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REVIEWS
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BEST OF 2011
STAFF TOP 10
  •
THE DEMO CORNER
Jesse  •  M.J.  •  J.A. Burt  •  Peter    
Rottenbucher  •  Chris  •  Phil Wickstrand
Roswell47  •  Garett  •  Greg
STAFF TOP TEN PICKS
STAFF TOP TEN PICKS
STAFF TOP TEN PICKS
Okay, I know it’s old news since they haven’t worked with them since the Metridium Fields album in 2006, but The End dropped the ball big time by not giving this talented Avant-Metal group a fair shot. Their loss is Translation Loss’s gain as Giant Squid are in top form with an album that offers something for everyone by appealing to a higher common denominator.
Giant Squid - Cenotes
10
BANDCAMP
MYSPACE
9
Moonsorrow - Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa
8
MYSPACE
This is an album that I may have ended up ranking higher had I been able to spend more time with it. A vast improvement over the somewhat disappointing V: Hävitetty.
Twisted Tower Dire - Make it Dark
7
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE
It’s kind of a shame that these guys get more exposure in Europe than they do here at home in the States. Hopefully that will start changing soon as TTD has really come into their own with Make it Dark.
YOB - Atma
6
YOB continues the crushing momentum they’ve built since reforming with the five songs that make up Atma.
5
2
4
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter - Moral & Wahnsinn
3
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE
Seriously, why hasn’t Nuclear Blast licensed this album for a North American release? It can’t be due to the fact hat they sing in German when you consider how popular so many other bands that don’t sing in English have gotten over here. You’ll be hard pressed to find an album with as much variety and as wide an appeal in 2011 as Moral & Wahnsinn.
1
2011
Philip A. Wickstrand
Interviewer
2011
Please check out Chris' full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
All content © 2012 Metal Psalter Webzine  |  Bands, labels, artists and photographers retain their respective © to their logos, artwork and photos  |  Design and Layout © 2012 Dynamico Designs
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STAFF TOP 10 LISTS
Jesse - 2008 2009 2010 2011
M. J. - 2008 2009 2010 2011
J. A. Burt - 2008 2009 2010 2011
Peter - 2008 2009 2010 2011
Rottenbucher - 2008 2009 2010
                          2011
Chris - 2009 2010 2011
Roswell47 - 2010 2011
Phil A. Wickstrand - 2010 2011
Garett - 2010 2011
Greg -  2010 2011
Lynora - 2009 2010
The Stream - 2009 2010
Deathstalker -  2009
Ilmarinen -  2008
Matt -  2008  2009
Kesh -  2009
Dinah -  2009
Phil A. -  2009

































Vreid - V
Vreid continue to come into their own with their fifth album, incorporating a lot more progressive touches than we have seen on their previous releases.
Symphony X’s first double disc studio album really drove home the point that they are one of the top acts in Progressive Metal history. The songs stand well on their own but gain a lot within the context of the full album.
Symphony X - Iconoclast
Please check out Deathstalker's full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
MYSPACE
Watch for Arkona to blow up in North America in the next few years. Barring a split or bad creative decisions, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with for a long time to come.
Arkona - Slovo
There were only two albums that I had to consider for Album of the Year and The Lay of Thrym only missed the top honor by a bare margin. I’d always wondered if Týr would top Eric the Red and I think they may have done just that here.
Týr - The Lay of Thyrm
Having self-released only 500 copies of the vinyl and having the digital release available on their Bandcamp page, Portland, OR’s Witch Mountain has slipped under the radar of a lot of people, which is a bloody shame. This is an amazing album sure to give eargasms to any Metalhead who loves their Doom or just Bluesy Metal in general. There have been no other 2011 releases that I’ve spent as much time listening to as this. And if you missed out on the vinyl when it was still available and don’t do digital, fear not - Profound Lore has picked them up and will be reissuing South of Salem, along with a brand new album in 2012.
Witch Mountain - South of Salem
Please check out Peter's full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
2011
YEAR END REVIEW
This year’s top ten has been more difficult for me than in years past. Usually things are fairly cut and dry as to what will make my list and one or two bands that really take me by surprise and make my list when I never thought they would. That has not been the case this year - there has been a dearth of great albums, but no real surprises.

And though I’ve never really bothered with honorable mentions before, I’ll have to here as we’ve had great albums that didn’t quite make my list from the likes of Metsatöll,  Wolves in the Throne Room, Einvera, Spellcaster, The Flight of Sleipnir, Suidakra, Grayceon and Pentagram.

2011 was great. I hope 2012 will bring me just as many amazing albums and a few pleasant surprises, as well.
MYSPACE
Please check out J. A. Burt's full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
BAND'S WEBSITE
MYSPACE
YOB - Atma
Please check out Peter's full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
Please check out Peter's full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
BAND'S WEBSITE
MYSPACE
Please check out Peter's full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
BANDCAMP
MYSPACE
All content © 2012 Metal Psalter Webzine  |  Bands, labels, artists and photographers retain their respective © to their logos, artwork and photos  |  Design and Layout © 2012 Dynamico Designs
Please check out Rottenbucher's full review by clicking on the album artwork to the left.
BAND'S WEBSITE
MYSPACE
BAND'S WEBSITE