Metal Fans: Top 5 releases of 2011?

MA:

1. Draconian - A Rose for the Apocalypse

(Best gothic doom metal band going right now IMO, too bad this will be Lisa's last album with the band.)

http://youtu.be/qbotWc18-bQ

2. Symphony X - Iconoclast

(Best progressive metal album of 2011 IMO, even beating out Opeth, Dream Theater, and Pagan's Mind who all had good releases too this year.)

http://youtu.be/noZiEJgwQrc

3. Graveyard - Hisingin Blues

(An unusual pick as I'm not 100% sure this even qualifies as metal. However if you consider bands like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Black Sabbath metal then this is a must listen because this album sounds like it was released in 1971 instead of 2011 without sounding like complete rip-offs.)

http://youtu.be/927rDDlh4uw

4. Moonsorrow - Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa

(This goes without saying, but whether you classify them as black metal or folk, Moonsorrow has yet to release a bad album, in fact most of them would probably be in the Top 5 for that given year and this one is no different.)

http://youtu.be/YTMNuKzINDw

5. Chthonic - Takasago Army

(although bands like Sigh, Fu Xi, Terminal Lost, and Deep Mountains give them a run for their money, Chthonic has remained my favorite oriental extreme metal band and their newest album doesn't dissapoint.)

http://youtu.be/5GKWsmK51UI

MA2:

I have only heard Moonsorrow's new album out of your top 5 but obviously I really liked it. The only reason I didn't place it higher is because it isn't my favorite Moonsorrow album, in fact probably only about 3rd or 4th on my list. On the other hand "A Rose for the Apocalypse" is my favorite Draconian album and "Iconoclast" is possibly my favorite by Symphony X, still too early to decide for sure.

Clearly black metal isn't one of my favorite sub-genres of metal as it is for you so obviously our tastes are going to differ a bit. I do respect your opinion though and find most of your past recommendations to my liking so I will be sure to check these other albums out as well.

BA:

I think it was a pretty average year for metal, there have been better years in the past, including last year IMO, but there have also been far worse years as well. 2012 looks to be shaping up nicely, how about a question for you. What 5 bands that are suppose to release a new album next year are you looking forward to the most?

For me:

Nile

Meshuggah

Epica

Katatonia

Swallow the Sun

also looking forward to the upcoming documentary by Death Angel.

Don't close this , I will edit this a little later.

The Discovery By Born Of Osiris

The Great Mass By Septic Flesh

Harvest Womb By Fallujah

Asylum Cave By Benighted

Isolated By The Soulless

Honarable Mentions : Havok : Time Is Up , Vektor : Outer Isolation , Arch Enemy:Khaos Legions , Human Abstract:Digital Veil , Cynic: Carbon Based and I know I am missing others ....

MQ2: I have listened to 3/5 - Moonsorrow,Taake and Vektor - Vektor comes out on to for me but Moonsorrow's release was actually pretty wicked!

BQ3: Personally , I thought 2011 had a great year for metal releases.

40 Watt Sun - The Inside Room

Wolves in the Throne Room - Celestial Lineage

The Atlas Moth - An Ache For the Distance

Today is the Day - Pain is a Warning

Leviathan - True Traitor, True Whore

Obscura - Omnivium

Opeth - Heritage

Primordial - Redemption at the Puritan’s Hand

Russian Circles - Empros

Indian - Guiltless

Deafheaven - Roads to Judah

Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising

Krallice - Diotima

Liturgy - Aesthethica

Graf Orlock - Doombox

Peste Noire - L'Ordure à l'état Pur

Altar of Plagues - Mammal

YOB - Atma

Blut Aus Nord - 777:The Desanctification

Mastodon - The Hunter

SubRosa - No Help For the Mighty Ones

Tombs - Path of Totality

Trap Them - Darker Handcraft

Red Fang - Murder the Mountains

Witch Mountain - South Of Salem

Shooting Guns - Born to Deal in Magic 1952-1976

Wolves in the Throne Room - Celestial Lineage (definite favourite, this won't change)

Krallice - Diotoma

Decapitated - Carnival Is Forever (best album by them imo even after all their other albums)

**** the Facts - Die Miserable

Motorhead - The World Is Yours

I wish I could have placed The Hunter within the list but I can't, I just don't like it that much.

MQ2. Outer Isolation is good and I haven't listened to the rest.

BQ. I thought it was good from the stuff I've listened to but there have been loads of albums theis year so I dunno.

***

I love Celestial Lineage and you should really check it out soon! I like it better than Black Casacde but honestly when it all comes down to it it's really the same old newish WITTR but I don't have a problem with that. As for Diotoma I happen to like it the best even over their self titled, it's really interesting.

Shining - VII Född Förlorare

Powerwolf- Blood of the saints

Opeth- Heritage

Wolves in the throne room- Celestial Lineage

Draconian- Rose for the apocalypse

..though Havok, My dying bride, Ulver and Vreid were also favourites this year.

Biggest let down has to be Morbid Angel...and I wasnt too fussed with Venom either.

1. Megadeth - Thirteen

2. Autopsy - Macabre Eternal

3. Deicide - To Hell With God

4. Belphegor - Blood Magick Necromance

5. Destruction - Day of Reckoning

MQ2: I have only heard Vektors album. Its great and just overall amazing songs but just didn't make my top 5. Top 10 though

BQ: egh it was an ok year, 2009 was waaay better.

