Oh it's not the job - so much work went into getting everything selected, descripted, proofed, posted, etc that i think it would not be a significant task for the staff to find a way to list all nominees and final tallies.

the depressing kicks in when you see some of the albums that are really really good - and you see how little votes they receive in comparison to some more popular but mediocre albums.

Written by Lucas on 04.02.2009 at 19:49

Written by Damnated on 04.02.2009 at 16:49

After the voting is over, it would be nice if we could see how many votes each album got, not just the top 10 in each category. just an idea.

We had that last year as well. Check this link. Or do you mean for write-in votes as well, for every album that got at least one vote? That will probably result in very long and uninteresting lists.

The amusing thing is some of the staff nominations get bypassed by more popular albums that didn't make the cut. in the '07 Black Metal section, Glorior Belli was one of our nominees (i remember as i wrote the description for it) - but got bypassed by a write-in. Now it's as if it were never even nominated or given the recognition it deserved.

Written by BitterCOld on 05.02.2009 at 21:41

The amusing thing is some of the staff nominations get bypassed by more popular albums that didn't make the cut. in the '07 Black Metal section, Glorior Belli was one of our nominees (i remember as i wrote the description for it) - but got bypassed by a write-in. Now it's as if it were never even nominated or given the recognition it deserved.

Speaking of the description write-ups, I'd really like to know who did a lot of them this year, they were far more humorous than most years I remember, they cracked me up more than once, especially the ones in "The Best Drama" category. Good work on whoever was doing those.

I don't really think that Gaahl coming out of the closet constitutes drama. Usually with drama, there's some sort of dysfunction between members or maybe certain members fighting with some other band/label, but the fact that he just announced that he's gay didn't seem to set Gorgoroth back much. I'm glad the staff didn't include it, but I do have to admit it's still funny to me.

Written by Dangerboner on 06.02.2009 at 03:34

I don't really think that Gaahl coming out of the closet constitutes drama. Usually with drama, there's some sort of dysfunction between members or maybe certain members fighting with some other band/label, but the fact that he just announced that he's gay didn't seem to set Gorgoroth back much. I'm glad the staff didn't include it, but I do have to admit it's still funny to me.

Well put. Besides, gay-Gaahl jokes are almost becoming as over-done as Chuck Norris jokes.

Written by Doc G. on 06.02.2009 at 03:21

Written by BitterCOld on 05.02.2009 at 21:41

The amusing thing is some of the staff nominations get bypassed by more popular albums that didn't make the cut. in the '07 Black Metal section, Glorior Belli was one of our nominees (i remember as i wrote the description for it) - but got bypassed by a write-in. Now it's as if it were never even nominated or given the recognition it deserved.

Speaking of the description write-ups, I'd really like to know who did a lot of them this year, they were far more humorous than most years I remember, they cracked me up more than once, especially the ones in "The Best Drama" category. Good work on whoever was doing those.

All "The Best Drama" one were written by the person you quoted

Written by Dangerboner on 06.02.2009 at 03:34

I don't really think that Gaahl coming out of the closet constitutes drama. Usually with drama, there's some sort of dysfunction between members or maybe certain members fighting with some other band/label, but the fact that he just announced that he's gay didn't seem to set Gorgoroth back much. I'm glad the staff didn't include it.

And that, sir, is exactly the reason we didn't include. There's nothing dramatic about Gaahl's coming out in our opinion.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 06.02.2009 at 07:13

And that, sir, is exactly the reason we didn't include. There's nothing dramatic about Gaahl's coming out in our opinion.

Now if Gaahl had eaten his gay lover after sex...or got in a sissy fight with Mr. Lordi...or lead worship at The Flame Within, he might have been nominated.

Call me retarded or whatever, but I'm considering voting for Psycroptic's latest over Decrepit Birth in the death metal category. I just seem to really like their new album, i find they still have that special touch to their sound, i like the vocals, the industrial/post-metal interludes are really cool and the songwriting is still great. That said, my decision's still not made as I have Origin's Antithesis in the back of my head as well.

