Top Ten of 2009?

10. Nihill, "Grond" CD/LP (Hydra Head)

When describing black metal, I find myself thinking the word "brutal" is often over-used. The term makes me think of hardcore kids, or death metal fans getting rowdy as shit, breaking things, and hurting each other. For that, there is a time and a place, sure (Posi #'s, Maryland Deathfest, etc.) but in the case of black metal albums, this notion of "brutality" has always seemed (to me) a stretch. Sure, there are bands, albums, and songs that make me want to smash shit (Craft and Leviathan come to mind first,) but I'd be listening to Mind Eraser or Entombed if I was looking for something to obvious as that. No, when I listen to Black Metal I'm looking for unadulterated hatred. Anger that cannot be quelled, but with a sense of misanthropy rather than incited rage. I want to feel like I'm listening to a bunch of outsiders, not kids who host parties or were popular in school.
I don't really think there's anything wrong with this new school of Black Metal that's emerged over the past three years. I think bands like Deathspell Omega have worked long and hard at their craft and are pushing the envelope, perhaps in ways that purists aren't quite comfortable with, but Nihill (hailing from the Netherlands) exhibit the writing skill, the desire to push their music forward, and the lyrical spite that I feel benefit metal rather than holding it back in desperate mimicry.
It's arguable that better black metal albums dropped last year, but this one appealed to me immediately, and despite myself, production value goes a long way for my ears, so forgive me for choosing a sleeper on a "bigger" label (Hydra Head) over something by Volahn, Ashdautus, or Bone Awl, as good as they each are in their own right. I'm not trying to prove that I have the most underground taste or wildest collection of demo tapes. I'm just typing (in a slightly more masturbatory manner than usual) about last year's best records.
A musician I have a certain respect for was recently mentioning in his own blog that the top albums in any given year are not necessarily those I deem best as of January first the following year... time will prove a much better judge than myself, this serves best as a notion of what I could recall enjoying as the year wrapped.
Anyhow...

... also recommended Wolves in the Throne Room, "Black Cascade" CD 2xLP (Southern Lord)

09. Screen Vinyl Image, "Interceptors" CD/LP (Custom Made Music/Safranin)
Dreamy synth-pop with a dark edge. This brother and sister based band from Maryland recorded with a drum machine, played live with a drummer, and then gave him the boot after a Japanese tour. Can't say I have a preference for the live act with the drums, or the album with the drum machine, but either way I found myself surprisingly into this debut full length (after an EP, and split LP with Virginia's Ceremony). Swirling, shoe-gaze guitars mixed with a driving rhythm section and layers of sound loops. Catchy as hell, and kind of spooky at times. That is, spooky like that cute chick with the black hair and pin-striped jacket in your coffee shop, not like an episode of Celebrity Ghost Sightings. Perfect for driving late at night, and highly recommended for fans of My Bloody Valentine, New Order, and Depeche Mode.

... also recommended (on a more psychedelic tip), Warlocks, "The Mirror Explodes" (Tee Pee)

08. Cult Ritual, "Cult Ritual" LP (Youth Attack)

The best, fucked up punk album to drop in a while.
Sadly, it's potentially ushered forth a horde of imitators, citing Sonic Youth, Flipper, and later Black Flag as influences while they ride the wave that Pissed Jeans, Sex Vid, Total Abuse, Clockcleaner, and these dudes towed in, but the weak and lame, like always, will fall by the wayside and the true innovators will be remembered. This album was a high point for hardcore in a year that wallowed in mire.
Probably best that they broke up at their arguable peak, but it appears (from the Nazi Dust demo and Slave Scene 7"), that the Kvlt Ritval dudes aren't really calling it a day just yet.

... also recommended Taylor Bow. "Taylor Bow" LP (Youth Attack)

07. A Storm of Light, "Forgive Us Our Trespasses" CD/2xLP (Neurot)

Saw these dudes open for Wolves in The Throne Room this summer and they might have stolen the show. Perfectly executed, noisy, heavy, and forward-thinking. It was like seeing a three-piece version of Neurosis (which makes sense, as their frontman has done lights/visuals for The Tribe of Neurot for more than a handful of years and later formed the much acclaimed Red Sparrowes.) This new album picks up right where they left off with on their split LP with Nadja, melding lush melodies with pounding bass and drums.
Great band with consistently solid output. Get into it.

