January 2nd, 2012
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.
FRED PHILLIPS
After a few very strong years that added a lot of great records to my collection, I’m a little disappointed as I look back on this year. The records that I liked, I really liked, but there weren’t nearly as many candidates this year, and the drop off was pretty steep.
1. Alice Cooper, Welcome 2 My Nightmare. Sequels to iconic records are, as a rule, not a good idea, because the name itself creates an unrealistic expectation. For every rule, though, there is an exception. This is it. The shock rock godfather seems to be having a blast here, ripping through various genres from the expected hard rock to country to pop to surf rock and even a rap/disco tune.
2. Anthrax, Worship Music. As a fan of John Bush, I wanted to hate this record and the reunion with Joey Belladonna. I’m both a little pissed and very pleased to report that it holds its own with the band’s best efforts. Belladonna’s voice is a little more seasoned and there’s some musical growth and maturation.
3. Amorphis, The Beginning of Times. While it wasn’t as instantly likeable for me as 2009’s Skyforger, The Beginning of Times has grown on me with each listen. It’s a perfect combination of poppy hooks, mystic melodies and aggression.
4. Symphony X, Iconoclast. The New Jersey power/prog acts eighth record ranks among its best. It shows a continuing trend toward darker, more aggressive songs, but maintains the elements that fans expect from Symphony X.
5. Alestorm, Back Through Time. As with Alestorm’s last two albums, I had more fun with this record than with any other this year. The addition of drummer Peter Alcorn gives some serious metal backbone to the campy pirate movie melodies. It’s goofy and silly, but it always leaves me in a good mood.
6. Sebastian Bach, Kicking and Screaming. For Skid Row fans, this is probably the closest we’re going to get to another Slave to the Grind or Subhuman Race. It’s not perfect. Bach overindulges at times and could still use some help creating hooks, but young guitarist Nick Sterling gives the record a dose of adrenaline and makes it the most solid effort from either camp since the split.
7. Amon Amarth, Surtur Rising. This one’s not as good as either With Oden on Our Side or Twilight of the Thunder God, but it’s still Amon Amarth, and that should be enough.
8. Three Thirteen, Full Tilt. I love surprises from independent artists, and this was a good one. I was drawn in by the packaging, but the retro-hard rock goodness of the songs hooked me.
9. Iced Earth, Dystopia. I expected this album to finish much higher on my list, but it’s lost a little of its luster with more listens. On the up side, Jon Schaffer remembered to include the big hooks and memorable melodies, at least early in the album, that have been missing in his recent efforts. On the down side, I’m not sold on Stu Block’s vocals. I liked him with Into Eternity, and initially liked him here, but the more I listen the more the effects on his voice give it an unnatural sound that turns me off.
10. Charred Walls of the Damned, Cold Winds on Timeless Days. The band’s debut was one of my favorite records of last year, but this one hasn’t connected with me quite as well. I still like it, but find the songs less memorable. Given more time to grow, it could move up the list.
A hectic work schedule in the final quarter of the year caused a few late records to get shortchanged. These might make the list given more time:
Evile, Five Serpents Teeth. Great old-school 1980s Metallica-style thrash that I’m really enjoying, but I’ve only been able to give it a couple of listens.
Machine Head, Unto the Locust.I like what I’m hearing, but just haven’t had time to sit down and give it the listen it deserves.
Honorable mentions:
Helstar, Glory of Chaos. A fine, thrashing new release from some old favorites.
Helstar, Glory of Chaos. A fine, thrashing new release from some old favorites.
Nekromantheon, Divinity of Death. A surprising raw thrash outing from what, based on the name and album cover, I expected to be a black metal outfit.
The Shadow Theory, Behind the Black Veil. One of my early contenders, this record offers up a nice blend of atmospherics, heaviness and a little of the weird.
Favorite non-metal records:
Headcat, Walk the Walk … Talk the Talk. An unholy alliance between Lemmy and the Stray Cats’ Slim Jim Phantom produced some surprisingly good old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll sounds. The album offers a collection of covers from the likes of Chuck Berry, the Beatles, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eddie Cochran and even Mel Tillis. There are also a couple of originals in the late 1950s flavored “American Beat” and the 12-bar blues number “The Eagle Flies on Friday.”
Bob Wayne, Outlaw Carnie. Wayne’s debut on Century Media is really just a collection of re-recorded tunes culled from the country outsider’s independent releases. It focuses more on his rowdier side and black humor, but also gives listeners a glimpse of his more serious side, particularly with the album’s centerpiece “Blood to Dust.”The year’s biggest disappointments:
White Wizzard, Flying Tigers. The retro-metal acts 2010 album Over the Top topped my best-of list last year, and filled me with hope for their future. Flying Tigers, by comparison, is a bit of a flop. The band shows musical growth, which is admirable, but forgot most of the big hooks and unadulterated fun of the last album. Overall, there’s not much on the record that’s memorable.
Lazarus A.D., Black Rivers Flow. I had very high hopes for this record after the band’s Metal Blade debut, but there’s not much interesting about it.Best EP:
Pharaoh, Ten Years. Pharaoh can seemingly do no wrong, and they continue that trend with this EP, designed to whet fans’ appetites for a new full-length coming next year.
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