KEEFY'S TOP ALBUMS OF 2011- PART II

Lo and behold brethren! Here is the next installment of my year end, best of, super cool, buy one now, selling out fast, get one today, prices are slashed, hurry right now best albums list. The last five spots shuffled between about 13 bands, it was that close for me. This was toughest part of my work this year. Once you read through the list and see who I left off so far (uh-oh!) you understand what I mean!

#6. ANTHRAX – Worship Music (Megaforce Records)

ANTHRAX turned in an triumphant record, although few thought they would a year ago. I’m sure a lot of people wrote them off a long ago, but I’m proud to say I never did. Although they have never made a bad record, nobody could have expected the record to be so damn righteous and true. Most of all for Joey Belladonna to have such a dominating vocal performance and be the highlight of the album was really inspiring. While only a good third of the album can be said to be “thrash” the band has often varied up their sound with great mid-tempo grooves. Tracks like “Earth On Hell”, “The Giant” and the epic “In The End” are immense. “In The End” should never come out of the bands live show. MVP worthy performances were also turned in by Frank Bello and Charlie Benante who unbelievably continues to get better and better. Did I mention another sick job of album cover art by Alex Ross? Ok. Just did it. Here is the link to my original review: http://www.metal-army.com/?p=24935

7. MACHINE HEAD -Unto The Locust (Roadrunner)

How? That is the question I had going in. How can you top arguably the two-best back to back efforts of any band this past decade? How do you go about building a better mousetrap? The correct answer is: you don’t try to. You stay relevant by being yourself and growing in other directions. What band gets to this level and still takes singing and guitar lessons? Robb Flynn and company do. Flynn and Phil Demmel are one of the top guitar duos in the game and still let it fly on every song. Dave McClain proves to be an upper echelon skinsman and it’s not a party without Adam Duce on the bass. Power grooves, great solos and classical cantatas? Amazing. They dialed down some of the musical acrobatics and focused on better songs, which I liked. “I Am Hell”, “Darkness Within”, “Be Still And Know” and “Who We Are” stack up against any music in the bands near twenty year career. I’m proud to say my first review specifically for this blog was this album.

8 . MASTODON – The Hunter (Reprise)

It was clear that MASTODON wasn’t going to make another Crack The Skye. Not at all. The experience of CTS and the resulting success had an unusual effect on the band. Where other bands retreat to what is safe to keep the trend going, The Hunter saw the band breaking many of their own conventions to make a superb follow up. Maybe the best thing about it is Brent Hinds stepped back a bit and blended in better with the band. As a result Bill Kelliher and Brann Dailor shined brightly and contributed even more than before. Elements of every album are present, but no elemental theme here. Just heavy, funky, trippy and quirky songs from these dirt merchants. http://www.metal-army.com/?p=26105

9. REVOCATION – Chaos of Forms (Relapse)

Of all of the new guard of metal bands today REVOCATION gets points from me for risk taking. Choosing to leave the safety of the neo-thrash ghetto (they will argue they were never strictly thrash influenced) the favorite sons of Allston, MA let their hair hang down blending a love of tech death metal, thrash, rock, salsa and whatever else tickles their considerable fancies. Brilliant guitar player Dave Davidson is one of the best shredders I’ve heard since the great DIMEBAG left us, but humble enough not to let that talk go to his head. This is an exciting band just scratching the surface of what they can do. Here is the link to my original review:http://www.metal-army.co m/?p=22242

10. IWRESTLEDABEARONCE – Ruining It For Everybody (Century Media)

The hyperactive genre benders can take a joke, but dishes em out even better. Actually they don’t take themselves too seriously at all which is a breath of fresh air in the 2011 metal scene. The whole “we’re turning black metal” gag aside (brilliant PR move btw), this album is a keeper and likely the one other bands behind them will be judged against. How many albums can you say are brutal and silly a fuck fun at the same time? Very few. Technical death metal, techno dance grooves, jazz, 80′s synth pop and gospel hymns are just a few of the styles touched upon. The icing on the cake is Krysta Cameron’s intoxicating vocal stylings. Every song is scary good and their relative youth makes me think this is the beginning of something big. And they are gonna keep being weird and spazzy coz it pisses you off even more. Ohhhh sick burn! Reviewed at NRP! http://nefariousrealm.com/homenew/?p=102