... also recommended, "Primitive North" split CD/2xLP with Nadja (Robotic Empire)

06. Swallowed Up, "This Is, And Goddamn Is It!" 10" (Self Released)

No image here, but this is (for me, at least) all I hope for in modern hardcore. Well executed, intelligent, and thoughtful.
The members of Swallowed up live in a collective outside of New York, and live and breathe DIY. They hand-screened and hand-sewed every copy of their 10", and refuse to let a[ny] label get their hands on their music, despite several offers.
Musically similar to Panic, The Hope Conspiracy, and even Trial or Catharsis at times, but in theory and practice reminiscent of Reversal of Man, Fugazi, pg. 99, or Born Against.
PC, against the grain, and 100% serious about every word they say. Jah bless, this is an offering from the Hardcore Gods, whether or not modern hardcore knows it.

... also recommended, Pulling Teeth, "Paranoid Delusions/Paradise Illusions" CD/LP (Deathwish/A389)

05. Sunn O))), "Monoliths & Dimensions" CD/2xLP (Southern Lord)

Easily my favorite Sunn album to date. Anderson and O'Malley find themselves accompanied by (for all intensive purposes) a stringed orchestra, and frequent collaborators like Oren Ambarchi and Attila.
They begin with the haunting "Aghartha," and so shall you.
Let the music speak for itself. This is the album that takes minimalism up a notch, and proves that drone is indeed "music."

... also recommended, Khanate, "Clean Hands Go Foul" CD/LP (Hydra Head), and The Bastard Noise & Christian Renou, "Brainstorming II (House Pig).

04. Converge, "Axe to Fall" CD/LP (Epitaph/Deathwish)

Won't bullshit. Not my favorite Converge album, but when these dudes drop a new album, it will inevitably be one of the year's best. A few power-metal influenced tracks; a Jesus Lizard-esque romp; two longer, slower numbers, one reminiscent of Tom Waits (and featuring Steve Von Til, of Neurosis), and a handful of songs that will be played at every Converge show for years to come.
You've probably heard how everybody else in the God-forsaken world of metal and hardcore plays on this record. Uffe from Entombed and Disfear, most of Cave In, some jerks from Ghengis Kahn, George from Blacklisted, Triv from 108, etc. It's not a collaboration album though - this is a Converge record, and a good one, the guys just decided to try something new, and on most fronts they succeed. Even their short-comings outshine the majority of their peers however, so how much do I really give a shit?

... also recommended, Doomriders, "Darkness Comes Alive" CD/LP (Deathwish)

03. Tombs, "Winter Hours" CD/LP (Relapse)

Not usually that into the Relapse stuff, save for maybe Pig Destroyer and ANB, but I couldn't wait for this fucker to drop. Mike Hill (Anodyne, Versoma, etc.) has compiled another full length of his paranoid isolation, lack of understanding the rest of humanity, and musical fucking prowess.
The dude has a great tone, and a way of playing that I can't recall hearing from anyone else, but without being flashy or full of shit. He just knows when to restrain, when to rage, and who to fill out his band with. Since their debut "EP," Tombs have obtained a new drummer, and (to my understanding?) bassist as well.
Not a whole lot to say here. I like the way Mr. Hill writes and plays music, I like the things he has to say, and I think this band smokes live. At times this album borrows heavily from black metal pioneers like Darkthrone and Burzum, but Tombs take heavy cues from The Jesus Lizard, Swans, Rollins Band, and many, many more punk, metal, and noise-rock bands. Thankfully though, they know better than to borrow and steal, and have crafted a brainchild of their own.
I expect no less from a veteran like Hill at this point, but it's nice to be pleasantly surprised, isn't it?

