Blistering.com Staff Picks For 2009 Part I
By: David E. Gehlke
Kermit the Frog once said “It’s not easy being green” and therefore we’ll say, “It’s not easy compiling year-end lists.” Methinks none of us view this as a burden (unless your name is MetalGeorge Pacheco), but we always run the risk of leaving something out; making that glaring omission that will haunt us for years to come. There are thousands of releases of the metal variety every year, so someone is going to get overlooked - it’s just the reality of the situation.
For a look at the picks from the staff, click on the links at the bottom of the page. This is the first of a two-part installment, so check back for the rest of the staff's picks for the final year of the decade. Enough out of me – onward to the lists! - David E. Gehlke
David E. Gehlke Top 10 of 2009
The reality of 2009 is that it was another strong year for metal, highlighted by the one-two bang-wallop of Katatonia and Ghost Brigade, who created two world-beating albums that lapped the competition. In fact, this list is more like 1A and 1B, with everything else way behind. The new guard is slowly starting to take form, with Altar of Plagues and Baroness making significant strides, while holdovers Isis, Amorphis, and Old Man’s Child were as vital as ever.
1. Katatonia - Night Is the New Day (Peaceville)
With the amount of praise we’ve heaped upon Renkse, Nystrom and co., you’d think we were Katatonia Fan Club presidents. No one writes more emotionally earnest and memorable songs and Night… might eventually catch up to the glory that is 2003’s Viva Emptiness. The best metal band on the planet.
2. Ghost Brigade - Isolation Songs (Season of Mist)
A band that blossomed into the European answer to Isis, Finland’s Ghost Brigade have created a timeless gem in the form of Isolation Songs. There’s roughly 4-5 songs that are to die for here, coupled with a monster production job and musical balance indicative of a band that has merely scratched the surface of its capabilities.
3. Isis – Wavering Radiant (Ipecac)
Making up for the dud that was 2006’s In the Absence of Truth, Wavering Radiant saw Isis return to the shimmering, shiny metalgaze spectrum of yore. Glorious, glorious yore.
4. Altar of Plagues - White Tomb (Profound Lore)
Allow us to be cliché: White Tomb is the “Soundtrack to the apocalypse.” Four songs in length, this thing is a sonic maelstrom, solidifying this Irish trio as a band on the rise.
5. Baroness - Blue Record (Relapse)
Hype, hype, and more hype. Baroness delivered with Blue Record, though, with an earnest, album-oriented effort with its own charisma and pizzaz.
6. Insomnium – Across the Dark (Candlelight)
As torch-bearers for the classic Finnish melodic death metal sound, Insomnium appears to take this job very seriously, with Across the Dark holding firm with sinewy melodies and take-charge atmospheres.
7. Amorphis - Skyforger (Nuclear Blast)
Speaking of classic Finnish metal bands, Amorphis have rounded of the decade in exciting fashion with Skyforger. It’s more of the dreamy, atmospheric Finn-prog we’ve grown to love since the late 90’s, only with a better singer (Tomi Joutsen) and more conviction.
8. Amesoeurs – Amesoeurs (Profound Lore)
Dance-pop, techno, avant-garde and black metal rolled into one, Amesoeurs and their lone and final LP went out with a shotgun-blast of outlandish proportions.
9. Trail of Tears – Bloodstained Endurance (Napalm)
Beset by lineup changes and (very public) turmoil, Norway’s Trail of Tears returned with their definitive statement, Bloodstained Endurance. A striking balance between symphonic Goth metal and death metal, Ronny Thorsen and co. got the last laugh.
10. Old Man’s Child - Slaves To the World
Forever overshadowed by his more “name” act, Galder unleashed a devilish display of pulsating modern black metal, embellished by top-of-the-line thrash riffing.
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