Sami's best albums 2011

Best of the best 2011

26 Dec 2011, 12:41

10. Adele- 21
Hard to admit, but I like this album. In some parts it turns a bit too wimpy and bonus tracks start to be too much, but what a voice!

10. Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction
At first I was a bit puzzled with this album. It was not bad, but after Addicted! and Ki I did not immediately think that this album was perfect. While making the top of the year list I gave this album another round of plays and it's complexity started to turn from puzzlement to strenght. This is an album that will resist listening with all of its little things. I should also mention the other album of DTP - Ghost (and Ghost 2) - it is a beautiful album, but even harder to put into its right place in this list, so I don't even try.

9. Pentagram- Last Rites
I was not very familiar with Pentagram before this album. I had of course heard of them and few of their songs from older albums, but there is just not enough time to listen all good bands, right? It is still immediately obvious that these gentleman are not doing this for the first time. They don't try they just do it. The songs work, album is well build and there is really no moments that you would like to do something else than listen it.

8. Lenny Kravitz - Black and White America
Whenever Lenny releases a new album, it is very likely to be in my list (if it isn't complete bs). This might not be the best album of his, but it isn't bs either. I like very much the first part of the album showing the funkier part of Lenny. Towards to the end of the album it leans more to soul and R&B, not my favorite styles of music, although performed by Lenny makes it bearable. This division to two styles of music makes this recording also not as coherent piece of art that it could be. The last complaint is that with 16 songs it is a long album and something could be left out (the more soulish songs!) to make it a better package. Beyond and despite these flaws this is a really entertaining album.

7. Mastodon- The Hunter
I haven't been a great fan of this band, but it is not the first time I've been wrong. I'll have to check their older production, since either my taste has changed or their music has never been as bad as I have thought.

6. Insomnium- One for Sorrow
First I didn't know how many times I should listen this to create my opinion on this album. Then I realized that this is an album that needs to be listened so many times because it just so damn good! Well not a great surprise for a band that I have always liked!

5. Vektor- Outer Isolation
This album came out so late in the year that it almost slipped out from my list. I was mainly scanning through the release lists to check out what albums I should listen before making my picks for the year. Gladly I saw the release and after Black Future it was certain that I should listen this before making any decisions. This is another album with Vader that begins, crabs you from the balls and holds you until the album ends. There is no way to escape.

4. Amorphis- The Beginning of Times
Rullaa kuin viitasusi! Amorphis could make the worst of their albums and still be in the top ten. This album though is not their worst, it is solid. There is no weak elements at all, maybe not ultimate highlights either, but this is more a compliment to its solidness than any complaint.

3. Ghost Brigade - Until Fear No Longer Defines Us
There is so many songs in this album that sound familiar with the first time you listen them. Sometimes it is a good thing that the album starts to sound good after several visits, but in this case the familiarity comes from the fact that all the songs are so good.

2. Vader- Welcome To Morbid Reich
This album is pure gold, or lead if you prefer that type of metal! When it begins you just have to go with it, there is no escape until it ends. This might not be the most original recording ever, but hey who cares if it works this well.

1. Graveyard- Hisingen Blues
An excellent album! No weaknesses. A great gig that they played in spring in Helsinki probably made this experience even better and put them in the first place in my list. I could continue with !!!! and some words, but no time have to go and have another session with this album.

Phage's Best Albums 2011

Another year behind and it is once again the time to make top lists of everything encountered during the year. Musically 2011 was very nice if not even great and my musical taste got broader which is evident from the top albums –list. Well, I don’t mind, world is filled with great music waiting to be discovered and only sad thing is that there is never enough time to check it all out. I’m not going to write any reviews because nobody reads them anyway, just some words why particular record is on my list. This listing is not in any particular order (unless stated otherwise), they are way too different for that. Or how would you compare Vader and Kate Bush? 


Vader – Welcome to Morbid Reich



Welcome to the Morbid Reich was one of the toughest new releases for me and it is awesome death metal made in old school spirit all over it.

Obscura – Omnivium



Obscura put out incredible technical and complex album. This is interesting, challenging and great death metal.

Vektor – Outer Isolation



The Black Future lifted the expectations high and Outer Isolation claimed them beautifully. Brilliant progressive thrash metal from these young Americans.

Machine Head – Unto the Locust


At first I didn’t like this one at all, but then I somehow continued and now it is one of the top notches of the year. Nice groove/thrash metal with progressive touch. Highly recommended album.

