Global Domination

GD's verdicts - Best of 2007

31/12/07  ||  Global Domination

On this day, the very last one of the year, we bring you another one of our respected Best Of lists. Here are all the answers you’ll ever need when it comes to the most superior albums launched upon mankind in 2007. Let’s get down to business, bitches.

1. Vomitory: Terrorize, brutalize, sodomize

Lord K. Philipson (In Fucken Charge) :

As I’m too cool to pick my own album “In Hora Mortis Nostrae” as the winner (which it still is though, don’t get me wrong, bitch) or Vanessa Carlton’s “Heroes and thieves” (not enough metal to make this list though it deserves to be ranked 2, 3, 4 and 5), there’s simply no other option than to put Vomitory’s latest death metal assault/masterpiece as the champion of 2007. These guys are easily one of the best bands in the world in this genre, and most definitely the one single band that deserves this spot for 2007 since they piss on all other releases this year. Growl with me once more: ROTTEN CADAVER!!!

2: Vicious Art: Pick up this sick child

A fantastic live act who released their finest effort yet with this one. There are no limits for how awesome Vicious Art will turn out in the future if they keep up the aggression and precision they already possess to the fullest. VA’s perfect blend of blasts, heavy-ass riffs and muthafucken brutality combined with 2 of the best vocal-wars in metal make Vicious Art one of the strongest up’n‘coming bands in a very long time. If you overlook this bunch of veterans, my fist is destined for your face until I can’t punch no more.

3: Aeon: Rise to dominate

Aeon deserves the attention of the metal world. They compose like few other bands, they play the fuck out of most other bands, and most of all – they create memorable death metal that annihilates nuts in the filthy christian community. I like that shit. Actually, I LOVE that shit. Aeon is a rising star on the scene, without a doubt. Hopefully they find a reliable drummer asap so the murderous quest for domination can continue full scale.

4: Gorefest: Rise to ruin

The old-timers are anything but old when it comes to sound potent. Gorefest managed to create one of the absolutely finest things in their career with “Rise to ruin”. People still rave about “False” being The Fest’s finest moment, but seriously – there’s a good chance that this effort is actually better. I can do nothing but stand up and applaud them, and put them as the creators of the fourth best album this year.

5: Naglfar: Harvest

The only band here in my top-picks for 2007 that we don’t host forums for (except for the “disappointment” one displayed further down this list). That says alot about the quality we have here at GD. Naglfar completely kills, there’s no 2 fucken ways about it. “Harvest” got it all; the trademark Naglf(h)armonies, the brutality and the sheer evilness needed for melodic black metal. Naglfar harvest (ehum) their metal like few others. My second black metal fave, just beat by Dark Funeral.

Major disappointment of 2007:

Soilwork: Sworn to a great divide

I absolutely loved most of “Stabbing the drama”, but this one here is lacking everything that said album had. Soilwork sound like a washed-up version of themselves and I can do nothing but hope they pick shit up for the next one. I was very close to put C-187’s “Collision” here, but it’s actually too much of a suck-fest to even have the honor to be on this list.

1. The Project Hate MCMXCIX: In hora mortis nostrae

Chazz (ex-staffer/always a hero) :

Having been a big TPH fan for some time now, I’ve become accustomed to every new album being not only better than the last, but better than even I personally thought it could be. No exception here. Compared to previous works, this album “seems” a bit toned down, the songs seem slower, there is more melody, but the overall experience, to me, is much darker and heavier. I find very few bands able to create the amount atmosphere like I hear on this album. J and Jo sound better then ever, Mike continues to impress on the bass, and the addition of real-drummer Mojjo give this album, and band, a sound which fits perfectly. K and Mazza step it up yet again, creating enough riffs in one song to carry most bands through a couple of albums. I can’t say enough about this album, so I’ll reduce all I want to say to just one word: “Quality”.

2: Vicious Art: Pick up this sick child

I don’t know how they did it… I suppose it takes some real veterans of the scene to create something truly original. It’s not often I am at a loss for words when someone asks me “What do they sound like?”, but I am with Vicious Art. The riffs groove, the bass and drums are just solid as fuck, and the vocals and lyrics are absolutely untouchable. Their debut wasn’t going to be all that easy to top, but about 10 seconds of listening to any song proves that they did. As far as I am concerned, Vicious Art are one of, if not the premier band in metal today.

3: Aeon: Rise to dominate

These guys mix their ultra Satanic and Christ-bashing music with a sense of humor, something a lot of bands should take note of. Now that I think about it, a lot of bands should also take note of their superior groove and awesome vocals. I like everything about this album, from the excellent production, to the way the songs use just enough melody to keep things interesting, but never let up on any of the head pummeling heaviness keeps me wanting to listen again and again. I’ve always preferred groove in my death metal over pure blasting and speed, and these just reminded me why. The CD and cover are quite nice looking as well, like Lex Lugar, these guys are the “Total Package”.

4: Exodus: The atrocity exhibit… exhibit a

It’s a good thing Testament isn’t releasing their often-promised and talked about new album this year, because they would have a hard time topping these fellow thrash legends and their newest opus. It’s hard to believe a band that rocks this hard was around in the early ‘80s. Compared to previous efforts… I thought Tempo was ruined by the ridiculous vocals, and Shovel headed was mostly OK, but this… this is the Exodus comeback we deserve. I only hope the can keep this kind of level up with the second “half” of the album when it’s released next year; I’m already reserving a spot on my “best of ‘08” for it.

5: Novembers Doom: The novella reservoir

I’m as surprised as anyone that this album made my list, being that before hearing this album, I’d never even heard Novembers Doom before. Not being a big Doom metal fan, I was probably turned off by the name, and I’m sorry I never gave these guys a listen. Semi-progressive, mid-paced, groovy, death metal at it’s finest. Actually, these guys aren’t the most deathly of metal, but their music is heavy and it grooves, and I dig it. Some of the cleaner vocals I could do without, and sometimes the lyrics seem a little too “personal”, but overall, this is a strong album. I should give a special mention to Dan Swanö, the sound on this album is quite good; now that I look at my list here, it seems Dan’s had his hands on damn near every one of my faves this year… not surprising.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Dethklok: The dethalbum

Maybe it was my love of the television series, maybe it was when I learned Gene Hoglan would be drumming on this album, but for some fucked-up reason, I actually had high hopes for this album. A few songs hit the level from time to time, but overall, this is a pretty boring pile of shit. I suppose the songs work a bit better as 30 second or so long clips on the series as opposed to these full-length songs, something seems to get lost when these songs were brought to an actual album.

