iTokoloshe's 25 Of 2011
The 25 metal albums that crushed my skull in 2011. These are in no particular order. |
1 | | Arch Enemy Khaos Legions
Great melodies, crushing vocals and more of the same from Arch Enemy |
2 | | Architects The Here and Now
Catchier than their older material, but maintaining the edginess and showing some fantastic growth |
3 | | Asking Alexandria Reckless and Relentless
Love them or hate them, their mix of glam, electronics and metalcore will get your blood pumping |
4 | | Black Tusk Set the Dial
Rough, simple, dirty and attacking you from every direction |
5 | | Cavalera Conspiracy Blunt Force Trauma
Not as good as Inflikted, but still a headbanging thrasher from the Cavalera lads |
6 | | Chimaira The Age of Hell
A band in turmoil which is reflected in the music, but in a good way |
7 | | Circles The Compass
8 strings of goodness with some great melodies. Where do the Aussies keep finding these great bands? |
8 | | DevilDriver Beast
Another monster (or Beast...) from Dez and the boys that piledrives you through a table |
9 | | Glamour of the Kill The Summoning
Young band finding their feet and hitting some memorable high spots |
10 | | Heights Dead Ends
Like getting beaten up by a supermodel in nothing but her lingerie. Brutal and gorgeous |
11 | | Imicus Animal Factory
Great rhythms, strong vocals and good aggression on this debut album. Its so underground that Sputnik Music doesn't have them listed |
12 | | Machine Head Unto the Locust
Wow, riffs of epic proportions, complex structured songs and all kinds of craziness |
13 | | Mastodon The Hunter
Psychedelic and fun. The shared vocals give them so many options on every song. And don't get me started on the riffs |
14 | | NightShade (FRA) Lost in Motion
Surprisingly good. Not well known and without much hype |
15 | | Northlane Discoveries
Take 1 part x Aussie band add 1 part x 8 string guitars, shake them together and prepare to be flattened (with a smile on your face) |
16 | | Rise to Remain City of Vultures
This album confuses me. One listen and I love it, the next listen and I'm unimpressed, then another listen and I love it and so on. |
17 | | Suicide SIlence The Black Crown
Mitch Lucker's last album, and their best. The riffs got groovier but the aggression got amplified |
18 | | Sylosis Edge of the Earth
A tidal wave of complex sound. Unrelenting and powerful |
19 | | The Black Dahlia Murder Ritual
More of the same from BDM, which is great. Vocals to scare dragons and riffs to build castles |
20 | | The Defiled Grave Times
When i got this album as a Metal Hammer covermount I almost dismissed it as rubbish. Thankfully I gave it a go and discovered these guys. There is too much goodness to describe, if you haven't heard them, go listen to them. A great blend of all things metal. |
21 | | The Devil Wears Prada Dead Throne
TDWP have finally come good, they've always shown promise, but now they've released a killer of an album |
22 | | Trivium In Waves
Matt Heafy and the guys perfect their sound and produce a great album |
23 | | While She Sleeps The North Stands for Nothing
Only an EP and a teaser of things to come, but it introduces a band that will take over the world |
24 | | Xerath II
Great mixture of symphony and aggro |
25 | | Burzum From the Depths of Darkness
Although not technically a 2011 album, these re-recordings were released in 2011. Black metal with a cleaner production that is beautiful and haunting all at once |
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