1) Anathema – We're Here Because We're Here
I fucking love Anathema. Ive loved them from their early doom metal days, and each progression their albums have underwent since. Even though this album is not metal ~per se~, it is my favorite release of 2010 and is worthy of being mentioned.
2) Defeated Sanity - Chapters of Repugnance
A stellar and flawless display of brutal death metal! I even feel this album is as good, if not better than their previous release Psalms of the Moribund. An essential album for fans of brutal death/slam. This is one of the main bands Im travelling to MDF for. FUCK YES.
3) Negură Bunget - Măiestrit
Negura Bunget know just how to bring the right amount of folk and atmosphere with black metal. Its been 4 long years since the release of the majestic Om album so I was stoked as shit to get this and Vîrstele Pămîntului in 2010 from these guys. It was hard to choose between Măiestrit and Vîrstele Pămîntului for 2010 but this one won for me. Even though its a remake of a much older release of theirs, Măiastru Sfetnic, it still fucking amazing. The production is tits and gives this masterpiece the clarity it deserves. Love it.
4) Alcest - Écailles de lune
I am a huge sucker for shoegazey black metal. With that in mind, I absolutely adore this album. It might be more on the light side throughout the album, but its a fine contrast making me appreciate its heavy moments that much more. A masterpiece of beauty and art in my opinion and is a must own for anyone who is a fan of the shoegaze/black metal hybrid.
4) Hour of Penance - Paradogma
Keeping the brutality pumping! Their previous release The Vile Conception was a damn fine display of brutal death metal and Paradogma is a excellent progression from that still leaving me wet in the pants to see what they will be coming up with next!
5) Imperium Dekadenz - Procella Vadens
Phenominal black metal from Germany! From the opening track of Procella Vadens I immediately knew my ears were in for a treat. Excellent riffs and atmosphere. I highly enjoy black metal that takes the time in songs to break from the chaos for a soft guitar, bass or piano melody accompanied by a slow rhythmic drum beat letting you sink into the music before they pick up the pace again. I feel this compliments the music well and gives the album a unique listening experience.
6) Decapitated Midgets - Shit Ceremony
6) Decapitated Midgets - Shit Ceremony
Goregrind album of the year! Sounds like a mixture between Nasum, Rotten Sound and Fuck...Im Dead. Songs are fast, riffs are fun, vocals are guttural and most importantly blast beats are on fire.Very, very pleased!
7) Deathspell Omega - Paracletus
Excellent innovative and creative black metal from France. I got into Deathspell Omega after their raw black metal days. I was a bigger fan of their "newer" style. I was introduced to them with my favorite release of theirs to date, Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice and have been following ever since.
Paracletus is the third chapter in their trilogy of albums representing Satan, Man, and God. After listening to it multiple times I have a hard time deciding which album out of the trilogy I like most...I look at the trilogy as a whole, because I often listen to them in sequence, Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice is pure fucking evil (agh so good!), and then Fas - Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum is just fucking chaos and despair where the songs are long and suited well for my black metal tastes, and then there is Paracletus. The fucking cherry on top of it all. Fucking awesome!
9) Svarti Loghin - Drifiting Through The Void
Paracletus is the third chapter in their trilogy of albums representing Satan, Man, and God. After listening to it multiple times I have a hard time deciding which album out of the trilogy I like most...I look at the trilogy as a whole, because I often listen to them in sequence, Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice is pure fucking evil (agh so good!), and then Fas - Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum is just fucking chaos and despair where the songs are long and suited well for my black metal tastes, and then there is Paracletus. The fucking cherry on top of it all. Fucking awesome!
9) Svarti Loghin - Drifiting Through The Void
This album got really really low reviews everywhere I read but, I loved it. I think its a great balance between shoegaze, country, black metal and ambient. A lot of people found it too slow and boring, but I think if you need something to zone out to, this is perfect.
10) Misery Index - Heirs to Thievery
Holy fuck. I did a review on this album earlier in the year because Misery Index is one of my favorite bands and this album absolutely blew me away. They have perfected their portions of death metal/grindcore with this release and with the sheer number of the biggest names in metal as guest appearances, this album kills! Only complaint is Kevin Talley isnt rockin the drums on this album, but Adam Jarvis is no fuckin slouch!
11) Immolation - Majesty and Decay
Immolation never let me down. Each of their albums have effortlessly met my death metal standards and this release is no different. I was bummed I did not get to see them when they came around LA supporting this album, but when I heard Pathology was off the tour due to a car accident, I just couldnt justify spending the money I didnt have at the time. Ive seen Immolation plenty of times before so I didnt feel too bad. But this album slays! Pick it up! Now!
12) Cerebral Effusion - Impulsive Psychopathic Acts
Right behind the new Defeated Sanity, Cerebreal Effusion's Impulsive Psychopathic Acts is a must own for any brutal death/slam fan. Excellent brutal gutturals, intense guitar riffs, and of course sickening slams!
13) Gorevent - Worship Paganism
Like a few other albums in my list, this album got really low reviews. Granted they seemed to have not carried on from their previous release, but I still thought Worship Paganism was a good listen. No?...Alright fuck you, I like it.
14) Interment - Into The Crypts of Blasphemy
Excellent old school death metal shoved up your ass! Reminds me a lot of Autopsy! Cant wait to see these guys at MDF in the upcoming year!
15) Inquisition - Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm
Typically not my type of black metal; the whole satanism thing gets really old after awhile for me, but this release by Inquisition has excellent atmosphere, depth, melodies and riffs. See you sick motherfuckers at MDF!