1. Immolation: Shadows in the light

Seker (writer) :

Well, shit; I totally didn’t see this coming! I figured that Immolation were pretty much done after the lackluster “Unholy Cult” and the dangerously mainstream “Harnessing Ruin”, but these New Yorkers apparently still have quite a few tricks up their sleeve. This album is a veritable cavalcade of ethereal dissonance and crushing death metal fury, and it beats the other albums on this list by the strength of its songwriting and the sheer blasphemous force it conjures.

2: Portal: Outre

Portal’s highly unique and disturbing style of songwriting is best summed up by the fourth track on “Outre”: “Crawling Omnipotent Chaos”. While “Outre” may seem like nonsensical grinding noise at first, its sinister and positively extraterrestrial machinations slowly emerge upon repeated and closer listening. A cyclopean masterpiece crafted by the slightly-addled for the slightly-addled, “Outre” buries the listener in a maddening wave of sonic chaos.

3: Wold: Screech Owl

Melodic blackened noise? Sure, that’s a pretty bizarre genre description, but I can’t think of anything else that fits. This album (much like Portal’s “Outre”) is nearly impenetrable on the first listen, but if you let it wash over you like the great acrimonious wave of abyssic sound it is, you’ll come to realize its inherent genius. With their penchant for bending seemingly unmelodic abrasive noise into brooding sonic monuments that are as malevolent as they are majestic, Wold are probably one of the few recent black metal bands that could be considered truly original.

4: Jesu: Lifeline

Another impressive turnaround from a band that I thought had lost it. Seriously, skip “Silver” and “Conqueror” and just get this. It’s possibly the best Jesu release yet: showcasing an epic and deliberately emotionally ambiguous sound that would make My Bloody Valentine and Brian Eno proud. Also, it’s as heavy as a bag of bricks: check out that distorted juggernaut of a riff on “You Wear Their Masks”. I’m just going to pretend that this paradoxically shimmering, radiant, and soul-crushingly heavy EP came out right after the self-titled album…

5: Graveland: Will stronger than death

This album is simply the penultimate expression of the sound Darken has been attempting to communicate since at least “Creed of Iron”, if not “Immortal Pride”. It’s galloping, rolling battle-tide is indicative of Graveland’s desire to push ever forward toward loftier heights of musical greatness. Of particular note is the album’s remarkably cohesive synthesis of melodic, flowing black metal and the majestic ambient of the latest Lord Wind album; there’s no jarring genre-shifts here! You should be taking notes, Deathspell Omega!

Major disappointment of 2006:

C-187: Collision

I was gonna put Angelcorpse here (fuck, how do you go from something as awesome as “Exterminate” to something as bland and neutered as “Of Lucifer and Lightning”?), but then I heard the debut (and hopefully only) album of Patrick Mameli’s latest musical excursion. What do you get when you put the man behind Pestilence in a band with Sean Reinert and Tony Choy? The tech death equivalent of Limp Bizkit, apparently. Save your ears the trouble and listen to some old Pestilence instead. Mameli’s lost it, and he’s never getting it back. These guys aren’t just beating a dead horse; they’re raping it.

1. The Project Hate MCMXCIX: In hora mortis nostrae

Jotun (ex-writer) :

I was obsessed with “Armageddon March Eternal” and now that masterpiece has been dethroned. No other album this year was playing in my CD player or on my computer for a solid week straight. I don’t know what else to say besides: perfection.

2: Gorefest: Rise to ruin

I had never heard of Gorefest until I joined Global Domination and now I know I’ve been missing out. This album dominates, slays, and slaughters in every way imaginable. Every time I hear “Rise to Ruin”, I get chills. “We feel supreme. God given right. We’re born to breed and gather like rats.” Fucking. Domination.

3: Devin Townsend: Ziltoid the omniscient

Devin is a metal hero of mine and a big reason why I’m into the heavier stuff, like Dying Fetus and black-tar heroine. The concept, the music, the humor; this entire album is a wonderful composition. This self-parody solo project exemplifies what this man is capable off, and even though he’s no longer making music with SYL and DTB, at least he’s still producing fantastic music. ZIL-TOID! THE OM-NIS-CI-ENT!

4: Finntroll: Ur jordens djup

The troll-folk metallers win my vote yet again with their latest installment. These guys haven’t put out an album I haven’t adored and this one is no different. This formula of metal and folk absolutely works, and I can’t wait to see what this band will further produce.

5: Sigh: Hangman’s hymn

I was just recently introduced to these guys, and after going through their entire discography, I can easily say this my favorite album. I feel they really tightened the avant garde/black metal combination on this album, creating a very unique and entertaining arrangement. Scornful, intense, brilliance.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Sanctity: Road to bloodshed

I’ve made a few references to this crapfest of a band in many of my reviews, and I won’t be satisfied until they’re tactically nuked from a safe orbit. Can’t risk any metalcore blood to get on you. Might get syphillAIDS. Yes, I am still very pissed that I purchased this album on a recommendation that these guys sounded similar to Testament.

1. Immolation: Shadows in the light

Zenoth (ex-writer) :

As always, Immolation serves a first class product when it comes to death metal. This time we’ve got 13 fresh tracks (including the EP), none of which indicates any weakness. A monstrous weight of riffs, tons of apocalyptic chords, the massiveness of Ross’s voice and brutality. Looks like Immo have focused on more in-your-face musical structures than on the trancy vibes we know from “Harnessing Ruin”, which makes the songs rather short and relentless, just like on “Close to The World Below”. Tracks like “World Agony”, “Breathing The Dark” or “Lying with Demons” are more jewels to the death metal crown these New Yorkers proudly wear. In times when Morbid Angel is dying somewhere in the corner, Immolation still means business.

2: Crionics: Neuthrone

Unholy shit! The band known for being a total symphonic black metal rip-off without any identity is back with their third album… A murderous, industrial death metal masterpiece. Waran and his companions left the depths of the forests and joined the cyberpunk army in propheting the apocalypse for men. Industrial beats and symphonic keyboards are linked together perfectly with some sharp and memorable guitarwork together with machine-like drums. Storms of blasts and killer riffs, that’s what you will face when being in contact with “Neuthrone”. Fear Factory and their clones can just go fuck themselves. The young, Polish king is born.

3: The Project Hate: In hora mortis nostrae

The Project Hate is the only quality for themselves. There are no bands with a similar approach to composing and performing the music. Even if there were, they would stand no chance in comparison to what this band has achieved on “In Hora Mortis Nostrae”. They’ve just passed the borderline between industrial death metal with symphonic elements and real progressive music. And by “progressive” I mean “adding something completely new to the music itself”. Here is literally everything that Lord K. Philipson decided to put into the specific TPH style, no matter if it’s a male choir or a submarine echo sonar. There are no good words to describe it. It’s brutal metal created with style and heart, without any limitations in imagination.

