This Year In Metal: 2008

Hello and welcome to this, a summary of the best metal releases of 2008. Below you'll find my top 10 of 2008, some albums that came up short and finally a few albums to keep an eye out for in 2009.

10. Moonspell – Night Eternal

“Night Eternal” makes it onto this list because, well, it's filled to the brim with well-crafted songs. The album excels in delivering dark, moody and melodic metal with very strong gothic undertones and some incredibly strong lyrics to go with it. Moonspell have managed to mix heavy riffs, growls and black-esque screams with keyboards, big choruses and tasty melodic leads without making a contrived mess of it. If anything it is quite the opposite as the album possesses key features such as proper length, commendable flow and very, very skilled execution wrapped in a near-perfect production. Moonspell set the bar very high with this album and it'll be very interesting to see if they can top it next time around.

09. Lord Belial – The Black Curse

Much like “Night Eternal”, “The Black Curse” excels because it manages to balance the elements. Blastbeats, brutal riffs, Thomas Backelin's evil shrieks, tons of melodic soloing, almost Opeth-esque acoustic interludes and even some keyboards converge in a melting pot. Again, it could be a veritable disaster but it is in fact quite the opposite, because as blasphemous as it may sound, the album is packed with potential black metal hits. At least 75% of the album is made up of catchy-as-hell riffing, brutal choruses and a skilful mix of dark and light. One of the reasons why it strikes such a chord with me is how well the fairly standard black riffs blend with the tasty, melodic soloing and acoustic interludes, which grants it a somewhat unique touch.

08. Arsis – We Are The Nightmare

“We Are The Nightmare” is a definite grower with this reviewer. Due to being one of the more intensive guitar albums of the year, it's certainly quite a bit to take in despite not being overly long at 40-ish minutes, but to fully appreciate the fretboard wizardry of James Malone and Ryan Knight took a few months for me. Together they prove that just because you put out shred-heavy metal, it doesn't mean that you have to end up sounding like a broken Nintendo. Of course it's not all about the guitarists – the other instruments play a huge part, as do their ability to pen coherent and catchy songs while keeping the technical bar high. Good songs, good leads, good times.

07. Swallow The Sun – Plague Of Butterflies

Normally, I wouldn't put an EP on this list since it's about albums and nothing else. But in the end, the EP/LP tag is just that, and this EP is sufficiently long to be considered an album. “Plague of Butterflies” is one, or three songs (excluding the tracks from the old demo), depending on how you look at it, coming together at around 35 minutes. If I could just use three words to describe it, I'd choose “beautiful, crushing, doom”, because that's exactly what it is. The lyrics, mood and melody reek of despair, angst and sadness and manages to really hit home. When you try to pen something epic like this, one of the key things you have to control is the ebb and flow of things. If not, it'll just turn stale and sound contrived. Obviously, since it has made it onto this list, “Plague of Butterflies” controls those parameters beautifully. Soft and tender mixes with brutal and heavy and if you ever need a soundtrack for those dark and rainy autumn nights, “Plague of Butterflies” is your pick.

06. Psycroptic – Ob(Servant)

Psycroptic shot to underground fame with “Sceptre of the Ancients” a few years ago, saw their vocalist leave the group, released a fairly lacklustre album and thus expectations for Ob(Servant) weren't very high (at least not for yours truly). But boy, did they deliver! Crushing and technical brutality with a slick and powerful production makes this one a winner. Joe Haley lays down one catchy riff after the other, and the creative well never seems to run dry during the album's 50-or-so minutes. The delivery is rock-solid with different grooves mixing seamlessly, which obviously helps the overall flow of the album. While being insanely technical, the songs and sections always come off as purposeful and don't leave you with the feeling that they put in this or that bit just to show off.

05. Warrel Dane – Praises To The War Machine

Without a doubt, “Praises...” is the most straight-forward album of this top 10. Teaming up with Peter Wichers and a few others, he set out to create something a tad less technical and intense than his primary band Nevermore. The album is pretty vocal-heavy in the sense that there aren't all that many purely instrumental sections, but when you're dealing with a top notch vocalist and lyricist like Dane, it doesn't hurt the final product at all.

Clocking in at around 45 minutes split onto 12 tracks, “Praises...” is a hard rock/metal album virtually free of dead moments. Not a single tune comes off as filler-esque or sub-par. Every song has at least one strong vocal hook, there's always a powerful chorus to be heard and it's all so damn catchy that it took me months to get some of the hooks out of my head. Picking out favourite tracks is task I can be without, because I'd most likely end up writing down the whole album.

04. The Monolith Deathcult – Triumvirate

It's only fitting that a band with such an awesome name has penned such an awesome album. “Triumvirate” is unrelenting in its onslaught, mixing electronic samplings with full-on brutality and technical death metal. In large parts, it's quite symphonic and epic but the band never shies away from getting down and dirty with a crush-your-face breakdown. It's even quite beautiful, such as in large parts of “Den Ensomme Nordens Drottning”, the 14-minute track that eventually closes the book on one of the finest death metal albums of the year. One of the more amusing and catchy sections has to be the chorus of “Wrath of the Baath”, about a certain Iraqi dictator who is no more, where the band chants “Wah-da! Hurriya! Isht’rikaya! Halabja!” over an insanely groovy riff.

“Triumvirate” have been compared to Nile, and while it doesn't bother me, I can see where they're coming from. Nile didn't release an album this year, but it hardly bothers me because The Monolith Deathcult gave me my fix with this technical death metal album.

03. After The Burial – Rareform

If you take a bit of Meshuggah's penchant for complex rhythms and add a very, very big dose of melodic and shred-happy guitar playing, then you might end up with this band. As Meshuggah, they opt for the crushing low-end found in an 8-string guitar. But polyrhythmics aside, that's where the comparisons end for me. After the Burial inject a huge dose of “fun” into their brand of metal and at times “Rareform” sounds very playful, throwing curve-ball after curve-ball at you. The guys have managed to take the polyrhythmic approach and mix it with light-hearted, fun and tuneful guitar playing without making it come off as schizophrenic.

Despite what one might think, it's not full-on “look how fast I can go”-shred all of the time, in fact it's mostly pretty mellow and melodic, especially given the setting and rhythmic exercises they tend to indulge in. Talented, technical and skilled, the guys in After the Burial managed to pen the Fun Album of the Year for me.

02. Meshuggah – obZen

For a long period of time, “obZen” was the clear-cut favorite of the year for me, because it was head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. Towards the end of the year it got some company and I have to say that this year's top two albums are on a different level than the competition.

Meshuggah are by now in more or less their own realm when it comes to metal – they are impossible to follow or imitate. They have become an institution of their own, praised by metal and non-metal fans and media. When you play such a complex brand of music as these guys do, it's no small feat. I for one thought they'd somewhat lost it with their last couple of efforts and doubted that they'd even return to the heights of, say, “Chaosphere” again. But Thordendal/Hagström and Haake proved me wrong, and I am very glad that they did.

“obZen” shows a slightly more focused side of Meshuggah than in recent years. Some of the material is so ridiculously catchy and when compared to their previous output, it's almost radio-worthy. Obviously they haven't sold out because they haven't abandoned any of the elements that made people take notice 10-15 years ago. It just so happens that they've managed what nearly all bands fail to do – write a career defining record 20 years into their career. The songs are there, the production is there and the execution is there. I wish I was musically skilled enough to understand all the nuances of it, but alas, I am not. I am however perfectly content to keep looking for my jaw, which dropped and disappeared mysteriously sometime around when I first heard “Bleed”.

01. Cynic – Traced In Air

Speaking of bands that end up releasing relevant and career defining efforts long into their career – here's another one. Cynic's first, and until recently only effort, the now-classic 1993 album “Focus” has since its release become a cornerstone of progressive metal because of successfully implementing jazz and fusion into metal. I was skeptic at best when it was announced that Masvidal and pals would reunite for a new album. After all, how many unsuccessful and uninspired comebacks haven't we seen over the years? It's best to not have any expectations at all, and when “Traced In Air” hit me, it hit me so hard that I still haven't recovered. Masvidal, Reinert and Malone managed to preserve all the best elements of “Focus” and streamline it into a, pun intended, more focused version with better flow and more tuneful melodies. The old vocoder effect on “Focus” got to me a bit, but now Masvidal instead possesses an almost angelic voice which drifts in and out of the music, weaving threads as it goes. The death metal influence is almost non-existent on “Traced In Air” and it's perhaps best described as progressive metal, but not in the one-billion-notes-per-second sense. “Traced...” comes off as a single, coherent piece and should be heard and experienced as such. Listen to it in its entirety and not out of sequence, because this is as close to perfection as you get.