... also recommended, Shrinebuilder, "Shrinebuilder" CD/LP (Neurot)

02. Hatred Surge, "Deconstruct" LP/Cassette (RS/Financial Ruin)

It pleases me greatly to see hope for grindcore beyond rehashing the best albums and bands of the 80's and 90's. Hatred Surge take a highly power-violence influenced approach to the trade, which has tied them to bands like Iron Lung and The Endless Blockade, but hold true to their Gulf Coast roots (Insect Warfare, Mammoth Grinder, Faithealer, NIBIRU, War Master, etc.)
With last year's "Servant b/w Bestial" EP, the band took their no-bullshit, 1000mph assault to a lower gear, and churned out two heavier-than-hell monsters. With their full length, momentum has again been gained and the band rages through seventeen songs in just under nineteen minutes. After all, why change one of the best parts of grindcore?

... also recommended, Iron Lung/Walls/PHT "Public Humiliation" Collaboration LP (Iron Lung)

01. Moutheater, "Ornament" CD (Thrashed!)

Heavy, dirty, rock and roll highly influenced by hardcore. Seven stellar tracks of Am-Rep friendly dirge and three noise pieces compile this stellar debut of a full-length. I don't think I listened to another album for two weeks after "Ornament" came out.
I won't drag this one out. If you don't know the record, order a copy, go see the band live when they come through your town this summer, and like myself, you'll eagerly await their next effort. For fans of Nirvana, The Melvins, Tad, The Jesus Lizard, Helmet, Deadguy, Unsane, etc.

... also recommended, Fight Amp, "Manners and Praise" CD/LP (At a Loss/Brutal Panda)

With that said, some great EP's from last year included...
- Ash Pool's, "Saturn's Slave" 7" (Hospital Productions)
Two raging black metal tracks highly influenced by Oi and Hardcore.
- Slices (Two self-titled 7"s, one on 16Oh, and another on Home Invasion)
"If Crossed Out played Side B of My War." Awesome, noisy hardcore from Pittsburgh.
- Low Threat Profile - s/t 7" (Deep Six)
Dudes from No Comment, Infest, and Lack of Interest. They've still got it.
- Nazi Dust - Demo (Self-Released)
Members of Cult Ritual. Sounds like Life's Blood, but new. And frankly, better.

Top 100 Albums of the '00s.

After much scrutiny, here is the list - which I'm sure will be amendec more over time.

Some of these aren't nexessarily my "favorite" effort by the artists, but the most important or best representative of that time period (i.e. "Death Knows Your Name" is totally the best Hope Con album.) Some aren;t so much "my thing," but are jst too damn important or were too damn big to ignore; but i legitimately enjoy every album on here.

