Metal Awards

Goat's Top 15 albums of 2010

  1. Shining (Nor) - Blackjazz
    It was really the only possible choice. A remarkable and astonishing album that has never strayed far from my playlist since I first heard it.
  2. Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini
    As condescending as Charles was about it in his best-of list, Enslaved here prove yet again just why they are one of the best bands in Black Metal. Long may their path continue to reap such rewards for us all.
  3. Watain - Lawless Darkness
    I didn't expect this to be this good, but there you go, the filthy black metallers making an album as much metal as it is black.
  4. The Meads Of Asphodel - The Murder Of Jesus The Jew
    A proper follow-up to Damascus Steel that builds on its strongest points and marks the Meads' name as one of the brightest lights in the underground.
  5. Anathema - We're Here Because We're Here
    Sadness at its most beautiful, Anathema have struggled to make their voice heard in recent years. This should change that, a simply lovely album.
  6. Triptykon - Eparistera Daimones
    The moment I heard Tom's unmistakable 'UGH!' at the start of this album, I knew it would be brilliant. And it is.
  7. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis
    More independent, more experimental, more metal - Dillinger again prove they are one of the most exciting acts around.
  8. Krieg - The Isolationist
    A remarkable album from a remarkable project, Krieg are at the forefront of USBM, and this explains why.
  9. Ihsahn - After
    The Emperor returns with his best solo work, a masterly combination of Post-Black Metal, Prog and wonking saxophone.
  10. Cathedral - The Guessing Game
    Lee and the boys have some fun here, but never at the listener's expense. Cathedral are at the top of their game, rarely writing better songs, never sounding more joyous and life-affirming.
  11. Solefald - Norrøn Livskunst
    The Norwegian wizards have done it again!
  12. Killing Joke - Absolute Dissent
    The title says it all. Rock's most unappreciated band releases another masterpiece.
  13. Canopy - Menhir
    A project which has grown to great heights, Menhir is the sound of Death Metal done to perfection. The bar is set even higher for the next one, guys...
  14. Alcest - Écailles De Lune
    Following its predecessor up perfectly, Neige does it again. Great stuff.
  15. Atheist - Jupiter
    A great comeback for a great band.
Goat's Top 5 surprises of 2010

  1. The Pineapple Thief - Someone Here Is Missing
    A band I discovered almost by accident, The Pineapple Thief offer a promising modern prog style all of their own, with a very enjoyable album.
  2. In Vain - Mantra
    Excellent prog-death from Norway, In Vain prove that there's always something else worthy of discovery in the underground.
  3. Imperium Dekadenz - Procella Vadens
    Germanic black metal par excellence. Do not ignore this.
  4. Odem Arcarum - Outrageous Reverie Above The Erosion Of Barren Earth
    Or this! More brilliant Black Metal from Germany.
  5. Carach Angren - Death Came Through A Phantom Ship
    Black Metal with a sense of style Cradle have been lacking for years, these guys know what they're doing.
Goat's Disappointment(s) of 2010

  1. Cephalic Carnage - Misled By Certainty
    The sound of a band on autopilot.
  2. Kiuas - Lustdriven
    A unique band start to sound like everyone else.
  3. Mandrake - Innocence Weakness
    Following up a great album with an average one will never win you many fans.
  4. Soulfly - Omen
    After the excellent Conquer, we get... this. Meh.
  5. Therion - Sitra Ahra
    Weak stuff from a band who we've come to expect better of.
Goat's Joke(s) 2010

  1. Disiplin - Radikale Randgruppe
    Disco totaliterianismo!
  2. The Acacia Strain - Wormwood
    Mosho repetitivo!
  3. Ov Hell - The Underworld Regime
    Leftovers for a loser's lunch.
  4. Landmine Marathon - Sovereign Descent
    Bolt Thrower but bad, and with a girl singing. Exactly.
  5. Severe Torture - Slaughtered
    The epitome of soulless death metal tripe. Look elsewhere for your meaty needs.
Goat's words about 2010
  1. 2010 was a great year for metal, as proved by the albums listed above. They're just a fraction of what I could have listed, and many agonising minutes were spent wondering which album to place where, whether I could rightfully leave artists off altogether. Obviously I have done, and I feel bad, as the likes of Dark Tranquillity, 1349, Fear Factory, Abigor, Deftones, Aborym, Burzum, Hate, High On Fire, Rotting Christ, Soilwork, Orphaned Land and Drudkh all released great albums that I enjoyed a lot. This doesn't include bands that I suspect have released great albums that I havne't yet bent my ears around properly, Blind Guardian and Deathspell Omega two of my most shameful gaps. Despite being such a good year for metal, it's been the nearest yet I came to giving up on the genre and this site, as the two are quite close in my mind. Regular readers can't help but notice that my weekly contributions have dropped like a stone - and not just because of a busy life otherwise, although that's certainly a factor. I think I would have come to quickly regret leaving, yet there's no doubt the desire was there, however briefly, meaning that the new year will see a lot of soul-searching as to what I want from metal, and what I'm getting from it. That's how you know the top 15 are really good, incidentally - these albums, amongst others, helped save my metal soul. Where will my metal soul be in a year's time? Who knows, as long as I'm enjoying the journey I'm happy to wait and see. Here's to 2011.