Top 15 Metal Albums 2011

With the year coming to a close, I would like to share my thoughts on my favorite metal/hardcore/DumbNewGenre albums of 2011. There were a lot of anticipated records that dropped this year, some surprising, plenty disappointing, and others fulfilling as expected. All in all, a good year in the heavy music scene. Here are my favorite 15 albums of 2011.

 

Top 15 of 2011

15. Molotov Solution - Insurrection (BlkHeart Group)

Probably the heaviest album I heard all year, Molotov rocked it in their third full-length release. It would be lazy and easy to lump them in the generic deathcore scene, but their creative and punishing riffs made this album stand out above the rest in a relatively muddled genre.

Song to blast: The Final Hour (feat. Adam Warren of Oceano)

14. Animals As Leaders - Weightless (Prosthetic Records)

I thoroughly enjoyed the direction Tosin Abasi took the band in their sophomore effort. A lot more of an electronic feel, and overall better sound structure than their first album. It also shows the rest of the band got a little more involved in the songwriting process, and it did not hurt one bit. Excellent instrumental album.

Song to blast: Odessa

13. Becoming The Archetype - Celestial Completion (Solid State Records)

BTA have gotten to the point in their careers musically where they can pretty much do what they want, and their fans will still eat it up. Plenty of experimentation in this album (wait, is that a ska song in there??) while bringing back all the elements that make them a great band: heavy and melodic.

Song to blast: The Magnetic Sky

12. August Burns Red - Leveler (Solid State Records)

The fourth album from this metalcore outfit from Pennsylvania, this album was a tad disappointing. While Leveler certainly is a fantastic cd, it is probably my least favorite album from them. No knock on the musicianship of these guys, just not the memorable songs that their previous albums possess.

Song to blast: Internal Cannon

11. Of Legends - Stranded (Season of Mist)

Of Legends, formed by former members of Sky Eats Airplane, Periphery and The Secret Handshake, put together a formidable first release. Centered around the idea of the zombie apocalypse (which better happen), this album takes complex drumming and time signatures and then beats your ears to a pulp with heavy riffs.

Song to blast: Save the Humans

10. Iwrestledabearonce - Ruining It For Everybody (Century Media)

IWABO took the next step from a more comedic metal to a legitimate progressive metal band. While they still retain their humorous element, they have proven to doubters that they are indeed a creative force in the genre, pushing limits with their unique vocals and odd guitar working. Very impressive from start to finish.

Song to blast: Karate Nipples

9. Architects (UK) - The Here and Now (Century Media)

A lot of people, and I mean a lot of people, were disappointed with the musical direction Architects took after a crushing third release, Hollow Crown. With that said, this record is fantastic from beginning to end. More emphasis put on vocalist Sam Carter's singing voice, which is very Dallas Green-like, while still maintaining an active and heavy sound.

Song to blast: Delete.Rewind

8. Oh, Sleeper - Children of Fire (Solid State Records)

Oh, Sleeper have, in my mind, arrived at greatness in the metal community. Initially drawing comparisons to Underoath, the band has now carved out a niche with their melodic overlays complimented by their aggressive guitar/vocals. Also, their "soft" songs are incredible, a very good touch to a fun album from beginning to end.

Song to blast: Endseekers

7. The Human Abstract - Digital Veil (E1 Music)

Musically, this is probably the most impressive album that came out this year. However, for whatever reason, the replay value of this album just is not as high as some of the others on my list. From front to back, though, the creativity of guitarist AJ Minette is on full display and makes for a great listen.

Song to blast: Digital Veil

6. Born Of Osiris - The Discovery (Sumerian Records)

Easily one of the most anticipated releases of the year, Born Of Osiris continue to grow musically and take flight in popularity. A fantastic use of the keys (not just for novelty sake) along with their expected creative guitar work, BOO took off from a spastic metal band to a full-fledged progressive metal force.

Song to blast: Recreate

5. Of Mice & Men - The Flood (Rise Records)

I never really got into Of Mice & Men when they put out their debut album, but after reading on MetalSucks that it was worth a listen, I checked it out and was blown away. Very nasty riffs across the board, this album is fun and catchy and not the least bit like their peers on Rise, separating themselves from the other "post-hardcore" bands out there.

