The List Is Here

My top 10 albums of the year list is here .

What's on my iTunes?

20 Greatest Thrash Metal Albums

It is the end of the year and I am in the mood for list-making. What follows is my list of 20 Greatest Thrash Albums ... That I Own Or At Some Point Listened To In My Life. Otherwise shortly known as "20 Greatest Albums of all Time". Without further ado, here be the list:

1- RUST IN PEACE / MEGADETH (1990)









2- REIGN IN BLOOD / SLAYER (1986)









3- RIDE THE LIGHTNING / METALLICA (1984)









4- BONDED BY BLOOD / EXODUS (1985)









5- THE LEGACY / TESTAMENT (1987)









6- BENEATH THE REMAINS / SEPULTURA (1989)









7- METAL CHURCH / METAL CHURCH (1984)









8- AMONG THE LIVING / ANTHRAX (1987)









9- COUNTDOWN TO EXTINCTION / MEGADETH (1992)









10- MASTER OF PUPPETS / METALLICA (1986)









11- ROOTS / SEPULTURA (1996)









12- DOOMSDAY FOR THE DECEIVER / FLOTSAM & JETSAM (1986)









13- PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH / TESTAMENT (1989)









14- TORTURED EXISTENCE / DEMOLITION HAMMER (1991)

15- SEASONS IN THE ABYSS / SLAYER (1990)









16- VULGAR DISPLAY OF POWER / PANTERA (1992)









17- KILL 'EM ALL! / METALLICA (1984)









18- COWBOYS FROM HELL / PANTERA (1990)









19- TRAIL BLAZER / THE PENTAGRAM (1992)









20- CHAOS A.D. / SEPULTURA (1993)

Getting Ready to Wrap up

It is almost that time of the year...the annual top 10s. I have to admit this year will be a lot more difficult than the previous years on account of my insanely lame social life. This year Yours Truly confined himself to YouTube videos of Tina Fey doing Sarah Palin - and they were hilarious.

What follows is a list of my favourite albums from this year, in no particular order:

Twilight of the Tunder God by Amon Amarth
The Formation of Damnation by Testament
Black Ice by AC/DC
Death Magnetic by Metallica
Folklore & Superstition by Black Stone Cherry
ObZen by Meshuggah
Nostradamus by Judas Priest
Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace by the Offspring
Watershed by Opeth
XV by King's X
Slania by Eluveitie
Inflikted by Cavalera Conspiracy
A Sense of Purpose by In Flames
Nil Reucurring by Porcupine Tree
The Bedlam in Goliath by the Mars Volta

From this list will emerge my Top 10. Watch this space.

Peace

Magnetically Drawn Towards "Death Magnetic"

The worst title for a blog aside, the hotly-anticipated new album by the 'Tallica boys is really, very good. After the debacle that was St. Anger (2003), the boys are back with a vengeance. Riffs and solos are back.

Even though Bob Rock did a decent job over the years, he will always be remembered to make the premier thrash metal band a household name with relatively more accessible and shorter songs. I have to admit that it's a relief not to see his name in the album credits. There are only a handful of people whose Midas touches inspired and shaped many artists over the years. One name that comes to my mind is Martin Birch, who oversaw Deep Purple and Iron Maiden albums over a career that spans more than three decades. Another name that comes to mind right away is none other than Mr. Rick Rubin. This is the guy who produced the best speed/thrash album ever (Slayer's 1986 extreme sonic assault, Reign in Blood) and orchestrated Johnny Cash's comeback, among others. He is a genius. And his production is the genius behind Death Magnetic.

"All Nightmare Long", "The Day That Never Comes", "My Apocalypse", and the amazing "Broken, Beat & Scarred" are some of the hightlights of the album and are destined to be instant classics among fans. Even the cringe-inducing title "The Unforgiven III" doesn't take anything away from the joy of hearing once again how good these guys were. I'm not going to say that this is a back to roots album and is comparable to Ride the Lightning (1984) or Master of Puppets (1986) in terms of style and content, but it is a return to form for them. It sounds and feels more like ...And Justice for All (1988).

When Megadeth came back to their roots after the abysmal Risk (1999), they released The World Needs a Hero (2001) - in my opinion a very underrated album. Two albums on - patchy The System Has Failed (2004) and brilliant United Abominations (2007) - they are back near the top totem pole and receive the utmost respect from the new generation of fans. Metallica's musical output have been even patchier than Megadeth's, but they were still riding on the wave of their huge commercial success. Had Death Magnetic been closer to St. Anger musically, it might have been over for the boys. But, thankfully, it is a more than fitting album for this great band. Welcome back.

