!!!!!!!! ILX METAL ALBUMS of 2009 POLL RESULTS!!!!!! (FINAL RESULTS NOW IN! LISTENING TO THESE ALBUMS WILL MAKE YOU STRONGER FRAIL INTERNET PERSON!)

Does posting a punny-funny Candlemass video count as 'chat'?

I think most ppl did tbh
xpost

i thought it would win and was surprised when glenn gave me the results. He did say you would be surprised, and he was right.

Anyone guessing what's up next?

Top three prediction (revised):

1. Mastodon
2. Sunn O)))
3. Converge

Predict:

3. Sunn O)))
2. Mastodon
1. Converge

I've a feeling converge might just take the top slot.

in any case, I love 2/3 of those left. mastodon was really not pleasing though.

1. Sunn O)))
2. Mastodon
3. Converge

(Come on! I have to get up early tomorrow morning to go & play football, like a good Dutchman)

#3 , 709 Points , 31 votes , SIX #1 votes

http://pompeydoomcrew.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/mastodon-crack-the-skye-cover-front.jpg
http://popculturezoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/crack_the_skye_deluxe.jpg
Mastodon - Crack the Skye (Warner Brothers)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6WGNd8QR-U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXSUU9bTYhY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xXJu-C7_fU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrZif1LR9QA

Best Track on Mastodon - Crack The Skye

Real-time notes on the new Mastodon:

Oblivion – Slow ominous start, not the usual roar out of the gate like the last three records. Gets heavy pretty quick, but it’s more of a High on Fire vibe (“To Cross The Bridge”) than earlier Mastodon stuff. Tempo doubles before vocals come in. Vocals very clean, reminiscent of stoner rock bands I can’t remember exactly. Lots of twang in second vocalist’s voice. Guitar solos slow, lots of sustain – this is an arty hard rock song a la Baroness, not a metal song. It doesn’t get Mastodon-y until after the guitar solo, when a big deep crunching riff comes in very briefly. Then there’s another chorus. This is not the kind of adrenaline rush you wanna open your album with, on first listen. It kinda lurches along like second-tier Neil Young & Crazy Horse, but obviously played with tons more skill and technique.

Divinations – Starts with banjo of all things, but gets fast right away and Brann Dailor is whipping the shit out of his kit like we expect. Vocals nasal and piercing, kinda sounds like David Thomas of Pere Ubu. Clean chorus, which is weird. Then back into David Thomas-ism for the verses. Lots of nice guitar interplay on this one, and some very cool bass action. Over too soon at 3 ½ minutes.

Quintessence – Again, more Mastodon-ish than the first track. Don’t know why they opened with that one. Vocals super-nasal. Rhythmically tricky. So far, not a single song as instantly awesome as “Blood & Thunder,” but also nothing as boring as some of the lowlights of Blood Mountain.

The Czar – This song is 11 minutes long. There’s some cool distorted organ at the beginning, which is replaced by a super-repetitive guitar figure of the type they’ve done a zillion times before. Vocals almost Ozzy-esque, very keening. Song keeps shifting, but never slows down or gets ponderous or pretentious. It’s just variations on an intricate, fast-paced rockin’ theme. Guitar solo preceded by more Ozzy-style vocalizin’ over piano and electric guitar. Man, this really sounds like late period solo Ozzy. What the fuck?

Ghost of Karelia – Another half-familiar riff quickly replaced by high-speed Mastodon intricacy. The core riff of this song sounds copped from early 80s Metallica – I think it’s something from Ride the Lightning. This song has no chorus. It does have really cool analog synth drones, though.

Crack the Skye – Anthemic in a very 70s AOR way. Starts out sounding like Bad Company – acoustic guitar shadowed by electric and Dailor comes in with a big thumpeta-thumpeta-thumpeta tom roll sure to get arenas pumpin’. When it gets heavy, though, it gets really heavy. This is the best song so far – too bad it’s number six of seven. Slows down for a very classic rock solo, and Mellotron and treated vocals. Wow, this is the Sound of the Seventies, for real – none of that imaginary 70s of the mind that lesser stoner bands do. This is some wayback machine shit.

The Last Baron – This song is 13 minutes long. Second half is all crazy dual guitar action. No solos per se, just prog-meets-the-Allman-Brothers riff frenzy. Vocalist sounds like Pat Todd from the Lazy Cowgirls. Go, Dailor, go! Okay, the end slows down into drones and sustained guitar notes and…now it’s over.