1. Obscura - Omnivium

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huQXCeXn0v0

2. Mastodon -The Hunter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vNBeoPOZls

3. Evergrey - Glorious Collision

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwAe0kxWt4U

4. Origin - Entity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iqhDPQsfm4

5. Moonsorrow - Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKumk1wa4Ak

MQ2 I haven't gave the others a chance but i loved the Moonsorrow release.

BQ Decent year. had some great albums but it also had it's letdowns.

Carbon-Based Anatomy - Cynic (Thank You Raul for bringing this to my attention)

The Discovery - Born of Osiris (my opinion screw what anyone else thinks I DON'T CARE!)

*I used to Owen I really did bro, I just don't anymore because so many others have exposed they don't, I say this respectively*

Khaos Legions - Arch Enemy

Kairos - Sepultura

Klabautamann - The Old Chamber

Puteraeon - The Esoteric Order

there's more I would have selected but that is what applies to my mood right now. how has it been going? good I hope! IF you want to. IF you get in the mood. would you please listen to my latest?

Please, pretty Please!

http://soundcloud.com/entropydynamics/diagnosis-29...

Edit: 1

yeah it's pretty good, as good as it's predecessor? eh? matter of opinion I guess. :D

Edit: 2

That Moonsorrow sounds pretty good Owen! :)

Edit: 3

I checked out Vektor, pretty dang good, Thulcandra is good, and Taake was so-so, okay. Thanks for sharing those bands Owen. :D

Hey there tron how's it going?

I'll edit later I'ma soooo sleeepyyy

Killer question bro. I'll keep this one short though have... to.. do... MATH!!!

Right Metal releases are my fave releases so here comes ~

1. Moonsorrow - "Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF8FvjUguVA

I was floored when I heard Huuto, AMAZING Black/Folk release with a suble Prog bent to it. But gawd the epic atmosphere would be hard to match. Very melodic which adds a unique touch too. One of those albums you don't have to introduce just listen to the damn thing!! Bow before the Masters.

2.Primordial - "Redemption at the Puritans Hand"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb92nw_FF08

Once you get the feel of the album it is nothing short than incredible. The musicianship is nothing too special but A.A's emotional delivery and the lyrics are equal to nothing I've ever heard before. The lyrics to "Bloodied Yet Unbowed", he could have written nothing I'll relate to more and as a vocalist I can say the vox are a master's work.

3. Obscura - "Omnivium"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHgnMHo4Nr4

One of the best Tech/ Prog releases of the decade. Grosseman's amazing drumming and Thesseling's fabulous fretless bass make a great rhythm section. Acoustic and clean interludes (Opeth anyone) and a genuinely interesting Tech masterpiece is something you won't come across often.

4. VREID - "V"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Gcj1-7SsU

Black N Roll at it's best. Basslines are downright crazy, groove riffs, solid drumming. Can't really classify it but it makes a great listen. Very captivating, enchanting release. I love the melody, acoustic passages, diverse vox and drums, great atmosphere and the bass makes me wet my pants. What's no to like?

5. Vintersorg - "Jordpuls"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVsmYzL1W9Q&feature...

Now this tends to fluctuate a lot of course but I had an inexplicable urge to list this release. Quiet a diverse release from Vintersorg, which is the very top drawer. Seeing as you love Dan Swano I think you'll appreciate Andreas "ubiquitousness" lol. Maybe because of the fantasy atmosphere it's quiet cinematic to me and carries a unique epic Blackened Folk feel I can't really explain. Nice vocals and swaying heavy passages too ;)

MQ2: Seems like I'm veering to your 'alternative' list more haha but the other choices are freakin' awesome too of course. Sorcier Des Glaces was... interesting. Had this frosty feel to it, groovy riffs, epic atmosphere, nice melodic ethereal synths but kinda mediocre vocals. I think they were aiming for the dark, majestic, wintry feel. Gotta listen more!!

Heard Vektor's offering before. I started laughing when he did that pig squeal thingy hahaha. Has the old school Tech feel to it, well structured songs, kewl drums and album cover. Nice one although I'm not raving about it quiet just yet.

Thulcandra oh yeah got acquainted with this one after listening to Sacramentum and Dissection. shucks even Black Metal go all nice and neat for xmas with their winterfest lol

Thought it was okay nothing much... retro old school swedeath ya know cool oxymoron there tho

Ah Taake another multi talented b*tch. I'm not really a fan but I'll try to look into this one further.

BQ2: does this question ever end I said I wanted to write something short bah humbug but you wouldn't stop would ya? I think it was quiet a good year for metal. Maybe not as good as 2010 but still I'm quiet satisfied. I can't keep up with all the staff out there and that's a major sign I'm satisfied. Moonsorrow and Primordial were great releases not to mention all the other ones.

But it's a new decade and it makes me think about the future of Metal. More horizons are getting conquered and everything's blending within itself. But what's next? What's the new shiny gateway we're all waiting for? Ya know Power Metal and Melodeath are far from original. Maybe the next step is going mainstream..? Pop's a joke nowadays and in Finland Nightwish and Cob are as mainstream as it gets.

The 'Kvlt' crowd is gonna get pwned haha!! Maybe we'll get something from Japan I mean isn't it wonderful ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...

Origin- Entity

Rotten Sound- Cursed

Essence- Lost in Violence

Fleshgod Apocalypse- Agony

Wormrot- Dirge

Oh sh*t I forgot TesseracT- One

MQ2: Pnly listened to number one, which is good, I haven't bought the CD yet though.

BQ: This year was ok, not the best,