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.
JODI MICHAEL
Best Albums of 2011
Vintersorg – Jordpuls
The most rich, emotive, stunningly crafted album of the year, hands down.
Portrait – Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae
A wicked album that hearkens back to the good ol’ days of true metal, stinging your ass with a slap of cold leather (that you’ll enjoy).
Taake – Noregs Vaapen
Desolate, haunting, primal, beautiful…a combination of all rolled into one makes this an obvious choice for this list.
Symphony X – Iconoclast
A prog metal masterpiece (again) from the musical geniuses behind The Divine Wings of Tragedy.
Acid Witch – Stoned
Groovy, fucking evil, best thing ever when paired with beer. Pretty self-explanatory.
Hammers of Misfortune – 17th Street
Melodic, folkish, yet weighty and ass-kicking, this is a good cold weather record.
The Devil’s Blood – The Thousandfold Epicentre
It’s as insanely catchy and broody as it is rocking and cult-tinged; the merger between proto-metal and satanic hard rock.
Korpiklaani – Ukon Wacka
These accordion-loving Finnish heathens have taken hold of my heart with their catchy, earthy tunes…more modern than albums past but still folkish.
Ancient Creation – Moonlight Monument
Heavy, dark traditional power metal from Midwest heavy metal heroes.
Wooden Stake – Dungeon Prayers and Tombyard Serenades
Evil, truly haunting, yet totally seductive and pervasive. The perfect music for candlelight séances.
Honorable Mentions
Havok – Time is Up
Argus – Boldly Stride the Doomed
Widow – Life’s Blood
Tormented – Rotten Death (2009 re-release)
Pentagram – Last Rites
Orchid – Capricorn
Albums I Wouldn’t Publicly Admit to Digging
Pain – You Only Live Twice
2010 Albums that Should Have Made the List in Said Year
Inquisition – Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm
Ghost – Opus Eponymous (My idiocy didn’t let me fully appreciate this until 2011…)
Albums that Will Probably be on This List Next Year
Rising – To Solemn Ash
Best Live Bands
Might Could
Havok
Worst Album (also Biggest Disappointment)
Morbid Angel – Illud Divinum Insanus
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