TeethoftheDivine.com’s Staff picks of 2010
It’s that time of the year again, when it’s time to take a look back at the previous year and figure out what the end score was. And as it is with things over here at Teeth of the Divine, this thing is legen-waitforit-dary…but none the less open to debate. So take part in the fun and post your top 2010 lists too! Without further a due, 12 pages of all things 2010 (and more or less, metal). Enjoy!
JESSE WOLF
WOW! It feels like only yesterday when we were in the beginning of the year ready and waiting for what 2010 will bring us. So many great releases this year and this list compiles all of my favorite albums from a bunch of signed and unsigned bands. I included my favorite EP’s, the best concert, the best reunion, and the top albums I’m waiting for in 2011. Grab a cold one, order a pizza, and read on.
2010 Top Albums:
Carnifex – Hell Chose Me: This is my top all around favorite from this year. On this album the bands went with a more intense sound. Adding elements of blackened death metal to the fold, the album just wrecks plain and simple.
Murder Death Kill – Fuck Wit Us And Find Out: Tough guy hardcore from members of Blood Stands Still and Donnybrook. Basically all mosh riffs with some strong vocals from two of the members who sound different then each other. Even live they are sick as well.
Chelsea Grin –Desolation Of Eden: Back in 2008 I was jamming their self titled ep constantly. That stuff was mean as hell. Still is to this day even. Eventually they finally came together and brought this monstrosity to our ears. Wickedly heavy and they even add a few technical sweeps to the moshy goodness. Nice melodies and a downright sick atmosphere, definitely an album to remember for the ages.
The Mire – Volume 2: This year my tastes in music have been opening up a lot more and I have been constantly getting into a lot of new sounds. This album has to be one of the most amazing releases I have ever heard. One word – EPIC!
Within The Ruins – Invade: The sophomore album from these technical deathcore geniuses. The sound feels fuller and filled to the brim with flaying guitar riffs, constant sweeps, polyrhythmic drumming, and a ferocious vocal onslaught.
King Conquer – America’s Most Haunted: I think everyone into the deathcore genre will say this is the year’s heaviest release. Punishing guitars meet harsh vocals in a riot of mosh parts and hard double bass. Terrifying indeed!
Knights Of The Abyss – The Culling Of Wolves: Excellent thrashy melodic death metal with a touch of core for good measure. Like a stampede of wolves aiming to rip everyone to shreds. Fast paced yet crushing in their delivery.
Fallen Figure – Devival: One of the first unsigned bands on my list. Five guys out of California playing crushing technical deathcore. Devival contains some excellent guitar work as well.
Ender – This Is Revenge: They sound like Emmure and you know what I love Emmure. Frankie even does vocals on one of the tracks. Heavy and filled to the brim with breakdowns. YUMMY!
Micawber – Hell On Earth: Of course my boys in Micawber were on the list. An unsigned act that specialized in blackened deathcore. Hell yes!
Witness The Wildfire – Can I Get A…: Catchy and beautiful. Filled with insane mosh and metallic hardcore goodness as well as some strong melodies and great clean vocals.
Terror – Keepers Of The Faith: Scott Vogel is still at in his band Terror fucking shit up everywhere they go. Terror ventures into more punk and classic metal based territory by adding some intelligible riffs and some gnarly solo’s. The lyrics are amazing as well. Straight up hardcore from people that live and breath the scene. \m/
The Wrath Of Vesuvius – Portals Through Ophiuchus: This album had me drooling like I was struck by lightning. Magnificent technical destruction is brought forth by this unsigned band. A Masterpiece!
Your Memorial – Atonement: Amazing ambient progressive metalcore that sounds like a mix between For The Fallen Dreams and Misery Signals. The ambient atmosphere gives the album a passionate touch while the progressive riffs and breakdowns wreck havoc. An intense and heartfelt album from these newly signed dudes on facedown records.
Diskreet – Engage The Mechanicality: Every time I jam this album I swear it feels like the machines will take over the world. Imagine a mean and more technically precise Beneath The Massacre yet with not as much sweeps. Great album!
The Acacia Strain – Wormwood: An album to jam when humanity is nearing its end. Or an album to jam when in the mood for some great mosh heavy metal. A step up from Continents with the intensity levels cranked up The Acacia Strain shows us all who owns the scene.
Asleigh Stake – Another Fall Alone : Blistering fast and melodic metalcore with elements of death and progressive metal. Great vibes for happy times, I just hope they get signed soon because there is some serious talent here.
Best EP’s of 2010:
This year I listened to a ton of bands EP’s. These are my top picks.
Pledge This – Nightlife EP: Heavy down tuned chaos from Sydney, Australia. Kind of reminds me of Demolisher just a little bit heavier and more hardcore based. Awesome ep from these unsigned dudes. Two words – “Death Row.”
