FOR THE LOVE OF METAL
Volition is the album the band should have made after Kezia (2005) and Fortress (2008). The perfect blend of songwriting and technicality makes this record a true standout. This baby is a prime candidate for my end of year list.
Today we published the TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2012 list, as voted by the writers of Hellbound.ca. Here are the individual Top 10s that were submitted by our writers for your personal enjoyment…
March Of Progress has much to offer and it’s a solid Threshold album by any standard. However, for me it simply lacks the punch and the energy of Critical Mass, Subsurface and Dead Reckoning. A little more spice wouldn’t hurt on the next Threshold album.
Yellow & Green by Baroness is arguably one of the richest and most diverse albums you are going to hear this year. It is certainly the most ambitious musical undertaking by Baizley and Co yet, but they manage to pull it off without a hitch. Production-wise it’s a little too retro for my taste, but otherwise this is a fantastic musical adventure. I’m hooked!
Hellbound contributor Raymond Westland recently had the chance to do an interview with Karl Sanders, the guitarist/vocalist and main songwriter of death metal outfit Nile. He had a lot to say about the band’s latest album, the creative process within the band, the less glamorous aspects of being on the road and his positive comments on the last Morbid Angel record…
Cognitive by Lopez and Co is an excellent debut album, full of intelligent and engaging song material which should thrill the Porcupine Tree, Tool, A Perfect Circle, Oceansize and Amplifier crowds.
“Clockwork Angels” is indeed a serious contender for album of the year. Utterly breathtaking!
At The Gates Of Sethu is first and foremost a very traditional Nile album. Brutal technical death metal is still at the heart of it all, the three-pronged vocal attack has lost nothing of its venom and the religion and history from Ancient Egypt still form the main source of inspiration for Karl Sanders. What sets Nile apart from their peers is their collective attention for small details, such as ritualistic chants and the use of indigenous instruments and percussion.
Without further ado I want to state that Choice Of Weapon is an excellent rock album that can easily hold its own against classic The Cult albums, like Love(1985), Electric (1987) and Sonic Temple (1989). It’s quite a statement, but Choice Of Weapon is simply that good.
If I had to sum up L’enfant Sauvage in a single word it would “solid”. The songwriting is top notch, the typical Gojira-groove is still very much intact and despite the occasional experimental moments it’s pretty much business as usual.