Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #56-55

56.God Forbid-Earthsblood(2009)

God Forbid in my eyes is one of the working class hero metal acts. They been around for 14 years and put out 5 album and 2 EP's and are still not that popular. It's truly a shame. Their 5th record Earthsblood is their best to date. Earthsblood has a bit more of a melodic death metal feel than past God Forbid records, and that is something that really works well for them. Byron Davis's vocals are as good as ever and Doc Coyle has stepped up his guitarwork ever further(the solo on "Walk Alone" is probably the best solo I have heard Doc play). Earthsblood is the most mature and strongest God Forbid record, and with the impressive resume full of great records that God Forbid has that is saying something.

Standout Tracks 1.Walk Alone 2.The Rain 3.Bat The Angels

55.High On Fire-Death Is This Communion(2007)

High On Fire is another one of my favorite bands around right now. Matt Pike is one of the best riff writers of all time. Death Is This Communion is no expection to the rule. "Fury Whip" in particular, has a furious riff that will stick with you. The whole record is heavy as hell and full of amazing riffs. Death Is This Communion as a whole just flat out slays.
Standout Tracks 1.Fury Whip 2.Rumors Of War 3.Waste Of Tiamat

Album Review: Bring Me The Horizon-There Is A Hell,Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Let's Keep It A Secret

Before I even start writing this review, I must state that I despise Bring Me The Horizon. I have heard their previous 2 records multiple times because a few of my friends are fans. I have given their music countless chances to grow on me but I can never get past their horrendous vocals, boring songs and laughable lyrics. There Is A Hell, Believe I've Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Lets Keep It A Secret I listened to under somewhat different circumstances. I heard some of it with my BMTH loving friends and due to the acclaim it has been getting, I listened the rest of it myself. This record surprised me, but it wasn't really a good surprise.

Upon first listen, I must say this is the most mature Bring Me The Horizon record to date. The lyrics are not nearly as dumb for the most part and unlike their prior record Suicide Season .which changed their sound for popularity purposes, they changed their sound a bit to try something new that is less accsessible. I commend them on that aspect of the record, they weren't catering to their mostly scene kid, invisible ninja fighting fan base. Another positive surprise was that I actually liked a couple songs on this record. To be honest, I did not enjoy a single second of their previous two records. "Home Sweet Hole" is the crowning acheivement on this record. It shines through with a melo-death style riff and a really catchy gang shouted chrous. It's a pretty damn good track. The other song that I enjoyed was the chaotic closer "The Fox and The Wolf". It's energetic,brief and heavy.

Outside of those two tracks, there really isn't much to like. Oli Skyes is still one of the worst vocalists in metal and he really should not try to do clean vocals. "Don't Go", the ballad of this album is highly laughable because of Sykes's vocals. This track could have worked for a more skilled vocalist but Sykes's incompentency really brings it down. "Don't Go" is not alone in the dud department. "Crucify Me" and "It Never Ends" are just as awful. "Crucify Me" drags along at almost six and a half minutes and features an out of the blue, awful, electronica section and a horrific guest appearance from Canadian singer Lights, who tries to add this haunting vibe to an already stale track, but it comes off really bad. "It Never Ends" tries to be the anti-Bring Me The Horizon, Bring Me The Horizon song with the slow sections and choir. Instead, it just becomes one of the worst songs they have ever recorded with its annoying synths and emo vibe. Bring Me The Horizon doesn't lose its Suicide Season sound on a couple of tracks like "Aligator Blood" and "Blacklisted" which are just as awful and generic as the dogshit material on Suicide Season.

Even though there is some growth on this record, Bring Me The Horizon is still a weak band. Oli Sykes is still a trash vocalist and most of the songs on here are bad. To Bring Me The Horizon's credit, I never thought I would enjoy a single song by them ever and there are a couple of good tracks on here but for the most part, there isn't much to like here. This might be Bring Me The Horizon's best effort to date, but it still fucking sucks.
1.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Home Sweet Hole
2.The Fox and The Wolf

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

Album Review: Abigail Williams-In The Absence Of Light

Abigail Williams has become notorious within the metal scene for two things, opening for various extreme metal legends (and getting mixed reception) and having a plethora of lineup changes (former members include ex-Black Dahlia Murder drummer Zach Gibson, former Winds Of Plague keyboardist Kristen Randall and current Winds Of Plague keyboardist Alana Potocnik). On their 2nd full length, In The Absence Of Light form a more cohesive sound and overcome their various member changes.