4: Gorefest: Rise to ruin

The Fest is back with their second comeback album and their most brutal shit since “False”. It’s so impressive how 40-year old freaks can create such a powerful combination of brutality, groove and insanity that is hidden within these nine tracks. Expect a typical Gorefest kick in the ass like in “Revolt”, or the more low-key steamroller like “A Grim Charade”. Death metal performed by this band is still a dangerous weapon. Personally I like “La Muerte” a little bit more, but no one will be unsatisfied with with Gorefest’s seventh release.

5: Porcupine Tree: Fear of the blank planet

After a bunch of mediocre albums, Steven Wilson is back with a full-on progressive rock release. A well-balanced mix of his genuine ideas and overactive imagination. Psychedelic hard rock riffs, King Crimson-like soundscapes, entangled song structures, trance… No more stupid Brit-rock elements, pop-like songs or incomprehensible experiments. This album is quite a trip after some good drugs, just for relaxing. It’s not metal in any point of view, but some pretty impressive piece of music.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Soilwork: Sworn to a great divide

I expected something like “Stabbing the Drama”; a good mix of bittersweet songs in the melodic metal vein. Well-composed and headmoving. Too much sugar this time. How sad…

1. Slough Feg: Hardworlder

Banesupper (ex-writer) :

Ever since “Down Among the Deadmen” Slough Feg have been on a roll. “Traveller” was flabbergasting awesome, “Atavism” was masterful, and so is this new offering. In fact, I think I like it even better than “Atavism”. The heavy metal brilliance of songs like “Tiger! Tiger!”, “The Sea Wolf”, the title track and “Poisoned Treasures” is nothing short of undeniable. Add Mike Scalzi and some killer covers of some killer bands and you got a winner. In what I consider a rather weak year in metal, this album easily outmanoeuvres its competition, and lands at top. All hail the Feg.

2. The Project Hate MCMXCIX: In hora mortis nostræ

I have to say, considering the hype floating around this release I was a tad disappointed with the final result. That’s not to say this is bad stuff – frankly, it kicks ass – but it’s just not as good as “Armageddon March Eternal”, which absolutely slew. The addition of flesh-and-blood drummer Mojjo have worked to improve the Hate’s sound, not so much adding a new dimension as merely improving upon an existing one. Jo Enckell is not allowed a full track to play with this time around, and I’m glad of that. No offense meant to Jo, but while “Loveless, Godless, Flawless” was great, “Weep” was just plain awful. The end message here is that while “In Hora Mortis Nostræ” may be a slight step down from its predecessor, it still stands heads and shoulders above near all other releases this year. Also, if I didn’t pick this K would have me whipped.

3. Tenochtitlan: Tezcatl

A lot of people on this site reacted with non-understanding to my favorable review of this album, but they can all go fuck themselves. I stand by what I originally stated: this just plain rock. Industrial-tinged doom metal seeped in Mesoamerican mystique. And, oh yeah, it’s Russian. Surely the surprise of the year for me, and one of the best releases overall.

4. Primordial: To the nameless dead

I’ve been a fan of Primordial since “The Gathering Wilderness” (also an album that did not fare well on this site), and I think the brave Irish lads may just have topped themselves with this release. It’s more varied that its predecessor and the added aggression on songs like “Traitor’s Gate” really take their sound to the next level. There’s no song quite as amazing as “The Coffin Ships” on here, but the album is more consistently great.

5. Gorefest: Rise to ruin

I admit I am not very familiar with Gorefest’s previous material, but I really did enjoy “Rise to Ruin”. Their brand of death metal is not something I would usually get all giddy about, not because I don’t like the style, but because so few bands manage to pull it off in a worthwhile manner. The ‘fest does, however, and this is definitely the year’s best balls-out death metal album.

Major disappointment of 2007:

Iced Earth: Framing Armageddon (Something wicked – part 1)

Oh boy, had I gotten my hopes up for this one. I was severely disappointed with “The Glorious Burden” and its pseudo-patriotic historical subjects, though I didn’t mind Tim “Ripper” Owens half as much as some. Yeah, I could see Iced Earth working with him, and the return to dark fantasy concept-storytelling had me giggling like a little school girl. Little school girls are rarely the brightest of sorts, and neither was I: this album sucks harder than a black hole.

1. Nile: Ithyphallic

Naja (ex-writer) :

South Carolina’s very own Pharaohs of metal returned this year with a mammoth release, switching gears from the fast-paced fury of 2005’s “Annihilation of the Wicked” to a more sludgy, doom-inspired sound. While not their strongest effort, “Ithyphallic” did a more than adequate job of capturing the vision and image this band has set forth for themselves, and succeeded in breaking the necks and shattering the ear-drums of metallers world-wide.

2. The Project Hate MCMXCIX: In hora mortis nostræ

I’ve never been a huge TPH fan, but this album hit me upside the head and rejuvenated my interest in this band. Everything about this album speaks volumes about the work and dedication this band puts forth in their recordings. The dichotomy in sound created by vocalists Jörgen and Jonna is as obvious as ever, and Jörgen’s thundering vocals are arguably some of his best. The guitars are catchy, but manage to avoid sacrificing any elements of the bands style, and the addition of a live drummer adds a new dimension to this bands already brutal sound. Combine all of this together and you get one hell of a listening experience.

3. Sickening Horror: When landscapes bled backwards

The debut from Greece’s Sickening Horror was a refreshing change in an age when many extreme metal albums come across as formulaic and rehashed. Not afraid to wear their influences on their collective sleeve, these guys recorded an album that took elements from classic tech-metallers like Atheist and Cynic, added a large dose of their own sick creative musings, put them in a blender, and came out with something all their own. A band that definitely needs to be paid attention to in coming years.

4. Marduk: Rom 5:12

After the loss of vocalist Legion, and the somewhat lackluster performance on “Plague Angel”, Morgan Håkansson got rid of the rest of the band (with the exception of “Plague Angel” vocalist Mortuus), injected some fresh blood into the line-up, and returned with “Rom 5:12”. This album succeeds in capturing the pure essence of death and decay, much like its title refers to. Many had felt that Marduk had run out of steam, but “Rom 5:12” proved that this band still has a few tricks up its sleeve, and that their brand of blasphemy is far from finished.

5. Stillborn: Manifiesto de blasphemia

This band barely made it into my list by virtue of the fact that I was just introduced to them around 3 weeks ago. Having never heard anything from these guys before, I was strongly impressed with their songwriting capabilities and sense of compositional structure. Avoiding the trapfall of sounding like a million other bands, Stillborn manages to push their sound forward with their blend of unique blasphemy. I’m definitely looking forward to hearing more from this band.

Major disappointment of 2007:

Nine Inch Nails: Year Zero

Trent Reznor has my respect as an artist, but “Year Zero” is most definitely the worst album Nine Inch Nails has ever recorded. It’s hard to imagine that the same man who devised such genre-definers such as “The Downward Spiral” and “The Fragile” managed to fuck things up so badly this time around. The viral marketing campaign for this album was interesting, but in the end all it succeeded in doing was hype up an album that fails to even reach the level of mediocrity. I’ll probably be disappointed well into 2009 with this thing.

