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 Drew's 10 favorite albums of 2004: If you'd like to comment on this list, check out the message board.
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Number 10: |
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He Is Legend - I Am Hollywood (Solid State Records)
He Is Legend just plays some good, melodic rock with various other influences shown throughout I Am Hollywood. They're quite spastic, sometimes sounding like Every Time I Die, and other times sounding like something you'd hear on the radio. This band displays range and variety in everything they do. The vocals go from soft crooning to a low-pitched growl in no time, and they pull both sides off well. |
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Number 9: |
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Trophy Scars - Hospital Music For The Aesthetics Of Language (Self-released)
I've followed Trophy Scars for some time (since the mp3.com days... a while ago). I liked their quirky brand of indie/hardcore. While something of that style would usually bore me, they keep things quite interesting with imaginative lyrics and wonderfully composed music. The songs are always dynamic and epic. There are usually vocals coming from all over the place. This is definitely something good to mellow out to, but not cry over. This disc isn't as blatantly hardcore-tinged as their older stuff, but you can hear background screams, often layered for effect, at any given time. Trophy Scars kind of reminds me of You And I, which is a good thing. |
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Number 8: |
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Dragonforce - Sonic Firestorm (Noise Records)
This is metal. Plain and simple. This isn't metalcore or metal with breakdowns or anything like that. This is heavy fucking metal. This has crazy guitar solos, synthesized keyboard effects, and no screaming. The songs are epic, as metal should be. The guitars are fast, palm-muted, and are liable to assault your ears with an insane solo. The drums are fast and have a lot of double bass to keep up the fast pace. The keyboard/synthesizer lines in this CD are brilliant; they're not overdone nor do they overpower anything. They're used when necessary, and add flavor to the songs, not a cheese factor. |
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Number 7: |
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Champion - Promises Kept (Review / Bridge 9 Records)
Old school hardcore is definitely making a comeback. People are tired of hearing the same played out technical guitar noodling and bland double bass breakdowns. Promises Kept is full of chants, breakdowns, energy, and passion. There's nothing better to sing along to than a blasting verse and a couple of group chants, and apparently Champion knows that. I love the passion in this disc. The vocalist doesn't have to a crazy high pitched scream to get his point across. True, honest lyrics and putting passion in your voice definitely comes across with more emotion than any scream can. |
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Number 6: |
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It Dies Today - The Caitiff Choir (Trustkill Records)
I was worried upon hearing some of the mp3s that Trustkill released before the release of The Caitiff Choir as It Dies Today seemed to have mellowed out. But, it ended up that those songs grew to be my favorites of the album. It Dies Today's previous EP, Forever Scorned, was a favorite of mine. I loved their brutal breakdowns and vocalist Nicholas' voice. The breakdowns are still everywhere and just as brutal. They have added a lot of clean singing and more melodic parts, but they are surprisingly well done. The singing is fast-paced and catchy, rather than slow and "emo." This may not be the most original disc around, but it's still catchy, brutal, and just good. |
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Number 5: |
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Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine (Relapse Records)
Miss Machine shows Dillinger Escape Plan with a new vocalist and a little musical growth for good measure. I read in an interview that the band was out to prove they could write a song, as they had already proved they could play incredibly complicated blasts of noise with the best of them. There are definitely more melodies and clean singing on this album than the band's previous efforts. But, they fit, and are a logical progression for Dillinger Escape Plan. They still break out the crazy guitar lines and mathematically-precise chaotic parts every now and then, but they also will hit you with some actual singing from time to time. It took a bit to get used to, but Miss Machine is definitely a great listen. |
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Number 4: |
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Converge - You Fail Me (Epitaph Records)
First off, Converge is sick in all they do, and You Fail Me is no exception. The production is just right, where the instruments are clear, yet they still have that crusty sound. I took notice of that and was impressed. The first song, "Last Light" is a break from Converge's chaos/crust sound and is just a good rock song, and one of the best on the album. Of course the rest of the album is classic Converge, and that's all right with me. You Fail Me being on Epitaph meant nothing, Converge didn't change their sound, but came out with a masterpiece. |
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Number 3: |
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3 Inches of Blood - Advance & Vanquish (Roadrunner Records)
3 Inches Of Blood sounds like a modern Iron Maiden. Advance & Vanquish is complete with high-pitched singing and piercing screams. The riffs are metal. The lyrics are metal . This band is... you guessed it, metal. The lyrics are definitely a high point of the band. The band seems themed around pirates, fantasy, and metal. Yes, they sing about metal. Example from "Deadly Sinners": Mighty warriors with metal on their side. Enemies of metal, your death is our reward. This band is mostly fun, and that, my friend, is what it's all about. |
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Number 2: |
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Casey Jones - The Few, The Proud, The Crucial (Review / Indianola Records)
I'm sure some of you are thinking, "What?" But yes, Casey Jones is one of my top picks. This is fun, sing-along friendly, straight edge hardcore. The lyrics are funny, serious, and all about being straight edge. The Few, The Proud, The Crucial is chock full of chants and quips about being straight edge. My favorite song, "C. G. L. 2K3," contains the chant, "Oh my God, Carl got laid." Some people mistook this band for a joke, but after seeing them live, I assure you they are serious. |
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(Drumroll...)
Album Of The Year: |
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Unearth - The Oncoming Storm (Metal Blade Records)
Unearth is simply amazing. I was afraid of disappointment after the incredibly awesome Stings of Conscience. But Unearth gave me The Oncoming Storm, and no disappointments. Unearth is the best at what they do, which is technical, guitar-driven metal with crazy breakdowns. Vocalist Trevor Phipps's voice has definitely improved from the Stings of Conscience days. Guitarists Ken Susi and Bud McGrath still shred like there's no tomorrow and leave people playing air guitar everywhere The Oncoming Storm is heard. Basically, there is little to nothing wrong with this disc. |
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Honorable mentions: |
Bloody Sunday - They Attack At Dawn
Terror - One With The Underdogs
A18 - Dear Furious
The Chariot - Everything's Alive, Everything's Breathing, Nothing's Dead, Nothing's Bleeding
Showbread - No Sir, Nihilism is Not Practical
Dead To Fall - Villainy and Virtue
Mastodon - Leviathan
Martyr AD - On Earth As It Is In Hell
xDEATHSTARx - The Triumph
Bury Your Dead - You Had Me At Hello
Fordirelifesake - Dance.Pretend.Forget.Defend.
Haste The Day - Burning Bridges
Love Is Red - Hardest Fight
Misery Signals - Of Malice and The Magnum Heart
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