[DrinkMoxie]

Obviously, we all our own opinions, but I always like to see what my friends picked, and I'm sure I'm not the only person around here who takes part in, or is interested in this, so let's do this!

This year had a LOT to choose from, but here are my choices for tops of the year:

1] Powerwolf - Blood Of The Saints (Metal Blade)
2] Between Earth & Sky - Of Roots And Wings (Refuse)
3] Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction (Inside Out)
4] Anthrax - Worship Music (Megaforce)
5] Night In Gales - Five Scars (Lifeforce)
6] Crowbar - Sever The Wicked Hand (E1)
7] Desultory - Counting Our Scars (Pulverised)
8] Illogicist - The Unconsciousness Of Living (Willowtip)
9] Alestorm - Back Through Time (Napalm)
10] Insomnium - One For Sorrow (Century Media)

[cycosurgeon]

These are always hard for me, cause sometimes it takes me a year ( or years ) to track down and buy the album of a band I really want.

[BehnWilson]

was searching for a list of 2011 releases and found this posting on a site asking musicians for their top 10, this guys is pretty funny (obviously he was being humrorous here)


STAVROS GIANNOPOULOUS, THE ATLAST MOTH

1. Lou Reed & “Metallica,” Lulu (duh)
2. Morbid Angel, Illud Divinum Insanus (see #1)
3. Emmure, Speaker of the Dead
4. Limp Bizkit, Gold Cobra
5. The Haunted, Unseen
6. Suicide Silence, The Black Crown
7. The Bunny The Bear, Don’t Have the Attention Span to Keep Googling Awful Album Titles
8. Lou Reed & “Metalica,” Lulu
9. Jamey Jasta, Jasta
10. Victory Records

I dont have the time to do mine right now but off the cufff the album I remember liking the most this year was Autopsy's, Id make that or Megadeth my number one. Also liked Amon Amarth, Krisiun, Vader, Exumed, Landmine Marathon, Cavalera Conspiracy off the cuff, not 100% sure all were 2011 though. Liked but wasnt wowed by Cynic, Anthrax, Machine Head. Finally got new Warbringer today but havent played it yet.

Will put some thought into it and post my top ten in the next day or two, good topic I love reading everyones top tens.

[Memnoch]

Don't really remember which albums came out this year, but at least these:

Septicflesh - The Great Mass (this is the album of the year)
Primordial - Redemption at the Puritan's Hand (my fav band, but still Septicflesh's was better)
Nightwish - Imaginaerum ( Yes, I'm really liking this a lot)
Nader Sadek - In the Flesh (the album MA should've released)
Within Temptation - The Unforgiving (what can I say, I'm a fanboy)
Nemesea - The Quiet Resistance (another Dutch femme metal band)
Embryonic Devourment - Vivid Interpretations of the Void (tech death, brilliant one at that)
Obscura - Omnivium (and some more tech death)
Moonsorrow - Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa (never cared too much for them, but this new album is really good)
Vader - Welcome to the Morbid Reich (last but most definitely not least)


Ok, I actually remembered ten albums of this year worthy of mentioning.

[mooyagi]

Here's what I can think of for me right now. This is based on US release dates:

Unexpect - Fables of the Sleepless Empire
Powerwolf - Blood of the Saints
Kampfar - Mare
Dalriada - Ìgèret
Iced Earth - Dystopia
Vintersorg - Jordpuls
Korpiklaani - Ukon Wacka
Arkona - Слово
Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising
Symphony X - Iconoclast - It's funny, I am disappointed in the album and have it in my top 10. I'm such a fanboy

[Metalwrath]

In no particular order here's the top 10 that really stood out above the rest for me this year.

Rhapsody - From Chaos to Eternity
Royal Hunt - Show me How to Live
Steelpreacher - Hellraiser
Thorondir - Aus Jenen Tagen
XIV Dark Centuries - Gizit Dar Faida
Bloodbound - Unholy Cross
Vhaldemar - Metal of the World
Cruachan - Blood on the black robe
Helrunar - Sól - Der Dorn im Nebel
BULLET - Highway Pirates

[KevinP]

Too much work to figure this out and not a fan usually of Top 10. But that being said, I think this would be my #1



Others in contention would be SepticFlesh, November's Doom and whatever else I can't remember.

