Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #44-43

44.Down-Down III: Over The Under(2007)

Down's third release is easily their most impressive. Phil Anselmo's sounds in the best form since the last two Pantera records. In addition to Anselmo's peak performance, Kirk Widstien and Peeper Keenan riffs are full of sludgey goodness. The combination of Phil Anselmo, one of my favorite vocalists of all time and my favorite style of metal sludge is a match made in heaven(or hell anyway you want to slice it). is Down's first two records showed the potential they had, when it comes to supergroups they are few as good as Down.

Standout Tracks 1.The Path 2.I Scream 3.Beneath The Tides

43.Lamb Of God-Wrath(2009)

Lamb Of God besides being one of the top metal acts around right now, is also one of the most consistent. Wrath is among the best material they have ever created. Wrath is vintage Lamb Of God with a slight change to it. Such as the acoustic intro to "Grace" and some nice melodic soloing. There are plenty of killer hooks,nice guitar solos and drumming, and Randy Blythe's trademark bark and great lyrics. Lamb Of God might be at height of their popularity, but they are showing no signs of slowing down or selling out.
Standout Tracks 1.Broken Hands 2.Grace 3.Dead Seeds

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #46-45

46.Disturbed-The Sickness(2000)

I have a lot of nostaliga for this record. When I was first getting into heavier music, this record was a big stepping stone for me. When comes down to it, this is one of the best nu-metal records ever made. It's has so many catchy and memorable songs on it. This is when Disturbed sounds was still fresh and not overdone. I understand that "Voices" and "The Game" might have stupid lyrics, but I don't love this record for its lyrical content. The Sickness is a fun, great record that will continue to stick with me and is by far the best record Disturbed has ever done.

Standout Tracks 1.Voices 2.The Game 3.Stupify

45.Megadeth-Endgame(2009)

Dave Mustaine and co. in my opinion, has been the most consistent of thrash metal bands from the 80's. Endgame continues Megadeth's legacy and it's their best since Countdown To Extinction. Endgame starts off with the best Megadeth song in years "This Day We Fight!". Chris Broderick shows his skills on his first album with Megadeth right off the bat on this song. His solos paired with Mustaine's make for some pretty fucking awesome dueling guitarwork. Endgame has plenty of other highlights including the title track, which is an awesome mid-paced Megadeth track and "Headcrusher" which probably has the best guitarwork on the whole album. Megadeth's recent work is far better than most of their 80's thrash metal brothers recent work. Endgame is one hell of a record, Mustaine should be really proud of this one
Standout Tracks 1.This Day We Fight! 2.Endgame 3.Headcrusher

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

Album Review: All That Remains-For We Are Many

All That Remains has risen in popularity a pretty great deal since the release of Overcome. The popularity of their more mainstream songs "Two Weeks" and "Forever In Your Hands", which i liked but not as much as the other tracks on Overcome. With the popularity of these tracks, I became a little wary of how For We Are Many would sound. I can say now that I am pretty happy with the way this record turned out.

The one sign of an extremely mainstream sound is lead single "Hold On". It doesn't sound like All That Remains at all and it is a below subpar track to say the least. Besides "Hold On", the rest of the record is very good. Insturmental intro "Now Let Them Tremble" sets the tone for most of the record with heavy guitars and thunderous double-bass drumming. That energy carries over to the title track, which is one of the album's standouts. The title track sounds like This Darkened Heart-era All That Remains with Phil Labonte screaming in just about every pitch imaginible. For We Are Many at times is noticeably heavier than Overcome. "Some Of The People,All Of The Time" is seriously the heaviest ATR track since This Darkened Heart. The main riff is At The Gates-esque and the ending actually makes good use of a breakdown with Labonte throwing in some awesome death growls. For We Are Many is not all about the heavier side of All That Remains, Labonte still has a pretty good amount of clean vocals and there are some soaring choruses here and there.

