Global Domination

GD's verdicts - Best of 2006

31/12/06  ||  Global Domination

On this day, the very last one of the year, we bring you another one of our respected Best Of lists. Here are all the answers you’ll ever need when it comes to the most superior albums launched upon mankind in 2006. Let’s get down to business, bitches.

1. Vader: Impressions in blood

Lord K. Philipson (In Fucken Charge):

Vader’s as fucken determined as a crackwhore in Crackville. They never let down, and “Impressions in blood” is another quality death metal album of the highest ranks, and the finest this year.

2: Zyklon: Disintegrate

The Norwegian assault known as Zyklon knows how to sweep the competition off their feet with their very own brand of semi-futuristic death metal. And Secthdaemon is, without a doubt, one of the finest vocalists in the scene.

3: Scar Symmetry: Pitch black progress

Scar Symmetry sports a fantastic growl with awesome clean vocals while mixing sheer brutality, awesome musicianship and melody in their music. This is the one album that really should put Scar Penis on the map of Swedish metal.

4: In Flames: Come clarity

In Flames deserve every inch of success they get and I applaud them for taking their style yet another step forward on this release. I’m so looking forward to their next effort. In Flames delivers the goods once again.

5: Necrophobic: Hrimthursum

I always had the hots for Necrophobic and “Hrimdimsimsum” is definitely the finest album in their career, as well as the 5th finest of 2006. They enhanced their blackened death metal quite a bit with this one and should be really proud of what they achieved here. Satan is applauding.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Death Breath: Stinking up the night

Panzerchrist’s close to get this nomination with “Battalion beast” but are beaten by Death Breath in the end. I just expected great work from some great people who obviously forgot how to write great music. Let’s hope for a better second round, if there ever is to be one. I’m not sure they deserve it.

1. Vader: Impressions in blood

Chazz (ex-staffer/always a hero):

I always thought Vader was a cut above most of the other bands on the European metal scene, even back in the day. I guess they figured that even with the constant touring, people were not taking enough notice, so they recorded and released one of the best death metal albums in years. I’m really impressed that they can not only continue to put stuff out, but after all this time, they can still put out such quality stuff. Is there some Hall Of Fame these guys can be put into?

2: Yrkoon: Unhealthy opera

Yrkoon is yet another band from France putting out quality music. Finally, a band manages to bridge the gap between old-school and modern death metal without queering up the whole works. I thought the effects on the vocals were a bit much, and the production isn’t crystal clear, but given the material, it really shouldn’t be. Yrkoon gives more than a couple of nods in general direction of Carcass and similar bands during some of their brightest “melo-groove death” moments, and I dig it. If they can top this album with their next, we are all in for a real treat.

3: God Among Insects: Zombienomicon

Yeah, I know we host their forum, and one of the members of the band may or may not be running this site, but fuck it, this one makes my list. There were a lot of reasons I liked their previous effort, and a few things I didn’t like, but everything seems to click here. No one sounds like GAI, and they aren’t afraid to be as downtuned, filthy, and disgusting as they want to be. “Zombienomicon” holds one of the better drumming performances I’ve heard in a long time, and the whole album is produced a lot more to my liking compared to the first album. I’m so glad they didn’t stick with their original plan of one album and one show and then killing the band.

4: Torture Killer: Swarm!

I’m not afraid to admit to actually liking those first two albums Six Feet Under released, the ones with Alan West on guitar. It seems Torture Killer does too, and their first release was a pretty shitty tribute to that era of SFU’s career. Then they sign to Metal Blade, get Chris Barnes to record vocals on their album, and not only pay tribute to early SFU, but make the album SFU should have followed up “Warpath” with. Every song features those Obituary-style monster guitar riffs that would make Alan West proud, and Barnes hasn’t sounded this “good” in years. As a bonus, there aren’t any really bad songs, so this is a good album to just put on random and let rip.

