iPod Picks: Top Metal (and a Rock) Albums of 2011

Another year gone by, a year that saw quite a few new releases from bands of old and new -- some decent, some pretty metallic, and others just plain weird!

1) Machine Head (Locust)



The band that actually saw sales INCREASE top my list because they remain consistent and lost none of their brutal edge. While not as complete or compact as their previous effort, it's still the best release of the year.

2) Mastodon (The Hunter)



The hairy apes of Georgia pull out another stunner from their collective asses, aided and abetted by "Curl of the Burl", which sounds like an AIC throwaway track, but just might them their first Grammy.

3. Anthrax (Worship Music)



I really expect these NY old-timers to call it a day once and for all, but "failure" is evidently not in their vocabulary. Good for them, because WM is a solid effort and deserves proper kudos. For now, they've bought themselves a couple more years of shelf-life.

4. Megadeth (Th1rt3en)



Not the kind of release that was promised, but at this point, what more can we expect from Dave and company? It's a sincere statement that metal will never die and Megadeth, at this point, will not go away quietly.

5. Metallica (Beyond Magnetic)



Metallica has redeemed itself with this four-track EP after the universal-panning and bashing from both critics and fans. (Not by me, of course, see below.) Leftovers from the "Death Magnetic" sessions a couple years back make their glorious debut, and criminally, SHOULD have been discovered much sooner on that LP.

6. Chimaira (The Age of Hell)



The final release with the heart-and-soul guitarist-duo of Arnold and DeVries, as they flee into the refuge of Six Feet Under and are replaced by lackluster stand-ins, could (and should) be the swan song album that all bands hope to record before they call it a day.

7. Lou Reed and Metallica (Lulu)



I know with absolute certainly that I am alone in liking this album. What can I say..... I'm different and like eclectic music. Perhaps it would have worked better as an instrumental album without the lazy, invasive vocals by Reed and more noodling by Metallica, but some songs, especially on Side 2, evoke a dark ambient mood that is altogether bold and refreshing.

8. Red Hot Chili Peppers (I'm with You)



I'm stretching here, and though RHCP are by no means "metal", they earn a spot here just for their creativity and using, and reusing, a familiar formula and still making it sound fresh and original after the success of their last release, the massive "Stadium Arcadium", five years ago.

9. Korn (The Path of Totality)



Whatever "dub-step" is, really has no place in metal -- just ask the fans. But Korn is a different monster and can get away with it. While it sounds more like a conventional remix album than an new release of originality, it has its bright moments. To find them, however, requires many-repeated listens.

10. Lady Gaga (Born This Way)



Okay, truth be told, I just ran out of picks. T'WAS A VERY SLOW YEAR FOR METAL INDEED! I chose it only because there's a song called "Heavy Metal Lovers" on it, and also to piss off any pricks on here who disagree with me. SUCK IT, BITCHES!!!!! :-P