Some Albums That Were Close But Not Quite (in no particular order)

Origin - Antithesis

Opeth - Watershed

The Faceless – Planetary Duality

Enslaved - Vertebrae

Amon Amarth – Twilight of the Thunder God

Ayreon - 01011001

In Mourning - The Shrouded Divine

Protest the Hero - Fortress

Agalloch - The White EP

Shade Empire - Zero Nexus

Top 10 Songs of 2008

In Mourning – The Black Lodge

Opeth – Heir Apparent

Testament - The Formation of Damnation

Meshuggah - Bleed

Warrel Dane - Messenger

Moonspell - Dreamless

The Haunted - Iron Mask

Cynic - Space For This

Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God

Shade Empire - Victory

In 2009 I'm looking forward to new albums from some of these bands:

Dream Theater

Agalloch

Atheist

Nevermore

Immortal

Iron Maiden

Lamb of God

Pestilence

Amorphis

Slayer

Exodus

...and then many, many more. I could go on forever. Anyways, thanks a lot for reading and let the flames begin!

by Petter Carnbro aka Reviewer Pete
Ultimate-Guitar.Com © 2008

Comments

[death_metaller]

think faceless shoulda been in top 10, new album is ****in amazinggg

[MangeRamone]

neat!

[templar08]

New maiden album YAAAAAY

[necrophagist!]

yea the faceless should definitaly be on that list

[The Spoon]

Yay for Cynic!

[Dopey_Trout]

Opeth deserve to be on that list, if not number 1

[Sever_the_Skull]

Nice to see after the burial on the list, they deserve it. But no Protest the Hero? Fortress is amazing. Oh and Planetary Duality is pretty good too, but not really top 10 for me.

[Keskimaki]

Cynic set the bar quite high for next year's Atheist album. God damn I can't wait.

[ctb]

Great list!

[humperdunk]

why is opeth not on there? fat.

[Keskimaki]

But now, back to listen the Lord Belial album, forgot it for a while.

[undeaded]

Cynic's album is great, but Opeth's album was better than the Warrel Dane one.

Kataklysm's Prevail?!

[Athetosis]

Opeth deserve to be on that list, if not number 1

Not for Watershed.

[Reviewer Pete]

All insults go to this

humperdunk wrote:

why is opeth not on there? fat.

well, as another reviewer put it, though I can't remember the exact words; "Early on they deliver one of the best death metal songs of their career, and then proceed to dismantle that sound bit by bit until the end of the album". In short - I think Opeth are at their best when they mix dark and light, and there's just too much light, soft stuff on Watershed to warrant a top 10 spot on this year's list.

Still a good album though.

[BlackSymphony6]

Dopey_Trout wrote:

Opeth deserve to be on that list, if not number 1

damn right.

also, no testament to be seen, not even on the 'close but not quite bit'. IMO testament produced the best straight out metal album of 2008.

Im not to sure about cynic, hasnt grown on me yet. Nice list overall though.

[metal4ever6328]

Why wasnt the Jeff Loomis solo album on your list!

[Reviewer Pete]

metal4ever6328 wrote:

Why wasnt the Jeff Loomis solo album on your list!

Because it wasn't good enough.

[Reviewer Pete]

BlackSymphony6 wrote:

Dopey_Trout wrote:

Opeth deserve to be on that list, if not number 1

damn right.

also, no testament to be seen, not even on the 'close but not quite bit'. IMO testament produced the best straight out metal album of 2008.

Im not to sure about cynic, hasnt grown on me yet. Nice list overall though.

TFOD is good, and probably should've made it to the second list, even if it'd just barely gotten into the to 20, but as a whole I think it's a bit lacking. Too much mid-tempo.

[Dregen]

Wish PRotest would've made it. All those top 10 bands are practically unknown to me.

[Pat_s1t]

How the hell is Blooddrunk not there?

[slobby]

i don't agree with this list

[Portuguese_boy]

Fuck yes for Moonspell, what an amazing band.

[Sabbath89]

"In 2009 I'm looking forward to new albums from some of these bands:"

Forgot Wintersun.

[ZamoraZ]

Cynic's album rocked
Pretty good year, Opeth, Meshuggah, PtH, The Faceless's album was epic.

[Simsimius]

obZen is a great album!
Well deserved its second place!

[Våd Hamster]

when you're dealing with a top notch vocalist and lyricist like Dane, it doesn't hurt the final product at all.

lolpun

[YourDad]

HELL YEAH! Cynic is #1. Nice to see Arsis up there, one of my favorite albums all year.

[kaboom.]

thank you so much for not making the list like most other lists of this kind, Ex.-
1. Metalligay- fag magnet
2. megadeth-we can't spell
3. Slipknot- wearin mah mask
etc. etc.
good bands on here. After the Burial's album was beastly i agree.
keep it up!

Checked.

[Silas S Thompso]

Megadeth's new album is coming out in 2009 it can't be more anticipated than exodus.

And I'm glad to see Testament on that list. Love the New Order and the Formation of Damnation of album personally.

[Vedicardi]

ugh I hate all the people BAWWing about popular bands with shit albums not being on the top 10

[jaymz88]

Where is gojira?! The way of all flesh is the best album this year.

[Psychopathology]

I would of liked to see Antithesis on the list, but it's not a really bad list. Don't agree with Meshuggah though. Nice to see TMDC on there as well.

[Noob_Cakes12]

i think sequoia throne deserves an honorable mention in the top 10 songs of the year, luke hoskin and tim millars guitar work is really impressive on that song, even arif amazing bass riffs too

[Lion_Slicer]

Instead of this being on opportunity for me to whine about Bodom, Opeth, Gojira, etc not being on there, I'm going to assume that the reviewer knows, more or less, what he's talking about. So... I'll listen to every single album up there. I'm not joking. Even the runners-up, if I can find the time and means. And if I disagree, chalk it up to personal taste.

Oh, and for next year, add to the list Mastodon. I am calling Crack the Skye as the metal epic of the year, and I don't want to be disappointed.

[undeaded]

Bodom's latest wasn't great at all. Nothing like Hate Crew Death Roll and earlier albums which made their mark.

Opeth's album was not up to the scratch of Blackwater Park, Deliverance and Ghost Reveries.

I laud the writer of this for not even mentioning BMTH. Thank you, good sir.

[Illiad86]

woot! Shade Empire made the list ^_^ awesome

[Megadeth2011]

oh well, at least Twilight of the Thunder God almost made it... happy to see Meshuggah on there. They deserve it.

[mysweetsatan]

im glad that meshuggah and cynic got top, but i think opeth shoulda got the list. and burst and scar symmetry shoulda got a mention too for their great albums this year

[ilsacrificio]

OH MY GOD PETE.
I just checked out Cynic... it's possibly the best thing that's ever happened to me, ever. Hands down. With a side of fries. Multiplied by infinity, twice.

I'll check out some of the other albums up there, not a big fan of black metal but some of it's all right, so I'll give it all a listen. Seems fair to leave Opeth off, it was good but not as good as Blackwater Park. Heir Apparent was siiick though.

[GuitarCrazyFrog]

Sever_the_Skull wrote:

Nice to see after the burial on the list, they deserve it. But no Protest the Hero? Fortress is amazing. Oh and Planetary Duality is pretty good too, but not really top 10 for me.

Yeah, I bought there new album. AMAZING. Even for hardcore.

[DTRemcoG]

Yes please! Give me the new Dream Theater album! Hope they don't **** up like they did on SC.
Going to check out Cynic. And Meshuggah is awesome, as always.

[Echoplex]

DTRemcoG wrote:

Yes please! Give me the new Dream Theater album! Hope they don't **** up like they did on SC.
Going to check out Cynic. And Meshuggah is awesome, as always.

??? I like Systematic Chaos

[daniel coogan]

COME ON OPETH WAS LIKE ONE THE BEST!

[King ofKumbucha]

Wow... this list was terrible.

[JMan 240]

All of these bands are great, I like the fact that Protest the Hero made the article in at least one spot. Oh, and come on, no honorable mentioned to Disturbed? I realize their not straight up ****ing heavy like most of the rest of these guys, but come on. They are getting absolutely no love in any of the articles I've read so far.

[Patty-cakez]

holy shit.... i thank this thread, so much!

I've never heard of Warrel Dane, but i just listened to some of his stuff, and its AWESOME.

[Reviewer Pete]

Patty-cakez
I've never heard of Warrel Dane, but i just listened to some of his stuff, and its AWESOME.

You should check out his main band, Nevermore

[plakkert]

It's kinda pointless to reply to this list, seeing it's so subjective. Everyone has their own list, tastes differ.

[SlayerOfTheGods]

I didn't know Immortal were making a new album! This is a pleasant surprise!

[avengedEVANfold]

The Spoon wrote:

Yay for Cynic!

underrated band that makes simply amazing music.
also, im glad to see ATB and Arsis or there!

[avengedEVANfold]

death_metaller wrote:

think faceless shoulda been in top 10, new album is ****in amazinggg

it only 30 minutes long, but maybe.

[YourMessiah666]

Architects - Ruin ?

