Metal Awards

Thomas's Top 15 albums of 2009

  1. Converge - Axe to Fall
    Yeah, I know, didn't even get the album of the year award from me. Screw that. Easily the album I just can't get enough of this year. Fantastic.
  2. Sacrifice - The Ones I Condemn
    Easily the best thrash metal album of the year, in many years really. Great effort by the old timers from Canada.
  3. Rebellion - Arise: From Ginnungagap To Ragnarok - History of the Vikings, Vol. III
    One of the very few power metal albums that struck me this year. Brilliant.
  4. Arcana Coelestia - Le Mirage De L'ideal
    This struck me at a particularly difficult time, but I haven't really listened to it since, despite giving it an album of the year award. Still an excellent album though, and worthy of the top 5.
  5. Altar of Plagues - White Tomb
    Last year saw Enslaved's Vertebrae, this year we got Altar of Plagues' White Tomb, which is quite near in terms of excellence.
  6. Razor of Occam - Homage to Martyrs
    Fantastic blackened thrash metal from the Destroyer 666 guys.
  7. Candlemass - Death Magic Doom
  8. At War - Infidel
    Brutal and nice thrash
  9. Artillery - When Death Comes
    Cool power metal tinged thrash from the Danish.
  10. Eternal Tears Of Sorrow - Children of the Dark Waters
    Yeah I know. Good Melodic Death Metal.
  11. Trail Of Tears - Bloodstained Endurance
  12. Kreator - Hordes of Chaos
    Great follow-up to Enemy of God, and a no-brainer on this list.
  13. Slough Feg - Ape Uprising
    This band can do no wrong.
  14. Nile - Those Whom The Gods Detest
  15. Avulsed - Nullo (The Pleasure of Self-Mutilation)
Thomas's Top 5 surprises of 2009

  1. Social Suicide - Involving Distraction and Misdirection of Which You Get Everyone to Look One Way While Whatever You're Doing Involves Going the Other Way
    Awesome post-harcore from the local boys.
  2. Status Minor - Dialog
  3. Cauldron - Chained to the Nite
    Neat heavy metal from the Goat Horn-boys
  4. Endyium - Eye of the Storm
    Cool 80's-tinged heavy metal from Canada.
  5. Kalisia - Cybion
    Intelligent Prog/Death from France,
Thomas's Disappointment(s) of 2009

  1. Entwine - Painstained
    This was miles below Fatal Design
  2. DGM - FrAme
    Can't help but feeling a little disappointed in this after the brilliant Different Shapes
  3. Slayer - World Painted Blood
    Didn't expect much, but at least I thought it would be better than this.
  4. Megadeth - Endgame
    Same to you Mustaine
  5. Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings
    Same to you guys, even though I overscored you.
Thomas's Joke(s) 2009

  1. Hatesphere - To the Nines
  2. Criminal - White Hell
    I was too nice to this crap
  3. Disbelief - Protected Hell
  4. The Burning - Rewakening
  5. Sonata Arctica - The Days Of Grays
Thomas's words about 2009
  1. This year have been a little rough to me, but music, and mainly metal have carried more than ever. I've opened up to a lot more sub-genres which has developed me as both a person and a musician by providing guidance and inspiration. My first full year as a reviewer has been great, and I thank my fellow reviewers for their advice when needed. Here's to another great year in the sign of metal and good music.