Metal Awards

Alex's Top 15 albums of 2009

  1. Wodensthrone - Loss
    Wonderful blend of atmospheric nascent British black metal. A new Primordial is born
  2. Gorgoroth - Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt
    A strong statement, at the very least. Slicing, guitar driven return to roots, if you are a fan
  3. Khors - Mysticism
    The best BM out of my country of origin in the last 2 years
  4. Wolves in the Throne Room - Black Cascade
    Continuing in the same vein as the first two albums, no disappointment here
  5. Thy Catafalque - Róka Hasa Rádió
    It is an honor that Katai Tamas wanted me to have an advance copy of his new album. Complex and mind-bending, yet warmer and a little less electronic than the debut
  6. Kreator - Hordes of Chaos
    These guys seem to have caught the 2nd wind
  7. While Heaven Wept - Vast Oceans Lachrymose
    If you are into powerful epic doom metal, mixed with progressive and power metal, and you don't know anything about these guys, you are having a huge hole in your collection
  8. Immortal - All Shall Fall
    Another strong statement from another stalwart of Norwegian BM in this year of comeback
  9. Diablo Swing Orchestra - Sing-Along Songs for the Damned and Delirious
    I rated it much higher than many due to the very unusual quirky blend of swing, symphony and metal, which worked for me personally
  10. Týr - By the Light of the Northern Star
    Just saw these guys on tour 2 days ago, and their more power metal direction as of late is good for live performances. Missing a bit their unusual folky progressive edge
  11. Candlemass - Death Magic Doom
    Another band catching the 2nd wind as of late
  12. Fool`s Game - Reality Divine
    A newcomer melodic metal with some reknown veterans among members
  13. Swallow The Sun - New Moon
    From one of my favorite genres, melodic doomdeath, this album connected the best with me in 2009
  14. Count Raven - Mammons War
    No shortage of quality epic power doom in 2009
  15. Semen Datura - Einsamkeit
    An interesting album which grows on you with every listen
Alex's Top 5 surprises of 2009

  1. Dreaming Dead - Within One
    Chuck Schuldiner (RIP) would have been proud
  2. Dark Castle - Spirited Migration
    Post-rock discovery of 2009 for me
  3. Dawn of Winter - The Peaceful Dead
    What did I say above about no shortage of quality epic power doom in 2009?
  4. Horisont - Tva Sidor av Horisonten
    If you want to relive the 70s, it doesn't get any better than this
  5. Leprous - Tall Poppy Syndrome
    Progressive metal newcomers of 2009
Alex's Disappointment(s) of 2009

  1. Insomnium - Across the Dark
    I am taking a different tact with my disappointments this year. The albums on this list are from the bands I like, but their 2009 issues did not completely rise to the level of my expectations and were not to the level of their previous efforts (at least in my own humble opinion). Insomnium did not completely overpower me with their combination of melancholy and aggressiveness
  2. Slough Feg - Ape Uprising
    Too short on highest quality songs, somewhat incomplete effort
  3. Necrophobic - Death to All
    Dark Funeral did better than Necrophobic, and that hasn't been the case before
  4. U.D.O. - Dominator
    Udo is my childhood hero, but the last pair of albums, he is running on fumes
  5. Secrets of the Moon - Priviligivm
    Others love this album, so I must be missing something here
Alex's Joke(s) 2009

  1. Ektomorf - What Does Not Kill Me ...
    Yell and crush the instruments all you want - this is terrible
  2. Throne of Katarsis - Helvete - Det Iskalde Morket
    Another thin effort