Damrod's Best Of 2008

by Super Jens December 19th 2008 | 13 Comments

It's hard to keep track of things. That's the conclusion I drew for myself after sitting down to compile my list of Top albums for this year. It was hard before, and it does not get easier. If you take a minute to just go through the list of really high rated albums that were released this year here on Sputnik, then digging deeper into the massive amount of albums going "under the radar" so to speak, you can pretty much only be amazed. Actually, it is one of those obvious things: of course a ton of albums come out every year, as music is one of the main driving cultural products humanity has today in popular media. Along with movies this is pretty much THE art form most people like to follow, with many not even recognizing it as that: art.

Still, it amazes me anew every year how active and layered the music scene is. And how hard it is to keep track of it, especially when you have to follow your day job, like me for example. To be quite honest, I did not discover a lot of "new" music this year. A lot of the albums I discovered and cherished this year are two years old or older, which made the compilation of this list even harder. In the end, my experiences in music this year were not all about what I have heard, but what I have missed this year. As sad as that may sound to me writing and reading this.

Nevertheless, 2008 still had it's up's and low's, hits and misses for me, and the following list should pretty much nail it at least for me. So, let's roll!
 
Top 10 of 2008
 
10. United Nations - United Nations [Review]
One of the rumored supergroups of 2008. Rumored, as it is only really clear that Geoff Rickley of Thursday is the voice of the project, but everything else is speculation. Is that the Converge drummer behind the set? The Glassjaw guy is with it as well? Nobody knows for sure. And that's probably in part what makes the group as interesting as it is to many people. Musically the ride goes in a way back to mid-90's Pop-Screamo, if you want to call it that way. A bit like Thursday pissed and with a really slight chaotic/grind edge. But really just a tiny bit. With lyrics that probably address everything one could find bad and wrong in the world today, including a small message to the folks of Refused: " Because the shape of punk to come / Never came and will never come. / Dennis, are you listening? / Is there something that I'm missing? / Where is the passion? / Was it just fiction? / If that's the best that we can do, / Well, I'd rather be dead." Nuff said!

 
09. The Psyke Project - Apnea [Review]
"Ever wondered what a Converge/Isis/Neurosis/Cult Of Luna crossover would sound like? Look no further..." That pretty much nails it. Very complicated and hard to get in to song structures, all circling around the key emotions of desperation, anger, despair and aggression. A really layered and rewarding listen if you take the time to de-cypher and decompose the songs for yourself, looking beneath and beyond the surface of the songs. Which is, where the problems begin for this one. This is awesome when you take the time to dig into it. Which rather takes... a long time, and even longer for others. Nothing for the faint of heart or those lacking patience. This is what drags this one down, which is a shame for itself, regarding the quality music showcased here.

 
08. Heaven Shall Burn - The Iconoclast: Vol.I The Final Resistance [Review]
Still one of my favorite metalcore bands, as it was the first I really grew to like that had such clear death metal influence, following the paths of In Flames and similar bands. This album is probably the best the band has put out so far, further underlining their importance as one of Germany's top exports when it comes to heavy music. In a way, it's the same HSB we got with the previous two albums, and it's at the same time not. The basic formula is the same, the almost unholy raspy vocals with well known guitar sound, backed up by a massive wall built by drums and bass. Still, there are new nuances to the overall product and idea behind the songs. A little electronic dance beat there, more groove orientation there, the band sure tries some small experiments. Why is this not on the upper ranks then? It's too much of the same for Heaven Shall Burn, like dwelling in their comfort zone. More new influences would be cool, but still: this rocks like hell and is probably the best Heaven Shall Burn to date.

07. Verse - Aggression [Review]
Almost in a preaching manner Verse send their visions and ideals of a better tomorrow the listener's way. Front man Sean Murphy sends wave after wave of authentic desperation and anger into the fray, supported by great melodies and beautiful guitar lines. Yes, the points of the lyrics are not as original as they could be. What was this other band I heard all this before? Rage Against The Machine maybe? Could be. Some might argue that this is, especially in terms of lyrical content, is just a rip-off and copy of other bands before them. On the other hand, in a hardcore scene where looks and style is becoming more and more important, a band that just drives out with some good old fashioned "conscious hardcore" is in a way really refreshing. And it's just a really tight package here, that does not suffer the least bit from the lyrical repetition, creating an almost claustrophobic anxiety paired with a ferocious display of energy. More of this kind of music in 2009 please!

