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Br00tal-lists

THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2009 – TOO SOON? (AXL’S PICKS)

 Tuesday, August 11th, 2009 at 4:00pm by

best_of_2009_so_farWhere the hell does the time go? The year is more than half over already! Sheesh.

ANYWAY, here are, in alphabetical order, albums that have really knocked my socks off so far this year…

Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Agorapocalypse (Relapse)
Baroness, Blue Record (Relapse)
Behemoth, Evangelion (Metal Blade)
Brutal Truth, Evolution Through Revolution (Relapse)
Cannibal Corpse, Evisceration Plague (Metal Blade)
Chimaira, The Infection (Ferret)
Coalesce, Ox (Relapse)
Daath, The Concealers (Century)
Darkest Hour, The Eternal Return (Victory)
Goatwhore, Carving Out the Eyes of God (Metal Blade)
God Forbid, Earthsblood (Century)
Havok, Burn (Candlelight)
Heaven & Hell, The Devil You Know (Rhino)
Hull, Sole Lord (The End)
IWRESTLEDABEARONCE, It’s All Happening (Century)
Jesu, Infinity (Avalanche/Daymare)
Mastodon, Crack the Skye (Reprise)
Magrudergrind, Magrudergrind (Willowtip)
Napalm Death, Time Waits for No Slave (Century)
Suffocation, Blood Oath (Nuclear Blast)

And we still have new albums from Converge, Slayer, Living Colour, The Red Chord, The Black Dahlia Murder, and tons others to look forward to.

Making my year-end list in December is gonna be a bitch, I can feel it…

-AR

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  • Kill All

    here’s another list for people to bitch about, keep up the good work Axl.

    If people are bitching, then you must be doing something right.

    • Ziltoid

      Or maybe his list is crap.

      • Rolling Thunder

        IT’S ALL CRAP!! YAH, RUBBISH!

        ::he screams into his comicly oversized cell phone as he roams a silent, cold museam::

      • 36thoughtless

        Care to explain in detail why you think that?

      • MetalMeatHammer

        u r the physical representation of st. anger

  • Sandy n Papo

    Im gonna add, It hates You from He is Legend, and Cycle of Pain from the homonimous band

    • Lybrium

      Good call, It Hates You is awesome!

  • Facebook User

    wheres Obscura’s Cosmogenesis and Drudkh’s Microcosmos (both awesome albums everyone should check out)?

    • Biff Tannen

      Microcosmos is great…… ..the reason its not on this list is because the moderators of this site don’t seem to dig into the underground to find bands that don’t have the marketing machines to place banner ads on this site. I still doubt Drudkh will ever top “Blood in our Wells” though.

      • iceman

        This site is actually the first place i ever heard of obscura. so im gonna say its because that record just wasnt that great

        • http://www.greatgooglymoogly.com Halfsharkalligator

          yup

  • Bicro

    Please scratch off half of these….most of the list is built on hyped records.
    Very few of those deserve an honor.

    • http://dgmetal.org The Daily Grind

      Fucking IWABO?? Really, Axl??

  • ApparentAptitude

    Chimaira’s The Infection was shit.

    • Ziltoid

      Don’t insult shit like that.

      • scourge

        ziltoid, at some point could you inform as as to what you actually DO like for a change, rather then just writing semi snarky disses that don’t even say why these bands are shit?

    • himynameismark

      Now shit’s going to file a defammation (sp) of character lawsuit against you! Hope you have a good lawyer, bud!

  • Charlie B

    Ahhh…..no.

  • SP420

    …At least he didn’t number it.

  • http://www.crustcake.com/ The WZA’d

    I actually agree with most of those, but Iwrestledabearonce? Really?

  • http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/8345/outside21.jpg Revrant

    Huh, to think I’ve only heard about half of this, I wonder if that means I can deduce the quality of the other half.

    Like I couldn’t just guess.

  • \m/Eluveitie\m/

    Is there a new Necrophagist record coming this year?

    • Ryan

      Apparently it was delayed to 2010, which sucks

      • \m/Eluveitie\m/

        It’s been a longgg time, 5 years since Epitaph? I don’t think they’ve updated their website since ’04

  • http://lordsofmetal.nl/index.php?lang=en Cavorka

    Artillery – When Death Comes

    • MansonistGetAllTheGirls

      The best thrash metal of the year. Obviously.