Song to blast: O.G. Loko

4. All Shall Perish - This Is Where It Ends (Nuclear Blast)

Another highly anticipated album from the jokingly self-proclaimed "band that invented deathcore," ASP did not disappoint. Much more of the heavier elements from their second album were brought back, while still keeping the melodic element brought by their talented guitarist Francesco Artusato. 

Song to blast: There Is Nothing Left

3. Protest The Hero - Scurrilous (Vagrant Records)

Once again, Protest have found a way to reinvent themselves and continually push the boundaries of progressive metal. Front man Rody Walker had more to do with the song writing process in this album, and it cleverly shows. Also, his singing voice is put on display more in this effort, and it is easily one of the best in the business.

Song to blast: C'est La Vie
 

2. Stray From The Path - Rising Sun (Sumerian Records)

One of the best DIY bands around, Stray From The Path put out a great album with their third release. Strong messages throughout the album about the condition of the music scene today, as well as personal heartache from members of the band. The band is finally beginning to get the credit they deserve as being one of the more creative and hardworking hardcore bands in the scene, and this album encompasses that perfectly.

Song to blast: Death Beds

1. Arsonists Get All The Girls - Motherland (Century Media)

Still cannot get over how awesome this album is. Seriously. From front to back, it's like a journey. Each song flows into another perfectly. The drumming is frantic, the guitar-work is precise, the vocals lay the foundation and the keys bring it all together. "Progressive Deathcore" is the flavor-of-the-week in the underground metal community right now, but no one really did it better this year than Arsonists. Their "Surf Metal" style along with their Nintendo-esque sound brought to fruition my favorite album of the year.

Song to blast: The Whole Album!

Honorable Mentions

Against The Flood - Home Truths (Siege of Amida Records)

Attila - Outlawed (Artery Recordings)

Counterparts - The Current Will Carry Us (Victory Records)

The Famine - Architects of Guilt (Solid State Records)

Structures - Divided By (Sumerian Records)

Tesseract - One (Century Media)

Trivium - In Waves (Roadrunner Records)

Unearth - Darkness In The Light (Metal Blade)

Favorite Non-Metal Album of 2011

Bayside - Killing Time (Wind-up Records)

More Music to Get Dirty To

It's been a qwhile since the interwebs has let me grace its wonderful cyclone of information and spectacle, but it's time to go through some albums that have dropped since Spring has sprung. I was kind of anticipating 2011 to be a good year in metal, and so far (apart from a few exceptions), it has not been a letdown.

In no particular order:

Tesseract - One

While they more or less cheated be sandwiching their EP from 2010 into their full length, One is a must have for any progressive metal aficionados. Another one of those bands in that "djent" category that really shouldn't exist (it's just a sound!), they have a knack for blending ambient sounds with heavy riffs to make one tasty album (no pun intended).

The Soulless - Isolated

Another UK band, The Soulless present their take on modern American-stylised metalcore (think August Burns Red with a little more crunch). While this album has a few bright spots (the opening track "Unaltered" is pretty impressive), overall it is fairly unoriginal and somewhat boring. They have some chops, and execute fairly well, but it's more or less all been done before.

Scale The Summit - The Collective

This band has certainly come a long way since their debut Monument in 2007. Their lead guitarist, Chris Letchford, is one of the brightest young guitarist in metal today, and his feel for a broad range of sound is clearly present throughout The Collective. No one element feels overused, and the lack of vocals never proves to be an issue.

Protest The Hero - Scurrilous

Not many bands in the metal/hardcore scene really dish out the shock factor quite like Protest does. When 2008's Fortress was released, folks not in the know quickly discovered what Rody Walker and company were all about: blowing minds. Obviously it's unfair to expect the same "awe factor," but the band continued to build on their last performance and put together an excellent album, mixing their humor and brilliant song structures almost to perfection.

Legend - The Pale Horse

Meh. Sounds like regurgitated Bury Your Dead with some modern deathcore/moshcore elements. Good music to fold your laundry to, or get punched in the face by your jealous bro who's hat you accidentally knocked off in the pit. Other than that, exceptionally unoriginal and repetitive.

