Best Albums of the Decade So Far (2010-14)

A few weeks ago, I posted my picks for the best films of the decade so far. (That list can be found here: http://maitlandsmadness.blogspot.com/2015/02/best-films-of-decade-so-far-2010-14.html) Today, I turn my attention to the world of music with my selections for the best albums to be released over the past five years.

2010
1.The Dillinger Escape Plan-Option Paralysis
2.letlive.-Fake History
3.Kvelertak-Kvelertak
4.As I Lay Dying-The Powerless Rise
5.Intronaut-Valley of Smoke
6.Deftones-Diamond Eyes
7.Overkill-Ironbound
8.High on Fire-Snakes for the Divine
9.The Sword-Warp Riders
10.The Contortionist-Exoplanet
Honorable Mentions: Kanye West-My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Nas & Damian Marley-Distant Relatives, Volbeat-Beyond Hell/Above Heaven, Son of Aurelius-The Farthest Reaches, Decrepit Birth-Polarity

2011
1.The Black Dahlia Murder-Ritual
2.Revocation-Chaos of Forms
3.Protest the Hero-Scurrilous 
4.Unearth-Darkness in the Light
5.Fallujah-The Harvest Wombs
6.Machine Head-Unto the Locust
7.Mastodon-The Hunter
8.Born of Osiris-The Discovery
9.Skeletonwitch-Forever Abomination
10.Fleshgod Apocalypse-Agony
Honorable Mentions: The Story So Far-Under Soil and Dirt, Danny Brown-XXX, Obscura-Omnivium, All Shall Perish-This is Where it Ends, Last Chance to Reason-Level 2

2012
1.Between the Buried and Me-The Parallax II: Future Sequence
2.Death Grips-The Money Store 
3.The Faceless-Autotheism
4.Sylosis-Monolith
5.Every Time I Die-Ex Lives 
6.Lamb of God-Resolution
7.High on Fire-De Vermis Mysteriis
8.Periphery-Periphery II
9.Kendrick Lamar-good kid, m.A.A.d city
10.Lana Del Rey-Born to Die
Honorable Mentions: Coheed and Cambria-The Afterman: Ascension, Dying Fetus-Reign Supreme, Thank You Scientist-Maps of Non-Existent Places, Converge-All We Love We Leave Behind, God Forbid-Equilibrium

2013
1.Revocation-Revocation
2.Killswitch Engage-Disarm the Descent
3.The Dillinger Escape Plan-One of Us is the Killer
4.Protest the Hero-Volition
5.Battlecross-War of Will
6.The Ocean-Pelegial
7.Skeletonwitch-Serpents Unleashed
8.Hope for the Dying-Altheia
9.The Black Dahlia Murder-Everblack
10.Run the Jewels-Run the Jewels
Honorable Mentions: Danny Brown-Old, The Safety Fire-Mouth of Swords, August Burns Red-Rescue & Restore, Kanye West-Yeezus, State Champs-The Finer Things

2014
1.Revocation-Deathless
2.Fallujah-The Flesh Prevails
3.Unearth-Watchers of Rule
4.Every Time I Die-From Parts Unknown
5.Run the Jewels-Run the Jewels 2
6.Freddie Gibbs & Madlib-Pinata
7.Behemoth-The Satanist
8.Royal Blood-Royal Blood
9.Job for a Cowboy-Sun Eater
10.Animals as Leaders-The Joy of Motion
Honorable Mentions: Alterbeast-Immortal, Goatwhore-Constricting Rage of the Merciless  Monuments-The Amanuensis, Beartooth-Disgusting, Body Count-Manslaughter      

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #5

5.System Of A Down-Toxicity(2001)

There are not too many albums I would refer to as "game changers", Toxicity is one of them. Toxicity shines through with it's unique sound and true brilliance. Toxicity will stick with you, even on the first listen. It has a such range, it's serious, it's funny, it's all over the place. System Of A Down approaches each theme with the same passion and that makes for some dam fine songwriting. Toxicity is an instant classic that will influence and spellbind metal and non-metal fans alike forever.

Standout Tracks 1.Deer Dance 2.Needles 3.Toxicity

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #6

6.Children Of Bodom-Follow The Reaper(2000)

With their 3rd record, Follow The Reaper, Children Of Bodom grew up and finally created the masterpiece they were capable. Not to say "Something Wild" or "Hatebreeder" are bad, it's just that Follow The Reaper puts it to shame. Follow The Reaper is just mind-blowingly well done. Alexi Laiho's guitarwork is just sensentional, the solos on this record are perfect and memorable. The dueling keyboard/guitar sections also kick ass, they add a layer of depth to Bodom's sound and Follow The Reaper makes the best use of that. Follow The Reaper is infectious, hooky and amazing. No albums has ever made better use of keyboards ever. Children Of Bodom's best work and a true classic.

