Hellbound.ca INDIVIDUAL TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2011
Last week we ran our TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2011 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…
Reviews
Terror / Trapped Under Ice / Backtrack / Harm’s Way / Letlive @ The Pine Box, Midland, TX, November 15, 2011
A hard act to follow, but Terror is an intimidating live act regardless of how someone feels about their music. Frontman Scott Vogel, formerly of the legendary, now-defunct Buried Alive, was in fine more, ruling the crowd that already paid him the blind-eyed devotion that a preacher at church might receive.
Hammers Of Misfortune / Christian Mistress @ Bitmore Cabaret, Vancouver BC, Decmeber 8, 2011
While I expected Hammers to be tight, I was pleasantly surprised to discover exactly how spot-on the intricacies of their songs translated live. Hammers of Misfortune, of course, had the perfect balance of both precision and emotion, the songs given a new vitality, positively glowing in the live setting.
Black Pyramid – II
But is it a step forward, or backwards? That all depends on your perception. I, for one, don’t dig this as much as the first album, and am certainly curious as to which direction the band will take with a new frontman/axeman. One thing is certain, though. Black Pyramid III won’t be a blind buy for me…
God Bless Ozzy Osbourne DVD
For 135 minutes, this film tells the story of the beginning, the rise, the success, the excess, the triumph and the establishment of the institution that has become Ozzy Osbourne.
Cradle of Filth – Evermore Darkly
The EP is an offshoot of their 2010 release, Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa, proving so with an orchestral version of CoF oldie, “Summer Dying Fast.” So, nothing’s really new in the Filthy world of metal, but the record is entertaining and classically Cradle nonetheless.
Orange Goblin – An Eulogy for the Damned
This dish is one spicy meatball, kicking of 2012 with a badda-boom-badda-bing!
The Devil’s Blood – The Thousandfold Epicentre
The latest band to make it big in the new wave of occult rock (ie Ghost, Blood Ceremony), these Dutch demons have unleashed a lengthy, 76-minute Metal Blade debut upon the masses with this, their second album. Opening with a shuffling, ringing, haunting instrumental, you know you’re in for a hell of a ride…
Skinny Puppy – HanDover
With that being said, grab your headphones, turn down the lights and let the music take over. This is an album not to be missed.
Cathedral – Anniversary
All up, Anniversary is exactly what I hoped it would be. A mucky snail-paced trawl through the band’s debut, followed up by an unrestrained romp across the years. There’s obviously a wealth of material not on the second career-spanning disc, but I guess with only one side to play with you pick your best. I’ve no complaints.