1. Anaal Nathrakh: Hell is empty, and all the devils are here

Hanging Limbs (ex-writer) :

I heard this for the first time a week ago, but I’ve been listening to it nonstop ever since. Anaal Nathrakh make other extreme metal bands seem tame and amateur, but their music is surprisingly easy to listen to. There is so much going on here and most of it is played at ludicrous speed, but you never get the feeling that the band has lost control. Rather, they anchor the listener with random bits of catchy melodies, clean vocals, or riffs. Rare is the band that sounds at once so chaotic and focused. And those vocals…those poor, tormented vocals.

2: The Absence: Riders of the plague

It takes a lot to make a memorable melodic death metal album these days and quite frankly, I haven’t been this excited about the style since the turn of the century. The Absence proves that you don’t have to be grand innovators. Good musicianship, great songwriting, and the right influences are all you really need to succeed in metal. These guys recall all the greats: Death, Carcass, At The Gates, etc… and make their “absence” (and pending reunions?) a lot more tolerable.

3: Watain: Sworn to the dark

I hate to praise this album so much since frontman Erik Danielsson proved himself Douche Bag of the Year in his GD interview, but Watain are arguably the best black metal band around. “Sworn to the Dark” bleeds evil. They may have the black metal image, but Watain know the value of a strong production – and let me tell you, the drums sound perfect during the blasts and the guitars have just the right amount of fuzz. The Dissection influence is strong, but never crosses the line of blatant rip-off. In fact, this may be the album we all wished “Reinkaos” would have been.

4: Dark Tranquillity: Fiction

Is anyone surprised when Dark Tranquillity releases a great album? Easily the most consistently enjoyable of the melodic death metal biggies from the 90’s, DT has overcome the hiccup that was “Character” and made an album that rivals their best. Mikael Stanne’s voice is still the best in death metal; an impassioned, almost melodic “scrowl” bleeds all things love and suicide with every slight change in pitch. Oh, and if anyone was wondering how keyboards should be used to complement metal, just listen to any track here – Martin Brändström is the unsung hero of the album.

5: Symphony X: Paradise lost

Symphony X have done nothing but turn the progressive metal world upside down since they first hit the scene. Their riffs are thrashy and their vocals are aggressive, yet both remain completely melodic and catchy. Do I even have to add that it’s impossible to hear Mike Romeo play a solo and not start to sweat? “Paradise Lost” is not so much a new step for them as it is another brick in their already rock solid foundation. Symphony X are the torchbearers and make people remember that progressive metal is still METAL.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Mayhem: Ordo ad chao

If you asked me in 2004 who the most promising black metal band in the world was, the answer would have been Mayhem. Most of the big BM bands from the 90’s had broken up (Emperor, Immortal), turned useless (Darkthrone), or found a comfort zone called “Good Not Great” (Dimmu Borgir). Mayhem was a band that had seemingly left their controversy and legendary status in the past and was working hard as ever. From the experimental edginess of “Grand Declaration of War” to the technical massacre of “Chimera”, Mayhem was at the top of their game. I thought Attila’s return on vocals would only mean good things. Instead of expanding on “Chimera”, we get an album of shitty songs made worse by a shitty recording. It’s not a “We’re grim und khold” recording either, it just sucks. Even if the songwriting was remotely interesting, the performances are as spiritless as the sound that captures it.

1. Insect Warfare: World extermination

Kampfar (writer) :

What I love most about this violent piece of hate is the amount of anger put into the recording. This is elite anger. I’m not ashamed to admit not remembering much from the album as I write this, and that’s because I know it will do me well a day I’m pissed and full of bile. These Texans inject life and vitality into a bitter soul. Thanks for making my favorite dish, namely a full frontal grind attack spurting blood.

2: Sotajumala: Teloitus

Perkele, I salute thee. No I don’t, but I do fucking bow down, for a nanosecond, to the massive force Sotajumala has turned into. I dug their first effort as well, that being “Death metal Finland,” but “Teloitus” is an improvement on every darn level, crashing through your speakers like a tank to a wall. Ukko must be proud of his soldiers.

3: Mayhem: Ordo Ad Chao

Earlier this year I thought of Attila’s return to the ranks of Mayhem as an utter failure, a soup of shitty sound and lame ideas, but repeated listens has revealed a black gem, a diamond sparkling with evil. Man, kick me in the balls and scream into my ears that I was wrong.

4: Bergraven: Dödsvisioner

Most times so called suicidal black metal makes me want to kill off the band and put their heads on stakes. Free of charge, a philanthropic act to end their obvious misery. Bergraven is very different, and he can thank himself and his utter talent for this. “Dödsvisioner” is heavy yet unmistakably black metal-ish, something akin to Shining, but less whiny.

5: Tulus: Biography obscene

I wonder why the guys in Tulus are so preoccupied with dolls and theater scenes; maybe they see life as one big stage? Well, it is. Anyway, if you want some proper dark metal this is about as good as it gets. Choked full of atmosphere and crushing riffs, atmosphere adding meat to the skeleton known as Khold, transforming them back to their former selves. And yes, they are back in full fashion and then some.

1. Primordial: To the nameless dead

Stephen Fallen (ex-writer) :

This album pours down like sheets of rain, drenching the listener in sorrow and triumph. Primordial has been leading folk/black metal through untrodden wilderness for many years and “To the Nameless Dead” is the culmination of those expeditions. There are many reasons to love this band, but the biggest may be AA Nemtheanga. His powerful, emotive war cries have been honed to perfection and his lyrics, often inspired by Ireland’s tragic history, are potent and touching. This is heady, powerful music and easily the best metal album of 2007.

2: Slough Feg: Hardworlder

I got my first taste of Slough Feg this year and it is delicious. “Hardworlder” is a great album for a lot reasons. It’s serious about rocking, but knows better than to take itself (or metal) seriously at all. It’s steeped in the lore of bands like Thin Lizzy, Kiss and Iron Maiden, while being mindful of the need to create its own identity. It’s Michael Scalzi’s hearty baritone vocals, a breath of fresh air in a genre that’s clogged with people trying and failing to imitate Dickinson and Dio. It’s everything that was great about hard rock and heavy metal in the late 70’s and early 80’s, rejuvenated and sounding fresh.

3: Trouble: Simple mind condition

Twelve years is a long time to lay dormant, but Trouble returned with vengeance in 2007, spewing pure, unadulterated rock from every orifice. Where Slough Feg brings to mind the enthusiastic gallop of late 70’s, Trouble draws from a time even further back, when bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple thundered their way across the landscape. “Simple Mind Condition” is fun, heavy music that bridges the gap between 1970 and 2007.

