My Top 10 Records of 2008

[fightingmike]

Enslaved - Vertebrae: I love this band and they just keep puting out amazing music and growing and expanding as a band. These guys have been playing black metal since the early 90's, but with their past 4 records have slowly been mixing in more and more rock and progressive rock elements into their sound to where now they are an awesome mix of blackened metal, space rock, and Pink Floyd. It's very melodic and beautiful as well as very heavy at times and pretty dark overall. This record was mixed by Joe Baressi(Tool, QOTSA) and is very lush and almost has a classic rock style mix to it, which might take you a while to get used to, but take the time and you will love it.

Meshuggah - ObZen: What can i say about Meshuggah? They are one of the most original and interesting metal bands of all time. There is no one that can touch them in their style of always offtime, mathy, and deceptively complicated Groove/Thrash metal. You would think that these guys are machines by how precise and technical this music is, but they never lose the groove or get too noodly as is the case with other mathy metal bands.

Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God: Epic Viking Death Metal!!! These guys have been doing the same kind of Viking themed melodic death metal for over 15 years now and they have just released the best record of thier careers. Great recording, awesome riffs, epic vocals and lyrics, and just the right amount of little things to make this an awesome record. You have to take this band as a little bit over the top and cheesy with their lyrics and album artwork, but that doesnt matter because they are so awesome!

Gojira - The Way of All Flesh: I just got into this band this year and their newest record rules! These frenchmen play a cool mix of Slow/Fast Death Metal with some progressive and mathy elements and they have a really positive message, so they don't come across as being too dark or scary or anything. They kind of remind me of "Chaos AD" era Sepultura mixed with a little Morbid Angel and Meshuggah thrown in for good measure. I am really digging this record and it is a pretty consistent listen throughout.

Kingdom of Sorrow - S/T: I was waiting for this record for a while and i am definately satisfied with the results. Kirk Windstein(Down, Crowbar, etc...) is one of my favorite guitarists in metal. He got together with Jamie Jasta(Vocalist of Hatebreed) and this is the result. Crushing Sludgy Hardcore with the best vocal performance(in my opinion) of Jasta's career. This is super heavy, straight forward, and punishing. It combines the heaviest elements of Hatebreed and Crowbar into catchy metalcore. Enough said.

The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath: These guys kinda lost me after their first two records, but this newest one got me back as a huge fan of this band. This record is much faster and song-oriented then the last two records and has more of the catchiness of their first record. This thing is all over the place music-wise. There is classic Zepplin-ish riffing, groovy latin breakdowns, progressive metal elements, jazz breaks, ambient sounds, and much more. It's still weird, like all of their stuff, but i was able to get into this record and i love it.

Mogwai - The Hawk is Howling: Mogwai is hands down, one of my top 5 favorite bands and this record, while not in my top records of theirs, is still as great and moving as they always are. This Scottish band went completely instrumental on this one and have gone back to more of the sound you would hear on their earliest records. It's more stripped down and guitar based than "Rock Action" or "Happy Songs...", but it still moves you and is captivating all the same.

Cult of Luna - Eternal Kingdom: These guys have been making a huge name for themselves in the Neurosis/Isis style of progressive sludge metal over the past 10 years and with this and their last release "Somewhere Along the Highway", are making their own unique mark and coming into their own. This record is super lush and heavy, with a dense blend of sludge metal and post rock, their songs buildup and crush the listener is epic and moving walls of huge melodic guitars, synths, roaring vocals, and drums. While not quite as beautiful and instantly moving as "Somewhere Along the Highway", "Eternal Kingdom" definately stakes their claim as one of the premier bands in the genre.

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology: I have been a big fan of Ryan Adams for quite a few years now and he never seems to disapoint. Cardinology is a good mix of his earlier Whiskeytown alt-country days and his newer rootsy americana rock. I dont love it as much as "Easy Tiger", but it is growing on me more and more and i just love the sound The Cardinals have. Such a great blend of classic country and American rock.

The Famine - The Raven and the Reaping: I loved the metalcore version of Embodiment! They lost me when vocalist Chris Mccaddon left the band and they switched to sortof alterna-rock-metal type thing. I missed the brutal blasting, catchy riffing, and awesome vocals and lyrics and The Famine is the new band featuring 3 members(Vocalist, Guitarist, and Drummer) of the original Embodiment lineup. This band rocks with their blend of modern death metal and elements of Machine Head and a little southern metal influence. While the songs one here are catchy and heavy, I still don't feel like these guys have reached their full potential, but they are still on my top 10 of the year list.

Honorable Mentions:

The Acacia Strain - Continent: Super heavy metalcore, but too repetative and less catchy then " The Dead Walk"
Brain Drill - Apocalyptic Feasting: Exteme extreme super fast death metal from san jose.
Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs: Stil the Cab, but this didnt quite get me like their last two.
Drive-By Truckers - Brighter than Creation's Dark: I love these guy's Southern/Country/Rock, but a little too "New" country on here for me.
Keep of Kalessin - Kolossus: Epic Black Metal, but too inconsistent to make the top 10
The Knux - Remind Me in 3 Days: Just got into this. Cool throwback hip hop similar to The Pharcyde. Just like 1993! Best hip hop of the year!
Opeth - Watershed: I love some of this and hate some of this. Way too all over the place for me. Opeth is still the best progressive metal band in the world though!
Protest the Hero - Fortress: These Canadian youngsters are gonna be huge. Super tight technical and melodic metal and catchy rock combined with jazz and math rock.
The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely: It's sure nice hearing Jack White's riffs with quality drumming! This is a pretty solid classic rock-ish record with really good guitar playing!
Shai Hulud - Misantropy Pure: The best actual Hardcore record of the year. Doesnt mean it's perfect. This record is typical ultra melodic metallic hardcore from the band that, along with Strongarm, created the genre. Would be top 10 if it wasnt so repetitive and if the songs didnt all start to sound the same after a while.
Sigur Ros - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust: This is a band with a sound this undescribable and beautiful, but this record just didnt do it for me as much as their past releases.
Torche - Meanderthal: I just got into this band in the past month, but i am really digging their blend of super heavy guitars and catchy stoner rock. This record makes me miss Cave-In and older Queens.
TV on the Radio - Dear Science: I have had a hard time getting into this record as much as their past stuff, but it is growing on me. You have to hear this band to understand their blend of spacey modern trip hop lo-fi rock.
Best Single of the year: Smashing Pumpkins - G.L.O.W: This is Billy and Jimmy at top form. Reminds me of "Cherub Rock", but heavier guitars and a modern recording. I can't wait for a new record!!!

Best Band i discovered this year - Oceansize: I discovered this band half way through 2008 and while they didnt have a release in 2008, they were the best best new band i go into this year. This british band combines modern rock, post rock, progressive, and even a little metal/hardcore, into a sound i can only describe as epic. They take the best elements of Cave-In, Shiner, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Mogwai, and make some amazing music. You have to check these guys out!..
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