I decided to wait a few months, after the year had ended, to put together my list. It seems I always discover a bunch of discs, right at year end, after reading the Top X lists of others.
Futures End - Memoirs of a Broken Man
When divvying up interview assignments for the ProgPower X program, I was assigned Futures End. Honestly, I wasn't thrilled. Two weeks prior to the interview I had yet to hear their debut, which was still being mixed. Seeing as how the overwhelming percentage of what's released today is derivative drivel, the prospect of interviewing a band in whom I had to feign interest, was not especially appealing. When I finally heard the disc I thought... this isn't bad. Second spin... hmmm... this is actually pretty good. Spins three though infinity... wow... this is completely badass. What I appreciate most about Futures End is, their music has a dark edginess to it which is conspicuously absent in the Prog Metal world. In a nutshell, this is everything a Prog Metal fan could want from a release; stellar guitar work, emotive, well delivered vocals, a brilliant rhythm section, powerful lyrics and mature compositions. However, like most great Prog Metal, it's not an instant listen, nor is it intended to be. Spend time with it, absorb it, read the lyrics, throw on the headphones. Enjoy.
Amorphis - Skyforger
The reemergence of Amorphis has been a fascinating thing to witness. After a very impressive 14 year run, it seemed the band was simply out of ideas. Enter Tomi Joutsen. I can't recall another band being reborn, after replacing a singer, as Amorphis has. Still, 2009 offered a significant hurdle for the band, as Amorphis seemed primed to contract a serious case of DTS (Dark Tranquillity Syndrome... the afflicted release the same material year after year, changing only the album title and the artwork). However, Amorphis stepped up and delivered a disc that just may be their best work to date. While not altogether different than Eclipse or Silent Waters, the songs contained within are simply better. Their unique blending of Heathen, Folk, Prog and Death Metal elements, driven by a heightened sense of songwriting sophistication, yields a formula few can equal.
Voyager - I am the revolution
I love this disc. However, I suspect the roots of my love are buried in unexpected ground; Duran Duran. If someone took Seven and the Ragged Tiger era Duran Duran (yes... I just referenced Seven and the Ragged Tiger... bite me) and mixed it with 11 Dreams era Mercenary, then added touches of Braindance's "progressive darkwave", you'd have I am the reVolution. This disc is a breath of fresh air in an often stagnant genre.
Novembers Doom - Into Night's Requiem Infernal
In the world of boxing you often hear the term "best pound for pound boxer". It measures a boxers skills relative to his weight. If such a title existed for bands, where talent was measured relative to success, Novembers Doom would be the best pound for pound band on the planet. How a band with a sound so accessible (relative to their style), whose songwriting is so powerful, continues to exist on the outskirts of popularity remains a mystery. With the release of INRI, Novembers Doom again delivers the goods. Staying true to their roots, while refreshing their sound with previously unexplored elements, we once again have a 9/10 disc, from a band who seems to deliver nothing less. Clean/harsh vocals that are second only to Mikael Åkerfeldt's, riffs galore, a stellar rhythm section, flawless production and great lyrics. If I had one complaint, it would be the solos. There are not enough of them. I really appreciate Larry's sensibilities as a lead player, but his solo work never seems to get the prominence it deserves.
Pathosray - Sunless Skies
This is a truly wonderful Prog Metal release; beautiful melodies, lots of variation, great vocals, and superb instrumentation. It's one of those releases that is hard to imagine any fan of Prog Metal not enjoying. Its one flaw is that the disc ultimately feels safe. These guys are clearly great musicians, who have absorbed much of what their predecessors had to offer. It feels like they should be pushing boundaries, not confining themselves within them. When I listen to Pathosray, I get a sense that they could be the next Ark. And I don't mean that they have the potential to sound like Ark. Rather, they seem to have the tools required to shake the pillars of the genre. I hope they get there.
Fairyland - Score to a New Beginning
Unlike Edgend, who hopefully have a well staffed legal team ready to address (what I have to imagine is) a forthcoming copyright infringement law suit from Symphony X, Fairyland borrows, but doesn't steal. Their blend of progressive and symphonic elements feels familiar, yet fresh. More importantly, the songwriting level here is high enough to forgive any reliance on formulas conceived by more distinguished predecessors. Ultimately, I'd probably have a bigger issue with the Symphony X similarities if this disc wasn't miles better than Symphony X's last offering.
