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So this year has been pretty great for when it comes to metal, as most years always are. A masterpiece has even emerged, in my opinion.
Unfortunately, there were a few disappointments, including one major flop that I will talk about after I layout my top ten. Let’s get started:

10. Kolossus – Keep of Kalessin

In 2006, Keep of Kalessin released a black metal juggernaut titled Armada. This band knows how to blend black metal with thrash oh so perfectly Kolossus, the band’s 4th album, seems to follow the same formula as Armada, but does not grab you on first listen like its predecessor. The musicianship and timbre, however, are still the same quality. This album wasn’t as pivotal as Armada, but it is still a solid effort. But hey, it is hard to go against the epic chorus of Black Uncharted off of Armada anyway.

9. The Fathomless Mastery – Bloodbath

Finally, a new Bloodbath album was released! I think all metalheads can safely say this was a good thing. Now, this album, like Kolossus, does not compare to its predecessor, Nightmares Made Flesh. That is simply because N.M.F. is now considered a classic among the death metal genre. The Fathomless Mastery (I love that title, by the way.) gets the job done with Mikael Akerfeldt back at the helm and Martin Axenrot on the skins, both of Opeth fame. Though they have yet to top their track Eaten, I do believe Mock the Cross is going to be a new hit. I dare you to try and not bob your head while listening to it.

8. We Are The Nightmare – Arsis

Arsis have had it tough lately, I think. They released A Celebration of Guilt out of nowhere and blew everyone away. Europeans were probably thinking, “What? A melodeath band from the United States that is GOOD???” The metal community gladly accepted this as a new champion of melodic death, following in the steps of At The Gates’ Slaughter of the Soul and Carcass’ Heartwork. Now,  a major EP and 2 albums later, Arsis are still chugging along. Some have critiqued their latest albums as being too technical and not memorable. I disagree. We Are the Nightmare, while not as catchy as A Celebration of Guilt, is still better than any other melodeath out there right now. James Malone shreds it up with creative fret wizardry on every track, and new drummer Darren Cesca brings a much more brutal drumming style to this album. Think if Heartwork and Slaughter of the Soul had a baby and a drum machine was the doctor. Now imagine the drum machine being Darren… okay you get the point, right? Go get this album.

7. Fury & Flames – Hate Eternal

Okay, I am a big fan of Hate Eternal’s last album, I, Monarch. So I had high expectations for this album, Fury & Flames. Aside from the awesome album title, the album itself does not disappoint. Though there are a few things different this time around. Derek Roddy left the band to pursue a career as a professional baseball player or professional bear-tamer or something. Thus, Jade Simonetto, with which I am not familiar, stepped in and did the job. He did it well, too. Another thing that is different, is the production. The bass levels in this album are really prominent in the mix. But I love it! This is what death metal should sound like. The track Bringer of Storms, my personal favorite, starts off with Erik Rutan growling maniacally with pummeling double bass accentuating his vocal prowess. The whole track just lifts me off my feet. The whole album is great to listen to when you are angry at something, and it definitely lives up to the title.

6. Servile Insurrection – Severed Savior

Whoa. Where did this come from? Servile Insurrection? What? I had not ever heard of Severed Savior, and I was angry at that fact after listening to this album.  The production, for being brutal death metal, is outstanding. The riffs keep me interested, and it does not achieve that by doing crappy breakdowns every 10 seconds, either. The opening track, Question, had me instantly moving my head along to the beat, and I was caught from that point on. This album is also filled with some creative and tasteful jazz interludes. The end of Question surprised me upon first listen, and that is rare in brutal death (to actually make me go, whoa what just happened?). This is definitely the most pleasant surprise for the brutal death genre. I’m going to keep tabs on these guys from now on.

5. Silhouettes – Textures

I was not aware that Textures were putting a new album out until shortly before its release this summer. Being relatively unknown, Textures can be thought of as what would happen if Meshuggah and Pantera were put in the blender (Will it blend?)… yeah that’s the best (read: worst) analogy I can think of. Silhouettes, the band’s 3rd album, is their best output so far. The grooves are stunning in every song. They do a great job of blending heaviness with catchyness.. and did I mention Eric Kalsbeek has an amazing voice? The band are amazing at what they do. Awake is a very uplifting song with the perfect mosh-worthy breakdown after the first verse. The rest of the songs are also amazing, but I’m going to be concise and tell you to go grab this album and listen for yourself.

4. obZen – Meshuggah

I admit, I wasn’t a big fan when Catch 33 came out, but I did love I by Meshuggah. If you enjoyed Nothing, you’ll love obZen. It’s everything great about Meshuggah,
just more Meshuggah’d, you know? I need not say more.

4. Planetary Duality – The Faceless

This album came out like a week or two album, and I’m still trying to find my guts because listening to it made my stomach explode because it was so metal. The Faceless have created an album very much full of jazzy tech metal solos and melodic lines layered over dissonant downtuned and diaretic chords. All of which combine to make a great tech metal album. If you like death metal and Cynic, get this album now.

3. The Way of All Flesh – Gojira

I highly anticipated this release, because Gojira blew me away with From Mars to Sirius. These guys do groovy death metal right. Oh, and they are French! That’s cool… kinda. Esoteric Surgery has the most epic opening riff ever. The album as a whole is like a giant cornucopia of riffage. I need not say more.

2. Watershed – Opeth

I almost forgot to put this one on my list until I opened it up and listened to it earlier this week. Watershed is the definitive Opeth album. Lots of fans were distraught when Ghost Reveries came out. I admit, I did not enjoy it all that much. Watershed, however, showed me and everyone else that Opeth are the kings of eclectic progressive death classic rock jazz metal. Heh. I was kind of worried when they lost Martin Lopez before this album was recorded, but Axenrot fits his shoes well. The drumming is fantastic, the riffs are atmospheric and bonecrushing at the same time. Akerfeldt’s voice is more beautiful than ever. Everything seems a bit more proggy too, and (in my opinion) that is always a good thing. Just check out the little keyboard breakdown in The Lotus Eater and try telling me you did not enjoy it. Try. Excuse me while I throw up my metal horns.

1. Traced in Air – Cynic

When news broke of Cynic reuniting for a tour, fans rejoiced and we all put in Focus back from 1993 and refreshed our memories from this amazing landmark tech metal album. When news broke of Cynic recording a new album, jaws dropped. 15 years later, Cynic have released another amazing album. Let me elaborate. This album is flawless. This is one of the best progressive metal albums I have ever heard. Amazing is an understatement. Paul Masvidal has yet again produced beautiful consonant and dissonant chords and riffs with Sean Reinert hitting the skins ever so gracefully and tastefully. I can only imagine what things would have been like had they made more albums in these past 15 years. Every track on this album is memorable and distinct from the others. There is no boring points. Everything keeps your attention and at the edge of your seat to see what brilliant melody line will come next or what drum fill will blow you away again. Thank you, Cynic, for producing my favorite metal album this year. Now, please tour somewhere in Arkansas so that I may see this beauty live. Traced in Air was created… and it was good.

Honorable Mention:
Ob(Servant) – Psycroptic

Disappointments:
The Unspoken King – Cryptopsy
Overcome – All That Remains
The Incurable Tragedy – Into Eternity
Blooddrunk – Children of Bodom

What to look for in 2009:

Between the Buried and Me, Mastodon, Glass Casket, Animosity, Morbid Angel maybe?, Suffocation (!!!!)