5: Skinless: Trample the weak, hurdle the dead

I don’t think I’ll ever be a fan of the super-low, half-squealing, not-quite-pig (but close enough) vocals that bands like Skinless uses and abuses, but fuck it, the music is too good to pass this up. A step up in all aspects of their previous work, including production, made this a keeper for me. Equally grooving and blasting, with enough variety to keep me interested in between. Not an easy thing to do in death metal.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Panzerchrist: Battalion beast

I don’t know anyone who didn’t like “Roomservice” and I was one of many who had real high hopes for this effort. I’d even go so far as to say “Roomservice” is, in my mind, a “modern classic” album. When I finally got this piece, I thought someone made a mistake, but no, this was the actual new Panzerchrist album. All of the awesome, high-speed grooving death metal the band was known for had been replaced by basic, by the numbers, “blackened” metal stuff. I’m all for going in new directions, and trying new things, as long as the band in question is at least equal to past efforts, but this just sucks. Besides the drumming. The drumming is actually pretty fucken good, as I expected.

1. Anaal Nathrakh: Eschaton

Ripper Bendix (ex-writer):

Anaal Nathrakh have always delivered everything I love about reckless hatred to the fucken fullest. This album combines all of the earlier aggression with some melody work and vicious breaks to fuck you up for life. Definitely my album of the year for 2006.

2: Enslaved: Ruun

After being a fucken bitch to listen to, this album carved itself into my brain like those funny springy worm things you get everywhere after contracting syphilis.

3: Darkthrone: The cult is alive

This shit combined Motörhead with black metal and thus tickled my nuts like a chinese hooker with yeast infection. I usually fucken HATE fucken Dark Throne with a passion, but this time the little fuckers pulled me on their side.

4: Ministry: Rio grande blood

Even though I think I didn’t score this baby as high as I actually value it now, this album just doesn’t fucken leave my cd player anymore! Some of this shit is eerily hypnotic.

5: God Among Insects: Zombienomicon

Even if K WEREN’T in this band I’d fucken love them for what they are: a bunch of crazy retards with WAY too many sick ideas at hand + a shitload of extremely great riffs and above all: ZOMBIES to fucken boot. If GAI don’t get your god damn ass in motion and your head banging, then nothing will! Noise filters are for fags, btw.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Terrorizer: Darker days ahead

Those fuckers should’ve left it the way it was. Instead of creating an equivalent to “World Downfall” they fucken ruined the whole thing for me. Well done… well done indeed.

1. Hank Williams III: Straight to hell

Eric Wright (ex-writer):

Country made by a metal fan? A match made in hell if you ask me, and this is an album I’ve continued to listen to since its release earlier this year.

2: Blood Freak: Live fast, die young… and leave a flesh-eating corpse!

Maniac Neal is back again in this drive-in bloodfeast of a feature, with clean and crisp production this time around. It uses a slow goregrind formula with some psychedelic tones, makes this sleazy piece of music one of the best of the year.

3: Frightmare: Bringing back the bloodshed

After releasing the fantastic “Midnight Murder Mania”, Frightmare continues to push the bar of death/thrash. Picking up where they left off, they explore movies such as “Sleepaway Camp”, “Friday The 13th, Part 2”, and “Silent Night, Deadly Night”, using thick and fast riffs with an onslaught of grunts growls and screams.

4: Send More Paramedics: The Awakening

When the dead walk the earth, they shall form a band named Send More Paramedics, and shall play the most brutal thrash ever put out in many years. Jeff Walker joins them on backup vocals, and they continue to do the zombie shuffle like old school ghouls, required listen for any 80’s thrash fan.

5: Melvins: (A) Senile animal

The Melvins may be one of the most consistent bands ever to grace this planet. This time around they are joined with the band Big Business, using two different drummers at the same time, and two vocalists at the same time, who both have similar voices. A must have for any fan of The Melvins.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Office Of Strategic Influence: Free

I was looking forward to this disc after their amazing debut album, but instead of playing interesting prog metal with a subtle hint of upper class, they just play the same boring crap every other prog metal band puts out.

