THE BEST OF 2010…A Year In Metal

A lot of good stuff came out this year.  There were some amazing records and some really good metal songs that pulverized our faces this year.  And here are my picks for the top 7.

+BEST ALBUMS+

1.  The Infinite Order – LIVING SACRIFICE

2.  The World Is A Thorn – DEMON HUNTER

3.  Take The World, But Give Me Jesus – ASCEND THE HILL

4.  Breaker – FOR TODAY

5.  Dynasty – AS THEY SLEEP

6.  There Will Be Violence – IMPENDING DOOM

7. Ø (Disambiguation) – UNDEROATH

+BEST SONGS+

1.  ”Rules Of Engagement” – LIVING SACRIFICE (The Infinite Order)

2.  ”Children Of Wrath” – IMPENDING DOOM (There Will Be Violence)

3.  ”Devastator” - FOR TODAY (Breaker)

4.  ”Descending Upon Us” – DEMON HUNTER (The World Is A Thorn)

5.  ”Bring It Down” – THE SHOWDOWN (Blood In The Gears)

6.  ”Collapse” – WAR OF AGES (Eternal)

7.  ”Vultures” – WRENCH IN THE WORKS (Decrease…Increase)

+BEST VIDEOS+

1.  ”In Division” – UNDEROATH Ø (Disambiguation)

2.  ”Overkill Exposure” – LIVING SACRIFICE (The Infinite Order)

3.  ”Shiver” – A PLEA FOR PURGING (The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell)

4.  ”The Machine” – IN THE MIDST OF LIONS (The Heart Of Man)

5.  ”Deathbed Atheist” – NORMA JEAN (Meridional)

6.  ”Parallels” – AS I LAY DYING (The Powerless Rise)

7.  ”Collapse” – WAR OF AGES (Eternal)

+TOP ALBUM COVERS+

1.  The World Is A Thorn – DEMON HUNTER

2.  There Will Be Violence - IMPENDING DOOM

3.  The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell – A PLEA FOR PURGING

4.  Dynasty – AS THEY SLEEP

5.  The Heart Of Man – IN THE MIDST OF LIONS

6.  Meridional – NORMA JEAN

7.  Attack Of The Wolf King – HASTE THE DAY

THE SHOWDOWN…”The Man Named Hell”

The lastest video from my buddies in The Showdown.  This is about as Southern as fried chicken and grits!!!

BACK IN BLACK…

Sorry it has been so long.  A lot has happened in my life in the last year and I’m just getting back to a place where I can focus on my love of all things metal.  There have been many awesome things (and not so awesome things) happening the scene in this year.  Here are some of the highlights…

LIVING SACRIFICE, DEMON HUNTER, THE SHOWDOWN, FOR TODAY, AS THEY SLEEP, UNDEROATH, ASCEND THE HILL, YOUR MEMORIAL, THE CHARIOT, HASTE THE DAY, AUGUST BURNS RED,  A PLEA FOR PURGING, IMPENDING DOOM, CORPUS CHRISTI, NORMA JEAN, MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE, I AM ALPHA & OMEGA, EMBRACING GOODBYE, TO SPEAK OF WOLVES, SENT BY RAVENS, AS I LAY DYING, WAR OF AGES and WRENCH IN THE WORKS…all released albums this year.  Some good, some bad, some so so.

HASTE THE DAY and WRENCH IN THE WORKS broke up…

Aaron left UNDEROATH…

BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE, SPOKEN and SLEEPING GIANT are writing new material…

Old school hardcore heavyweights OVERCOME is back together and releasing new material on Facedown Records…

TIMES OF GRACE are set to release their first album in Jan…

DEMON HUNTER released a Christmas song…

TOMMY GREEN of SLEEPING GIANT wrote a book and it will be available soon…

And I got to see LIVING SACRIFICE, ADVENT and SLEEPING GIANT destroy all!!!

More to come…

THE SHOWDOWN – Blood In the Gears

  4 / 7

THE SHOWDOWN has always exhibited superb musicianship while still being slightly inconsistent with their sound from album to album.  This release seems to toe the line on the southern, groove centered, biker metal (the opening track).  And while songs like “Bring It Down” showcase break neck, Pantera-ish speed other songs seem to be unfinished thoughts.  There are a few gems like “The Crooked Path” the thunderous hidden track “The Wolven Throne” that will get your head banging.  Great leads and some killers riffs but overall the album is less “Hi-Voltage” and more static shock on a doorknob.

HXC+NEWS (11/3)

LIVING SACRIFICE has a new look for their MySpace page as well as a new video blog about recording The Inifinite Order, which releases January 26th, 2010.  According to the band their is also a DVD in the works so be on the look out.
www.myspace.com/livingsacrifice

THE CRUCIFIED are back together and have released special 3-Disc boxed set of all their albums and EPs as well as a DVD of rare live footage.  The band’s last full-length CD, The Pillars of Humanity is being re-released by Tooth & Nail Records on November 17th, 2009.
www.myspace.com/thecrucifiedofficial

IMPENDING DOOM is working on new music.  Catch them on tour this winter with OH, SLEEPER and THE SHOWDOWN
www.myspace.com/impendingdoom

SLEEPING GIANT is just released a video for their song, “Army of the Chosen One” off of their latest release Sons of Thunder.  Check it out on the MySpace.
www.myspace.com/sleepingxgiant

WRENCH IN THE WORKS has a new album coming out on Facedown Records next year called, Decrease/Increase.  Look for it early in the new year.
www.myspace.com/wrenchintheworks

ONWARD TO OLYMPAS has signed to Facedown Records and is set to release their debut album called, This World Is Not My Home.  Look for it early next year as well.
www.myspace.com/onwardtoolympas

A PLEA FOR PURGING is out on the road with VENIA and HUNDRETH
www.myspace.com/apleaforpurging

HXC+NEWS (10/27)

LIVING SACRIFICE is releasing their new CD, The Infinite Order on January 26th of next year.  You can hear ”Rules of Engagement” on the latest edition of the Solid State Podcast.  A pre-order for the new album will be up soon.

BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE has just released a new single called, “Necrotizing Fasciitis.”  The track is available now on iTunes!  The band is currently on tour in Europe before heading back to the states for a few shows.

DEMON HUNTER is currently in the studio recording their 5th album.

IMPENDING DOOM is heading out on the road this winter with OH, SLEEPER and THE SHOWDOWN.  Keep a look out for dates.

BLOODLINE SEVERED is taking time off to write a new record.

SOLID STATE RECORDS has a brand new podcast up on iTunes.  Go download it today.  The new episode features new music from LIVING SACRIFICE, AUGUST BURNS RED, OH SLEEPER, BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE and many more.