[Stained Class]

No order

Animals As Leaders - Weightless
Stratovarius - Elysium
Symphony X - Iconoclast
Iced Earth - Dystopia
Insomnium - One For Sorrow
Powerwolf - Blood Of The Saints
Unleash The Archers - Demons of the Astro Waste
Obscura - Omnivium
Devin Townsend - Deconstruction
Edit: Last Chance To Reason - Level 2

Others I enjoyed:
Alestorm - Back Through Time
Steelpreacher - Hell Raiser

Intentionally did not put on the list (disappointments):
Arch Enemy
Amon Amarth
Pagan's Mind
Korpiklaani
Nightwish

[Stained Class]

I changed my mind. The number 1 album of 2011 for my is UNDOUBTEDLY Christian Muenzner - Time Warp. I forgot that that was this year.

[BehnWilson]

1.Megadeth - Thirteen
2.Autopsy - Macabre Eternal
3.Cavalera Conspiracy - Blunt Force Trauma
4.Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising
5.Arch Enemy - Khaos Legions
6.Vader - Welcome To THe Morbid Reich
7.Krisiun - The Great Execution
8.Warbringer - Worlds Torn Asunder
9.Landmine Marathon - Gallows
10.Decapitated - Carnival Is Forever


Just missed: Destruction, Deicide,Hate Eternal, Anthrax, Cynic

I really wanted to put Autopsy #1, but I really like the new Megadeth album. That was my toughest decison

[BehnWilson]

1. Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising

Big surprise there

As for the rest, well is there other music?
Hypocrisy didn't release any CD this year.

Oh wait

2. Hypocrisy - Hell over Sofia

#3 - Lou Reed - Lulu

I'm done

Fixed!

Havent got/heard the enw Hypocrisy yet, that would probably be up on my list too

[Egokrusher]

These are in no particular order:

Cannabis Corpse - "Beneath Grow Lights Thou Shalt Rise"
Wolves in the Throne Room - "Celestial Lineage"
Exhumed - "All Guts, No Glory"
The Living Fields - "Running Out of Daylight"
Primordial - "Redemption at the Puritan's Hand"
Enslaved - "The Sleeping Gods EP"
Belphegor - "Blood Magick Necromance"
Amon Amarth - "Surtur Rising"
A Storm of Light - "As the Valley of Death Becomes Us, Our Silver Memories Fade"
Falconer - "Armod"

2011 was a good year for music.

[BehnWilson]

*shudders*

Lou Reed...


The Hypo named above is a live compilation.

But if you haven't heard A Taste of Extreme Divinity from 2009 it's due time, back to the old and good Hypo roots, kicks some serious ass, if you like Hypocrisy, I can pretty much guarantee you'll love that album.

Already have A Taste of Extreme Divinity, it is a great album. Seen Hypocrisy live and they are a great live band, thats why cant wait for this live album.

[Egokrusher]

Completely forgot Einherjer - "Norrøn". That would have made it 11 picks, but I don't care. It's a damn good album and needs mentioned.

Never been a fan of live albums at all. The ONLY live album I've ever listened to and thought it sounded better (due to intentional trashy production values on the recordings) was Emperor - "Emperial Live Ceremony". I don't know. Getting the live sound without the volume or atmosphere of a live show just doesn't do anything for me.

[cycosurgeon]

Still trying to find a lot of the 2011 albums I want but will do a short list with the ones I have found.



1. Holy Martyr - Invincible
( supposedly not even their best album )
Japanese samurai concept album, based mostly off movies and legends
Epic metal ala Manilla Road and Doomsword.

2. Hell - Human Remains
NWOBHM underground legends finally release their album after decades and it is mind blowing. Makes the devil and evil cool again.

3. Heathendom - The Symbolist
Greek metal geniuses, at times it sounds like an angry King Diamond joined a thrashy Memento Mori or Hexenhaus. Unique Riff fest. Doesn't really sound like anyone else.