[sjones]

This list is rubbish, just as I find most of the "This Month in Metal" columns. That's just my opinion.

[ozzfest96]

cant wait for the next immortal album

[Page/Rhoads]

hmmm, I thought the song Formation Of Damnation was the worst one off the Testament album. I woulda said The Persecuted Won't Forget. Either way, Testament!!!!!

[blasphemus666]

wtf?????
wutta bout testament and metallica and slipknot???
and judas priest for ****s sake!!

[blasphemus666]

Pat_s1t wrote:

How the hell is Blooddrunk not there?

good question.

[This Is Fun]

I wish that Formation of Damnation had made it, but those albums are pretty solid anyway.

[xDeathRollx]

JMan 240 wrote:

All of these bands are great, I like the fact that Protest the Hero made the article in at least one spot. Oh, and come on, no honorable mentioned to Disturbed? I realize their not straight up ****ing heavy like most of the rest of these guys, but come on. They are getting absolutely no love in any of the articles I've read so far.

Having a look at the albums and bands mentioned, this is pure 100% metal. I'm surprised that Bodom isn't on there. The fact is, Disturbed is a group of posers who wish that they were heavy metal. Although people don't use the term anymore, I would still refer to them as nu-metal. They were always a joke and always will be.

Looking forward to Lamb of God's new album Wrath next year, it's going to kick ass.

[Victor Escobar]

No Children OF Bodom,I know the Faceless personally.

[kaboom.]

Architects - Ruin ?

I know. Can't wait for Hollow Crown

[\m/(>_<)\m/]

holy shit Monolith Deathcult got mentioned!! i am impressed!!

[postmortem2006]

No Testament, No Cavalera Conspiracy and no Destruction = and epic failure of a rundown. This list seems to appeal only to trendy kids and death metal fans.

[ordinary_story]

WTF! How come Scar Symmetry's Holographic Universe is not no.1, let alone not on the list?!

[oneblackened]

Eh... wait, I know that Death Magnetic wasn't that GREAT of an album, but IMO it deserved to be in the runners up just for the fact that it was REASONABLY metallica-ish, at least for modern metallica.

[a6l6e6x1]

templar08 wrote:

New maiden album YAAAAAY

they told me that in july!!
also this list is awful

[bucketned]

new through the eyes of the dead next year?

[metalhead266]

where is Godspeed on the Devils Thunder?

[zachmcpeak1012]

trivium?

[The Shroom420]

Nice to see Warrell Dane up there, I've always loved Nevermore, but I had no idea they're coming out with a new album in 2009. Jeff Loomis it the man

[gizmodious]

Dude, Mastodon is releasing a new one in 09 wheres the mention?

[Reviewer Pete]

gizmodious wrote:

Dude, Mastodon is releasing a new one in 09 wheres the mention?

"...and then many, many more. I could go on forever."

I can't list every album due in '09

[Timehbgood]

I thought meShuggah were under the radar, this is awesome =P

[MedicreDemon]

Fuck yeah Cynic!

[BloodNChunks]

Meshuggah owns, bigtime.

[Les Paul Ell]

I'm GLAD that Metallica did not make this list. Very well done UG! I'm proud of you.

[Tyler Durden]

Twilight of the Thunder God should have made top 3 for sure

[col50]

Some Albums That Were Close But Not Quite (in no particular order)
Origin - Antithesis

thank god. This is the most amazing album ever.

[CG Man16]

WINTERSUN WINTERSUN WINTERSUN WINTERSUN WINTERSUN
Forgot one

one more thing
log sucks

[CG Man16]

CG Man16 wrote:

WINTERSUN WINTERSUN WINTERSUN WINTERSUN WINTERSUN
Forgot one
one more thing
log sucks

wait, 2 more
Insomnium
the absence

[boyan89]

Yay, Psycroptic good to see them on that list and Arsis, obZen was a winner, Traced In Air was beauty and Rareform was just insane. Man, 2009 sounds like a sweet year Suffocation are supposed to be coming out with some new stuff too .

[TheivingGypsy]

death_metaller wrote:

think faceless shoulda been in top 10, new album is ****in amazinggg

Yeah where the hell were the faceless and opeth in that top 10??

theyre clearly up there with meshuggah and cynic in terms of talent

[Reviewer Pete]

TheivingGypsy
theyre clearly up there with meshuggah and cynic in terms of talent

Talent doesn't always translate into quality.

[thebigal]

I think this review is excellent. last years review was also great. BTBAM last year a clear winner.
I agree that COB, Disturbed & Opeth's albums were not as good as there previous releases.
I not a big pusher for mainstream and it may not be considered metal but must admin i though Trivuim's album was one of the best things i heard this yaer and would of liked to see them up there.
Look forward to next years review.

[thebigal]

Oh yeah, and Scar Symmetry's Holographic Universe was an insane album. Would of ike to seen that in the top 5. Cheers

[chaoticfables]

Jeff Loomis' Zero Order Phase!!

[Masonpwiley]

Nice list, but I think Opeth deserved a spot, even if Watershed isn't my favorite album from them.

[beyondthegrave]

chaoticfables wrote:

Jeff Loomis' Zero Order Phase!!

yep should have been up there!!!

[SERIALTRENDKILL]

you forgot MEGADETH...

[sebasla93]

i like some death and black metal bands and everything, but I don`t see The Formation of Damnation, Shogun, Watershed (though it`s death metal), Black Ice, Motorizer, Perpetual Flame, Light from Above, This Present Wasteland or something more "Hearable". Didn`t like this list, honestly. Agree with Traced in Air, thought. Best album of the year

[Reviewer Pete]

SERIALTRENDKILL wrote:

you forgot MEGADETH...

...which released what studio album this year?

[Reviewer Pete]

sebasla93 wrote:
i like some death and black metal bands and everything, but I don`t see The Formation of Damnation, Shogun, Watershed (though it`s death metal), Black Ice, Motorizer, Perpetual Flame, Light from Above, This Present Wasteland or something more "Hearable".

The Warrel Dane album sounds like it'd fit your description of "hearable".

[Avedas]

Hell yeah, Cynic! And Meshuggah. Damn, this was an awesome year. I loved Watershed, but wouldn't have put it in the top 3. Planetary Duality is also extremely well done.

But, damn. Zero Order Phase blows any of that stuff away. :p:

[JC13]

Twilight of the thunder god deserved #1 in my opinion.

In my opinion.

[munkyRobb]

quote]jaymz88 :
Where is gojira?! The way of all flesh is the best album this year.[/quote]

you sir, know your shit very well

and i appluade you

[munkyRobb]

^shit i messed that up

[Emenius Sleepus]

Where's Esoteric, guise???

[Ironpriest]

where the hell is judas priest!?!?!?!

[Aidonius]

Where are Behemoth and Children of Bodom on this list?

[thereverendsoup]

Nachtmystium is not on this list. Assassins was a sweet record, so that disappoints me.

Checked!

[ken20008]

Messhugah!

[CreamsicleSG]

BTBAM BTBAM BTBAM

[metalheadrenzo]

Arsis ftw!

[TheTortured]

cant wait till Pestilence's new album

[NosferatuZodd09]

so far no mirrorthrone mention, personally thats probably the best album of the year to me

[Gregray88]

Planetary Duality, Fortress, The Way of All Flesh and Shogun really deserved a spot in my opinion.

[Megalomaniac45]

Don't forget Mastodon!! Crack the Skye will be epic.

[xAutopsySlamx]

Arsis should be higher than 8 -_-
also in your In 2009 "I'm looking forward to new albums from some of these bands" section you forgot Necrophagist. One of the biggest and best metal bands ever and you're not looking forward to it? wow. I'm disappointed.

[rrhoads47]

no shogun?

[Doppelgänger]

Fuck yes, can't wait for the new Atheist album.

[BritishSteel]

i wanna see Van Halen come out with one more album man tat would be kick ass

[BritishSteel]

and where the **** is Judas Priest man they are the gods of metal along side Iron Maiden

[[ LiAm ]]

zachmcpeak1012 wrote:

trivium?

thats what im thinking

[huevos]

Origin should take Psycroptic's spot, Arsis should be higher, and both The Faceless and Protest The Hero definitely deserve to be up on the Top 10.
Otherwise, excellent list.
Cynic and Meshuggah are legendary, After the Burial are badass, as well as Swallow the Sun.

One thing that suprised me is that the Tech 3 (Cynic, Pestilence, and Athiest) are making comeback albums, all around the same time.
Cynic has set the bar for the other two, so I really hope they can deliver.

One band that really deserves to be heard is Kekal.
They're releasing their new album for free on Christmas Day, which is an excellent gift.

[Post?Organic]

Decent I guess. It's missing: Ihsahn, Keep of Kalessin, Neuraxis and Gojira's new albums which in my opinion are all in the top ten, but it's not my list so, oh well...

