Crustcake Picks - Most Anticipated Records of 2009

Before the year gets too far away from us, we thought we would take a look at some records scheduled for release in 2009. Below are a number of records that have our interests piqued for a variety of reasons...

Baroness - TBA: Since the release of The Red Album, Baroness' popularity has soared. So where will the next album find the band, especially after this past year's line up change? We personally think that the next record will continue in the direction that The Red Album was going in; not for the sake of sheer success, more because of the love and energy that is so evident in the live versions of that material. While the older EP songs seemed more "on the verge of falling apart" we think that the real difference in material is that Baroness now just has a stronger grip on their creative intentions.

Big Business - Mind The Drift: As you may have just read, Big Business have posted a new song from their upcoming mucho anticipated record, the cleverly titled Mind The Drift. Getting fresh with a permanent guitarist these days, Big Business' new tune has our heads cocked sideways with an curious yet welcoming expression in anticipation of this new record. From the likes of what we can hear thus far, this one is sure to be a fun trip.

Coliseum – TBA: Coliseum first blew us away in May of last year and their Relapse debut is still a modern standard of energy and aggression. We expect the trio to up the ante for the next one, playing faster, harder, and with more energy than most bands could ever dream of.

Kylesa - Static Tensions: Time Will Fuse Its Worth got a lot of things right. It has punk rock attitude, great stoner riffs, and 70's psychedelic exploration laced with rock and roll urgency. Still, something wasn't quite right. Kylesa have all the ingredients to make a mind blowing album, but will they?

Mastodon - Crack The Skye: Let's just say they got some Mastodon-sized expectations to live up to. With each new effort that the boys from ATL have given us, they have managed to expand on strengths that were only a shimmer on the previous records. We already know it's going to be more of a rock record, but maybe they'll bring in some of that raw crunch from Remission and run loose on another epic masterpiece... But who are we kidding? Surely anyone reading the cake right now has already marked this upcoming release as a priority.

Nile - TBA: We know you folks out there like technical death metal but what about supreme brutal groove laden blasphemy splattered with some of THE best death metal drumming on record? That's what we thought about Nile's 2006 effort Annihilation of the Wicked, anyway. 2007 saw the release of Ithypathic, which added to Nile's unique Egyptian theme, but something about the production sucked the thickness out of it. Our eyes are on Nile to reach a new level in death metal in 2009 and bring back the huge bottomless tone that makes us do the "sour face."

Obscura - Cosmogenesis: This year's Origin, plain and simple. Only this isn't plain or simple at all: highly technical German death metal complete with sweeps, blasts, and other worldly themes. It's so prog'd out that if you are really trying to pay attention, the awesome guitar solo you were in awe of will fade when you notice the seamless and continuous time changes the rhythm section throws underneath all those sweeps. But what really makes this album special is just how damned listenable it is. It's not just that there are melodies mixed in "to give reprieve," these songs are fully realized compositions. The result is an album as easy to headbang to, as it is to analyze.

The Red Chord - TBA: What is The Red Chord to do? "Deathcore," an absolutely terrible genre is now proudly waving the "popular" flag in the metal community, while many of the bands within the genre openly admit that nu-metal is a major influence. But when they aren't listening to the newest Korn album, these bands (I just typed out a list, then decided I didn't even want their names on this site, even unlinked, the print itself would be morally damaging.) are shamelessly aping what make The Red Chord great. No one (not even the band themselves) ever made a big deal about how The Red Chord mixed death metal with hardcore; they were making great metal and for once, that was good enough.

So how will the The Red Chord respond to the recent change in climate? Their last effort Prey for Eyes was good, but it lacked the brilliance and intensity of their first two albums. Will the band expand their sound and try new things? Will they stick to what they do and just try to make the best album they can?

Shrinebuilder – TBA: This might be the most anticipated album of 2009. To be honest, after more than a year of waiting we were sort of starting to worry that an album from this mega-group would never materialize, but the band— Wino, Scott Kelly (Neurosis), Al Cisneros (Om), Dale Crover (Melvins)-- recently finished recording their debut, which will be released via Kelly’s Neurot Recordings in the summer.

Tombs – Winter Hours: This entry is a bit unfair, as we’ve already been spinning this record on the regular and we already know how good it is. Being released so early in the year (February 17th) we’re confident that it will set the bar for all other records to follow, and set the bar very high.

Wolves in the Throne Room – Black Cascade: We’re not sure why ‘organic’ has become a four letter word, at least when it comes to describing music, but ‘organic black metal’ is simply the best way to describe Wolves in the Throne Room. Pacific Northwest organic American Black Metal, to be more precise. If Black Cascade picks up where 2007’s Two Hunters left off, fans of American Black Metal are in for a dark, bleak, dismal treat.

YOB - TBA: If Zoroaster is the standard in American doom metal, YOB is the most interesting in American doom metal. They faked the funk on us in 2006 When they declared they were putting a lid on things and founder Mike Scheidt went on to create Middian. Faced with a bit of legal junk, Schedit reformed YOB and will lay upon us, we're hoping, one of the best heavy records of 2009. Yes, we're calling it now: though they probably will not hit the road much, YOB will decimate us with some of those Getty Lee-esque drone tones for a great slow nodder to spark one to.

Zoroaster – Voice of Saturn: Zoroaster are the standard in American doom, what with Graves at Sea barely active. We’re not sure what to expect with Voice of Saturn, but if "Spirit Molecule" (not as heavy as most of their past work, but very strong from a songwriting perspective) is any indication it promises to be one of the year’s best records.