4. SpellCaster - Under the Spell
New wave of Speed metal in the vein of Skull Fist but catchier!

5. Satan's Host - By the hands of the Devil
Black metal riffs, lyrics, drums with the vocal deity Harry Conklin back and sounding better than ever. Makes the devil and evil cool again too!

6. Anvil - Juggernaut of Justice
Was never a huge fan till the last couple albums but this album is sooooo much fun. Everything is top notch on it.

7. Sinister Realm - Crystal Eye
Closest thing I can find to the US version of Doomsword on a couple songs and a cross between mid tempo doom and traditional heavy metal, with a hint of epic. Good stuff and catchy at times.

hopefully will update the last few with some giftmas presents

[last_candle]

I don't even know ten new albums :)
(gotta come back here with some kind of a list)

[rwalters]

I don't think I've seen one album in my list on anyone elses list so far.... Guess I'm too poser :) I thought the latest Amon Amarth was very disappointing.

2011
1. Sylosis - Edge of the Earth
2. Protest the Hero - Scurrlious
3. Mastodon - The Hunter
4. Machine Head - Unto the Locusts
5. Times of Grace - The Hymn of A Broken Man
6. Black Dahlia Murder - The Ritual
7. In Flames - Sounds of a Playground Fading
8. Dream Theater - Dramatic Turn of Events
9. Darkest Hour - The Human Romance
10. Arch / Matheos - Sympathetic Resonance

Worst Metal Album For Me: The Haunted - Unseen what the hell happened Peter?

[Stained Class]

Ahck! I forgot Cynic, Dream Theater and Arch/Matheos! I'll do a better list later.

[shaneos]

In no particular order:

Insomnium - One for Sorrow
Fleshgod Apocalypse - Agony
Torchbearer - Death Meditations
Scar Symmetry - The Unseen Empire
Machine Head - Unto the Locust
Omnium Gatherum - New World Shadows
Wolves in the Throne Room - Celestial Lineage
Blotted Science - The Animation of Entomology
Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising
Anaal Nathrakh - Passion

[DrinkMoxie]

keep 'em comin' guys, I'm enjoying this glimpse into some of you as fans!

[BehnWilson]

*shudders*

Lou Reed...


The Hypo named above is a live compilation.

But if you haven't heard A Taste of Extreme Divinity from 2009 it's due time, back to the old and good Hypo roots, kicks some serious ass, if you like Hypocrisy, I can pretty much guarantee you'll love that album.

Already have A Taste of Extreme Divinity, it is a great album. Seen Hypocrisy live and they are a great live band, thats why cant wait for this live album.

Than all is good

The documentary part of the DVD is super funny, I recommend!

This better be good.

You got my hopes up so I couldnt wait for it (online could have saved like $5) and paid a premium price for it at a local record shop. Was gonna play it tonight at gym but instead hit a local bar, oh well Hawks game was on, Im a huge hockey fan). Will hopefully play it tomorrow. Will let you know what I think of it then but im seriously psyched bout watching the documentary portion. Im also a huge Amon fan so I trust your judgement.

[Memnoch]

Oh yeah, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Ebonylake and Vallenfyre released good albums this year too. And Sólstafir. Damn, Origin's Entity came out this year too.
Amazing year in metal then, I don't remember that ever before there has been a year with so many excellent releases.

[nekrobarr]

Let's go!

Top Ten (no order):
Abstract Spirit - Horror Vacui
Comatose Vigil - Fuimus, non Sumus...
Draconian - A Rose for the Apocalypse
Funeral - To Mourn is a Virtue
Graveworm - Fragments of Death
Moonsorrow - Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa
My Dying Bride - Evinta
Týr - The Lay of Thrym
Vallenfyre - A Fragile King
Vreid - V


Albums I enjoyed but wasn't absolutely in love with:
Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising
A Pale Horse Named Death - And Hell Will Follow Me
Battlelore - Doombound
Leaves' Eyes - Meredead
Vader - Welcome To The Morbid Reich


Disappointments:
Before The Rain - Frail
Poisonblack - Drive
HammerFall - Infected
Evergrey - Glorious Collision
Children of Bodom - Relentless Reckless Forever

I've definitely missed out on a lot of releases this year that I'm sure I should've given a listen to, but hey, with so much music, one only has so much time (and funds!).

