Manky's 2011 Year-End Review Extravaganza!

[mankvill]

10.

Forgotten Tomb - Under Saturn Retrograde



Not often can a band change their style of metal and still make a fantastic record. Taking a break from depressive black metal, Forgotten Tomb went and made a fantastic doom/depressive rock album, not so unlike a Katatonia album. I don't know why, but I find this far more accessible than the Katatonia I've heard. Still heavy, but this time loaded with so much doom and gloom. And their cover of "I Wanna Be Your Dog" is the best cover of it I've heard.

Highlight: I Wanna Be Your Dog (Stooges cover)

[Epidemic Reign]

Never heard of Forgotten Tomb, but you had me at "Katatonia". Listening now. Good stuff!

[mankvill]

9.

Mournful Congregation - The Book Of Kings



This was pretty much my introduction to funeral doom metal, and what an intro it was! Only 4 songs long, it clocks in at an excruciatingly gloomy 75 minutes. The last song itself is over 30 minutes. And it is quite the journey. A suffocating atmosphere, depression oozing from the instruments, and haunting vocals. Can't say enough about how great this album is, just be prepared for a long listen.

Highlight: The Book Of Kings

[mankvill]

Originally Posted by Epidemic Reign

Never heard of Forgotten Tomb, but you had me at "Katatonia". Listening now. Good stuff!

Older stuff is quite different. Depressive black metal. I also love it.

[mankvill]

8.

Black Cobra - Invernal



No new High on Fire this year? Black Cobra will do just fine. This album, just like their others, is heavy as balls. Honestly, I'm talking like Bolt Thrower/Asphyx levels of heaviness, and they aren't even a death metal band! Just some of the heaviest doom/sludge/heavy metal you'll find this side of Matt Pike's teeth. This album pulls no punches.

Highlight: Obliteration

[mankvill]

7.

Taake - Noregs Vaapen



One of the most consistently amazing norwegian black metal bands around today. Taake has never released a bad album, but this is just fantastic. Most of the songs sound straight from the golden age of norwegian black metal, but some have some interesting parts. Such as the song Myr, which has a banjo in it. It is truly blvgrass, and it's truly awesome.

Highlight: Myr

[mankvill]

6.

Aosoth - III



I know I've said a lot about bands creating a haunting, suffocating atmosphere, but where some bands give off that impending sense of doom and dread, Aosoth IS that feeling. This is really unlike any black metal album I've heard before. It's the soundtrack to staring into the abyss. Absolutely terrifying, absolutely brilliant.

Highlight: 1

[mankvill]

5.

Radiohead - The King Of Limbs



Honestly, who wasn't disappointed by this the first time they heard it? But as I kept re-listening, it grew on me more than any album I can think of. There's just so many different sounds on here, from electronic tracks with looped drum beats, to songs that were specifically made to be played in front of a live audience. This has such a soothing feeling and is really heartfelt at times. I like to think of it as the perfect morning album, if that makes sense. Probably my favorite album they've done since Amnesiac. It's just TOO SHORT.

Highlight: Little By Little

[mankvill]

4.

Vektor - Outer Isolation



Will Vektor ever top Black Future? Only time will tell, but Outer Isolation does a damn fine job at following it up. Outer Isolation has a lot of variety in its songs. Still great thrash with extreme technicality, but a bit more progressive elements on this album. The best thing is that the musicians are all still really clean and really are masters of their instruments. Tetrastructural Minds is also my pick for song of the year. If you aren't on the bandwagon yet, GET ON!

Highlight: Tetrastructural Minds

[mankvill]

3.

Mastodon - The Hunter



What makes this album great is that it is pure Mastodon. But it doesn't really sound like Mastodon. If that makes any sense. But it has everything makes Mastodon so great. Catchy, radio-friendly tunes (Curl Of The Burl, All The Heavy Lifting), some of the heaviest stuff they've ever done (Blasteroid, Spectrelight), those really odd songs that just seem to work that no one could pull off other than Mastodon (Creature Lives, Bedazzled Fingernails) and everything in between. It perfectly molds together their past albums into one huge crowning achievement. I'm not sure if everyone will consider this Mastodon's greatest album, but The Hunter is exactly what Mastodon needed.

Highlight: Black Tongue