The Top Ten Albums of 2004:
Top Ten Albums of 2004 Judgment Committee Reviews
Abyss
Death
Hel
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The Overall Metal Judgment Top Ten
Metal Judgment Staff Picks

The Overall Metal Judgment Top Ten Albums of 2004:

1. Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake
2. Mastodon - Leviathan
3. Pig Destroyer - Terrifyer
4. Blut Aus Nord - The Work Which Transforms God
5. Shadows Fall - The War Within
6. Borknagar - Epic
7. My Dying Bride - Songs of Darkness, Words of Light
8. Decapitated - The Negation
9. Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine
10. (tie) Today is the Day - Kiss the Pig
 10. (tie) Illdisposed - 1-800-Vindication

Abyss's Top Ten:

In the Year of Someone's Lord 2004, many things will be remembered. As you may recall, the year began with the outrage of children being subjected to a bared nipple on national television. Of course, there was also the irony of the fact that nipples are actually designed FOR children . . . in fact, the younger you are, the more use you have for a nipple. 2004 will also be remembered for the election, an election in which the country became divided between Red Staters and Blue Staters and American politics degraded into farce. I don't know what's sadder, that one of the worst Presidents in American history was reelected, or the fact that the Democrats couldn't come up with anyone to beat him. Thank goodness the Ukraine is around to make our democracy look better. It was also a sad year in many ways. The saddest moment was probably when The Gipper, President Ronald Reagan, died, and only slightly less sad was when the Boston Red Sox won the World Series. Martha Stewart went to jail and Mel Gibson's The Passion Of The Christ performed miracles (it got a whole bunch of evangelical Christians to not see what a cheesy, hackneyed movie it was). Of course, 2004 meant different things us metalheads. Judas Priest reunited and Ozzfest became a worthwhile endeavor again, purging most of the trendy crap that had taken over the annual festival and bringing metal back to the masses. But unfortunately, in the metal community, 2004 will be remembered as the year of the murder of Dimebag Darrell Abbott, the extremely talented axeman that, along with the rest of Pantera, knocked us on our asses. Rest in peace, brother, you were taken from us far too early . . .

1. Borknagar - Epic
I've always been a fan of these guys, but this time they've really outdone themselves. This album sees the band taking a more progressive tack, keeping the music interesting and exploring deeper into their Scandinavian roots. Vintersorg's vocals are brilliant, creating some of the most infectious and memorable melodies in all of metal.

2. Pig Destroyer - Terrifyer
I truly believe this band to be the future of metal. The follow-up to the brilliant Prowler In The Yard is every bit as disturbing, eccentric and engaging. These guys are no flash in the pan. And while their buzz keeps growing, it is still woefully inadequate. I'm still sleeping with my lights on . . .

3. Susperia - Unlimited
What a standout thrash album that rose above the din to shine. It's about time a band saw the success that was Testament's The Gathering and ran with it. It's a great rebound from their last disappointment. Here's hoping this band continues on the exciting course begun with this album, because the metal community needs more of this sound.

4. Therion - Lemuria/Sirius B
I've got to admit that I've always only been a passing fan of this band, so I was completely unprepared for this record. This double album is a triumph of songwriting and vision that never seems to stray despite its long length. Not a note is wasted or unnecessary, rare for a double album. Both heavy and melodic, Therion give new meaning to the term 'epic.'

5. Mastodon - Leviathan
These guys have kept their momentum going, endearing themselves to a wide spectrum of the metal audience. A killer tour opening for Slayer definitely helped, winning the selective crowd over with nothing more than a killer set and strong material. Leviathan is exactly what the title implies, a crushing juggernaut of heft.

6. Heaven Shall Burn - Antigone
Sick of all this metalcore yet? So was I until I got a hold of this record. This album is a constant assault that infects the listener with some of the most caustic riffs I've ever heard. If only the rest of the genre had the same heart and drive as these guys. Total energy.

7. Vader - The Beast
Vader are the most underrated death metal band out there. These guys have, quietly but surely, come out with solid album after solid album. This album is extremely song driven, something very rare in a death metal release. Organic and warm, The Beast shows that not only are Vader still relevant in this century, they're also still at the top of the heap. Easily the equivalent of the band's best work. Bravo!

8. Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake
These guys are the closest thing to a new 'Metallica' as we have right now, and I for one am tickled pink that their popularity seems to be growing unchecked. Of course, with they're popularity comes the backlash, but this album proves that they're more than up to the challenge. Accessible, groovy, and hard.

