| Best New Releases: |
| 1 |
 |
Isis - Viva Emptiness [Ipecac]
A sinister soundscape fit for every dystopia.
Isis has treaded from the swamps of sludgy, doom-laden hardcore
to the peaks of expansive, epic, experimental rock. The question at hand:
Does it seem a bit rich to make an album that is essentially the
self-proclaimed soundtrack to the coming (present?) surveillance state? The
answer is yes, but they pulled it off. A band this good will naturally push
away casual listeners. The rest of us are left in frightened anticipation of
what theyll do next.
Buy This Album |
| 2 |
 |
Anathema - A Natural Disaster
[Koch]
This sad beauty of an album has haunted me for many a long,
nighttime drive. I think that a lot of indie types would benefit from it.
Not that it would make them better people or anything ridiculous like that.
Just, you know I think they would like it.
Buy This Album |
| 3 |
 |
Unearth -
Oncoming Storm [Metal Blade]
The young upstarts from Unearth prove that they know how to
write one heckuva metal album. Not one bad song on the whole thing.
Favorite album moment: the part of the song where Trevor Phipps (vocals)
screams Breakdown!!! Which part? The part right before the breakdown!
Buy This Album |
| 4 |
 |
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
- Of Natural History
[Web Mimicry]
Let us dream now the
impossible dream of a math professor.
Buy This Album |
| 5 |
 |
Killswitch Engage
- The End of Heartache
[Roadrunner]
Wicked guitar riffs, epic songs, and super-catchy hooks. If
Howard Jones curdled my blood a little less, then I might think that this
stuff is mainstream.
Buy This Album |
| 6 |
 |
Bjork - Medulla [Elektra]
Not to make her sound difficult (I dont think she is), but
Bjork can be unconventional in all the best ways. An intriguing, beautiful
listen. Probably my second favorite Bjork album after Homogenic.
Buy This Album |
| 7 |
 |
Mastodon - Leviathan [Relapse]
The title fits, because this album is just huge. I hope they
dont name their next album Brontosaurus. Damn pin-headed leaf eaters.
Buy This Album |
| 8 |
 |
Morrissey -
You Are The Quarry [Attack]
I am blown away by how melodic and gorgeous this album is.
The Moz (I heard thats what hip, in-the-know Morrissey fans call him)
sounds powerful and charming. Though I could do without some of the
ballads, everything else just rocks.
Buy This Album |
| 9 |
 |
Converge -
You Fail Me [Epitaph]
Not as heart-stoppingly insane as Jane Doe, but still
more than enough dissonance to frighten helpless house pets.
Buy This Album |
| 10 |
 |
Into Eternity
- Buried Into Oblivion [Century Media]
Too many notes! Too many notes! Well which ones, exactly,
would you have us remove?? Oh touch, Mozart.
Buy This Album |
| Top Three Albums I Just
Didn't Know What to Make Of: |
|
Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine [Relapse]
I think it might be good, but I cant decide if this is a
more methodical Dillinger or just lukewarm Faith No More rip-off hour. |
|
Evergrey - Inner Circle [Inside
Out]
This album is a concept album about religious cults or
something. One of their other albums was a concept album about UFO
abduction. |
| |
In Flames - Soundtrack to Your Escape [Nuclear Blast America]
I saw a picture on the Internet where Anders Friden was
wearing a shirt that said Linkin Flames. |
|
Cheesiset Album Ever to Feature Mikael Akerfeldt: |
| |
Ayreon
- Human Equation [Inside
Out]
The Demon God has some splainin to do. |
