[LickTheABCs]

Krallice - "Krallice" - Truthfully, the only reason I'm giving this masterpiece five stars is there isn't a six stars. Again, whether you like Black Metal is irrelevant, this album is a must-listen and my album of the year, so far. All 6 tracks are just simply awesome.

Alghazanth - "Wreath of Thevetat" - Truly awesome "Symphonic" Black Metal. The vocals, dual guitar work, all of it top level shit. A definite recommendation. Standout tracks: "Moving Mountains" and "As Nothing Consumes Everything."

Keep of Kalessin - "Kolossus" - Another terrific Black Metal album by a band I've recently become a big fan of. A must listen for fans of Metal. Whether you like Black Metal is irrelevant. Standout Tracks: "Kolossus", "Ascendant" and "Warmonger". Hell, all of 'em.

Transcending Bizarre? - "The Serpent's Manifolds" - Crazy as fuck symphonic Black Metal. That's the only way to put this album in to perspective. There isn't a bad track on the entire album.

Ceremonial Castings - "Salem 1692" - Truly fucking awesome Brutal-as-hell Black Metal. This thing is so crazy you need to listen twice just to comprehend its awesomeness.

Origin - "Antithesis" - Technical brilliance. Wow, just wow. There really isn't enough words to describe it. Even if Death Metal isn't your thing, it's worth a listen for pure awesomeness. Standouts: "The Aftermath", "Wrath of Vishnu" and pretty much everything else.

Mgla - "Groza" - If you're a fan of Black Metal, this album is a must listen. 4 songs, 36 minutes of just wow. Standouts: All 4 tracks.

Darkspace - "Darkspace III" - Another just awesome Black Metal album.

Darkestrah - "The Great Silk Road" - Very good Black Metal album. Not as good as "Epos" but good nonetheless. With five songs, the longest being over 18 minutes, with them you know what you're going to get. Standouts: Kara-Oy.

Toxic Holocaust - "An Overdose of Death" - Fucking awesome Thrash album. There isn't a song on this thing that won't make your neck hurt. Def. recommended.




Krisiun - "Southern Storm" - I wasn't the biggest fan of theirs prior to this release, but it totally surprised me. Very good brutal death.

Arghoslent - "Hornets of the Pogrom" - Terrific Death Metal album, or more like Deathly Heavy Metal. That sounds better, anyway, terrific. Give it a spin.

Motorhead - "Motörizer" - Finally. One of the legends actually release an album that's actually, um, good. After disappointing releases from the likes of Iced Earth, Priest, Metallica etc. Leave it to Lemmy to unleash this. Long live the kings!

Darkthrone - "Dark Thrones and Black Flags" - It's Darkthrone. That point is pretty much the only reason I gave it four stars instead of three. Could be ALOT better, but I still enjoyed it overall.

Death Angel - "Killing Season" - Alot better than I expected it to be, but I was expecting very little. Still doesn't come close to "Ultraviolence"

Cynic - "Traced In Air" - Definitely not as good as "Focus" but still pretty damn good. A must own when it comes out at the end of the month. Standout tracks: "The Space For This" and "Adam's Murmur"

Amon Amarth - "Twilight of the Thunder God" - Another year, another stellar AA album. While not as good as "With Oden.." it still better than most garbage released. Standout tracks: "The Hero" and "Varyags of Miklagaard"

Daylight Dies - "Lost to the Living" - Not to be confused with some terrible bands album title, this pure Doom Metal (or a tinge of Melodic Death).. Very good album, worthy of a few listens.

Meshuggah - "obZen" - Honestly, I'm not their biggest fan. I liked "Chaosphere" but most of their discography is blah to me. This was a very good album, though. One of my favorites of the year.

Hour of Penance - "The Vile Conception" - Terrific Brutal Death album. From Italy, no less. This is the epitome of neck-snapping material. Just awesome.

Testament - "The Formation of Damnation" - Better than I had expected. Still nothing groundbreaking, but again, I've only listened once, so maybe I'll find a stand out track or 2 after a couple more spins..

Decrepit Birth - "Diminishing Between Worlds" - They've went from generic Brutal Death to this, a more Technical Brutal Death.. and it works. Highly recommended. Standouts: It's only 44 minutes, listen to it all.

Deeds of Flesh - "Of What's To Come" - Another good album full of Brutal Death Metal from these guys. Not as good as previous albums, but still good indeed.