Red Circuit Homeland
The simple description is... Vanden Plas with bigger stones. However, such a simple description fails to adequately assess just how good this disc is. The songs are catchy, but not so much so that you quickly tire of them. For whatever reason, Chitty's vocal have never really resonated with me. However, on this disc I find him to be the primary selling point. Similar to Pathosray, I'd love to see these guys experiment a bit more. This is a genre thats being suffocated by "me too" bands. Red Circuit is clearly on the cusp of becoming an elite band. They merely need to trust their instincts and take a leap of faith, trusting they won't land on safe ground, and instead will release something that establishes them as a true force in the genre.
Dreadnaught Dreadnaught
I hate Hard Rock. The best explanation I can offer for my disdain is, Hard Rock feels like sitting in the passenger seat of 350 horsepower car, with a driver whos driving 50 MPH in the fast lane. I'm so distracted by the fact that we're moving so slowly, when we shouldnt be, that I can't seem to appreciate the other aspects of the ride. Dreadnaught's self-titled 4th studio release was my introduction to the band. I read their previous releases were more Hard Rock oriented, but that the deaths of three close friends, including the loss of the band's drummer to suicide, unleashed an aggression that pushed them in a more Metal direction. The end result is a disc that delivers Hard Rock with a uniquely venomous intensity, seldom found in the genre. Honestly, I'm at a loss to describe who this band sounds like or even how to categorize them into an established sub-genre.
Lamb of God Wrath
I can't help but think that if Lamb of God were a bunch of long-haired Swedes, they'd get a lot more love from the "underground". Unfortunately, being stamped as part of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal is akin to a scarlet letter that keeps the band at arms length from "true" Metal fans. Regardless, after the lackluster Sacrament, LoG return to form with a slab of pure Metal. Aside from the passion and intensity with which LoG deliver their music, I especially appreciate the biting social commentary. Great art should be a mirror, and this one reflects the uncomfortable realities of the real world.
Manowar - Thunder in the Sky
Suffice it to say, I've never been one to extend the benefits of nostalgia to those bands that I grew up with. I view the post-1990 efforts of the 80s elite as falling somewhere between uninspired and epic failure. However, while wasting an evening navigating between MP3 and MILF porn sites, I happened to catch "Die with Honor" playing on some internet radio station. Like many Manowar songs, "Die with Honor" demands to be played at full volume. Since that time, all things Manowar have found their way into my heavy rotation; new material, old material, DVDs, etc. While this EP only includes six songs (one of which is a horrid, horrid ballad), the other five tracks represent the best pure Power Metal released in 2009. Of course, these songs have the distinct advantage of being delivered by one of the five greatest Metal vocalists in the history of the genre.
Hypocrisy - A Taste of Extreme Divinity
Blackened Melodic Death Metal, with a Nevermore / Fear Factory like crispness to the production that allows the venom in the songwriting and the power of the band to shine through undimmed. The disc is made up of killer tracks, mediocre tracks, and little in between. However, even the mediocre tracks are lifted by the intensity and atmosphere of the CD as a whole. This is my first Hypocrisy disc. I think I need to revisit some of their earlier works. Suggestions?
Pelican What We All Come to Need
Instrumental, sludgy, atmospheric, Progressive Rock, with a decidedly Metal aesthetic. Five adjectives in a single sentence? Not bad. Although I hate reviews that describe music as creating lush soundscapes, such pompous reviewer-speak is unfortunately also an apt description in this case. Its one of those discs you can either play in the background and forget about, or slap on the headphone and allow it to capture your full attention. I find very few discs that work for both.
Vreid Milorg
A relentless opus of straight up Black Metal. Often with music this aggressive, the listener can reach a point of saturation where the music slowly morphs into white noise. Not here. The songs on Milorg are varied and distinct, and the melodies, though brutal, are quite pronounced. If you're not a fan of Black Metal, this is a great band to start with.
Blut Aus Nord - Memoria Vetusta II: Dialogue With The Stars
I've listened to this release half a dozen times and I'm still not quite sure what I think of it. I mean, I know I like it I'm just not sure how much. I know it belongs somewhere on this list, between 1 and 20, and for the time being, here it falls. If you're familiar with this French Black Metal outfit, you can probably appreciate my state of perplexedness (<- new word). If you're not, let me attempt an explanation. What we have here is anything but traditional Black Metal. This is truly progressive music, that is at once alluring and intriguing, yet impenetrable. The songs are so layered, it's easy to get lost in them. Which isn't to suggest they drift into the background of your subconscious. Rather, you feel as though you've been asked to read a truly engrossing novel at a pace that you're not quite comfortable keeping up with. In the end, you've enjoyed the story, but feel as though you've missed some critical exposition that would have afforded a greater appreciation of the story as a whole.