11. OPETH – Heritage (Roadrunner)

Lucky for OPETH that MOBID ANGEL was around to take the heat off of them this year. While every reviewer, scene trolls and nerds plundered and mauled the rep of the former majestic death metal legends, OPETH fans ran from upset, mildly disappointed, to thrilled and back to blind hate. If you have been on board with their last few albums, this album direction should be no surprise. No matter what people think about Michael Akerfeldt and his no brutal vocals new direction on this outing, Heritage is the album he was born to make. Progressive rock influenced through and through, just like all the greats from YES to EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER. Great song-craft is on display with a level of musicianship and class few others can muster. Perhaps not everyone’s cup of tea who followed the band in the early days, but I’d rather see a band follow its passion that die trying to please people. Review: http://www.metal-army.com/?p=26124

12. KRISIUN – The Great Execution (Century Media)

KRISIUN snuck in here later in the year and turned in a killer effort. Straight up, no nonsense modern death metal that kicks your ass all day and night. Super props for experimenting with more dynamics, different song lengths and the brilliant production work of Andy Classen (again). Otherwise it is the usual carnage of KRISIUN. The retro analog sound of the album was an ear opener and a real audiophiles/classic death metal fans dream. Review: http://www.metal-army.com/?p=27315

13. USX- The Valley Path (Neurot Recordings)

At the intersection of sludge, psychedelia and nature lies The Valley Path. A single epic track that speaks to the soul and the mind like few releases have done this year. Sick waves of layered parts just envelope you and change you after just one listen. North Carolina collective US CHRISTMAS abbreviated their name for this distinct release. They have already added to their earthy mystique and have played this live a few times as a completed piece. We will surely be riveted by what ever the next step is for them.

14. CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED – Cold Winds On Timeless Days (Metal Blade)

For the second installment of Richard Christy’s (DEATH/CONTROL DENIED/ICED EARTH) return to the metal realm he came back a year later even more ready for blood. From the first note to the last it is a killer record. The super-group of singer Ripper Owens, producer/guitarist Jason Suecof and bassist Steve DiGiorgio did justice to Christy’s composition with blistering playing full of aggression and grace at the same time. Every song is a masterpiece of metal, technicality and best of all they all carry what can now be said to be Richard’s trademark writing style. Here’s hoping they make one new album a year for a long time to come.

15. OTEP – Atavist (Victory)

Joey James Hernandez and Otep created one of the best covers this year.

By breaking down everything the band was before and rebuilding it nearly from scratch, OTEP was able to make a complete album of great songs with zero compromise. Otep herself penned some of her most insurgent lyrics and pushed herself to new heights as a growler and a singer. The collection of musical talent from Gil and Rani Sharone, Collyn McCoy and Tony Campos were the perfect foil for the complex, brutal music in the spirit of the bands’ first album. The album also has some surprise turns musically like “We Dream Like Lions”. Review: http://www.metal-army.com/?p=19645

16.CROWBAR- Sever the Wicked Hand (E1 Music)

Is it possible that Kirk Windstein is making the best music of his career- twenty-five years after it began? The answer is yes. The linchpin of bands like DOWN and KINGDOM OF SORROW revels in his own muse and voice in the band that is his baby. Sludge and thrash mix perfectly as the band just blows through groove after groove. It sounds like classic CROWBAR, but at the same time reinvigorated and fresh. Huzzah to Kirk for clean living and dirty, dirty riffs.

17. THE ATLAS MOTH- An Ache For The Distance (Profound Lore)

This Chicago quintet brings the doom and gloom as they fry our brains right in our skulls. Bringing together heaviness and psychedelia like few others, the band have created what I believe musically is the album they will be remembered for. If you are a fan of great lyrics this also another album setting the bar high for all others to follow in the genre. Review: http://www.metal-army.com/?p=24385

18. DECAPITATED – Carnival Is Forever (Nuclear Blast)

Bands talk about “make or break” albums, but many will never know the size if the heart Vogg Kieltyka has and the will to match it. What he has gone through to bring this band back from the brink. The shadow of the van accident that claimed Vogg’s brother Vitek looms large since he wrote half of the album prior to his death. Rather than try to live up to past incarnations of the band, Vogg masterminded a straight-ahead inspired, death-thrash classic with the essence of what made the band great still intact. Vogg is one of the best guitarists and writers in all of metal, period. Great debuts from new drummer Krimh Lechner and vocalist Rafael Piotrowksi too.

