Top First Half of the Year Picks 2011

This is just approximately a list compiled of all the stuff Ive been listening to lately, but it would be pointless to list everything that Ive enjoyed so far because i would never finish it. Either way i recommend every release on here.

Best of the First Half of 2011:

Graveyard “Hisingen Blues” (Psychodelic Hard Rock)

-although the singing is an acquired taste if you enjoy your rock steeped into influences like deep purple,black sabbath among just a few then you'll enjoy this album.

Fleshgod Apocalypse “Agony” (Blackened Death Metal)

 -Everybody compares this band to Behemoth and for good reason because in many aspects they sound like them but overall though, this release is impressive all by itself. its a behemoth record to absorb and the instrumentation with the music adds a whole new level of awesomeness.

Epheles “Je suis autrefois” (Black Metal)

 -Not much to say, i just really enjoy this cd.

Red Fang ”Murder the Mountains” (Metal/Hard Rock)

-Although they basically copy three bands(Kyuss,Clutch, Queens of the Stone Age) all together throughout the cd but i still enjoy pretty much every single track.

Putridity “Degenerating Anthropophagical Euphoria” (Brutal Death Metal)

 -Basically the only way to describe this record is by saying that it feels like getting beat in the face by a sledgehammer. I'm glad to finally find a decent Brutal Death Metal release i really enjoyed this year, but if i am not mistaken Condemned is supposed to be putting out a record i believe soon  but we'll see either way check this out if you like bands like Despondency.

Ezophagothomia “Instinct of Inhuman Devourment”(Brutal Death Metal)

 -As i said above its been a slow year for quality brutal death metal, but this release is suprising i suppose even though it carries the same sound as most of the bands theres just something here i cant quite pin down in their sound that i enjoy.

Earth ”Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light(Volume I)” (Drone)

 -If you love and respect this band and know who Dylan Carlson is then thats all i need to say and really i would like to have the old Earth back that didnt play like Western Epic but there again im not complaining just am not as intrested in the recent direciton. Either way check this out if you've never heard of them before i recommend everything by them.

Septic Flesh “The Great Mass” (Symphonic Death Metal)

-Since their last album "Communion" Ive been keeping up with this band and let me tell you i think this album is absolutely perfect.

Primordial “Redemption at the Puritan's Hand” (Folk Black Metal)

-I think what draws me to this band is the similar sound that they and Agalloch both have. Either way if your into them or this band i recommend this release although not as much as I'd recommend their "The Gathering Wilderness" from 2005.

Neil Young “A Treasure”(Rock)

-Since Neil is one of my favorite artists, obviously i would have to list this. This was recorded in 1980 and ultimately its a country album during a difficult period in which i believe neil was trying to find a new style to play instead of his previous style's. Outside of Crazy Horse(his Garage band) The harvesters is probobly my favorite group he's put together and recorded with.

Shining “VII - Född förlorare”(Black Metal)

-Although no where as good as "V-Halmsted" this album is still worthy of listening to if your into the style

Between the Buried and Me “The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues”(Progressive Metal)

-Nc Locals comprised of multiple bands throughout the years. i was really excited for this EP and just absolutely blew my mind once i heard it because i hadnt expected it be this good. astonishing!

Ghost "Opus Eponymous"(Occult Rock)

-Even though everybody thinks this album was over-hyped or w/e just sit down and listen to it a couple of times i guarantee you change your mind. wasn't released in U.S until this year but release elsewhere last year

The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble “From the Stairwell”(Dark Jazz)

 Amazing if you know them if not i recommend buying all their stuff.

Other honorable mentions:

Alter of Plagues “Mammel”

Bon Iver “Bon Iver”

Job for a Cowboy “Gloom EP”

Ocoai “The Electric Hand”

Murmuure “Murmuure”

Knuckle up! “At the Bottom”

Bonjour Tristesse “Par Un Sourire”

Butterfly Trajectory “Ep 2011”

Ulcerate “The Destroyers of All”

Cytotoxin “Plutonium Heaven”

London Elektricity “Yikes! Remixes”

Tombs “Path of Totality”

Among like 3000 more releases

Albums to Check out this Week as Well as Albums to LOL @

Even though I enjoy reviewing albums the previous way I have been on this blog, but I can’t continue to do a full length review of every album so that being said, I will continue to suggest multiple albums at a time and occasionally post a full review of a note-worthy album. Still request albums, and feel free to talk in the Chatbox located to the left.

