Teeth of the Divine’s STAFF PICKS for 2011
Well, another year. Another late year rush to get staff picks together, which is a lot like herding cats. Another year of rotating staff members. Another year of departed metal icons. But despite of all that, another year of seemingly endless awesome metal. Its seems like each year is always better than the last with a mix of old acts returning, newcomers bringing the thunder and of course the perennials and old reliables. Sit back and feast your eyes on this years cream of the crop according to the staff here at Teethofthedivine.com. And of course feel free discuss, dissect and discredit, but more importantly tell us your picks, good and bad of 2011.
GRIMULFR
Top five
Helrunar – Sól
Helheim – Heiðindómr ok mótgangr
Taake – Noregs Vaapen
Kampfar – Mare
Iskald – The Sun I Carried Alone
Rest of the best 25
Amon Amarth – Surtur Rising
Arafel – For Battles Once Fought
Belphegor – Blood Magick Necromance
Craft – Void
Dornenreich – Flammentriebe
Einherjer – Norrøn
Gernotshagen – Weltenbrand
Ildra – Eðelland
Malevolentia – Ex Oblivion
Motörhead – The Wörld Is Yours
Primordial – Redemption at the Puritan’s Hand
Skogen – Svitjod
Slartibartfass – Schwarz Verhüllt
Svartsyn – Wrath Upon the Earth
Thurisaz – The Cimmerian Years
Tsjuder – Legion Helvete
Vried – V
Wolves in the Throne Room – Celestial Lineage
Xerath – II
XIV Dark Centuries – Gizit Dar Faida
Favorite album that I would not publicly admit to liking
Brainstorm – On The Spur of the Moment
Most fun
Macabre – Grim Scary Tales
Worst cover (among albums I like)
Belphegor – Blood Magick Necromance
Best covers
Skogen – Svitjod
Nomad – Transmigration of Consciousness
Most overdue that is still overdue
Ceremonial Castings
Best ep
Marduk – Iron Dawn
Best debut full length (tie)
Ildra – Eðelland
Baldrs Draumar – Forfedres Fortellinger
Best sophomore effort
Xerath – II
Valknacht – Chants de Guerre
Best third full length
XIV Dark Centuries – Gizit Dar Faida
Best twentieth full length
Motörhead – The Wörld Is Yours
Unexpected to like
Argus – Boldly Stride the Doomed
Unexpected Bonus
Forefather – Last of the Line
Favorite re-recording
Ceremonial Castings – March of the Deathcult
Best live album
Shining – Live Jazzblack
It’s been too long
Arafel – For Battles Once Fought
It’s been not long enough
Peste Noire – L’Ordure à l’état Pur
Best two releases in one year
Blut aus Nord – 777 – Sect(s) – and – 777 – The Desanctification
Best double album
Helrunar – Sól
Best comeback after reformation
Einherjer – Norrøn
Most imaginative album name (tie)
Vreid – V
Xerath – II
I don’t care that it’s not their best
Primordial – Redemption at the Puritan’s Hand
Biggest disappointment
Negura Bunget – Poartă de dincolo
Best corporate promotion
Enslaved – The Sleeping Gods
Best 7” vinyl
Enslaved- Thorn
Most anticipated that did not disappoint
Helheim – Heiðindómr ok mótgangr
One to watch for future developments
Petrychor – Effigies and Epitaphs
Best Self Released
Norz Feuer – Devers Septentrion
Best album that will not make it on my list
Týr – The Lay of Thrym
Upcoming 2012
Triptykon
Lunar Aurora
Azaghal
Sear Bliss
Black Messiah
Aeba
Unleashed
Marduk
Den Saakaldte
Secrets of the Moon
Waylander
Dornenreich
Setherial
Enthroned
Sworn
Dark Funeral
Find more articles with: 2011, Blog, Staff Picks
Apparently there are quite a bit of new staff that I have never heard of. Any of you folks posting in the forum?
on Jan 2nd, 2012 at 13:03Chuck = globox
on Jan 2nd, 2012 at 13:50Fuckin A Jodi! Vintersorg rules
on Jan 2nd, 2012 at 16:09Surprised 40 Watt Sun left so many folks cold. Just picked it up last week & am digging it.
on Jan 2nd, 2012 at 18:3240 watt sun does nothing for me and I am the doom guy. It’s drawn out and whinny to me.
on Jan 2nd, 2012 at 19:12My list: http://abismo666blogzine.blogspot.com/2011/12/lo-mejor-del-2011-sebas.html
on Jan 2nd, 2012 at 20:17(Nº1: 40 Watt Sun)
I can always count on Grim to deliver a list that has little to no overlap with anyone else’s… which is a good thing ’cause otherwise I’d have never heard of gems like Slartibartfass. Weird name, great black metal.
on Jan 3rd, 2012 at 23:31another overlooked 2011 gem: Witheria – thanks Larry! you are 2 for 2 for me this year
on Jan 4th, 2012 at 00:03It’s CRIMINAL you left off Novembers Doom. Aphotic was better then most this year, and not even an honorable mention?
on Jan 10th, 2012 at 00:17I was lucky enough to see 40 Watt Sun in Chicago this last fall and considering I met up with a bunch of the MetalReview staff it was a great time. Superb show.
With that said, I can totally see why many out there aren’t into the album much. It is a tad whiny in spots, and the songs do appear to go nowhere on the surface but for me there’s quite a bit of depth in that fuckin’ record. I personally dig it quite a bit and it cracked my top 5… shit just resonates very, very well with me. I hate to use the ol’ cliche, but I truly feel it’s one of those albums where you’re gonna absolutely fucking hate it, or as has been the case with just about every fan of it out there I’ve run across you hold it in very high regard. Seems there’s no in between on this one.
Lastly, nice lookin’ list, Erik. There are a lot of albums on there I haven’t heard yet and will likely investigate more than a few of them. Also, gonna miss your work over at MR big time, but I look forward to continuing to follow you on Teeth. Cheers!!!
on Jan 12th, 2012 at 16:26