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Staff Top 10 Lists
J. A. Burt
2008
2009
Deathstalker
2009
Chris
2009
Dinah
2009
Phil A.
2009
Matt
2008
2009
Ilmarinen
2008
The Stream
2009
Lynora
2009
Rottenbucher
2008
2009
M. J.
2008
2009
Peter
2008
2009
Kesh
2009
Jesse
2008
2009
Staff Top 10 Lists
A band that I knew of, but had never bothered to listen to until their new album was put in front of me courtesy of Relapse.  An angry, Southern, groovy death explosion of emotion, The Hell Preacher caught me totally off guard with its intensity and infectious riffs. An early-year addition to this list that never got bumped off.
Birds of Prey - The Hell Preacher
10
MYSPACE
God Dethroned - Passiondale
9
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE
Passiondale is one of those albums from a veteran band that seemed to come out of nowhere.  I was not expecting an album like this from God Dethroned, but they showed me that they’re still fully capable of making seriously intense and catchy death metal and are a force in this genre.
Asphyx - Death… the Brutal Way
8
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE
Death…the Brutal Way is one of the many “comeback” albums in recent years and one of the few to really deliver.  Asphyx comes back after many years to show everyone how it’s done, and they haven’t missed a step.  It’s hard to explain how fluidly they were able to just step right back into the game and release something so destructive and memorable.  They just humbled a lot of bands out there.
Arcana Coelestia - Le Mirage de l'Idéal
7
MYSPACE
While randomly sifting through my stack of promos, I put this album in and was completely shocked.  This is death doom done right, and this Italian duo have created a hypnotic and massively emotional opus for their second album.  An absolutely huge amount of sound, Arcana Coelestia have instantly put themselves onto my short list of bands to watch.
Skyfire - Esoteric
6
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE
Another album dropped into my lap by chance that blew me away.  Melodic death done the way it should be done, Esoteric is hugely catchy with a multitude of instruments and lively solos and is not repetitive.  The conviction and passion in this album is astounding.
Crown the Lost - Blind Faith Loyalty
5
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE
After a fantastic debut that probably went unheard by just about everyone, it was a total surprise to me to find out that Crown the Lost had been signed to Cruz del Sur and had a second album out. I wasn’t surprised to find out that Blind Faith Loyalty was a superb album, but I was however taken aback at just how incredible it actually was.  Any fan of thrash with a classical singer should get this immediately.
The Chasm - Farseeing the Paranormal Abysm
2
BAND'S WEBSITE
It’s rare these days for a death metal band to be so uniquely independent in their style.  The Chasm has been releasing albums for a long time now, but Farseeing the Paranormal Abysm is their crown jewel and by far a pinnacle in the world of death metal that should not be missed by anyone.
Portal - Swarth
4
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE
As enigmatic as any band these days, Portal’s music is just as difficult to understand.  With two albums under their belt that left most people either in awe or just scratching their heads, Portal’s true potential has finally been unleashed in the form of Swarth, a masterpiece of harrowing, dissonant death metal that defies every rule in the book. In an age that seems to have turned over every stone, Portal discovered something that no one else has.
Sad Legend - The Revenge of Soul
3
MYSPACE
Another “comeback” album, but one that I never thought I would see, and for it to be as exquisite as it is is even more dumbfounding. A legend, so to speak, in the Korean metal scene, Sad Legend’s disappearance was untimely and unfortunate, as they seemed to be at the top of their game.  The Revenge of Soul is everything that a Sad Legend fan could have hoped for after so many years. “Maruta” is easily one of the best songs I’ve ever heard.
Be’lakor - Stone’s Reach
1
MYSPACE
Melodic death metal in name only, Stone’s Reach is an opus of supreme talent and conviction that just was not rivaled by anyone this year. Each song is a truly epic experience.  While not ground-breaking in terms of style, Be’lakor just raised the bar to an almost unattainable level with Stone’s Reach.  They put every ounce of their hearts into this album, and the result is a flat-out masterpiece.
Please check out my full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
Please check out my full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
Please check out Phil A.'s full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
2009
Jesse
Webmaster, Administrator, Interviewer, Reviewer, and Reporter
2009
2009
YEAR END REVIEW
2009 was typical in that it started a little slowly, but before you knew it, there were dozens of albums to choose from by years’ end.  However, like in 2008, my album-of-the-year didn’t find me, I had to find it.  Part of it comes down to expectations and albums that you’re looking forward to, and there just weren’t very many for me this year.  On the flip side, the albums that I was expecting big things from were either just pretty good or they fell flat on their faces.

Despite all of that, the albums on my Top Ten list for 2009 are in no way just “good enough.”  They’re all remarkable and worthy of any metal fan’s attention, but it’s been a few years since I was losing sleep trying to choose between three or four nearly-perfect albums for the top spot in the same year.  I have a feeling that 2010 might be that year with Orphaned Land and possibly a new Agalloch.

My Top Ten list for 2009 has a few regulars, but is mostly populated by bands that either came out of nowhere for me or I just wasn’t expecting anything from them at all.  It’s my humble opinion that you would be doing yourself a favor by checking them out.  Who knows, you might actually agree with me on a few of them.
Please check out Matt's full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
Please check out my full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
Please check out Matt's full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
Please check out my full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
Please check out my full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
Please check out Matt's full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
Please check out my full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
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