1. Twisted Into Form: Then comes affliction to awaken the dreamer

Consumer (ex-writer):

“Then Comes Affliction to Awaken the Dreamer” is the latest milestone in the world of tech/progressive metal. It is technical as hell, but never unnecessarily so. The guys in Twisted Into Form also know the power of injecting simple and subtle elements into a hyper-technical context. The smart layering and gorgeous melody on the album put it heads and tails above the output of the masses of other technical wiz-kids.

2: Agalloch: Ashes against the grain

“Ashes Against the Grain” is the most successful melding of metal and post-rock to date. It is a tremendously atmospheric and haunting album. Agalloch has crafted a group of mournful dirges which have only been equaled in their ability to convey bittersweet aural melancholy by Katatonia’s “Brave Murder Day” and “… For Funerals to Come”.

3: Keep of Kalessin: Armada

“Armada” is not just the best black metal album of 2006. It is among the top two or three best black metal albums released in this decade, thus far. Complex yet biting riffing, spot-on blasting drumming, and varied vocal stylings coalesce to make this a dynamic and powerful listening experience, although it is not black metal as your metal-head elders would recognize it. It is an entirely original and completely refreshing blast of blackness.

4: Borknagar: Origin

“Origin” is a completely acoustic offering which succeeds in capturing the complex and epic essence of the Borknagar sound without the aid of heavy guitars and proggy keys. The sound is instead filled out by string and wind instruments and other assorted noise-makers, including acoustic guitars and drums, of course. The instrumental and vocal textures and melodies on “Origin” are just fucking stunning!

5: Darkthrone: The cult is alive

“The Cult is Alive” is the biggest surprise to greet me this year. Until this album, I had not really been spellbound by a Darkthrone album since “A Blaze in the Northern Sky”, and I had pretty much written Culto and Fenriz off as has-beens. However, the hefty infusion of punk and garage-rock influences into their sound was just what Darkthrone needed to rise out of the stagnant waters which they had dwelled in for far too long. The cult is fucking resurrected!

Major disappointment of 2006:

Celtic Frost: Monotheist

A plodding bore of an album. Maybe it’s good as a sleep aid, but it is certainly not a worthy continuation of the legacy of the once-great Celtic Frost.

1. Necrophobic: Hrimthursum

Hanging Limbs (ex-writer):

After hearing this album, it’s hard to believe these guys have been around for so long and aren’t huge. A perfect death/black metal blend with razor sharp guitars and some of the best harsh vocals I’ve heard this year. A thick, revealing production brings out clarity and distinction from every instrument while laying an aural thumping.

2: Circle II Circle: Burden of truth:

I make it no secret that Savatage is my 2nd favorite band of all-time. With that said, I can’t believe I haven’t heard any of former vocalist Zak (Attak) Stevens’ “new” band until now. “Burden of Truth” is a surprisingly modern metal album that incorporates enough Sava charm to carry over that fanbase. This and Jon Oliva’s new album will keep me happy until Savatage does their 25th anniversary tour I’ve been hearing about…

3: Agalloch: Ashes against the grain:

The gloomiest oak tree humpers in America release their first full-length since 2002. This album contains some of the most effective clean vocals you’ll ever hear. See my review here. It would have been a 10/10 if half of the album’s 8 tracks weren’t pointless noise/atmosphere/bullshit.

4: Decapitated: Organic hallucinosis:

Having not been impressed with their first two albums and completely ignoring the third, I was taken completely by surprise when I liked the new tracks I heard on their myspace page. Insane technicality and crushing production aside, “Organic hallucinosis” gives you something rare these days: pure death metal that you will want to play over and over.

