Dubyah’s Top 10 Albums of 2011

10. The Greenery – Spit & Argue

I honestly only checked these guys out because one of them had on a Trapthem shirt…and I’m glad I did. There isn’t anything in this album that you hadn’t heard before. It honestly sounds like Every Time I Die’s early work mixed with some more punk, but it’s pretty mean-spirited. If you’re not looking for something new, you should check these guys out.

09. Ghoul – Transmission Zero

One of my favorite horror-themed bands is back with a new one! Ghoul brings some great traditional thrash metal with some grind and surfer rock. That’s right, surfer rock.

08. Pulling Teeth – Funerary

I’ve always been a fan of these guys, but this release blew me away. This album has it all; death metal, grind, punk, hardcore, and a few shredding guitar solos that come out of nowhere. From what I have read, this may be their last album. I hope not!

07. Atmosphere – Family Sign

I can honestly say that I was slightly disappointed with this album. Slug’s last two albums both made my number one spot each year and I was sure this one would do the same. I’m not saying it’s not good, but it’s just a little too mellow and depressing, which most of his stuff is but this pushes it. Unlike his other albums I have to be in the mood to listen to this one.

06. Trapthem – Darker Handcraft

Like any Trapthem album this one opens up like a punch to the throat and doesn’t let up. Their signature style of death-punk does not disappoint. “Darker Handcraft” is fast, loud, and pissed!

05. Ghost “Opus Eponymous”

Ghost is a Swedish-based band with all of their members coming from other death and black metal bands. It took me a while to sit down and listen to this because they were described to me as the new Blue Oyster Cult…and yeah… that is kinda what they sound like. Their goal is to get poeple to worship Satan unbeknownst to the listener through pop music. Now, when they say “pop music”, they mean poppy and catchy metal. Seriously, it’s catchy as fuck. I find myself denouncing God while I’m on my way to work when the album is playing. The lyrics are kind of funny, actually. Those Swedes have accomplished what they set out to do; now let’s all ask their dark lord for a second album!

04. Alkaline Trio – Damnesia

Alkaline Trio took a poll on their website and fans got to pick what songs they would like to hear re-recorded acoustically. I never thought I would like this so much. So many of my favorite Alk3 songs are on this and sound amazing! It’s so good! It completely makes up for their last studio album.

03. Macabre – Grim Scary Tales

I have waited ten years for this album. Seriously, ten years! Macabre are my favorite metal band of all time. They started in 1085 and are still pretty unknown which really makes me sad. If you don’t know, Macabre are an extreme metal band that writes songs based on the exploits of serial killers. Ten years after the release of their last album “Murder Metal”, “Grim Scary Tales” didn’t let me down. Still combining all of their different metal styling’s with catchy nursery rhymes, “Grim Scary Tales” is a metal onslaught that’s not for everyone. After twenty-five years they have had to go back in time for some lesser-known killers such as Gilles de Rais, Burke and Hare, and Bella Kiss, and also some better-known figures like Lizzie Borden and Vlad Dracul. There is also a fantastic Venom cover of Countless Bathory.

02. Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part Two

Alright now, MCA, Mike D, and the King Ad-Rock are all three pushing fifty years of age and they are still the best rappers out there…and in my opinion, of all time. This album doesn’t have one bad song on it. Normally there is a song on one of their albums that I would normally skip, well not in this case. Every track is superb! Mix Master Mike still comes up with some of the craziest beats I have ever heard! If there is one hip-hop album out there that you need to hear, it’s this one! Also, I feel like track three “Too Many Rappers” featuring Nas sums up the entire rap/hip-hop scene.

01. Polar Bear Club – Clash Battle Guilt Pride

Okay, so if you know me, then you probably knew this was going to be my number one pick since I don’t shut up about these guys. Since discovering them three years ago, they have quickly become one of my favorite bands, ever. I could go on and on for days about this album, but I won’t. It’s a little mellower than their previous outings, but you can tell they have really matured as musicians. Their songs are well-written, fun, meaningful, and catchy as hell. If you are into metal, punk, hardcore or whatever, the Polar Bear Club is a band that everyone can enjoy!