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HardRockChick’s Top 10 Albums of 2009

by hardrockchick [about 8 months, 21 days ago.]

It was actually a pretty easy process to pick my top 10 albums for 2009. All I had to do was look at what was played the most on my last.fm and itunes, filter by year, do some balancing to account for differing release dates, and there you have it- behavioral based research! I had the top 7 pegged perfectly beforehand. I guess you could say that this list speaks to my somewhat eclectic tastes, for which I make no apologies!

10: Goatwhore’s Carving Out the Eyes of God

I missed Goatwhore three times this year….something that will be remedied with my first show of 2010 when I see them with Devildriver. Though I don’t have any real personal affinity for the album, it’s been a reliable source when I’m looking for something hard & fast.

9: Slayer’s World Painted Blood

Seeing Slayer three times this past year and having one more to look forward to in January makes me happy. I’m looking forward to hearing more of these new songs live. It’s a great album- I get in ‘Slayer’ moods and this album slots in nicely with the rest of their material.

8: SSSC’s Street Sweeper Social Club

SSSC’s debut album will always be a go-to record to get me amped up. Not only do the tracks mean to be a call to action politically, but seeing them open for Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction this past summer means that I am programmed to think of SSSC as the party starters. Besides being a huge Tom Morello fan, it’s been great to see local music man Boots Riley in action.

7: Puscifer’s C is For…

I’m a big Maynard fan, but I didn’t find myself going back to the first Puscifer release a lot. This EP has me wrapped around it’s little finger. It has two live recording of tracks from the first album, and I prefer the arrangement of them here better than the original. But it’s ‘Polar Bear’, ‘Potions’, and ‘The Humbling River’ that are the great songs that hooked me. And hearing them live after having so many problems getting to a Puscifer show was a great experience.

6. A Place to Bury Stranger’s Exploding Head

I’d been anxiously awaiting this album for a while, having been a huge fan of their debut. It didn’t disappoint. While I still prefer their first album to this one, it’s a solid, better produced sophomore effort for one of my favorite newer bands. And the tracks sound great live. I look forward to seeing them again in March.

5: Satyricon’s The Age of Nero

Satyricon’s brand of accessible black metal continued with this album, one that’s been in heavy rotation for me this year. Hook laden riffs and phenomenal drumming make me wonder why this album hasn’t made it on any other top ten lists I’ve seen. And finally seeing them live was a dream come true….I have a *tiny* crush on Satyr.

4: The Horror’s Primary Colours

Hmmm….where to begin? I totally dissed them when I first heard the album because it didn’t sound anything like their debut album Strange House. But I kept hearing about how good it was, so I buckled down and listened to it again, and fell in love…hard. I got to see them a lot this year, and it was all amazing.

3: Behemoth’s Evangelion

Demigod made me a fan, but Evangelion made me a fanatic. It’s just brutal, pure and complex. I got to see them three times this year, and will be seeing them twice in January. Very excited!

2: Alice in Chain’s Black Gives Way to Blue

AiC has always been one of ‘my’ bands. Everyone, including myself, was skeptical about this album, but it really overdelivered. At first, I complained about the lyrics to a couple songs, or how it sounds like Dirt and Jar of Flies had a schizo baby. But a few listens in, and I fell in love with AiC all over again. And seeing them live was simply incredible. I’m very excited to be seeing them three times in the new year. It’s just a shame I can’t listen to them in the car….

1: Mastodon’s Crack the Skye

It comes as no surprise to many that this is my number one album of the year. I saw it performed in it’s entirety six times this year, and if there was an opportunity to see it again tomorrow, I’d be there. I had always been a bit on the fence about Mastodon- loving a few songs but not being too excited about others. But the first time I sat down and listened to CTS back in March, by song two I was already blown away. Like Evangelion above, this album turned me into a fanatic. It’s helped me through a lot this year, and it will probably always hold a special place in my heart.

Head over to Bay Area Metal Scene to see the Top 5 Local Metal albums I helped select.

Genre(s): Lists,Thoughts on Albums,You should check out:

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You Should Check Out: Dirt Communion

by hardrockchick [about 11 months, 19 days ago.]

Name: Dirt Communion

From: Reno, NV

Shares DNA With: Down, Goatwhore, The Sword

Feels Like: A dirty communion on the banks of the Mississippi River

Key to Success: I don’t know about you, but I generally never tire of the heavy, southern metal sound.

Needs To Work On: Some of the vocals could use a little polish.

Download their music here.

Genre(s): You should check out:

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You Should Check Out: Sylosis

by hardrockchick [about 1 year, 0 months ago.]

Name: Sylosis

From: Reading, UK

Shares DNA With: Metallica, Lamb of God, Meshuggah, Pantera

Feels Like: A bunch of my favorite metal bands put in a blender and made into something extra delish.

Key to Success: Well crafted songs + well produced = WIN. Plus I’ve heard they are excellent live. And accents. HRC loves the accents.

Needs To Work On: Oh, you know…US Tour…..plus, I think they should avoid describing themselves as ‘epic thrash metal’, even though it sounds pretty accurate.