5: Insomnium: Above the weeping world:

I’ve loved these guys since I first heard “The Gallery”. Although Swedish melodic death metal has been done ad nauseum recently, these guys manage to keep it sounding fun. Solid production and inspired songwriting make it a great comeback from the slight disappointment that was 2005’s “Character”.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Dissection: Reinkaos:

We waited 10 years for THIS? Remember when Dissection was dark, sinister, and FUCKING KILLED PEOPLE!? This album is a generic bucket of anal butter. (insert joke about frontman/waste of oxygen Jon Nödtveidt killing himself)

1. Amon Amarth: With Oden on our side

Syrrok (ex-writer):

Easily my top album of 2006. “With Oden on Our Side” took the speed and melody of “Once sent from the Golden Hall” and mixed it with the awesome song-writing of “Versus the World”. Add a top-notch production to that and you have viking bliss. These guys deserve all the credit they get and will get.

2: Vader: Impressions in blood

What a fucken surprise for me. I was never a Vader fan before this album, and now I am one of their biggest. This disc is so crushing and eloquent in it’s filth that it cannot be denied. This is pretty much how death metal should sound.

3: Scar Symmetry: Pitch black effects

Masterful metal musicians with ACTUAL SONGWRITING SKILLS! Oh, for fucks sake, clones yourselves! Now!!!

4: Iron Maiden: A matter of life and death

Classic Maiden in a form that hasn’t been around since the late 80’s. And Syrrok loves the 80’s and metal spirit, both of which Iron Maiden reek of.

5: Katatonia: “The great cold distance

This disc was everything I hoped for and more as a follow-up to their classic “Viva Emptiness” album. Unique songwriting, Jonas’ awesome vocals, and an undercurrent of heaviness below it all. Katatonia found that “thing”.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Slayer: Christ illusion

This is not a “bad” album per se, but clearly the disappointment of the year because all of the lines were in a row. Lombardo was back, Kerry’s still fat, and Tom is smiling. But instead of writing the Slayer album we were all waiting for they decided to instead record songs they wrote 5 years ago in the back of some tour bus. I have a feeling the next Slayer album will be off-the-charts awesome, but this one stunk up the fucken night.

1. Mastodon: Blood mountain

Farlus (ex-writer):

Ever since “Remission” was released and people started jumping on the Mastodon bandwagon, each Mastodon album has come with more and more hype, and the band has delivered every time. This album is just phenomenal and meets my expectations in every way.

2: The Sword: Age of winters

Combine doom, psychedelic rock, and metal with some mythological lyrics and you’ve got The Sword. This album just rocks on and on with no end. If not for my boner for Mastodon, this would be at the top.

3: Amon Amarth: With Oden on our side

Though “Fate of Norns” was a bit of a disappointment for me at its release, “With Oden At Our Side” immediately had me hooked and showed me that Amon Amarth didn’t quite blow their entire load on “Versus the World”. I can safely expect more good things from the band in the future.

4: Vader: Impressions in blood

It’s fuckin’ Vader. Need I say more? You can always count on these guys to own your ass with quality death metal.

5: Iron Maiden: A matter of life and death

I usually don’t pay much attention to the likes of Iron Maiden. They’re just one of those metal-defining bands that I never really got into. But even I got into this album, and that’s definitely saying something, especially at their age. These guys have still got the magic.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Lamb of God: Sacrament

When I heard the single “Redneck”, I had high hopes for this album. The song was pretty kickass and had a good groove going for it. My love for Pantera probably influenced my liking of the song. Unfortunately, that was the only bright spot on an album full of retarded bullshit. You can tell this band is running out of ideas and is just putting out albums for the sake of doing so. At this rate, these guys will soon be on Vh1 reality shows.

1. Motörhead: Kiss of death

Rafal (ex-writer):

The world changes while Motörhead still stay in the same place. On “Kiss of Death” they did what they always do, bringing a lot of joy to my ears. I have heard this album like tons of times and I can’t get enough of it. “Trigger” and “Sucker” are probably the most energetic tracks that Motörhead have created in the last couple of years.

2: In Flames: Come clarity

Have I ever gotten tired of their music? No, never. The album proves their top-notch talent and over-the-top abilities to produce yet another piece that has already been engraved in the history of metal. Catchy riffs, great vocals and a lot of inner power that comes out of the speakers. Thumbs right the fuck up.