My Dying Bride - For Lies I Sire
I don't like Doom. I find it a chore to listen to. I truly enjoy My Dying Bride. These two positions are seemingly in conflict. So either My Dying Bride is the best Doom band ever or not they're not truly Doom at all. At this point, I'll digress and leave such clarifications to the genre fanatics. For me, three simple factors separate MDB from the rest of their genre; atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere.
Manimal - The Darkest Room
Sometimes the best way to describe a band is to describe what they aren't. Manimal isn't very original. Manimal isn't replete with brilliant musicians. Manimal isn't destined for stardom. And let's face it, Manimal wasn't even capable of choosing a decent band name. It would seem the only thing Manimal is capable of is writing songs that kick serious ass. As I've alluded to, there's nothing groundbreaking going on here. However, when you write songs this catchy, that are this much fun, who needs the shackles of originality? This is one of those discs best suited for a warm summer day, with the car windows rolled down, the stereo on 10, and the folks in the adjacent car disapprovingly rolling their eyes at your chosen volume level. Fuck'em. This disc rips.
Redemption - Snowfall on Judgment Day
I'm at a loss. I love Redemption's previous two releases. The Fullness of Time was my #2 CD of 2005, and The Origins of Ruin my #1 of 2007. Snowfall seems to be no different with regard to style, musicianship, passion or quality. Yet, for some odd reason, I'm just not feeling the magic. What's more baffling is, that so many folks who were previously left cold by Redemption are now singing the band's praises. Perhaps my expectations have risen to an unrealistic level? Maybe if Snowfall had preceded Origins, I'd prefer Snowfall? These two explanations seem most likely. I suspect that had I never heard Redemption's previous works, this would be my #1 CD of 2009. Regardless, what we have here is above and beyond 99% of what was released in 2009, and Snowfall only continues to cement Redemption's place as one of the genre's elite bands. However, whereas both Origins and Fullness contain moments that raise the hairs on my arms, Snowfall leaves me content and satisfied, but not mesmerized.
Devin Townsend Project Ki
Although I own most of Devin's catalog, I wouldn't consider myself a "big fan". I typically end up picking up his CDs because I absolutely love a song or two on the disc, but not the whole disc. For me, Ki is his most consistent offering. It achieves a perfect balance between flow, variety and eccentricity.
Fen - The Malediction Fields
Fen's 2007 EP, Ancient Sorrow, was a near perfect release. Its only flaw was brevity. Thats what made Malediction Fields one of my most anticipated releases of 2009. For those who are unfamiliar, Fen is a British band who writes atmospheric Black Metal. However, on The Malediction Fields they've introduced Post Rock influences. While these elements are not unwelcome, there's simply no getting around the fact that the end result is inferior. The songs, while strong, are not great. They often wander aimlessly, never returning to finish what they began. While I hope Fen continues to experiment and explore their sound, I also hope they rediscover the focus they demonstrated on their EP.
Disappointments... it's worth noting that none of the discs below are bad discs. In truth, they would likely round out my Top 20 in one way or another. However, these are releases that, in some ways, I often found more frustrating than enjoyable.
Drudkh Microcosmos
Drudkh is the band that made me a Black Metal fan. Since that time, they've maintained their status (in my mind) as the genre's finest band. Microcosmos represents the most substantial evolution of their sound with more prominently featured guitar solos and a more dominant bass presence. Despite this evolution, the disc remains distinctly Drudkh. Unfortunately, the songwriting doesn't feel quite as inspired as past releases. Too often the songs meander, eventually falling prey to needless repetition and finally losing the listener in a sea of unnecessary exploration.
Isis - Wavering Radiant
Isis was once a great band. However, they've become so entrenched in their own sound that they now seem powerless to break free of it. This disc feels like nothing more than an inferior version of Absence of Truth, which to a certain degree seemed like little more than a diluted version of Panopticon.
Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition
Yet another great band chained to their distinct sound, unable to accomplish much beyond reproducing inferior versions of previous works. Unlike Rapid Eye Movement, which mostly seemed like Second Life Syndrome Part Deux, Riverside has at least attempted to revitalize their sound with a few new elements. Unfortunately, these new elements don't really add anything to the atmosphere, and instead serve only to weaken the end result.