  • Ziltoid

    My list so far (in no particular order), since anyone who doesn’t like my complaining will undoubtedly ask:

    Batillus–s/t
    Vortech–Posthumanism
    \\\Maytag–The Saga of the Frostbitten Lands of Frigidaire
    Synestesia–Feeniks
    Amorphis–Skyforger
    maudlin of the Well–Part the Second
    Suidakra–Crogacht
    Anaal Nathrakh–In the constellation of the Black widow
    Kalisia–Cybion
    Anubis Gate–The Detached
    Tyr–By the Light of the northern Star

    I haven’t yet heard a few new albums that would probably make my list (Devin Townsend’s Ki immediately comes to mind), but I plan on getting them really soon. For the rest of the year, I’m looking forward to:

    Cormorant–Metazoa
    Immortal–All Shall Fall
    Katatonia– I forget the title, but whatever it is, it’ll be good

    • Ziltoid

      FUCK, I FORGOT BARONESS. Add that to my list of albums for the rest of the year.

    • http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/8345/outside21.jpg Revrant

      Trve d00d fucking trve omg.

      kvlt 4 lyfe

    • Bicro

      Wat, no Funeral Mist?
      Maranatha slayed.

      • Ziltoid

        Still on the fence with that album. One minute I like it, the next minute I hate it. Not judgment yet.

        • Bicro

          It was fantastic if nothing else for the opening track and Jesus Saves!
          Chilling as all getup, especially when trying to go to sleep.

          “IT’S THE BLOOD! IT’S THE BLOOD! IT’S THE BLOOD!”

    • Sandy n Papo

      Amorphis? wow,, their last 2 albums arent great, but I Guess I´ll check it out

      • taylor

        this one isn’t much different

    • Biff Tannen

      the new Katatonia is called “Light is the New Day”.
      Hope it’s better than the last one, which had a some killer tracks, but also a few too many Tool and Nu-metal flourishes.

    • Canvas Of Flesh

      I checked out Synestesia and found them to be quite enjoyable.

      • Ziltoid

        I was really shocked when I found Synestesia. they have two EPs on their website for download, and they’re both very enjoyable. Their album just perfects and expands upon everything on those EPS.

      • j-rock

        They remind me of Edge of Sanity quite a bit, which is good

    • j-rock

      The new Kataonia is titled Night is the New Day.

    • groverXIII

      I fully agree with Amorphis and Suidakra… Vortech was just kinda meh, Tyr doesn’t do anything for me, I haven’t gotten to Anubis Gate yet but it’s queued up, and I haven’t really heard the rest.

      My list thus far:

      Clutch – Strange Cousins From The West
      Gorod – Process Of A New Decline
      Amorphis – Skyforger
      Obscura – Cosmogenesis
      Animals As Leaders – Animals As Leaders
      Dååth – The Concealers
      Supercommuter – Supercommuter
      NOFX – Coaster
      Lamb Of God – Wrath
      Suidakra – Crogacht
      Devin Townsend Project – Ki

      No particular order beyond the first two. I’m probably forgetting some. There have been a LOT of albums this year that I’ve enjoyed.

      Also, stuff I’m eagerly anticipating:
      Baroness
      Slayer
      Megadeth
      Celldweller
      HORSE The Band
      Ensiferum (I had no idea they were almost done with their new album already!)
      Diablo Swing Orchestra
      Eluveitie (Evocation II)
      And I’m probably most excited about the new EP/album that Powerglove is currently recording. They’re fucking phenomenal and I love Metal Kombat For The Mortal Man.

  • \m/Eluveitie\m/

    New Skeletonwitch too!

  • Brandon

    Missing: Absu-Absu, Amesoeurs-Amsoeurs, Anaal Nathrakh-In the Constellation…, Beherit-Engram, Cobalt-Gin, Drudkh-Microcosmos, Funeral Mist-Maranatha, MDB-For Lies I Sire, Peste Noire-Ballade Cuntre lo Anemi Francor

    • Biff Tannen

      Cobalt’s “Gin” deserves to be album of the year so far, without a doubt. Haven’t heard the new Peste Noire yet…didn’t like “Folkfuck Follies” or whatever it was called, but loved the first album.
      Teitanblood’s “Seven Chalices” is unstoppable as well.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Cefaratti/542463984 Chris Cefaratti

    The new converge…Amazing.

  • bucketochicken

    Devy? Not quite sock-knocking?

  • \m/Eluveitie\m/

    There are some greats missing…

    Back To Tennessee – Billy Ray Cyrus
    Greatest Hits – Aqua (not an actual studio album, but definitely worth mentioning)
    No Regrets – Dope
    Scream – Chris Cornell
    21st Century Breakdown – Green Day
    Music For Cougars – Sugar Ray

  • Franco

    for once a list that i actually agree with

  • http://twitter.com/SchenkelTown Daisy May Tinklepants

    iwrestledabearonce?

    nope, sorry. you managed to have a wrong opinion, and i didn’t know that was possible

  • http://www.flamingtusk.com Zosimus

    Hell yes, it’s too soon! Flaming Tusk isn’t even recording their new album until next month!

