So far, we have a few good ones coming out and we're only in the fifth month of the year. I've heard some good shit so far and want to share it with some of you metal fans out there.
1. Lamb of God (Wrath) The great white-trash hope of metal! The heir apparent to the reinvented and reembraced "Big Four of Thrash" are out with a new album that elevates itself out of the mainstream spotlight, courtesy of 2006's Sacrament, and back down into the metal underground where they - AND ALL METAL - belong. They've definitely grown up, adding some quieter moments and pieces than their usual growl and thrash of past albums. And while I'm not convinced they're the greatest metal band ever or will ever be, I applaud and commend the fact that they've had time to reflect on their next course of action and really evaluate where exactly they want to go next. And much like the aforementioned "Big Four," they may go straight to the top, but let's hope they keep it real at the same time and not sell out again.
2. Chimaira (The Infection) Definitely an improvement over 2007's Resurrection. Some melodies, some progressive riffs. Still great fodder music for uneducated meatheads and UFC enthusiast douchebags. A step in the right direction with sonic maturity and proper pacing. Even has a 14-minute instrumental! Feels like it's trying to be Metallica and Slayer combined, but doesn't quite hit the mark all the time.
3. Kreator (Hordes of Chaos) Mille is back, and he's brought a few new surprises with him and this long-standing German band that is sure to please and baffle some fans. The good news is, this is a pretty comparable followup to 2005's Enemy of God, but the bad news is that Mille and Co. take way too much risks, like too much vocal harmony, Gothenburg-style, mixed in with vicious, brutal thrash that seems to bring down the impact of many of its songs. Depending on how you view their style, the songs gallop along briskly and their choral chant of its title track is a definitely crowd pleaser.
4. Hatebreed (For the Lions) The band seems right at home with their familiar hardcore heroes (Merauder, Agnostic Front, Madball) but come off rather shaky, insecure and stylistically unoriginal for the metal masters (Metallica, Slayer, Sepultura). Many of the songs deserve, and desperately need, far more brutality than Jasta and Co. are willing to give, especially during the chorus parts, but Jasta tries to play it safe by trying to keep it close to the original versions. Big mistake... especially when covering a song! MAKE IT YOUR OWN!
5. Mastodon (Crack the Skye) Worthy successor to 2006's Blood Mountain, but nothing too spectacular and a bit overlong. For a bunch of hicks from Georgia, they at least put some effort in creating an epic concept album. A murky in many parts, but with the light/heavy bounce of "Divinations" and "Oblivion," the album isn't a total bore. Will definitely please fans and may alienate those unfamiliar with their past work. I'm somewhere in the middle.
6. Cannibal Corpse (Evisceration Plague) Nothing against Fisher, but let's face it, the Barnes albums are the best in CC's catalogue and this album is merely a sonic companion to 2006's Kill. But despite it's various shortcomings as something more "progressive" as mentioned in interviews with the band, this album is chockful of some heavy, gory goodness to appease any of their newer fans who weren't even alive during their peak years.
7. Napalm Death (Time Waits for No Slave) The usual ND grindcore of the last two albums, nothing more and nothing less than what you'd expect here. But it's comforting to know that despite all the shit that's playing out there - both metal and non-metal - these dudes keep it real and still kick ass after 20+ years and 20+ albums. And they don't disappoint here! For fans still reeling from the sonic beatdown from 2006's Smear Campaign.
8. Brutal Truth (Evolution Through Revolution) Not exactly what I'd call "best album of '09," or even "decent album," but I have to fill in space here. The boys of BT have lost their way in the 21st century, showing no signs of brilliance or much power (hard to believe) that they once possessed in the 90s. Songs come and go at the speed of light but still feel endless and dull. Definitely the St. Anger of this band's catalogue.
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