Aesop Rock – Labor Days (Def Jux, September, 2001)
American Nightmare – Background Music (Equal Vision, 2001)
And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead (Interscope, February 2002)
Andrew W.K. – I Get Wet (Island, November 2001)
Arcade Fire – Funeral (Merge, September 2004)
At the Drive In – Relationship of Command (Grand Royal, 2000)
Atmosphere – Godlovesugly (Def Jux, November 2002)
Battles – Mirrored (Warp, May 2007)
Boris – Heavy Rocks (2002)
Boris – Akuma No Uta (Diwphalanx, 2003)
Boris – Pink (Diwphalanx, 2005)
Boris w/ Michio Kurihara – Rainbow (Pedal, 2006)
Botch – We Are the Romans (Hydra Head, January 2000)
Breach – Kollapse (2001)
Cannibal Ox – The Cold Vein (Def Jux, 2001)
Carry On – A Life Less Plagued (Bridge 9, 2001)
Celebrity Murders - A Time to Kill Space (Chainsaw Saftey, 2005)
Celtic Frost - Monotheist (2006)
City of Caterpillar – City of Caterpillar (Level Plane, 2001)
Converge – Jane Doe (Equal Vision, September 2001)
Converge – You Fail Me (Epitaph)
Converge – No Heroes (Epitaph)
Converge – Axe to Fall (Epitaph)
Cursed – One (Deathwish, 2003)
Cursed – Two (Goodfellow, 2005)
Cursive – The Ugly Organ (Saddle Creek, March 2003)
Damien Rice, O (Vector, February 2002)
Dangerdoom – The Mouse and The Mask (Epitaph, 2005)
Dinosaur Jr. – Beyond (Fat Possum, 2007)
Discordance Axis – Inalienable Dreamless (Hydra Head, August 2000)
Earth – Hex: or Printing in the Infernal Method (Southern Lord, 2005)
Envy – Dead Sinking Story (Level Plane, August 2003)
Fucked Up – Hidden World (Jade Tree, 2006)
Fucked Up – The Chemistry of Common Life (Matador, 2008)
Godspeed You Black Emperor – Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heavan (Kranky, 2000)
Have Heart – Songs to Scream at the Sun (Bridge 9, 2008)
High on Fire – Blessed Black Wings (Relapse, February 2005)
The Hope Conspiracy – Coldblue (Equal Vision, 2000)
The Hope Consipracy – Endnote (Equal Vision, 2002)
In My Eyes – Nothing to Hide (Revelation, 2000)
Insect Warfare – World Extermination (Six Two Five, 2007)
Integrity – To Die For (Deathwish, 2003)
Interpol – Turn on the Bright Lights (Matador, 2002)
Iron Lung – Life. Iron Lung. Death. (Six Two Five, 2005)
Iron Lung – Sexless//No Sex (Prank, 2008)
Isis – Oceanic (Ipecac, September 2002)
J Dilla - Donuts (Stone’s Throw, February 2006)
Jay Z – The Blueprint (Def Jam, September 2001)
Jesu – Jesu (Hydra Head, 2005)
Johnny Cash – American IV: The Man Comes Around (American, 2002)
Kid Dynamite – Shorter, Faster, Louder (Jade Tree, 2000)
Leviathan – Massive Conspiracy Against All Life (Moribound Cult)
Madlib – Shades of Blue (Blue Not, July 2003)
Madvillian – Madvilliany (Stones Throw, March 2004)
Mars Volta – Frances the Mute (GSL, 2003)
Mastadon – Remission (Relapse, 2002)
Melvins – A Senile Animal (Ipecac, July 2006)
Mind Eraser – Cave (Painkiller/Collapse, 2005)
Mind Eraser – Conscious/Unconscious (Clean Plate, 2008)
Modern Life Is War – My Love. My Way. (Martyr, 2003)
Modern Life Is War – Witness (Deathwish Inc, 2005)
Modest Mouse – The Moon and Antarctica (Epic, June 2000)
Mogwai – Rock Action (Matador, 2001)
Morrissey – You Are the Quarry (Sanctuary/Attack, May 2004)
Municipal Waste – Waste ‘Em All (Six Weeks, 2003)
Muse – Absolution (A&E, September 2003)
Napalm Death – Enemy of the Music Business (Spitfire, 2000)
Nas – Stillmatic (Ill Will/Columbia, December 2001)
Nasum – Helvete (Relapse, 2003)
Neurosis – A Sun That Never Sets (Relapse, 2001)
No Warning – Ill Blood (Bridge Nine, November 2002)
Om – Pilgrimage (Southern Lord, 2008)
Outkast – Stankonia (LaFace, October 2000)
Outkast – Speakerboxx/The Love Below (Laface, September 2003)
pg. 99 – Document #07 (Magic Bullet/Happy Couples Never last, 2001)
Paint It Black – Paradise (Jade Tree, 2005)
Pig Destroyer – Prowler In the Yard (Relapse, July 2001)
Prurient – And Still, Wanting (No Fun, 2008)
Q and Not U – No Kill, No Beep Beep (Dischord, 2000)
Queens of the Stone Age – Songs for the Deaf (Interscope, 2002)
Radiohead – Kid A (EMI, October, 2000)
Radiohead – In Rainbows (Xendless Xurbia, November 2007)
Scott Walker – The Drift (4AD, 2006)
The Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-la-la band with Choir – “This Is Our Punk Rock,” Thee Rusted Satellits Gather + Sing (Constellation, 2003)
Sleep – Dopesmoker (Tee Pee, April 2003)
The Suicide File – Twilight (2003)
SunnO))) – OO Void (*Hydra Head, 2000)
SunnO))) – Black One (Southern Lord, 2005)
SunnO))) & Boris – Altar (Southern Lord, 2006)
Think I Care – Think I Care (Deadalive, 2003)
Tragedy – Tragedy (Tragedy, 2000)
The Twilight Singers – Blackberry Belle (One Little Indian, October 2003)
Verse – Rebuild (Rivarly, 2004)
Walls – s/t (Painkiller, 2008)
Walls – s/t 12” (Iron Lung, 2008)
Weakling – Dead as Dreams (tUMULt, 2000)
Wolves In the Throne Room – Two Hunters (Southern Lord, September 2007)
Xasthur – Subliminal Genocide (Hydra Head, September 2006)
The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs – Fever to Tell (Interscope, April 2003)
Zeni Geva – 10,000 Light Years (Neurot, May 2001)

