People had a lot to say about Decibel's Top 40 Of 2009. I think this year's list is even more worthy of a debate. As mentioned in the past, I'm a fan of the magazine -- besides the New Yorker, The Believer, and the new-look Bookforum, it's the only publication I read cover to cover (beer column included). (Sorry Terrorizer, I'm not all that into UK show reviews.) That said, it's always fun taking apart a list. I agree with a lot of the records that show up here, not always their placement. For instance, I like Torche's Songs For Singles OK, but it shouldn't be in the Top 10. And, though it's a good one, Enslaved's Axioma Ethica Odini hasn't hit me like Vertebrae did. I've made no secret of my love/like for the newest ones by Agalloch, Burzum, Triptykon, Kylesa, Lantlôs, Dawnbringer, Ludicra, Nails, Darkthrone, Sailors With Wax Wings, Atheist, Kvelertak, Ghost, etc., and I'm putting on a show in a couple of days with the band at No 2 -- but again, the placement's not always right. (And there are stinkers.) Did they get No. 1 right?
40 Darkthrone - Circle The Wagons
39 Lantlôs - Neon
38 Hail of Bullets - On Divine Winds
37 The Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis
36 Decrepit Birth - Polarity
35 Intronaut - Valley of Smoke
34 Early Graves - Goner
33 The Body - All The Waters Of The Earth Turn To Blood
32 Father Befouled - Morbid Destitution Of Covenant
31 Deftones - Diamond Eyes
30 Nachtmystium - Addicts: Black Meddle Part II
29 Christian Mistress - Agony & Opium
28 Unearthly Trance - V
27 Fear Factory - Mechanize
26 Pivixki - Gravissima
25 Withered - Dualitas
24 Ghost - Opus Eponymous
23 Integrity - The Blackest Curse
22 Kvelertak - Kvelertak
21 Deathspell Omega - Paracletus
20 Electric Wizard - Black Masses
19 Atheist - Jupiter
18 Burzum - Belus
17 High On Fire - Snakes For The Divine
16 Kylesa - Spiral Shadow
15 Horseback - The Invisible Mountain
14 Coliseum - House With a Curse
13 Sailors With Wax Wings - Sailors With Wax Wings
12 Immolation - Majesty And Decay
11 Castevet - Mounds of Ash
10 The Austerity Program - Backsliders and Apostates Will Burn
09 Nails - Unsilent Death
08 Thou - Summit
07 Ludicra - The Tenant
06 Torche - Songs for Singles
05 Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini
04 Dawnbringer - Nucleus
03 Triptykon - Eparistera Daimones
02 Watain - Lawless Darkness
01 Agalloch - Marrow of the Spirit
The above links go to the appropriate HTC post on the mentioned band, in case you want to supplement your discussion with some sounds from the listed album. (Look for me to add write ups and appropriate MP3s for a track from Ghost's awesome Opus Eponymous tomorrow and 2007 list heavies Deathspell Omega on Friday.) I don't want to give anything away re: my 2010 list (look for it the end of December), and not all of these will appear on it, but to get things rolling ... no Swans? Locrian? Though, agreed, Horseback is a worthy inclusion. To continue with more obviously "metal" choices, where's Cathedral's The Guessing Game? Abscess's Dawn Of Inhumanity? Salome's Terminal? Maybe Alcest? Or, as far as the blackened stuff, Drudkh, Profanatica, Krieg, Winterfylleth, woe, and Satanic Warmaster? Just throwing out ideas, food for thought. Likewise: I imagine some of you curious about what happened to the Ocean. I'll stop, you start.
