Top Picks for 2002?

[Final_Vision]

Well we are just about done and I dont think there are any sceduled releases (other than than the new Amon Amarth "Versus the World" which you should download its great). How did everyones list shape up, or IS shaping up?

Mine would look something like this:

1. Dark Tranquillity - Damage Done: Personally I think it was the only one of the big players to live up to the hype and bring a kick ass CD. Great on all levels.

2. The Crown - Crowned in Terror: All I can say is the sound is fucking great on it. Fast and brutal, great guitar tone. Melodic Death at one of its best.

3. Sentenced - The Cold White Light: GASP! No I'm serious. This album blew me away from expecting not much after the tepid "Crimson". Every song is fucking great and some real memorable ones as well.

4. Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera: Has one of my favorite tunes of the year "Under the Ice" cant get enough of that refrain. But overall its a long and in depth CD with a great job done by Hansi and co.

Biggest Dissapointment: IN FLAMES, Jesus christ...by its own merits the album is a decently varied album with some good tunes. But really, Transparent shouldnt be in the In Flames catalog period. Solos are all dummied down, the twin guitar attack is almost non existent, and Anders singing just "aint that great". Sadders news is I expect them to continue traveling this path...let us pray.

now that I've rambled on and you prolly didnt read it what are your pics and biggest dissapointments.

Edit: I decided to delete the new Vintersorg from my list, I cant bring myself to admit it was one of my favs of 2002 hehe.

 

[Gadlor]

I'd comment, but the list of CDs I've bought this year that were made this year is rather pitifully short. I'm doing catch-up work on getting the early albulms of bands before I get the new stuff.

 

[Wound]

Blind Guardian - ANATO - love it, just love it

Dark Tranquillity - Damage Done - treason wall, great disc

Kalmah - They Will Return - mmmmmm, sounds like bodom meets Eternal Tears of Sorrow, seeing how a few guys in Kalmah have been in EToS heh

Sinergy - Suicide by my Side - great cd, i love alexi and roope

Rhapsody - Power of the Dragonflame - it seems pretty brutal for rhapsody, it is great

i will agree with FV about the new In Flames disc,,, god awful

soon to come - OPETH!!!!!!! and Luca Turilli!! wooooooooo!


2003 is looking extremely bright to
-Skyfire
-Bodom
-Iced Earth
-Demons and Wizards (hopefully)
-Kalmah
-Norther
-Rhapsody

 

[Stormrider586]

The Opeth has not been released here yet, neither has the Amon Amarth, but i'm sure they would be on my list. I also haven't gotten the new Thyrfing, Vintersorg, or Dark Tranquility yet. so my list isn't really final yet, obviously. But anyways...

1. The Crown-Crowned In Terror(Simply the best I've heard in a long while, despite Johan not being on vocals. The mix of brutality and melody on this disc hasn't been matched since the days of At the Gates) I'd give it 9.8/10

2. Soilwork-Natural Born Chaos(Brilliant disc from one of my absolute favorites. Their entire catalog has been getting more and more playtime in my discman every day, I can't get enough. This is a solid release to add to your collection if you don't have it.) a 9.5/10

3. Arch Enemy-Wages of Sin(Angela...hot as hell...great vox...amott bros...the usual kick ass guitar work. Drumming, great also. Solid album.) 9/10

4. Sentenced-The Cold White Light (FV, i have to agree with you here man. This disc is rockin Not much else to say, there are some absolutly brilliant tracks here. These guys arent givin up just yet!) 9/10

5. Mastodon-Remission(These guys are pretty new. They have lots of potential, this is a great album. Brutal heavy rock. )
8/10

The biggest dissapointment, unanimously, was the In Flames. I have nothing to say about this that hasn't already been mentioned. This new direction they are going is pretty shady. I dont like it at all. It could have been good with some longer solos, and more leads. they need to get rid of Anders, his voice is just fucking gone. even his screech isn't really there anymore. i'd give this shit no more than a 6/10. a mediocre album, and this band is NOT mediocre.

 

[opacity]

I havn't bought so many 2002-releases either. I don't hunt for latest outputs. most CDs I bought this year were releases from previous years.
2002-releases I can think of right now are:
Dark Tranquillity - Damage Done: it's just about perfect my fave tracks there are 1,2,3 and the last one.
Sentenced - The Cold White Light: it is definitely better than crimson, frozen and down. I was to say it is very good. but then I got me Amorphis "Am Universum" and woot! TCWL was beaten within seconds :Smokedev:
it's an odd thing with sentenced: I will surely go to their concert and I do like their music, but as soon as something else is at hand, I rather play the other band than sentenced
Kalmah - They Will Return: Killer No. 2, right after Swamplord

 

[IcedEarth556]

I love these threads! I have 16 2002 CDs and plan to get at least 5 more so my list isn't final.