Eluveitie - "Slania" - Terrific album. If I had to give them a sound I'd say they sound like a Folk-y At The Gates. Standouts: Pretty much everything.. but "Inis Mona" and "Calling The Rain" .. just, wow.

Equilibrium - "Sagas" - Good Folky Black/Death. Good album. Standout: Mana.

Bloodbath - "The Fathomless Mastery" - Well, Akerfeldt is back, but other than that, this is some pretty solid Morbid Angel worship. Not nearly as good as "Nightmares Made Flesh" but what are ya gonna do? Standout tracks: I guess "Iesous" and "Wretched Human Mirror."

Arghoslent - "Hornets of the Pogrom" - Truly awesome Death Metal album. 42 minutes of break-neckery!

Kalmah - "For the Revolution" - Again, another good album from a band that it seems it's all they do.

Misery Index - "Traitors" - Another awesome album. There's a whole lot of this album that kicks ass.

Severed Savior - "Servile Insurrection" - Another good album from the Brutal Death Metallers.

Unleashed - "Hammer Battalion" - Well, It's Unleashed. If you've heard one album, you've heard 'em all. But they're still really good. Another awesome album from these pioneers. Standout tracks: "Marching Off to War" and well, the rest of the album.



Execration - "A Feast For the Wretched" - Fairly mediocre brutal death. Aside from the 1 or 2 tracks, this pretty much sounds like every other brutal death album on Comatose records. By the way the 2 stand-out tracks are "Embedded in Gore" and "Full Fist Sodomy".

Arckanum - "Antikosmos" - Very good Black Metal. Not completely original, but like I said, it's Pagan Black Metal. What do you expect?

Arsis - "We Are The Nightmare" - "A Celebration of Guilt" is a fantastic album that this one doesn't quite have the chops to live up too. Anyway, good death metal album if you're interested.

Woods of Ypres - "Woods III: Deepest Roots and Darkest Blues" - Alot catchier than their demo "Against the seasons.." and I can see where they're trying to go with it, but still. Could be a lot better.

Prostitute Disfigurement - "Descendants of Depravity" - If you've heard one PD song, you've heard them all. Still enjoyable, though.

Warbringer - "War Without End" - Enjoyable upon first listen, but after that the sloppy playing shows through. Plus, it gets really repetitive. Anyway, standouts would be: "Total War" and "Hell on Earth"

The Berzerker - "The Reawakening" - Well. It's The Berzerker. Is this description REALLY going to do any good?

Psycroptic - "Ob(Servant)" - Typical Death Metal. Nothing special. No real stand outs.

Gojira - "The Way of All Flesh" - Another band I wasn't a huge fan of going in, but somewhat enjoyed their latest offering.

Hail of Bullets - "…Of Frost and War" - Other than the fact that they have what is most likely the coolest name ever, they also play some pretty good DM.

Into Eternity - "The Incurable Tragedy" - I guess it's OK. Never been a huge fan of 'em, did like "Buried in Oblivion". Anyway, concept album about cancer.. Some of it works, some of it doesn't. Standout Tracks: "The Incurable Tragedy 1, 2 and 3

Dragonforce - "Ultra Beatdown" - Despite the ridiculous artwork and album title, much improved over their latest awful release. More akin to "Sonic Firestorm".. Standout Track: "Heroes of Our Time" and "Inside the Winter Storm" amongst others..

Korpiklaani - "Korven Kuningas" - I'm not that big a fan, which is why I only gave it 3 stars, it was nothing special, in fact, it was pretty forgettable.



Metallica - "Death Magnetic" - This album IS the best album Metallica has released since '88 but that's the nicest complimentah I can give itah.. I can be honest and say that solos are uninspired, the drums are awful and the bass is completely nonexistent. Anyway, standouts are: "My Apocalypse" and "The Judas Kiss"

Iced Earth - "Crucible of Man" - Well, Barlow is back, and Iced Earth suck again. Getting rid of Ripper was a dumb move and this album proves it.

Opeth - "Watershed" - I wasn't the biggest fan going in, so my bias might show in my rating but.. it's fairly mediocre. Standouts (if I had to pick on): "Hessian Peel".. and that's it.

Aborted - "Strychnine.213" - I'm a big fan of theirs, but this album sucks the holy big one.



Guns n' Roses - "Chinese Democracy" - Truly awful album, in every respect..

Cryptopsy - "The Unspoken King" - I'm going to sit here politely and act like this doesn't exist.