I'm a bit unsure why Warrel Dane's album is ranked so high. It was ok I thought but with all the other stuff that came out this year I don't think it should be top ten.

Other then that I pretty much agree. Not necessarily with the order of the top 20 but it covers most of the stuff I really liked.

[Post?Organic]

Forgot to add.

SEPTIC FLESH - Communion

Where is it!?

[WSR66]

no COF? WHERE IS GODSPEED?

[Megalomaniac46]

Nice to see After the Burial and Cynic

[adam1451]

shitty list. formation of damnation should definatly have been in top 10 and nostradamus as well, or at least in mentions.

[Second Rate]

I'm glad to see you didn't hop on the "let's stroke off Opeth" bandwagon. Their last three just haven't been up to par with their previous efforts. I'm giving them one more shot before i write them off.

[Night_Lights]

guess you didnt hear Dir en Grey- Uroboros.

[bloodbath519]

Never heard Meshuggah until Obzen. Was I ever missing out! What a killer band.
Soulfly should be on there too.

[Tetramaggedeon]

I would have been more pleased to see Protest The Hero's "Fortress" in the top 10, but I can settle for an honorable mention, and I know it's this year in "metal", but The Mars Volta's "Bedlam In Goliath" album was pretty damn good by my standards.

Also -

Night_Lights wrote:

guess you didnt hear Dir en Grey- Uroboros.

Dir En Grey? REALLY!?

Strangly familiar sounding to OUROBOROUS from The Bedlam.

[Tortiss]

CG Man16 wrote:

CG Man16 wrote:

WINTERSUN WINTERSUN WINTERSUN WINTERSUN WINTERSUN
Forgot one
one more thing
log sucks
wait, 2 more
Insomnium
the absence

i love you two.

[Tortiss]

In Mourning put out an amazing album this year too, check it out if you like Opeth.

[tamotots]

new lamb of god album next year! whoohoo!

[CapnKickass]

Lion_Slicer wrote:

Instead of this being on opportunity for me to whine about Bodom, Opeth, Gojira, etc not being on there, I'm going to assume that the reviewer knows, more or less, what he's talking about. So... I'll listen to every single album up there. I'm not joking. Even the runners-up, if I can find the time and means. And if I disagree, chalk it up to personal taste.

Oh, and for next year, add to the list Mastodon. I am calling Crack the Skye as the metal epic of the year, and I don't want to be disappointed.

Good calls. (Y)

[ewp805]

Woot Twilight of the Thunder God ftw. Amon Amarth, /,,/

[Floptickle]

Waaaaait a minute!

where the christmas-f*ck is Gojira? :S

[crocoscar]

Origin should have at least replaced Psycroptic in the top 10. Ob(servant) wasn't that good ...

[Reviewer Pete]

BritishSteel wrote:

and where the **** is Judas Priest man they are the gods of metal along side Iron Maiden

Of the 85-90 albums I've heard this year, Nostradamus is second worst. An abysmal travesty that never should've been recorded. Only Sabaton's "The Art of War" is worse.

[Reviewer Pete]

xAutopsySlamx wrote:

Arsis should be higher than 8 -_-
also in your In 2009 "I'm looking forward to new albums from some of these bands" section you forgot Necrophagist. One of the biggest and best metal bands ever and you're not looking forward to it? wow. I'm disappointed.

*sigh* I'm looking forward to that as well, but like I've said several times by now - I can't list every damn album due in 2009.

[w1lu]

Watershed was the best album this year.

[ShadesOfNight]

Bring on LoG! Fuck yes
and where was Halo for best songs of 2008?! anything by the almighty Machine Head needs to be somewhere in the best lists.

[Reviewer Pete]

ShadesOfNight
and where was Halo for best songs of 2008?! anything by the almighty Machine Head needs to be somewhere in the best lists.

The Blackening was released in 2007. It was, if I recall correctly #3 on last year's top 10. And Halo was one of the top 3 songs of that year too.

[123-Trav]

Wow i really don't think after the burial deserved top 10. The vocals are horrible, and the production is really bad. My impression of them was a really amateur version of Arsis/Meshuggah.

Also I think Arsis should be given the official honour of 'Guitar Album of the Year'

Lol no bias.

Thanks for your reviews this year Pete. Great job!

[metal4ever6328]

Origin should be up there. They put out a unique album this year.

[Dudeman5000]

Protest The Hero

Check.

[dave1Mustaine]

what a shit list and you didnt even put jeff loomis' solo album

[seanplaysforblb]

Hmmm, As progressive of a band that Cynic WAS, you would think they would have "progressed" upon their sound. Instead I hear a watered down Focus with no progression on the songs. In fact I hear a dumbing down to make the songs more accessible and easier to digest. I would think that they would use some more adventurous song writing and structures. Don't get me wrong I fell in love with Focus years ago and I've even ordered the Traced In Air Limited Edition box set thing. I LOVE CYNIC! But I honestly don't think its the best of the year.

Also were is the new Decrepit Birth. That should have made the first spot. That is such a refreshing sound in the death metal world.

[Confetti]

The Swallow The Sun ep made the list but the song Plague of butterflyes (34min) did not made the top10 songs of the year

But a great pick for the list.

[MaidenPriest666]

NO OPETH
NO ENSLAVED
NO EQUILIBRIUM
NO TRIVIUM
NO KALMAH

BUT SERIOUSLY OPETH!!!!!NUMBER ONE!!!!!

props for cynic and arsis though

[A7x182rhoads]

whoo! new Lamb of God album!!!

[TwistedLogic]

Nice job reviewer Petter; you have given me some new stuff to explore on youtube.

[NightEmbers]

cool protest was at least mentioned, pretty damn good for their 2nd album and being 23 years old

I sure as hell wouldnt mind being where they're at when im 23

[angus_ibanez]

Redemption from Heavenwood???

It's better than Night Eternal....

[BloodRain]

not good

[IRONMAIDENTLICA]

i think trivium, amon amarth and metallcia deserved a mention, but i do like that you didnt just pick all the main stream bands, ill have to check out some of these bands, also i think testament really deserved a mention, they released a solid album for the first time in like 10 yrs

[AmpleSteak]

Protest the hero should have been on there!

[Austyn6661]

the capta1n wrote:

OK, lets clear this up. This was best Metal '08. Disturbed os not metal by any stretch of the means. They play their shit on po ststions. Between Fall out boy and Brittney Spears. Thats why they didnt make the list. Trivium and Children of Bodem didnt make it, because of threat of lawsuits from Hot Topic over expressed written concent to print their names (sarcasim). And Preist didnt make it because that album was HORRIBLE!!! Even for priest. SUCKED!! And as far as Metallica goes, holy shit. Death Magnetic was a poo covered waste of time. Worst album EVER!! Although, some of the solo's were "neat". Beyond that, I use it foe a coaster.

And Bandwagoneer of the Year goes to you. Huzzah.

This list, IMO, is too underground for me. Some of the stuff I like is up there, but Protest, Trivium, Bodom, and Opeth all deserve to be on this list. But I'm not writing articles, I suppose

[BOC15]

If Metallica is not metal than i don't know what is..

[deafening]

fortress is more fun than rareform IMHO

[duzit89]

BritishSteel wrote:

i wanna see Van Halen come out with one more album man tat would be kick ass

Van Halen is Rock.. this is Metal of 2008

[Ultimate_Gio92]

Belphegors Bondage Goat Zombie?

Keep of Kalessins Kolossus?

Dismembers self titled?

[DeathzMetal666]

Cynic! oh yeah

[G-loony]

where's the dark horse from nickelback ?... :mad:

[G-loony]

^ Nevermind the fail.

[FelixJZ]

Protest the Hero should've been on that list. The Faceless too. I'm glad Opeth wasn't on it,

[flying_phoenix]

I would have put Enslaved up in the top somewhere, I LOVE the new CD, it's way better than Ruun, but then, I haven't heard all of these top tens, so I can't say for sure. Interesting list at least, it will give a lot of people some good bands to look into, as opposed to simply naming off all the most obvious choices in metal.

[ppiekoszewski]

Not looking forward to Chimaira's new album? Well, I know I am

[CapnKickass]

So I just listen to some After the burial... meh, don't like the vocals. But The Monolith Deathcult, that stuff is cool, I wonder if it'll be at hmv, probably not :|

[banana stickers]

gona give some of these guys a listen, never heard of any of em, but very informative

[kaizerkhan13]

good article. The Protest the Hero album was amazing. ill be checkin out these other guys

[tearsofmyguitar]

Necrophagist is making a new album

[xl AtoMiXm4x lx]

Great list I love all the albums mentioned in here but in my opinion the best album of the year is Awaken The Dreamers by All Shall Perish. Check it out if you haven't.

[GREENWARRI0R]

Top 2 definitely deserve it. Love those albums.

[BOSS-anaut]

WTB Fortress in one of the top spots.