1. Blind Guardian-A Night at the Opera. I got this CD the day it hit stores and didn't like it all. April-still didn't like it. May-got better. June-Even better. July-LOVED IT! And now it is still my number one pick of the year. And Then There Was Silence is probably one of my favorite songs ever! I can't wait until I see them live November 22nd.

2.Dark Tranquillity-Damage Done. Holy shit does this CD have alot of hype around it. I bought it expecting it to be really good and I was not dissapointed. I think it is the best melodic death metal album since In Flames "whoracle." That is quite a bold statement but I say it deserves it.

3.In Flames-Reroute to Remain. Uh oh!! Someone that likes this CD. Even though it is so high on my list I am still dissapointed in it. In Flames is my favorite band and it just doesn't seem like they put 100% into it. I still think this CD is really good though and it has some really great tracks. I like every song except the intro to Transparent.

4.Insomnium-In the Halls of Awaiting. This CD remains me of In Flames "The Jester Race." I'm not saying its as good as it, Im just saying it reminds me of it. The riffs on this CD are so ass-ripping. They are the best newcomers of 2002.

5.Norther-Dreams of Endless War. Alot of people label this band as CoB rip offs. I sort of agree actually. The singer sounds too much like Alexi and the keyboards sound too much like Janne. But hey, I love CoB so I love this album. The song "Dream" has such a bad ass melody in it and thats one of the main reasons I like this CD so much. The melodies. I also really like their cover of "The Final Countdown."

6.Sinergy-Suicide by my Side. I lreally like Kimberly's vocals on this album. She writes some of the most depressing lyrics and I love it. I once cried while listening to "Written in Stone." I also love the guitar duo of Laiho and Latvala. There are some really great solos in there.

7.Shadows Fall-Art of Balance. Every song on this CD is as good as the previous. I think this album is so much better than their debut, "Of One Blood." It has alot more variety and a more original sound. The instrumentals are really nice.

8.Into Eternity-Dead or Dreaming. Good CD

9.Sentenced-The Cold White Light. I just got this CD last night! I'm kind of mad I waited so long to get it but whatever. Since I just got it, it hasn't had much time to grow on me but once it does, it will most likely move up on my list. I already think it is better than Crimson.

10.Kalmah-They Will Return. Swamplord was like ten times better than this one but I still like They Will Return. The last two tracks are some of my favorite songs of 2002. And by last two tracks, I don't mean the Megadeth cover. I think the CD would have been better without that.

Well I still have to hear: Opeth, Arcturus, HammerFall, Winds, and Throne of Chaos so its most likely gonna change. I will post me final list at the stroke of midnight on December 31st! I'm a loser so its possible I'll be home on New Years Eve.


I agree with Wound. 2003 is gonna kick ass! His list is good but add Ensiferum, Dimmu Borgir, Nevermore, Old Mans Child, and Opeth.

 

[Wound]

Originally posted by IcedEarth556

Well I still have to hear: Opeth, Arcturus, HammerFall, Winds, and Throne of Chaos so its most likely gonna change. I will post me final list at the stroke of midnight on December 31st! I'm a loser so its possible I'll be home on New Years Eve.


I agree with Wound. 2003 is gonna kick ass! His list is good but add Ensiferum, Dimmu Borgir, Nevermore, Old Mans Child, and Opeth.

shit, Throne of Chaos!!! Woo!! i love these guys,, i have pervertigo in right now! Fistfucking and Alienseed!! both cd's are so different yet so great....

as for Shadows Fall,, i love "of one blood" but i don't think it's there debut album, i forgot the name of it, but i think it's album #2 for these guys,, i'm yet to pick it up... looking forward to it though!

 

[Final_Vision]

Dont forget to add The Haunted, Arch Enemy, Borknagar and Soilwork to that 2003 list. 2003 is definitly gonna own.

I would also like to remove Vintersorg from my list and smack myself for forgetting Immortal and Soilwork. Either of those two fill the spot EASILY. NBC and SOND both kick serious ass. Ok fuck, I hate these lists (wow I created it hehe) because I always forget bands. Shadows Fall, The Art of Balance totally blew me away. My new list looks something like this.

1. Dark Tranquillity - Damage Done
2. The Crown - Crowned in Terror
3. Sentenced - The Cold White Light
4. Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera
5. Soilwork - Natural Born Chaos
6. Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness
7. Shadows Fall - The Art of Balance

@IcedEarth R2R is not a BAD CD by any means...but coming from In Flames it just doesnt measure up. They got rid of two many components that made them what they are and added too many that dont work. Again, the CD is good, its just not In Flames good . Stormrider said it best, a mediocre album by a band that is NOT mediocre.

 

[opacity]

I forgot Vintersorg VFTSG but it wasn't a top pick for me

 

[Finntroll]

1. Opeth - Deliverance
2. Dark Tranquillity - Damage Done
3. Soilwork - Natural Born Chaos

I have to add Cradle Of Filth to the wanted list of 2003...

