2010年 Feb 4日 Thursday, 15:10

Okey, first i'd just like to say that there's no need to point out that this could have been done a month ago.
It's a bit late, but i don't really care. :]
Below, i'll make a top10 list over albums released in 2009.

1. Dredg - The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion
Best album of the year, and one of my personal favorites of all time.
This album mixes progressive/alternative rock with several other genres, the album overall has a varied sound.
Thanks to this album i discovered the band, and they're now one of my favorite-bands of all time. :)

Favorite track/s: Lightswitch / Cartoon Showroom

2. Riverside - Anno Domini High Defenition
Best progressive-album of the year, and my favorite Riverside-album.
Actually, this album would probably go into my top10 favorite albums ever as well, it's just that good.
Mariusz Duda has such a unique voice, one of the best vocalists in the world.
The songs has variety, and i'd go as far as saying that Riverside has pushed Dream Theater of the throne when it comes to best Progressive-metal band. (at least for me)

Favorite track/s: Left Out / Hybrid Times

3. Steven Wilson - Insurgentes
Even though some would say this album is late 2008, it didn't get available here until January/February in 2009, so i will count it as a 2009-release.
Very experimental album, very dark, very tense, but overall it combines what SW knows best (making great melodies) with a dark soundscape.

Favorite track/s: No Twilight Within The Courts Of The Sun

4. Pure Reason Revolution - Amor Vincit Omnia
Another band i discovered late 2009, and one of the most promising new bands.
Mixing progressive rock with electronic-music, with influences such as Kraftwerk and Porcupine Tree for example, this band really has an interesting sound.
Great album overall.

Favorite track/s: The Gloaming

5. Porcupine Tree - The Incident
Flawless album from start to finish, the 55 min song-cycle is one of the best constructed songs ever, and this album is not at all a disappointment.
However, i do think it would have been better if CD2 had been released separately as an EP or something, this album overall is a bit too long to touch FOABP.
Being amongst my favorite bands of all time, the reason it get's a bit low is probably because i had sky-high expectations on the album.
It's amazing, still only 5th.

Favorite track/s: The whole song-cycle

6. Thrice - Beggars
Another band i discovered pretty recently, has a certain Radiohead-touch, but they manage to have their own sound.
A great experimental/alternative rock album, and im pretty sure that most people would like this band.

Favorite track/s: In Exile

7. Isis - Wavering Radiant
Discovered them last year, album sounds a bit Tool-influenced, actually Adam Jones from Tool is playing additional guitar on Hall of the Dead and keyboard on the title track.
Post-rock/metal at it's finest.

Favorite track/s: Hall of The Dead

8. Katatonia - The Night Is The New Day
According to Mikael Åkerfeldt in Opeth, this is the best heavy album released in a long time.
After hearing that, i just had to pick-up a copy.
Great and solid album, i think it's Katatonia's best album at this point, i'm not really a big fan of them overall, but this album is great.
Doomy-Katatonia blends with a touch of Opeth/Porcupine Tree, and it actually sounds like Åkerfeldt is singing in the track 'Idle Blood'.

Favorite track/s: Onward Into Battle / Forsaker

9. Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings
Every time DT makes an album, it feels like it has fewer and fewer songs, but longer and longer songs, but they can get away with it.
The opening track, "A Nightmare To Remember" really sets the atmosphere for the whole album, and the fact that it's 16 minutes doesn't bother me at all.
In fact, i think their longer songs are better than the shorter ones. (with exceptions ofc.)

Favorite track/s: Best of Times / A Nightmare To Remember

10. Mastodon - Crack The Skye
Another great album, mixing progressive metal with a bit of sludge.
I wasn't really a huge Mastodon-fan before this album, but it did change my mind about them.

Favorite track/s: Oblivion