar work between him and Phil Demmel continues to become more and more impressive. The section beginning from 3 minutes into “Be Still and Know” maybe be my favorite minute of metal this entire year. The band continued what they accomplished with The Blackening and added a few new aspects to their sound that ultimately enhanced it. The use of the string quartet in a few spots, and the moody feel of “Darkness Within”, really gave this album a different feel from it predecessor. Hell; they even managed to use their kids in a track and make it work! With the upward ascent the band continues to ride, it will be awesome to hear what they do next; hopefully we won’t have to wait 4-5 years for it!

#3 – Revocation - Chaos of Forms

While this year has been anything but stagnant in the metal world, Revocation gave us a breath of fresh air with Chaos of Forms. There’s not much I can say that hasn’t already been said about these guys. Dave Davidson has received numerous accolades this year, and it’s hard to argue. The energy and soul he plays with and the character that comes from his playing is infectious. It only took a minute and twenty seconds for this album to make my jaw drop. The riff that takes hold at that moment in “Cretin” just blew my mind with its speed. Whether it’s the rabid thrash riffs, the breakneck solos, or the jaw dropping progressive movements, everything Revocation accomplishes is done so smoothly and with a flare that no other band in metal can match.

#2 – The Human Abstract – Digital Veil

Digital Veil came out forever ago. When it came out I thought “Album of the year for sure” over the remainder of the year, it held strong through a plethora of releases and I can confidently say it belongs among the top releases of this year. The Human Abstract accomplishes things in 36 minutes that many bands can’t accomplish in a career. With guitarist A.J. Minette back in the fold and with the addition of (now ex) vocalist Travis Richter, the band effortlessly blended classical composition with metal in a way few have done. While metal bands have incorporated symphonic elements into their music for awhile now, the composition and three guitar attack leads to the epic feel of classical music solely within the five instruments on the album. This band is so stacked with talent. What impressed me most with this were the precision and smooth transitions within the technicality of the bands playing. This was truly a modern metal masterpiece and in my opinion, The Human Abstract are one of the only ___-core bands that are really offering up something innovative and refreshing in their approach.

AND THE WINNER IS……….

#1 – PROTEST THE HERO – SCURRILOUS

“And what a f*cking waste of a day, we just lay around and waste away because when that sun goes down it’s bottoms up, and we try to reach the bottom of that endless cup. Everybody’s getting older, but no ones growing up.” WOW, can I relate to that line sometimes! I’ve never really cared much about lyrics in metal, but Rody Walker demands your attention on Scurrilous. I’ve never heard a band’s vocalist become such an intricate part of an album. Not only areWalker’s lyrics an amazing read, his delivery is unreal. The dude is singing his ass off in “Termites” and “Tongue-splitter”, its just so damn fun to listen to. That’s the other thing about the band I like. They’re just FUN to listen to. There’s a comedic value within some of the lyrics, but musically there’s so much going on, this album refuses to become old. Between the intricate tapping, and sweeps by guitarists Luke Hoskin, Tim Millar, and bassist Arif Mirabdolbaghi, and the start/stop drumming of Moe Carlson, there’s not a dull moment on the album. With how much they have going on musically, their transitions flawless. This album is just so damn smooth! Scurrilous was heavy, melodic, gritty, technical, and catchy all at once, and was easily my most listened to album this year…in fact, I’m going to go listen to it right now.

-Chris