Standout Tracks 1.Kissing The Shadows 2.Mask Of Sanity 3.Hate Me!

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #7

7.In Flames-Clayman(2000)

Clayman is considered by many to best the last great In Flames record and I would agree. Though I don't dislike their newer material (outside of A Sense Of Purpose), it doesn't hold a candle to Clayman. Clayman is the strongest In Flames album overall for many reasons. First off the song writing is top-notch, everything is perfect in that department and it's their most well-written record. Also, the production is outstanding, this is one of the best sounding records I have ever heard. Clayman, as a whole, is In Flames best effort because it achieves everything they were going for as a band and it just comes together so perfectly. You'll be hard pressed to find melodic death metal better than this.

Standout Tracks 1.Bullet Ride 2.Square Nothing 3.Only For The Weak

Best Album Of The Decade(2000-2009): #9

9.Eminem-The Marshall Mathers LP(2000)

Eminem had already produced the astonshing The Slim Shady LP, then The Marshall Mathers LP was released an it was even better. Eminem's obscenity and clever lyrics were at their peak on this record. This record also showed the depth Eminem has as a rapper, he can go from stone serious and powerful to crude and witty in a split second. The Marshall Mathers LP is one of the best rap releases of all time and made an Eminem an icon.

Standout Tracks 1.The Real Slim Shady 2.Stan 3.Criminal

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #10

10.Killswitch Engage-The End Of Heartache(2004)

Killswitch Engage was already great then they picked up Howard Jones as a vocalist. Jones elevated them to the next level. The End Of Heartache was the record in which all metalcore records have to live up to, there really is none better. Jones's vocals are astonshing, his screaming is dynamic and his singing is powerful and gorgeous. The End Of Heartache was the record that solidfied Killswitch Engage as one of my favorite bands, an amazing album that continues to amaze me.

Standout Tracks 1.A Bid Farewell 2.Breathe Life 3.Take This Oath

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #13

13,High On Fire-Blessed Black Wings(2005)

High On Fire's first two releases were great, but it wasn't until their 3rd album Blessed Black Wings that they hit masterpiece status. What struck me from the beginning about Blessed Black Wings was how much cleaner the production was than their past releases. The mix is fantastic and everything is loud and clear. Of course, Matt Pike drops amazing riffs left and right. Blessed Black Wings actually contains the best riff he has ever written with "Cometh Down Hessian" High On Fire are stoner metal/sludge titans and Blessed Black Wings is their most crushing and wonderful release to date.

Standout Tracks 1.Cometh Down Hessian 2.The Face Of Oblivion 3.Blessed Black Wings

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #15

15,Queens Of The Stone Age-Songs For The Deaf(2002)

Queens Of The Stone Age broke down barriers with Songs For The Deaf. After a strong start as a band with their self-titled released and Rated R, Songs For The Deaf takes their sound to the next level. It is another hard rocking, genre-bending effort that kick ass throught it's duration. As usual Josh Homme's vocals are amazing and the production is top notch. As a whole, Songs For The Deaf is flat out killer and is among some of the most innovative,kick-ass rock music ever released.

Standout Tracks 1.Go With The Flow 2.You Think I Ain't Worth A Dollar, But I Fell Like A Millonare 3. The Sky Is Fallin'

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #20

20.Behemoth-Demigod(2004)

Poland's Behemoth has mastered the art of blackened death metal. Their sound might be a little intense at first, but once you let sink it in and hear all the elements of the record, you realize how good it is. The amount of talent and flare for epic songs Behemoth has is staggering. Demigod is crushing,brutal and strangely gorgeous masterpiece.
Standout Tracks 1.Conquer All 2.Sclupting The Throne Ov Seth 3.Towards Babylon

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #48-47

48.Doom-Born Like This(2009)

Doom(formerly known as MF Doom) continues his legacy with Born Like This. Born Like This like all MF Doom shines with its intresting beats and samples and highly witty lyrics. Doom raps about gay superheroes("Batty Boyz"), bad rappers("Rap Ambush") and god knows what else on some of his other tracks. Doom's creativity shines above all and make him one of the top hip hop talents around. Born Like This is strange,smart and complex but it is also pure hip hop bliss.