4: The Ocean: Precambrian

When eight people combine forces to craft an 84-minute concept album about the early eons of the Earth’s existence the first word that probably pops into your head is ‘pretentious’. That’s fair, but in the case of “Precambrian”, words like ‘multifarious’ and ‘wow’ also apply. The Ocean draws from a huge pool of ideas, at times reminiscent of… just about everyone from Meshuggah to Today is the Day to Isis. “Precambrian” is a showcase of genre juxtaposition and an impressively cohesive product, despite the amount of ground covered.

5: Clutch: From Beale Street to Oblivion

This album is here for one reason, “Electric Worry”. A mash-up of Clutch’s (un)usual brand of rock and an old blues song written by Mississippi Fred McDowell, it was by far the best song released this year. The rest of the album is almost as good and stands are further proof of what we already knew: Clutch is the best rock band on the planet, period.

Major disappointment of 2006:

N/A

I couldn’t think of a major disappointment for 2007. Most of the albums I was looking forward to delivered at least a decent listening experience. So, instead of focusing on albums I hated I’d like to mention a couple that I really enjoyed. Indie rockers The National released “Boxer”, an album that is at once terrifyingly lonesome and romantically intense. Blu and Exile’s “Below the Heavens” is one of the most honest hip-hop albums I’ve ever heard, with Blu’s smooth flows and Exile’s soulful samples. Also worth your time, for various reasons: Wolves in the Throne Room’s “Two Hunters”, Panda Bear’s “Person Pitch” and El-p’s “I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead”. Do yourself a favor and check ‘em out.

1. Aeon: Rise to dominate

The Abyss (writer) :

… and dominate they did. The disciples of Morbid Angel and Cannibal Corpse have now excelled far beyond their masters and will hopefully continue to pummel our eardrums for many years to come.

2: Anaal Nathrakh: Hell is empty and the devils are here

I hardly knew AN had an album in the works before they dumped “Hell is empty…” in my lap and my underwear suddenly became all messy. I’ve never heard vocals this animated and chilling before, from the band or otherwise, and I think Dave & Mick have to work very hard to top this one.

3: Marduk: Rom 5:12

Losing some members is all cool when you gain so much creativity. I’ve never been super-crazy about Marduk before, but on “Rom 5:12” they tapped into some unholy creative well and found the perfect mix between the ultra fast and ultra heavy styles of black metal previously heard on their albums.

4: Naglfar: Harvest

A band that’s honed their musical writing skills so well that they now can slow things down and play some very beautiful melodic figures in between the black metal thrashing, without sounding fruity or losing any momentum. “Harvest” is probably their most mature album so far and bodes well for the future of the band.

5: Gorefest: Rise to ruin

Since their comeback in 2005 Gorefest have not rested on their laurels and with “Rise to ruin” show that older does not mean complacent or less bitter. From start to finish, the album is a prime example of how riffs, leads and drums should fit together to make the death metal equivalent of a sledgehammer to the nuts.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Manowar: Gods of war

Granted, you need to be a fan of something to truly be disappointed, but the album Manowar released in 2007 was so pitiful it was more or less an insult to everyone who heard it. Half the album is taken up by a (bad) voice actor trying to narrate a rice paper thin story about Odin and his balls of steel, the rest is made up out of even worse music, seemingly made up of the riffs that 14 year old fans have donated to the band, and horrendous keyboard-strings & trumpets. The smell of fermented cash-grab has never been this strong.

1. Ulver: Shadows of the sun

The Duff (writer) :

This album came at me from out of nowhere, as the band released it with hardly any forewarning to the ardent Ulver fan eagerly pursuing its every move. A great disc offering yet many more unexpected twists and turns to the Ulver catalogue, and a welcome evolution to their outstanding sound – considering past achievements, this is an extraordinary feat. I like how much they’ve withdrawn from the full-on nature of “Blood Inside”, and Garm’s vocal work brings tears to my eyes. Depressing, beautiful, emotive, everything I could ask for and more.

2: Porcupine Tree: Fear of a blank planet

An ambitious outing that is amazing through and through, “Fear of a Blank Planet” is Porcupine Tree using the prog/metal contrast to its most striking effect; the band has definitely nailed its sound on this one. Dark, depressing, and even a little bit hopeful, this is the one prog release of 2007 I return to again and again, showcasing all of the band’s finest elements in the best possible light. A big improvement over “Deadwing”, and I liked that album – this may even surpass “In Absentia”.

3: High on Fire: Death is this communion

“Death is This Communion” is shock full of riffs that make you grow hair on your chest, making High on Fire one of my favorite bands despite “Blessed Black Wings” failing to make me go apeshit and my ignorance as to anything released prior. A good mix of long/epic and short tracks, these are in turn interspersed with some fantastic instrumentals, and I often despise instrumentals. The chorus riff to the title track makes my testicles swell to roughly a third of an inch in diameter.

4: Neurosis: Given to the rising

Been spinning this one a lot lately, and as much as I may fault the album for some of its sparser moments, this is still Neurosis at the top of their game and very much untouchable. When taking into account the band’s return to a heavier sound, the sublime artwork and layout, and some of Steve’s (or Josh’s – can never figure it out) darkest lyrical contributions to a Neurosis album, “Given to the Rising” remains a breathtaking experience revealing new aspects upon every listen.

5: Insision: Ikon

I was expecting my 2007 awesome death metal fix to come from faves Nile and Behemoth, only to find both good but disappointing. I had quite forgotten about these great Swedes, who have delivered an album worthy of their past legacy while cutting down on track-number and delivering nothing but the best they have to offer. “Ikon” is also the most varied Insision outing I’ve heard, with album centerpiece being about as dark and doom-riddled as death metal gets – this album rejuvenated my love for the sub-genre.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Devin Townsend: Ziltoid the omniscient

Devin’s “Ziltoid the Omniscient”, although containing some great Devin moments, just seems too much like a mish-mash of ideas from the failed Strapping Young Lad era and second-hand inspiration from his solo outings; I’m guessing it was in the cards, as “Synchestra”, although good, isn’t holding up too well after repeated listens over the couple of years since its release – definitely something I’m unaccustomed to from a Dev project, even with the rarely visited “Physicist”.

1. Weedeater: God luck and good speed

Eric Wright (ex-writer) :

For me, there was no other option for what album I could pick as the “Album Of The Year”. I’ve been grooving to this disc since I got my hands on it, and it still rocks just as hard as the first time I heard it. Not only is it packed to the brim with amazing top quality riffs, but the bass, drumming, vocals, and production are just as high caliber. Steve Albini (the producing GOD) mixed this album to perfection, every little hit of the drum is recorded in full detail, even though the riffs are fuzzy you can still make out every bit of them, and the bass is very low end but is easily heard. I even saw them live this October and they were even more amazing than on record, which is hard to believe. Pick this one up, post haste, drive/run/fly to the closest record store carrying it… god luck, and good speed.