Written by Visioneerie on 07.02.2009 at 20:22
Call me retarded or whatever, but I'm considering voting for Psycroptic's latest over Decrepit Birth in the death metal category. I just seem to really like their new album, i find they still have that special touch to their sound, i like the vocals, the industrial/post-metal interludes are really cool and the songwriting is still great. That said, my decision's still not made as I have Origin's Antithesis in the back of my head as well.

You're retarded! Have you checked Enthrallment & Posthumous Blasphemer? Got a feeling you'd prefer the latter. I've still got a few of your suggestions to try before voting.

Written by Jason W. on 03.02.2009 at 21:19

Written by VPeter on 03.02.2009 at 20:33


I have to say the Symphonic section is very well done, it was a great year for symphonic metal. Gothic metal however had a terrible year, so maybe you were trying to fill it up? I don't blame you. but Unsun and Diathra are not gothic metal, Diathra sounds symphonic to me and Unsun sound like that to but leaning sometimes to heard rock even. Flowing Tears latest sounds so weird I don't even know where to put it:P
and The Eternal sounds more doom then gothic to be honest. One of the vital releases I thought for the gothic metal for example was ASP latest, ASP isn't all that unkown so why no ASP?

Well I checked them right away when I saw them nominated and read the description plus those great covers. First I was sceptical since power metal bands often have fantastic covers but there music is so generic and saltless. Thanks again dude, picking a vote for Symphonic metal is going to be very hard right now!

Well, I hope you don't think it was all me doing the work - it's a collective effort, it's just more my taste so I put more effort into it and finding bands that were worth nominating - or skipping over . Regarding The Eternal, there was some discussion and it was moved to gothic - really, if all the songs were like "Blood" I would say you were more right, but considering who we and the metal community usually put in gothic, bands like Paradise Lost to Cradle Of Filth to Moonspell to Delight to Tristania, there is a wide range that can be considered gothic And also, it's the whole CD that it is important for the genre decision - the rest to me at least is more gothic, particularly when you compare it to the doom nominees for 2008!

I'd say that explains everything, really - sure some bands are blatant, but others are difficult, or share two types of styles at once, and could go either way! There's a reason why people have "genre" arguments all the time

By the way, who is ASP? An abbreviation for something I do not know, or just something I've never abbreviated? I certainly don't know every band in existence

I myself get very tired of metalheads labeling Gothic Metal all wrong, many metalheads don't even know what Goth music is. Cradle of Filth have nothing Gothic in them, even though they covered "No time to cry" of the Sisters of Mercy. They are Blackened/extreme heavy metal.

You seriously don't know ASP? maybe of the difference between the USA and Europe. ASP have been promoted several times a lot by Nuclear Blast and Orkus. www.myspace.com/thetalesofasp

does the staff really think the mars volta is prog metal? :

oh, and another thing. how come you didn't add anything from DSO? they released two fantastic compilations, one decent and one lousy EP? that's 4 releases in total. plus, i thought you guys were in high heavens from Chaining the katelol, well, at least Marcel was.

Written by Damnated on 08.02.2009 at 22:32

does the staff really think the mars volta is prog metal? :

oh, and another thing. how come you didn't add anything from DSO? they released two fantastic compilations, one decent and one lousy EP? that's 4 releases in total. plus, i thought you guys were in high heavens from Chaining the katelol, well, at least Marcel was.

I am a post Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice DSO fanboy (more or less) but I am against adding ep's. But that's probably just me.
As for the other ep, that's just a re-release of a song already released a couple of years ago.
As for compilations, Manifestations 2000-2001 was a re-release as well. Only Manifestations 2002 could have been considered. Well, I did considered that one and was left totally indifferent about it. But then again, as you know, I don't find any of their work before Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice special at all. Enjoyable, yes, but worthy of a nomination, nope.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 08.02.2009 at 23:01

Written by Damnated on 08.02.2009 at 22:32

does the staff really think the mars volta is prog metal? :

oh, and another thing. how come you didn't add anything from DSO? they released two fantastic compilations, one decent and one lousy EP? that's 4 releases in total. plus, i thought you guys were in high heavens from Chaining the katelol, well, at least Marcel was.

