Metal Awards

Aleksie's Top 15 albums of 2009

  1. The Devin Townsend Project - Addicted
    What happens when one of the most versatile and skilled metal musicians out there, a man with a particular penchant for either chaos or atmospherics, does a "pop" record? Addicted happens, and it is mind-meltingly good.
  2. Nile - Those Whom The Gods Detest
    The overlords of egyptologic metal bring back some more of the ethnic flavours into their tech death and in the process make what I hold as their best album to date.
  3. Transatlantic - The Whirlwind
    Putting these four guys in a studio just seems to morph into magic, no matter the year.
  4. Amorphis - Skyforger
    Continuing to prove why the inclusion of Tomi Joutsen into the band was the best decision they ever made, Amorphis nabs the prize of the best Finnish release of the year.
  5. Candlemass - Death Magic Doom
    I'm a picky bastard when it comes to doom and after a so-n-so King of the Grey Islands, Candlemass absolutely pulverizes on this steamrolling gem.
  6. Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way to Blue
    I had high expectations but whoa, were they ever met. Still showing why they were the lone consistently good band of the 90s Seattle-scene to claim big-time fame, AIC stuns with both heaviness and tenderness.
  7. Bigelf - Cheating The Gallows
    Whattahell do you call this? Carnival prog rock? I have no clue but it is awesome.
  8. Heaven And Hell - The Devil You Know
    Still the lord of riffs. Still. The. Lord. Of. Riffs. Also, Ronnie James Dio.
  9. Kreator - Hordes of Chaos
    The revitalization that started with Violent Revolution continues with with head-stompin' thrashing galore.
  10. Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings
    They started winning me back with Systematic Chaos and do so even more with this one.
  11. Porcupine Tree - The Incident
    The thinking man's metal. Pretentious? I don't think so. Excellent? Indeed.
  12. Waltari - Below Zero
    The Finnish freaksters streamline their cosmic notes considerably but don't miss a beat while keeping the party moving.
  13. Mastodon - Crack The Skye
    If I remember correctly, I already placed Blood Mountain on this list years back but it doesn't hold a candle to Crack The Skye.
  14. Megadeth - Endgame
    Oh Dave, backing up your big words with an actually brilliant album? You devil, you.
  15. Profane Omen - Inherit The Void
    The melting pot goodness from my countrymen flows as strong as ever!
Aleksie's Top 5 surprises of 2009

  1. Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey & The Groogrux King
    No, it ain't metal and I hadn't heard a great whole recording from them since Under The Table And Dreaming, released 15 years ago, but with this new one, DMB unleashes some tastier-than-thou jams with more rocking than they've produced in ages. Definite surprise of the year.
  2. Suicidal Angels - Sanctify The Darkness
    Old school, church-bashing thrash from Greece with enough old school barbs to rip through thousands of tattered jean vests. Very nice!
  3. The 11th Hour - Burden Of Grief
    Ed Warby pulls off some stylish doom with complimentary Swedish growls. Great!
  4. Stratovarius - Polaris
    Although I anticipated that things might get good after Tolkki gave away the reigns, it was even better. Higher they go!
  5. Pestilence - Resurrection Macabre
    A more than worthy reunion. Feeding frenzyyyyy!
Aleksie's Disappointment(s) of 2009

  1. Cannibal Corpse - Evisceration Plague
    I really hate to place a good album here but after the awesomness of Kill, I can't pretend that I wasn't deflated in comparison.
  2. God Forbid - Earthsblood
    Again, a good album but following up a former AOTY and going possibly too far in a more ambitious, epic direction than their current skill set should allow, this disc just didn't reach expectations.
Aleksie's Joke(s) 2009
  1. Anthrax - Worship Music
    *sigh* Just *sigh*
Aleksie's words about 2009
  1. While 2009 won't rank up in the higher echelon of years in the past metal decade, it certainly produced quality tunes in the traditional, the avant-garde and oodles of styles in between. The upcoming year is already sounding delicious with new releases by Nevermore, Stam1na, Avantasia and many more on the horizon. Here's to all of them ruling beyond belief! Metal on! -Aleksie-