Futures End - Memoirs of a Broken Man
When divvying up interview assignments for the ProgPower X program, I was assigned Futures End. Honestly, I wasn't thrilled. Two weeks prior to the interview I had yet to hear their debut, which was still being mixed. Seeing as how the overwhelming percentage of what's released today is derivative drivel, the prospect of interviewing a band in whom I had to feign interest, was not especially appealing. When I finally heard the disc I thought... this isn't bad. Second spin... hmmm... this is actually pretty good. Spins three though infinity... wow... this is completely badass. What I appreciate most about Futures End is, their music has a dark edginess to it which is conspicuously absent in the Prog Metal world. In a nutshell, this is everything a Prog Metal fan could want from a release; stellar guitar work, emotive, well delivered vocals, a brilliant rhythm section, powerful lyrics and mature compositions. However, like most great Prog Metal, it's not an instant listen, nor is it intended to be. Spend time with it, absorb it, read the lyrics, throw on the headphones. Enjoy.
Amorphis - Skyforger
The reemergence of Amorphis has been a fascinating thing to witness. After a very impressive 14 year run, it seemed the band was simply out of ideas. Enter Tomi Joutsen. I can't recall another band being reborn, after replacing a singer, as Amorphis has. Still, 2009 offered a significant hurdle for the band, as Amorphis seemed primed to contract a serious case of DTS (Dark Tranquillity Syndrome... the afflicted release the same material year after year, changing only the album title and the artwork). However, Amorphis stepped up and delivered a disc that just may be their best work to date. While not altogether different than Eclipse or Silent Waters, the songs contained within are simply better. Their unique blending of Heathen, Folk, Prog and Death Metal elements, driven by a heightened sense of songwriting sophistication, yields a formula few can equal.
Voyager - I am the revolution
I love this disc. However, I suspect the roots of my love are buried in unexpected ground; Duran Duran. If someone took Seven and the Ragged Tiger era Duran Duran (yes... I just referenced Seven and the Ragged Tiger... bite me) and mixed it with 11 Dreams era Mercenary, then added touches of Braindance's "progressive darkwave", you'd have I am the reVolution. This disc is a breath of fresh air in an often stagnant genre.
Novembers Doom - Into Night's Requiem Infernal
In the world of boxing you often hear the term "best pound for pound boxer". It measures a boxers skills relative to his weight. If such a title existed for bands, where talent was measured relative to success, Novembers Doom would be the best pound for pound band on the planet. How a band with a sound so accessible (relative to their style), whose songwriting is so powerful, continues to exist on the outskirts of popularity remains a mystery. With the release of INRI, Novembers Doom again delivers the goods. Staying true to their roots, while refreshing their sound with previously unexplored elements, we once again have a 9/10 disc, from a band who seems to deliver nothing less. Clean/harsh vocals that are second only to Mikael Åkerfeldt's, riffs galore, a stellar rhythm section, flawless production and great lyrics. If I had one complaint, it would be the solos. There are not enough of them. I really appreciate Larry's sensibilities as a lead player, but his solo work never seems to get the prominence it deserves.
Pathosray - Sunless Skies
This is a truly wonderful Prog Metal release; beautiful melodies, lots of variation, great vocals, and superb instrumentation. It's one of those releases that is hard to imagine any fan of Prog Metal not enjoying. Its one flaw is that the disc ultimately feels safe. These guys are clearly great musicians, who have absorbed much of what their predecessors had to offer. It feels like they should be pushing boundaries, not confining themselves within them. When I listen to Pathosray, I get a sense that they could be the next Ark. And I don't mean that they have the potential to sound like Ark. Rather, they seem to have the tools required to shake the pillars of the genre. I hope they get there.
Fairyland - Score to a New Beginning
Unlike Edgend, who hopefully have a well staffed legal team ready to address (what I have to imagine is) a forthcoming copyright infringement law suit from Symphony X, Fairyland borrows, but doesn't steal. Their blend of progressive and symphonic elements feels familiar, yet fresh. More importantly, the songwriting level here is high enough to forgive any reliance on formulas conceived by more distinguished predecessors. Ultimately, I'd probably have a bigger issue with the Symphony X similarities if this disc wasn't miles better than Symphony X's last offering.
