Here it is finally, after what has most likely been days upon days of uninterrupted music listening over the past year, I present to you an overview of the best, the worst and everything in between that metal had to offer in 2004!

BEST DVD:

3. DISMEMBER - LIVE BLASPHEMIES

This has been on delay for at least and year and it finally hit this year a few months after their new album, and it caught me while I still had their set at the Brave Words fest fresh in my head. The quality is damn good and very appropriate for their style...if your a fan, this is just as essential as Like An Ever Flowing Stream.

2. SLAYER - STILL REIGNING

Whats this? Slayer performing Reign In Blood, the greatest album ever recorded by any band ever, in its entirety...and I don't have to sit through any of the shit off Diabolus or God Hates Us All? SIGN ME UP! (That order now link doesn't work...go to Best Buy, its $14)

1. BLIND GUARDIAN - IMAGINATIONS THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS


This should come as no suprise. Blind Guardian - Live was at the top of my live album lists last year, and now their DVD is at the top of its respective category. The set list could have been a little bit better (Guradian Of The Blind and Journery Through The Dark should have been included...grrr) but seeing And Then There Was Silence performed in its entirety pretty much makes up for it. The sound is crystal clear and the new songs sound really mean live and it adds a lot that was missing from the album. Fan or not...get this and get hooked.

BEST LIVE ALBUM:

There really weren't too many live albums of significance this year. King Diamond does deserve some mention, but I've been pretty vocal bout my dislike of his voice in the past and as brilliant as Laroque is as a guitarist, it just doesn't save the album. However, I did manage to get my hands on this guy, and I'm glad I did because it kicked my ass from start to finish. The best live album of 2004 and actually, one of the best albums period comes from some crazy German fucks who just keep getting more old school with every release. In fact, next year they have a new full length coming out, so look for them again in the top 5 next year.

DESASTER - Brazilion Blitzkrieg Blasphemies





SHIT THAT SUCKED:

-Dreams Of Damnation breaking up and not playing their set at the Brave Words fest. This really blew because aside from Grave Digger, I was there for these guys. Not only did they not play this show, they most likely aren't going to release a follow up to "let The Violence Begin" anytime soon, the bickering little fucks.

-Iced Earth's album "The Glorious Burden"...or as it should be titled, "The Glorious Overproduced Peice Of Recycled Shit" This album is somehow getting praise from a lot of people, but i just don't get it. Ripper has once again tried to replace, and has failed miserable once again, a very unique voice in metal with his generic and plain voice. the riffs sound like throw aways from Horror Show, the backing vocals sound like a pack of castratos, and just overall it sounds more like an Iced Earth cover band than Iced Earth...and I'm not just talking about the vox. Oh, speaking of Ripper, I had the pleasure of seeing the band on tour this summer...Ripper Owens has the stage presence of a painted stick, and hearing him butcher Angels Holocaust made me wish I had never gone to the show...which I got into for free.

-Metalcore, metalcore, metalcore! There is no getting away from it, this plague of mediocre gothenberg rip off music tore through America like a juicy fart through sweat pants this year, and god damnit, it fucking stinks up in here!!! Many people ask me "Isn't it better having metalcore popular than mallcore (Nu-Metal for the uninformed)?"...NO! Why? Because with mallcore it was easy to avoid if you stayed out of Hot Topic and didn't watch MTV. Metalcore is invading actual metal shows and I am to the point where if I hear another whiney ass hardcore scream over a breakdown that should be a bridge riff...I'm just going to lose it. The American labels are peddling this shit like its gold, and the worst part is...the trendy little fucks are eating it up. If I want to listen to At The Gates, I'll go listen to At The Gates, and I'll be able to bypass the hXc vocals and the 3 minute breakdowns. Fuck Metalcore and especially, fuck those involved with it! Jayme Jasta is a cocksucking peice of shit and needs a good beating.


THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2004:

10. METAL CHURCH - THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD


9. EXODUS - TEMPO OF THE DAMNED


8. HIRAX - NEW AGE OF TERROR


7. SAURON - THRASH ASSAULT


6. TANKARD - BEAST OF BOURBON


5. ENSIFERUM - IRON


4. TAD MOROSE - MODUS VIVENDI


3. THE CHASM - THE SPELL OF RETRIBUTION


2. IRON SAVIOR - BATTERING RAM


1. QUO VADIS - DEFIANT IMAGINATION

The Canadians win it this year. Defiant Imagination is the band's first full length since the amazing "Day Into Night" was dropped on us in 2001 and there has been a lot of growth since then. The lead work has improved and the solos are gorgeous, this is an album that will consume you when you listen to it, it is nearly impossible to only listen to part of this album...when I put it on I have to finish it, this is something that hasn't happened to me in a long time. Then there is the drumming...oh lord the drumming, its hard to describe the talent and the complexity that is being put forth behind the kit, all I know is that this man is not human. The Carcass style vocals are gone in favor of more straight foward death metal vocals, and they really compliment the music well...this album is the total package, and easily the band's best album to date. Now they just need to tour the states so I can see this shit live.

As for the rest of the list, I should mention that Modus Vivendi was a last minute switch. I had originally placed Jon Oliva's Pain - Taj Mahal in that slot since Modus was technically a 2003 release and Taj Mahal a 2004, but as it turns out Taj Mahal won't see our soil offically until 2005, and Modus didn't get to us until Feb 2004.

Honorable Mentions:

Can you tell I like thrash metal? The latter half of the list is chock full of it. I predicted in 2003 that this would be a good year for thrash, and it was...but sadly, some of the best stuff to come out were EP's MCD's or compilations of unreleased material by unsigned bands. Heres a few noteables:

Violator - Violent Mosh EP
-This is the second "release" from this Brazil band and even though there is less than a half hour of material it is some of the best thrash to be released in years. The production is nice and raw, the music is old school, its just a great trip back through the godlen age. I look foward to a full length from them.

Crucified Mortals - Converted By Decapitation
-Riffs Riffs and more Riffs would have been a proper title for this EP. These guys are out of Ohio, but include Vader's (from Poland) Bass player. For coming out of the states during this era of metallic decay I am very impressed with this band's ability to be modern, yet still be thrash without delving into gothenberg or hardcore sounds *cough* Haunted *cough* Anotherband I want a full length from.

Cardinal Sin - Resurrection
-This is the best album I heard this year, sadly...its not material that was released this year...or any year for that matter. This is a collection of their independent demos from the 80's. This is a ncie trnd I've seen happening, labels are buying the rights to these great underground thrash bands who never had deals and remastering their material and giving it decent distrobution. This needs to continue.

Anthrax - The Greater Of Two Evils
-Sorry guys, no credit given for past time served. This is a great album...fucking great. Its 15 old Belladonna era tunes re-recorded with Bush on vocals, and he kicks some freakin arse. Caught In a Mosh and I Am The Law are big hilights for me. I just wish they had gotten around to Anti-Social.


REMEMBER THE FALLEN:
This year was unfortunately filled with some tragedy and great losses. Be sure to tip your hats and headbang a little harder for our fallen bretheren.

"DIMEBAG" DARRELL ABBOTT
Pantera & Damageplan

1966-2004
Murdered

QUORTHON
Bathory

1965-2004
Heart Failure

VALFAR
Windir

1979-2004
Hypothermia


RIP My Brothers