Best Metal Releases of 2010

Alright, I shall count down from 10 until I get to my favorite release. (I say release because one of my picks is an EP, which I guess is technically not an album). Lets get to it.

10. Burning The Masses - "Offspring of Time"

This one came out of nowhere and surprised me. Burning The Masses have always impressed me with their musicianship, what with their sweep picking and their breakdowns, but this one drew me in unlike many other so-called "deathcore" releases. Also, Big Chocolate is a beast of a vocalist, and it's nice to hear him on an album with more than just chugs for guitar parts.

9. Iron Thrones - "The Wretched Sun"

An unsigned band with more chops than pretty much everything on Roadrunner. I like. Their post metal stylings, soft, meandering ambient parts, and the aggression and sadness that comes through on this album is unlike any other. Keep an eye out for these guys. They're gonna be big.

8. Clinging To The Trees of A Forest Fire - "Songs of Ill Hope And Desperation"

This album is the result of the distillation of hatred and the human condition, set to ferment in fecal matter for an indefinite period of time. Anger encapsulated in waveforms. I'm proud to say these guys are from my home state of Colorado. This is the music of the disillusionment that this world can create. I can't say enough good things about this album. In Crust We Trust.

7. Misery Index - "Heirs To Thievery"

A strong follow up to one of my favorite death/grind albums of all time "Traitors", Misery Index continues to do what it does best, talking about politics, being angry about said politics, and then playing really fast about said politics. And I hope they never change.

6. Beneath The Massacre - "Marée Noire EP"

Another band that always seems to impress. Every single person involved in this band has some serious chops. Everything is heavy. Everything is techy. These canadians are crazy. I once saw them put on a 15 minute long set at Summer Slaughter 2009. It was the most intense thing of the night (minus Suffocation) and immediately after their set I went to their merch booth, bought 2 shirts, 2 cds and a sticker. I put that sticker on my car. If that's not a compliment, I don't know what is.

5. Wormrot - "Abuse US Reissue"

Filipino Grindcore. That's really all I should have to say. These guys came out of nowhere for me, but the second I heard them I was in love. They filled the void left in my heart when Insect Warfare broke up, and I hope they never leave me. They even did an insect warfare cover, which gives them bonus points. It's my blog, I can give bonus points if I want to.

4. Circle of Dead Children - "Psalm Of The Grand Destroyer"

They are the masters of Grind. A constant inspiration to me, their lyrics are almost like poetry sometimes. Rife with polysemy (that is, multitudes of meanings)I can listen to this album over and over and still find new things to decipher, ponder, and discuss.

3. The Ocean Collective - "Heliocentric/Anthropocentric"

I've talked about these guys on here enough, So I don't want to repeat myself. It's an audio journey, rivaled only by their previous full length "Precambrian".

2. Agalloch - "Marrow Of The Spirit"

Agalloch is the type of band that you almost have to force yourself to like. They are not very accessible, but once you break through, there is absolutely nothing like them. This album is the soundtrack to every snowy day I live through here in Colorado, and even though it can be solemn and almost depressing, it is still a beautiful experience, one which is only topped by my number one pick.

1. The Dillinger Escape Plan - "Option Paralysis"

While Agalloch is good for snowy days, The Dillinger Escape Plan covers everything else. This album has everything that I love about metal. And yet, it passes beyond even that genre tag. This is simply music, with something for everyone. I have converted many non-metal heads by playing Widower for them, which I think is a testament to TDEP's musical ability. If you haven't listened to this, you are missing out on something truly beautiful, and you should be ashamed of yourself for waiting this long to listen to it.

So there you have it, my favorite metal releases of 2010. Lot's of stuff to look forward to next year too. See you on the flip side.