Best "Alternative" Metal of 2006

I'm at a point where I'm totally accustomed to the album, liking every track (yeah even the 21-minute final, repetitive as hell some may state) .. you're right though sometimes you just can't escape a parallel but tbh I never hear SOAD anymore even if the comparison is pertinent.
 
Bumping this thread as I finally got the Giant Squid album, and I think the title track works very well despite relying on the same riff for an eternity. Only real problem is that the vocals can be occasionally irritating. And after hearing the whole thing, I get where someone here said it sounded like Maudlin Of The Well...tracks 3 and 5 sound like they could have been on Bath/LYBM.