Andrew's 20 favorite albums of 2002 :
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Album Of The Year |
Killswitch Engage - Alive Or Just Breathing (Roadrunner)
The epitome of what most metal and metalcore bands want to be. Killswitch Engage's latest offering is a journey through metallic guitar riffs and double kicks, with the passion and tension of hardcore, and a recording quality that is near perfect. It is obvious that Killswitch Engage spent a lot of time in creating "Alive Or Just Breathing," but it has definitely paid off. |
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Number 2: |
Norma Jean - Bless The Martyr And Kiss The Child (Solid State)
Norma Jean's mixture of brutal breakdowns and artistic musicianship isn't the newest sound on the market, but "Bless The Martyr, and Kiss The Child" redefines the word 'heavy' with some of the chunkiest riffs and powerful vocals. From the 15 minute epic to the infectious breakdown of "Face:Face," Norma Jean entertains with wondrous musicianship and chaotic heaviness. |
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Number 3: |
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Unearth - Endless (Eulogy)
"Endless" would be my favorite album of the year if it were a full length. Unearth has perfected the metal and metalcore genre with impressive song structures and remarkable musicianship, not to mention sing-along inspiring vocals and the best breakdowns in existence. |
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Number 4: |
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Between The Buried And Me - Self Titled (Lifeforce)
Between The Buried And Me obey no boundaries when performing their intense blend of metallic guitar riffs and intricate string plucking with emotive melody and percussion that covers all the rhythms, from soothing grooves to a grind-like beating. With musicians as talented as those of Between The Buried And Me, one can't overrate the quality of their Self Titled album, and the thought provoking lyricism only strengthens their case.
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Number 5: |
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The Red Chord - Fused Together In Revolving Doors (Robotic Empire)
The release of "Fused Together In Revolving Doors" was hyped up pretty heavily by Robotic Empire Records, and luckily, the label lived up to its promise. The Red Chord perform a fairly chaotic mixture of technical guitar work and crushing breakdowns, only to be made more captivating by blazing percussion and guitar parts. The lyrics are witty and meaningful, and as a debut album, "Fused Together In Revolving Doors" is simply amazing.
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Number 6: |
Fall Silent - Drunken Violence (Revelation)
"Drunken Violence" takes the listener through 40 minutes of thrash-flavored hardcore with metallic influences. Fall Silent's approach is unrelentless, the band is pissed off, and their style is well-reflected even in the studio. The wondrous recording quality has benifitted Fall Silent heavily, giving them an even more extreme sense of urgency and energy. |
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Number 7: |
Falling Cycle - The Conflict (Facedown)
"The Conflict" is a vicious blend of Shadows Fall like thrash and Euro-metallic guitar parts, accompanied by some brutal breakdowns and forceful vocals. Throw in some soothing melody, and you've got yourself an interesting, and simply solid album. |
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Number 8: |
dredg - El Cielo (Interscope)
Creative and inspirational, "El Cielo" restores much dignity to the big-label music scene. Unlike much of the music in existence, dredg inspire the mind through creative imagery and atmospheric overtones, incorporate loads of odd instruments, and provide the perfect musical experience for late-night driving beneath a clear sky of stars. |
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Number 9: |
Glassjaw - Worship And Tribute (Warner)
Many fans assumed that surpassing the quality of "EVerything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence" would be a true task for Glassjaw. While some fans feel that "Worship And Tribute" is a step down from past material, I can't help but enjoy this album's variety and intensity. Vocalist Daryl Palumbo creates yet another involving vocal experience, while the musicianship and recording are better than ever. |
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Number 10: |
The Killing Tree - The Romance Of Helent Trent (Onedaysavior)
The Killing Tree is headed by vocalist Tim of Rise Against fame, giving this band a guarantee for attention, but there is much more to The Killing Tree than a popular name. "The Romance Of Helen Trent" brings plenty of mosh, in a focused and driving fashion, a quality that isn't found in many bands. The recording and musicianship are ultra tight, and enough melody is infused to satisfy fans of multiple genres. |
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Number 11: |
Soilwork - Natural Born Chaos (Nuclear Blast)