Amorphis – The Beginning of Times



Kalevala saga continues and this, I think, is best of them all. Again an album that opens slowly but when it does, it is most rewarding. I believe this will bear time better than the previous three records.

Ghost Brigade – Until the Fear No Longer Defines Us



Their job wasn’t the easiest one after the great Isolation Songs. Until the Fear No Longer Defines Us is a step further and time will tell which one I prefer in the long run. Great album.

The Haunted – Unseen



The Haunted kept renewing their expression and we how are more open minded were please with the end result. This might be the last album with Peter and with The Dead Eye it is one of the best they've made.

Megadeth – TH1RT3EN



A bit compulsory fan boy addition, but I honestly preferred this over Anthrax’s Worship Music. I hate really the way the name is spelled…

Mastodon – The Hunter



Mastodon is great band because you never know what they put out next. Every album is different and yet great. Classy artist put out perhaps the most pop orientated record thus far and yes, I love it.

The Gates of Slumber – The Wretch



Honest, slow old school doom with crushing riffs swarming all over you.

Wo Fat – Noche Del Chupacabra



Take some fuzzy stoner riffs, add some psychedelic flavors, and blend it with some elements from improvisations from jam session you get Noche Del Chupacabra. Perhaps not in the same level as Psychedelonaut was, but still great album.

Monkey3 – Beyond the Black Sky



Amazing instrumental stoner and psychedelic rock from Switzerland. A bit of a surprise and late-bloomer for me, but here it is. Rightfully.

Opeth – Heritage



Heritage is another watershed album. Plenty of fans hated this album because it is not metal, but I think they should try to see beyond that. Heritage is a tribute to all that made Opeth in the first place. Great retro progressive rock.

Graveyard – Hisingen Blues



I think this is perhaps the best album of the year. Musically brilliant retro psychedelic rock record and sonically of superb quality, a rare feature nowadays. Awesome and really worth all the hype.

Black Spiders – Sons of the North



Honest hard rock from UK. I had the luck to witness their live performance and it further strengthened their entry to this list. Though stuff, do check them out.

Black Stone Cherry – Between the Devil & Deep Blue Sea



Black Stone Cherry is my favorite new southern rock band and I anticipated this release very much. I turned out to be even better than I expected. Nice riffs and catchy songs and genius composition made this one my summer record of choice. It though works well with other seasons too.

Plain Ride – Stonebridge



Plain Ride is a side project of Janne Westerlund from Circle.Stonebrigde is pretty original album featuring different kinds of song from the broad field of rock music. Give this one a spin!

O’Death – Outside



Another late additions recommended by a friend. I like a lot of Iron & Wine and O’Death gives me similar vibes. Outside is much more easier to appreciate that their previous release. Great alternative country music at its best.

Dave Alvin – Eleven Eleven



Man with the voice and guitar, best parts from blues and country and you get Eleven Eleven. I think Dave Alvin is just behind the late master Johnny Cash in storytelling.

The Horrible Crowes – Elsie



Another side project that rises above the main band. The Gaslight Anthem is nice, but I think when Brian Fallon is not bound to Springsteen worship, he can express himself better and Elsie is a rock solid statement for that. In a way this is thematically a film noir –record, dark, nostalgic, and beautiful. 

Kate Bush – 50 Words for Snow



Kate is a magical woman with magical voice that has matured like a classy red wine. 50 Words for Snow is relaxing album and just perfect while waiting the snow to come.

Some other stuff I had absolutely not enough time to listen to, but showed great potential to enter this list: The Wounded Kings - The Chapel of the Black Hand (sounded awesome), Elder - Dead Roots Stirring, Deceased - Surreal Overdose, Origin - Entity, Seasick Steve - You Can't Teach Old Dog New Tricks, Ulcerate - The Destroyers of All, You Handsome Devil - The Hell, You Say. 

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Best EPs of the year:

Scion A/V released two magnificent digital EPs totally free. Both releases are very promising what comes to new albums...

Immolation - Providence



Enslaved - The Sleeping Gods



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Best gigs of 2011

Graveyard @ DOM
Pentagram @ Korjaamo
Monster Magnet @ Tavastia
Riverside @ Nosturi
Opeth @ Jäähalli

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Sami's best albums 2010

My best albums for 2010

19 Jan 2011, 21:14

My best of the best 2010. The list is absolutely subjective and proud to be so. I don’t even try to objectively analyze the albums since I know that there is so many people who can do it better. If you want to compare this to anything, check my list of listened tracks and if you agree with that you might also agree some to this list.

