| Best New Releases: |
| 1 |  | Katatonia - Viva Emptiness [Peaceville/Snapper]
Crushing and awesomely dark, this album has more dynamics than you can shake a stick at. Exceptional songwriting, bleak and evocative lyrics, accessibility, endless depth, and not one weak song to be found. I cant imagine a better album.
Buy This Album |
| 2 |  | The Gathering - Souvenirs [The End]
An engaging and beautiful album of experimental rock from the best Dutch band. For even more florid prose, you could always go read my review of this album.
Buy This Album
Read LOTD's Review |
| 3 |  | Strapping You Lad - SYL [Century Media]
Aural apocalypse. This album is an earthquake wrapped in a hurricane nestled in a box of tsunamis. See them live if you want an H-bomb dropped on your skull.
Buy This Album |
| 4 |  | Gordian Knot - Emergent [Sensory]
Of all the albums on my list, this one requires the most listens for its greatness to shine through. Your reward for that effort is some interesting and truly progressive instrumental rock. For extra gushing, I direct you to my review. Buy This Album
Read LOTD's Review |
| 5 |  | O.S.I. - Office of Strategic Influence [Inside Out U.S.]
Who would have suspected these understated and coherent soundscapes of electronic rock-metal? Prog-metal virtuosos are a boring dime a dozen. Moore and Matheos, on the other hand, can compose one fine piece of music.
Buy This Album |
| 6 |  | Explosions in the Sky - The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place [Temporary Residence]
Sad, pretty, and triumphant in the end. Ignore the critics: post-rock has real emotional power, and Explosions leads the way.
Buy This Album |
| 7 |  | A.F.I. - Sing the Sorrow [Dreamworks]
Wow, this one's a surprise. A.F.I. dishes out a focused mix of hardcore, goth-rock, pop, and blah blah blah does it really matter? These are great songs, pure and simple; great for instant gratification and great for repeated enjoyment. Catchy, rockin as hell, and the lyrics arent embarrassingly bad (in fact, theyre surprisingly good). If you think this album is overproduced, cheap, or bastardized, then maybe you shouldnt be so uptight, ya know? Buy This Album
Read LOTD's Review |
| 8 |  | Opeth - Damnation [Koch]
A tribute of sorts to various 70s prog luminaries that still undoubtedly bears the unique Opeth stamp. Do not let the quietude deceive you; this is a sad beauty of an album.
Buy This Album |
| 9 |  | Arch Enemy - Anthems of Rebellion [Century Media]
While not especially deep or challenging, you cannot deny the power of Swedens mighty Arch Enemy. This might just be this years most fun metal release. And Angela Gossows growl keeps getting better!
Buy This Album |
| 10 |  | Antimatter - Lights Out [The End]
Sadly, few will ever hear this remarkable album from this remarkable band. To those who do, they need only turn out the lights and embrace the darkness.
Buy This Album |
| Runners Up: |
| 11 |  | Mostly Autumn Passengers [Classic Rock Legends]
Some of the best and most powerful pop music ever.
Buy This Album
Read LOTD's Review |
| 12 |  | No-Man - Together We're Stranger [Madfish]
This album will draw you in with its delicate and seductive sounds.
Buy This Album |
| 13 |  | Radiohead - Hail to the Thief [Capitol]
Following last years re-release of his fabulous album, You Think You Really Know Me, is a compilation of rare recordings from the enigma that is an even more out-there collection of weird, lonely, and creepy tunes.
Buy This Album |
| 14 |  | Dimmu Borgir - Death Cult Armageddon [Nuclear Blast America]
Far from being sell-outs or perverters of black metal, Dimmu Borgir are taking the genre to interesting new heights. See them live and have your soul crushed!
Buy This Album |
| 15 |  | Kayo Dot - Choirs of the Eye [Tzadik]
A very interesting instrumental rock album that truly cannot be pigeonholed. Someone said that this album is all about feel, and I agree.
Buy This Album |
| Best Album Title: |
| | | Dimmu Borgir - Death Cult Armageddon [Nuclear Blast America]
Its the best for obvious reasons.
Buy This Album |
| Worst Album Title: |
| | | Dimmu Borgir - Death Cult Armageddon [Nuclear Blast America]
Its the worst for obvious reasons.
Buy This Album |
| Best Album Cover Art: |
| | Kayo Dot - Choirs of the Eye [Tzadik]
It appears to be a chicken made of fire or maybe a burrito under a powerful microscope.
Buy This Album |
| Worst Album Cover Art: |
|  | Green Carnation - A Blessing in Disguise
What were they thinking?
Buy This Album |