3: Vader: Impressions in blood

Poland can be proud of Vader. They have travelled across the entire globe, been to places no one ever heard about, but first and foremost released albums that are absolutely the greatest. “Impressions in Blood” is no exception, it’s hyper-fast and catchy when it has to be, but aggressive and brutal all the time.

4: Katatonia: The great cold distance

Katatonia are peerless. There’s no other band in the world that is able to pack a simple CD with this load of emotions. Each and every song explores the human mind and magnifies the feeling of utter hopelessness. It’s an amazing release by an amazing band. No more no less.

5: Anaal Nathrakh: Eschaton

It would take security forces and armies to stop these guys from bringing armaggedon earlier than it’s supposed to happen. I have followed the Brits since the debut album and man, they are now better than eever. Anaal Nathrakh have pushed the bar of extreme a little bit forward, and it’s an altitude available only for eagles. Black metal eagles.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Disillusion: Gloria

I was waiting for the damn album with my heart in my throat, but when it eventually came out, I suddenly lost all my interest in Disillusion. It’s music that flows in and out, like an avarage prog metal album. I can say it with no remorse: “Gloria” is Teh Fucken Suck of 2006.

1. Gojira: From Mars to Sirius

Stephen Fallen (ex-writer):

What would happen if you took the creative intensity of Devin Townsend, mixed it seamlessly with the stuttery technicality of Meshuggah and then turned the whole thing into a fantastical prog-like concept album about saving the environment and flying whales from outer space? Well, you’d get an amazing listening experience and my pick for Album of the Year.

2: Killing Joke: Hosannas from the basement of hell

After 25 years, Jaz Coleman’s industrial-post-punk-metal music is as vital as ever and “Hosannas…” is a pissed off, tribal assault. It’s both sad and heartening that the best protest music for this new generation of retarded war and hatred was created by someone nearly 50 years old, but Coleman’s voice, both his singing and his message, is stronger now than ever before.

3: Mastodon: Blood mountain

Another awesome Mastodon album? No surprise there. Every time Mastodon gears up for a new release the expectations grow unreasonably large and, somehow, the band always comes through. “Blood Mountain” is more playful and proggy (and nerdy) than past releases, but still uniquely Mastodon.

4: Drudkh: Blood in our wells

Before I got this album about the only thing I knew about Ukraine was that one of their Olympic gymnasts was kinda cute. Now that I’ve spent some time pouring over Drudkh’s blend of atmospheric black metal and Ukrainian folk music… I still don’t know much. Still, it’s difficult not to connect with the area’s people and culture a little after hearing this amazing album.

5: Amon Amarth: With Oden on our side

Arty metal that expands minds and boundaries is great, but there’s also something to be said for straight-up viking death metal that makes you suck down a mug of beer, equip a plastic sword, place a horned helmet on your head, invade a local Wal-Mart, rape a women’s clothes rack and fend off a hoard of Irish attackers. Not that I’d ever do any of that stuff, but if a security guard by the name of James happens to read this: Dude, sorry again about the whole “plastic sword to face” thing.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Disillusion: Gloria

“Gloria” exchanges the complex death/black/prog/folk of “Back to Times of Splendor” for shorter, simpler songs that feature lots electronic experimentation. I respect any band’s decision to defy expectations and try new things, but oooops! With all their new ideas, Disillusion forgot to make an album that didn’t, you know, completely suck.

1. Mercenary: The hours that remain

Desert Eagle (ex-writer):

This album is motherfucking perfect. I have been listening to it pretty much non-stop since I first heard it. “Lost Reality” is one of the best songs ever written.

2: The Acacia Strain: The dead walk

Heavier than my fucking dick, this album has groove and will still beat your ass. Fuck yeah. Plus their lyrics are wonderfully amusing.