1.Barren Earth – Curse of the Red River
-Long waited album after the excellent EP. Did not let me down although the style was a bit different from the EP. Strong album in so many ways, does not wear or tear from listening tens of times.

2.Dark Tranquillity – We are the void
-Even if this album might not be just like the previous ones from DT, it is definitely a step to better for me. And hey who says that the bands can’t evolve. Fiction already made me a huge fan of this band and Void only strengthened it. Had a tough competition for the first podium with Barren Earth.

3.High on Fire – Snakes for the Divine
-The next three or four albums raced also very evenly in my list. The order could have been different in some other day, but this is how I put it now. Snakes for the Divine is just so heavy album that it really does not need a deeper analysis.

4.Brant Björk – Gods & Goddesses
-Feel good music, if you don’t feel relaxed after listening this there might be something wrong in you. Strongly reminds me of my old (past?) favorite singer Lenny Kravitz in his best days.

5.Enslaved – Axioma Ethica Odini
-If I would have found this album earlier it could be number three in my list. Now it probably suffered from too few times of listening and just lost to those two above. A full flawless album that grows with time.

6.Soulfly – Omen
-This album does good when you want to release some pressure. Full sounds, strong bass and quite a tempo throughout the album, does not require anything from you except maybe some headbanging.

7.In Mourning – Monolith
-This should start that the album was not as good as the first one, but it would not make justice for this album. The first album is soooo good that even not as good can earn its place in top ten. Great melodic death metal that is not and tries not to be too cute.

8.Throes of Dawn - The Great Fleet Of Echoes
-Dark metal perfectly describes the music in this album. I have no experience with their previous music, but this album alone makes sure that I will familiarize myself to it, even if it will not be as good as this. Melancholic, dark music without a hint of depression (which I do not like e.g. in Katatonia’s music).

9.The Sword – Warp Riders
-Again the album that I have listened too little to say anything clever. Keeps getting better every time I listen it. A solid top ten album without a doubt though, ended up to be ninth since I had a more profound knowledge to put other above it.

10.Nevermore - The Obsidian Conspiracy
-A total surprise even to myself that this album is in my list. I tried some of the bands music when they were signed to Tuska metal festival in Helsinki in July. The gig did not impress me much, but since there is so much to follow in this festival I might have not paid too much attention to this “unknown” band for me. For some reason I kept returning to their new release and again to my surprise started liking the complicated and yet thoroughly controlled style of progressive metal that they play. It remains to be seen if my interest spreads to the older albums I have not yet dared to break this honeymoon by introducing a third wheel into a relationship.

Phage's Best Albums 2010

I feel kinda obligated to write this journal. As a matter of fact, I've made this listing in several times contributing to different forums, but I somehow feel this one to be the list. I've made some changes to my list as the year approaches the end. This is based partly on my play counts in Last.fm and partly somewhat objective idea of how good the album really is. Of course things are subject to changes but this is how I see things on 31th December, 2010.

Here it goes:

1. The Sword - Warp Riders



Not the top album based on play counts but objectively the best album of the year. I think The Sword simply hit the jackpot with this one. Perfect riffs, songs, lyrics (I love concept albums) and cover art. Sound fusion between stoner rock, hard rock, old school heavy rock spiced with their very own distinctive style of playing music. Their best album and a future classic.

2. Dark Tranquillity - We Are The Void



I had to be honest with this album. It generally wasn't received with big cheers but nevertheless it is by far my most played album of the year and as totally subjective fan boy, its a great album from the band I love so much. But continuing being honest, it isn't as good as Fiction was as a whole. Some songs are top notches and some are more or less average quality of the band often noted for the overall top level of the whole discography. I liked particularly of Arkhangelsk, Her Silent Tongue and Iridium for they all represent a new direction in bands sound. Dark Tranquillity has always been developing toward something new and I really hope these songs lead the way. Anyway more than 1000 songs played from We Are The Void -album speaks for itself.

3. Barren Earth - Curse Of The Red River



After Our Twilight, this was one of the most anticipated new release in addition to We Are The Void by Dark Tranquillity. It didn't let me down although the album was a bit less heavier I was expecting it to be. Curse Of The Red River is typical debut album from a super group. The influences of the other/former projects are clearly audible but I can't say it really matters since those include bands like Moon Sorrow, Kreator Amorphis, Mannhai and Swallow The Sun. Result is solid album of progressive death metal and I've spent several hours of my year listening to it.

4. Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini



I love this band. Every record is different than the previous one, the style changes every time but the band are somehow able to maintain to level and the central idea from album to album. Vertebra was mind blowing stuff and so is Axioma Ethica Odini. It maintains the progressive touch of Vertebra but while Vertebra explored the softer frontiers in the band's music, Axioma takes a huge step toward much rawer and aggressive expression. This isn't the most easiest album to start with, but in the end it is rewarding experience.

5. Brant Bjork - Gods & Goddesses



This was perfect summer album but it is a damn good album no matter the season. There is no other person who could make such floating, dreamy and groovy stuff than Brant Bjork. Man's a master, what can I say. This record flirts with stoner, blues and classical rock but the atmosphere is unique. Just listen to Radio Mecca and imagine yourself to some beach bar somewhere in California...

6. Throes Of Dawn - The Great Fleet Of Echoes



This is one of my most played albums. Beautiful, relaxing and solid records. With The Great Fleet Of Echoes this band somehow appears to found peace and certainty of the style they want to make music and the end result is very appealing and mature. I enjoyed their live performance as well. 

7. Overkill - Ironbound



There were many great thrash metal releases this year, but this one stroked me most. Perhaps the most solid entity of them all and filled with so many hit tracks a winner was found. Thrash vets keep astonishing me year after year with their never ending energy and ability to deliver year after year. I got the chance to see them live in Tuska Open Air and their gig was one of the best. 

8. High On Fire - Snakes For The Divine



With the best single track of this year, the title song Snakes For The Divine, Matt Pike and others made one killer album. Although the ride gets a little more relaxed toward the end, this album made a new definition to "heavy". Such a crushing riff storm kicked my ass worth for the 7th position.

9. Monster Magnet - Mastermind



With the ugliest covers released in this year, Mastermind totally surprised me. It continued to grew on me (and actually this is the first list I write where Mastermind makes to the top ten) to the very end of this fine year.With lots of great songs, riffs and groovy touch, I know this one will appear often on my play list.

10. Deathchain - The Death Gods



The biggest surprise of the year and also the best death metal release. Everything just clicked in this album. I simply can't sit still while listening this one, the riffs are awesome. Some Bloodbath influences are clear but yet they are able to use familiar features in new, fresh ways and end result is such a strong record. End track Cthulhu Rising is one of the best songs released this year, an epic 12 minutes long masterpiece. More of this and I continue smiling.

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This is so damn difficult to narrow the top list to ten (or to twenty, makes to difference). There's always albums that could have as well made to the top ten and only reason why they didn't is, that I don't either remember them or I just don't feel like it today. Here are some of those great, great records:

Electric Wizard - Black Masses
Solace - A.D.
Howl - Full Of Hell
In Mourning - Monolith
Sigh - Scenes From Hell
Soulfly - Omen
The Wounded Kings - The Shadow Over Atlantis
Triptykon - Eparistera Daimones
Watain - Lawless Darkness

Happy New year!

Phage's Best Albums 2009

I don’t know about you, but personally this has been one of the best years what comes to new releases. There were plenty of good stuff released last year too, but somehow the overall amount of great albums was much greater. It might be due to my somewhat broader taste in music that increased the selection but still what a year for a music fan – especially a metal music fan. All of the listed records are also in my CD shelf as they should be…

Traditionally people tend to rank their selection starting from number one and end up to some even number like ten or twenty but I won’t do that. It simply isn’t fair to put albums to order meaning that one is better than the other. I only separate three albums from the rest – mainly based on the play counts (one of the best indicators of my appreciation, of course corrected with normalization to the time they’ve been available). 
Top three new releases of the year 2009:

1. Deströyer666 – Defiance



What more can I say but a perfect album. I wasn’t familiar with D666 before so I didn’t have any expectations from earlier albums. Everything I like about metal music is included here: aggressiveness, heaviness, perfect riffs, atmosphere and a certain level of epic storytelling. In addition the package is perfect. Nice cover art and inner leaflet. The diversity of this record guaranties my attraction for a long time.

2. Amorphis – Skyforger



Epic ending for the Kalevala –trilogy from the Finish masters. I loved the two earlier concept albums Eclipse and The Silent Water and it was hard to figure out how they could keep up the level. I should never doubt it is possible for they proved otherwise. Great album, great band.

3. Artillery – When Death Comes



This is somewhat a comeback album from these Danish thrashers boosted with a new vocalist. I think this upgrade really helped them to create almost a perfect metal album. Amazing songs, great riffs, just what more could one ask? “When Death Comes” is definitively one of the most positive surprises of the year 2009.