For We Are Many in my eyes is a pretty much a fusion of the heaviness of the first 2 All The Remains records with the melodic tones from Overcomes. Phil Labonte really shines on this record with his range of screams that he hasn't explored in the past, In addition to his clean vocals improving from the past record. This is still vintage All That Remains with some slight changes to their sound, all the key elements are still there. Labonte is still a great vocalist, Oli Hebret and Mike Martin can still shred with the best of them and All That Remains is still one of the top metalcore acts around. For We Are Many is another dynamite entry to All That Remains discography and again shows All That Remains's consistency in making quality metal.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Agressive Oposition
2.For We Are Many
3. Some Of The People,All Of The Time

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #50-49

50.Slipknot-All Hope Is Gone(2008)

Slipknot may be mainstream and have some obnoxious fans, but that doesn't mean they don't make great music. All Hope Is Gone shows an evolution and depth to their sound that wasn't present on past Slipknot records. It is heavier and better written than their past 2 efforts Iowa and Vol.3 The Subliminal Verses. Corey Taylor hasn't sounded as good since their debut record. Another thing that is present is a ballad and it's actually pretty good! This is some of the best material Slipknot has ever done. All Hope Is Gone is a matured,evolved Slipknot and this is easily the best record they have released since their self titled debut.

Standout Tracks 1.Sulfur 2.Gematria(The Killing Name) 3.Dead Memories

49.The Dillinger Escape Plan-Ire Works(2007)

The Dillinger Escape Plan never cease to amaze me. Even on Ire Works, which is probably their most "accesible" record, their unique brand of chaos dominates. Greg Puciato proves once again why he is one of the finest metal vocalist of all time. He seriously can do it all from the clean vocals on the poppy "Black Bubblgum" to his utterly fantastic,chaotic screaming on under 2 minute tracks like "Party Smasher" and "When Acting As A Wave". Some nice guest apperances from Mastodon's Brent Hinds on "Horse Hunter" and their own ex-vocalist Dimitri Minakakis on "Fix Your Face". Ire Works like most Dillinger Escape Plan is not for everyone, but if you are up to the challenge, then you will reap the benefits of hearing a dazziling spectale of a record.

Standout Tracks 1.Fix Your Face 2.Milk Lizard 3.Party Smasher

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #52-51

52.Jedi Mind Tricks-Visions Of Ghandi(2003)

Like all of Jedi Mind Tricks material, Visions Of Ghandi is a hard hitting,angry rap record. Lead rapper Vinnie Paz raps with intelligence and wit on every track and his rhymes are extremely personal describing his many experience in life. This record also features great guess spots from Kool G Rap,Canibus, Crypt The Wrathchild and many more. Visions Of Ghandi is yet another masterpiece from Jedi Mind Tricks.

Standout Tracks 1.Animal Rap 2.Blood In Blood Out 3.The Wolf

51.Muse-Absolution(2003)

Absolution is a seriously underrated album. This is the album where Muse proved to be just how special they are. Absolution is an adrealine rush of an album. At times it leans towards hard rock with some of the guitarwork and at other times it very electronic and progessive. That diveristy in sound and influences is what seperates Muse from most alt/indie rock bands.Absolution is a highly underappreciated record by one of the most underrated musical acts of all time.

Standout Tracks 1.Hysteria 2.Stockholm Syndrome 3.Butterflies and Hurricanes

Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #54-53

54.3 Inches Of Blood-Fire Up The Blades(2007)

Fire Up The Blades is the most impressive 3 Inches Of Blood record in their discography. New guitarists Shane Clark and Justin Hagberg added a thrashy flare to 3 Inches Of Blood's old school sound. In addition to the thrashier songs, 3 Inches Of Blood cranked out their best riffs and catchiest songs with tracks like "The Goatriders Horde", "Trial Of Champions" and "Forest King". 3 Inches Of Blood is at their heaviest,catchiest and best on Fire Up The Blades.

Standout Tracks 1.Trial Of Champions 2.The Goatriders Horde 3.Forest King

53.Behemoth-Evangelion(2009)

On Behemoth's 9th record they remain as furious and precise as in the past. Evangelion is yet another entry in Behemoth's mighty catalog. From the epic sounding "Ov Fire and The Void" to the subtle use of unique instrument like the sitar in "Shemhamforash", Behemoth sound is just as unique and balistic as ever. Evangelion is one of the best records Behemoth has ever made and hopefully Nergal can fight past his lukemia and get well enough to make another record in the future. Behemoth is just too damn good and Nergal is way too young to die, I hope Nergal can beat his disease. Get well soon Nergal!

Standout Tracks 1.Daimonos 2.Ov Fire and The Void 3.Shemhamforash