I am a post Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice DSO fanboy (more or less) but I am against adding ep's. But that's probably just me.

that's strange because in 2005 Kenose got nominated, so did other EPs this year, like Jesu's Why Are We Not Perfect etc

Written by Damnated on 09.02.2009 at 11:48

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 08.02.2009 at 23:01

Written by Damnated on 08.02.2009 at 22:32

does the staff really think the mars volta is prog metal? :

oh, and another thing. how come you didn't add anything from DSO? they released two fantastic compilations, one decent and one lousy EP? that's 4 releases in total. plus, i thought you guys were in high heavens from Chaining the katelol, well, at least Marcel was.

I am a post Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice DSO fanboy (more or less) but I am against adding ep's. But that's probably just me.

that's strange because in 2005 Kenose got nominated, so did other EPs this year, like Jesu's Why Are We Not Perfect etc

I know Kenose did get nominated as was another one this year. But I think I was the only staff member who is against nominating ep's. But then again Kenose was 36 minutes long whereas Chaining is only a mere 22 minutes long, plus it of course didn't help that Chaining was released in December. Personally I am happy with all the nominations in the black metal category except maybe for Darkthrone, but then again I have never really enjoyed Darkthrone at all.

Written by Syk on 08.02.2009 at 05:58

Written by Visioneerie on 07.02.2009 at 20:22
Call me retarded or whatever, but I'm considering voting for Psycroptic's latest over Decrepit Birth in the death metal category. I just seem to really like their new album, i find they still have that special touch to their sound, i like the vocals, the industrial/post-metal interludes are really cool and the songwriting is still great. That said, my decision's still not made as I have Origin's Antithesis in the back of my head as well.

You're retarded! Have you checked Enthrallment & Posthumous Blasphemer? Got a feeling you'd prefer the latter. I've still got a few of your suggestions to try before voting.

Hah yes, i needed someone to speak some sense into me . I probably will end up voting for Decrepit Birth though (talk about the peer pressure). Psycroptic and Origin are still close seconds. Thanks for the recs man and you should definitely check out Banishment before you vote, the production isn't very good but once i got over that, i enjoyed the album alot,.. put Immolation and Deeds of Flesh in a blender and you've got Banishment...sort of.

I am having a difficult choice between Testament and Toxic Holocaust...two totally different bands...Testament obviously with a completely "blow away" album...but I'm liking the underdogs...

EDIT: Ok...I think everything I know about music is telling me Testament is a much better album...but...it just doesn't make me want to smash car windows with my old-school skateboard...well it does, just not as much as T.H. - they're getting my vote, because it's THRASH.

Written by Konrad on 12.02.2009 at 02:21

I am having a difficult choice between Testament and Toxic Holocaust...two totally different bands...Testament obviously with a completely "blow away" album...but I'm liking the underdogs...

EDIT: Ok...I think everything I know about music is telling me Testament is a much better album...but...it just doesn't make me want to smash car windows with my old-school skateboard...well it does, just not as much as T.H. - they're getting my vote, because it's THRASH.

I had the exact same problem! Those were the two stand-out thrash metal albums for me this year (er...last year, sorry). Ended up going with Toxic Holocaust, sure its not as technical as Testament, but its such a fun album, kind of that skater thrash, like Municipal Waste in a way.

You voted for Toxic Holocaust or Testament? (I could exactly tell by your post).

I'm surprised no one wrote in The Reckoning - Counterblast and Outcast - Self-Injected Reality, which, although is not pure Death Metal, fit sinto that category. Two great albums.

Written by Doc G. on 12.02.2009 at 09:59

Written by Konrad on 12.02.2009 at 02:21

I am having a difficult choice between Testament and Toxic Holocaust...two totally different bands...Testament obviously with a completely "blow away" album...but I'm liking the underdogs...

EDIT: Ok...I think everything I know about music is telling me Testament is a much better album...but...it just doesn't make me want to smash car windows with my old-school skateboard...well it does, just not as much as T.H. - they're getting my vote, because it's THRASH.

I had the exact same problem! Those were the two stand-out thrash metal albums for me this year (er...last year, sorry). Ended up going with Toxic Holocaust, sure its not as technical as Testament, but its such a fun album, kind of that skater thrash, like Municipal Waste in a way.

You voted for Toxic Holocaust or Testament? (I could exactly tell by your post).