Seven tracks, 50 minutes, no long stretches of silence followed by dumb jokes, no guest spots that I noticed. I didn’t love it right away, but I like it a lot and it’s definitely better than Blood Mountain (have I mentioned lately how much I hate Blood Mountain?).

― unperson,
The title track looks interesting.

― A. Begrand,

Listening to the new Mastodon again this morning. It's still weird, but it's growing on me, which Blood Mountain never did. I think after two or three more listens I might really like it.

― unperson,

Really liked the new Mastodon on first listen. I agree that the first track isn't the adrenaline rush that "Blood and Thunder" was, but it isn't nearly as adrenaline rush of an album as Leviathan. I really like chunks of "The Czar," something about the dreaminess is really appealing to me. "Crack the Skye" is totally awesome 70s prog, although I did get more of a 70s prog vibe from the whole thing. I feel like it's more focused then Blood Mountain. Not what I would call "mellow," but I suppose it is by Mastodon's standards... First impression: not as good as Leviathan, better than Blood Mountain.

― Shmutchered at Shmirth (J3ff T.),

I was pretty shocked at the direction of the new Mastodon. Those massive riffs are nowhere to be found, but they've made incredible strides in the vocal department. Certainly a bold album...needs a few more listens to sink in, though.

That said, "The Czar" is an amazing track, one of their best ever.

― A. Begrand,

Also deluxe vinyl edition
Crack The Skye, Mastodon's fourth original studio album, mines subject matter from czarist Russia and astral travel to out-of-body experiences and Stephen Hawking’s theories on wormholes for an unrepentantly heavy aural assault that will shake the heavens. This deluxe edition LP contains two 180 gram 45 RPM heavy-weight black-vinyl discs in a Stoughton paper-wrapped jacket with lyric insert and a copy of the full length CD.
http://shop.relapse.com/store/product.aspx?ProductID=33304

I figure Mastodon has the most overall appeal(My #1). Coming out so long ago might of hurt it but it seems likely to be on top. Although I had Converge #4 so maybe they'll get it. For the record I had Sunn O))) ninth so I predict them for third.

Haven't cared much for Mastodon before but I'll check out these YouTube tracks... why not?

Yay for it missing out on no 1 - that album ruined Mastodon for me! People who like it should just listen to Red by King Crimson.

heh unfortunate xpost?
xpost!

I'm a n00b, what the freakin hell does xpost even mean? Urban dictionary didn't come up with the goods.

Crack The Skye is great!!

Baroness was my #7 and Mastodon was #6

it means a cross post. Replying to someone and another post has been made inbetween

Ah obvious. What was your no 1?

People who like it should just listen to Red by King Crimson.

what about those of us who love red but don't like crack the skye? what are we to do?

Go home and listen to some Van Der Graaf Generator?

I was slow to get into Crack the Skye but it really grew on me.
That King Crimson record is pretty awesome too.

Of course, "xxxpost" is something else entirely. ;-)

xxxxpost

xp: as you wish.

What did you think of Mastodon, ilxor?

Final revised prediction:

1. Converge
2. Sunn O)))

Sounds about right.

What did you think of Mastodon, ilxor?

I think their past albums are alright, they basically do what they do very well, but it's not my metal subgenre of choice.

I'm not one for more "prog" or traditional metal, I fall more squarely in the doom/drone/psych camp and then enjoy (and voted for) a lot of the stuff that many consider "false metal" -- Oneida, Mount Eerie -- the stuff with metal elements that falls equally outside the metal camp as inside. I ranked Sunn, Om, Shrinebuilder, other similar records highly this year.

Still listening to these Mastodon tracks, though. They're not so bad...

Mastodon - Remission (their best album) has sludgey/doom bits. I miss those elements so hopefully the next album will bring those back and combine with the psychedelic and prog parts they are doing.

Anyone ready for the #2? or anyone wish to make more predictions?

"The Czar" is actually really, really great.

Sunn O))) up next, given that #1 is a surprise and Sunn O))) at #1 wouldn't be nearly as much of a surprise as Converge.

It won the poll by a landslide, and rightly so. Crack the Skye was #18 on my list.

xp

Converge won Terrorizer's album of the year and was no 2 in Decibel, both ahead of Sunn o))) (who didn't get into the decibel list)

btw do not disappear after the results as Glenn will be posting loads of stats and stuff. You would miss a lot of great stuff.
Also i will publish the full list of votes AND you can all post your ballots then too.

