VIC VAUGHN’S TOP FIFTEEN METAL METAL ALBUMS OF 2011
2011 was a great year for releases, as well as my first year covering them like a spectre. Thanks, MetalSucks. Here’s my list:
Posts Tagged ‘Best of 2011’
BOB COCK’S TOP FIFTEEN METAL ALBUMS OF 2011
Thursday, December 1st, 2011 at 9:15am by Bob Cock
So call it old age or what have you, but this writer fell out of ”check” with “the scene” around June or so (as far as new stuff coming out), and was also astonished to see that Uriah Heep put out another album unbeknownst to him. Plus, a lot of the albums that made my list are traditionalist or power metal. Yikes.
Then there’s the plethora of stuff in the “I’ll get to it eventually” folder of my PC that did not get got to. And then there are the ones I just plain forgot about.
But, hopefully, the important thing isn’t missing a few releases here or there in our quest to be in touch even as aging metalheads. Hopefully, the important thing is still supporting the scene at shows, by buying merch or even continuing to purchase those pieces of plastic and vinyl they manufacture.
And so:
HOLY FUCKING SHIT! IT’S TIME FOR US TO UNVEIL OUR PICKS FOR THE BEST METAL ALBUMS OF 2011!!!
Thursday, December 1st, 2011 at 9:00am by MetalSucks
HOO-RAY! It is, once again, that time when (most of) the MetalSucks staff unveils their picks for the best albums of the year. This is it, folks. This is the only thing that matters in the entire universe. Not love or family or friends, not curing diseases or putting an end to war or poverty, and certainly not having your own opinion — no, the only fucking thing in the entire fucking world that matters is whether or not the staff of MetalSucks agrees with you.
GLORY, GLORY HALLELUJAH!!! How we’ve longed for this day to return!
We hope you enjoy all the lists. And remember: if you favorite album isn’t listed here, that’s because your opinion is meaningless, and, clearly, the only logical thing to do is kill yourself.
-Axl, Vince, and Everyone at MetalSucks
THE BEST METAL ALBUMS OF 2011, AS CHOSEN BY METAL MUSICIANS THEMSELVES — PART VII
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011 at 5:00pm by MetalSucksFEATURING MEMBERS OF GOD FORBID, SKELETONWITCH, CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED, MUNICIPAL WASTE, TODAY IS THE DAY, LANDMINE MARATHON, AND SHAI HULUD
Every year year, MetalSucks asks musicians from across the vast spectrum of the metalsphere (or, in a few cases, the almost-metalsphere) what their favorite albums of the year have been. Death metallers, thrash metallers, black metallers, stoners, grinders, and djenters alike have graciously contributed lists to MS, and we’ll be running them in groups of nine to ten musicians at a time two to three times a day for the whole week.
After the jump, check out the next group… we hope you enjoy seeing what some of metal’s heaviest hitters were into this year as much as we have!
THE BEST METAL ALBUMS OF 2011, AS CHOSEN BY METAL MUSICIANS THEMSELVES — PART VI
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011 at 3:00pm by MetalSucksFEATURING MEMBERS OF CANNIBAL CORPSE, OBSCURA, FORBIDDEN, LAZARUS A.D., GIANT SQUID, PYRAMIDS, WOLVHAMMER, BENEATH OBLIVION, HALCYON WAY, AND GADGET
Every year year, MetalSucks asks musicians from across the vast spectrum of the metalsphere (or, in a few cases, the almost-metalsphere) what their favorite albums of the year have been. Death metallers, thrash metallers, black metallers, stoners, grinders, and djenters alike have graciously contributed lists to MS, and we’ll be running them in groups of nine to ten musicians at a time two to three times a day for the whole week.
After the jump, check out the next group… we hope you enjoy seeing what some of metal’s heaviest hitters were into this year as much as we have!
THE BEST METAL ALBUMS OF 2011, AS CHOSEN BY METAL MUSICIANS THEMSELVES — PART V
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011 at 1:00pm by MetalSucksFEATURING MEMBERS OF MELVINS, RED FANG, JUNIUS, EXHUMED, RWAKE, ORPHANED LAND, HULL, EARTH, AND KILL THE CLIENT
Every year year, MetalSucks asks musicians from across the vast spectrum of the metalsphere (or, in a few cases, the almost-metalsphere) what their favorite albums of the year have been. Death metallers, thrash metallers, black metallers, stoners, grinders, and djenters alike have graciously contributed lists to MS, and we’ll be running them in groups of nine to ten musicians at a time two to three times a day for the whole week.
After the jump, check out the next group… we hope you enjoy seeing what some of metal’s heaviest hitters were into this year as much as we have!
