My Top Albums of 2011! (Yes, they are pretty much all metal or at least close to metal)

Now, this year was a big year for retro metal and doom; so, you will see a lot of my favorite albums as being such.  Here you go (In no particular order):

The Wounded Kings - In the Chapel of the Black Hand: Well-produced quality doom, and I love the girl's voice so much on top of them heavy riffs!

Blood Ceremony - Living With the Ancients: This girl has an exceptional voice and a great band that accompanies her.  This very old school yet fresh, and it is great!

In Solitude - The Devil, The World, The Flesh: Those that know me, probably know how much I love this album.  I have listened to it so much and come back to it all the time.  Retro 80s metal done right, and these kids just know how to bring it.  I am excited to hear the next offering, I only see them getting better.

YOB - Atma: YOB is a band that always releases a quality product, and with the guest appearance from Scott Kelly on two tracks just enhanced the record even more.  All you have to really do is listen to the last track, it is epic.  Their is a great balance between brutality, heavy, and melody in the composition.

Graveyard - Hisengen Blues: Besides Witchcraft, this band sounds so 70s, that I just have to love this record.  As I haven't had a Witchcraft album in over 4 years, this has quenched my thirst.  Now, they sound different from Witchcraft, but that 70s vibe exist.  All I have to hear is "Uncomfortably Numb," and I am in a trance.

Orchid - Capricorn: Like In Solitude, I have played the shit out of this record.  My love for Black Sabbath is massive, and these guys aren't copycats, but they capture the spirit of Sabbath in all its elements.  The riffs kick ass, the tunes kick ass, and the production makes it solid.  Fantastic record.

Trap Them - Darker Handcraft:  Ever since I heard the first note from Trap Them, I have loved this band. And to me, they just keep getting better.  I love Kurt Ballou's production, he just makes them sound so badass.  The music is just ferocious.   I will never forget how tired I was one night, and then I put this record, and I was ready to fucking party after 1 song!  Great shit!

Devil - Time to Repent:  Another classic retro metal band of the 70s/80s.  I don't know what it is about this music, but it strikes such a big chord with me.  Maybe I should have been around at this time, maybe I was "Born Too Late."  However, this record rules.

Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats - Blood Lust:  Damn, this record rules.  Once again, retro like no other, but fantastic music let me tell you.  It sounds like doing acid in a dark lit music club in the 70s, watching go-go girls getting down and dirty.  What else could you ask for?

Opeth - Heritage:  Fuck the haters.  To me, this what Opeth should be doing with their music.  Would I like them to add death metal again?  Yes, but when the time is right.  Don't force that shit, go with what you want to do, and that is exactly what Opeth did, and I like it.  I thought Watershed was watered down, and this what they wanted to do anyway.  I am sure we will here another heavy record, but for now, this will do.

Serpent Venom - Carnal Altar: God, I love this record.  Riffs, I love riffs, and these guys got riffs.  Very old school Black Sabbath style metal.  Once again, I just love this stuff, I am a sucker for it.

Rwake - Rest:  Rwake is one of my favorite sludge bands, they do sludge in their own style and no one sounds like them.  I loved Voices of Omens so much, I didn't know if they could top it, but this one is pretty damn close.  They just keep evolving as a band, and it is awesome.  This is not a casual listening album.  You have to turn it up loud, lay back, and listen.  At this point, you will fall in love.

Vallenfyre - A Fragile King: Another style I am a sucker for is old school death metal, and that fuzzy entombed guitar tone.  I just can't get enough of it.  This record combines the sounds of old school death and the likes of Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride (which feature members of each band).  great record.

I am sure that I am missing some great records, but these are the albums that spoke to me this year, and I listened to the shit out of them.  let's see what next year brings, but damn, I love it!