This was another great year for new rock & metal music, just like 2007. I'm not sure if it's my tastes this year, or just the way schedules worked out, but almost everything on the list this year is really on the heavy side of rock (there is no analogue to Foo Fighters to hop into the mix this time around). A couple bands are missing because they have no videos (I'm looking at you, Ayreon) or the song they chose to make a video for is so mediocre (I'm looking at you, Metallica).
Happy New Year!
Previous year: 2007
Opeth - Porcelain Heart
It took a while to realize it, but this album is the best of their career, eclipsing Blackwater Park. It's a masterwork of their combination of beautiful, acoustic harmonizing style and their brutal dark style.
Scar Symmetry - Morphogenesis
Four album in three years, Scar Symmetry are definitely one of my most favorite (and most productive) melodic death metal bands. Their vocal and musical hooks are gigantic, making me want to listen to their albums over and over again.
Trivium - Down From the Sky
What can I say? Trivium is probably my favorite thrash band right now, and this song really captures their style well. I wish I'd been able to find a higher quality video...
The Human Abstract - Procession of the Fates
This was my favorite new discovery of the year; they have a very experimental prog rock sound and the video is very interesting (and very well done for a relatively obscure band).
Protest the Hero - Sequoia Throne
You thought The Mars Volta were a little odd? These guys are like the insane little cousin to Mars Volta's normality.
In Flames - Alias
I'm glad they chose this as the 2nd single for the album, because it is hands down the best on the disc. The hooks through the chorus are so big you could hang buffalo on them.
Testament - More Than Meets the Eye
They went 9 years without a new album, and it was well worth the wait. The new album effortlessly blends the heavy driving style of The Gathering with the melodic style of Practice What You Preach.
Meshuggah - Bleed
The drummer for Meshuggah is well known as being part drumming-robot, and this was the song that really caught people's attention for his style. Be warned that the video is kind of disturbing.
Evergrey - Broken Wings
These guys are one of the most under-appreciated metal bands... they put out album after album with just stellar material but I rarely see them get mentioned (maybe because nobody growls).
Disturbed - Indestructable
The second video from their new album is for the war anthem "Indestructable", definitely one of my favorite songs on the disc. I find myself thrashing along in the car whenever it's in the rotation.
Slipknot - Psychosocial
I'd never listened to Slipknot before I saw this video on Headbanger's Ball a couple weeks before the album's release. I always thought them to be a bit gimmicky, but this song really kicks ass.
DevilDriver - Clouds over California
I ended up watching this one because of the interesting video, and when I listened to the whole album with my Zune Pass, decided it was a keeper. (And, no, the kids aren't the band.)