 

[IcedEarth556]

Oh yeah. My mistake. Shadows Fall first album is Somber Eyes to the Sky done with a different vocalist. I always forget about it. So Art of Balance is their 3rd one.
I actually do agree with Stormrider that Reroute to Remain isn't up to In Flames standard. I still like it pretty good but as I said in my earlier post, I am still dissapointed in it.

 

[Final_Vision]

I forgot to put Darkane - Expaneding Senses in there.......great fucking CD. Damn why cant I remember great cds? THEY ARE GREAT

 

[Stormrider586]

I don't know if this counts....but the Iced Earth Dark Genesis box set. None of it is really new...its just fuckin sweet!

 

[MotherNorth]

I've only to say (and believe me I'm very sad for this): Satyricon disappointed me once again, first with their new release Volcano then with the tour cancellated here in Italy.
For now it's everything I've to say about my musical 2002... I always hope in Skyfire

 

[Stormrider586]

yes, In Skyfire We Trust!

 

[Ronnie.B]

My favorites this year are these (in no order):

Nile - In Their Darkened Shrines
Dream Evil - Dragonslayer
Nocturnal Rites - Shadowland
Blind Guardian - A NIght At The Opera
Amaran - A World Depraved
Vader - Revelations
Soilwork - Natural Born Chaos
Susperia - Vindication
Wolf - Black Wings
Theory In Practice - Colonizing The Sun

Biggest let downs so far:

Vintersorg - Visions From The Spiral Generator
Opeth - Deliverance

 

[neal]

1. arcturus-sham mirros: why the FUCK isnt this on anyone esle's list? this cd is off the fucking hook.

2. kalmah-they will return: you all know why.

3. arch enemy- wages of sin: altough pretty fucking good its ludacrisly over-rated. almost as much as angela. inferior to all of the johan albums. maybe tied with burning bridges.

4. soilwork-NBC: after the utter fucking suck-fest that was prediotrs portait i didnt hold out much hope for this one, but i took everyones advice and was pleasently surprised. its pretty watered down as far as 'brutality' and 'deathness' but its still good music.

5. KMFDM-Attak: not a lot of KMFDM fans around on UM but they fucking rule and so does their new one. its not my favorite KMFDM but its near the top.

disapointments...
in flames, of course. whoever says they werent at least a little let down by this album is fucking lying to themselves. i listened to it quite a bit when i first got it, but now havent heard it in at least a month. just doesnt interest me too much. i have the cds in my case alphabetical...when i look at the in flames page rtr just doesnt stand a fucking chance to be played against the rest.
shadows fall as well. i just cant get into this new one. its too american. 'of one blood' had potential. this is just hardcore yeller metal crap. theres a few good riffs, but i just havent been able to force myself to listen to it much.
iced earth box set. didnt buy it. its just a bullshit ploy to get your money. 'oh but the cover cd!' well lets see...KISS sucks..AC/DC sucks, sabbath sucks, and im sure they just fucked up the maiden songs. jon schaffer can lick my nuts.
well kids i think thats about it. none of those are in any particular order. i just numbered them in the order i remembered they were from 2002 haha. 2003 looks to be a promising year as well.
-neal

 

[Final_Vision]

Originally posted by Ronnie.B
My favorites this year are these (in no order):

Nile - In Their Darkened Shrines
Dream Evil - Dragonslayer
Nocturnal Rites - Shadowland
Blind Guardian - A NIght At The Opera
Amaran - A World Depraved
Vader - Revelations
Soilwork - Natural Born Chaos
Susperia - Vindication
Wolf - Black Wings
Theory In Practice - Colonizing The Sun

Biggest let downs so far:

Vintersorg - Visions From The Spiral Generator
Opeth - Deliverance

I shoulda also added Dream Evil - Dragonslayer, nothing totally groundbreaking and its pretty typical power metal I think it has some really great fuckin guitar work and a lot of good riffs.

As for Shadows Fall, I need to get 'Of One Blood' cause I picked up TAOB and I really think it kicks some ass. Everyone sais 'Of One Blood' is better, or thats the general concencus at least. Just can never find the blasted thing

Arcturus, I havent listened to The Sham Mirrors, I just know the cover kicked ass hehe. Maybe wanna pass an mp3 or two my way sometime neal?

 

[Stormrider586]

Neal, how can you fucking disrespect Jon Schaffer? The shit that he went through to make Iced Earth a success shows how fucking committed he has been since the beggining. Dark Genesis, you see it as a ploy to get peoples money, however i didn't have their first album or Burnt Offerings, so it wasnt a ploy. And I liked the cover cd, ACDC doesnt suck, and neither does sabbath, the fucking godfathers of metal. So you can lick my nuts.

 

[Gadlor]

personally I'd rather not see anyone lick anyone else's nuts.