As 2011 comes to an end, it is time to start thinking about the best releases of the year. Our list will be published in mid-December. In the meantime, November was not a very strong month for new releases. There were a few shining stars, like the CDs on this list, but overall there wasn't much depth. Krisiun, a very underrated band, tops our list for November.
Flawlessly produced, The Great Execution is filled with Moyses Kolesne's rapid fire riffing, Max Kolesne's precise drumming played at breakneck speed, and Alex Camargo's gruff vocals and deep bass. Krisiun's patented relentless brutality is also intact, but the album also sees Krisiun deliver their most intricate effort to date. Krisiun play up their technical aspects while successfully avoiding the pitfalls that plague so many overtly technical death metal bands.
Moyses Kolesne is all over the fret board, not exactly unusual for him, but his work on The Great Execution sounds almost inhuman with riffs both beautiful and brutal. Semi-melodic solo and arpeggio-styled passages that have to be heard to be believed appear along with nods to Kolesne's Spanish guitar roots with some intricate acoustic passages. It's apparent why both listeners and fellow musicians consider Kolesne among the best guitarists in metal of any style or genre.
Read the complete Krisiun - The Great Execution ReviewMore »
True Traitor, True Whore resonates as perhaps the most genuine black metal release of the year. Those familiar with Wrest’s past material will recognize the dark, twisted ambiance of Leviathan combined with genre aesthetics. However, True Traitor, True Whore is also quite a departure from traditional elements and sheer heaviness of 2008's Massive Conspiracy Against All Life, the last full-length from Leviathan.
Instead, True Traitor, True Whore is filled with twisting riffs, progressive guitar work, off kilter time changes, moments of near ambiance, and a myriad of howls, deep, raspy sighs, and a few, nearly spoken words. Combine the weird approaches with a generally clean production from Sanford Parker that emphasizes Wrest’s muse, and it is immediately a departure from his past work.
Read the complete Leviathan - True Traitor, True Whore Review
Aptly titled and oddly spelled, Th1rt3en is Megadeth's thirteenth studio album and it contains 13 songs. It features one of the band's strongest lineups, with the return of bassist David Ellefson after an 8 year absence. Chris Broderick returns for his second album, and his guitar wizardry along with Mustaine's legendary chops make for an outstanding dual guitar attack. Drummer Shawn Drover has been with the band for three studio albums now, and he is solid and very underrated.
Th1rt3en gets off to a rollicking start with “Sudden Death,” vintage Megadeth and a potent opener. The first few songs are very strong, with some really good guitar work on “Who's Life Is It Anyways?” The lyrical themes are similar to past Megadeth albums, with politically charged tracks such as “New World Order” and “We The People.” A few of the songs have origins that go back several years, with earlier versions released as bonus tracks on previous albums.
Read the complete Megadeth - Th1rt3en ReviewMore »
The quality of 777: The Desanctification is high throughout, especially on tracks like "Epitome X," but nothing that rises to the standard of the last album's "Epitome IV." Not that Blut Aus Nord is accessible by any means, but this album as a whole isn't as immediate as 777: Sects. It does have even more depth and subtleties that become evident after a few listens.
The industrial influences are apparent on this album, especially on songs like "Epitome XI," along with black metal and avant-garde metal. Diversity and variety is never in short supply on a Blut Aus Nord album, and 777: The Desanctification is no exception. It fits the bill as the middle of a trilogy, and increases the expectations for the final part of the series. It doesn't give too much away, but definitely maintains interest and explores a lot of different possibilities.
Read the complete Blut Aus Nord - 777: Desanctification Review
U.S. power metal band Riot’s 14th release Immortal Soul is the classic Thundersteel/Privilege of Power lineup of original guitarist Mark Reale, vocalist Tony Moore, bassist Don Van Stavern, (touring) guitarist Mike Flyntz and drummer Bobby Jarzombek. Immortal Soul has the quintessential Riot sound that you’ll recognize right away.
This is just incredibly good stuff. Old school fans that remember Riot will not be disappointed with Immortal Soul. And for the younger fan, discovering your roots and knowing your music history should include Riot. Riot deserves to be bigger and not just a band with cult status.
