Top 20 Hard Rock/Metal CD's of 2011

[Drago]

This is annual list I put together every year. I really took the time and listened to every single release I purchased last year and it has taken me over two months of listening everyday. This is just Hard Rock and Metal releases only. Looking forward to seeing other posts. If you haven't checked out some of the below bands I would highly recommend them.

1. Mastodon - The Hunter (I feel this is the strongest release of their career and their melodies are awesome)
2. Ghost Brigade - Until Fear No Longer Defines Us (Discovered this Melodic Doom band last year and have been in love with them ever since)
3. Anthrax - Worship Music (It was well worth the wait, Joey sounds amazing and this is some catchy Thrash Metal)
4. Iced Earth - Dystopia (This is a return to form for Iced Earth. Their best release since Horror Show and Stu Bloc does a great job vocally)
5. Toxic Holocaust - Conjure and Command (This is the most fun record to listen to this year. A perfect blend of Slayer, Sodom and Darkthrone)
6. Insomnium - One For Sorrow (An amazing Melodic Death Metal band that keeps getting stronger with every release)
7. Omnium Gatherum - New World Shadows (Another amazing Melodic Death Metal band that has really found their sound, best one yet)
8. Within Temptation - The Unforgiving (Great concept piece with their hookiest material yet, check out Shot In The Dark and Sinead)
9. In Flames (Sounds Of A Playground Fading (I know it is trendy not to like them anymore but their are still releasing kick ass records)
10. Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising (Another solid release from these Death Metal legends. Amazing guitar melodies on this record)
11. Whitesnake - Forevermore (This is the best Coverdale album in years. Easier Said Than Done and Forevermore I can listen to all day)
12. The Haunted - Unseen (This is a huge departure for The Haunted but the record really grew on me. The groove of No Ghost is undeniable)
13. Evergrey - Glorious Collision (Even with a massive lineup overhaul Tom Englund still has the stuff. I great Power Progressive release)
14. Demonaz - March Of The Norse (Solo album from old Immortal legend. This is an amazing Black Metal record that you should check out if you aren't into BM)
15. Black Country Community - 2 (Glenn Hughes, enough said. The man still has it and sounds incredible on this release)
16. Lake of Tears - Illwill (Great gothic metal band that return a little to more of it's aggressive roots and not so Floydian as previous releases)
17. Jag Panzer - The Scourge Of Light (An amazing swan song release. Sad to see this band break up. Tyrant has an amazing voice)
18. A Pale Horse Named Death - And Hell Will Follow Me (Debut release for the drummer of Life Of Agony and Type O Negative and this sounds like both bands)
19. Machine Head - Into The Locust (I think this band gets better with age. Their best song of their career This Is The End is on this)
20. Midnight - Satanic Royalty (A great throw back to early Venom and Sodom. This is great Blackened Thrash)

Thanks for reading. I hope people join in by either commenting on the releases or posting their own. I think overall 2011 was an amazing year for Hard Rock/Metal.

[MH1986]

As much as I'd like to be able to make my own list, I don't think I bought anywhere close to 20 albums that came out in 2011. As far as your list goes I only bought Black Country Communion 2 and Iced Earth. Both fantastic albums that I listen to regularly.

[Ochlocracy]

The only new album I got last year was Alice Cooper's Welcome 2 My Nightmare.

[KHH]

Mastodon is in a league of their own. Everything else is... meh...

But since Drago tops the list with Mastodon some of the others on the list might be worth checking out! (Although for instance Anthrax is just so-so and Whitesnake is really lame).

[RLP4ever]

Drago, I'm a sucker for lists like these.

Seriously, mate, I buy tons of (luckily, mostly very good) CD albums every year, and I'll now try to reel off my Top 20 of 2011.

I have to list them in 'random' order, though. It's too difficult to rank 20 of them, any other way.

