Greg's Top Metal Songs Of 2011
mostly doom, sludge, stoner and progressive metal |
| 1 | Ironweed
Now Stronger
Ironweed open their new album with a real bomb of cascading riffs, soaring vocals and masterfully crafted dynamics (this build-up is just mindblowing). The most iconic metal song of the year for me. |
| 2 | 40 Watt Sun
Restless
Arguably doom metal has never been so poignant. I hardly ever cry while listening to music. It's one of these few tracks that brought me to tears and I'm not afraid to say this. It's just so relatable. |
| 3 | Lo-Pan
Seed
This is a masterful slab of progressive stoner metal, both mathematically precise and totally genuine. |
| 4 | Amebix
God Of The Grain
Amebix blend plenty of genres on their new amazing album. It might be the most turbulent track on the entire disc. This timely, groove metal-induced religion critique is both furious and fist-pumping. |
| 5 | YOB
Before We Dreamed Of Two
16-minute doom metal spiritual journey that just defies expectations with its smooth transitions. The second half of it may contain the single best musical moment of the year when Mike Scheidt joins forces with Scott Kelly in the track jaw-dropping finale. |
| 6 | Backwoods Payback
Flight Pony
A top-notch stoner metal outburst suddenly shifts into a one-chord pop song with emotive lyrics. The result is nothing less than compelling. |
| 7 | Hammers Of Misfortune
The Grain
Many think this is the best metal song of the year and I see why. Almost pastoral in its verses, the song also bursts with headbanging trash riffs and 1970s-influenced keys. These coupled with irresistible hook and smooth transitions make it a perfect prog metal song. |
| 8 | Russian Circles
309
Speaking of prog metal, Russian Circles are fantastic at keeping its instrumental blend very much alive. 309 is packed with engrossing dynamics that reference both King Crimson and Neurosis. |
| 9 | Cave In
Summit Fever
In this underrated track form their latest album, Cave In craft a wall of distorted guitar-based sound that exemplifies metal in space. Psychedelic, heavy and most of all addictive. |
| 10 | Red Fang
Throw Up
Red Fang come up with many awesome stoner metal tunes that are both fun to listen to and heady. Throw Up with its soaring chorus and bombastic progressions is probably the best example. |
| 11 | Leprous
Forced Entry
By far the most genre-binding and (hmm) progressive track from Leprous' new album surprised me with crazed ideas (I dig this math metal riffing juxtaposed with quirky keys) and genuinely unconventional progressions. It takes some time to truly sink in, but listening to it comes as really rewarding. |
| 12 | Textures
Foreclosure/Sketches From A Motionless Statue
I'm a bit cheating here, but this is an impressive dual. Foreclosure works perfectly as a lyrical introduction to a chaotic, yet addictive math metal outburst of the final track on the disc. |
| 13 | Grand Selmer
Ass Attack
Dozer should be really proud of these guys. Ass Attack well kicks ass in a manly metal department. It's shrewdly crafted and enormously entertaining too, |
| 14 | Hull
In Death, Truth
It might not be the most sonically complex or technical track on their latest full length, but it's the most accessible and melodic piece of progressive sludge metal of the year. The riffs are just so good. |
| 15 | Mastodon
Curl Of The Burl
The catchiest metal song of the year. |
| 16 | Rwake
An Invisible Thread
You can always depend on Rwake to deliver disgusting, multifaceted sludge. This track is the most focused display of their style on the new album. |
| 17 | Black Tusk
Bring Me Darkness
The band's fusion of sludge and hardcore seems to be especially potent on this bad-ass tune. |
| 18 | Smokescreen
Dungeon Of Me
Groove metal done right referencing both Pantera and classic Machine Head in equal measure. |
| 19 | Grayceon
Dreamer Deceived
An electrifying blend of sludge and classical cello play. Count me in. |
| 20 | Skrackoedlan
Universe
I'm impressed how well these guys replicated stoner metal of Dozer on this track. Original or not, the chorus really delivers the goods. |
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