Beatmasterspeech's Best of 2008

There's been a lot of good music this year, probably because there has been a lot to complain about. Damnit! Thinking of this list just reminded me of how much shit I haven't checked out yet and how much shit is about to come out next year. Gonna be a tough one to beat. This is what I got for '08.


10~

Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes [Amazon] [iTunes]
(Sub Pop)


Ok... sorry I had to do this but shit, everyone needs one record to get a break from the heavy. The perfect vocal harmonies create a strange space that you’ve probably lacked from listening to all your blast beats and sludge riffs. Give this a try, it doesn't hurt.

Crucial Cut: "White Winter Hymnal" [MP3]


9~

Meshuggah
obZen [Amazon] [iTunes]
(Nuclear Blast)


"Bleed" may break your neck. This album is good with or without the calculator. Finally! some of the nicest grooves to see this side of a distortion pedal since Destroy, Erase, Improve.

Crucial Cut: "Bleed" [MP3]


8~

North
What You Were [Amazon] [iTunes]
(Cavity)


Listening to North's What You Were is like taking a tabletop riff shower in a shady Asian massage parlor... Then getting punched in the face, and THEN getting the happy ending you came there for.

Crucial Cut: "Eidolon" [MP3]


7~

Intronaut
Prehistoricisms [Amazon] [iTunes]
(Century Media)


Heavy. Equal parts smart, tasteful, brutal, and beautiful.

Crucial Cut: "The Literal Black Cloud" [MP3]


6~

Withered
Folie Circulaire [Amazon] [iTunes]
(Prosthetic)


Mix the raw energy from a southern group of guys who've got the natural feel of grit from the humid summers but just so happen to really be into everything metal. There is no cheese on this record. Guaranteed.

Crucial Cut: "Purification of Ignorance" [MP3]


5~

Gojira
The Way of All Flesh [Amazon] [iTunes]
(Prosthetic)


These guys are a fluid machine. Their thick Morbid Angel-esque tone with their knack for dissonant melodies over fucking insane drum beats is pushing the boundaries of metal.

Crucial Cut: "Vacuity" [MP3]


4~

Nachtmystium
Assassins: Black Meddle Pt. 1 [Amazon] [iTunes]
(Century Media)


This record never left rotation for the soundtrack of the night! (say that in a Vincent Price voice and it sounds pretty cool). Nachtmystium managed to create the catchiest melodies in the most haunting way.

Crucial Cut: "Your True Enemy" [MP3]


3~

Amon Amarth
Twilight of the Thunder God [Amazon] [iTunes]
(Metal Blade)


I'm a sucker for the hypnotic brutal tunes of Amon Amarth and I really thought it was pretty much impossible to top 2006's "With Oden on Our Side" but holy fucking Viking ship batman! Those mead-lovin' Swedes did it again.

Crucial Cut: "Tattered Banners"


2~

Graveyard
Graveyard [Amazon] [iTunes]
(Tee Pee)


Mix the sounds of Blind Faith and Captain Beyond and throw in a lil' bit more evil and you get Graveyard. Solid record from start to finish. The tone of the record has that analog warm and true feel. All I can I say is... Damn!

Crucial Cut: "Thin Line" [MP3]


1~

Torche
Meanderthal [Amazon] [iTunes]
(Hydra Head)


This record is the audio definition of what having a good fucking time is! Hands down. It's the funnest record yet by Torche and a true progression of their perfect formula. You’ve probably already creamed yourself to Torche by now if you're reading crustcake anyway so I'll just shut up.

Crucial Cut: "Healer" [MP3]

~~~~~~

Honorable mentions:

Boris Smile (Southern Lord) - Listen to the track with no title and ask yourself why this epic piece of work does NOT belong in the top 10. I actually feel bad for not getting this up there in the list, but '08 was a tough year.

Earth The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull (Southern Lord) - Just imagine the perfect soundtrack to the perfect old western. This record will put you in the desert with a front row seat to the gunfight.

Rotten Sound Cycles (Spinefarm) - Grind your mind!!!

Russian Circles Station (Suicide Squeeze) - These guys have definitely tried to step around the just-heavy mindset by going into quieter territory, but as you'd expect by doing that, the heavy sections of this record give it the perfect motion for a great instrumental ride.

U.S. Christmas Eat the Low Dogs (Neurot) - Pysch yo mind!!!!!!! But seriously, this record probably would have made the top 10 as each listen gets better and better. Sounds like the hills of Carolina… on weeeeeed.