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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
Who knew that good metal came from, of all places, Taiwan?  Melodic death metal with the country’s native folk influences is combined within the band’s sound to make for a solid album’s worth of music.
ChthoniC - Mirror of Retribution
10
BAND'S WEBSITE
MYSPACE
        General Surgery - Corpus in Extremis - Analysing Necrocriticism
9
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE
The Swedish death metal band is no longer a band on the rise.  This year marks the band’s official coming out party with another appearance at the 2009 Maryland Death Fest, and with Corpus in Extremis, their mark on the year is now permanently scarred into the minds of death metal fans everywhere.
Sonata Arctica - The Days of Grays
8
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE
Most people will say that Sonata Arctica has lost a step in recent years.  With The Days of Grays, the band proves that is not true.  With melodies that are just as catchy as their previous efforts, the band continues to provide new wrinkles within their sound.
Redemption - Snowfall on Judgment Day
7
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE
One of the more surprising signings this year was the progressive metal quintet to Century Media Records.  That’s no slight on Redemption, as they had proven to be one of the up and comers within the scene prior to the signing.  Snowfall on Judgment Day promises to be the band’s official introduction to the world at large with some heavy promotion.
Epica - Design Your Universe
6
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE
Epica lives up to their namesake with another epic album.  This album manages to find the perfect balance between its two previous releases.  And did I mention that Simone Simons continues to be one of the best female voices in the metal scene today?
Yob - The Great Cessation
5
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE
After a few years away from the metal scene, the doom metal trio from Oregon announced their return in a big way with this album.   A new label, new album, and the same style of music that got them here, Yob proves that the time away hasn’t changed them.
Fejd - Storm
2
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE
It always seems to be the case that on many of my lists, there has to be a folk album included.  This year’s lucky winner is Fejd, with their album Storm.  Natural sounding with a load of emotion behind the music, this album is clearly worthy of a spot, even without the seemingly requisite “folk album per year-end list.”
Insomnium - Across the Dark
4
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE
It seems that every year that Insomnium releases an album, they end up flying under the radar.  Not this year, as they finally have a breakthrough in Across the Dark.  A wider range in vocals combined with the band’s usual melodic style of doom make for one of the most solid efforts this year.
Glittertind - Landkjenning
3
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE
Very rarely does good epic metal go under the 40 minute mark, but Glittertind does just that.  Folk metal that will transport you onto a Viking ship drinking mead, Landkjenning grabs your attention and doesn’t let go, and then leaves you wanting more.
Arkona - Goi, Rode, Goi!
1
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE
There is little doubt which album takes home the top spot on this year’s top ten list.  Having officially planted their folk metal flag on North American soil last year with their signing to Napalm Records, Arkona proves their worth with an album that will gain many new fans along the way.  And yes, I called it last year that 2009 was going to be Arkona’s year.
Please check out my full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
Orphaned Land and Wintersun will finally release new albums this year, to mixed results.  Orphaned Land has a lot to live up to after the last album Mabool, and certainly, the long wait between albums has fans waiting to see how the new album will fare.  The same can be said for Wintersun, who has expectations of their own to live up to after their self-titled debut.  Ultimately, the new Orphaned Land will live up to some of those expectations while the new Wintersun will likely fall well short of those expectations.
Yes, I know there are people that had given up on the band at the turn of this century, but given the somewhat positive response for Storm, the band’s first album with Nell Sigland, there were a few that were willing to give them one more chance.  Well, that chance has come and gone with a rather mediocre effort for a band that had some expectations for the first time since the release of Aegis.
Even though this decade is nearing its conclusion, it has every intention of going out with a bang.  There were some spectacular albums released this year, as well as some not-so-spectacular albums.  While the year wasn’t nearly as filled with major names making comebacks, there were still some bands that put out some great albums, and, in the cases of Iron Maiden and Dark Tranquillity, great DVD releases.  It was hard to pare the list down to ten albums, but it has been done, and my results will cause some groans and some cheers and, for a prediction, maybe a spit-take or two.
2009
Peter
Interviewer, Reporter, Music and Movie Reviewer
Theatre of Tragedy - Forever is the World
2010 FORECAST
2009
2009
Please check out Kesh'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 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 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.
YEAR END REVIEW
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
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