19. JUNIUS- Reports From The Threshold of Death (Prosthetic)

Multi-instrumentalist/Front man Joseph E. Martinez often gets most of the praise heaped on him for Boston’s JUNIUS. While it is all deserved the entire band as unit crafted the sonic gem that is this album. Purposeful and articulate, the music is not for the impatient or those needing the money shot type of music that is becoming so prevalent today. This is post-metal for the thinking and feeling metal-head. A frightening thought to be true. Scarier still is how on repeated listening I keep finding new elements for my ear to cling to. The bands power is in its laid back delivery, but similar to ISIS or TOOL they are sneaky awesome and creative wit hsurges of energy that just take you over. Review: http://www.metal-army.com/?p=27295

20. VALLENFYRE- A Fragile King (Century Media)

The brainchild of PARADISE LOST guitarist Gregor Mackintosh an no less than a super-group with members of MY DYING BRIDE, DOOM and AT THE GATES. Unlike most super-groups, VALLENFYRE blends the styles of all of its member bands in equal measures. They funneled these influences through a centrifuge of grief creating a death and doom metal vortex of the highest order. Mackintosh coming to the fore as a singer an front man is quite compelling and every track is strong with no filler. I”m hoping they can bring their live show to the USA in 2012. Review: http://www.metal-army.com/?p=27444

21. DREAM THEATER – A Dramatic Turn Of Events (Roadrunner)

Despite the very public turmoil the band has been through the last year and a half they managed to move on just fine. They circled the wagons, wrote a tremendous new album and hired a guy like them in Mike Mangini. Not only is Mike a top player, but he fit in like a glove bringing in his own flavor to the group. To top it off when people expected a lighter album from the group they turned in one of their heaviest albums to date. It was also cool to hear John Petrucci’s terrific production on the album as well. The future looks bright, ironic name and all.

22. HULL- Beyond The Lightless Sky (The End Records)

I had a gut feeling that I was gonna like this record before it came out. Then I heard it and was blown away by the playing and songwriting abilities of this band. Prog jams, multi-layered vocal attacks, blast-beat heavy death metal, soulful guitar solos and assorted other weirdness make up a stew of awesomesauce. Drummer Jeff Steiber turned in one of the standout drum performances of the year as well. Review: http://www.metal-army.com/?p=24279

23. ICED EARTH – Dystpoia (Century Media)

I hate to admit it, but I initially underestimated Dystopia. I have been a fan of the band for many years so I will only blame myself for the oversight. When I heard the album I was totally floored! It is hard in this day and age to be consistent one album to the next, let alone four or five in a row. With new singer Stu Block (INTO ETERNITY) in tow Jon Schaffer and company unleash the new model ICED EARTH, with the same ferocity of their prior releases. Block stepped right in and owned the lead vocalist spot and the band, which was reinvigorated by some new blood turned in great performances. Schaffer’s concept album about the perils of totalitarianism hit uncomfortably close to home for modern times in America. Review: http://www.metal-army.com/?p=27003

24. ORWELL- AVOHFASIH (Self-Released)

ORWELL is the finest unsigned band I’ve heard this year. They used to be a pretty good thrash inspired modern metal band, but produced this brilliant concept album about devastating losses, grieving and moving on. In the process they transcended the genre entirely. Elements of groove, prog, melody and harshness all coexist together. There is great lyrical depth in this album too. Not just that, but they also gave it away for free on their website. Nice! Review: http://www.metal-army.com/?p=22293

25. TIMES OF GRACE – The Hymn Of The Broken Man (Roadrunner)

Rather than attempt to recapture past glories, former bandmates in KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Jesse Leach and Adam Dutkiewitz crafted one of the years best albums. Equal parts classic rock and subtle metalcore references, this was a record chock full of excellent songs, terrific melodies, ripping solos and deft beats. Naturally it was all topped off by the majestic voice of Leach, who is still one of the top singers in any genre of music. Few albums will free your spirit, leave you smiling ear to ear and rock so hard as this one does.