[xl AtoMiXm4x lx]

tearsofmyguitar wrote:

Necrophagist is making a new album

Excellent News, Necrophagist is the best technical death metal band out there, along with Spawn of Possesion and Brain Drill!

[headbanger703]

I think The Faceless should have deeeeffffiiinetly been in the top 10, and Trivium should have at least been close if not in there. Same with Gojira

[plague_runner]

I like death metal,Grind,Black metal or whatever as much as the next guy, but weren't there any other bands that weren't all death grunt, blast beast, insane solos that were any good? weres the power metal albums, the experimental metal bands, the sludge and doom metal bands, heck even the metal core bands.

[plague_runner]

Talk about my weird musical taste but bands like The Sword, Underoath, Austrian Death Machine, Toxic Holocaust, Gojira, Protest the hero should have had a spot on the list...yeah it's nice to have underground music on the list but not all death metal stuff.

[Hierarkia]

List is missing Warbringer, Gojira, Equilibrium, Eluveitie, and Eclipse Eternal.

Good call on Cynic though.

[Emarosa777]

death_metaller wrote:

think faceless shoulda been in top 10, new album is ****in amazinggg

Saw them in vegas with jfac and lamb of god. Fucking SIIIIICK. there bassist and lead.... holy shit. they almost put on as good of a performance as lamb. almost. Whitechaple should be on here also.

[Emarosa777]

death_metaller wrote:

think faceless shoulda been in top 10, new album is ****in amazinggg

Saw these guys in vegas with jfac and lamb of god. their bassist and lead guitarist are soooo sick. even though their cd is short, they have talent. I'm suprised whitechapel didn't make it. they're so good.

[Confetti]

Post?Organic wrote:

^ He listed good albums. Not trendy albums.

agreed.
Why do so many people whine about the list because they have not heard the bands on it? Thats just immature to think all good music is made by known big selling artists. Actually its mostly the opposite.

[Reviewer Pete]

plague_runner wrote:

I like death metal,Grind,Black metal or whatever as much as the next guy, but weren't there any other bands that weren't all death grunt, blast beast, insane solos that were any good? weres the power metal albums, the experimental metal bands, the sludge and doom metal bands, heck even the metal core bands.

Well, the #1 and #5 certainly don't fit that category. Cynic would have to go under somewhat experimental/proressive. Moonspell don't really fit into the blast/grunt/growl-thing, despite certainly incorporating some of those elements at times, they're more gothic and dark than deathy and brutal.

If you look in the "close but not quite" category, there're more of those albums, like Ayreon, Opeth (who really didn't incorporate as much death metal as they usually do), Enslaved (quite experimental), Agalloch and to some extent, Protest the Hero.

I don't *like* that the list is so death-heavy, and I would certainly like it to be more akin to 2007s list in terms of diversity, but when I went over this year's output these were the best albums. I don't find myself partial to any genre but if I'd include albums for the sake of having more genres represented, I'd be cheating myself.
Also, death metal and all its offshoots probably make it the biggest of all the metal subgenres that are around, and labels quite like that style of metal these days, so a lot of death-esque albums are released.

[The JesterHead]

Pat_s1t wrote:

How the hell is Blooddrunk not there?

Because it's serious crap for wannabe metalhead kids... No offense, but compared to Something Wild and Hatebreeder, this is one shitty album. Start looking at these albums as reviewers, not hardcore fans who think anything they release rules as long as it's under the name "Children of Bodom"...
Albums can't be on this list just because they came out in 2008, for Heaven's sake... They also have to be good enough.

Checked. Taken care of BritishSteel.

Merry Christmas guys.

[ander09]

I been a big fan of Cynic since 1993 and even got the chance to see them live from a backstage perspective in Quebec City while they were touring with Cannibal Corpse.

I was very excited to see them reunite and they didn't let me down with the new material.

Meshuggah and Cynic are at the top of my playlist.

I soiled myself earlier this month when I got the Cynic newsletter announcing that both, Meshuggah and Cynic, were paring up for a tour that comes to my city in February.
A Dream come true!

[Reviewer Pete]

Yeah, that's an awesome tour. I wish I could see that.

[guitarerocks]

looking forward for the new dream theater album !!

[new_age_reject]

To be honest, Cynic was a new listening for me and it really did not live up to the hype!
It just sounded rather bland, it failed to captivate me.
I much preferred Meshuggah's effort, despite the fact that nothing can match Nothing.
Looking forward to Dream Theater so much!
Got their 5 disc special edition live dvd/cd set today so im proper digging them right now!

[9volt]

Not looking forwards to the new Megadeth album?

...?

[LynchMobster]

Killing Season by Death Angel should have been up there. Or at least mentioned. Also, despite them being called metalcore, Fortress by Protest the Hero was f-ing awesome.

[pimpinazndude]

cynic is awesomeness

[l)ragonForce]

glad watershed was mentioned

[Noremak]

glad you listed mostly lesser-known bands

new bands to listen to!

now i have every album except for Warral Dane and Monolith Deathcult, hope they wernt to good

[zxter]

YAY MAIDEN ALBUM UP THE FKING IRON!

[Emenius Sleepus]

flying_phoenix wrote:

I would have put Enslaved up in the top somewhere, I LOVE the new CD, it's way better than Ruun, but then, I haven't heard all of these top tens, so I can't say for sure. Interesting list at least, it will give a lot of people some good bands to look into, as opposed to simply naming off all the most obvious choices in metal.

indeed

[LaGrange]

Where the hell is my Falconer >:[!!?!?!
Their new album kicked ass lol, i think they really need some more respect for kicking metal ass.

[omen6_]

most of these bands are shit... screaming vocals have ruined metal...

[peaches58`]

omen6_ wrote:

most of these bands are shit... screaming vocals have ruined metal...

Yeah, an ocasional scream for some extra intensity would be fine but an entire song of screaming, and demonic vocals kinda gets old. Although I do enjoy some of those types of songs. All in all the metal scene is dieing because of it.

[peaches58`]

Sorry for the double post,
but,
I really want more music like Maiden, Slayer, and Anthrax to start making a comeback not the actual bands but just the way they did it. Most of the bands today that are considered metal/thrash metal are all exactly the same yell solo yell. Each one of those bands brought something different to the table and were still part of that genre which made it enjoyable but nowadays if you have heard one hard metal band you have heard them all. Just had to get that off my chest.

[Post?Organic]

Peaches. If you really think that way you need to listen to the albums in the top 10. Most of them are quite unique. Cynic especially.

[Post?Organic]

omen6_ wrote:

most of these bands are shit... screaming vocals have ruined metal...

Way to be close minded.

[Burning_Angel]

I agree with Cynic, but I thought Vertebrae was fantastic.

I've already determined my #1 for next year: Wintersun's Time.

Everything else will come in any random order after that. Although I do expect good things from Atheist.

[gocool]

Reviewer Pete wrote:

All insults go to this humperdunk wrote:

why is opeth not on there? fat.

well, as another reviewer put it, though I can't remember the exact words; "Early on they deliver one of the best death metal songs of their career, and then proceed to dismantle that sound bit by bit until the end of the album". In short - I think Opeth are at their best when they mix dark and light, and there's just too much light, soft stuff on Watershed to warrant a top 10 spot on this year's list.

Still a good album though.

[tabletenis]

ummmm....i thought metallica was a metal band. A metal band that released a metal cd.....how can they be the number one band of the year and have their cd not make this year's on the top ten? that just doesnt make sense to me.

[Deviliumrei]

The JesterHead :
[quote]Pat_s1t wrote:

How the hell is Blooddrunk not there?

Because it's serious crap for wannabe metalhead kids... No offense, but compared to Something Wild and Hatebreeder, this is one shitty album. Start looking at these albums as reviewers, not hardcore fans who think anything they release rules as long as it's under the name "Children of Bodom"...
Albums can't be on this list just because they came out in 2008, for Heaven's sake... They also have to be good enough.
POSTED: 12/25/2008 - 08:35 am[/quote]

I totally agree.

Im glad to see Cynic up there. Saw them in Helsinki few weeks back and they were awesome! The new album, Traced in Air, definetly can compete with focus.

[zAg1619]

Pete, I'm just curious as to why Triviums "Shogun" was not mentioned. I thought they did that album very well. The screaming was brought back, the music was good...

[Reviewer Pete]

tabletenis wrote:

ummmm....i thought metallica was a metal band. A metal band that released a metal cd.....how can they be the number one band of the year and have their cd not make this year's on the top ten? that just doesnt make sense to me.

Because I don't compile this list based on popular vote. It has no relation to the user's poll, or other lists on this site whatsoever.

[Reviewer Pete]

zAg1619 wrote:

Pete, I'm just curious as to why Triviums "Shogun" was not mentioned. I thought they did that album very well. The screaming was brought back, the music was good...