Red Circuit Homeland
The simple description is... Vanden Plas with bigger stones. However, such a simple description fails to adequately assess just how good this disc is. The songs are catchy, but not so much so that you quickly tire of them. For whatever reason, Chitty's vocal have never really resonated with me. However, on this disc I find him to be the primary selling point. Similar to Pathosray, I'd love to see these guys experiment a bit more. This is a genre thats being suffocated by "me too" bands. Red Circuit is clearly on the cusp of becoming an elite band. They merely need to trust their instincts and take a leap of faith, trusting they won't land on safe ground, and instead will release something that establishes them as a true force in the genre.
Dreadnaught Dreadnaught
I hate Hard Rock. The best explanation I can offer for my disdain is, Hard Rock feels like sitting in the passenger seat of 350 horsepower car, with a driver whos driving 50 MPH in the fast lane. I'm so distracted by the fact that we're moving so slowly, when we shouldnt be, that I can't seem to appreciate the other aspects of the ride. Dreadnaught's self-titled 4th studio release was my introduction to the band. I read their previous releases were more Hard Rock oriented, but that the deaths of three close friends, including the loss of the band's drummer to suicide, unleashed an aggression that pushed them in a more Metal direction. The end result is a disc that delivers Hard Rock with a uniquely venomous intensity, seldom found in the genre. Honestly, I'm at a loss to describe who this band sounds like or even how to categorize them into an established sub-genre.
Lamb of God Wrath
I can't help but think that if Lamb of God were a bunch of long-haired Swedes, they'd get a lot more love from the "underground". Unfortunately, being stamped as part of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal is akin to a scarlet letter that keeps the band at arms length from "true" Metal fans. Regardless, after the lackluster Sacrament, LoG return to form with a slab of pure Metal. Aside from the passion and intensity with which LoG deliver their music, I especially appreciate the biting social commentary. Great art should be a mirror, and this one reflects the uncomfortable realities of the real world.
Manowar - Thunder in the Sky
Suffice it to say, I've never been one to extend the benefits of nostalgia to those bands that I grew up with. I view the post-1990 efforts of the 80s elite as falling somewhere between uninspired and epic failure. However, while wasting an evening navigating between MP3 and MILF porn sites, I happened to catch "Die with Honor" playing on some internet radio station. Like many Manowar songs, "Die with Honor" demands to be played at full volume. Since that time, all things Manowar have found their way into my heavy rotation; new material, old material, DVDs, etc. While this EP only includes six songs (one of which is a horrid, horrid ballad), the other five tracks represent the best pure Power Metal released in 2009. Of course, these songs have the distinct advantage of being delivered by one of the five greatest Metal vocalists in the history of the genre.
Hypocrisy - A Taste of Extreme Divinity
Blackened Melodic Death Metal, with a Nevermore / Fear Factory like crispness to the production that allows the venom in the songwriting and the power of the band to shine through undimmed. The disc is made up of killer tracks, mediocre tracks, and little in between. However, even the mediocre tracks are lifted by the intensity and atmosphere of the CD as a whole. This is my first Hypocrisy disc. I think I need to revisit some of their earlier works. Suggestions?
Pelican What We All Come to Need
Instrumental, sludgy, atmospheric, Progressive Rock, with a decidedly Metal aesthetic. Five adjectives in a single sentence? Not bad. Although I hate reviews that describe music as creating lush soundscapes, such pompous reviewer-speak is unfortunately also an apt description in this case. Its one of those discs you can either play in the background and forget about, or slap on the headphone and allow it to capture your full attention. I find very few discs that work for both.
Vreid Milorg
A relentless opus of straight up Black Metal. Often with music this aggressive, the listener can reach a point of saturation where the music slowly morphs into white noise. Not here. The songs on Milorg are varied and distinct, and the melodies, though brutal, are quite pronounced. If you're not a fan of Black Metal, this is a great band to start with.
Blut Aus Nord - Memoria Vetusta II: Dialogue With The Stars
I've listened to this release half a dozen times and I'm still not quite sure what I think of it. I mean, I know I like it I'm just not sure how much. I know it belongs somewhere on this list, between 1 and 20, and for the time being, here it falls. If you're familiar with this French Black Metal outfit, you can probably appreciate my state of perplexedness (<- new word). If you're not, let me attempt an explanation. What we have here is anything but traditional Black Metal. This is truly progressive music, that is at once alluring and intriguing, yet impenetrable. The songs are so layered, it's easy to get lost in them. Which isn't to suggest they drift into the background of your subconscious. Rather, you feel as though you've been asked to read a truly engrossing novel at a pace that you're not quite comfortable keeping up with. In the end, you've enjoyed the story, but feel as though you've missed some critical exposition that would have afforded a greater appreciation of the story as a whole.
