Top 20 Albums Of 2007...
1. A Day To Remember - For Those Who Have Heart
The first album of the list to be released in 2007. Its a blend of metalcore and pop-punk. That makes is so so great is the absurd cheeseyness of it all. I find myself singing along with the silly lyrics. it also helps that the singer goes from growl to falsetto in most songs. Its fun to listen and act goofy to.
2. Agua da Annique - Air
Ex-The Gathering singer's solo debut is more popier than anything she did with The Gathering. It still works with her voice, which seems to be infallible. She could do a grind album and I would think it was amazing (oh wait, check Napalm Death's Smear Campaign for her cameo). I love me some Anneke van Giersbergen
3. Bat For Lashes - Fur And Gold
There's something going on with Natasha Khan. Maybe its her British-ness, maybe it her voice, maybe I'm just nuts but this album puts me in a trance. Its just so beautiful and almost haunting at the same time. Its like a dream in music form. I know this album came out in 2006 in the UK but it didn't have a US release until 2007 so I counted it!
4. Between The Buried And Me - Colors
BTBAM gets it right! The problem with this band is that they are really hit-or-miss. They can write really great songs and parts but when it misses, its just boring to listen to. This album is full of win! They managed to write a whole album that captivates me from the start to the end.
5. The Birthday Massacre - Walking with Strangers
Think Depeche Mode with a gothic female singer. I don't know about you, but that gets me to listen to this album and love it.
6. Dark Tranquility - Fiction
A solid album by one of the bands that found the melodic death metal waaay back in the early 90s. After 8 albums, you think a band would have lost its charm. Not with Dark Tranquility! They keep on rocking hard without making the same album over and over.
7. Deadlock - Wolves
This album took me completely by surprise. Some people from Victory recommended this album and I wasn't expecting much at all. What I found was top-notch technical, melodic death metal with a bit of atmosphere to it. Even the female singer somehow fits in perfectly. There's something special going on in this album
8. Dethklok - The Dethalbum
God bless cartoon death metal. I was a little worried the music wouldn't be as great as the show but my expectations were exceeded. There is some good songwriting and the lyrics are great. I suggest getting the deluxe edition of this album just so you can hear the Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle. Hearing "Do you folks like coffee?" in a death metal grunt makes my day.
9. Devil Doll - Return Of Eve
Think Jessica Rabbit mixing up with Joan Jett. We got a rock n' roll lounge music hybrid here. Colleen's voice kicks ass and is sexy at the same time. Very impressive.
10. The Donnas - Bitchin'
After being dropped by a major label, The Donnas make up their own record label and put out a little album called "Bitchin'" Its a throwback to 80s hair metal with lyrics and licks to match. Its a fun album (much like they always release) worth picking up.
11. Emmure - Goodbye to Gallows
I was obsessed with this album for the first few months after I heard it. Noisy, slow metalcore. It just brutal. The lyrics are very dark and there are plenty of mosh parts. Its a shame this album clock in under 30 minutes.
12. Fratellis - Costello Music
Much like most of you, I was intrigued when I first heard Flathead on the radio. I wasn't sure if they were a one hit wonder but I decided to pick up the album anyways. It was full of fast-paced, fun songs. I was bobbing my head or tapping my foot along to every song.
13. In This Moment - Beautiful Tragedy
When I first heard Maria Brink's vocals, I have to admit I was a little turned off. But then after a few listens, I've really come to appreciate them. This melodic metalcore band does the soft parts and the heavy parts quite well and I am looking forward to seeing what happens with this band in the future.
14. Justice - Cross
You want an awesome album to dance to? Look no further. It was a rock vibe to it, which adds to the greatness of it. Get a load of their single "D.A.N.C.E." It sounds like a warped Jackson 5 song. Best house album of the year.
15. Kittie - Funeral For Yesterday
Yes, Kittie. I was taken back with this album. Their last two albums featured mostly slow, sludgy kinda metal with mostly growled vocals. This one is a lot more melodic and features mostly clean singing. It just works. I've always enjoyed Kittie and can't see what this band will do next.
16. LCD Soundsystem - Sounds Of Silver
Mix up punk and dance and throw in a little bit from other assorted genres and you have LCD Soundsystem. A great album to dance along to. "North American Scum" makes me want to scream "North America" out my car window every time I hear it.
17. Nightwish - Dark Passion Play
Finland's most expensive album ever produced yields a great symphonic metal set of songs. This is also the first album to feature Anette Olzon, replacing long-time singer Tarja Turunen. While Anette's voice can't hold up to the power of Tarja's, she certianly knows how to use it well. Being an expensive production, the instrumentation is strong and sounds huge. Excellent album.
18. She Wants Revenge - This Is Forever
These indie-electronic guys make another great album. While their sound didn't evolve much from their first self-titled album, they still know how to strike a chord (key?) with me. Justin Warfield's voice is just fantastic.
19. Tarja Turunen - My Winter Storm
Tarja's second solo album (counting the Christmas-y "Henkäys Ikuisuudesta") sounds much like the title. The songs are very somber and make me feel like I'm walking around in a winter storm. Her cover of Alice Cooper's "Poison" is just great and senseless at the same time. A solid 'A' album
20. Within Temptation - The Heart Of Everything
I love Sharon den Adel's voice more than I love myself. Haha. Yet another European symphonic, female-fronted metal band in my top 20. With their first release in the U.S. and A, they are on top of their game with beautiful songwriting and production. I can listen to this album on repeat all day.
