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1.
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Silent Stream Of Godless Elegy - Návaz My album of the year, this Moravian folk/doom band has released their most stunning work yet. Full of intensely gripping build-ups and music that really develops, this passionate album will burrow into your soul. |
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2.
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Fair To Midland - Arrows & Anchors As close a 2nd place as you can get, prog metallers Fair To Midland are also at the top of their game. This prog is brilliant yet not inaccessible; it's just purely beautiful. |
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3.
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Autumn - Cold Comfort Rock/metal group Autumn have really come into their own with Cold Comfort and solidified their direction with this tight exploration of their new sound. It's heavy with mood, yet full of surprises. |
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4.
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Shadowside - Inner Monster Out Heavy/power metal never sounded so good. Shadowside will blow your mind and leave you feeling a hell of a lot better about the future of the genre. After I heard this album, all other power metal lost a point. |
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5.
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40 Watt Sun - The Inside Room You've been seeing this album on everyone else's "Top" list and for good reason. If you haven't been overtaken by this slow and thoughtful doom debut then what are you waiting for? |
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6.
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Heavenwood - Abyss Masterpiece Masterpiece indeed. Heavenwood blew away all other gothic release this year with one of the most interesting and engaging albums, full of left turns, changes, and treats for the ear. |
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7.
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Fluxious - Why So Serious? Get your groove on with alternative/jazz fusion. Not for everyone, but if you like some good bass and a little funk with your metal then dive straight into Fluxious. |
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8.
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Sleestak - The Fall Of Altrusia I'm making a new award called "Most Mesmerizing/Hypnotizing Album of the Year" and Sleestak wins with this one. Psychedelic sludge/doom has never had such an impact on me; perhaps you'll let it enter your veins as well. It's beautiful music like this that makes me sad to see 2011 go. |
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9.
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SubRosa - No Help For The Mighty Ones If anyone tells you that violins can't be a crushing part of epic sludge metal then hand then this album and walk away while shaking your head in disgust at their ignorance. |
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10.
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Alaskan - Adversity; Woe The best sludge album you haven't heard this year. Alaskan brings a diverse serving of songs to this highly atmospheric debut. |
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11.
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Pagan's Mind - Heavenly Ecstasy Saving power metal part II. Pagan's Mind do a prog/power thing here that doesn't miss a note. I could easily see this being a melodic metal lover's album of the year. It's that quality. |
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12.
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Myrath - Tales Of The Sands Progressive metal based in beautiful Arabic traditional music. Tunisia's Myrath have been steadily improving since their formation and now this release announces their arrival alongside the top names in metal. |
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13.
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Ancient Bards - Soulless Child If you like your power metal with speed, energy, and nearly breaking the cheese-o-meter, then put Soulless Child on NOW. They're the most energetic and fun fantasy metal band, and are blessed with a female vocalist who knows how to belt and use her entire voice. |
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14.
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Isole - Born From Shadows Born of Shadows is "doom album of the year" quality. If it weren't for pesky competition they'd have it for sure. They spun a web of atmosphere with skilled songwriting and performance; truly something special. |
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15.
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Within Temptation - The Unforgiving Another one you probably already have an opinion on already. Nonetheless, I couldn't help but include it since I really dig the new territory that the band is exploring; I can't get enough of that 80s vibe they have going on. Also, it's so damn addictive it's one of my top listened albums this year. |
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16.
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Today I Caught The Plague - Lore A new prog band for you to love! These self-financed Canadians are one of the best and most successful unsigned bands, who most certainly won't stay unsigned for long. I hear traces of Vanden Plas love, other people hear more Protest The Hero. Either way, their debut full-length is just the first of many to come. |
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17.
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The Rain I Bleed - Narcissist My most promising new symphonic metal band. This group is no joke; incredibly intense music all around. Progressive, sometimes thrashy, sometimes gothy, this album even features Jeff Loomis on the opening track. The singer/composer's vocals are smokey and bluesy in a way that's highly complementary to metal. Check them out. |
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18.
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Saille - Irreversible Decay Another sweet debut. Melodic black metal, this time heavy in atmosphere. |
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19.
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Turisas - Stand Up And Fight You probably already love or hate this album. Obviously, I can't understand the hate. This album is positively brimming over with epic energy and air-instrument potential. |
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20.
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Phideaux - Snowtorch Prog rockers Phideaux release their best yet. Nuff said. |
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21.
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Ghost Brigade - Until Fear No Longer Defines Us Atmospheric sludge which drops in some hauntingly acoustic passages at all the right moments. They drive their music forward with the most tender of hands. |
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22.
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Darkest Era - The Last Caress Of Light Darkly sad and sparse, this folk band keeps it simple with a heavy/folk hybrid, while presenting music from the most bare and exposed part of the soul. |
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23.
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The Project Hate MCMXCIX - Bleeding The New Apocalypse (Cum Victriciis In Manibus Armis) Symphonic death metal with good industrial elements, male and female vocals, damn fine finished product. |
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24.
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TOAD - Rotten Tide Raw, gritty sludge. Can you handle it? |
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25.