Feel like I should maybe put the Cult Ritual LP, Made Out of Baby's "Coward," or one of the Storm of Light albums on there... but what to cut? Oh shit! And Nihill?

Son of a bitch...

Top Ten (or more) Albums of 2008

So another year is coming to a close, and thusly I've spend the past week or so thinking a lot about the best albums that came out over the course of these twelve months. Of what I've checked out (thus far), these topped the "List" for me (in alphabetical order):

Black Mountain, In the Future (Jagajaguar)

Heavy enough not to be lame, diverse enough to keep from becoming redundant. This is what more "Psychedelic" bands should aspire to.
"Queens Will Pay" is easily one of my favorite cuts from 2008.

Didn't think this album would be as good as their self-titled debut... It's better.

Fucked Up, Chemistry of Common Life (Matador)

Picking up with the experimentation 2006's Hidden World introduced us to, the band has taken a step even further away from traditional hardcore. The more I listen, the more I'm convinced this is in our best interests.

I can't help but feel like Fucked Up have become one of those bands our kids will ask us if we were into the way we might ask our parents if they were into Black Flag.

Iron Lung, Sexless//No Sex (Prank)


The "First Name" in modern power violence...

Iron Lung progress where so many bands are content merely replicating their predecessors. This album is fast, heavy, noisy, and chaotic all at the same time. It's the kind of music your parents hope you don't bring home.

Personally, I preferred Sexless to their debut (Life. Iron Lung. Death.) but both albums are stellar.

Made Out of Babies, The Ruiner (The End)

Noisy, tight, and heavy - but definitely not your daddy's metal.

Made Out of Babies' third LP is just as solid as the first two (though some might argue it's less aggressive than 2006's Coward: or 2005's Trophy). Think of The Jesus Lizard with a crazy chick singing and you're not too far off.

If you're a fan, you'll probably be interested in (singer) Julie Christmas's other project; Battle of Mice. They dropped a great split LP with Jesu this year as well.

Mind Eraser, Conscious Unconscious (Clean Plate)

Two songs, each taking up one side of this monster LP.

Released only weeks before the 7" EP The Prodigal Son Brings Death (listed below), this is arguably Mind Eraser's best material to date. Slower and heavier than their earlier material. This album dabbles in the more metallic and doomy side of Mind Eraser's sound, whereas Prodigal keeps things faster and more hardcore. Success on both fronts!

"Neanderthal worship band seen buying Celtic Frost and Sleep albums from Record Exchange?"

...Something like that.

Nadja, The Bungled and The Botched (ConSouling)



My favorite release from the Noise/Drone/Post-Metal behemoth.

An hour of beautiful, carefully constructed soundscapes. Sometimes dreamy, sometimes haunting. I love it.

Highly recommended for fans of Boris, SunnO))), Khanate, Ocean, etc.


Rotten Sound, Cycles (Spinefarm)



Scored the leak for this album a year ago (even though it wasn't officially released stateside until summer '08). From the first listen I knew this would be the best metal album to come out this year.

Incredibly tight, heavy-hitting grind from Finland. If you liked Trap Them's first album, this is where they got their sound. This album is more than just a succession of blast-beats though. It's innovative without being pretentious, and it's still accessible to fans of traditional grindcore as well as those who need a more polished sound to their metal.