  • Nightrain

    The Devil Wears Prada- With Roots Above and Branches Below

    I win.

  • jason

    Not a bad list. Glad to see Coalesce on both lists. That album grows on me more everyday. I am going to have to go with schokakola from the other page and point out the glaring omission of Kylesa’s Static Tensions.

  • Armando

    Very much agree with Magrudergrind newest release as well AnB but why is there no mention of YOB’s “The Great Cessation”?

  • Biff Tannen

    What a shitty list, nothing but over hyped trendy crap that will be forgotten next year……..with the exception of “The Devil You Know” and “Crack the Skye”, both of which were over-hyped, but great none the less.
    Diversify your tastes!

  • Fong Chung

    New Coalesce > All

    • jason

      yup.

  • cougar party

    Is anyone else excited to hear the new 3 Inches of Blood album? Other than Baroness, that is probably my most anticipated album for the rest of the year.

    • Fong Chung

      I already heard the new Baroness record, and it smokes I’m sure many hipsters will eat it up. It is light years better Crack the Skye. New 3 Inches of Blood with Jack Endino producing has to be raw and good.

  • Leo

    THY WILL BE DONE “In Ancient Of Days” should have been on the list… damn it axl

  • John

    At least someone had the good sense to include magrudergrinds record

  • Fong Chung

    My list maybe its too soon

    1). Coalesce – Ox(best fucking album of the year)
    2). Dysrhythmia – Pyschic Maps
    3). Clutch – Strange Cousins From The West
    4). Brutal Truth – Evolution Through Revolution
    5). Kylsea – Static Tensions
    6). Wino – Punctuated Equilibrium(Pick this up if you like DOOM metal)
    7). Obscura – Cosmogenesis
    8). Zororoaster – Voice of Saturn
    9). Gorod – Process of a New Decline
    10). Suffocation – Blood Oath
    11). Augury – Fragmentary Evidence
    12). Napalm Death – Times Waits For No Slave
    13). AnB – Agorapocalypse
    14). Behemoth Evangelion(Hahaha yes I know, terrible makeup, corny lyrics, but fun to listen too)
    15). Obituary – Darkest Day

    Now I’m sure there will be plenty more great albums I’ll be looking foward too. Sorry if Blow Job For a Cowboy, Suicide Silence, CKY, Shitmaira, didnt make the list.

    • Fong Chung

      Throw in the new Absu record also, and of course probably the new Baroness. The new Baroness in a few months might actually challenge Coalesce for the #1 spot.

      • sYgnal

        About fucking time someone mentioned the new Gorod album… Way fucking cool in my book & should be on any top 10 list by now. That and (again) Gnostic – “Engineering the Rule”.

        Are you seriously waiting for Living Colour?! And you listed Chimeira & God Forbid?? Gimme a fucking break already with this watered down shit….

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Harrington-Neil-Sauer/677600672 Harrington Neil Sauer

    new george strait is better than almost everything on this list, im fucking serious. WHY THE FUCK IS IWRESTLEDABEARONCE ON HERE THEY ARE FUCKING AWFUL. i agree with the behemoth, brutal truth, napalm death, and agoraphobic nosebleed though. seriously, when country artists put better records out then metal bands pretty much all year it signals the end of metal at the hands of wiggerslamcore bull shit

  • aud10ph1le44

    I appreciate the balls it takes to nominate iwrestledabearonce. But as much as I like them, there’s just too much great stuff this year for them to make the top ten.

    Animals As Leaders – s/t
    Baroness – Blue Record
    Black Math Horseman – Wyllt (Really? Nobody came up with this one yet?)
    Coalesce – Ox
    Cobalt – Gin
    Khanate – Clean Hands Go Foul
    Kylesa – Static Tensions
    Mastodon – Crack The Skye
    Sunn 0))) – Monoliths & Dimensions (Oh, come on. Somebody has to agree with me on this one.)
    Wolves In The Throne Room – Black Cascade

    New Behemoth is growing on me, but it’s too early to tell. Anaal Nathrakh, Obscura, YOB and S.W.W.A.A.T.S. are definitely honorable mentions.

