As various Interhole metal outlets start trotting out their “best of” lists for 2010 we’re also sure to see a smattering of “under-appreciated album” posts to go with them. You’re gonna have to wait until December 16th to get trolled by Sergeant D and the rest of the MS staff’s full “best of” lists but until then I plan on giving you a sampling of what’s in store for my own list by sharing a few of what, in my opinion, are some under-appreciated gems of ought-ten.

Norway’s Keep of Kalessin created ripples with 2008′s Kolossus and with this year’s Reptilian I’d say they upgraded to waves, though their influence and stature within the worldwide metal community hasn’t quite made it to tsunami status yet as far too many people don’t know about this phenomenal band. I knew Reptilian was going to be a crusher from the very first notes of it that I heard; this is intricate, technical black metal (!) that doesn’t get bogged down by bad production or many of the genres other tropes (i.e. corpse paint). Keep of Kalessin are only too willing to push the boundaries of black metal, and with Reptilian they’ve elevated their game to a whole new level of progressive energy.

-VN