Tombs, Tombs (Level Plane/Black Box)
and
Split 12” w/ Planks (Black Box)


Formed in 2007 from the ashes of a short-lived project called Versoma, Tombs is the brain-child of ex-Anodyne guitarist and frontman Mike Hill. The band explores the layered wall-of-sound approach Versoma had taken to song-writing, leading to a less metallic sound than Anodyne, but one still fulfilling for fans of post-hardcore and punk. As a trio, they make better use of their abilities than most five-piece bands. Their shit sounds (if nothing else) full.

Tombs' cite Swans, My Bloody Valentine, Emperor, Burzum, and Godflesh as some of their many influences. The self-titled debut seems more akin to their shoegaze and no-wave forefathers, where the split LP (with Europe's Planks) has a more overt black metal influence.

Since recording their sophomore album (my most anticipated release of 2009), the band has recruited the former drummer of NY's recently departed grindcore band Asra.

After seeing the band last week I can assure that 1) This new addition benefits us all, and 2) The new album, Winter Hours is going to blow minds. Keep an eye out for it.

With Cursed calling it a day in 2008, Tombs are officially my favorite current band.


Trap Them, Seizures in Barren Paradise (Deathwish Inc.)



While less grind-influenced than their debut LP Sleepwell Deconstructor (read: fewer blast-beats), Trap Them have found their true voice.
The band are bridging the divides between blazingly fast metal, crust-punk, hardcore, and noise-rock; and I think with more success than many of their contemporaries.

Ryan McKenney's lyrics are as bitter and chilling as ever, and the band has hit their stride. Great record, great layout, great band.


Walls, Walls (Painkiller)
and
One-Sided 12” (Iron Lung)



Basically, this is the new Cold Sweat. Members of Iron Lung, Cold Sweat, and Akimbo playing slow, noisy punk in the vein of Flipper, later Black Flag, The Butthole Surfers. The newer LP was also great, but has faster and more hardcore songs with a more Rorschach sort of feel. Discordant and vaguely depressing. I love this band.

Saw them at Nara Sushi in Richmond last Month with Cough, Snack Truck, and Sweat Lodge. Walls stole the show and played the best set I saw all year. Given the opportunity, check them out live. Even if you're not into the albums, you need to see this.

Runners Up…

- Boris, Smile (Southern Lord)
- Breathing Fire, Years of Lead (Painkiller)
- Ceremony, Still Nothing Moves You (Bridge 9)
- Coffins, Buried Death (20 Buck Spin)
- Cursed, III: Architect of Troubled Sleep (Goodfellow)
- Devour, Devour (Solid State)
- Endless Blockade, Primitive (20 Buck Spin)
- Faithhealer, Bound and Chained (Inkblot)
- Fight Amp, Hungry for Nothing (Translation Loss)
- Grails, Doomsayer’s Holiday (Temporary Residence)
- Hooded Menace, Fulfill the Curse (Razorback)
- Leviathan, Massive Conspiracy Against All Life (Moribound Cult)
- Socialcide, Unapproachable (Even Worse)

EPs...

- Bookburner, Bookburner 7” (16Oh)
- Double Negative, Raw Energy EP (Sorry State)
- Logic Problem, Logic Problem 7” (Sorry State)
- Hatred Surge, Servant b/w Bestial 7” (Deer Healer)
- Mentally Challenged, Doctors, Lawyers, Cops and Priests 7” (Self-Released) and Regressor, Pt. 1 Cassette (Painkiller)
- Mind Eraser, The Prodigal Son Brings Death 7" (Youngblood)
- Moutheater/Vegas, Split 7” (Thrashed)
- Sex/Vid, Nests 7” (Dom America)
- Spanish Bombs, Beasts: Man Is God EP (Self-Released)
- Surroundings/Pellinore, World Darkness Split 10”

I still haven't checked any of these albums out, but I have high hopes for each of them...

- Blank Stare, Blank Stare (Third Party/Refuse)
- David Byrne & Brian Eno, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today (Todo Mundo)
- Failures, Failures (Youth Attack)
- Hostage Calm, Lens (Redscroll)
- Ocean, Pantheon of the Lesser (Important)
- Protestant, The Hate, The Hollow. (Halo of Flies)
- Sex/Vid, Communal Living (Dom America)

Today I'm going to work on putting together a mix with my favorite songs from this year. Hopefully I can have it up for you kids in time for Christmas.