From the ambient keyboard and organ parts to Swedish guitar riffs, Soilwork doesn't miss a note. The trash tendancies of the band's past are still evident, but this time around, Soilwork has induced heaps of melodic vocals and guitar work. Intense and furious, but not overbearing, "Natural Born Chaos" is a must-have for metal fans. |
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Number 12: |
It Dies Today - Forever Scorned (Life Sentence)
Holy mosh. It Dies Today write some truly crushing breakdowns. This is the band's debut release from Life Sentence Records, and will establish the band as one of the more apt mosh-metal bands. |
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Number 13: |
Bleeding Through - Portrait Of The Goddess (Indecision)
Bleeding Through's latest offering is terribly brutal, with no frills. The lyrics are dark and violent, and the speedy guitar riffs are dangerously thick. An album I've come back to time and time again. |
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Number 14: |
In Pieces - Learning To Accept Silence (Escape Artist)
This album grows on the listener like no other, as the intricate guitar pieces and constant tempo shifts become more and more notable. While not quite as heavy as the band's older material, "Learning To Accept Silence" still retains the band's original intensity and anger. |
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Number 15: |
The Hope Conspiracy - Endnote (Equal Vision)
The Hope Conspiracy is back with "Endnote," another involving and urgent listen from these hardcore heros. The intensity never fails, the strong message is in tact, and the music is generally straightforward, with some chunky breakdowns. The Hope Conspiracy strengthens their standing as one of the better bands in the hardcore scene. |
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Number 16: |
Thrice - The Illusion Of Safety (Subcity)
Thrice followed their previous full length, "Identity Crisis" with an even better release, adopting more metallic guitar parts and breakdowns. "The Illusion Of Safety" has, and will continue to inspire copycats, but no other band will replicate what Thrice has done. |
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Number 17: |
Raised Fist - Dedication (Burning Heart)
Raised Fist had been a little quiet since the release of "Ignoring The Guidelines" a couple of years back, but the band is back with an even more intense album. This furious disc is laden with shout-along vocals and double bass kicks, another release that I can't stop listening to. |
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Number 18: |
Poison The Well - Tear From The Red (Trustkill)
Poison The Well's long awaited sophomore full length finally hit stores this year, and attracted loads of new fans. Vocalist Jeff is constantly improving, and the guitar tone and riffs are better than ever. A strong album from one of metalcore's most influential bands. |
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Number 19: |
Endthisday - Sleeping Beneath The Ashes Of Creation (Lifeforce)
Endthisday is one of Wisconsin's more well-known metallic acts, with good reason. Their combination of European metal influences and detailed song structure has attracted plenty of well-deserved attention. |
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Number 20: |
Codeseven - The Rescue (The Music Cartel)
Codeseven made a 180 degree turn with "The Rescue," a change that has been welcomed by many music fans. The metalcore sound has disappeared, and made way for an atmospheric space-rock style that is perfect for late night drives or a pair of nice headphones. |
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Honorable Mention |
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Shadows Fall - The Art Of Balance (Century Media); Staring Back - On (Lobster); Underoath - Changing Of Times (Solid State); My Chemical Romance - I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love (Eyeball); The Promise - Believer (Indecision); Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends (Victory); Coheed And Cambria - Second Stage Turbine Blade (Equal Vision); Alexisonfire - S/T (Distort); Evergreen Terrace - Burned Alive By Time (Eulogy); Remembering Never - She Looks So Good In Red (Ferret); Curl Up And Die - Unfortunately We're Not Robots (Revelation); Hatebreed - Perseverence (Universal/Stillborn); Isis - Oceanic (Hydra Head); Welcome To Your Life - There Is No Turning Back (Indecision); and last but not least, Andrew WK - Party Hard (Universal) |
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Record Labels Of The Year |
Revelation Records (Fall Silent, Curl Up And Die)
Lifeforce Records (Between The Buried And Me, Endthisday, Beyond The Sixth Seal)
Equal Vision Records (Time In Malta, Hope Conspiracy, Coheed And Cambria) |
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Worst Album Of 2002 |
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All of the "return of rock" albums (The Strokes, The Vines, etc) |
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Albums I hadn't heard, or began to love, in time for my top 10 of 2001 |
Every Time I Die - Last Night In Town (Ferret)
Caliban - Vent (Lifeforce)
Converge - Jane Doe (Equal Vision)
American Nightmare - Background Music (Equal Vision)
...And more that I can't think of. |