2: Blood Freak: Multiplex massacre

I put Blood Freak’s last opus in my list for the previous year, and here they are again, with another amazing piece of exploitation death metal pie. With an amazing mix of psychedelia and death grind, topped off with virtuoso guitar playing by Maniac Neal, it destroys any other death metal album released this year. Even if you can’t make them all out, Billy “Razorback” Nocera and a couple of other lunatic jerks provide the lyrics that are top tier fun, with sarcastic pissed off humor, mixed with some exploitation and horror film references. An Impetigo for a new century, totally unique music with a familiar old sound, makes this a must have for any death metal fans.

3: Denial Fiend: They rise

Kam Lee, my review should stop with those two fucken words. KAM. FUCKEN. LEE. Most people know him from Massacre and Death, but he’s about to add another band to that list. Denial Fiend, a band carried by his easily recognizable voice and some catchy riffs. Though there’s no doubt that there’s a retro feel to the music, it has a totally different semblance to it, making it worthy to be on my list with the other great releases of the year.

4: Profanatica: Profanatitas de domonatia

This is the best black metal album of the year as far as I’m concerned, with brutality, hatred, and a cold menacing atmosphere. It’s about fucken time they released a full length, and the time leading up to it had a huge effect on it’s quality, amazing songwriting, a mixture of tight and sloppy playing, and fuzzed out productions, blasphemous all around, this is what black metal should be like, not that “Oh we’re so depressed, let’s slit our wrists and write poetry” a lot of it’s been lately.

5: Master: Slaves to society

Ah, last but not least, MASTER, MASTER! Not of puppets, but the Speckman death metal extravaganza, with fast rockin’ tunes and tight playing, and a blowjob on the album cover. AWESOME! Really, if you like Master, get this album, if you’ve never heard Master, get this album, and if you don’t like Master… fuck off.

Major disappointment of 2006:

King Diamond: Give me your soul… please

Now, I’m a big fan of the King, but his newest release seemed really flat. The guitar, the vocals, the drums, the bass, it all sounded like King Diamond’s material but with all of the fun and energy removed. I blame Dethklok.

1. Mithras: Behind the shadows lie madness

Consumer (ex-writer) :

Acid death? Space metal? However you want to classify the band, it is clear that Mithras does not dovetail neatly into any established subgenre categories. With “Behind the Shadows Lie Madness”, Mithras has finally fully realized the vision which the boys in the band had been aiming to achieve with their previous releases. This is a vast improvement over “Worlds Beyond The Veil”—better vocals, better drumming, better production. The guys in Mithras are obviously greatly influenced by Morbid Angel, but they are in no way mere MA dick-riders. The psychedelic flourishes, the beautifully orchestrated layering, and the oodles of atmosphere present on “Behind the Shadows Lie Madness” put Mithras in a league of their own.

2: Vintersorg: Solens rötter

“Solens rötter” is Vintersorg’s crowning achievement. On this album, the prog element that has been present on Vintersorg’s other most recent albums is toned down a bit in favor of a folkier approach, and the V-man sounds much more at home in this context. The soaring vocals are stirring and soulful, and the songwriting bears some similarities to Borknagar but maintains a distinctive flair. Thankfully, the lyrics are in Swedish this time, so I don’t have to comprehend Vintersorg’s painfully pretentious lyrics (no consolation to you Swedish fans, I guess).

3: Klabautamann: Klabautamann

This two song EP is a masterfully executed excursion into ethereal folk-tinged black metal. Folky (and at times slightly progressive) clean passages and dense swathes of distorted black metal interweave to create one of the best nature-worshiping metal releases of recent years. The songs are quite addictive, and it’s a damn shame that there aren’t more of them.

4: In Battle: Kingdom of fear

In Battle absolutely pummel you with their oft-grooving and oft-blasting death/black assault. This album features some of the most crushing riffing that this reviewer has had the pleasure of hearing, in addition to one of the best and most original growled vocal deliveries in metal today and some of the tightest drumming to be found outside of a machine.

5: Darkthrone: F.O.A.D

Fenriz and Culto return with more retro filth! “F.O.A.D.” retains the much of the punk influence found on “The Cult Is Alive”, but they add a significant injection of 1980s early extreme metal. The result is a damn fun album to listen to, although I’d say it is an ever-so-slight step down from “The Cult Is Alive”. Still, it is one of the best albums of the year.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Ulver: Shadows of the sun

Let me start by saying that this is a very good album. That’s right, my biggest disappointment of the year is an album that I would characterize as being very good. “SOTS” is only a disappointment to me because of the two albums which preceded it. “Perdition City” and “Blood Inside” were staggeringly, monumentally, almost painfully great albums. I simply expected “SOTS” to wow me in the same way as its immediate predecessors, and having that expectation has prevented me from fully appreciating a very good album. I did not expect a “Blood Inside” part 2, mind you. Garm (or whatever other of his names you prefer) is constantly soaking in new influences, and Ulver wouldn’t be Ulver without that sense of musical exploration that you get with each new release. I just wanted to be knocked on my ass again. Perhaps with time this release will grow on me and its true greatness will reveal itself. Here’s to hoping so.

1. Dodheimsgard: Supervillain outcast

Euthanatos (writer) :

The most complex and creative Dodheimsgard album ever is also the frontrunner for best metal album of the year. Everything from progressive to electro-insanity is represented here, in one awesome gem of avant-garde black metal.

2: Pig Destroyer: Phantom limb

My favorite grindcore band would obviously release my favorite grind album of 2007. Surprisingly melodic, this is what noise should sound like. Comprehensible and furious.

3: Amorphis: Silent waters

Music so beautiful it can’t be confined to one genre. Probably the best thing since sliced bread, and the most impressive album by Amorphis since “TFTTL”.

4: Anaal Nathrakh: Hell is empty and all the devils are here

Similar in boldness to Dodheimsgard, Anaal Nathrakh started out as a noisy raw black metal outfit, and like Enslaved, evolved into one of the most interesting bands to grace the scene in years. Stunning album that I discover something new every time I listen to it.

5: The Project Hate MCMXCIX: In hora mortis nostrae

TPH have yet to top “Cybersonic Superchrist” in my taste, but the closest they have ever gotten to perfection is definitely this year’s release. Real drumming was a stroke of genius, J and Jo sound better than ever and the overall vibe of the album just leaves me thirsting for more.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Soilwork: Sworn to a great divide:

I guess I’m still waiting for “Natural Born Chaos Part II”. While this is a better offering than the latest Soilwork turdfest, it’s still very far from the pinnacle of their career. Not even bringing back HevyDevy saved this lackluster effort.