THE BEST METAL ALBUMS OF 2011, AS CHOSEN BY METAL MUSICIANS THEMSELVES — PART IV
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011 at 5:00pm by MetalSucksFEATURING MEMBERS OF ARCH ENEMY, THAT METAL SHOW, BLACK ANVIL, ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, AND LEPROUS
Every year year, MetalSucks asks musicians from across the vast spectrum of the metalsphere (or, in a few cases, the almost-metalsphere) what their favorite albums of the year have been. Death metallers, thrash metallers, black metallers, stoners, grinders, and djenters alike graciously contributed lists to MS, and we’ll be running them in groups of nine to ten musicians at a time two to three times a day for the whole week.
After the jump, check out the next group… we hope you enjoy seeing what some of metal’s heaviest hitters were into this year as much as we have!
THE BEST METAL ALBUMS OF 2011, AS CHOSEN BY METAL MUSICIANS THEMSELVES — PART III
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011 at 2:00pm by MetalSucksFEATURING MEMBERS OF AT THE GATES, TEXTURES, GRIDLINK, FIGHT AMP, MONSTRO, GLORIOR BELLI, VALLENFYRE, HOODED MENACE, AND PORTRAIT
Every year year, MetalSucks asks musicians from across the vast spectrum of the metalsphere (or, in a few cases, the almost-metalsphere) what their favorite albums of the year have been. Death metallers, thrash metallers, black metallers, stoners, grinders, and djenters alike graciously contributed lists to MS, and we’ll be running them in groups of nine to ten musicians at a time two to three times a day for the whole week.
After the jump, check out the next group… we hope you enjoy seeing what some of metal’s heaviest hitters were into this year as much as we have!
THE BEST METAL ALBUMS OF 2011, AS CHOSEN BY METAL MUSICIANS THEMSELVES — PART II
Monday, November 28th, 2011 at 5:00pm by MetalSucksFEATURING MEMBERS OF MACHINE HEAD, EPICA, NAILS, CLINGING TO THE TREES OF A FOREST FIRE, ARGUS, EVERYTHING WENT BLACK, AND WEAPON
Every year year, MetalSucks asks musicians from across the vast spectrum of the metalsphere (or, in a few cases, the almost-metalsphere) what their favorite albums of the year have been. Death metallers, thrash metallers, black metallers, stoners, grinders, and djenters alike graciously contributed lists to MS, and we’ll be running them in groups of nine to ten musicians at a time twice a day for the whole week.
After the jump, check out the next group… we hope you enjoy seeing what some of metal’s heaviest hitters were into this year as much as we have!
THE BEST METAL ALBUMS OF 2011, AS CHOSEN BY METAL MUSICIANS THEMSELVES — PART I
Monday, November 28th, 2011 at 2:00pm by MetalSucksFEATURING MEMBERS OF LACUNA COIL, TRAPPED UNDER ICE, ALLEGAEON, CULTED, MILLIONS, BIRTH A.D., AND NIGHTFALL
Every year year, MetalSucks asks musicians from across the vast spectrum of the metalsphere (or, in a few cases, the almost-metalsphere) what their favorite albums of the year have been. Death metallers, thrash metallers, black metallers, stoners, grinders, and djenters alike graciously contributed lists to MS, and we’ll be running them in groups of nine to ten musicians at a time twice a day for the whole week.
After the jump, check out the first group… we hope you enjoy seeing what some of metal’s heaviest hitters were into this year as much as we have!
THE DEVIL’S BLOOD’S PRE-SALE’S NOW, SINGLE’S ANNOUNCED
Early this month, MetalSucks writers teamed for a series listing 2011′s excellentest records so far. And I tried to protest the usefulness of any best-albums list that’s been compiled ahead of releases by Steel Panther (Oct. 18) and The Devil’s Blood (Nov. 11). I’m a confident super-journalist so my stand was firm, but MS co-chief Axl Rosenberg (here) made a show of not listening to me as he flashed a knife all casually, like “Hey check out the ease with which this slices through a package of hot dogs.” Gulp. Message received, half-year’s best list submitted.
For now, The Devil’s Blood is on that list in pencil, but today brings us a step closer to uncapping a marker for their forthcoming record The Thousandfold Epicentre cuz pre-sale is now open at Ván Records. The art is rad (above) and fat-wallet types will love fancy-schmancy LP and CD editions (here). The Ván site also announces that a “Fire Burning” 7″ (b/w an exclusive acoustic version) will be available October 11. And you’re jamming!
-ADF
Get The Devil’s Blood’s irresistible 2009 album The Time Of No Time Evermore here cuz you love awesome shit. The Thousandfold Epicentre is out November 11 on Ván Records.