Avarus – Upon Thrones Of Gold: Sadly these guys broke up a few months ago. But at least they left with an amazing piece of art. Ep rips from start to finish; deathcore gold.
Take Charge – Self Titled EP: If Chelsea Grin had a more technical side, brilliant and carnage inducing. Once I heard ep opener “A Path To Abolishment” I was sold.
After Me, The Flood – Remembrance: Another young and promising band playing metalcore with a lot of ambience and melody. Love these guys!
HEROES – We Can Rebuild: Melodic Hardcore inspired metalcore from Pennsylvania. The closing clean gang vocals at the end of “Invisible Heroes” are beautiful. Heavy and uplifting, two word that’s magnificently describe these guy’s sound.
Best Live Concert of 2010:
The best concert for me was at the beginning of the year with the Hardcore Meets Hardcore Tour featuring Murder Death Kill, American Me, Hundredth, and Endwell. An amazing set by all the bands especially Endwell, plus getting to see Murder Death Kill and American Me together on one bill was a dream come true.
Best Reunion 2010:
Glass Casket – Not a week goes by where I don’t jam “We Are Gathered Here Today.” I remember when I first heard these guys I couldn’t believe what was going on in my ears. It felt like chaos yet controlled and extremely potent like a flesh eating virus: Technical riffs, precise drumming, and probably the most terrifying vocal performance put to tape. Coupled with the fact that much of lyrics are of the depression nature due to the passing of a family member for vocalist Adam Cody, the band is intense that’s all I got to say.
2011 Releases I’m stoked for:
As Blood Runs Black – Instinct
Rose Funeral – Gates Of Punishment
Emmure – Speaker Of The Dead
Misery Signals – TBA
Solace – TBA (Karl of Misery Signals side project)
Lionheart – Built On Struggle
Betrayal – Abandonment
Bring on 2011.
Find more articles with: 2010, Blog, Staff Picks
Another amazing year for heavy music, another year of thoughtful, well-written reviews, captivating discussions, and excellent overall journalism. I have been a religious reader of TOTD for a long time, (since well before it was TOTD in fact), and this is actually the first time I have commented, replied, posted anything. I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, thank you, FUCKING THANK YOU to all of the staff. Thank you from the darkest corner of my heart for your diligent and relentless pursuit of the music that I love. Without you, I would be lost.
on Jan 10th, 2011 at 15:32Thanks to TOTD for another year of excellent metal reviews.
Nice lists – some stuff in there I haven’t yet heard and, by the sounds of it, will need to.
Just to add my two cents, here are the albums which didn’t appear on any of the TOTD lists, but which I had in my best-of:
Adversarial – All Idols Fall Before The Hammer
Ascension – Consolamentum
Bloody Sign – Chaos Echoes
Diocletian – War Of All Against All
Galar – Til Alle Heimsens Endar
Immolation – Majesty And Decay
Svart Crown – Witnessing The Fall
Witchrist – Beheaded Ouroborus
Looking forward to the rest of 2011!
on Jan 10th, 2011 at 18:27Thumbs up to Larry’s list. Actually contains metal bands I’ve heard of. Really shocked but surprised at the mention of Lyzanxia and Universum (considering it was self-released towards the end of December). Also agreed on the Arsis and The Crown picks — compared to Deathrace King, Doomsday King was just a load of poorly produced uninspired crap.
on Jan 10th, 2011 at 20:49Thanks again TOTD for another year ful of great reviews and helping steer some of us who are out of the loop in the right diretion for good music. The only thing I thought this list was mising was probably the greatest release of 2010 and that is Enslaved’s “Axioma Ethica Odini”, a MASTERPIECE which cannot be surpassed.
on Jan 11th, 2011 at 18:39I’ve been going through the lists and it’s really interesting how varied they are, in fact some people have listed as their favorites albums that other have listed as disappointments. Frankly I’m surprised that everyone hated Ozzy’s new one so much, I thought it was over a billion times better than his last few. I honestly like every song on there except “Let it Die”. Maybe I’m in a weird niche or something.
To Benjamin, I saw that you had Blood Calls We Die on your list and I have been looking for their album EVERYWHERE to no avail. I couldn’t even find a place to buy it other than some Japanese site. Where or how did you get this tape??? I gotta have it!
on Jan 12th, 2011 at 01:55Thanks for listing Metazoa. Sorry we didn’t get it out to you sooner! :-)
on Jan 13th, 2011 at 22:14Krustster, I’ll put you in touch with the label guru, give me a shout at – bsdeblasi@gmail.com.
on Jan 15th, 2011 at 00:12