9. Monster Magnet - Monolithic Baby!
These veterans have rebounded nicely from the God Says No debacle. This album, while perhaps not as strong as their most classic material, is a return to form and more fun than a barrel of rabid monkeys. It's a Satanic Hippie Drug Thing that combines classic, catchy songwriting and mixture of swinging rock and metal.

10. Wolf - Evil Star
What a solid throwback. The new NWOBHM sound never sounded so good! Wolf's latest album would be easy to make fun of if it wasn't so fucking infectious. The album grabs the listener with a solid sense of melody and a wave of nostalgia. Whether you're looking at songwriting, production, or execution, this album has it all. Wear a denim jacket with backpatch for optimum effect.

Honorable Mention:
Capharnaum - Fractured
Vehemence - Helping The World To See
3 Inches of Blood - Advance and Vanquish
Nasum - Shift

Best Concerts:
1. Ozzfest
2. Megadeth / Exodus
3. Pixies
4. Slayer / Killswitch Engage / Mastodon
5. New England Metal & Hardcore Festival

Non-metal Album of the Year:
Phish - Undermind

Movie of the year: Spiderman 2
ABYSS  Email Abyss

Death's Top Ten:

1. Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake
Quite possibly one of the best thrash metal albums of all time. Only Testament's The Gathering probably comes close post-1995.

2. Megadeth - The System Has Failed
Essentially a Dave Mustaine solo album but the killer riffs plus great songs plus top notch Mustaine vocal and guitar performances equal an amazing album that wears well with repeated listens.

3. Mastodon - Leviathan
Mastodon are surely one of the most talented "new" bands out right now and definitely are on the verge of exploding in a way that could help to totally push forward the next wave of the metal scene.

4. Death Angel - A The Art of Dying
An amazing comeback that results in one of the band's finest overall efforts and one of the more interesting albums released in 2004. Full of memorable songs that retain your interest on repeated listens.

5. Pig Destroyer - Terrifyer
Raw, ugly, honesty, total brutality, and punishing, deadly riffing coalesce into one devastating release.

6. Shadows Fall - The War Within
Another precision effort from one of the leaders of the new wave of American thrash metal scene.

7. Killswitch Engage - The End of Heartache
Clearly the best songwriting the band has achieved to date and with vocals that are light years ahead of the prior material.

8. Iced Earth - The Glorious Burden
Epic and riff-laden with emotional material that is admittedly over the top sometimes and a bit schmaltzy but stands up big time in the live setting.

9. Exodus - Tempo of the Damned
A classic performance from Zetro fronts a platter full of high-quality examples of old-school style catchy thrash metal songwriting. Here's hoping the band can continue their resurgence despite the search for a new vocalist.

10. Fates Warning - FWX
A moody but ultimately satisfying record from the prog-metal masters for those who wish to invest the time.

Honorable Mention:
God Forbid - Gone Forever
Nasum - Shift
Anata - Under a Stone With No Inscription

2005 releases already contending for next year's list:
Kreator - Enemy of God
Jon Oliva's Pain - 'Tage Mahal

Best Live Acts of 2004:
1. Judas Priest - Halford's return makes all the difference.
2. Iron Maiden - Always amazing.
3. Children of Bodom - So much energy in the service of such extreme musical talent.
4. Lamb of God - The best thrash band in the business right now crushes all in the live setting.
5. Dream Theater - One of the best live bands of all time surprised me by playing their debut album in its entirety.
6. Opeth - Sheer musical perfection full of involving dynamics and cathartic intensity.
7. Slayer - The wall of blood was disappointing but the setlist on their recent headlining tour more than made up for it.
8. Iced Earth - Ripper is damn good live, as is Jon S., but Ralph, Jimmy and Richard were no slouches either.
9. Death Angel - Back and still in their musical prime.
10. Black Sabbath - The masters.

