THE SHORT LIST (OR: AXL’S PICKS FOR THE TOP 22 ALBUMS OF 2008, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
Monday, December 1st, 2008 at 4:11pm by Axl Rosenberg
Different strokes for different folks, as the saying goes. While we’re arguing about the best releases of 2008, I thought I’d tip all you MetalSucks Maniacs off to the list of 21 albums from which I will be whittling down when creating my own top 10 year-end list (Which, as Vince said, will be published on Monday, December 15, along with all the other MetalSucks Mansion inhabitants’ lists.). There’s some overlap with Vince, natch, but maybe not as much as you’d expect.
In order to give you no clue whatsoever as to where my head is at, I’ve put all my picks in alphabetical order.
And if there’s an album that you love that you don’t see on here, it’s not because I forgot it and it’s not (necessarily) because I didn’t like it – it’s just because, at the end of the day, I know it ain’t gonna make the cut. Dem’s da breaks. Sorry.
Arsis, We Are the Nightmare
Bloodbath, The Fathomless Mastery
Cynic, Traced in Air
Daylight Dies, Lost to the Living
Enslaved, Vertebrae
The Faceless, Planetary Duality
Genghis Tron, Board Up the House
Gojira, The Way of All Flesh
Guns N’ Roses, Chinese Democracy
Hate Eternal, Fury & Flames
The Human Abstract, Midheaven
Intronaut, Prehistoricisms
Jarboe & Justin K. Broadrick, J2
Landmine Marathon, Rusted Eyes Awake
Made Out of Babies, Ruiner
Meshuggah, Obzen
Misery Index, Traitors
Nachtmystium, Assassins Part 1
Opeth, Watershed
Origin, Antithesis
Various Artists, This Comp Kills Fascists
Virgin Black, Requiem: Fortissmo
-AR
No Disfear? Weakness.
Disfear’s on my list of contenders for sure. That album rules nations.
Decrepit Birth? Diminishing Between Worlds is easily a top 5 album of the year. Toxic Holocaust and Textures would also be on my list.
A sleeper for mine is Sylosis’ Conclusion of an Age. You’ve probably never heard of them as they are British, but they shred.
un-related but……… I find it funny there is a Banner for the new Britney Spears Album on the side, it comes out tomorrow apparently i bet its the best of the year by far followed closely by Gojira Iam sure
Some good stuff on this list. “Watershed” is album of the year, imho.
But how about Withered? “Folie Circulaire” was epic.
I was a little disappointed by the new Enslaved. It’s very good, to be sure, but it didn’t quite measure up to “Isa” and “Ruun,” if you ask me. Which, of course, you didn’t.
“Chinese Democracy”? Really? I’m surprised. I’ll have to give it a serious listen.
I like The Human Abstract, but Midheaven was watered down shit. It’s not even close to being a best of the year pick.
Why no Protest the Hero? Fortress is my personal favorite of aught-eight.
I think that Nachtmystium, Opeth, Gojira and Bloodbath are all excellent choices! I am somewhat surprised that you didnt include the new album by Aborted, though.
How about Cavalera Conspiracy’s Inflikted? Our favourite Brazilian angry brothers playin’ some cool shit together again…
No Soilent Green or Aborted on either list? That just means im way more metal than you fags. But in the specialty list of “Top albums to listen to while slamming tonza beers with your bros at a Brodeo”. I vote for Toxic Holocaust and Warbringer, thrash music always gets me in the mood for some adult beverages.
Really?!?!? Chinese Democracy but no Death Magnetic?? Disgraceful. Axel’s 17 year-in-the-making turd can’t hold a scented candle to Death Magnetic. But otherwise, good call on The Faceless but where’s Unearth, Live BTBAM and Whitechapel?
EHWWWW, I just typed Thrash music. Sorry, im a dumbass, I meant THRASH FUCKING METAL
Chinese Democracy was better than Death Magnetic, and the new Unearth album is a step back from In The Eyes of Fire. I do not totally agree with the list, but hey… it’s not my top 22.
What…? No Misery Signals? That’s a shame.
I couldn’t even get through Chinese Democracy one-time without wanting to rip out Axl’s stupid fuckin dreads.
NO SLASH = NO GUNS N’ ROSES.
Even with shitty, limited sound, Metallica put out the far superior album.
textures, textures!
listening to prehistoricisms right now… my pick for 08…. FUCKING BRUTAL PROG
in that entire list i only like chinese democracy
my top 3 of 2008:
1. the scarecrow by Avantasia
2. Tinnitus Sanctus by Edguy
3. Black Ice by AC/DC
what about All Shall Perish? That album was great. Also, textures for sure!
DEATH MAGNETIC >>>> Anything Guns ‘N’ Roses have ever done…ever.
Where the fuck is Protest the Hero?
Uhmmm…I may be wrong about when these albums were released, but if they were released in 2008, then it is a fucking shame that After the Burial and Veil of Maya are not included. Also, I know there are a lots of haters for Scar Symmetry’s sickly sweet popmetal, but the album was just drenched in high quality awesomeness. Otherwise, a great list. I could have done without GnR and Bloodbath. Chinese Democracy sounds like it is a bunch of singles from different bands, who all happen to have the same singer, put unto a want to be modern rock compilation disc and Bloodbath, while a great album, sounds like it was mixed through tin cans.
my short list
Testament-Formation of Damnation
Metallica-Death Magnetic
Gorjira-The Way Of All Flesh
Soulfly-Conquer
Cavalera Conspiracy-Inflikted
Bottle Doom Lazy Band-Blood For The Bloodking
Hate Eternal-Fury and Flames
Van Canto-Hero
Terasbetoni-Myrskyntuoja
White Chapel-This is Exile
Krisiun-Southern Storm
Rhapsody(Of Fire) Twilight Symphony
Unleashed-Hammer Battalion
The Sword-Gods of the Earth
Ihsahn-angL
Heidevolk-Walhalla Wacht
Nortt-Galgenfrist
There are a few missing off your list…Testament, Unearth, All That Remains, Trivium, Disturbed??? Oh and just for laughs….Austrian Death Machine…Anyways, basically what I’m trying to say is that most of the bands that I just listed (except ADM) can hang with anyone on ur list
What happend with Testament´s album???????????????
Lotsa awesome albums missing. But I cant fuckin believe neither of you has Ihsahn’s latest on the list. Shame on you both.
No protest… no all shall perish…
Fuck Axl
axl, i generally agree with almost all you say/do but no protest the hero?!?!? WTF!
So adorable that you forgot PTH. You lick their scrot so hard and yet you forget them when it counts most. Oh, Axl, when will you ever learn?
Put fucking Diminishing Between Worlds on there or I’m burning down this website.
seriously, i don’t understand how you can give Fortress 5 horns (the only one i’ve seen so far) and then you just disregard it completely. for shame
Reeeeeally? You liked The Human Abstract’s Midheaven that much? And here I was hoping to see their tour mates Dir en grey on the list. Perhaps on Vince’s list…
Sylosis – Conclusion of an age is better than every record on that list put together.
What about Abigail Williams: In The Shadow Of A Thousand Suns, or Braindrill: Apocalyptic Feasting? So many awesome albums both you and Vince kept off your lists :(.
to joeyd: umm……..no disturbed…..no disturbed ever