I voted for Toxic Holocaust dude...if it was overall best metal album, I would have gone with Testament...but it's a distinct "Thrash" catagory and T.H. makes me want to break more shit when I listen to it.

It's the dude from Municipal Waste.

Written by Konrad on 13.02.2009 at 19:49

I voted for Toxic Holocaust dude...if it was overall best metal album, I would have gone with Testament...but it's a distinct "Thrash" catagory and T.H. makes me want to break more shit when I listen to it.

It's the dude from Municipal Waste.

Agreed. What dude from Municipal Waste?

Nice list

but either Soulfly or Cavalera conspiracy should have been nominated

Written by frontpage on 19.02.2009 at 11:58

Nice list

but either Soulfly or Cavalera conspiracy should have been nominated

Well counting the staff votes for that category neither one got in the staff top 10, therefore no nomination. But of course you can always use the write-in vote option.

I'm very curious about the drama section of this awards jaja there were a lot of funny dramas last year (just read the write-in votes jaja) who writes the description for each one? Those are great, jaja like the one about Glen Benton. I voted for the one about Rhapsody (they are my boys hehe I had to vote for them).

Many of my votes are done but there are categories where maybe I won't vote because of my ignorance in the genre (like the stoner or the avantgarde category), I hope the next year I'll give a try to some other categories.

I'm also curious about the cover section, I did not have idea of how many covers were made this year and some of them are great, sadly I discovered this band "Combo de la Muerte" this year thanks to Jeff's review, they have awesome cover songs (in latin jazz!!!). But there were other great covers like the ones of Van Canto or that funny cover song of the TMNT theme song made by Bonded By Blood.

Yes, the Drama section is interesting. I voted for Metalstorm vs Wikipedia basically because the text is funny way of describing.. But some of write-in-votes are very similar to Celebrity Gossips rather than Drama.. And also I can't find the dramatic point of leaving the stage by Annette Olzon..

Written by Doc G. on 14.02.2009 at 05:09

Written by Konrad on 13.02.2009 at 19:49

I voted for Toxic Holocaust dude...if it was overall best metal album, I would have gone with Testament...but it's a distinct "Thrash" catagory and T.H. makes me want to break more shit when I listen to it.

It's the dude from Municipal Waste.

Agreed. What dude from Municipal Waste?

I thought he was in MW but apparently he's not. Maybe the bands have just toured together or something because they are definitely associated.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 19.02.2009 at 12:40

Written by frontpage on 19.02.2009 at 11:58
Nice list

but either Soulfly or Cavalera conspiracy should have been nominated

Well counting the staff votes for that category neither one got in the staff top 10, therefore no nomination. But of course you can always use the write-in vote option.

Which category's that? Mistake in thrash write-ins, Negligence released by themselves in 2007. Last year was some label's rerelease.

Written by Syk on 22.02.2009 at 06:04

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 19.02.2009 at 12:40

Written by frontpage on 19.02.2009 at 11:58
Nice list

but either Soulfly or Cavalera conspiracy should have been nominated

Well counting the staff votes for that category neither one got in the staff top 10, therefore no nomination. But of course you can always use the write-in vote option.

Which category's that? Mistake in thrash write-ins, Negligence released by themselves in 2007. Last year was some label's rerelease.

Soulfly - Conquer is from 2008 as is Cavalera Conspiracy - Inflikted. What is this Negligence release you're talking about?

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 22.02.2009 at 13:45

Written by Syk on 22.02.2009 at 06:04

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 19.02.2009 at 12:40

Written by frontpage on 19.02.2009 at 11:58
Nice list

but either Soulfly or Cavalera conspiracy should have been nominated

Well counting the staff votes for that category neither one got in the staff top 10, therefore no nomination. But of course you can always use the write-in vote option.

Which category's that? Mistake in thrash write-ins, Negligence released by themselves in 2007. Last year was some label's rerelease.

Soulfly - Conquer is from 2008 as is Cavalera Conspiracy - Inflikted. What is this Negligence release you're talking about?

I know the releases. Your earlier post referred to "that category" but neither you nor he actually stated a category.

In the thrash write-ins someone wrote Negligence but it doesn't belong.

Sorted.