    And I’m really digging that Iron Age disc, too. That might sneak in there by the end of the year. That and the dozen other great records yet to come. It’s a great year so far, and I can’t wait to see the rest.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Felipe-Abreu/1292465106 Felipe Abreu

    BURNT BY THE SUN

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tom-Campagna/40702766 Tom Campagna

    i agree that Sunn 0))) is good but drone itself is still growing on me. i forgot about cobalt i still need to get that one as well as wolves in the throne room. but iwrestledabearonce i don’t understand these “ibrokethespacebarcore” bands one that’s definitely not funny anymore and two they blow metalcore is acceptable is small doeses and liberal amounts of grindcore are more than required for myself. Def love new napalm death and anaal nathrakh, heaven and hell is growing on me (eating the cannibals, hello). Mastodon is terrific with a capital F. does nobody like the Candlemass? i thought it was pretty well done. well all in all for the time being here are ten of my favs:

    Napalm Death – From Enslavement to Obliteration
    Mastodon – Crack The Skye
    Candlemass – Death Magic Doom
    Kylesa – Static Tensions
    Daath – The Concealers
    Heaven & Hell – The Devil You Know
    ISIS – Wavering Radiant
    Warbringer – Waking Into Nightmares
    Clutch – Strange Cousins From The West
    Anaal Nathrakh – In The Constellation Of The Black Widow

    Special mention to Rumpelstiltskin Grinder – Living For Death, Destroying The Rest (Just some fun stuff)

  • fightingmike

    Mastodon – Crack the Skye
    He Is Legend – It Hates Me
    Obscura – Cosmogenesis
    Killswitch Engage – S/T
    Isis – Wavering Radiant
    Zao – Awake?
    Hacride – Lazarus
    Benea Reach – Alliviat
    The Chariot – Wars and Rumors of War
    Coalesce – Ox
    SWWAATS

    Still waiting for:

    Baroness
    Converge
    Burnt By The Sun
    Them Crooked Vultures
    Dillinger Escape Plan

    • fightingmike

      And i cant wait for as well:

      Every Time I Die

      and of Course:

      ALICE IN CHAINS!

  • ApparentAptitude

    Maybe the new Augury album?

  • Roy

    Still waiting on new btbam, dep, them crooked vultures, and muse before I make any decisions regarding album of 09. Protest the hero and the human abstract are writing new records as well

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tom-Campagna/40702766 Tom Campagna

    holy shit Evangelion is a beast. just fnished it

  • agmkreptile

    Demi Lovato-Here We Go Again

    Come on people, get your heads out of your asses!

  • oBEASTIALo

    IWABO IS GOOD DONT HATE NIGGAS

  • ApparentAptitude

    I seem to recall a few months ago your review for Mantic RItual’s album Executioner. You said it was the best albums of the year so far. Why isn’t it on this list?

  • Unholy Vortex

    1. Mastodon- Crack the Skye
    2. Ignominous Incarceration- Of winter born
    3. Luna Mortis. The absence
    4. God Forbid- Earthsblood
    5. Darkest hour- The eternal Return
    6. Obscura-Cosmogenesis
    7. Lazarus A.D-The Onslaught
    8. Submission-Code of conspiracy
    9. Xerath-I
    10. Susperia-Attitude
    11. Lamb Of God-Wrath
    12. Killswitch Engage-Killswitch engage
    13. Mantic Ritual-Executioner
    14. Gorod-Process of a New Decline
    15. Fleshgod Apocalypse – Oracles
    16. Woe Of Tyrants – Kingdom Of Might
    17. Ex-deo-Romulus
    18. Job for a cowboy-Ruination
    19. Suffocation – Blood Oath

    That isn’t a especific order!

  • lkgf09

    how the fuck could you put IWABO and leave off Lamb of God and DevilDriver?

  • http://www.kingdomofnoise.blogspot.com MetalMatt

    I agree with lkgf09. at least the LOG part.

    What’s with you people and Daath? The new album is pretty blah.

    For the most part the list looks good. not too many that i’ve heard and disagree with. at least with being kick ass. maybe not tops.

    still missing Kylesa and Clutch. Boo.

  • JRTME

    I love the people with the “underground” Metal lists. This somehow makes you more legit. ahahahhaha

    These are the same dudes who live with their parents at 28 and go “let’s go back to my house” to there friends.

    Classic.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Josh-Belzman/1400253500 Josh Belzman

    Another vote for Kylesa’s Static Tensions. This album is just sick on so many levels.

  • http://themetalinquisition.com Sergeant D

    You left of Brokencyde and Emmure’s new records (at this point you probably know I am not joking)

  • mike

    where is arsonists get all the girls? portals was awesome
    Awaitng:
    HORSE the band
    Orbs

  • MetalMeatHammer

    Havok’s Burn gets my vote. Shocking to think this is their debut album.

  • Jeremy

    Magrudergrind’s new album is outrageously great. GRINDCORE.

  • Scott

    Ziltoid… No one cares

  • Lybrium

    A few tunes missing masterpieces here…

    Hacride – How did this beast of an album get left out…….
    Kylesa
    DevilDriver
    ISIS
    Clutch
    Lamb Of God?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! C’mon man.
    TDTP.

    Otherwise ;) spot on.