1. Pharaoh – Be Gone (2008)

This being my first exposure to Philly based Pharaoh, I immediately recognized that this wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Be Gone takes strong influences from the likes of Manowar, Iron Maiden and lesser known Viperine, creating a more traditional metal base, while maintaining an all out melodic attack. The reason why I don’t think this album will be successful is because it blissfully runs against the grain of what constitutes modern metal. If you mention Manowar to most modern metal fans, they will laugh in your face, and if you mention Viperine or even Jag Panzer, most American fans won’t know what the hell you are talking about. Now, is this to say this music is bad? Absolutely not, in fact, this my first exposure to Pharaoh was quite pleasant and surprising. When I first turned on this album to begin listening, I was expecting European style power metal, or a progressive band, but instead I was treated to a well executed dose of traditional U.S. power metal that very few bands get right these days. Manowar may be a self parody lately, but rest assured, Pharaoh are a very legit, very relevant band that should be recognized on their quality songwriting, and not the schlock this genre is often associated with. (Similar Artists: Manowar, Iron Maiden, Viperine, Jag Panzer) VERY GOOD

2. Krisiun – Southern Storm (2008)

Man, this weekend has been awesome for my dose of death metal! Upon listening to the new Unleashed album first, I thought I had been blessed with a refreshing incoming onslaught of top quality death metal that wasn’t run of the mill. So, when I put Southern Storm on for the first time, this officially became a death metal weekend for Cody! Krisiun’s latest effort is MUCH better than their previous album AssassiNation, which tended to be relatively flat and repetitive. However, with Southern Storm, the listener is welcomed in with a plethora of breaks throughout each song that add new dimensions and levels to the album. Adding in a cover of Sepultura’s Refuse/Resist is also a great way to add more charm to an already top notch record. While this doesn’t quite top Hammer Battalion from Unleashed, it is a quality release for 2008, and one that any fan of death metal should consider. (Similar Artists: Angel Corpse, Deicide, Incantation, Torture Squad) VERY GOOD

3. Borknagar – Quintessence (2000)

Every once and awhile, the world is treated a black metal album that fights the stereotypes of what it means to be black metal. No, I’m not referring to Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth who merely fuse gothic and melodic atmosphere, I mean when a band can completely change the characteristics of what it means to be a black metal band. Borknagar is a band that has made a career out of fighting stereotypes by playing black metal that not only changes the music landscape, but also doesn’t rely on nihilism, anti-Christianity, or pagan religions to get their message out. In fact, simply classifying Borknagar as black metal doesn’t do the band justice, as they subtlety fuse melodies, folk, and progressive rock into the mix that isn’t blatantly obvious. I picked Quintessence to review because it represents a sort of peak in creativity for this band for this formation of sound. Recently, they have been abandoning their black metal roots in favor of a more avant garde nature. Quintessence is a fantastic album that any metalhead that can appreciate things outside of the uber kvlt should look into. (Similar Artists: Opeth, Arcturus, Dimmu Borgir, Abigor, Satyricon, Emperor) VERY GOOD

4. Unleashed – Hammer Battalion (2008)

Have Unleashed ever had a bad era in their career? It seems like an obligation for most death metal acts to have a lull in their discography that features tired songwriting, but Unleashed has made it a point to create hard hitting albums that can be thoroughly appreciated time and time again. With their first album released in 1991, 2008’s Hammer Battalion represents Unleashed’s ninth studio album, and it’s probably the best death metal album I have heard this year. With an undeniable old school flare, Hammer Battalion is exactly what people expect to hear in a quality Unleashed album with fantastic production, sharp solos, awesome breakdowns, and riffs that take pride in emphasizing death metal’s thrash heritage. Hammer Battalion represents the death metal album to beat this year, bar none. (Similar Artists: Blood Red Throne, Morbid Angel, Death, Bloodbath) AMAZING

5. Venom – Hell (2008)

Holy fuck! Where did this come from?! I have been wondering where the darkest mother fuckers of the early 80’s that left an entire generation shuddering at the knees went to! Venom are officially back to their once rightful place of the early extreme metal movement. Hell isn’t heavier than most albums this year in terms of speed, gutteral vocals, blast beats and other such shenenigans, but in terms of raw atmosphere and dark riffs, Venom has released an ode to traditional metal with fucking balls! You want to know where black metal, death metal and thrash metal came from? Look no further than 2008’s Hell for a serious history lesson on how to make evil music without being extreme. This isn’t the best album of 2008, but as far as showing fans what the fuck is up, Hell ransacks preconceived notions about what is supposed to be the new standard of heaviness in this modern era of metal. (Similar Artists: Motorhead, Mercyful Fate, Hell Hammer, Bathory) VERY GOOD

Reviews by CODY