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Rain Delay - Slumber Recon Serbian avant group Rain Delay delivers their 3rd album full of variety and pure talent. Male and female vocals and a nice variety of styles grace this eclectic project. |
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26.
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Aaskereia - Dort, Wo Das Alte Böse Ruht Pagan black metal, only they're doing it better than everyone else is. |
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27.
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Apostle Of Solitude - Apostle Of Solitude / Rituals Of The Oak / The Flight Of Sleipnir [Split] Here's a split from 3 doom bands who deserve lots of attention. Established groups Apostle Of Solitude and The Flight Of Sleipnir supply some amazing treats on this disc, while sharing the stage with brilliant newcomers Rituals Of The Oak who you will most definitely be hearing more from. All the bands complement each other perfectly. Don't miss this special split while it's still around. |
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28.
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Cauldron - Burning Fortune Classic heavy metal. I can't really put my finger on why I love this album so much but what Canadians Cauldron bring to the table is perhaps such a pure love of classic metal that you completely forget that it's the same old thing. They got "it" for sure. |
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29.
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Dirge - Elysian Magnetic Fields If you're not careful you'll be swept away in this whirlpool of post-metal mood, never to be seen or heard from again. |
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30.
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November-7 - Season 3 Another highly promising symphonic band, yet approaching the genre from a totally different angle than promising genre-mate The Rain I Bleed (above). This is more straight-up, heavy, melodic metal, with enough symphonic elements to kick it over the line into that genre. Strong songwriting and fantastic performances from this Swiss foursome. |
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31.
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Glorior Belli - The Great Southern Darkness At.Mo.Sphere. Oh, it's black metal. With southern rock elements. And really good. So go listen. K bye. |
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32.
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Grayceon - All We Destroy Chill, intense prog led by cello and dark, low-pitched female vocals. Get it. You can thank me later. |
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33.
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Borealis - Fall From Grace Along came Borealis and saved power metal. When this year was looking dismal, with release after release of shitty power metal, Borealis was one of the first decent albums I heard. It was hard to top for me, and not many bands did. |
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34.
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Brymir - Breathe Fire To The Sun Dark, intense, energetic FOLK. Do you miss the glory days of Eluveitie and Ensiferum? Fear not, Brymir has enough extreme metal AND enough well-placed symphonic elements to usher in a new era of badassitude in folk metal. |
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35.
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Fell Voices - Untitled Let this droning black metal wash over you like waves. |
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36.
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Neurotech - Antagonist Let's not forget the industrial/electronic scene. If you do, you'll miss Neurotech's masterpiece of moody soundscapes and delicious, dark dreams. |
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37.
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Haken - Visions A grower. But if you're into prog you probably already know that. Just know it's going to be SO rewarding in no time at all. |
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38.
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Lazuli - (4603 Battements) French prog band Lazuli keeps it fresh and interesting with this wonderful album. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes quite unexpected, but always damn good. |
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39.
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Suidakra - Book Of Dowth I've followed this band for a while now and for some reason was nervous about this release. It's not perfect, but it's probably one of their most beautiful. It follows a pretty abnormal trajectory but stick with them and you'll be glad you did. |
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40.
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Omnium Gatherum - New World Shadows Um.. It's really good melodeath. |
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41.
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Spellbound Dazzle - Unreal Fairy Tales Fun melodic metal incorporating bits of damn near every genre, mood, and style. Don't take the band or album name too seriously; if you dig the whimsical vibe that Freak Kitchen delivers, then don't miss this. |
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42.
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A Storm Of Light - As The Valley Of Death Becomes Us, Our Silver Memories Fade It's real purrdy. And rockin. Seriously though. |
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43.
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TesseracT - One Crowned by many as the album that'll bring "djent" to the masses. Listen and find out why. |
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44.
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Smohalla - Resilience Crazy ass avant metal that'll tickle your fancy. |
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45.
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ReinXeed - 1912 Power metallers take note of ReinXeed. How have I not heard of them before? Top notch symphonic power metal with just the precise amount of cheese and awesomeness. |
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46.
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Wolves In The Throne Room - Celestial Lineage Black metal from my home state. If you're not yet on board with this gorgeous specimen of music, then wtf are you waiting for? |
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47.
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To Cast A Shadow - In Memory Of Really lovely, promising gothic/doom band with an astute atmosphere full of cold colors. |
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48.
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Iron Savior - The Landing Last minute entry to the "decent power metal of 2011" club, and deservedly so. |
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49.
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Xes Dreams - NC-17 Let Avant/symphonic Ukrainians Xes Dreams show you how it's done. For one thing, they dress up like ancient Egyptians. For another thing, the music is pretty sweet. Keeps you guessing, that sort of thing. |
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50.
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Hibria - Blind Ride Nearly reaching the heights of their groundbreaking debut, Hibria has still managed to take us on one hell of a worthy "ride" with this kick-ass music. Take special note of the album closing cover of Frank Sinatra's "I'm Gonna Live Till I Die," showing that badass is alive and well in any decade. |