So,

Autopsy ~ Macabre Eternal
Anthrax ~ Worship Music
Machine Head ~ Unto the Locust
Crowbar ~ Sever the Wicked Hand
Onslaught ~ Sounds of Violence
Deicide ~ To Hell With God
Destruction ~ Day of Reckoning
Obscura ~ Omnivium
Hate Eternal ~ Phoenix Amongst the Ashes
Heamorrhage ~ Hospital Carnage
Mastodon ~ The Hunter
Origin ~ Entity
The Black Dahlia Murder ~ Ritual
Decapitated ~ Carnival Is Forever
Exhumed ~ All Guts, No Glory
Dying Fetus ~ Covers EP
Blotted Science ~ The Animation of Entomology EP
Fleshgod Apocalypse ~ Agony
Black Cobra ~ Invernal
Immolation ~ Providence EP

^ I have to admit that my list above is inevitably dominated by extreme metal (especially DM) albums. I notice that, somehow there aren't any Rock albums on my list of 20 favourites. Also, I could have included about a dozen more albums I really liked.

[jacksabbath]

i would do my own but im not sure how far id get before i just started name dropping albums that i know came out last year.

that said black country communion, megadeth, anthrax, foo fighters, motorhead and joe bonamassa all released great albums.

2012 should be good too, fingers crossed for some new sabbath, metallica, queens of the stone age and candlemass. think
its too early for a new iron maiden record unfortunately

[Drago]

Drago, I'm a sucker for lists like these.

Seriously, mate, I buy tons of (luckily, mostly very good) CD albums every year, and I'll now try to reel off my Top 20 of 2011.

I have to list them in 'random' order, though. It's too difficult to rank 20 of them, any other way.

So,

Autopsy ~ Macabre Eternal
Anthrax ~ Worship Music
Machine Head ~ Unto the Locust
Crowbar ~ Sever the Wicked Hand
Onslaught ~ Sounds of Violence
Deicide ~ To Hell With God
Destruction ~ Day of Reckoning
Obscura ~ Omnivium
Hate Eternal ~ Phoenix Amongst the Ashes
Heamorrhage ~ Hospital Carnage
Mastodon ~ The Hunter
Origin ~ Entity
The Black Dahlia Murder ~ Ritual
Decapitated ~ Carnival Is Forever
Exhumed ~ All Guts, No Glory
Dying Fetus ~ Covers EP
Blotted Science ~ The Animation of Entomology EP
Fleshgod Apocalypse ~ Agony
Black Cobra ~ Invernal
Immolation ~ Providence EP

^ I have to admit that my list above is inevitably dominated by extreme metal (especially DM) albums. I notice that, somehow there aren't any Rock albums on my list of 20 favourites. Also, I could have included about a dozen more albums I really liked.

I knew I could count on you RLP for a list. I am just like you and probably purchased around 150 CD's that came out last year. It took me forever to listen to everyone to make my list. It was a blast though. I am a geek like that.

I love the Onslaught and Destruction and they both just missed my list. I know you like more extreme metal but I had a good amount on my list this year. A lot of great Melodic Death Metal came out this year. You should check out the Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum and the new Amon Amarth is killer. Have you heard the Midnight album? I can't stop listening to it. It might slowly be moving up my list. Check them out. This song gets right under your song and won't leave. It is early Venom meets Motorhead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlMPJe5biVU

I also loved the new Toxic Holocaust. Have you heard Ghost Brigade? They are an amazing band. I went ahead picked up all of their CD's. Check them out especially the song Soulcarvers.

I have been meaning to get the Autopsy, Fleshgod Apocalypse and the Exhumed.

MH1986, glad you like the BCC2 and the Iced Earth. What did you think of Stu Block on vocals? I like Barlow better but I prefer him way more than Ripper. I just can't stand Rippers vocals. Glad to see Iced Earth making good music again.

