The Top 5 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2008

2008 has been a pretty good year in the world of hard rock and heavy metal.  Since this will be my final actual post for the semester, I can’t take into account the albums that are yet to come out (Chinese Democracy drops tomorrow!).  I will also admit that I haven’t purchased a copy of Mudvayne’s The New Game, which came out on November 18th.  I have heard their latest single “Do What You Do” though, which is just…okay.  Anyways, read on for my top 5 hard rock/heavy metal albums of 2008…

5) (The) Melvins – Nude With Boots

(The) Melvins followed up their 2007 release (A) Senile Animal with Nude With Boots, another tried and true Melvins release, full of three part vocal harmonies, experimental percussion, and King Buzzo’s unique riffage.  Sample “The Kicking Machine,” “The Smiling Cobra,” and the title track for the best of Nude With Boots.

4) The Sword – Gods of the Earth

Texas’ own The Sword make a thunderous return with their second studio album Gods of the Earth.  After their critically acclaimed debut Age of Winters, the quartet brought their sound to new heights with thrashers like “Fire Lances of the Ancient Hypherzephyrians” and groovers like “Maiden, Mother & Crone,” and “To Take the Black.”

3) ASG – Win Us Over

In a time when music is saturated with the same old chord progressions, North Carolina group ASG (short for the Amplification of Self – Gratification) is helping to bring back the almighty riff.  ”Low End Insight” and “The Dull Blade” have undeniable hooks, and “Glow” and “Palm Springs” bring punk intensity with pop sensibility, but don’t forget about more psychedelic numbers like “Right Before Death” and the Fireball Minstry-esque “Ballad of Richard K.”

2) Slipknot – All Hope Is Gone

Say what you will about Slipknot’s status as the new “Hot Topic” fad, but the band is extremely talented and features one of the best drummers (Joey Jordison) in the game, and perhaps one of the great rock singers of our generation (Corey Taylor).  All Hope Is Gone combines the heaviness of their earlier records with the more melodic style of Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses.  The Iowa 9-piece is extremely versatile – they can get technical on “Gematria (The Killing Name),” write big choruses on “Sulfur” and “Psychosocial,” but aren’t afraid to go acoustic on “Snuff.”

1) Metallica – Death Magnetic

In perhaps one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year in all of music, Metallica has finally delivered after being in what was widely considered to be the shit hole of St. Anger, and further back Reload and Load.  Complex arrangements are back.  Solos are back.  Metallica is back.  Every track on Death Magnetic rips.  The band revisits their heavier past with songs like “That Was Just Your Life” and “My Apocalypse,” but still retain a certain originality that keeps them relevant; however, they aren’t afraid to go back to their Black days with “Cyanide” and “Broken, Beat & Scarred.”  The band’s songwriting really shines on “The End of the Line,” and “Judas Kiss,” but be sure not to skip over their latest single “All Nightmare Long,” ballads “The Day That Never Comes” and “Unforgiven III” or the longest instrumental the band has ever done “Suicide & Redemption.”  

Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):

Testament – The Formation of Damnation

A solid release from one of thrash metal’s finest.

First single – “More Than Meets The Eye“

AC/DC – Black Ice

Sure it’s the same, but it’s AC/DC.

First single – “Rock ‘N Roll Train“

Motorhead - Motorizer

Lemmy<3

First single – “Rock Out“

Have a good Thanksgiving!

~Bill McMillan

---

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• “Pump it up, Pump it up”…and right of our community
• Ten Beatles: Rock Band songs, first downloadable album revealed
• Real-life Haute Mommies: Five fall wardrobe updates
• May NPD: UFC Game a Smash Hit