#2 , 722 Points , 30 votes , TWO #1 votes

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nIWiKIscZJY/Sxqfmvvf07I/AAAAAAAACSk/hjT8NtPWv28/s400/converge_axe_to_fall.jpg
Converge - Axe to Fall (Epitaph)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asam2mLd5S0

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=CF36C34D69FDC589&search_query=converge+axe+to+fall

I forget who was enthusing about the new Converge, but damn. Got it today and it is ferocious.

― unperson,

so the new converge album is pretty great. anyone else heard it? it's a really solid set of songs. i'm not really sure how i feel about the barrage of guests, because i don't think they really make the disc unfocused like some others have been saying, but some of them just strike me as being unnecessary.

― borntohula,

The new Converge really is deserving of that '10' from Decibel, isn't it? I'm guessing this is by far the best record Epitpah has released in at least a decade.

― & other try hard shitfests (jon /via/ chi 2.0),

Man, it might be redundant and obvious to talk about how the new Converge record slays me and impales my head on the city gates so I may be an example, but it does, I got friends who are all like, "Man they ain't evolving dramatically anymore" but who needs evolution when you are disembodied head warning travelers of the severe carnage done by the opening four songs.

― Brad Nelson (BradNelson),

I still don't have the issue yet, so Phil's thorough run-through is helping me realize that there are far too many hardcore titles on a list that does state "metal" on its cover. Though every one of those Converge records should be on there, they're more metal than most metal bands. If that makes sense. But Axe to Fall is definitely the best of the four.

― A. Begrand,

Awh.

I don't think I "get" Sunn o))). I like a lot of doom/drone music but I listen to Sunn o))) and think yeah this is OK but not much more than that.

I predict Sunn will be #1.

#1 , 1,422 Points , 68 votes , THIRTEEN #1 votes

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61BkrspKgqL._SS500_.jpg

Brokencyde - I'm Not A Fan But The Kids Like It (Breaksilence)

dude, that "freaxxx" song is either the most offensive thing my ears have ever been exposed to, or it's genius (assuming it's calculated satire)

― k3vin k., Thursday, December 4, 2008 1:03 PM (1 year ago)

phat j was robbed, his dani filth stylings are peerless

― J0hn D., Tuesday, January 13, 2009 3:22 PM (1 year ago)

all this haterade-drinking by warped tour dudes and concerned mothers makes me want to like these guys

― Marrakesh and Ashley Olsen (m bison), Wednesday, March 18, 2009 8:00 AM (10 months ago)

e-40 is so shit. can't believe brokencyde have sullied their good name with this clown.

hyphail.

― languid samuel l. jackson (jim), Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:55 AM (8 months ago)

more pop punk than screamo crunk isn't it?

― am0n, Tuesday, September 8, 2009 10:06 AM (4 months ago)

holy hell these guys are mind-bogglingly terrible, like to the point where I suspect their mothers want to kill them

― RETARTED (HI DERE), Monday, October 19, 2009 12:51 PM (3 months ago)

That is a surprise.

oh yeah. axe to fall is STUNNING. absolutely amazing.

'effigy' was the only song I heard last year that nigh-on made me vomit in the street on account of its brilliance.

brokencyde a worthy victor though.

Attack Attack was robbed.

You know, on the noms thread I'm sure I got a bit of flak for saying Sunn would do at least as well as Earth did last year and being told that was stupid because they didn't have the same sort of crossover appeal and it wasn't as good a record (which I can get behind, certainly).

So, obviously in the wrong order, but my votes 1-4 were the top four finishers. Does that mean I'm lame and you guys are going to kick me out of the metal thread?

#1 , 757 Points , 31 votes , FOUR #1 votes

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/Sunn%20O%29%29%29.jpg
Sunn O))) - Monoliths & Dimensions (Southern Lord)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKUOapQIl9w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG0_i_Dkk2Q

Sunn 0))) - Monoliths & Dimensions

Oh yes.