SFTD: "Will the Sun Rise?" by Stratovarius

My first foray into Stratovarius (after listening to "Black Diamond" on my friend's Walkman - remember those? - in high school) was when I bought their album Episode (1996). And what a revelation it was...

This song is the most recognizable of the songs on the album and it is pure Stratogenius: lightning-fast-and-loud drums; Malmsteen-esque shredding; a classical interlude followed by guitar and keyboards duelling; and, of course, that voice. Timo Kotipelto's voice soar to uncharted heights as you find yourself on your feet, jumping up and down and alerting your mother, so that she comes up to your room to see if you're OK ... well, maybe not.

It is a fantastic song from a once brilliant band. Better things came along with Visions (1997) and the terrific live album, Visions of Europe! (1997), but the band imploded soon after with subsequent mediocre releases. Shame.

SFTD: "Superman" by R.E.M.

R.E.M.'s best album isn't Automatic for the People (1992). It is 1986's sublime Lifes Rich Pageant (sic). This little song has all the things that make R.E.M. such a quality act: melody, old-school r'n'r mentality, and a college pretension. It is reminiscent of the best of Beach Boys and foresees Weezer by a decade. It is also one of the few select songs where Mike Mills shares the vocal duties with Michael Stipe.

I am, I am, I am Superman / And I can do anything.

They certainly can.

SFTD: "Little Dreamer" by Van Halen

The better of the two mid-tempo songs on Van Halen's much-celebrated debut (the other is the vastly overrated "Running with the Devil" - perhaps the most boring song on their repertoire), this little gem has that funk/soul thing, which feels surprisingly honest here. It also has an eeire melancholy to it. Eddie Van Halen comes up with a basic but very effective riff and one of his most emotional solos - the man is known for incredible shredding ability, so his solos tend to be one-dimensional after a while.

I'm not a huge Van Halen fan, but if I had to make a Top 5 VH songs, "Little Dreamer" might just sneak into the list.

SFTD: "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits

I have decided to move the SFTD (Song for the Day) thread to this rather neglected blog, so that there is some action going on. I have previously dabbled on about an obscure Bruce Dickinson song. You can find it here.

Today's song is none other than the MTV-bashing Dire Straits classic, "Money for Nothing".

I want my MTV, chimes Sting before some rather dynamic pop drumming leads to one of the most underrated riffs of all time. Mark Knopfler's old school, fuzzy blues riff contrasts the song's proud 80s pedigree - monotone drums and occasional busts of synth.

Sting returns ocasionally to help Knopfler, but the contrast is also evident here - drawling Knopfler versus high-pitched Sting.

Dire Straits is not adored by fans or critics alike, but the album from which this stand-out track is taken from, Brothers in Arms (1985), is one of the biggest selling albums of all time - and deservedly so. The band is severely underrated and underexposed and this song proves that perfectly - especially poignant considering the current state of MTV. It makes you wish that it was 1985 and you could watch music videos on TV. Sigh...

A couple of changes...

For those of you interested (anybody?), I made three changes to the Awesome Playlist as the three new purchases I made this weekend proved to be excellent choices. So here are the changes:

Out goes...
Words of a Dying Man by Alabama Thunderpussy
Come Clarity by In Flames
People Like You by Live

And in comes...
Inflikted by Cavalera Conspiracy: the new single from the debut album from the Cavalera boys' new band. Fantastic groove thrash...highly recommended.

Alias by In Flames: I can't get enough of this album. Yes, they slowed down, but who cares if they slow down to songs like this.

When Your Mind's Made up by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova: quite far away from the above two tracks. This gives me goosebumps all over. A great album too. Cat Stevens would have been proud if he hadn't turned all nutty...

What's on my playlist?

For those in the know, I have written before about my iPod woes. However, my addiction to Apple's little player could not detract me from listening to music, ladies and gents. Yes, I am still listening to music nowadays...on my iTunes...

Anyhoo, once in a while I update a playlist called...Awesome Playlist. It is basically the 30 songs I listen to most recently. I am aware that most of these aren't of headbanging fare...

So, in alphabetical order by artist:

1- Words of a Dying Man by Alabama Thunderpussy: awesome name for a band and an awesome song. Hence it's on the Awesome Playlist.

2- Ion by Apocalyptica: the stand-out track from their latest album, this song rocks as much as cellos can rock...

3- Threshold by Audrey Horne: this Swedish supergroup manage well to exploit the post-grunge scene. A great song.

