This easily hits the top of my list of "shit-I-should-have-checked-out-in-2010-but-didn't". I probably just ignored these guys based on the fact I saw their name on bills along with the likes of Billy Talent & Alexisonfire. Big mistake. I'm not even sure what this outrageously heavy hardcore act is doing wasting time with those mooks. This is great hardcore fused with a healthy dose of sludge & southern rock.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Thryce, wormdrink414, X-Ray Rod

aTelecine is a project involving Sasha Grey, effectively shutting down reason in all men. We're like that, we can't help it.

It's noise, it's industrial, it's hardcore porn mixed and mashed into a putrid pile of sonic dung. And it rules. Right? Yes, it does. It's made by Sasha Grey, duh!

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Endorsed by: Troy Killjoy, X-Ray Rod

No. not the salsa... the four piece out of the Netherlands. 1634 is a slice of nautik post-doom or something. Part post-metal, part sludge, part doom, all awesome. They employ the best traits of each genre into a cohesive whole. Ebbing and flowing like the tides, with atmospheric passages countered by thundering sludge waves at a doomish pace.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Marcel Hubregtse, Ag Fox, X-Ray Rod

2010 was a pretty rough year for metal... But probably among the worst news of 2010 was the break-up of Despised Icon.

Sucky deathcore bands come a dime a dozen, but a really great deathcore band are the rarest of breeds. Which is why Despised Icon will be sorely missed.

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Endorsed by: White Winter Sun

Fulfilling my pledge to pick a non-black metal album in 2011, Canadian (hell ya!) death metallers Mitochondrion have made it easy with this mind-blowing release. Parasignosis contains some of the most crushing, complex riffs ever recorded and manages to mix in a surreal post-apocalyptic atmosphere. January or not, this album will most likely receive my vote for the year's best death metal opus.

Believe the hype baby - these guys are for real.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Marcel Hubregtse, X-Ray Rod

Seattle's Demon Hunter exploded onto the scene a decade ago and helped to breathe new life into the Christian Metal realm. The combination of breakdowns and ballads creates a astonishing fifth record for these guys. Their signature sound is aided by some great guest vocalists like Christian Älvestam of Miseration (ex-Scar Symmetry), Dave Peters of Throwdown and Björn "Speed" Strid of Soilwork.

Even after the band has seen some drastic line up changes there is no sign of them slowing down with this record. Demon Hunter has found their sound and continue to kick the devil's ass.

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Murmuüre is Black metal made by aliens, weird aliens at that. Harsh, noisy and soulless Black metal. And with plenty of empty, starless cosmic plains. Err, plains? What do they call those, ehm, empty and ehm, starless spaces high up in the air?

Either way, check it out. Murmuüre will surprise you, promise! If not, your loss. Unless you like Power metal or fancy-pansy metal, then you'll probably hate it.

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Endorsed by: !J.O.O.E.!, X-Ray Rod

Project: Failing Flesh are able to indulge in some of the most exciting experimentation of 2010, while still remaining respectful of the classics (Voivod, Fear Factory, Godflesh) that went before them. Quite a feat indeed!

Count Back From Ten is the perfect album for those of us who love proper industrial metal.

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Endorsed by: Darkside Momo

So the biggest metal band on the planet is turning 30 this year.

As the story goes, back in 1981, some dude called James Hetfield answered a newspaper ad by a certain Lars Ulrich... and the legend was born. 30 years later, the success story that is Metallica still remains unequaled.

Happy 30th birthday, Metallica!

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Marking seven years since the incredibly unfortunate death of Valfar. This album is perhaps his best work, with the chilling and unsettlingly real "Journey To The End" to mark the end.

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Endorsed by: !J.O.O.E.!, Promonex, Raiden, Daniell, Angelique, Fat & Sassy!, X-Ray Rod, Troy Killjoy

Everything you need to know about this album and why you should listen to it, is clearly explained in this review... Jeez, how lazy can you get?

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Some kick-ass live party music to get this New Year rolling in style...

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Doom, served up traditional Chilean-stylee. Powerful, emotive vocals paired up with awesome riff after awesome riff after awesome riff. We had lots of nice things to say about their 2009 E.P. "Cult of Disease", which set the bar high for this release... and they exceeded those expectations.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Marcel Hubregtse, !J.O.O.E.!, Daniell, Jason W., White Winter Sun, Nefarious, X-Ray Rod

The cover already shows that Todtgelichter aren't your average panda black metal band anymore. With elements of black metal, progressive metal, post-metal, new wave, shoegaze and alternative rock (and a short passage reminiscent of proto-dubstep), Angst is a bleak yet strangely beautiful vision of post-modern life. Highly recommended for fans of Enslaved, Amesoeurs, Alcest and Agrypnie.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: Jason W., BitterCOld, Thryce, !J.O.O.E.!, Ag Fox, Fat & Sassy!, X-Ray Rod

Well this is a strange one. Predominantly black metal, these Englishmen have delivered a perplexing album that seemingly knows little in the way of boundaries. It isn't a very polished or musically tight album, but it is very interesting in the journey it provides, with maybe just a glimpse of greatness in there hiding.

Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: !J.O.O.E.!, X-Ray Rod