[EvilDan]

My problem is that I was exposed to so much stuff this year that I can't come up with 10, 20, 50, or even 100. There's the stuff that actually came out in 2011, but all the old stuff I discovered in 2011 seems to obscure much of it. There's so much out there that's so good, I can never get caught up. And I can't ever seem to get enough of the stuff that I already know I like, and stuff I want to get more familiar with.

I listen to music all day long, every day, but I still need more time. And gaming interferes because many times I want to hear what's going on.

[rwalters]

Disappointments:
Before The Rain - Frail
Poisonblack - Drive
HammerFall - Infected
Evergrey - Glorious Collision
Children of Bodom - Relentless Reckless Forever


- Isn't all Poisonblack disappointing especially in comparison to Sentenced? :)
- Evergrey ARE DONE! It's so sad! What happened? 3 straight bad albums I think we're at now?
- I actually thought the latest Bodom was their best since Hatecrew, but I guess that isn't hard to do............

[Element0s]

Arch/matheos is probably my top pick thisyear, along with Hell, Argus, Satans Host, Riot... can't hink of any others right now

[last_candle]

1. Voyager - The Meaning Of I
2. Alice Cooper - Welcome 2 My Nightmare
3. Adele - 21
4. 4th Dimension - The White Path To Rebirth
------------------------------------------------------------
5. Edguy - Age Of The Joker
6. Nightwish - Imaginaerum
7. Falconer - Armod

[Noelolz]

1. Novembers Doom - Aphotic
2. Nightwish - Imaginaerium
3. Amorphis- The Beginning of times
4. Iced Earth- Dystopia
5. Amon Amarth- Surtur Rising
6. Symphony x- Iconoclast
7. Devin Townsend- Deconstruction
8.Dream Theater- A dramatic turn of events
9.Adrenaline Mob- Adrenaline Mob EP
10.Behemoth- Abyssus Abyssum Invocat


Honorable Mentions:
The Black Dahlia Murder- Ritual
Hate Eternal- Phoenix Amongst The Ashes
Arkona- Slovo
Nightrage- Insidious

[soundcurve]

Surprised a lot of folk can come up with 10. I feel 2011s been pretty disappointing for the bands I dig. I keep wanting to mention a band but realize the CD was out in 2010.

1. Inquisition - Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm (states 2010 but even decibel gave it a #9 in its top 40 2011)
2. Septicflesh - The Great Mass
3. The Devil's Blood (though doesn't truly come out state side till 2012)
4. Blood Ceremony - Living With The Ancients
5. Electric Wizard - Black Masses
and my Meh-er (not sure if I'll come back but it is good)
5. Megadeth - Thirteen (Has the older vibe I like from them . . .just got to avoid Dave Mustaine interviews)

Can't really put much else in there. I mean, there have been good albums but nothing I keep going back to. Didn't mind the new Morbid Angel just nothing epic. 2011 I feel I been spending more time on discovering older albums and bands than looking forward to releases.

[soundcurve]

Let's go!

Top Ten (no order):
My Dying Bride - Evinta
Vallenfyre - A Fragile King
Vreid - V

Albums I enjoyed but wasn't absolutely in love with:
A Pale Horse Named Death - And Hell Will Follow Me

Can only comment on the stuff I heard/have. I did like "A Pale Horse Named Death" a lot. Was very surprising release. Lot of folk said Evinta was Meh. I couldn't say it is a top 10 but definitely cool to put on when you want something chill and love MDB melodies (you get the new EP? thoughts? - man they can release content faster than I am able to buy ). Lot of folk love Vallenfyre and I am definitely a paradise lost / Greg fan but I guess just didn't hit me the way something like bloodbath does (with the new-old thing). I bought Vreid - V and I think I just need to listen to it more, kinda like the new Taake. Too soon to fully absorb them.

[Ecliptica]

I'm post #35 and only ONE other person has mentioned Tyr?!?!

I still can't decide between Tyr and Powerwolf as my #1 album of the year. I've definitely played Tyr more, but the last month and a half has pretty much just been Powerwolf for 3 hours a day during my commute to work. . .