4- Sorrow by Bad Religion: an olden goldie. You can't really go wrong with the our So.Cal revolutionaries.

5- Guyamas Sonora by Beirut: unlike anything I have in my library, I can't get enough of this song. Would be a great soundtrack.

6- You Won't Know by Brand New: I'm not hot on emo, but Brand New manage to transcend genres rather well...a bit like Coheed & Cambria in that sense...but the similarity stops there.

7- Mr. Jones by Counting Crows: come on, you know you love it. It is just irresistible.

8- Someday You'll Be Loved by Death Cab For Cutie: there's a macabre feeling to this song, which I think makes it darker than it is.

9- Clouds Over California by DevilDriver: as far away from Coal Chamber as you can get, this is pure HEAVY metal.

10- Indecision by Eagle Eye Cherry: a one-hit wonder he may have been, but his album is full of little gems like this.

11- Whorehoppin' (Shit, Goddamn) by Eagles Of Death Metal: catchy and funny. 'Nuff said.

12- Inis Mona by Eluveitie: these Swiss folk metallers know how to mix genres and instruments better than their Scandinavian contemporaries.

13- All My Life by Foo Fighters: my favourite song of theirs...pure heavy pop rock genius.

14- Come Clarity by In Flames: on the eve of the release of their new album, it never hurts to go back to this amazing track.

15- Out of the Silent Planet by King's X: sitars and guitars, this song does what Beatles couldn't do in India.

16- People Like You by Live: one of the only two good songs on their "V" album, this is the quintessential Live sound.

17- Halo by Machine Head: this song, catchy as it is, gets even better with every listen. One of the highlights of last year.

18- Wax Simulacra by The Mars Volta: one of the many outstanding songs from their recent album, this is one of their best.

19- Double Nature by Mustasch: still can't figure out these Swedes: are they for real or just posing? Regardless, it's a very good song.

20- The Poet & the Pendulum by Nightwish: the first 10 minutes are pure Nightwish and the last three are pure genius. Gives me goosebumps all over.

21- Lyla by Oasis: lift up your pints, gentlemen, and let's get shit-faced!

22- The Meaning of Life by The Offspring: shows how underrated Offspring were compared to Green Day.

23- Wave of Mutilation by Pixies: reminds me of Rock Band...sigh...

24- Normal by Porcupine Tree: an early contender for the song of 2008.

25- Feel Good Hit of the Summer by Queens Of The Stone Age: how-to-write-a-song-with-one-line 101.

26- Slaves and Bulldozers by Soundgarden: I will dare say that this is the second best vocal performance by a male artist ever...after Deep Purple's Child in Time, of course...

27- Curse of the Legions of Death by Testament: early thrash...there's nothing like it.

28- Polar Bear by Therapy?: one of the most uncomfortable songs I have ever listened to...yet I can't stop repeating it...masochist, moi?

29- Alien Angel by 3: a little too "sweet" it may be, but it hooks you right away.

30- Schism by Tool: an oddity that only Tool can conjure up, this is a song full of never-before-heard levels of aural assault with every listen.

A Loud Introduction to the Proceedings

Well, I thought I might start a rock blog in this Internet of ours. Having written little bits and pieces elsewhere , it is time to branch out and offer the public some rocking musings...

To start things off, I will refer to a list of best heavy metal albums of 2007. Exhaustive as this list is, unfortunately I am unfamiliar with the majority of these albums...and that says a lot about my expertise in the field.

That said, I was pleased to see Megadeth's latest offering, United Abominations making the top 10. It has been a long time since the metal community received a 'Deth album with arms open wide. I am a huge fan of the band so I always felt cheated by the magazines and critics for failing to put them in the same vein as some other band (you know which one). But, this year proves that Megadeth, despite an ongoing saga of changing band members, is more about the music. Good job, guys.

There were a couple of rather important omissions on the list: Down's excellent III: Over the Under and Black Stone Cherry's eponymous debut. But, then again, the list seems more inclined towards the "extreme" end of the spectrum. These two albums might have been too bluesy, or dare I say it, slow compared to the others.

Another list appears (actually two them) on my favorite heavy metal reference site. Again, there are usual suspects and some oddities.

Making lists is fun, so I will give you a list of my own: Top 5 Bands from Birmingham, England:

1- Black Sabbath / Ozzy Osbourne
2- Motorhead
3- Judas Priest
4- Magnum
5- Duran Duran (just kidding...)


Currently listening to: In Requiem by Paradise Lost