1. Malfeitor: Unio mystica maxima

Desolator (ex-writer) :

M. Fabban is the fucken man. First he creates the ultimate sex bomb that is Aborym and now he gets together with another group of black-hearted musicians and presents to us a new orgasm of black metal. My review didn’t do the music much justice but please check them out, if not for the music but for their stage outfits, hehehe…

2: Anaal Nathrakh: Hell is empty and all the devils are here

God damn that is one long title for an album. Anyway, Anaal Nathrakh creates this masterpiece within a year after “Eschaton”? Which was already awesome? This is some damn killer shit. The instruments are even more grinding and angry and they are well complemented with some nice effects and Vitriol’s vocals, which are even more twisted and angrier than ever! This music is also very good to torture and kill people with, and I like that.

3: Watain: Sworn to the dark

Watain blew me away when I first heard their song “Sworn to the Dark”. Then when I read Lord K’s review of this album I was even more convinced to get this. The sound, musicianship and atmosphere is astoundingly awesome. And the vocals do nothing to ruin it. This is definitely what the new Dissection should have been instead of the shit that is “Reinkaos”.

4: Impaled Nazarene: Manifest

Impaled Nazarene gets me worked up in a good way. I have the softest spot for “Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz”, but this is a damn fine album from their fucked up heads and hands. This is an excellent follow up from “Pro Patria Finlandia” and these guys even used some new tricks, like the different and more sadistic sounding vocals and killer solo in “Dead Return”. Imp Naz has yet to let me down.

5: Xasthur: Defective epitaph

Xasthur is hated here at GD and I can understand why. But I am one of the few willing to profess their forbidden love for this one-man band. The drums are a little sloppy but that’s only because he doesn’t use his drum machine here anymore. But the depressive sound and atmosphere of the music totally works for me, and even if it’s a kvlt black metal album, it stands well above the rest in my eyes.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Darkthrone: F.O.A.D

I never invested my hopes in Darkthrone. I’m just disappointed in the fact that I made myself listen to each and every song of this shithole. I like some of Darkthrone’s earlier tunes. “Soulside Journey”, “Blaze In The Northern Sky”, “Transylvanian Hunger” and “Ravishing Grimness” have their moments, but even so, I struggle to listen to the entirety of any Darkthrone song. I also think the band is overrated as hell. I admit the elitist Darkthrone fanboys irritate the fuck out of me too. Ok, enough of my whining and on to the album. I liked the tunes of “Canadian Metal”, but the rest of this album just sucks. Not because they produce their music like a turtle produces sandwiches, but because the outcome of the music turned out like that of fecal matter floating lazily in the toilet. And who’s clever idea was it to get a spastic 14 year old to do the vocals, which even ruin the one song on this album I liked? But Fenriz seems like a good bloke and I’d be happy to have a beer with him, even if he spikes my drink after reading this comment about F.L.O.A.T.E.R.

1. Gorefest: Rise to ruin

Baalzamon666 (writer) :

Props to consistency for the band that has never disappointed me on a single occasion yet. “Rise to Ruin” is quite possibly the ‘Fest’s best effort yet. Only time will tell, but it has all the hallmarks of a fucken classic. Thanks to JC for staying true to his mindnumbing roar and his conscious lyricism, Mr. B and Cranky Frank for dishing out the monster riffs and solos, and Ed for punishing the drumkit with so much passion. All around nice blokes, they deserve every fucken accolade that comes their way!

2: Amoral: Reptile ride

Credit where motherfucken credit is due: no other record has received as many spins as “Reptile Ride” at my place or iPod this year, and deservedly so. Amoral is top of their style right now, melodic tech-death/thrash with a fucken badass attitude, obliterating the competition with awesomely rocking tunes. These Finns deserve your attention, they’re one of the most talented young bands out there!

3: Hatesphere: Serpent eyes and killer smiles

If there’s a band that embodied the spirit of modern thrash, it is/was Hatesphere. This latest effort is just as fucken good as their previous 4, an awesome performance. The perfect example of how to revitalize and update the genre into the 21st century, rock and thrash with yer cock out, a violent, groovy and unrestrained ode to metal. Too bad they seem to have imploded since, and no one knows what the future might hold now for Hatesphere. Their recent past sounds fucken brilliant to me!

4: Down: III – Over the under

This is the soul of the South, immediate, visceral and fucken overflowing with emotions. Stoner metal will never get better than “III: Over The Under”, except if it was done before, or will be done again by these dudes, the undisputed masters of the genre. Phil Anselmo never sounded this good, and Pepper Keenan is the South’s official riffmeister. Heavier than the mud of the motherfucken swamps!

5: Rotting Christ: Theogonia

Love them or hate them, those of the most envied name, the Greek ambassadors of Satan and black metal, the mighty Rotting Christ, have written yet another outstanding album to add to their legend. A mature offering, full of their trademark riffing hooks, atmospheric and evil to the core. As long as Sakis and his minions keep around, there will be great melodic black metal. Here’s to another 20 years of putrefact deities!

Major disappointment of 2006:

Abigor: Fractal possession

Not that it is actually a bad album, but I truly expected so much more. For a band with a history of writing excellent black metal, Abigor has underperformed on this comeback effort. A weird, disjointed offering, with some excesses in the electronic department, still retaining their cold atmosphere, but missing the blackest spots of their previous brilliance. I hope this was only a warm-up, better things should come from this talented trio once they get back into their stride.

1. Behemoth: The apostasy

Mr. VJ (ex-writer) :

This is it. The cream of the crop. The King Fuck of Shit Mountain. The bees knees. The… ahh fuck it. Behemoth has bestowed upon us what is hands down the best metal album of 2007. This had to be my most anticipated album of the year because of how badly “Demigod” made my neck hurt (seriously, I headbanged so hard I passed out due to a pinched nerve in my neck that was connected to my spine), and that was certainly a good thing. Once “Slaying The Prophets Ov Isa” starts, you can easily tell that the band has practiced and perfected their brutal death/black metal hybrid. It’s almost as if you’re compelled to throw up the horns each time a new track starts. The riffs sound just as pissed off as ever, Inferno I think has gone to 280 beats per minute, and Nergal has somehow gotten me to believe that he is the spokesman for the apocalypse. Not to mention fucking Warrel Dane on “Inner Sanctum”, who really adds to the overall atmosphere of the song, basically telling you that your life will never suck nearly as much as say somebody in the genocide in Darfur (what they need is to metal to rally around). Really, once I got the finished product that was “The Apostasy”, I was incredibly happy, and rightfully so. There is nothing this year that will be able to top the almost demonic and sadistic nature of this record, and if you don’t believe me, then just listen to “At The Left Hand Ov God” and kill yourself.

