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User
Reviews 36
Approval 84%
Soundoffs 108
News Articles 13
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Album Edits 51
Album Ratings 3106
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Last Active 12-04-14 4:21 am
Joined 02-03-07
Review Comments 19,174
| July Already? Best Of 2008, Halftime
I've been on a bit of a music binge lately, especially for good
metal from 2008. Considering I
only heard about 15 albums from last year by the end, i've
stepped it up a bit. I've bought or
downloaded 25 albums from this year thus far. I have come
across some absolute brilliant
pieces of music, and some....not so much. This is in order, but
is highly subject to change,
especially around 8-13. | | 1 |  | Equilibrium
Sagas
I unfortunately haven't gotten my hands on an actual copy yet, but I found this new release on a blog
shortly after I got their debut, Turis Fratyr (thanks balls!) I have to say that never have a given an album
a 5 so immediately. Despite is 79 minute running length, it is surprisingly easy to listen to. This is
perfect
viking/folk metal, with an added orchestra added (which for all I know could be the keys) And hey, they
use panpipes! I strongly, strongly recommend this to metal lovers. Best album of this year, it will take
absolute musical perfection to pass this. Oh, and the last track, [i]Mana[/i] is a 16 minute instrumental,
and it is the best song released this year imo. | | 2 |  | Mirrorthrone
Gangrene
This was my album to beat for a few months untill I found Sagas. Still, an impressive outing from
Vladimir
Cochet, which surpasses Carries of Dust and manages to stay interesting throughout its 65 minute
duration. | | 3 |  | Opeth
Watershed
I've gone through phases with this album. Loved it at first, then it grew off, then it grew back on me
with
more intensity. Opeth. | | 4 |  | In Mourning
Shrouded Divine
There was a period of time lasting about 2-3 months where I didn't listen to this album, but i did again
a
few weeks ago and have been listening to it almost as much as i did when i first got it. Can be brutal,
yet
incredibly beautiful at the same time. | | 5 |  | Protest the Hero
Fortress
An early favorite. It has grown off me slightly but is one of, if not the most fun album I've listened to
this
year. Has also gained the most plays out of me for a full album this year with over 50, despite not
playing
it at all for a couple months like the previous album. | | 6 |  | Scar Symmetry
Holographic Universe
My introduction to the band. Didn't expect too much after hearing they were a lot like soilwork (who I
still
like btw) but this far exceeded my expectations. The title track is one of the best tracks released this
year
imo. | | 7 |  | The Mars Volta
The Bedlam in Goliath
I only bought this just yesterday, but with 3 listens I can tell it's one of my favorites already.
Surprisingly
easy to listen to despite it's running length of 75 minutes. Goliath (the track) owns hard. | | 8 |  | Textures
Silhouettes
Another recommendation by balls. Had to download this one as well, but i'd love to get my hands on
this.
Took me a few listens to really love, but it was worth it. Only flaw is that it lags a bit in the middle, but
the
first three tracks and the last track make up for them immensely. "Awake" is shockingly beautiful, I love
the singer's clean voice. | | 9 |  | Arsis
We Are The Nightmare
Though I don't love this as much as I used to, Shattering the Spell remains as one of m top songs for
this
year. Lots of other great tracks as well, a few are a bit meh, but over very strong. | | 10 |  | Meshuggah
ObZen
The main flaw of this album is that it is very repetitive. Songs like Lethargica and The Spiteful Snake are
forgettable imo, but the opening riff in Combustion is worth the price of the album alone. | | 11 |  | Keep of Kalessin
Kolossus
The production is very thin on this album at times, but despite one or two songs (namely the nine
minute
Against the Gods) this is a very good album. Epic melodic black metal, with some great acoustic parts.
The
title track, "Ascendant," and "A New Empire's Birth" are fantastic songs. | | 12 |  | 10 Years
Division
OMGWTF WAT IS DIISSS??!!?? Well I got into 10 years in 6th grade when "The Autumn Effect" came out.
They would remain to be one of the few bands I would still listen to as I started to get into metal (along
with Incubus and The Red Hot Chili Peppes) Needless to say, I picked this up because I loved their
major label debut, and after a bunch of listens, I have decided that this album is better, despite a more
mainstream sound
and the lack of a brilliant atmosphere. A very fun album, one that I will be listening to for many
summers to come. | | 13 |  | Mercenary
Architect of Lies
This band kind of reminds me of Scar Symmetry in the riff and vocal department. Has grown off me
since
my initial first listens, but the first four songs are ace. It does start to get repetitive after that, but still
solid. | | 14 |  | Moonsorrow
Tulimyrsky
The title track owns hard, maybe more than the two tracks on Havittety, but the rest is forgettable. But
that's what you get with a 68 minute EP. | | 15 |  | Kalmah
For the Revolution
After hearing the title track, I was pumped for this album, for when i finally got it, I was let down.
Definitely their weakest album, but the title track, Holy Symphony of War, Wings of Blackening, and
Outrememer own. | | 16 |  | Eternal Deformity
Frozen Circus | | 17 |  | Septic Flesh
Communion | | 18 |  | Ayreon
01011001 | | 19 | | Alestorm
Captain Morgan's Revenge | | 20 |  | Thrice
The Alchemy Index Vols. III and IV... | | 21 |  | Children of Bodom
Blooddrunk | | 22 |  | In Flames
A Sense of Purpose | | 23 |  | Ihsahn
AngL | | 24 |  | Norther
N | | 25 |  | Cryptopsy
The Unspoken King | |
Yazz_Flute
07.03.08 | Got lazy and stopped writing descriptions after 15. | jrowa001
07.03.08 | you lazy bum! 1-8,10,14,17-19 are among my fav metal albums of this year. im not a fan at all of 9,21,22,23(except for the song with Akerfeldt),24,25. 13,15,16,20 have worn off. im too lazy to bring up other metal albums | Yazz_Flute
07.03.08 | Reading the title again I guess "best of" really is the best title as the last few definitely aren't too great. If you read the description though, these are the only 25 albums i've heard this year so far, so i didnt exclude any, rather ranked each al bum i heard.
I want that new Mastodon album to come out really soon... | BallsToTheWall
07.03.08 | Best list i've seen sop far but fuck 25 mate. Listen to HELHEIM- KAOSKULT. I know you like Viking Enslaved so get that and the new Cor Scorpii albums now. | Mendigo
07.03.08 | strange, I still think the bonus tracks are the best on tulimyrsky. It just isn't my kind of music - I do like folk metal, but not that overly "epic" viking stuff.
well, and with The Bedlam in Goliath and 01011001 you've got two of my least favourites of this year on this list.
but nevertheless, there's a lot of great stuff here as well, especially 3 and 4 - by now I can't decide anymore which one is the better. | combustion07
07.03.08 | Septic Flesh and In Mourning ftw. | Crysis
07.03.08 | Downloading 1 RIGHT NOW. | Yazz_Flute
07.03.08 | thanks balls, ill check them out |
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