The Human Abstract - Digital Veil

Pull me. From the gallows. Never has a band needed a member as much as THA needed A.J. Minette. His resurgence with the band (after a few years of studying music theory at University of Southern California) brought to life some amazing tunes in their second full-length with his presence. Not only are the songs complex, they are also captivating and catchy, a blend that is hard to reach and often missed. Not to mention new front man Travis Richter brings energy and humility the the old one was missing.

Emery - We Do What We Want

A very fitting album title for a band that has tread waters all over the underground music scene. Ranging from heavy breakdowns to ballad-esque melodies, this album encompasses their entire career covering all the bases, doing what they want. 

Born Of Osiris - The Discovery

One of the most hyped metal releases for 2011, The Discovery definitely delivers. Another band that initially relied on shock-factor to gain fans, their maturation as musicians is noticeable throughout this album. Nothing gimmicky; just solid experimental metal while keeping that "BOO" sound that so many metal heads have come to love.

Becoming The Archetype - Celestial Completion

I have always been a fairly big proponent of Becoming The Archetype, but this album completely shook my understanding and appreciation of them in the most positive way. Spoiler alert: there is a ska song mixed in there. This band pushed themselves to new creative heights, doing things that most bands today can't comprehend. Pulling from various influences and giving it their own little twist, easily one of my favorite albums of the year.

As Blood Runs Black - Instinct

After what seemed like an endless prolonging, their sophomore album was finally released in March, nearly five years after their popular debut Allegiance hit the scene. After a slew of lineup changes, ABRB kept up their death metal influenced metalcore sound, but I can't help but think their sound is still stuck in that time frame of 2006. While there is plenty to enjoy in Instinct, it didn't leave the lasting impression that I was expecting/hoping for.

Arsonists Get All The Girls - Motherland

Yet another band that pushes their creative limits in the metal world, Arsonists hit their stride in Motherland. While they may never quite recapture the sporadic nature of their first two releases, their sound is easily more refined, without softening themselves or compromising the strangeness of their arrangements. Very fun listen all the way through.

And earlier when I said this was in no particular order, turns out it was in reverse alphabetical order. Oops.

Here are some releases coming up that are making me salivate like Paula Dean in a staring contest with a stick of butter:

August Burns Red - Leveler (June 21)

The Black Dahlia Murder - Ritual (June 21)

In Flames - Sounds of a Playground Fading (June 21)

Unearth - Darkness In The Light (July 5)

All Shall Perish - This Is Where It Ends (July 26)

iwrestledabearonce - Ruining It For Everybody (July 26)

Pre-Spring Pac-12 Overview: North Division

Daylight savings time is upon us, and that can only mean one thing: time to start counting down the days til baseball season and the NBA can take a back seat to the start of another fantastic college football year.

The landscape of the sport started to shake up a little bit last year, with the Big 12 losing Colorado to the Pac-10 and the Nebraska to the Big Ten, Utah also jumping ship to play in the Pac-10, BYU making the move to be an independent, and Boise State moving to the Mountain West. With the two new additions, the new Pac-12 will split into two divisions and add a conference championship game at the end of the season.

With spring practices getting underway within the next few weeks, let's take a look at the main issues surrounding each program, and how they rank going into the month of April.

 North Division:

 6. Washington State - Wazzu showed plenty of improvement during the 2010 season, notching their first conference victory in what seemed like decades (Alex Brink, where are you?) against an up-and-down Oregon State team, as well as keeping games competitive unlike the previous three seasons. This season they return their elusive and growing quarterback Jeff Tuel, who has a good grasp of the offense and a solid wide receiver core headlined by Sophomore-to-be Marques Wilson. Expect more competitive play from the Cougs this coming season, and with a fairly forgivable first part of the season, with games against UNLV, Idaho State and San Diego State, an increase in wins is probable. Throw in another upset in league play and getting close to 6 wins isn't entirely far-fetched, quite an accomplishment considering what this program has seen as of late.

