In the realm of metal and rock, 2007 brought us some great releases. A few came from some pioneers of punk and metal (Black Sabbath, Bad Brains) and some from the experimental and progressive (Poison the Well, Between The Buried and Me). Some were intense and maniacal (The Black Dahlia Murder, The Funeral Pyre) and others just want to make you get up dance and strut (Every Time I Die, Queens of the Stone Age). So I give you now my list from number 10 all the way down to numero uno. Enjoy.
10. As I Lay Dying-An Ocean Between Us (Metal Blade) With an increased amount of technical brutality, AILD have constructed a more focused and well-structured metal composition for their third release. A reminder of how--despite the stagnant state the genre of “metalcore” may be in--they are only one of the few who can do it right. “Comfort Betrays” is by far the best songs on the record and one of the best heavy metal singles of 2007.
9. Queens of the Stone Age-Era Vulgaris (Interscope) When I first got this, I wasn’t too thrilled about it. I mean, I’ve been a fan of QOTSA for years now but it seems they lost the luster a bit when they let go of bassist Nick Oliveri. Upon further listening, I seem to have underestimated Josh Homme and for that, I can say I was wrong. Songs such as “Misfit Love”, “Make It Wit Chu” and “”Sick Sick Sick” come off sounding as if Tom Petty hooked up with Black Flag and that is not a bad thing at all.
8. Poison The Well-Versions (Ferret) What better way to reintroduce yourself to everyone than to come out of left field and create a record full of atmospheric inclinations so risky, you will leave alot of folks scratching their heads after listening. Very dynamic and driving, PTW took a leap of faith and put together a solid melodic hardcore masterpiece. Just listen to "Letter Thing" and be amazed.
Article comments
1 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Well, Here's my picks(In no order):
Candlemass - King of the Grey Islands
Sieges Even - Paramount
Blotted Science - The Machinations of Dementia
Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
Illogicist - The Insight Eye
The Bad Plus - PROG
Iced Earth - Framing Armageddon(pt.1)
N.I.N. - Year Zero
Municipal Waste - The Art of Partying
2 - Chris Beaumont
A few picks from me:
Tomahawk: Anonymous
Iced Earth: Framing Armageddon
Cephalic Carnage: Xenosapien
Devin Townsend: Ziltoid the Omniscient
Megadeth: United Abominations
Waltari: Release Date
Horse the Band: A Natural Death
As I Lay Dying: An Aocean Between Us
Nights Like These: Sunlight at Secondhand
DevilDriver: The Last Kind Words
3 - Black Sabbath Fan
Why Black Sabbath not first? Black Sabbath - the best group of the millenium!
4 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Uh...Duh,Black Sabbath no release album in 2007,dude...*Smirk*
BTW,Heaven & Hell released a live(and a compilation)CD of their greatest hits with Dio w/ only 3 new tracks.
5 - al mauro
Joshe Homme has always been as good as who he's collaborting with. He's technically an average, though somewhat inventive guitarist, an average singer, and a mildly interesting song-writer and he doesn't possess the type of talent to carry a major band. Vulgaris was lame, Lullabyes was lame. Nick Oliveri provided the edge/hostility that Joshe sorely lacks.