REIGN IN BLONDE : JULIA’S BEST OF 2009

JULIA’S BEST OF 2009

2009. Where did the time go?!?! Seriously. 2009 was beyondhuge for me. I graduated from college, traveled outside the US for the first time, lived in three different towns, and somewhere in between all of that I had some time to go to a ton of shows, listen to some great albums, and meet some pretty amazing people. It was certainly a year of big changes (NOT an Obama joke, ugh), and while I knew that some of it was coming (finishing school, South America trip, etc.) I never expected to be HERE- doing my end of the year list that will actually get read. I may not be on the air anymore (R.I.P. JJ’s Metal Mania on WERW… maybe someday I’ll be back on the radio *hint hint, employers*), but now I’m on the world wide web, bringing the metal in literary form. I’m already excited for 2010’s releases and tours to come, and my goal for the year is to see even more shows, in as many different places as possible.

But let’s get to it, shall we? Get ready to argue, these are MY picks of the Best of 2009…

#10) Skeletonwitch - Breathing the Fire:Hard. Fast. Awesome. Musically modernized American thrash, but vocally reminiscent of something more… Scandinavian. For me, a combination like that can’t fail. This album got me through a lot of traveling as well, especially on the NYC subway. If you want to want to get down with the breakdown, while tuning out annoyances around you and maintain a sense of calm, I highly suggest investing some time in the mighty Skeletonwitch. FAVORITE TRACK: CRUSHED BEYOND DUST

#9) Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect: The first time I saw BTBAM was the summer Elise and I became buds. I clearly remember being much more impressed with them than I had expected to be, and that’s kind of been my opinion towards them ever since. I’m not sure why I typically expect to be underwhelmed by them, but it must be a subconscious effort to be even more impressed when I actually hear the finished product. It’s kind of difficult to put my finger on exactly why it’s great, but what I keep going back to is just that it’s more of the same without being exactly the same. BTBAM is kinda “out there”, but I wouldn’t have them any other way. FAVORITE TRACK: OBFUSCATION

#8) Kittie - In The Black:I’ve never been disappointed by Kittie per se, but 2007’s Funeral for Yesterday left me wanting a little bit more. In The Blackfills that void that I’ve been waiting for. With this album, my girls from London, Ontario are re-vamped- and not just with the new wardrobe. Say what you will, but there’s no other all-female metal band out there right now who has a fanbase or a work ethic quite like Kittie. However, the biggest stand-out performances are definitely Tara McCleod and Morgan Lander. With every album, Morgan’s vocals improve more and more, both in the studio and live, and Tara’s guitar stylings have definitely added a new, technically skilled dimension to the group as a whole. This album is beast. Suck it, haters. FAVORITE TRACK: SORROW I KNOW

#7) Slayer - World Painted Blood: It’s SLAAAAAAYYYYYYYEEEERRRR!!! What more do you want me to say? FAVORITE TRACK: PUBLIC DISPLAY OF DISMEMBERMENT

#6) Daath - The Concealers: Part Meshuggah, part Bleeding Through, and part Dimmu Borgir. That’s the best way I can describe this album. Normally I wouldn’t put an album that distinctly reminds me of other bands in my Top 10 of the year, but you know if you’ve listened to it that it’s pretty effing good. ”The Worthless” is a slow jam done just right, and all in all the tracks separate themselves from one another instead of just flowing together like one long song (which I loooove). Two good albums in a row? Who does that? Kudos, Daath. FAVORITE TRACK: DAY OF ENDLESS LIGHT

#5) God Forbid - Earthsblood: YESSSSS! Earthsblood was a Best Of pick early on, immediately gaining a lot of praise from the metal elite when it first came out. I was late jumping on board, but once I did I completely understood the mass appeal. The thing I like a lot about God Forbid is that they include the perfect balance of clean and rough vocals, and transition between the two SEAMLESSLY. They’ve always been at the forefront in my mind for melodic American heavy metal, and this album secures their spot. And it’s also good to know that members past and present have a good sense of humor. I’d chill with these guys any day of the week. FAVORITE TRACK: WALK ALONE

#4) Killswitch Engage - Killswitch Engage: I really can’t say enough good things about this album. I’ve always had a thing for Howard Jones and that beautiful voice of his. In regards to lyrical content, I think KsE took a bit of a risk with this album. The second half especially (“Take Me Away”, “I Would Do Anything”, “Save Me”, and “Lost”) caters to those with a sensitive soul. That’s rare for heavy metal, but yet another reason why KsE continues to set themselves apart from the rest (as if Adam D.’s stage outfits don’t do enough). It’s still hard and fast, as metal should be, but it’s kinda nice to hear a softer (soft-ER, not SOFT) side of one of my favorite bands. FAVORITE TRACK: LOST