5. California - With a new quarterback, new running back, and an inexperienced front-seven on defense, Cal will have a lot of questions to answer between now and the start of the season. After a lackluster 2010 campaign in which they were solid (often dominant) at home and generally awful on the road, a strong year is needed before coach Jeff Tedford's rear end is on the hot seat. The loss of four-year starter Kevin Riley at quarter back and NFL-bound running back Shane Vereen hurt the most, with no proven play-makers waiting in the wings. The Golden Bears always seem to find production in the running game, but the anonymity across the roster will make contending for a bowl game a stiff challenge.

4. Washington - Even with Jake Locker departing, a good young nucleus is there to get back to a bowl game for the second straight year. Running back Chris Polk will have to carry the load early on until the new starter behind center is acclimated, which most likely will be last year's back up sophomore Keith Price. There are plenty of weapons across the board at wide receiver, and defensive coordinator Nick Holt has the defense on the upswing, which helped the Huskies close out last season strong, taking the Pac-10's third-best bowl slot. This year the schedule is fairly rough, drawing USC and Utah from the South, along with a non-conference trip to Nebraska. This team is still not quite a contender, but should continue to improve with the talent they are starting to accumulate.

3. Oregon State - After a frustrating and disappointing 5-7 campaign in 2010, the Beavers are itching to get all of that behind them. With Jacquizz Rodgers taking his skill set to the next level, OSU has plenty of questions to answer going into this season. Can Ryan Katz play like he did in the beginning of the season and forget about his late season struggles? Who will step in for Quizz in the running game? Can the defense regain its standard confidence that rarely showed up last season? There are still a multitude of weapons on offense, lead by James Rodgers' return, and enough experience on defense to get back to a bowl game, but contention for the North is still out of sight until more consistency is developed on both sides of the ball.

2. Stanford - Andrew Luck. That's really all that needs to be said. While he is capable of starting right now for about half of the NFL franchises, he decided to hone his skills one more year on The Farm. This move looks pretty smart considering the uncertainty of the NFL's future, and with a great cast of players back on both sides of the ball, another double-digit campaign is not out of the question. New coach David Shaw should keep things rolling in place of departed Jim Harbaugh, having a good report with Luck and the rest of the offense. Switching to the 3-4 defense last season brought this group to another level, and with a disruptive  group of linebackers lead by Shane Skov, expect the intensity to remain. The date against Oregon November 12 at Stanford will likely decide who wears the North division crown.

1. Oregon - Chip Kelly (and Phil Knight of course) has the University of Oregon at a level the program has never been. After winning back-to-back Pac-10 titles, along with an appearance in last year's National Championship Game, the Ducks are the team to beat in the league in 2011. The offense is loaded, led by quarterback Darron Thomas running the machine, and Heisman Trophy contender LaMichael James in the backfield. The offensive line and defensive front have a few holes to fill, but able bodies are on the depth chart to fill in. An intriguing match up with LSU in Dallas to start the season will let fans know if this is another title run year or not, and again, the game at Stanford (with the Cardinal having revenge on their mind ) will probably give the winner a spot in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game.

Next up I will look at the South Division, which welcomes newcomers Utah and Colorado to what should be a wide-open race.

Brief Album Reviews

We're already two months into 2011, and already a handful of notable metal/hardcore artists have released or are nearly ready to release an album.

Architects (UK) - The Here and Now

Architects have been steadily growing in popularity over the past couple years, making plenty of waves with their 2009 release Hollow Crown, solidifying themselves as one of the up-and-coming metal acts across the pond with their chaotic nature, yet elegant presentation. This release is a step in a different direction, as they experiment more with melodies and clean vocals, similar to that of Alexisonfire. While fans who were expecting another brutal effort may be disappointed, the album is still fairly heavy (Delete, Rewind), while the songwriting has grown and shown more maturity (An Open Letter To Myself). It's hard to find bands that aren't bound by their genre, and Architects did a nice job of broadening their musical horizons.

8/10

Bayside - Killing Time

Bayside is one of those bands who's music continually impresses throughout each album. With longevity that most bands would die for, the New York-based punk/pop band has probably put out their best effort to date. A great combination of brutal honesty in their lyrics, and unmatched catchiness throughout, Killing Time hits on many issues that are personal yet easy to relate to. The first three tracks are stellar, mixing tempo while getting a glimpse into how the pace of the album will go. The only issue is that the record is so short, by the time it really gets rolling, it's already over. Awesome all around.