In The Absence Of Light takes Abigail Williams in a different direction, they have dropped most of the symphonic elements for a more straight forward extreme metal sound. Their move to a more straight forward extreme metal sound pays off, I did their enjoy their previous release, In The Shadow Of A Thousand Suns, but it was kind of a mess in places. In The Absence Of Light is far better put together and better written than its predecessor. This is most evident on tracks like "In Death Comes The Great Silence" and the 8-minute epic "Final Destiny Of The Gods" it moves along at a nice pace and the songs has different layers that flow nicely together. Another improvement from their past work is the riffs. They are faster and more memorable than they where in the past.

In The Absence Of Light is not without some rough patches though. A couple of tracks become tedious due to their length (mainly "The Mysteries That Bind The Flesh"). The production is also kind of weak at times, as the drums are almost completely drowned out in the mix.

In The Absence Of Light is a solid release. The overall song quailty is much improved, as is the maturity of the band's songwriting. The guitarwork is technical and dark and adds a haunting tone to the entire album. If the work some of the kinks with song length on certain tracks(Final Destiny Of The Gods is excellent and it is the longest track on the record) and maybe bring back some of the symphonic elements and use them well, Abigail Williams could craft a damn fine record. Abigail Williams is a band to watch over their next few releases, they have a lot of potential and could become extreme metal juggernauts.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.In Death Comes Great Silence
2.Final Destiny Of The Gods
3.An Echo In Our Legends

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #60-59

60.Goatwhore-Carving Out The Eyes Of God(2009)

New Orleans's blackened death metal act Goatwhore, in my opinion, is one of the most underrated extreme metal acts on the scene right now. Carving Out The Eyes Of God is not your typical blackened death metal album, it has a huge thrash and sludge influence on it as well. These infulences really make Goatwhore stick out from the pack. Carving Out The Eyes Of God is a brutal,heavy good time.

Standout Tracks 1.In Legions,I Am Wars Of Wrath 2.Carving Out The Eyes Of God 3.Apocolyptic Havoc

59.Skeletonwitch-Breathing The Fire(2009)

On Skeletonwitch's 3rd full length, they continue their reign as one of the top metal acts of the past decade. They haven't changed their sound at all which is a great thing. Their blend of thrash riffs with black metal-esque vocals is still extremely fresh and when you have as many awesome riffs as Skeletonwitch has I don't see them getting stale any time soon. Breathing The Fire is a great continuation on the Skeletonwitch legacy.
Standout Tracks 1.Gorge Upon My Soul 2.Submit To The Suffering 3.Where The Light Has Failed

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #62-61

62.Lamb Of God-As The Palaces Burn(2003)

As The Palaces Burn is the record where Lamb Of God started to truly shine and come into their own as a band. The change of style that Lamb Of God put into the place on this record would stick on their follow-up records. Randy Blythe's change to a more audible scream pays dividends for Lamb Of God. Despite being a little bit choppy, As The Palaces Burn kick some serious ass.

Standout Tracks 1.Vigil 2.Boot Scraper 3.Ruin

61.Converge-Jane Doe(2001)

Converge is one of the most influential metalcore/hardcore acts of all time. Their sound is overwelmingly chaotic yet extremely textured and technical. Jane Doe is a remarkable record with twists at every corner from the blistering opener "Concubine" to the epic 11-minute closer "Jane Doe". There is so much going on and it will take you 20+ listens to fully understand everything that is at work on this record. Converge are absolute masterminds of music and their genius has never been more prevelent than on Jane Doe. It is an absoultely mezmerizing musical experience.
Standout Tracks 1.Hell To Pay 2.Concubine 3.Phoenix In Flight

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #64-63

64.Alice In Chains-Black Gives Way To Blue(2009)

Prior to hearing Black Gives Way To Blue, I was skeptical about how it would turn out. With Layne Staley gone, how would they sound? Would they turn to a fucking joke of what they once where? Thankfully, they proved all my worries wrong. William DuVall is a great replacement for Layne Staley. He carved out his own style vocally and brought a lot to the table. Black Gives Way To Blue blends heavier and slower songs to perfection and I was beyond pleased with how this record turned out. Kudos to Alice Chains for keeping the legacy alive, Layne Staley would be proud.

Standout Tracks 1.A Looking In View 2.Acid Bubble 3.Private Hell

63.Tool-10,000 Days(2006)

I am among the minority that thinks 10,000 Days is better than Lateralus. I think 10,000 Days is more polished and better written than Lateralus. Tool as usual, blows my mind with the complexity of the musicianship. Danny Carey's drumwork is orgasmic. Carey's insane fills and unique way of drumming make for a superb listening experience. In some Tool fans eyes they over did the ambient interludes, but I think they fit in very well to the overall vibe of the record. 10,000 Days in my opinion is Tool's 2nd best record and the better of the two to be released in the past decade.

Standout Tracks 1.Jambi 2.Vicarious 3.The Pot