My ballot:

1. Baroness - Blue Record
2. Mastodon - Crack the Skye
3. Sunn O))) - Monoliths & Dimensions
4. Converge - Axe To Fall
5. Shrinebuilder - Shrinebuilder
6. Kylesa - Static Tensions
7. Isis - Wavering Radiant
8. Cobalt - Gin
9. Coalesce - OX
10. Om - God is Good
11. Tombs - Winter Hours
12. YOB - The Great Cessation
13. Krallice - Dimensional Bleedthrough
14. Augury - Fragmentary Evidence
15. Obscura - Cosmogenesis
16. The Gates of Slumber - Hymns of Blood and Thunder
17. 3 Inches of Blood - Here Waits Thy Doom
18. Novembers Doom - Into Night's Requiem Infernal
19. Saviours - Accelerated Living
20. Big Business - Mind the Drift
21. Wolf - Ravenous
22. Skeletonwitch - Breathing the Fire
23. Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect
24. Clutch - Strange Cousins from the West
25. Slayer - World Painted Blood
26. Dysrhythmia - Psychic Maps
27. Millions - Gather Scatter
28. Doomriders - Darkness Come Alive
29. Born of Osiris - A Higher Place
30. Cattle Decapitation - The Harvest Floor

Ballots, anyone?

Here are my 28 ranked albums. Oneida is #1, Om is #2, etc.

Oneida - Rated O ( Jag Jaguar)
Om - god is good
Sunn o))) - Monoliths & Dimensions (Southern Lord)
Mount Eerie - Wind's Poem
Isis-Wavering Radiant
Shrinebuilder - S/T (Neurot)
Jesu - Opiate Sun
Lightning Bolt - Earthly Delights
Nadja - When I See the Sun Always Shines on TV
Melvins - Chicken Switch
Black Boned Angel - Verdun
Greymachine - Disconnected
Jesu - Infinity
Khanate - Clean Hands Go Foul (Hydra Head)
Zu - Carboniferous (Ipecac)
Nadja and Black Boned Angel - s/t
Wolves in the Throne Room - Black Cascade
Baroness - Blue Record (Relapse)
Slayer - World Painted Blood (American)
Pyramids with Nadja s/t (Hydrahead)
Tombs-Winter Hours
Big Business - Mind The Drift (Hydra Head)
Xasthur: All Reflections Drained
Pelican - What We All Come To Need (Southern Lord)
Mastodon-Crack The Skye
Converge - Axe To Fall (Epitaph)
Krallice-Dimensional Bleedthrough
Amesoeurs - Amesoeurs

YOB- The Great Cessation
Bloody Panda - Summon
Madder Mortem - Eight Ways
Gay Witch Abortion - Maverick
Wardruna - Runaljod - Gap Var Ginnunga
Zu - Carboniferous
Ancestors - Of Sound Mind
Slough Feg - Ape Uprising
Minsk - With Echoes In The Movement Of Stone
Hacride - Lazarus
Tyr - By The Light Of The Northern Star
SubArachnoid Space - Eight Bells
Disappearer - The Clearing
Loan - Hontzira
Eluveitie - Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion
Monkey3 - Undercover
Wolf - Ravenous
Bergraven - Till Makabert Väsen
Manatees - Icarus, The Sunclimber
Crimfall - As the Path Unfolds...

My top twelve all placed.

sunn o))) victory. fair enough.

I've said it before, but I consider this their first great album. for me, they've always but amazing live, but a bit disappointingly drab on record. this is really not. it's expansive, intricately layered and melodically rich, but still as oppressively heavy as it gets. a fantastic bit of work (though most of the highlights can be attributed to eyvind kang).

the way 'alice' blossoms towards the end is one of my favourite-ever moments in music, regardless of genre.

my ballot

1 YOB - The Great Cessation
2 Cobalt - Gin
3 Converge - Axe To Fall
4 Sunn O))) - Monoliths & Dimensions
5 Zombi - Spirit Animal
6 Mastodon - Crack The Skye
7 Baroness - Blue
8 OM - God Is Good
9 Khanate - Clean Hands Go Foul
10 Slough Feg - Ape Uprising
11 Isis - Wavering Radiant
12 Lightning Bolt - Earthly Delights
13 Krallice - Dimensional Bleedthrough
14 The Gates of Slumber - Hymns Of Blood And Thunder
15 SubArachnoid Space - Eight Bells
16 Wolves in the Throne Room - Black Cascade
17 Orthodox - Sentencia
18 Liturgy - Renihilation
19 Zu - Carboniferous
20 Kylesa -Static Tensions
21 Amesoeurs - Amesoeurs
22 Shrinebuilder - S/T
23 Oneida - Rated O
24 Disappearer - The Clearing
25 Gnaw - This Face
26 GREYMACHINE - Disconnected
27 Jesu - Infinity
28 Coalesce - Ox
29 Church of Misery – Houses Of The Unholy
30 Candlemass - Death Magic Doom

Glenn will be along shortly to do his stuff so please stick around, the fun is only starting!