Horns Up 2004:
1. Sirius' "Hard Attack," MTV2's "Headbanger's Ball," Fuse's "Uranium," Music Choice's "Last Rites," and MTV's The Osbournes and Battle for Ozzfest (with its Dimmu Borgir theme song).
2. "Metal Skool" at the Roxy, late nights at the Rainbow Bar & Grill, shows at Hollywood's the Key Club and at the House of Blues, backstage at any metal show at Universal Ampitheater, Century Media's Christmas Balls party, the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, the Hard Rock in Vegas.
3. Metal Maniacs, Terrorizer and Revolver.
4. Blabbermouth, Metal Update, and Metal Sludge.
5. The Metallica movie.
DEATH  Email Death

Hel's Top Ten:

Narrowing down my list of best albums of the year to a mere ten is always an onerous task. In an effort to clarify, I inevitably listen to the contenders on my list again, and in doing so cause myself even more pain and confusion. The upside is that I get to hear all my favorite albums of the year again – the downside is that I still have to choose only ten for the list. This year turned out to be particularly painful in this regard. Therefore, my Honorable Mention list is lengthy – I simply couldn’t let 2004 close without at least acknowledging each and every one of these fantastic albums.

1. Mastodon - Leviathan
My number one album each year is always the one that finds its way back into my player most often. Leviathan has set up shop in there, and always seems to return after I finish with my assigned cds each week.

2. Nasum - Shift
Nasum is one of my favorite bands, and they unfailingly produce albums worthy of ranking on my top ten list. Their follow up to Helvelte was everything I hoped for and more. I know I can speak for the entire metal nation in stating that our thoughts are with the family of Mieszko Talarczyk and we are all pulling for him to be located.

3. My Dying Bride - Songs of Darkness, Words of Light
There’s just something about My Dying Bride that has long tickled my fancy. I had been eagerly awaiting this album, and I was (obviously) very pleased with the results. This is another record that has spent a great deal of time in my player this year.

4. Decapitated - The Negation
Brutality and speed are the hallmarks of Decapitated, and they have again delivered a disc of astounding fury. Their technicality and songwriting are two of the reasons I keep coming back for more. The third: this album shreds.

5. Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake
A couple of months before this album was released, I did a classic review of Burn the Priest, and in it I express hope that their jump to a major label would not affect their music. Chris Adler took the time to write in and assure me that would not be the case. True to his word, AotW proved to be yet another in the long line of impressive releases from Lamb of God.

6. Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine
Though many long time fans were somewhat turned off by the more experimental / Mike Patton-ish bent to this album, I found myself drawn in. Several of the songs remain stuck in my head even now, months later, and I find this is always a sure sign of a top ten record.

7. Crisis - Like Sheep Led to Slaughter
I’d been waiting for Crisis to release a new record for a very, very long time. Fortunately, my patience was rewarded and Karyn and the boys came up with a platter worthy of the Crisis name. Here’s looking forward to more in the new year.

8. Pig Destroyer - Terrifyer
This powerful trio whipped up a varied and interesting release to entice us this year. I’ve returned to it again and again, and I still feel I have not completely delved its depths. Terrifyer was definitely a highlight of the year.

9. Suffocation - Souls to Deny
Their time away did nothing to stem the flow of death metal madness Suffocation are masters of. This album showed that even after a long hiatus, they are a force to be reckoned with, and their live appearances have only emphasized the fact. I can’t wait to see what next year brings.

10. Shadows Fall - The War Within
Shadows Fall never disappoint, and their new album proved once again that this band has that special something that keeps us coming back for more, even when the scene becomes saturated with bands trying to imitate them.

Honorable mention:
Anathema - A Natural Disaster
Anata - Under a Stone with No Inscription
Candiria - What Doesn’t Kill You . . .
Death Angel - The Art of Dying
Fates Warning - FWX
Hypocrisy - The Arrival
Illogicist - Subjected
Kataklysm - Serenity in Fire
Vader - The Beast
Vehemence - Helping the World to See
HEL  Email Hel

Staff Picks:

Redwolff's Top Ten:

  1. Illdisposed - 1-800-Vindication
  2. The Amenta - Occasus
  3. Insomnium - Since the Day it All Came Down
  4. Blut Aus Nord - The Work Which Transforms God
  5. Vader - The Beast
  6. Glass Casket - We Are Gathered Here Today
  7. Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake
  8. Killwhitneydead - Never Good Enough for You
  9. Borknagar - Epic
  10. Pig Destroyer - Terrifyer

Requiem's Top Ten:

  1. Blackfield - Blackfield
  2. Aeon Spoke - Beneath the Buried Cry
  3. Interpol - Antics
  4. Killswitch Engage - The End of Heartache
  5. Vanessa Carlton - Harmonium
  6. Ben Kenney - 26
  7. Sparta - Porcelain
  8. Shadows Fall - The War Within
  9. Mastodon - Leviathan
  10. Decapitated - The Negation

