Wednesday, January 7, 2009

James's Top 15 Loud Rock Albums of 2008

Hey guys! This is James from A Calculated Use of Sound, 2008 was a great year for music, loud rock in particular. I was originally going to make this a top 10 list, but it was too hard to narrow it down to just 10 albums, so without further adieu, I present to you, my top 15 loud rock albums of 2008.



15. Dir En Grey- Uroboros

This album truly surprised me. After writing off Dir En Grey as a band past their prime, I was reluctant to listen to this. Boy am I glad I did. The album is a dark, unsettling, career defining piece of at. The true highlight of the album is the incredible range of vocalist Kyo. From death growls to melodic croons to Mike Patton sounding gurgles, this guy can do it all. A truly serendipitous listen and my first recommended record of 2008.

14. Bloodbath- The Fathomless Mastery

Sweden's domineers of death metal return in 2008 creating one of the best records of their career. Returning with vocalist Mikael Akerfeldt for the first time since 2005's Nightmares Made Flesh, Bloodbath craft an album that is technical, easy on the ears in terms of death metal, and rather catchy. Mikael Akerfeldt's growls are violent, yet somewhat tamed and are the obvious highlight of the album. In a genre full of monotony, Bloodbath have created something fresh and exciting.



13. Mesa Verde- The Old Road

This was a great year for emo, and underground music as a whole. This is sorrow in musical form. Mesa Verde have crafted one of the greatest underground releases of this millennium, not since City of Caterpillar's self titled record have I been so moved by a performance in emotive hardcore. Every person will find a moment in this record that they can cling too. This is the best underground release of 2008 by a long shot.

12. Boris - Smile

Boris is a Japanese band that has its roots in drone metal, a sub-genre of metal that involves a large amount of feedback. Luckily, with their latest release, Smile, they have managed to take a more melodic approach to their music, while combing the almost punk sound of their 2005 release, Pink. Creating lush soundscapes and displaying phenomenal guitar and bass work, Boris have created a truly unique sound that warrants them a solid place on this list.


11. United Nations - United Nations

This band is a mystery.... literally. With almost no confirmed members of this grindcore "supergroup" (aside from Geoff Rickly of Thursday members of Converge and The Number 12 Looks Like You are rumored to be in the band), United Nations have resurrected the mid-90's screamo sound, while adding their own special twists along the way. I have to say the most epic track on this album is "Say Goodbye to General Figment of the USS Imagination," which features a full-blown saxophone solo. These guys are so awesome, they were attacked by the REAL United Ntions for "stealing their name and using a logo that is too similar to that of the international organization." How punk is that?

10. Sunn O))) - Dømkirke

Starting off the top 10 is a live album exclusive to vinyl made by the gods of drone metal Sunn O))). What makes this album truly unique is that it was recorded in a 900 year old cathedral in Bergen, Norway as part of the town's annual arts festival, the Borealis Festival. Sunn O))) is known for bass heavy, feedback laden drone metal that may make listeners' ears hurt after a while, however, on Dømkirke, they seem more restrained. The 4 songs, rounding out at an hour length, are based on Gregorian chants and utilize a variety of instruments such as church organ, trumpet, and of course, Sunn O)))'s heavy bass and guitar. The band is also joined by ex-Mayhem vocalist Attila Csihar, making for an live experience that is beautiful, chilling, and unforgettable. REMEMBER! MAXIMUM VOLUME YIELDS MAXIMUM RESULTS!

9. The Mars Volta- The Bedlam In Goliath

"Weird" is one way to describe The Mars Volta, another is "genious." The band's latest release, The Bedlam In Goliath, is the band's most varied and accessible to date. The album is full of the band's signature Latin influences fused with progressive rock. The album just plain rocks hard, 'nuff said. Listen to the first single," Wax Simulacra, and tell me I'm wrong.

8. Dillinger Four- C I V I L W A R

While 80's fans were anxiously awaiting the decade-in-the-making Guns N' Roses album, Chinese Democracy, punks around the nation were awaiting their own magnum opus from celebrated pop punk act, Dillinger Four. The six year wait was well worth it. C I V I L W A R, is a faultless album. It's full of catchy hooks and meaningful lyrics that make it the best pop punk album I have heard in the past six years... heck it may be the best pop punk album of the new millennium.

7. Thrice- The Alchemy Index Vols. III and IV: Air & Earth

Thrice's Alchemy Index was a huge undertaking when first announced - a collection of four unique albums that play like EP's representing each of the four classical elements (Fire, Water, Air and Earth). This installment, Air and Earth, is a well executed display of musical prowess, while staying true to the album's overall concept. The Air disc features free-flowing guitars and some of the most beautiful lyrics Thrice have ever written. The Earth disc is full of raw, acoustic songs that cut right to the core of the listener. This is a landmark work.

6. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound

Nothing says New Jersey like Bruce Springsteen and punk rock. As a resident of the state, I know that these two are important contributions to music that New Jersey has made, and they are both admittedly awesome. But could the two ever mix? The answer, yes, and The Gaslight Anthem have successfully hone this sound, creating one of the catchiest, original, and downright fun albums of 2008. There is not one bad track on this album and everytime I listen to it I discover some new hook that is just plain genious. If these guys keep making music like this, they'll be legends. The Boss would be proud.

5. Underoath- Lost In The Sound Of Separation

Underoath is a Christian metalcore band that was one of the first ones to do it right. Early albums of theirs such as Act of Despression and the Changing of Times were revolutionary in sound and have been imitated by countless bands. After releasing two more solid albums, they have finally reached the apex of their career. The sound on Lost In The Sound Of Separation is gritty, raw, and just plain epic. It is one of the most unique sounds I have ever heard in metalcore and Underoath just continue to prove why they are one of the most imitated bands in their respective genre.

4. Off Minor - Some Blood

This band is absolutely phenomenal. Fusing equal parts emo, hardcore, and jazz, Off Minor's songwriting ability is certainly above average. I would expect nothing less from a band featuring former members of seminal emo/hardcore band Saetia. The lyrics are another highlight of this album as exhibited by the following, my favorite lyric:

This is not torture
This is not surveillance
This is not injustice
This is poetic license permitted by a nations silence

It is an album that does more in a half hour than most albums accomplish in a whole hour.

3. Opeth - Watershed

The masters of progressive death metal are back. Watershed is a monster of an album, featuring some of Opeth's best tracks. There is a large emphasis on keyboards in this album which make for a haunting atmosphere that looms over the entire album. Mikael Akerfeldt's croons and death growls seem quite refined on this album, featuring some of his best vocal performances to date. Also, new guitarist Fredrik Akesson is a great fit for the band, providing riffs that are simply crushing , as on "Heir Apparent," while also showcasing his acoustic abilities on beautiful acoustic passages such as that of opening track, "Coil." Watershed is the proggiest of all Opeth releases, and that certainly isnt' a bad thing. I look forward to seeing where this band goes in the future with their simply incredible music.

2. Protest The Hero - Fortress

This was my earliest contender for album of the year. These guys are so good, my show is named after one of their album titles... I can't even begin to describe how good this album is, it is just something one must experience for themselves. Protest the hero can be described only has having the epic prowess and musicianship of Dream Theater, the sweeps and swoops of Between the Buried And Me, and the catchiness of Blink 182. The result? One of the most creative bands in recent years. Did I mention the album's lyrics are all about conquest and capture? Yes it is in fact as epic as I describe it and you should do yourself a favor and listen to this work of art.

1. Cynic - Traced In Air

It is very rare that an album comes about and defines a genre. In 1993 that album was Cynic's "Focus," a record that blended elements of jazz, progressive rock, and death metal to produce one of the most groundbreaking albums in the progressive metal genre and certainly of the early '90s. However shortly after Cynic went on an indefinite hiatus.


Fast forward 14 years and it is 2008, and "Traced In Air," the new Cynic album is eagerly anticipated by prog metal fans everywhere. However, after over a decade many questions arise, Can this new record live up to one of the most important metal releases ever? Have Cynic lost their edge? It is safe to say, that after listening to "Traced In Air," countless times that Cynic have surpassed "Focus" to create their new masterpiece. There is no better way to describe the atmosphere and feel of the record than looking at the title, "Traced in Air." It almost feels as though the sound embodies the air through which it is traveling, in all its beauty and yes, sometimes chaos. The record features electronic vocals overlapping smooth flowing soundscapes, resulting in a majesty that is rarely found in metal.

Of course, having a group of phenomenal musicians helps too, guitarist Paul Masvidal showcases his technical playing abilities on "The Space For This," one of the albums highlights. Drummer Sean Reinert formerly of seminal death metal band,Death, shows his prowess in working with the guitars to produce just the right number of fills and improvisation, so that the music is not overpowered. Bassist, Sean Malone provides a solid rhythm to the entire record.

In terms of overall highlights, I feel that this is one of those albums that must be played from start to finish. It is an easy listen, clocking in at just about 35 minutes, but the record feels immense due to the execution of the air concept and the technical musicianship. Obvious accessible tracks are "Integral Birth," and "Evolutionary Sleeper," whereas "King of those Who Know," and "The Unknown Guest," Will quench the thirst of prog metal fans looking for something fresh.

Cynic are back folks, and they are doing what they do best. This is the album that will save metal.



Well, there you have it folks! The top 15 loud rock albums as chosen by me for 2008. Hope you enjoyed and here's to a rockin' 2009!


-James


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