jonny_boy34 wrote:Astra - The Weirding (which is in fact phenomenal and has quickly become one of my favourite albums EVER)

Cracking album. Right down to the 70's style "warm" production.

I also agree with the Asphyx comment. Great album.

I thought Heaven and Hell was pretty darn enjoyable. A good one not an amazing one. It's hard to recall albums I've picked up this year.
Grabbed Them Crooked Vultures, it's well worth a listen or five. Not blown me away but may latch on. Minderaser, No Chaser and New Fang are really nice rock numbers.
From what I've heard of Mastodon, NOT Mastodon this year. One of their voices absolutely grates on me. Want to check out Kylesa. Must check out Astra too.
Streetsweeper Social Club also has its moments and was pretty good but could have been more diverse.
Mars Volta, while by no means rubbish, were not at their manic best. An enjoyable but subdued effort.
Jello Biafra's effort was good. Some of the tracks are blinding.

All this leaves Diagonal that was released right at the start. Brilliant. Album of the year. Although, looking at it, the competition wasn't particuarly strong...

Oh and Brutal Truth. Now that was an album. Fierce.

STD_Caps wrote:All this leaves Diagonal that was released right at the start. Brilliant. Album of the year. Although, looking at it, the competition wasn't particuarly strong...

Sorry to be pedantic here... but Diagonal was released October 2008. So that's right out. Otherwise that would've been top of my list! Joint with Astra of course.

The Red Chord 'Fed Through the Teeth Machine' and Mastadon 'Crack The Skye' for me.
Clutch album was very cool too. Haven't managed to get new Converge and Hypocrisy album which I really wanna get.

Definitely want to get the new Clutch album. Probably rebuy From Beale Street to Oblivion at the same time. I will buy the new Mastodon CD too but I know I'll sturggle to get past those grating Ozzy-gone-pathetic vocals.

Oh yeah I know what you mean about those. I heard some great things about Crack the Skye, but when I heard some of it, those vocals made me want to puke my arse out of my face. Quite literally.

Oh I also forgot Nile's new album and Lynyrd Skynyrd's new album. Both amazing. And Baroness' Blue Record. How could I nearly forget that?

Actualy Rodrigo y Gabriela's album 11:11 pretty much does it for me this year.

Insomnium, Swallow the Sun and Katatonia, 3 way tie for best album of the year IMO

Lynyrd Skynyrd and prodigy for me

jonny_boy34 wrote:

STD_Caps wrote:All this leaves Diagonal that was released right at the start. Brilliant. Album of the year. Although, looking at it, the competition wasn't particuarly strong...

Sorry to be pedantic here... but Diagonal was released October 2008. So that's right out. Otherwise that would've been top of my list! Joint with Astra of course.

I looked on amazon for the release date. The CD got another issue in 09 which made me confused. Scrap it from my list, I guess. A shitter because I thought it was the stand out winner. Saying that, the new Isis record sounds wicked. Must pick that up.

Have you not listened to Astra yet Christopher? Shitting hell, man, get on that shit, you'll love it. Absolute album of the year for sure.

Mars Volta- Octahedron