The rest of the best as I call the following great records are (in alphabetical order): 

Alice in Chains – Black Gives Way To Blue *****
Be’lakor – Stone’s Reach ****
Candlemass – Death Magic Doom **** 
Ghost Brigade – Isolation Songs ****
Highway Child – On The Old King’s Road ****
Hypocrisy – A Taste Of Extreme Divinity *****
Immortal – All Shall Fall ****
Insomnium – Across The Dark ****
Katatonia – Night Is The New Day *****
Mastodon – Crack The Skye ****
Megadeth – Endgame ****
Paradise Lost – Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us ****
Shrinebuilder – Shrinebuilder *****
Slayer – World Painted Blood *****

Best DVD-release of the year is Where Death Is Most Alive by Dark Tranquillity



DT if any band in the world needed a new Live-DVD for their earlier DVD "Live Damage" suffered from a really poor audience. This new live set is filmed in Italy and big thanks goes to the fans - you really made this DVD so great. I bought the biggest version including the live CD's as well. Very good worth for money I'd say.

Best EP and "new" band of 2009 is Barren Earth - Our Twilight

Phage's Best Albums 2007

I got an inspiration for this from one of my last.fm neighbour and his journal. These kinds of lists are besides fun to make.



Dark Tranquillity's Fiction is without a doubt the best album so far is.



This record has it all: brilliant melodies one after another, catchy choruses, excellent guitar play and keyboards that acts in concert with the guitars in a way I haven't heard before. Mikael Stanne gives again an example of his clean singing abilities in Misery's Crown. Lyrics are also bright and somewhat topical (at least according to my interpretation). A perfect melodic death metal album and one of the best albums all in all. A great buy. Only sad thing is that you don't get bonus tracks with the special edition CD. 

Amorphis - Silent Waters is a solid classic already.



Amorphis made its second long play with the same members and it really shows. They continue what the Eclipse started and vocalist Tomi Joutsen (Finnish word meaning a swan)does amazing job. This album is a journey and best when listened through from the beginning to the end, but it also works if you pick uo single songs. Story in based again in the Kalevala, a Finnish national epic. Sogs vary from heavy death metal styled to the ballad like. It's really facinating to listen to Joutsen's ability to switch from clean singing into growling and back flawlessly. One of the best Amorphis ever and solid number two after Fiction in the competition of the best album 2007. 



Paradise Lost - In Requiem was one of the biggest surprise of all. 



This album opened up doom metal to me. Every once in a while one needs tranquillity and doom metal is the music of choice for that. In Requiem is a solid entity without a week song. I bought a special edition that came in a black velvet box. That must be one of the most beautiful and coolest CD jewel case I ever seen.


Dimmu Borgir - In Sorte Diaboli



Another subgenre of metal that I wasn't acquainted with was black metal. I was quite close-mouthed toward black metal since many of the fans of black metal are narrow-minded teenagers. This record maybe one that is under a debate weather it is black metal or not. Frankly I don't care. To me, this is black metal and at least this I like. In Sorte Diaboli is an interesting mixture of metal and symphony music. Together they make a unique ensemble that is dark and gloomy. 

Shadows Fall - Threads Of Life



I can smell thrash metal hidden in this album. Former metalcore band has taken a leap forward with this album. 
I recommend this one to all metal fans since it is quite accessible and very well produced album.


Hellyeah - HELLYEAH



This album just rocks. Without a pretty stupid name :) this is a solid presentation from a super group build around Winnie Paul Abbot. Very versatile album from hardrock to something like metalcore, just like something you'd expect after mixing Pantera and Mudvayne. Chad Gray does a good job as lead vocalist.


Megadeth - United Abominations



One of my all times favourite has returned to the path I personally prefer. Dave Mustaine is a brilliant song writer, but previous albums have been somewhat below the expected level. UA corrects this in a single blow. I can easily pick up a future radio hit "Never Walk Alone...A Call To Arms" along "Sleepwalker" and "Washington is Next". Should have bought limited edition, but it wasn't available in a local record store by the release date and that was an album I just had to had on that day. I didn't even pre-listened to it before release date :) and it was worth waiting. As a completion to a perfect musical experience I saw Megadeth live about two weeks after the new album. 


Before the Dawn - Deadlight



It is always nice to find some homeland color from my list. Before The Dawn's latest is an interesting mixture of typical melodeath growling combined with clean vocals and very wisely portioned out female vocal and choir singing. Together they bundle up to dark and enigmatic ensemble. This is such record that when it ends you simply replay it at once. Single "Deadsong" has got lots of radio plays in Finland but I'd mention also opening track "Wrath" and ender "..." where female vocals bring some extra ambiance.