2: Katalepsy: Musick brings injuries

Brutal death metal is one of those genres that you have to get exactly right, or else your music is going to come out sounding like shit and nobody will ever listen to you again. This is something that Katalepsy has taken serious notes on, even if their only contribution to brutal death metal was a track on a Mortician tribute album, but still, the rule definitely applies. It was sometime during the early part of 2007 when I was first introduced to these sadistic and barbaric Russians, and the first thing I noticed was the amazing and almost completely impossible to believe they’re real gutturals. As a death metal vocalist, I was blown away by how deep this guy could go, but it wasn’t long after that until my head began to actually absorb the slam-death riffs and drumming, combining into a cataclysmic force of brutality. There’s also a matter of the incredibly sweet covers of “Symphony Of Destruction” (originally by Megadeth) and “Rabid” (originally by Mortician). This disc is easily the best brutal death metal album of 2007 and I can’t wait for their next release. Does “Musick Bring Injuries”? You fucking bet it does.

3: Funebrarum / Interment: Conjuration of the sepulchral

What the fuck is this? A split album at #3 for best of the year? God damn right and it’s here with extremely good reasons. “Conjuration of the Sepulchral” has made it into my CD player about three or four times a week, with listens all the way through each fucking time. It doesn’t take a lot to impress me, but this record was amazing. I’ve discussed Funebrarum before and how they were the heaviest thing planet Earth has bestowed upon us, but somehow they were able to turn it up 666 notches and be even better! How, I have no fucking clue, but I think it has something to do with knowing what makes good death metal. “Kingdom Of Suffering Souls” should be a mandatory listen before a prisoner is executed by the state of Texas. Then comes the death metallers Interment, who it seems reactivated solely just to perform on this split, and god damn am I happy they got back together. This is exactly what we’ve come to expect from traditional Swedish death metal: kick-ass riffing, death, blood, fire, damnation, and just overall enjoyment to the listener. It’s songs like “Infernal Damnation” and “Black Hollow Black” that really make you wonder why Interment was never looked at as much in the early ’90’s.

4: Sickening Horror: When landscapes bled backwards

Usually I’m not one for technical death metal in any way except for Decapitated, Necrophagist and a few other select bands, but there was something about Sickening Horror that was really getting my attention. Was it George Kollias’s spectacular drum work? Possibly. Was it the very nice death metal vocals? Possibly. Was it George Antipatis’s technical-yet-not-overly-wanky riffs? Hell yes, fucking bingo. There’s also a matter of the excellent song structures. “When Landscapes Bled Backwards” was a different kind of beast that would chase you through an unexplored surrealist scenic route that would make your eyes bleed with thoughts of whether your entire life has been a lie or if you accidently left the stove on. Hell, the opening riff of “Filming Our Graves” pushes this release to #4 all by itself. Nice fucking work, Sickening Horror, nice fucking work.

5: Malignancy: Inhuman grotesqueries

I’ve come to expect nothing but the most sadistic and bizarre brutal death metal from Malignancy. They’re extremely off-kilter and somewhat unconventional approach to metal is what really hooked in the beginning, hearing almost thousands of pinch harmonics per minute with fucked up time signatures that would make Meshuggah blush and wet themselves, yet somehow when trying to go through their own motions of making your head explode, they don’t sound like shit! Amazing, right? Yeah, I know. “Inhuman Grotesqueries” is certainly a rollercoaster of gorey guttural vocals, thought-provoking lyrical themes, intricate and technical drumming and basslines, and let’s not forget the most distinguishable trait, the monstrous guitar riffs that makes you keep begging for more and more. This is exactly what I expect from American death metal bands who try to do the genre right.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Blood Red Throne: Come death

I was so pumped to hear Blood Red Throne’s next album after being blown away and put in a neckbrace by their previous album, “Altered Genesis”. That album had it all in the way of brutality, chunky and memorable riffs, intense and bludgeoning vocals, spectacular drumming, and hell, you should listen to it just for Erland Caspersen’s bass performance alone. What makes “Come Death” so shitty you ask? Well, take everything that was done right with “Altered Genesis” and throw it out of the fucking window. Really, I think that’s what they did. Then they got a vocalist that’s quite wet behind the ears, slapped together some mediocre riffs and haphazardly put together song structures, and you have yourself “Come Death”. Let’s not forget that just about every single song bleeds into one another, and the fucking production that gave “Altered Genesis” the biggest pair of testicles is no where to be found, effectively making it for Blood Red Throne to slap you in a the face with a giant flaccid dick. My cheeks were wet and I wanted to cry. It was the worst date ever.

1. Marduk: Rom 5:12

theProphet (writer) :

2007 has proved to be a pretty fucking strong year for metal. Thus, it has been harder than ever to pick out the five best albums of the year, let alone THE most dominating release of 2007. Marduk takes the cake due to two reasons besides making a fucking good album. Call it the “it”. First of all “Rom 5:12” comes with a 44 page booklet, proving once and for all that size matters. Secondly, and more importantly, it’s the song “Accuser/Opposer”. Fuck me and call me a Norwegian, this is one of the best extreme metal songs I’ve ever heard, and it’s just that little extra that makes an already great album the best one of a year with such stiff competition such as this.

2. The Project Hate MCMXCIX: In Hora Mortis Nostrae

I think no one is very surprised if this appears on a great number of this year’s best-of lists. However I think it’s a real fucking clincher whether Lord K will include it in his or not? He probably will, and he should too. This is a mighty fine effort and what really stands out is Jörgen Sandström’s vocal performance, truly fucking peerless is what it is!

3. Watain: Sworn to the dark

2007 is undoubtedly the year of Satan and this is very much thanks to Watain who managed to live up to the hype with their “Sworn to the Dark”. It’s raw, atmospheric and well crafted black metal perfection. Listen to Album closer “Stellarvore”, if that isn’t the black metal anthem of 2007, then I’m a Meshuggah session guitarist.

4. Deathspell Omega: Fas – Ite, maledicti, in ignem aeternum

Probably some of the most chaotic music I will ever have the pleasure of experiencing, yet it gives you the unmistakable feeling that there is undoubtedly a method to the madness (wow, I must be pretty fucking sure of this; “unmistakable” and “undoubtedly” in the same fucking sentence, eh?). Deathspell Omega writes music that pretty much leaves the listener in awe, wondering what kind of people is able to come up with this shit.

5. Job for a Cowboy: Genesis

Job for a Cowboy beats Anaal Nathrakh and Behemoth, mainly due to the surprise they gave me when I checked them up. High quality death metal with great production and groove galore. You can actually hear the fucking bass for example. Great album, and a great fucking moniker, people!

Major Disappointment of 2007:

Emigrate: Emigrate

Rammstein’s main songwriter decides a solo project would be a good idea. I agreed, but the end result managed to scare my cock into hiding, resulting in a very awkward female encounter. Fuck you for this, Richard Z Kruspe.