KHH, Whitesnake is better than you think. Give it another try. Coverdale sounds great on the record and their is some really catchy tunes on the record. It really grew on me. I am glad you like the new Mastodon. It really is an amazing record front to back. They really are getting better with each record. I didn't think they could top Crack The Skye. Let me know if there are any bands you are interested in checking out and I will send you some sample links.

Ron Paul, Glad you liked Forevermore. Check out the song Easier Said Than Done from the record. It is an infectious song. This song really gives me chills. I am a sucker for Coverdale's ballads but this one has a little more of a blusier feel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDRlExqRLBE

Jacksabbath, I liked the Megadeth but it just wasn't quite as good for me as the others on my list. I didn't add the Motorhead because I thought it came out last year. My CD says 2010 but I am starting to see it on 2011 lists. It is an awesome album and would have made my list as Motorhead is one of my favorite bands.

Thanks for participating everyone. Keep the lists coming.

[MH1986]

While I love Ripper, Stu Bloc is a better fit for Iced Earth. Guy is crazy talented. He's got one hell of a future ahead of him. Looking forward to their next album.

[devstorm]

Including re-issues here's the stuff released last year that I bought, that I think is great.
Ozzy - Blizzard OF Ozz/Diary of a Madman
Death - Human
Death - Individual Thought Patterns
Black Country Communion- BCC2
Decapitated - Carnival is Forever
My Dying Bride - The Barghest O' Whitby EP
Blotted Science - The animation of entomology EP
Cathedral - Anniversary
White Chapel - Recorrupted EP
Vallenfyre - A Fragile King

[RLP4ever]

I knew I could count on you RLP for a list. I am just like you and probably purchased around 150 CD's that came out last year. It took me forever to listen to everyone to make my list. It was a blast though. I am a geek like that.

I love the Onslaught and Destruction and they both just missed my list. I know you like more extreme metal but I had a good amount on my list this year. A lot of great Melodic Death Metal came out this year. You should check out the Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum and the new Amon Amarth is killer. Have you heard the Midnight album? I can't stop listening to it. It might slowly be moving up my list. Check them out. This song gets right under your song and won't leave. It is early Venom meets Motorhead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlMPJe5biVU

I also loved the new Toxic Holocaust. Have you heard Ghost Brigade? They are an amazing band. I went ahead picked up all of their CD's. Check them out especially the song Soulcarvers.

I have been meaning to get the Autopsy, Fleshgod Apocalypse and the Exhumed.

Drago, I really love your genuine enthusiasm for so much quality rock-metal music that seems to be out all through the year, almost every year. I can't remember a year, in a long time, which wasn't good for a metal cd-buying glutton like me.

I haven't heard some of the stuff you recommend here. Same with Ghost Brigade. Never heard of them at all. And you might remember that I'm not really a fan of Melodic DM (though I do like some of it). Haven't heard much of Amon Amarth for a long time. I'm gonna have to give some of the bands/albums you talk of here, an honest try-out.

And yea, if I lived anywhere near you, I'd lend you my Autopsy, Fleshgod Apocalypse and Exhumed discs, in a hurry. Do check them out whenever you can.

[Billy Underdog]

Why isn't anyone naming Lou Reed with Metallica - Lulu?

[Franklin]

Drago, you've made an interesting list, with quite a mix of melodic death metal, thrash metal, symphonic/gothic metal, traditional hard rock, etc. Many bands listed whose prior work I've enjoyed and must check out now. One that I would add to the list is Symphony X's Iconoclast. At first I didn't like it so much, but I've grown to like it more. I'd be curious how you manage to listen to 150 new CDs. I bought less than a dozen and still haven't given most of them a fair listen.

[justme1]

Ghost

Only thing that really impressed me last year though bought 70-80 CDs

[Drago]

Drago, you've made an interesting list, with quite a mix of melodic death metal, thrash metal, symphonic/gothic metal, traditional hard rock, etc. Many bands listed whose prior work I've enjoyed and must check out now. One that I would add to the list is Symphony X's Iconoclast. At first I didn't like it so much, but I've grown to like it more. I'd be curious how you manage to listen to 150 new CDs. I bought less than a dozen and still haven't given most of them a fair listen.