My Dying Bride - For Lies I Sire
I don't like Doom. I find it a chore to listen to. I truly enjoy My Dying Bride. These two positions are seemingly in conflict. So either My Dying Bride is the best Doom band ever or not they're not truly Doom at all. At this point, I'll digress and leave such clarifications to the genre fanatics. For me, three simple factors separate MDB from the rest of their genre; atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere.
Manimal - The Darkest Room
Sometimes the best way to describe a band is to describe what they aren't. Manimal isn't very original. Manimal isn't replete with brilliant musicians. Manimal isn't destined for stardom. And let's face it, Manimal wasn't even capable of choosing a decent band name. It would seem the only thing Manimal is capable of is writing songs that kick serious ass. As I've alluded to, there's nothing groundbreaking going on here. However, when you write songs this catchy, that are this much fun, who needs the shackles of originality? This is one of those discs best suited for a warm summer day, with the car windows rolled down, the stereo on 10, and the folks in the adjacent car disapprovingly rolling their eyes at your chosen volume level. Fuck'em. This disc rips.
Redemption - Snowfall on Judgment Day
I'm at a loss. I love Redemption's previous two releases. The Fullness of Time was my #2 CD of 2005, and The Origins of Ruin my #1 of 2007. Snowfall seems to be no different with regard to style, musicianship, passion or quality. Yet, for some odd reason, I'm just not feeling the magic. What's more baffling is, that so many folks who were previously left cold by Redemption are now singing the band's praises. Perhaps my expectations have risen to an unrealistic level? Maybe if Snowfall had preceded Origins, I'd prefer Snowfall? These two explanations seem most likely. I suspect that had I never heard Redemption's previous works, this would be my #1 CD of 2009. Regardless, what we have here is above and beyond 99% of what was released in 2009, and Snowfall only continues to cement Redemption's place as one of the genre's elite bands. However, whereas both Origins and Fullness contain moments that raise the hairs on my arms, Snowfall leaves me content and satisfied, but not mesmerized.
Devin Townsend Project Ki
Although I own most of Devin's catalog, I wouldn't consider myself a "big fan". I typically end up picking up his CDs because I absolutely love a song or two on the disc, but not the whole disc. For me, Ki is his most consistent offering. It achieves a perfect balance between flow, variety and eccentricity.
Fen - The Malediction Fields
Fen's 2007 EP, Ancient Sorrow, was a near perfect release. Its only flaw was brevity. Thats what made Malediction Fields one of my most anticipated releases of 2009. For those who are unfamiliar, Fen is a British band who writes atmospheric Black Metal. However, on The Malediction Fields they've introduced Post Rock influences. While these elements are not unwelcome, there's simply no getting around the fact that the end result is inferior. The songs, while strong, are not great. They often wander aimlessly, never returning to finish what they began. While I hope Fen continues to experiment and explore their sound, I also hope they rediscover the focus they demonstrated on their EP.
Disappointments... it's worth noting that none of the discs below are bad discs. In truth, they would likely round out my Top 20 in one way or another. However, these are releases that, in some ways, I often found more frustrating than enjoyable.
Drudkh Microcosmos
Drudkh is the band that made me a Black Metal fan. Since that time, they've maintained their status (in my mind) as the genre's finest band. Microcosmos represents the most substantial evolution of their sound with more prominently featured guitar solos and a more dominant bass presence. Despite this evolution, the disc remains distinctly Drudkh. Unfortunately, the songwriting doesn't feel quite as inspired as past releases. Too often the songs meander, eventually falling prey to needless repetition and finally losing the listener in a sea of unnecessary exploration.
Isis - Wavering Radiant
Isis was once a great band. However, they've become so entrenched in their own sound that they now seem powerless to break free of it. This disc feels like nothing more than an inferior version of Absence of Truth, which to a certain degree seemed like little more than a diluted version of Panopticon.
Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition
Yet another great band chained to their distinct sound, unable to accomplish much beyond reproducing inferior versions of previous works. Unlike Rapid Eye Movement, which mostly seemed like Second Life Syndrome Part Deux, Riverside has at least attempted to revitalize their sound with a few new elements. Unfortunately, these new elements don't really add anything to the atmosphere, and instead serve only to weaken the end result.
Outside of some of the clean vocals and violins, I don't see how they're THAT different from a lot of the other death/doom bands like Novembers Doom for example since Zod also listed them.