TOO SOON? DAVE MUSTEIN’S BEST OF 2011… SO FAR
Every year seems to either be hailed as the “best year for metal in ever” or discarded as “the year Morbid Angel and everyone else sucked really badly,” and this year has been no different. I’ve heard everything across the board from praise to condemnation, but I think that so far, 2011′s been pretty good — we got long-awaited albums from old favorites, surprising returns, and some awesome breakout albums. I admit I haven’t heard everything I should’ve yet, but I have managed to plow through a significant stack of music, and found the following to be really standout releases so far:
TOO SOON? GRIM KIM’S BEST OF 2011… SO FAR
Nine times out of ten, when faced with the option to listen to a band I enjoy’s brand-spankin’ new album or to their shitty old demos from six years ago, I’ll go with the latter. Don’t get me wrong — metal in 2011 is a many-headed, constantly evolving beast whose progress is fascinating to observe; I’m into tons of newer bands, and love discovering killer new releases. However, at the end of the day, when I’ve finally got a few minutes to myself, I’m going to be listening to Necros Christos’ Black Mass Desecration demo from 2003 or my battered old Celtic Frost records, not whatever new jam is buzzing its way through the blogosphere that week (no matter how awesome it may prove itself to be). There’s no place like home.
I also spent a helluva lot of time listening to my friends’/boyfriend’s bands, so color me a bit biased (though honestly, what writer isn’t?).
These basic truths about my listening habits make compiling year-end lists an absolute shitshow, so I suppose Axl’s asking me to haul one out mid-year will serve as a good trial run for the inevitable horrors ahead.
That being said, here are the albums I’ve been listening to the most. I’ve already written about a few of them, so no big surprises await. Read ‘em and weep.
TOO SOON? SATAN ROSENBLOOM’S BEST OF 2011… SO FAR
Take this with a salt factory’s worth of grains of salt, because there are probably about fifty albums I have stored on my hard drive, waiting to evaluate, and there are many dozens of worthy contenders that I may never hear until it’s too late. But here are 40 albums from the first half of 2011 that’ve knocked my moocow slippers off so far:
TOO SOON? SAMMY O’HAGAR’S BEST OF 2011… SO FAR
Perhaps right before the deluge of fall releases hammers us with “PUT ME ON YOUR YEAR END LIST!” demands, it’d be a good idea to take stock of what’s come out thus far. It’s been a good year for metal– as, admittedly, are most years — despite the absences of new Neurosis or Pig Destroyer albums (which, once again, could apply to any year). And even though there are a few albums I haven’t gotten around to hearing just yet (Altar of Plagues, Vastum, Disma, Origin, Shining), haven’t been lucky enough to hear (Revocation) and haven’t spent nearly enough time with yet (Wolves in the Throne Room), there’s been quite a bit to marinate on thus far. So allow me to jump on the ship Axl, Vince, Corey, Gary, Anso, and Leyla are already on and name a few I deem noteworthy. In no particular order, of course.
TOO SOON TOO? LEYLA FORD’S BEST OF 2011… SO FAR
I give into peer pressure easily. In no particular order other than alphabetical:
TOO SOON TOO? ANSO DF’S BEST OF 2011… SO FAR
Cosmo started it at Invisible Oranges. Then our Axl and Murder Corey got in the mix. Next, Vince wanted some. And on Wednesday, Gary didn’t mind if he did. Now, with your permission, I, Anso DF, will help myself and list 2011′s best jam-parties so farsies.
May I? Thanks! Click to read more…
TOO SOON? GARY’S BEST HARDCORE OF 2011… SO FAR
Axl did one. Vince did one. Even Corey did one. So, of course, I’ve gotta do one, right?
2011 has been a pretty decent year for hardcore so far, with solid releases from artists old and new. Unsurprisingly, then, my picks at this point in the year reflect that dynamic. I intentionally excluded EPs (Jello Biafra’s latest, for example) and singles, as well as all the non-hardcore stuff I’ve enjoyed this year (J. Mascis’ blissful solo album). So, without further ado, here are my picks!
TOO SOON? VINCE’S BEST OF 2011… SO FAR
Axl’s published his First Half of 2011 list and Corey’s published his… my turn!
I really do these every year as a way of documenting where my head is mid-year so when December rolls around I can go back and look, not so much as a definitive “Best of the First Half” statement. As such it’s only a half-decent representation on what’ll eventually end up on my final year-end list.
So, here it is, in alphabetical order: my favorite releases of 2011 so far.
TOO SOON? AXL’S BEST OF 2011… SO FAR
Earlier today, Invisible Oranges’ Cosmo Lee noted that we’re now halfway through 2011 (Already? Sheesh!) and listed his ten favorite metal albums of the year thus far.
So I thought it would be fun to do the same. It will give me a chance to get the ball rollin’ so I’m not scrambling to meet a deadline come December, and it will give you cats a) the chance to argue, which we know you love to do, and b) recommend shit to me that maybe I haven’t even heard of, or haven’t had a chance to check out yet, etc.
These are just in alphabetical order for now, because no way am I ready to start agonizing over the precise order of my own personal preferences just yet.
Also, there are some albums on here which obviously haven’t been released yet, but I’m not gonna pretend that I haven’t heard them and/or like something else better, so you’ll have to take my word when I assure you that they are friggin’ SWEET.
And so, here’s my top ten of 2011 up ’til now…