Albums worth kicking someone in the face to this week:

Hail! Hornet “Dispurse the Curse”

-Basically a mix-mash of bands that include ( Weedeater, Bongzilla, Sourvein, Buzzoven, Birds Of Prey, Beaten Back To Pure) many of whom I happen to listen to quite a bit, particularly Weedeater because of that nasty bass playing of Dixie Dave, and an added bonus is that they’re from NC!

 Devin Townsend “Deconstruction & Ghost”

-I’ve pretty much kept up with Devin Townsend basically since Strapping young lad’s “City” but either way strapping young lad is no more but Devin Townsend remains. I recently watched an interview with Devin on metalinjection.net and he said that “Deconstruction” is more of an album people wanted him to make with a pretty much all over the place production and has an amazing line-up of guest appearances. Devin then suggested that “Ghost” is more of the album he felt like he wanted to make now that he’s grown older, although both sonically different in texture for musically, Devin never ceases to amaze me with steller production and a definitive story, how could u go wrong?

 (Deconstruction)

(Ghost)

 

uneXpect “Fables of the Sleepless Empire”

-absolutely amazing hands down its got so many genres of influence that you can hear, very avant-garde. Classical instruments being played and nine string Bass guitar that you can actually hear being articulated perfect. So great!

Origin “Entity”

-  Being one of my favorite bands, this album is great but I still miss their original singer. Highly recommended for Technical Death Metal fans.

 

Woods of Desolation “Torn beyond Reason”

-Amazing Amazing Amazing!  Atmospheric Black Metal worth checking out if you like bands similar to Wolves in the Throne Room.

The Konsortium  “The Konsortium”

-imagine combining Anaal Nathrakh black metal elements with recent band “Ghost” whose aesthetically pleasing vocal harmonies are littered throughout “opus euronymous” from earlier this year. It’s like post-black metal but has other elements to it. Very different I think

Caina “Hands that Pluck”

-Burzum mixed with Mogwai mixed with Red House Painters. Caina are a post-black metal band who’s last album “Temporary Antennae” which I thought was great but lacking something to make it amazing and I can safely say that “Hands that Pluck” is that album.

Pestilence “Doctrine”

-Devestating to say the least, if you’re a fan of death metal and you don’t know who this band is, I believe you need to go listen to “Consuming Impulse” and “Spheres” before you hate all over this record. Personally it is not breaking new ground by any means but I still think it a pretty solid record, kind of reminded me of the first time I heard “Slowly We Rot” by Obituary.

Albums to LOL @ in the coming week:

Morbid Angel “illud divinum insanus”

-absolutely terrible, piece of crap release by a band who are considered the cream of the crop in Death metal, and I just can’t believe what I’m hearing honestly.

Suicide Silence “Black Crown”

-uninspiring, boring, terrible, lazy sounding record and to believe somehow this band remains relevant.

 

All Time Low “Dirty Work”

-obviously my favorite genre, pop-punk how stupid! Terrible release by a already terrible over-rated worthless band

Lil’ Wayne “Sorry 4 the wait”

-obviously everything this artist put’s out is terrible, which is why I had to include this on here just for spite.

The World We Knew “Death Dealer”

-Last time I heard this band they were XThe World We KnewX and were playing an almost Deathcore/Straight Edge Hardcore style. Now I just get online this morning to find to my surprise all of a sudden they’re trying to sound like every other deathcore band particularly Chelsea Grin who is pretty terrible all by their self not to mention having copy-cats, so funny!

(from this- 2006)

(to this- 2011)

ps: i know that either one of them are good, but since i expected a little more less generic stuff than the 2011 stuff oh well i guess at least the Warriors are still kickin it.