The first album of the list to be released in 2007. Its a blend of metalcore and pop-punk. That makes is so so great is the absurd cheeseyness of it all. I find myself singing along with the silly lyrics. it also helps that the singer goes from growl to falsetto in most songs. Its fun to listen and act goofy to.
2. Agua da Annique - Air
Ex-The Gathering singer's solo debut is more popier than anything she did with The Gathering. It still works with her voice, which seems to be infallible. She could do a grind album and I would think it was amazing (oh wait, check Napalm Death's Smear Campaign for her cameo). I love me some Anneke van Giersbergen
3. Bat For Lashes - Fur And Gold
There's something going on with Natasha Khan. Maybe its her British-ness, maybe it her voice, maybe I'm just nuts but this album puts me in a trance. Its just so beautiful and almost haunting at the same time. Its like a dream in music form. I know this album came out in 2006 in the UK but it didn't have a US release until 2007 so I counted it!
4. Between The Buried And Me - Colors
BTBAM gets it right! The problem with this band is that they are really hit-or-miss. They can write really great songs and parts but when it misses, its just boring to listen to. This album is full of win! They managed to write a whole album that captivates me from the start to the end.
5. The Birthday Massacre - Walking with Strangers
Think Depeche Mode with a gothic female singer. I don't know about you, but that gets me to listen to this album and love it.
6. Dark Tranquility - Fiction
A solid album by one of the bands that found the melodic death metal waaay back in the early 90s. After 8 albums, you think a band would have lost its charm. Not with Dark Tranquility! They keep on rocking hard without making the same album over and over.
7. Deadlock - Wolves
This album took me completely by surprise. Some people from Victory recommended this album and I wasn't expecting much at all. What I found was top-notch technical, melodic death metal with a bit of atmosphere to it. Even the female singer somehow fits in perfectly. There's something special going on in this album
8. Dethklok - The Dethalbum
God bless cartoon death metal. I was a little worried the music wouldn't be as great as the show but my expectations were exceeded. There is some good songwriting and the lyrics are great. I suggest getting the deluxe edition of this album just so you can hear the Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle. Hearing "Do you folks like coffee?" in a death metal grunt makes my day.
9. Devil Doll - Return Of Eve
Think Jessica Rabbit mixing up with Joan Jett. We got a rock n' roll lounge music hybrid here. Colleen's voice kicks ass and is sexy at the same time. Very impressive.
10. The Donnas - Bitchin'
After being dropped by a major label, The Donnas make up their own record label and put out a little album called "Bitchin'" Its a throwback to 80s hair metal with lyrics and licks to match. Its a fun album (much like they always release) worth picking up.
11. Emmure - Goodbye to Gallows
I was obsessed with this album for the first few months after I heard it. Noisy, slow metalcore. It just brutal. The lyrics are very dark and there are plenty of mosh parts. Its a shame this album clock in under 30 minutes.
12. Fratellis - Costello Music
Much like most of you, I was intrigued when I first heard Flathead on the radio. I wasn't sure if they were a one hit wonder but I decided to pick up the album anyways. It was full of fast-paced, fun songs. I was bobbing my head or tapping my foot along to every song.
13. In This Moment - Beautiful Tragedy
When I first heard Maria Brink's vocals, I have to admit I was a little turned off. But then after a few listens, I've really come to appreciate them. This melodic metalcore band does the soft parts and the heavy parts quite well and I am looking forward to seeing what happens with this band in the future.
14. Justice - Cross
You want an awesome album to dance to? Look no further. It was a rock vibe to it, which adds to the greatness of it. Get a load of their single "D.A.N.C.E." It sounds like a warped Jackson 5 song. Best house album of the year.
15. Kittie - Funeral For Yesterday
Yes, Kittie. I was taken back with this album. Their last two albums featured mostly slow, sludgy kinda metal with mostly growled vocals. This one is a lot more melodic and features mostly clean singing. It just works. I've always enjoyed Kittie and can't see what this band will do next.
16. LCD Soundsystem - Sounds Of Silver
Mix up punk and dance and throw in a little bit from other assorted genres and you have LCD Soundsystem. A great album to dance along to. "North American Scum" makes me want to scream "North America" out my car window every time I hear it.
17. Nightwish - Dark Passion Play
Finland's most expensive album ever produced yields a great symphonic metal set of songs. This is also the first album to feature Anette Olzon, replacing long-time singer Tarja Turunen. While Anette's voice can't hold up to the power of Tarja's, she certianly knows how to use it well. Being an expensive production, the instrumentation is strong and sounds huge. Excellent album.
18. She Wants Revenge - This Is Forever
These indie-electronic guys make another great album. While their sound didn't evolve much from their first self-titled album, they still know how to strike a chord (key?) with me. Justin Warfield's voice is just fantastic.
19. Tarja Turunen - My Winter Storm
Tarja's second solo album (counting the Christmas-y "Henkäys Ikuisuudesta") sounds much like the title. The songs are very somber and make me feel like I'm walking around in a winter storm. Her cover of Alice Cooper's "Poison" is just great and senseless at the same time. A solid 'A' album
20. Within Temptation - The Heart Of Everything
I love Sharon den Adel's voice more than I love myself. Haha. Yet another European symphonic, female-fronted metal band in my top 20. With their first release in the U.S. and A, they are on top of their game with beautiful songwriting and production. I can listen to this album on repeat all day.