 
06. Killing The Dream - Fractures [Review]
One, if not the personal highlight of this year's first half. Basically hard-hitting hardcore with a melodic edge, Killing The Dream are going all more detailed after the bulldozer that was In Place, Apart. No wonder with a producer like Converge's Kurt Ballou. J.Robbins made this one seem almost fragile in sound, while still retaining the energy that pushes the songs forward. And what is really a nice thing for a change today: almost no breakdowns, almost no gang-shouts. And it works fine that way. And though the lyrics might not be the most philosophical you have ever heard or read, singer Eli pushes them into your brain with such determination that they barely leave you untouched. If only it was not that short on playtime...

 
05. Thrice - The Alchemy Index: Volumes III & IV - Air & Earth [Review]
The second half of the Alchemy Index hit us early this year in spring, and it was not quite the stir I would have pictured it in late 2007. Somehow people seemed not as polarized by these two EPs as by the first two. Maybe because the contrast between Air and Earth are not as big as many would have anticipated. Earth is basically Thrice going all Dustin Kensrue solo, while Air lacks to clearly set itself apart from Water in terms of style and overall feeling. Adding to that, the EPs are not as consistent and well flowing as their counterparts. At the same time, some of the strongest, if not the strongest songs of the whole Alchemy arch are present on these two discs. It's a mixed bag, but yeah, combined with the previous two makes up for a great listen with some really really strong songs.

 
04. Unearth - The March [Review]
Yes, I will probably get a beating for this. Yes, I knew this before doing this list. No, I don't care. A lot was said about this album: Unearth are going all pussy and move back into the comfort zone of The Oncoming Storm-land. It's a huge step forward combining The Oncoming Storm and III: In The Eyes Of Fire. It sucks. It rules. In a way, all this is true. It's more like Oncoming Storm but mixed with Eyes Of Fire influences, and while this is the comfort zone for the band, not risking anything: this album is one of the albums with the heaviest rotation and playtime of all albums I listened to this year. It's energetic, sophisticated, has a great amount of technical guitar play and so on, and so on. In one sentence: damn, it's fun to listen to. One of my most enjoyed albums this year, clearly deserving this place in my eyes.

 
03. More Than Life - Brave Enough To Fail [Review]
Describe this EP with the least number of words possible. Simple, as the band does that itself: "Live for today. Hope for tomorrow." That is the first thing you read after opening the CD case, and hits the nail on the head. These youngsters from England combine some of the beast treats of bands like Bane, Gallows and Comeback Kid in a quite obvious way if you know said bands, while still retaining a really individual sound and style. Very uplifting riffs, often toped by the typical high fretted Dredg-shred, combined with heart quenching vocals, leading to some of the most intense moments in melodic hardcore that I experienced this year. If they can keep this up with future releases, this might turn out to be one of the next big things in hardcore. Just plain awesome.

02. The Black Atlantic - Send This Home [Review]
The first EP of former Shai Hulud frontman Geert van der Velde, going all singer/songwriter. You won't recognize his voice, from what you have heard in Shai Hulud, believe me. It's just beautiful and soothing, and catches you the whole straight 18 minutes through of this four song EP. One of the most relaxing and rewarding listens I had this year, as the four songs may pass fast if just played in the background. But when you concentrate on them, they seem like a trip to your personal safe haven, stretching on forever and ever, in the best meaning possible. I was really impressed by the touching qualities of this EP, coming from a very intelligent and friendly young man. Interviews with him I read and one I did myself leave no doubt about that.