3: Scar Symmetry: Pitch black progress

Catchy as hell but still has those brutal growls. This cd still sees quite a few spins even though it came out early 2006.

4: Deicide: The stench of redemption

You know I always kind of considered Deicide as a novelty act since they pretty much sucked but I appreciated what they were going for. Now that they actually have competent guitarist, they fucking own. God damn, and it only took them like 20 years.

5: The Faceless: Akeldama

I’m still jerking off to this one.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Trivium: The crusade

I call it a disappointment because I’m disappointed they made another album. Fucking kill these idiots so it won’t happen again.

1. Enslaved: Ruun

Tiago Bonamigo (ex-writer):

This is an album that even in its most aggressive moments manages to sound beautiful. I’d dare to say Enslaved is the most relevant band in extreme metal nowadays. I really think they are breaking barriers and I can see Enslaved albums being regarded as masterpieces for years and years from now. Album of the year for me.

2: Negurã Bunget: Om

Transylvanian food must cause some brain damage. This album is really weird and is really a rollercoaster ride getting used to it. The first listening session is pretty much like losing your flower, you’re not quite sure what happened, what went through where and you’re still not sure of what you liked best in it, but it felt good. But as with sex, it gets better with time and you’ll understand it more and more. Bad analogy for an album full of furry ugly Rumanians. It is nothing like sex, more like Tetris then.

3: Summoning: Oath bound

I wish I had a sword and my neighbours were orcs, so this album could be the soundtrack of my life. Except for that cute chick at the 4th floor, the one I would take to be myyyyy precioussss. Hell yeah, I’d have her ring. C’mon, this might be RPG metal, but it is so fucking cool. I love Summoning. I love Austria for breeding Summoning. And I hate orcs.

4: Falconer: Northwind

I know that this particular album should be dubbed as camembert metal or muzzarella metal, but all hail cheese. Those who fail to get what that album is about can fuck themselves for all I care. I loved every single second of it and it is probably the album I’ve heard the most this year. Mathias Blad has a hell of a voice, the songs are really catch and Weinerhall is at the top of his game. It is an album I strike warrior poses to when I sing along with it and it is so cool to see such a cheesy piece of music with antichristian lyrics. It is like sticking a Care Bear in the ass… OF CHRIST!

5: Katatonia: The great cold distance

Ok, I might be going emo with this one. And that confession made me depressed.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Disillusion: Gloria

The name of the album is what one was hoping for, the name of the band is what one gets.

1. Keep Of Kalessin: Armada

The Abyss (writer) :

Not only the best album of the year but also one of the strongest black metal albums released in the past 5 years. The songwriting, the performance, the vocals, everything is top notch. I bow my head to the black uncharted.

2: Celtic Frost: Monotheist

No one thought it was possible. Not after “Cold lake”. But Celtic Frost did it, they made what might be the best “come back” album ever done. Dark, oppressive, claustrophobic, with just enough references to the old to please longtime fans and enough modern elements to feel relevant in 2006.

3: Gorod: Leading vision

The best band you never heard of and the next big thing from France after Gojira. Well, at least in a fair and just world. In the real world Gorod will remain fairly unknown but as long as they keep playing groovy, memorable technical death metal with jazz-influences I’ll be a happy camper.

4: Anaal Nathrakh: Eschaton

What Keep Of Kalessin achieves with subtle grace and grandeur, Anaal Nathrakh does with pure, cold, white hate and vindictiveness. This is beyond black metal. This is the downfall of all you hold dear.

5: Scar Symmetry: Pitch black progress

Just when melodic death metal was about as dead and unanimated as Paris Hilton’s soul, out steps Scar Symmetry and revives the corpse and takes it for a hell of a ride. Fantastic songwriting with choruses to die fo. And on top of it all: Christian Älvestam’s incredible voice.

Major disappointment of 2006:

Cult Of Luna: Somewhere along the highway

Not bad per se, but compared to earlier masterpieces this is a letdown. You’ve just lost the game, boys. You can do so much better than this.