Thanks a lot Franklin. I love my metal.

I really do love all genre's and am huge fan of all aspects of the genre. Metal is so diverse and that is one of the things that I love about it so. To answer your question, I work out 2 hours everyday (7 days a week) and my Ipod is an invaluable tool to get my metal listening in. I also work out of my home and can crank the stereo when I am working on projects and emails. I am not joking when I say I started listening to all of my purchases (yes I buy all of my CD's still) in November and finished just last week and I listened everyday straight. It was a blast and I really felt that I got my money worth this year by listening to all of my new releases from front to back.

I did like the Symphony X Iconoclast record (I purchased the double CD version) but just not quite enough to make the list. I liked their Paradise Lost quite a bit more. When I was looking at my list I just felt that Jag Panzer's, Iced Earth and Evergrey's releases were a little stronger. I really recommend you to check out the releases. Some great music. Are you diverse as well? What are some of the bands you have prior releases?

Justme1 - I really loved the Ghost CD. It was in the final 25 for me but at the end of the day I couldn't find a space for it. It is an excellent debut. It is an amazing release and am dying to see them live. I am so mad the Mastodon, Opeth and Ghost tour isn't coming to Phoenix!! Since you like Ghost did you listen to the new In Solitude and the new Portrait CD's? I liked them just as well as the Ghost release, you should check them out.

RLP - I know you are a huge Death Metal fan but you should check out some of these Melodic Death/Doom bands. Check out these tunes from Insomnium and Omnium Gatherum. There are they two best in the genre right now.

Insomnium

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZmK2ZWBxQc

Omnium Gatherum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42qbzF_ektM&feature=fvst

The other band that is also at the top of the Genre is Swallow The Sun and their new release just came out in Europe and I am anxiously awaiting a US release date.

[Thelemech]

Worship Music by Anthrax and Black Masses by Electric Wizard are the only 2011 CDs that I own. And I love both of them.

[Sporkman GB]

Top 20? I'll try. I only own 12 of these, but I've listened to at least over half of the rest, in some form or another.

1.) Anthrax-Worship Music
2.) Foo Fighters-Wasting Light
3.) Mr. Big-What If?
4.) Black Country Communion- 2
5.) Rival Sons: Pressure & Time
6.) Machine Head: Unto the Locust
7.) Mastodon: The Hunter

OK, those are the seven GREAT hard rock/heavy metal albums that came out this year (Red Hot Chili Peppers would be on here, but not many hard rock elements on that one....still good.) Here's 13 more with at least a couple really good songs, including a pair of killer live albums I don't really want in the top 5, but are good through & through, I think.

8.) Megadeth: 13 (Black Swan, We the People, Public Enemy #1, Sudden Death, Whose Life Is It Anyways)
9.) Whitesnake: Forevermore (Steal My Heart Away, Forevermore)
10.) Duff McKagan's Loaded: The Taking (She's My Anchor, Dead Skin, Lords of Abaddon, Easier Lyin')
11.) Chris Cornell: Songbook
12.) Slash: Made in Stoke
13.) Chickenfoot III (Big Foot, Last Temptation, Lighten Up)
14.) Dream Theater: A Dramatic Turn of Events (Build Me Up Break Me Down, On the Backs of Angels)
15.) Black Label Society: The Song Remains Not the Same (Junior Eyes, Helpless, Overlord Unplugged)
16.) Michael Monroe: Sensory Overdrive (Trick of the Wrist, '78)
17.) Metallica: Beyond Magnetic (Hate Train)
18.) Rival Sons: EP (Torture, Get What's Coming)
19.) Night Ranger: Somewhere in California (Growin' Up in California is the only highlight, but solid beginning to end)
20.) Primus: Green Naugahyde (Last Salmon Man, Hennepin Crawler)