01. Llynch - We Are Our Ghosts [Review]
When I basically thought the race for the best albums of this year was over, I got my hands on this record. Released in late November, this is behemoth of an album pretty much won me over in a couple of listens. This album has it all: great and sophisticated song structures, floating somewhere between progressive and experimantal paired with hardcore, ambient and metal parts. Very hard to digest and easy listening at the same time. Every part and note is set with almost surgical precission, creating songs that resemble the best treats of bands like Deftones, Converge and Porcupine Tree. From fast almost hardcore like pieces (Lost! Lost!), slower sludge like noise influenced songs (If it ain't rotten, it ain't mine) to some of the most beautiful and touching ambient/progressive tunes I heard in a long time (Floating North/All eyes on Oort), this album has it all. I could not wish for more: dense atmosphere, a lot of emotion and energy, sophisticated and thought through song writing, songs twisting and turning, constantly changing and developing, going from hitting hard and heavy to the perfect soundtrack for relaxing. For 2008, "We Are Our Ghosts" has combined the essence of everything I cherish and hold dear in music today, which makes it my clear number one.
 
 
Honorable Mentions

Underoath - Lost In The Sound Of Separation [Review]
I had my encounters with Uneroath before. The Changing Of Times got me hooked for a while with it's catchiness, though it was to generic to bind me in the long run. Plus, as a live-and-let-live kinda person, it always got on my nerves that song after song of religious "propaganda" was stuffed down my throat. Well, the "we're forcing our beliefs through our songs into your brain, as we think that you should follow our lord Jesus Christ as you will otherwise burn in hell for your sins"-approach is still there in the lyrics, even two albums later. Maybe even more than ever before. Still, on the music side of things this one got quite interesting though. Not much has changed since Define The Great Line, but still, the formula works better for me now. The combination of dissonant Botch-like riffs and melodic and almost ambient parts got me interested in this band again, at least for a while. Not bad, though not over the top in my book. Still worth an honorable mention I think.
 
Rise Against - Appeal To Reason [Review]
I wanted to love this album so much, as I really love the past efforts of Rise Against. And while I still enjoy most of the songs on "Appeal To Reason", it still was kind of a let down. Where is the energy that made Rise Against so great on "Revolutions Per Minute" or "Siren Song Of The Counter Culture"? Something went amiss in the past years... For 2008, the album left it's impression, and though I was not overwhelmed by it, it is not the worst I listened to this year.
 
The Fall Of Troy - Phantom On The Horizon [Review]
A mixed bag just like Rise Against's most recent offering, The Fall Of Troy re-released completely reworked versions of their critically acclaimed "Ghostship Demos". The new recordings are basically still the same songs, but mixed with the "Manipulator"-style. While the songs are not unbelievably bad, they still lack something that made the original Ghostship Demos as fun to listen to as they are still years after their initial release.

Best Albums From Previous Years Discovered in 2008
 
The Hope Conspiracy - Death Knows Your Name (2006)
Killing The Dream -  In Place, Apart (2005)
Have Heart - The Things We Carry (2006)
The Carrier - One Year Later (2007)
Sum41 - Chuck (2004, rediscovered)
A Wilhelm Scream - Ruiner (2005)
Turbostaat - Vormann Leiss (2007)
Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue (1959, rediscovered)
 
Here's to 2009!
 
Music in 2009, that is going to be interesting. After what felt like a decade we might see a new Glassjaw album, which would be totally sweet if that finally happened. I also wonder how the new Thursday album will turn out, and what direction they will pursue after straying away further and further from their "Full Collapse" roots. Apart from that, I can not think of any more fixed album releases or predictions from my favorite bands to be honest, but I do hope to further dig into new stuff and discover more great hardcore and punk bands for example, like I did in early '08. Boy, was that a blast. Plus, my personal way in music will develop as well, with my metal band working out fine so far, and my present to myself, the long wished for melodic hardcore band in the making. This should turn out one hell of a fun. Looking forward to that with great anticipation. There's a lot in the making for me personally in 2009 apart from music, but that's a different story of it's own. Which is nothing I want to bore you with now. ;-)

Anyways... I hope you enjoyed my little trip through the music of 2008, if you made it down here all the way through: Thanks for reading and taking the time to go through my personal thoughts and favorites of 2008! The best wishes for christmas and the dawning new year 2009!