I reviewed "Shogun" for the September issue of This Month In Metal, which you can find a link to in my profile. I'll just write a few lines here, for good measure:
I do like Trivium, and "Shogun". They've got a lot of potential and I hope they'll truly deliver a great, great metal album one day. I like some of the aspects of both "Ascendancy" and "The Crusade", and both showed to me that they've got what it takes to put out something mindblowing, but "Shogun" just isn't that, despite combining my favorite elements of their sound. I prefer the mixed sing/scream approach, I applaud their usage of 7-strings, but I have to say they just didn't write good enough songs. There were a few really good songs on "Shogun", but as a whole there's too much forgettable stuff (and another useless instrumental). They've got all the intentions and all the tools, but they just didn't assemble them right this time around, and as far as this list goes, a lot of other bands did. Thus, they didn't make the final cut.

[Reviewer Pete]

9volt wrote:

Not looking forwards to the new Megadeth album?

...?

I'm looking forward to it, in the way that it's always cool to hear new music from big, classic bands. But I didn't like UA much, and I won't get my hopes up about this new album. I sincerely hope it's really good though, I have no personal vendetta with Mustaine.

[Reviewer Pete]

peaches58` wrote:

Sorry for the double post,
but,
I really want more music like Maiden, Slayer, and Anthrax to start making a comeback not the actual bands but just the way they did it. Most of the bands today that are considered metal/thrash metal are all exactly the same yell solo yell. Each one of those bands brought something different to the table and were still part of that genre which made it enjoyable but nowadays if you have heard one hard metal band you have heard them all. Just had to get that off my chest.

*shrug*
There's been a huge revival for classic thrash bands in the past 1-3 years, with bands like Bonded By Blood and Evile embracing the old school style of thrash. Maybe you should check out those bands.

As for Iron Maiden-esque stuff, well...I'm afraid that the industry finds classic/trad metal to be a dead spot, in terms of profit. At least it seems to be that way, based on signings and releases, because there's very little coming our way that can be called trad/classic metal.

[randyaintdead82]

Don't forget warbringer, they sound like a mix of testament and slayer

[omen6_]

erm... ok yea so im not seeing whats so good about that meshuggah band... i just listened to the song bleed and all i heard was repeated machine gun rythms... i mean no variety at all. not sure what sets them apart...

[IP h O IB i A]

not a HUGE metalhead but ive checked out most of this list and have enjoyed it
i think August Burns Red is my favorite metal band, and Protest the Hero is a close second

[Reviewer Pete]

omen6_ wrote:

erm... ok yea so im not seeing whats so good about that meshuggah band... i just listened to the song bleed and all i heard was repeated machine gun rythms... i mean no variety at all. not sure what sets them apart...

Polyrhythmics.

[madman485]

good to see fortress was on the considered list. its a good album

[Caltelt]

Why isn't All Hope Is Gone on here?

[omen6_]

what are polyrhythmics?... lol

[Set-Abominae]

Where the hell is Septic Flesh with Communion? That album literally dropped my jaw.

Also, Pyramaze should have been at least an honorable mention, Immortal was awesome.

[The JesterHead]

Caltelt wrote:

Why isn't All Hope Is Gone on here?

Ok, and now try and read entire threads, here's an example on Children of Bodom:

[quote]Pat_s1t wrote:

How the hell is Blooddrunk not there?

(To cut the long story short) Albums can't be on this list just because they came out in 2008, for Heaven's sake... They also have to be good enough.[/quote]

[a drummer]

decent list, too much death metal, this should be called best death metal of 08, but its great to Protest get some mention, they deserve it....oh and shogun got best album of the year by me..TRIVIUM!

[GREENWARRI0R]

I don't get all these people saying OO TOO MUCH DEATH METAL and THIS SHOULD BE DEATH METAL OF 08!!! There are like, 3 death metal albums on this list, jeez! There's also prog, doom, math, black and goth metal on here. Branch out a bit and you might like some of it.

[The Spoon]

Just realized that Protest the Hero almost made it. Well at least they were mentioned, because Fortress was easily in my Top 3 albums of 2008

[3Stepper]

Aw no Disturbed? I was hoping to see them get on here, I mean the release of Indestructible... it was killer. Good job to the nice range of different metal.

[Post?Organic]

GREENWARRI0R wrote:

I don't get all these people saying OO TOO MUCH DEATH METAL and THIS SHOULD BE DEATH METAL OF 08!!! There are like, 3 death metal albums on this list, jeez! There's also prog, doom, math, black and goth metal on here. Branch out a bit and you might like some of it.

No kidding, it's actually quite varied.

[mashiah]

Hell new Maiden!! that's will be great some new Maiden stuff..
hey and someone hear Slayer?!?!?!
i mean are they good never heard of them my friends say they suck....XD

[3Stepper]

mashiah wrote:

Hell new Maiden!! that's will be great some new Maiden stuff..
hey and someone hear Slayer?!?!?!
i mean are they good never heard of them my friends say they suck....XD

Maiden shall alwyas be great! I'm looking for to the new album man.

[ExplorerFreak]

CreamsicleSG wrote:

BTBAM BTBAM BTBAM

2007 2007 2007

Checked.....

[restless_thrash]

kaboom. wrote:

thank you so much for not making the list like most other lists of this kind, Ex.-
1. Metalligay- fag magnet
2. megadeth-we can't spell
3. Slipknot- wearin mah mask
etc. etc.
good bands on here. After the Burial's album was beastly i agree.
keep it up!

/facepalm. if you don't like metallica, megadeth or slipknot, just say it, not try to act like "j00r br00tzal" by making stupid puns and utterly insignificant relations to the mainstream. gorw a pair and turn 14, please.

as for everyone who doesn't agree with this list, where's your sumbission? this is reviewer_pete's submission, not yours.

but i do have to say, i haven't heard of a couple of these bands. where do you hear about all of them?

[yerdumb666]

lol, i like how you chose the seemingly most controversial album of the year for the top spot. i was slightly confused on first listen, but liked it much more on second listen and am sure it will grow on me. also glad to see arsis, swallow the sun, and meshuggah as they were all well deserving. ill have to check out some of the other bands such as after the burial and monolith deathcult. just wanted to say also that the new album by the faceless rapes, and definately deserved its spot on the runner up albums.

[Astyan]

+1 for Agalloch, can't wait for their next album.

Also, Watershed definitely deserves to be in the Top 10 in my opinion.

Absolutely huge kudos for having Trivmvirate up there. My absolute top album of the year.

Obviously opinions are like arseholes, and I personally think you missed out some spectacular releases, but hey, you can't please everyone. Definitely a better list than most website/magazine lists.

[Slayer.666.dag]

Every one has different thought from other
but finally you can't give a list for all styles in one list I mean If you want to make a list for Death Metal then Opeth band will be in first List and if you want to make a list for Doom Band Swallow the Sun will be in the first and Etc. so Sorry for this word " every one Keep his Opinion until open List for Every style separatly " and Moonspell album is more than beautifull but if you compare it with swallow the Sun one's you cant separate between this album and the other each one has elements beautiful while the other has another elemens also beautiful I mean You cant say moonspell NO: 10 and Swallow the Sun No : 6 Two have the same rate

and thank you for reading my opinion

[Minzufbotdmelon]

jaymz88 wrote:

Where is gojira?! The way of all flesh is the best album this year.

+100000
That quote is made of so much win it is almost unfathomable.

[h3llh4mm3r]

Thank you for not putting Metallicrap on this list.

[ghostface24]

BOC15 wrote:

If Metallica is not metal than i don't know what is..

More like Heavy rock to me...or if you want to call them metal, it should be a new genre in metal...

Diluted Metal

[YamiJoey]

Dream Theater, LoG and Slayer FTW!

Metallica are metal, their new album was just s***. (I don't like to swear that much, but it's THAT bad.)

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but didn't Continent come out this year? I'm right. I know I am. I was on the UK tour. That should've made it up there. Better than After the Burial for a kick off. Not heard much else on there, TBH. (Though I keep promising myself to listen to Meshuggah.)

YJ

[YamiJoey]

Oh yeah:

Dyer's Eve: "Obviously opinions are like arseholes, and I personally think you missed out some spectacular releases, but hey, you can't please everyone. Definitely a better list than most website/magazine lists."

Suppose you're right really, but if the internet isn't for slagging off other people's oppinions and forcing your own on them, what is it for? xD

YJ

[HardRockKid]

whereis metallica and in 2009 i heard a new rage against the machine album might be out

[Reviewer Pete]

YamiJoey
Suppose you're right really, but if the internet isn't for slagging off other people's oppinions and forcing your own on them, what is it for? xD

YJ

Porn.

[Reviewer Pete]

HardRockKid wrote:

whereis metallica and in 2009 i heard a new rage against the machine album might be out

RATM don't really fall into my definition of metal, so...

[neojazzical]

I think Meshuggah deserves the #1 spot. The only album I bought this year that stands out in my opinion.

[dio_dude]

i think Opeth 'Watershed' deserves a place on that list. best album they've ever released.

