Aborted - Strychnine.213
I'm not into death metal anymore; at least not like I used be about ten years ago. Most extreme death metal bores me these days. Not Aborted. Why? Well, they manage to write great songs. It's not all about speed, brutality or complexity but about good songwriting and memorable riffs & hooks. I like it. Is it original? Most of it, yet I hear a lot of Carcass influences, although that's not a bad thing. Excellent album.
Amenra - Mass IIII
These belgians write Neurosis-influenced material with a different twist. Simple and repeated riffs bring a very threatening atmosphere. The singer has a very limited (screaming) range and the drumming isn't very groovy, yet it works just fine. Darkest & coldest post-metal release I've heard in a long time (that's a good thing).
Battle of Mice - Split with Jesu
Two new songs from Battle of Mice. Another band that takes the Neurosis path to new futures. Julie Christmas' crazy vocals make these two songs incredible! I want another full-length release, dammit!
Jesu's songs are rather boring; as are most of the records that Justin Broadrick releases under this moniker.
beehoover - Heavy Zooo
German stoner rock two-piece that sounds like a five-headed-dragon. The extremely thick sounding bass guitar — how do they make it sound like this? — paired with good songmanship make this record worth more than a couple of listens. The singer has a strange timbre and a german accent but I like it nevertheless.
Brant Bjork - Punk Rock Guilt
Brother Bjork keeps on shitting out record after record. This one's another masterpiece; PERFECT songs and incredible grooves. It's the simplicity of it all what makes it that stunning.
Capricons - River, Bears Your Bones
Instrumental stoner metal of a very high level. Amazing collection of unique riffs molten into towering songs.
Cryptopsy - The Unspoken King
This canadian band has always been about crazy death metal. I found their old records okay but nothing special, too over the top for me. What I like about 'The Unspoken King' is that they still write extremely brutal and technical death metal but they now combine it with some clean pop singing and very catchy parts. In my opinion you need to be a excellent musician to pull this off. Many people hate this but I think it worked out very good. Great album!
Dozer - Beyond Collosal
Sweden's stoner rock gods return with another masterpiece. This is stoner metal with a very unique face. Very melodic songs with chilling vocals. Epic!
Dub Trio - Another Sound is Dying
Most incredible collection of riffs of the year! They do it all: combine metal, rock, reggea & dub grooves into something new and tasty. I cannot get enough of this. Very mind-blowing if you like adventurous music.
Genghis Tron - Board up the House
Cybergrind as they call it. This is a new take on extreme music: combining death metal riffs with a drumcomputer and pop synths, topped with grind screams and you've got this weird winner.
Gojira - The Way of all Flesh
France's best metal band. Meshuggah combined with Morbid Angel into something new and great. Perfect album.
Made Out of Babies - The Ruiner
The other band of Julie Christmas of Battle of Mice. Post-metal with twisted female vocals. Massive collection of thick riffs on this record. Incredible songs brought with such a hateful and disturbing voice that it brings shivers down my spine.
Meshuggah - Obzen
Progressive metal at its best! Time-shifts, weird drumming and excellent songs combined like it's easy. Very impressive record!
Portishead - Third
Amazing album. Just listen to it. Beautiful and haunting at the same time.
Sardonis - Promo
Excellent sludge-doom-metal instrumental promo thingie from these belgians. Perfect riffs. Highly recommended if you like High on Fire among others.
The Sword - Gods of the Earth
Newest record of these gods combines classic Black Sabbath riffery with Iron Maidenesque anthem songs. Excellent adrenaline fueled songs!
Textures - Silhouettes
Excellent progressive death metal from this dutchmen.
Triggerfinger - What Grabs Ya?
Amazing songs from these belgians! Old school rock à la Led Zeppelin with some Queens of the Stone Age twists. Perfect sounding (read: very filthy) production!
Vaka - Kappa Delta Phi
Dozer's ex drummer Danial Liden's new project. Post-metal with atmospheric synths. Well done and fresh. I love it. Excellent power-house drumming as always from Liden.
Otrher notable mentions:
Colour Haze - All
More of the same. Great psychedelic stoner from Germany's top act of the genre. Yey nothing that I haven't heard before from them.
Cult of Luna - Eternal Kingdom
Again. More of the same. Neurosis-inspired post metal. I loved their previous efforts but this one is boring. Needs A LOT of spins in my opinion.
Cradle of Filth - Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder
Another Cradle album. What's new? Nothing, I think. More of the same but executed very professional. It's good but I prefer other other (read: more adventurous) things these days.
Danko Jones - Never too Loud
Okay rock album. I loved the previous album 'Sleep is the Enemy' which had perfect rock-anthems but this one sounds like it was written too fast; the songs are boring and rather obsolete.
Intronaut - Prehistoricisms
Another post-metal juggernaut, you say? Yes! This time it's the fresh ideas and the fretless (sounding) jazz bass underneath that make it special!
Jarboe - Mahakali
Haunting! Very haunting!
Kings of Leon - Only by the Night
What can I say. Beautiful pop-rock songs worked out perfectly.
Metallica - Death Magnetic
Good album. I like it but the're better metal albums release in 2008. Good songs but way too long. If Metallica would have cut all songs in half, this album would've been way better. I always ask myself, 'If another band would've released this album, would it still be this good?'
Mogwai - The Hawk is Howling
Somewhat of a dissappointment. I thought that the previous album 'Mr.Beast' was their best effort. This new one has some good riffs but they all fade into a gigantic blur without any heights. Bummer.
N.E.R.D. - Seeing Sounds
Pop with a good twist. I barely ever listen to rap music so I know nothing about this kinda music but this album I really like because of the very good grooves. I hear a lot of influences from The Police.
Opeth - Watershed
Another good album from Swedish prog-metal lords Opeth. Better than previous albums? I don't know. For me it's good. Just good. Although I cannot say what's bad... (???) :-)
Satyricon - The Age of Nero
Same style of black-n-roll as on the previous two records. Very good!
Slipknot - All Hope is Gone
Good songs. I like it!
Zozobra - Bird of Prey
Another post-metal troll. Very thick sounding songs. Good songs!
5ive - Hesperus
Instrumental stoner-metal. Recommended!
Dozer