9/10

Darkest Hour - The Human Romance

Their first release from new label home Metal Blade, Darkest Hour has produced another solid album to add to their discography. Fleeing from Victory Records potentially got the hopes a little too high for many fans, including myself. So while this album has a lot of excellent bright spots (Savor the Kill, Violent By Nature), there are an equal amount of yawns. This has been the case with DH in most of their albums though; enough great songs to put together an excellent live set list, but a lot of filler to go with it.

7/10

Emmure - Speaker of the Dead

Oh man, where to begin on this album. Emmure has never blown anyone away with musical genius or thoughtful content, but they carved an interesting niche in a watered down metalcore world, offering strong energy and catchy-as-hell songs. Their lack of musicianship really shines in this album, and if you read the interview with vocalist Frankie Palmeri explaining the lyrical content from Speaker, his sanity begs to be questioned. While there are a couple rowdy songs (Children of Cybertron, Area 64-66) the rest of the album is more or less a joke that is actually kind of funny to listen to, then gets tiresome real quick.

3.5/10

The Famine - The Architects of Guilt

It generally takes a lot for me to get excited about a pure Death Metal album, but The Famine are the exception to the rule with this release. Their honest brutality and relentless songs are very difficult to dislike. Instead of conforming with their contemporaries to sell more albums, they remain heavy without being so for the sake of being heavy. The opening three tracks display their innate ability to be earth crushingly heavy, yet keep enough melody to keep it interesting, and for lack of a better word, awesome.

8.5/10

Releases coming up in the next couple months to keep an eye on:

Scale The Summit - The Collective (3/1)

Children of Bodom - Relentless Reckless Forever (3/8)

The Human Abstract - Digital Veil (3/8)

As Blood Runs Black - Instinct (3/15)

Onward To Olympus - The War Within Us (3/15)

Born Of Osiris - The Discovery (3/22)

Protest The Hero - Scurrilous (3/22)

Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising (3/29)

Becoming The Archetype - Celestial Completion (3/29)

Emery - We Do What We Want (3/29)

Noteworthy Tours (Pacific Northwest): March

This is an excellent month for Portland hosting some outstanding acts in the underground metal/hardcore scene.

Norma Jean
Stick To Your Guns
Impending Doom
Of Legends
Heart Attack High (Local)

Sunday March 6 @ Hawthorne Theater [Hardcore/Metal]

First stop in Portland for Norma Jean since their latest album dropped (same for STYG and Impending), and it was their best release to date.

Kataklysm
All Shall Perish
Decrepit Birth
Conducting From The Grave
Abysmal Dawn

Sunday March 6 @ Branx (Former Loveland) [Death Metal]

Death Metal veterans Kataklysm are awesome live, as are All Shall Perish. Good musicianship all around from these bands. Head bangers/black tees-a-plenty.

Whitechapel
The Acacia Strain
Veil of Maya
Chelsea Grin
I Declare War

Wednesday March 9 @ Hawthorne Theater [Deathcore/Death Metal]

Death Metal/Hardcore galore at this show. The Acacia Strain is always enjoyable live, while Veil of Maya is a must see act, featuring one of the better guitarists in metal (Marc Okubo).

Born of Osiris
Darkest Hour
The Human Abstract
As Blood Runs Black
Regiment 26 (Local)
Gaia (Local)

Sunday March 13 @ Hawthorne Theater [Metal/Progressive Metal/Hardcore]

A great mix of bands, this is a can't miss show. Darkest Hour is a pioneer in the metal/hardcore scene, while Born of Osiris has brought a new wave of metal to another level. Not to mention The Human Abstract's original guitarist has returned and brought their music up another notch.

OSU Football: Who will take over for Jacquizz?

After a tremendous career at Oregon State, sensational running back Jacquizz Rodgers opted to leave for the NFL a year early instead of staying for his senior year. This came as somewhat of a surprise to Beaver Nation, who had high hopes of Quizz and older brother James playing together for one final year in Corvallis. Since Jacquizz was projected as a late second or early third round pick, coupled with being a running back (who generally have short shelf lives at the next level), his decision to leave was a logical, albeit disappointing one. His skill set wasn't necessarily going to improve with another year of college, and running the risk of an injury just wasn't worth potentially hurting his professional future. 