[slipknotrox]

slipknot's album all hope is gone should be in here

['a7xrocz']

ya i know it was prety good

[ascendancy2]

am I the only person that's 100% happy with this list?

[Cianyx]

jaymz88 wrote:

Where is gojira?! The way of all flesh is the best album this year.

I agree!!!
I want my Gojiraaa~

[Reviewer Pete]

ascendancy2 wrote:

am I the only person that's 100% happy with this list?

I'm quite pleased with it too.

checked

[BucketheadX]

The way of all flesh wasnt good at all :/ Dont take me wrong, i like gojira, but their new album doesent deserve a place in the top 10. Im really glad that meshuggah and cynic made it to the top. But The faceless, Opeth and slipknot deserves to be on that list.

[Blashyrkh'srise]

total bullshit Ob(servant) **** that should be the faceless- planetary duality up there!

[HavokStrife]

I was really under the impression that I listen to metal... I've heard one band in that top 10 list though..

[Gromlich]

PTH fortress was't as epic as Kezia but still deserved a spot

[Kor-Ryal]

Cynic is highly underrated, thank you U-G.

[guitar_freak91]

death_metaller wrote:

think faceless shoulda been in top 10, new album is ****in amazinggg

shoulda been #1 imo. amazing band.

[colm c]

you never fail to deliver! Excellent rundown! all very desevering here! I agree with you on watershed but cant help thinking you could have given Zero Order Phase a spot on the mentions! cant wait for your next article!

[shredtildeath]

I can't believe it. Cynic. Number one. On this site. I take my hat off to you sir.

Aside from Opeth and Scar Symmetry (:o) not being in the list, the only complaint I have is the fact that Warrel Dane's album is on the list since the rape of Lucretia My Reflection should not be exalted.

But otherwise, awesome list, see you next year!

[AWilhelm22]

I'm looking forward to the Wintersun album, that's if it actually gets released in 2009.

[marius47]

Opeth should be on the list without question , pure genius.

[AWilhelm22]

What are your feelings on the In Flames album? I know a lot of people don't like it because it followed the path of Come Clarity in terms of looking for a larger appeal. But I also feel that it was a great blend of their old and new sound. I think too many people expect them to make another album like Jester Race, Whoracle or Colony, but it's just not a possabilty in my mind because of the path they've chosen. But in terms of the path they've chosen, I think this was a great album.

[Reviewer Pete]

shredtildeath
Aside from Opeth and Scar Symmetry (:o) not being in the list, the only complaint I have is the fact that Warrel Dane's album is on the list since the rape of Lucretia My Reflection should not be exalted.

Rape? It's a very respectful cover.

[Reviewer Pete]

AWilhelm22 wrote:

What are your feelings on the In Flames album? I know a lot of people don't like it because it followed the path of Come Clarity in terms of looking for a larger appeal. But I also feel that it was a great blend of their old and new sound. I think too many people expect them to make another album like Jester Race, Whoracle or Colony, but it's just not a possabilty in my mind because of the path they've chosen. But in terms of the path they've chosen, I think this was a great album.

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/sum maries/this_month_in_metal_april_2008.html

[pyritmann]

im really glad to not see metallica, slipknot, slayer, megadeth, and disturbed on this list... that popular metal gets too much attention already and its good to see some more unknown, solid metal getting attention... yay for meshuggah, those guys confuse and amaze me with their music in ways no one else could its incredible.

[bertismydog31]

all metal gets the metal of the year, because metal rules. i still love metallica, and opeth is amazing. if you love metal as much as i do, go after douchebags like nickleback and FOB, bands that ruin music. Dont attack metallica and other bands because they "sold out". metallica put out 4 of the best metal albums EVER. i think they did their part

[Post?Organic]

Yes, they did their part and now they should stop.

[la flemme]

I would have voted for Gojira.I mean vacuity just breaks your face (but maybe I m biased because Im french ).Anyway , great job from RewieverPete, digging for us into metal releases, making us discover new bands every months and taking time to read comments and replying.

[The JesterHead]

Post?Organic wrote:

Yes, they did their part and now they should stop.

Should have done it a long time ago, friend... Long time ago. They definetly did their part, a part that I bow to and respect, but everything since the mid-90's just keeps ruining the legacy they're leaving... Just what I think.

Hmm... Spider-sense tingling... I sense a furious response from an over-diehard fan, better take cover guys :o

[Riffomatic_5000]

While I agree with some of the chosen bands for this list (especially Cynic and Meshuggah), Arsis and Warrell Dane should not be listed here. While they released some pretty good albums, they sure weren't the best of 08. Watershed should be on this list somewhere, and I am quite disappointed that it is not.

[omen6_]

The JesterHead wrote:

Post?Organic wrote:

Yes, they did their part and now they should stop.

Should have done it a long time ago, friend... Long time ago. They definetly did their part, a part that I bow to and respect, but everything since the mid-90's just keeps ruining the legacy they're leaving... Just what I think.

Hmm... Spider-sense tingling... I sense a furious response from an over-diehard fan, better take cover guys :o

mabye so... but I think death magnetic was a solid album and by no means is ruining their legacy...

[metal_bassist_1]

How the **** did Diminishing Between Worlds escape this fail article? That album blew away anything and everything released this year.

[bertismydog31]

death magnetic was kick ass. why should they stop? theyre doing what they love. i can understand why metal heads dont like load and reload, but they dont need to stop just cause theyre not melting faces anymore.

[ninjajesus468]

this list is bullshit, who are these fags?, u said metal! not the shit they call metal today, (wich is good but its not metal)

[whitebluesboy]

between the buried and me - colours. WHY IS IT NOT ON HERE?

[Post?Organic]

Because it came out in 2007.

[noob_head]

dude! you forgot gojira!!! there siik. other bands i wouldve lyked in here are arch enamy, children of bodom and in flames

[AWilhelm22]

What are your feelings on Equillibrium's "Sagas"? I thought it was definitly a top ten album, if not atleast the best release of June.

[Thyrfing]

Forgot Stormwarrior, Thyrfing, Crystal Eyes, and Moonsorrow's EP.

[GoToSleep]

Can't wait for new DT.

[Brad52]

great list i personally thought rareform was the best album of the year but traced in air is pretty amazing other than Nunc Stans that song ruined the album for me

[conormcd91]

Watershed is a great album, but opeth cannot simply be labeled as a metal band really. They are progressive rock, mixed with death metal, mixed with some classical. I don't know what to call them, but you can't just call them metal.

[SharpObject]

It's cool that oBzen received mention, but I thought it was a little disappointing of an album..
And how does Watershed land a runner-up position? That record made waves, and metal albums NEVER do that. It actually climbed charts! People will actually remember Opeth in years to come, unlike all of these flavor of the week bands

[Narciel]

Fortress was the best album of the year by far.

[Hecatomb_7]

Hmmmm... Watershed was considered, but not accepted.
PULVERIZE THE WEAKLING LIST-MAKER MAN!

[HGL]

Great list. I loved the Cyinic, Lord Belial, In mourning and Opeth's albums. I heard all the allbums and the tops songs you posted and after all that screaming, well, my head hurts... but it was worth it.
At the beginnig I didn't know if I could trust you after I saw you gave a 10 to a Silverstein album, but now I'm sure I can (except for the emo-shit part :P).

Checked.

[Reviewer Pete]

HGL
At the beginnig I didn't know if I could trust you after I saw you gave a 10 to a Silverstein album, but now I'm sure I can (except for the emo-shit part :P).

I have no idea what you're talking about. I've only given a 10 to Cynic's "Traced In Air".

[DrButterfunk]

omen6_ wrote:

what are polyrhythmics?... lol

That might be why you didn't like Meshuggah's - Bleed.

[Nicky Tuna]

Enslaved also deserved^^

[PhantomMilitia]

Trivium's Shogun seriously kickass and by giving it a listen some haters should get over that ridiculous hating thing.

[johndevl]

blasphemus666 wrote:

wtf?????
wutta bout testament and metallica and slipknot???
and judas priest for ****s sake!!

I agree. This author, and most of the people commenting on this list, don't like popular bands, simply because they are popular. THERE IS A REASON THEY ARE POPULAR, MORONS! THEY'RE GOOD!!!

[johndevl]

HavokStrife wrote:

I was really under the impression that I listen to metal... I've heard one band in that top 10 list though..

+1

[johndevl]

conormcd91 wrote:

Watershed is a great album, but opeth cannot simply be labeled as a metal band really. They are progressive rock, mixed with death metal, mixed with some classical. I don't know what to call them, but you can't just call them metal.

Yeah I agree, metal would have to be the worst name for them in my opinion.

[johndevl]

pyritmann wrote:

im really glad to not see metallica, slipknot, slayer, megadeth, and disturbed on this list... that popular metal gets too much attention already and its good to see some more unknown, solid metal getting attention... yay for meshuggah, those guys confuse and amaze me with their music in ways no one else could its incredible.