Standout Tracks 1.Batty Boyz 2.Cellz 3.Lightworks

47.Between The Buried and Me-Alaska(2005)

Between The Buried and Me's current lineup first played together on Alaska. Guitarist Dustie Warig, bassist Dan Briggs and drummer Blake Richardson all joined Between The Buried and Me on this record. When these members joined the band, Between The Buried and Me became even better than they already where. The proggy overtones became more promient on this record with "Selkies: The Endless Obsession" and "All Bodies". Between The Buried was just getting warmed up with their new lineup on this record and they still played tight and hit a home run. Alaska blends the more agressive Silent Circus era BTBAM material with more of a prog metal influence and was only the beginning of their brilliance.

Standout Tracks 1.Selkies:The Endless Obsession 2.All Bodies 3.Backwards Marathon

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #58-57

58.Immortal Technique-Revolutionary Vol.2(2003)

The current rap scene needs more rappers like Immortal Technique. He writes great lyrics and brings forth important polictical issues. Sure some of his views I don't agree with and they are a bit extreme, but he has the balls to present his thoughts in an intelligent manner. Revolutionary Vol.2 is graphic lyrically("The Point Of No Return" and "Obnoxious" especially) and the geniue disgust he has with the government,racisim and the drug trade is beyond authentic and extremely poignant. Immortal Technique reminds me of a modern day Public Enemy and Revolutionary Vol.2 shows how skilled as a rapper and smart as a person Immortal Technique is.

Standout Tracks 1.Crossing The Boundary 2.The Message and The Money 3.Freedom Of Speech

57.Intronaut-Prehistoricisms(2008)

Soon after I found out about Intronaut,in May of last year after I saw them live opening for Mastodon, I listened to Prehistoricisms and I was blown away. Their post metal sound with jazzy interludes is extremely unique and the intensity that it is brought at is dazziling. Intronaut's ambition, talent and unique songs make them a true force in the metal scene. I became a fan quite fast after seeing them live and hearing this fantastic record. Intronaut is one of the best kept "secrets" in all of metal and Prehistoricisims is a highly underrated record.

Standout Tracks 1.The Literal Black Cloud 2.Any Port 3.Cavernous Den Of Shame

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #98-97

98.Atmosphere-When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold(2008)

Atmosphere is one of the most gifted hip-hop acts around. His most recent effort in a string of masterpieces, When Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Shit Gold reenforces that point. Tracks like "Shoulda Known" and "Wild Wild Horses" are among the best hip hops songs ever recorded. This record is full of many diverse and intresting beats, brillant lyrics and great flow from lead rapper Slug. Atmosphere is one of the most consistent and brillant musical acts around right now and are one of the very few artists that are breathing life into the otherwise dead hip hop/rap genre, a bit of foreshadowing this won't the first apperance from Atmosphere on this list.

Standout Tracks 1.Wild Wild Horses 2.Shoulda Known 3.In Her Music Box

97.Chimaira-The Impossibilty Of Reason(2003)

The Impossibillty Of Reason is the piece of work Chimaira has ever done. Its groovy, heavy and all of the songs are memorable. Rob Arnold's guitar work is put on display throughout the album, his lightning-quick fretwork and knack for groovy riffs is just fantastic. This is the album that put Chimaira on the map and is essential part of their current postion in the metal scene.

Standout Tracks 1.Pictures In The Gold Room 2.The Dehumanizing Process 3.Power Trip

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #100-99

Today I am going to start my list of what I believe to be the 100 best albums of the past decade. There were a lot of brillant pieces of work that have been released in the past 10 years and the list was extremely hard to make. My plan is to unveil the list with 2 albums per day with brief write-ups included. I love any comments and I hope you enjoy the list! Without further ado here is number 100 and 99.

100.Cannibal Corpse-Kill(2006)

One of the pioneering acts of death metal made one of their finest albums ever well into their 2nd decade. Tracks like "Murder Worship" and "Make Them Suffer" are easily on the level of their earlier classics and show what death metal is all about. Kill is brutal, no bullshit death metal at its peak level and is the defining 2000's era Cannibal Corpse record.

Standout Tracks 1. Murder Worship 2.Make Them Suffer 3.Death Walking Terror

99.Korn-Take A Look In The Mirror(2003)

Korn's defining era was the 1990's. They pioneered the sound that would later inspire a plethora of copycats and spawn the dreaded term "nu-metal". Korn was coming of 2002's Untouchables which was decent but a huge letdown after their amazing 90's material. 2003's Take A Look In The Mirror brought back their old-school sound and made a great record. Take A Look In The Mirror is the last Korn record to feature the original lineup and it shows. It is the last Korn record that I would consider to be fantastic, there are a lot of Korn classics on this record. Take A Look In The Mirror is the best non-90's Korn album by leaps and bounds.

Standout Tracks 1.Did My Time 2.Deep Inside 3.Right Now