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It's that time again, taking a look back at the best that
rock and metal had to offer in the year. The lists are broken
down from each staffer here at Live-Metal.net. Take a look
at some obvious, surprising and even forgotten choices of
2009. (Click the "Year in Review" image above to
return to the 2009 main page and view more lists.)
List by Live-Metal.net writer/photographer GREG MAKI
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1)
ALICE IN CHAINS - Black Gives Way To Blue
The release of a new Alice in Chains studio album—their
first since the 2002 death of singer Layne Staley and
first since 1995’s self-titled effort—was
reason enough to celebrate. That it is not just a great
album but the best of 2009 and one of the high points
of the decade is nothing short of miraculous. Singer
William DuVall, who has been touring with the band since
2006, slides in seamlessly; if anything, you want to
hear more of him. The star—and he’s always
been so, whether Alice fans realize or care to admit
it or not—is Jerry Cantrell. As principal songwriter,
guitarist and vocalist, it’s his show. This batch
of tunes rivals the best of the Alice in Chains catalog.
Buy
Album
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2)
DEVILDRIVER - Pray For Villains
On its fourth album, DevilDriver downplays the death metal
tendencies, ups the groove big-time and even adds hints
of melody to frontman Dez Fafara’s signature growl.
Guitarists Mike Spreitzer and Jeff Kendrick are emerging
as a dynamic duo, and drummer John Boecklin establishes
himself as a star in the genre. This is modern American
metal at its best.
Buy
Album |
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3)
DREAM THEATER – Black Clouds & Silver Linings
No. 3 feels like too low a position for this album, the
10th full-length studio release from the prog metal masters.
The musicianship is unparalleled, and the songwriting
is among the best of the band’s career, ranging
from dark epics like “A Nightmare to Remember”
and “The Count of Tuscany” to the up-tempo,
arena-ready “A Rite of Passage” to the ballad
“Wither.” Black Clouds is Dream Theater’s
best since Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
(1999).
Buy
Album
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4)
HALESTORM (self-titled)
Hailing from Pennsylvania , Halestorm is no stranger to
Live-Metal.net’s Maryland turf. I have had the pleasure
of watching them grow and develop into one of the most
dynamic rock bands working today, and I anticipated no
2009 release more than their self-titled debut. It was
more than worth the wait. Frontwoman Lzzy Hale, who delivers
a powerhouse vocal performance, is the obvious star, but
the stellar songwriter allows the entire quartet to shine.
This band has all the goods to be one of the biggest in
the world.
Buy
Album
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5)
HEAVEN & HELL – The Devil You Know
Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer
Butler and Vinny Appice might be long in years, but no
one understands metal better. Remember that this is just
a variation of Black Sabbath, the band that invented the
genre. The dark, slow tunes on The Devil You Know,
are heavy without following trends or resorting to gimmicks.
Young bands could learn a lot from them. Unfortunately,
Dio’s stomach cancer diagnosis ended the year on
a down note. Here’s hoping he beats it.
Buy
Album |
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6)
DIRGE WITHIN – Force Fed Lies
One of the best debuts of the year
came from this band founded by former Soil guitarist Shaun
Glass. Nothing groundbreaking here, just a solid slab
of metal, somewhat in the vein of Lamb of God but with
more melody.
Buy
Album
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7)
LAMB OF GOD – Wrath
Speaking of Lamb of God, their latest
finally won me over as a fan. The vastly improved vocals
of Randy Blythe make the difference; you won’t confuse
what he does with singing, but you aren’t afraid
he’s about to tear a hole in his throat every time
he opens his mouth either. The music is as pummeling and
unforgiving as always, further solidifying Lamb of God
as the Pantera of the new millennium.
Buy
Album
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8)
GOD FORBID – Earthsblood
Metalcore is but a memory on this
wildly ambitious effort. God Forbid continues to move
its sound in a more progressive direction and makes equally
big strides vocally, expanding the role of guitarist Dallas
Coyle. (Dallas abruptly left the band in the spring.)
The Massachusetts metal scene has produced a number of
successful acts but none more daring than God Forbid.
Buy
Album
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9)
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – War Is the Answer
It’s become popular
online for subgenre-elitist metal fans to slam Five Finger
Death Punch (they must be tired of bashing Trivium). I
don’t understand the hate. Sure, Death Punch probably
never will be a thinking man’s band, but with their
second album they have established a winning formula,
mixing their metallic assault with haunting melody. They
even throw in a ballad or two, an instrumental and a Bad
Company cover. The haters can hate all they want, but
the band will have the last laugh; you don’t inspire
such a strong reaction without making it big first.
Buy
Album
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10)
SHADOWS FALL – Retribution
Shadows Fall returned from major
label flirtation with an album that gets back to what
they do best. No “Another Hero Lost”-style
power ballads here. “My Demise,” “War”
and “King of Nothing” (featuring Lamb of God’s
Randy Blythe) hold up among the band’s best material,
and Jonathan Donais has become one of metal’s true
modern guitar heroes.
Buy
Album
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