#3) Cannibal Corpse - Evisceration Plague: Some bands deliver a solid album once or twice and then wuss out. Cannibal Corpse is not that kind of band. The boys have once again delivered an EPIC record that 100% lived up to the hype. This is what got me into metal in the first place; Death- Destruction- Gore- Pain- Fear- everything that your parents don’t want you hearing. “Shock value” has been a huge part of Cannibal Corpse’s shtick forever, and although the album art for Evisceration Plague (and also 2006’s Kill) isn’t as disturbing as the old days, it still holds the spot this year for my favorite album art. It’s not the most grotesque thing EVER, but it’s simple yet scary. I like art where you can tell exactly what it is you’re looking at… is that so strange? Anyway, I’m gonna go fix my face, it’s looking a little melted off. FAVORITE TRACK: CARRION SCULPTED ENTITY

#2) Psyopus - Odd Senses:If you asked me at the beginning of the year what bands I would expect to be in my year end round up, I don’t think I would’ve expected Psyopus to be my number 2 pick. I like grindcore and the really extreme crunchy stuff, but it’s not typically my go to genre in the wide world of heavy metal. I gave Odd Sensesthe old once over when it first came out in February, but I admit I wasn’t really paying attention. SHAME ON ME. What changed my mind was seeing them live at B.B. King’s (sucky venue, but it’s grown on me) this summer. That was when I fell in love with Psyopus. Those dudes have more energy on stage than the ShamWOW guy (“It’s made by the Germans, so it’s gotta be good!”) As if their energy and pretty faces (SwOoN) weren’t enough for you, then they go and produce awesome, in your face, mathematical metal. What isn’t there to like? FAVORITE TRACK: BURNING HALO

#1) Lamb of God - Wrath: Truth be told, I’m sure no one is surprised to see this album at the top of my list… but that’s not gonna stop me from making it NUMBER ONE. From start to finish Wrath is a master work. Every single song is triumphantly beast. I’ve said it before, but the reason why I love metal as much as I do is because it makes me feel empowered. When I listen to Lamb of God- Wrath or any other album- I feel like I can take on whatever comes in my way, be it personal struggle or some dumb bitch moving too slowly and talking too loudly in the checkout line at Duane Reade. The other main quality I look for in my metal is the power to change the situation (so to speak). If I’m already in a good mood, it should amplify it. If I’m not, it should help makes things better. I’ve listened to Wrath in the good and the bad, while traveling, while working out, while shoveling snow and laying by the pool. Ain’t no time that isn’t right for it. Another thing: I know a thing or two about musical structure and theory, but I have no experience in actually playing said instruments (Unless you count my mad Guitar Hero/RockBand skills). The skill level on this record sets the bar HIGH for any American heavy metal band. Mark Morton, Willie Adler, and John Campbell do their thing on the guitars, really stretching themselves to do their best work and think outside the box. Randy Blythe’s vocals are noticeably improved (not that they were ever bad) and are much more versatile and stylized. But what caught me from the get-go was the DRUMS. When I first started raving about this album, the first thing I commented on was the drumming and that’s the reason that it’s not just another Lamb of God album. By far, Chris Adler is one of the best drummers in the game right now and it shows. The rhythms are impeccable and creative, and they make me wish I had given the drums a try myself (Damn my 8 year old self. Alto sax? Really?). I can only expect greatness from Lamb of God, and they are never Set to Fail. FAVORITE TRACK: FAKE MESSIAH

Albums I wish I had more time to listen to :(

1349 - Revelations of the Black Flame
Goatwhore - Carving Out the Eyes of God
Obituary - Darkest Day
Suffocation - Blood Oath
Behemoth - Evangelion (*This one I really wanted to listen to, I’m sure it would’ve made my Top 10)
Gwar - Lust in Space
Immortal - All Shall Fall
HORSE the Band - Desperate Living
Gorgoroth - Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt
Throwdown - Deathless

Favorite non-metal album: Flyleaf - Momento Mori: You know, to be perfectly honest, I didn’t spend a lot of time listening to non-metal music this year. In fact, I spent my free time (re)discovering the classics- old Slayer, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Dio (<3), and I’ve got 3 words for you… EIGHTIES. HAIR. METAL. However, I’m got a bit of a soft spot for Flyleaf. It took WAYYYY too long to put out a follow up to 2005’s self-titled album, but I think the finished product in Momento Mori ain’t too shabby. The melodies are clutch, and the whole thing is better once you read into the stories and inspirations behind the songs. Flyleaf also gets brownie points from me for their ongoing charity work, especially with children in third-world countries. Hope they keep in up in 2010!

Favorite live album: Demon Hunter - Live from Nashville

Favorite shows: