Robert's 5 Favorite Metal Albums of 2009
Metal music fanatics are not only die-hard in their love of the music, but stone-hard in their opinions about what makes great metal. I certainly have mine, and they tend to lean towards bands that push the boundaries of the metal. I am welcoming a debate about my choices. Please critique, harangue, and question my list. And most of all, add your favorites in the comments. I'm always looking for recommendations. Cheers!
1. Wolves in the Throne Room - Black Cascade
This Washington-based, environmentally-minded band just gets better and more focused with each record. From beautiful ambient drone washes to the harshest of black metal screams, this record encompasses what is great about metal in the new millennium.
Mastodon are the most consistently great band in metal. No record or live show ever disappoints. Complex, moody, and striking, Crack the Skye is another milestone in a career made of them.
3. Cobalt - Gin
This Denver-based band has taken all of the elements from their past records and combined them into something unique and totally gratifying. Another group expanding the definition of black metal.
Justin Broadrick has never rested on his laurels. Always challenging himself, this new Jesu EP strips away some of the more light elements of the last few releases and ups the crunch, while still keeping the pop songwriting sensibility (in the loosest of terms). Amazing.
5. Katatonia - Night is the New Day
Katatonia has mastered it's melding of doom and progressive metal to the point that it could become rote. But the band pushes itself enough with each release that every album is a new discovery.
Camping food on December 30, 2009 at 11:59 PM
I had explored three of them. And that was amazing. And Wolves in the Throne Room - Black Cascade is the album of the year for me.
Alex Carr on December 11, 2009 at 03:02 PM
Great list, Robert.
The best 2009 Metal purchase I made was Elder's self-titled debut. Five solid tracks of huge riffs, Sleep-inspired vocals, lyrics involving Conan the Barbarian, and a fearless attitude to throw everything into each sprawling tune. The song "Ghost Head" offered the biggest surprise, though: a sound and bouncing bass-line reminiscent of Helmet's album "Betty."
There is plenty of psychedelica here too, with spaced-out guitars and echoing vox in every track. For fans of the aforementioned Sleep, Electric Wizard, The Sword, and Goatsnake.