Now that one of the most productive players in Oregon State football history has departed, the big question heading into Spring and the off-season is who will take over for Quizz behind Ryan Katz in the OSU backfield? Let's take a look at some names to get familiar with.

Returning Players:

#19 Jovan Stevenson, 5'11" 186 lbs (So.): Stevenson played a bit as a true freshman behind Quizz in 2009, but sat out last season due to injury. He should be back to full strength by the time Spring ball rolls around. He is a little slight of weight, but is very shifty and has good acceleration and could be a nice weapon, although it remains to be seen if he can get the bulk of the carries.

#24 Ryan McCants, 6'1" 228 lbs (Sr.): McCants was supposed to be the all-star running back to take over for Yvenson Bernard in 2008, but after a lackluster performance in his first start, he took a back seat to Jacquizz for the next three seasons. A bruiser who has had an inconsistent career, McCants is looking to redeem himself for his senior year and play up to the hype he had when he landed here.

#34 Jordan Jenkins, 6'1" 211 lbs (Jr.): Jenkins rose up the depth charts this past season to be the primary backup to Jacquizz in 2010. Not exceptionally fast or shifty, but has good vision and runs hard and always falls forward.

#22 Malcolm Marable, 5'7" 157 lbs (rFr.): Built in the same mold as Jacquizz and Bernard, Marable redshirted last season, getting most of his action on the practice squad. A very shifty back, he will be looking to prove himself and continue the trend of diminutive running backs at OSU.

Incoming Players:

Malcolm Agnew, 5'10" 180 lbs (Fr.): A three star running back from St. Louis, MO, his father played for the St. Louis Rams in the 90's and was a part of their Super Bowl winning team. His coaches rave about his instinct and his durability. Don't be surprised if he contributes right away. 

Storm Woods, 5'11" 205 lbs (Fr.): Another three star back, Woods hails from Pflugerville, Texas and will join the team presumably in the Fall. Woods makes quick cuts and has decent breakaway speed and could also be a contributor in 2011.

Terron Ward, 5'7" 185 lbs (Fr.): A 2010 recruit, Ward greyshirted last season and will have four years of eligibility left. Another shorter back, Ward was a sprinter in high school and played at California powerhouse De La Salle. 

It's always hard to tell who will come out atop the depth charts by the time the first game rolls around, but these are names to get familiar with. Most likely, one of these guys will separate themselves from the pack and become the next productive running back for the Beavers in 2011.

Noteworthy Tours (Pacific Northwest): February

Nothing intriguing is coming to town in January, so let's skip ahead to February.

Underoath
Thursday
Animals As Leaders
A Skylit Drive

Tuesday February 1 @ Roseland Theater, Portland

Interesting mix of genres, with all the support bands more or less displaying a piece of Underoath's ever evolving sound. Animals As Leaders alone would be worth the price of admission, as Tosin Abasi is one of the best guitar wielders in metal today.

Haste The Day
MyChildren MyBride
The Chariot
A Plea For Purging

Friday February 4 @ Hawthorne Theater, Portland

This is Haste The Day's last stop in Portland as they are calling quits after rocking for nearly a decade. Awesome support bands that put out exceptional albums in 2010 (with the exception of MCMB's, which quite frankly was awful). Good hardcore and metal to get rowdy to.

Motorhead
Clutch
Valient Thorr

Saturday February 5 @ Roseland Theater, Portland

This show caters to the older crowd who still likes to throw back a brewski and pump the fist. Clutch's southern feel and Valient Thorr's overall ridiculousness should make for a fun show.

Finntroll
Ensiferum
Rotten Sound
Barren Earth

Friday February 11 @ Hawthorne Theater

Viking metal!

Times Of Grace
Straight Line Stitch
War Of Ages
Proven

Saturday February 12 @ Hawthorne Theater

Times of Grace features Adam D from Killswitch Engage as well as former KsE front man Jesse Leach. Solid group of metalcore acts, should be interesting to see what Adam D. is wearing cape-wise.

If you like what's in store for February, boy will you get excited for the month of March.