Ember's Top Ten:

  1. Ben Kenney - 26
  2. Blackfield - Blackfield
  3. Shadows Fall - The War Within
  4. Killswitch Engage - The End of Heartache
  5. Zao - The Funeral of God
  6. Mastodon - Leviathan
  7. Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake
  8. Sparta - Porcelain
  9. Vanessa Carlton - Harmonium
  10. The Gathering - Sleepy Buildings

Sabbath's Top Ten:

  1. Illdisposed - 1-800-Vindiction
  2. Vehemence - Helping the World to See
  3. Decapitated - The Negation
  4. Katatonia - Brave Yester Days
  5. Borknagar - Epic
  6. Bloodbath - Nightmares Made Flesh
  7. Suffocation - Souls to Deny
  8. Satyricon - Volcano
  9. Anata - Under a Stone with No Inscription
  10. Hypocrisy - The Arrival

Metal Militia's Top Ten:

  1. Axis of Advance - Obey
  2. Pig Destroyer - Terrifyer
  3. Leviathan - Tentacles of Whorror
  4. Darkthrone - Sardonic Wrath
  5. Blut Aus Nord - The Work Which Transforms God
  6. Commit Suicide - Synthetics
  7. Cadaver - Necrosis
  8. The Chasm - The Spell of Retribution
  9. Unearthly Trance - In the Red
  10. Crotchduster - Big Fat Box of Shit

Jotun's Top Ten:

  1. Shadows Fall - The War Within
  2. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine
  3. Lamb Of God - Ashes of the Wake
  4. The Haunted - rEVOLVEr
  5. Unearth - The Oncoming Storm
  6. Decapitated - The Negation
  7. Scarlet - Cult Classic
  8. Dead To Fall - Villainy & Virtue
  9. Enforsaken - The Forever Endeavor
  10. Bury Your Dead - Cover Your Tracks

Kefka X's Top Ten:

  1. Isis - Panopticon
  2. Mastodon - Leviathan
  3. Crotchduster - Big Fat Box of Shit
  4. Dragonforce - Sonic Firestorm
  5. Capharnaum - Fractured
  6. Ensirefum - Iron
  7. Meshuggah - I
  8. Finntroll - Nattfödd
  9. Pig Destroyer - Terrifyer
  10. Kataklysm - Serenity in Fire

Slither's Top Ten:

  1. The Chasm - The Spell of Retribution
  2. Forefather - Ours is the Kingdom
  3. Deathspell Omega - Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice
  4. Necrophagist - Onset of Putrefaction (Reissue)
  5. Blut Aus Nord - The Work Which Transforms God
  6. Finntroll - Nattfödd
  7. Drudkh - Autumn Aurora
  8. Countess - Heilig Vuur
  9. Golem - Dreamweaver
  10. Darkthrone - Sardonic Wrath

Lugubrious's Top Ten:

  1. Today is the Day - Kiss the Pig
  2. Neurosis - Eye of Every Storm
  3. Crisis - Like Sheep Led to Slaughter
  4. My Dying Bride - Songs of Darkness, Words of Light
  5. Borknagar - Epic
  6. Peccatum - Lost in Reverie
  7. Icon of Coil - Machines are Us
  8. Behemoth - Demigod
  9. Hypocrisy - The Arrival
  10. Sanctum - Lets Eat

Goatwhore's Top Ten:

  1. Today is the Day - Kiss the Pig
  2. Neurosis - Eye of Every Storm
  3. My Dying Bride - Songs of Darkness, Words of Light
  4. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine
  5. Darkthrone - Sardonic Wrath
  6. The Chasm - The Spell of Retribution
  7. Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake
  8. Slipknot - Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses
  9. Unearth - The Oncoming Storm
  10. Decapitated - The Negation

Black Sheep's Top Ten:

  1. Misery Index - Dissent
  2. Necrophagist - Onset of Putrefaction (Reissue)
  3. Blut Aus Nord - The Work Which Transforms God
  4. 3 Inches of Blood - Advance and Vanquish
  5. Black Label Society - Hangover Music Vol. VI
  6. Suffocation - Souls to Deny
  7. Mayhem - Chimera
  8. Necrophagist - Epitaph
  9. Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake
  10. Augury - Concealed

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