Read the complete Riot - Immortal Soul ReviewMore »
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1. Krisiun - 'The Great Execution' (Century Media)
Flawlessly produced, The Great Execution is filled with Moyses Kolesne's rapid fire riffing, Max Kolesne's precise drumming played at breakneck speed, and Alex Camargo's gruff vocals and deep bass. Krisiun's patented relentless brutality is also intact, but the album also sees Krisiun deliver their most intricate effort to date. Krisiun play up their technical aspects while successfully avoiding the pitfalls that plague so many overtly technical death metal bands.
Moyses Kolesne is all over the fret board, not exactly unusual for him, but his work on The Great Execution sounds almost inhuman with riffs both beautiful and brutal. Semi-melodic solo and arpeggio-styled passages that have to be heard to be believed appear along with nods to Kolesne's Spanish guitar roots with some intricate acoustic passages. It's apparent why both listeners and fellow musicians consider Kolesne among the best guitarists in metal of any style or genre.
Read the complete Krisiun - The Great Execution ReviewMore »
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2. Leviathan - 'True Traitor, True Whore' (Profound Lore)
True Traitor, True Whore resonates as perhaps the most genuine black metal release of the year. Those familiar with Wrest’s past material will recognize the dark, twisted ambiance of Leviathan combined with genre aesthetics. However, True Traitor, True Whore is also quite a departure from traditional elements and sheer heaviness of 2008's Massive Conspiracy Against All Life, the last full-length from Leviathan.
Instead, True Traitor, True Whore is filled with twisting riffs, progressive guitar work, off kilter time changes, moments of near ambiance, and a myriad of howls, deep, raspy sighs, and a few, nearly spoken words. Combine the weird approaches with a generally clean production from Sanford Parker that emphasizes Wrest’s muse, and it is immediately a departure from his past work.
Read the complete Leviathan - True Traitor, True Whore Review
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3. Megadeth - 'Th1rt3en' (Roadrunner)
Aptly titled and oddly spelled, Th1rt3en is Megadeth's thirteenth studio album and it contains 13 songs. It features one of the band's strongest lineups, with the return of bassist David Ellefson after an 8 year absence. Chris Broderick returns for his second album, and his guitar wizardry along with Mustaine's legendary chops make for an outstanding dual guitar attack. Drummer Shawn Drover has been with the band for three studio albums now, and he is solid and very underrated.
Th1rt3en gets off to a rollicking start with “Sudden Death,” vintage Megadeth and a potent opener. The first few songs are very strong, with some really good guitar work on “Who's Life Is It Anyways?” The lyrical themes are similar to past Megadeth albums, with politically charged tracks such as “New World Order” and “We The People.” A few of the songs have origins that go back several years, with earlier versions released as bonus tracks on previous albums.
Read the complete Megadeth - Th1rt3en ReviewMore »
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4. Blut Aus Nord - '777: The Desanctification' (Debemur Morti)
The quality of 777: The Desanctification is high throughout, especially on tracks like "Epitome X," but nothing that rises to the standard of the last album's "Epitome IV." Not that Blut Aus Nord is accessible by any means, but this album as a whole isn't as immediate as 777: Sects. It does have even more depth and subtleties that become evident after a few listens.
The industrial influences are apparent on this album, especially on songs like "Epitome XI," along with black metal and avant-garde metal. Diversity and variety is never in short supply on a Blut Aus Nord album, and 777: The Desanctification is no exception. It fits the bill as the middle of a trilogy, and increases the expectations for the final part of the series. It doesn't give too much away, but definitely maintains interest and explores a lot of different possibilities.
Read the complete Blut Aus Nord - 777: Desanctification Review
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5. Riot - 'Immortal Soul' (SPV)
U.S. power metal band Riot’s 14th release Immortal Soul is the classic Thundersteel/Privilege of Power lineup of original guitarist Mark Reale, vocalist Tony Moore, bassist Don Van Stavern, (touring) guitarist Mike Flyntz and drummer Bobby Jarzombek. Immortal Soul has the quintessential Riot sound that you’ll recognize right away.
This is just incredibly good stuff. Old school fans that remember Riot will not be disappointed with Immortal Soul. And for the younger fan, discovering your roots and knowing your music history should include Riot. Riot deserves to be bigger and not just a band with cult status.
Read the complete Riot - Immortal Soul ReviewMore »