IN ORDER:
1. Tyr - The Lay of Thrym
2. Powerwolf - Blood of the Saints
3. Nekrogoblikon - Stench

SORT OF IN ORDER DEPENDING ON MY MOOD:
4. Hammerfall - Infected -- Absolutely disagree with whoever said this was a disappointment. IMO, this is their best album since 'Legacy of Kings'/their best album yet. Super excited to see them on the cruise after hearing this
5. Korpiklaani - Ukon Wacka
6. Blackguard - Firefight
7. Turisas - Stand Up and Fight -- A top 3 band for me before this album, wasn't overly impressed



Not gonna lie, I haven't heard the albums from Primordial, Falconer, Symphony X, Edguy, Galneryus, Metsatöll, Svartsot, or Dragonland in full yet. I have yet to hate anything from Dragonland, so once I give that a listen, I'm sure that'll jump up.

[mooyagi]

That's because the Tyr album was a disappointment. It wasn't bad but not really all that great to me. And get Blackguard off your list

[DrinkMoxie]

That's because the Tyr album was a disappointment. It wasn't bad but not really all that great to me. And get Blackguard off your list

the Blackguard album is decent... I'd rather a metalhead get into music with them as a gateway than with some radio metal numetal crudfest

[mooyagi]

That's because the Tyr album was a disappointment. It wasn't bad but not really all that great to me. And get Blackguard off your list

the Blackguard album is decent... I'd rather a metalhead get into music with them as a gateway than with some radio metal numetal crudfest

I don't care what a metalhead uses as a gateway as long as they get into metal in the end. Shit, I've had a lot of guilty gateways before finding the good stuff.

[WizardBeast]

That's because the Tyr album was a disappointment. It wasn't bad but not really all that great to me. And get Blackguard off your list

the Blackguard album is decent... I'd rather a metalhead get into music with them as a gateway than with some radio metal numetal crudfest

I don't care what a metalhead uses as a gateway as long as they get into metal in the end. Shit, I've had a lot of guilty gateways before finding the good stuff.

i get ripped on all the time for my teenage pantera phase....do i care? no, those were fun concerts.

[rwalters]

the first black guard album is WAY better than the second. I think they rushed Firefight out which is pretty disappointing.

Also, how do you get ripped on for going to Pantera concerts or liking Pantera? I don't understand this. At all.

[cycosurgeon]

That's because the Tyr album was a disappointment. It wasn't bad but not really all that great to me. And get Blackguard off your list

the Blackguard album is decent... I'd rather a metalhead get into music with them as a gateway than with some radio metal numetal crudfest

I don't care what a metalhead uses as a gateway as long as they get into metal in the end. Shit, I've had a lot of guilty gateways before finding the good stuff.

Has anyone ever met anyone that started in nu-metal evolved into underground metal? Talking past label big bands and bands like Slayer, Mastadon, Pantera, Megadeth and Metallica? Closest I have ever come was someone who thought Dio was underground metal cause he was in a Tenacious D video.

As far as my experience is they rarely get past label hype machine bands.

[WizardBeast]

the first black guard album is WAY better than the second. I think they rushed Firefight out which is pretty disappointing.

Also, how do you get ripped on for going to Pantera concerts or liking Pantera? I don't understand this. At all.

who knows! some people call them Panterrible and say they were a joke. well, whatever! let people be haters.

[DrinkMoxie]

the first black guard album is WAY better than the second. I think they rushed Firefight out which is pretty disappointing.

Also, how do you get ripped on for going to Pantera concerts or liking Pantera? I don't understand this. At all.

the guy that doesn't like Pretty maids because they remind him of pink wristbands and high kicks isn't aware of Pantera's glam decade

[WizardBeast]

I don't care what a metalhead uses as a gateway as long as they get into metal in the end. Shit, I've had a lot of guilty gateways before finding the good stuff.

Has anyone ever met anyone that started in nu-metal evolved into underground metal? Talking past label big bands and bands like Slayer, Mastadon, Pantera, Megadeth and Metallica? Closest I have ever come was someone who thought Dio was underground metal cause he was in a Tenacious D video.

As far as my experience is they rarely get past label hype machine bands.

yes i do actually know people that started off listening to Korn and Slipknot then ending up liking real metal!