You have got to be the biggest moron, ever. There is a reason why these "popular" metal bands are popular. Because they are the best metal bands ever. That's it. So stop whining that they are popular like you did in high school when you were a loser and hated the popular kids because they had friends.

[poopdedoop]

I really thought Watershed was a masterpiece. It should've been #1.

[poopdedoop]

johndevl wrote:

pyritmann wrote:

im really glad to not see metallica, slipknot, slayer, megadeth, and disturbed on this list... that popular metal gets too much attention already and its good to see some more unknown, solid metal getting attention... yay for meshuggah, those guys confuse and amaze me with their music in ways no one else could its incredible.

You have got to be the biggest moron, ever. There is a reason why these "popular" metal bands are popular. Because they are the best metal bands ever. That's it. So stop whining that they are popular like you did in high school when you were a loser and hated the popular kids because they had friends.

There are many people who are famous not because they deserve it over everyone else, but because they were in the right place at the right time and got the attention of the guy that wants to promote their balls off. I won't name any specifics because I don't really care, but there are many people who are famous that shouldn't be. But I leave you with this: If popular metal bands are popular because their the greatest metal bands ever, what does that make Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers?

[xXChimairaXx]

^^^the bands listed above DO have some great music. i couldn't give a velvet painting of a whale and a dolphin getting it on if they're popular.

and where is All Shall Perish on that list...Awaken the Dreamers is great.

[Reviewer Pete]

johndevl
I agree. This author, and most of the people commenting on this list, don't like popular bands

Don't tell me what I like and don't like.

[TanZ_MetaL]

There are many people who are famous not because they deserve it over everyone else, but because they were in the right place at the right time and got the attention of the guy that wants to promote their balls off. I won't name any specifics because I don't really care, but there are many people who are famous that shouldn't be. But I leave you with this: If popular metal bands are popular because their the greatest metal bands ever, what does that make Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers?

Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers isn't metal, so i don't understand your point here. All the metal fans should know that metal is an underrated genre and if a metal band becomes world-wide known it's because they're f*cking great.

and by the way, metallica was already f*cking huge among metalheads before supposely 'selling out' xD

[TanZ_MetaL]

ups i forget to put quotes.

poopdedoop :
johndevl wrote:

pyritmann wrote:

im really glad to not see metallica, slipknot, slayer, megadeth, and disturbed on this list... that popular metal gets too much attention already and its good to see some more unknown, solid metal getting attention... yay for meshuggah, those guys confuse and amaze me with their music in ways no one else could its incredible.

You have got to be the biggest moron, ever. There is a reason why these "popular" metal bands are popular. Because they are the best metal bands ever. That's it. So stop whining that they are popular like you did in high school when you were a loser and hated the popular kids because they had friends.

There are many people who are famous not because they deserve it over everyone else, but because they were in the right place at the right time and got the attention of the guy that wants to promote their balls off. I won't name any specifics because I don't really care, but there are many people who are famous that shouldn't be. But I leave you with this: If popular metal bands are popular because their the greatest metal bands ever, what does that make Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers?

[Xcalibur254]

Much better list than last year, but it completely neglects the amazing avant-garde recordings this year like Anthology II by Akphaezya and 2Unlimited by Pin-Up Went Down. I also, would've liked to have seen The Corpse of Rebirth by A Forest of Stars get some recognition, but as I said this is a much better list than last year's.

[ShoeFaceBass]

Thank goodness Agalloch got a mention, The White is one of the best musical releases in the past few years by a long shot! It's also nice seeing Swallow the Sun get some well deserved attention ^_^

[Fahtoo]

After seeing Meshuggah on you're list I've decided to check them out. They are absolutely horrible and repetitive. Their rhythms might be complex but they are using their guitars as little more than a percussion instrument. There isn't any complexity in their riffs besides the offbeat rhythms. It is just absolutely stupid meathead music. They shouldn't have even made it on here.

[AJRAD]

Pat_s1t wrote:

How the hell is Blooddrunk not there?

this.

[bassplayer496]

Opeth should definitely be in the top ten. Hell, they should be number one

[Post?Organic]

johndevl wrote:
You have got to be the biggest moron, ever. There is a reason why these "popular" metal bands are popular. Because they are the best metal bands ever. That's it. So stop whining that they are popular like you did in high school when you were a loser and hated the popular kids because they had friends.

LOL at this. I don't even know what to say. I don't think you of all people has the right to be calling anyone a moron hahaha. Popularity does not automatically equal quality. As previously stated by a few other people, popularity is largely due to promotion and marketing.

(Note : Just for the record, I listen to popular music. Just not most popular metal, because 90% of it is horrible.)

[Krauser]

Unearth's The March was incredible. It should be on this list, if not in the top 10, in the almost ten albums. Also, I think Watershed deserved to be in the top 10 as well.

[Krauser]

[

johndevl wrote:

blasphemus666 wrote:

wtf?????
wutta bout testament and metallica and slipknot???
and judas priest for ****s sake!!

"I agree. This author, and most of the people commenting on this list, don't like popular bands, simply because they are popular. THERE IS A REASON THEY ARE POPULAR, MORONS! THEY'RE GOOD!!!"

...the Jonas Brothers are popular... nuff said...

[javaman6289]

...and then many, many more. I could go on forever.

I feel as if I am one of the few who read this part... Haha.

Oh and thanks for mentioning The Faceless in this. Their album was amazing.

[BC_Warlock]

I'm most looking forward to Chimairas new album personally. Cant freakkin wait.
Also, LoG. (Y)

[jewbaby667]

I tried to enjoy Cynic, but dont see how it was the best new album? They had a cool riff they kept using over and over and it was kinda slow. Just not a fan, gave them a try though.

[HeavenReturned]

Very well thought out list. Tons of good stuff on there, although my order would've been a little different but that's just me. Gojira, 3, Stormlord and Byzantine's 08 releases were really good, if you haven't checked them out I'd suggest you do.

I thought the Opeth album should've been atleast top 10. I understand when people say it's not as good as some of the previous albums, but as far as an overall album it has amazing production, a ton of great riffs that never seem over played and numerous new ideas which just further define their unique style. I'm also an Opeth fanatic, so if you aren't? Don't mind me.

[GCT]

Opeth, I should say, despite the relative lackadaisical output, should be on the top 10. I know that compared to their previous releases, Heir Apparent seems mediocre. But when you compare it to the other albums listed in the top 10, i should say that they should be at least in the 7th or 6th.

Anyway, I'm somehow disappointed this year of the releases. Last year's albums was way better than this year.

Colors and The Blackening owned way more than any of the albums here. If compared to the list, they should get like a score of -20 or something.

[GCT]

Fahtoo wrote:

After seeing Meshuggah on you're list I've decided to check them out. They are absolutely horrible and repetitive. Their rhythms might be complex but they are using their guitars as little more than a percussion instrument. There isn't any complexity in their riffs besides the offbeat rhythms. It is just absolutely stupid meathead music. They shouldn't have even made it on here.

amen to that bro. You get your jaw dropped only because of the absurd difficulty in terms of covering songs. But musically speaking, they should not get that number 2 mark. Though they should get the consolation mentions.

[GCT]

aw, I said Heir Apparent. I meant watershed.

[cLarity-]

I can't believe Lord Belial's piece of shit album made it on there. I hate Black Metal with a passion. It's god awful. It all sounds exactly the same. Planetary Duality should have been on there for sure. It's one of the best Technical Death Metal releases ever.. IMO. Watershed definitely should have made it. Even if it wasnt up to par with previous Opeth releases.. It was still far better than 90% of the albums that came out this year. I mean, come on, it's Opeth. I am satisfied with Traced In Air's spot on the list.. It's well deserving of the #1 spot. I'm sure everyone else agree's.

[cLarity-]

If Metallica, Slipknot, or Trivium's album even made it close to being on the top 10.. I would probably just lose all faith in the Metal community. It's a list based on musicality, not popularity.

[maiden666pwns]

I think this list should have colors from betweeen the buried and me it is my fav album of the year. Go check it out and see if you like it. And protest the hero's album is also amazing.

[cotton3434]

I wish Pete would've listed the bands' genres under their names or something... would make it a lot easier to decide which ones I'm interested in looking into.

Going to look into them all anyway though.

and...

maiden666pwns wrote:

I think this list should have colors from betweeen the buried and me it is my fav album of the year. Go check it out and see if you like it. And protest the hero's album is also amazing.

Er... Colors was 2007, not 2008. It was number one on the list...

[c0bhc]

Pat_s1t wrote:

How the hell is Blooddrunk not there?

thank you. i was dissapointed it wasnt here

[death4077]

c0bhc wrote:

Pat_s1t wrote:

How the hell is Blooddrunk not there?

thank you. i was dissapointed it wasnt here

i would have been dissapointed it was on there