ANDREW WILHELM'S BEST OF 2010

Lists are very much self indulgent, but if you don't indulge in anything, you are boring. Some folks indulge in foie gras, some in cheap hookers - I indulge in stirring the tempest of the Internets. It's our vices that make us people. Without further ado, here is my list of the ten best records this year. If you agree or disagree (my preference), holla in the comments. Have a trill new year.


10~

The Secret
Solve et Coagula [Purchase]
(Southern Lord)

When it came metallic hardcore this year, Southern Lord shut the game down. Even though their BPM is higher than most Southern Lord acts, the Secret actually fit in well with the label, if only that they have esoteric, intangible elements in their sound. And check out that diabolical Bartlett cover!

Crucial Cut: "Double Slaughter" [MP3]


9~

Inquisition
Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm [Purchase]
(Hells Headbangers)

If the corpse paint and Satanic imagery of Inquisition turn you off (i.e. you heart -- or are in -- Nachtmystium), too bad for your dumb ass, 'cause there's a lot more going on in this record. While the duo recognize ambiance is an integral aspect of black metal, that does not get in the way of riffs. And while NPR's Lars Gotrich may disagree with me, you gotta love Dagon's Abbath-on-that-sizzurp vocal style.

Crucial cut: "Command Of The Dark Crown" [MP3]


8~

Immolation
Majesty & Decay [Purchase]
(Nuclear Blast)

Immolation's last couple records got to the point, but at the sacrifice of the maze-like patterns that put them in the death metal elite. They've managed to reconcile those two elements on Decay, resulting in their best record since Close to a World Below. In vertigo you will be.

Crucial cut: "The Purge"


7~

Locrian
Territories [Purchase]
(At War With False Noise/Basses Frequences/Bloodlust!/Small Doses)

Locrian exist in the metal world, if only orbiting it from afar. The duo float through noise, black metal and dark ambient, creating the year's finest headphones album. And Blake Judd's finest performance of 2010 was not on Addicts, but his guitar work on "Procession of Ancestral Brutalism."

Crucial cut: "Between Barrows" [MP3]


6~

Sailors With Wax Wings
Sailors With Wax Wings [Purchase]
(Angel Oven)

R. Loren can do no wrong. He expresses more of his metal side on this record than his others, and contributions from a wide range of artists such as Dominick Fenrow and Marissa Nadler really make this something special. Of course, I'm also a huge Pyramids fanboy.

Crucial cut: "And Clash And Clash of Hoof and Heel"


5~

Masakari
The Prophet Feeds [Purchase]
(Southern Lord)

Part two of "Holy shit, Southern Lord dominated hardcore in 2010." Sociopolitical melodic crust done right. Cleveland may have lost LeBron, but they got themselves some real champions with these dudes.

Crucial cut: "Rapid Dominance" [MP3]


4~

High On Fire
Snakes For The Divine [Purchase]
(Koch Records)

The thought of High on Fire and Slim Thug being on the same label makes me giddy, but seriously, Matt Pike and his boys stepped it up this year. This is triumphant, pump-your-ass-up material. Not quite as stonery as the last few records, but High on Fire were never stoner metal anyway. They are heavy fucking metal.

Crucial cut: "Snakes for the Divine"


3~

The Body
All the Waters of the Earth Turn to Blood [Purchase]
(At a Loss/Aum War)

A band from the smallest state in the union make the biggest sounds of the year. Yeah, it may not make much sense at first, but pop this record on -- full of suicidal shrieks and twists and turns into industrial, choir music and what the fuck else -- and you'll understand. And more bands need to mix metal and speaking in tongues.

Crucial cut: "Empty Hearth" [MP3]


2~

Agalloch
Marrow Of The Spirit [Purchase]
(Profound Lore)

Next to High on Fire and Triptykon, this had to be the most anticipated record of the year. And it delivered on all accounts. While Agalloch were never really lacking in the drum department, Aesop Dekker does heighten their place in Agalloch's sound. The electronics and cello add new depth to the already-stellar songwriting.

Crucial cut: "The Watcher's Monolith" [MP3]


1~

Triptykon
Eparistera Daimones [Purchase]
(Century Media)

Tom G. Warrior needs to hold seminars on getting the heaviest guitar tones. Even then, his students could never write and perform an album this musically, emotionally, psychologically heavy. Damiones belongs with Morbid Tales and To Mega Therion. No bullshit.

Crucial cut: All of them. ("A Thousand Lies" [MP3])

Runners up:

Nails - Unsilent Death
Salome - Terminal
Watain - Lawless Darkness
White Moth - S/T
Harvey Milk - A Small Turn of Human Kindness
Trap Them - Filth Rations
Black Breath - Heavy Breathing
Child Abuse - Cut and Run
Burzum - Belus (Actually, I wasn't really fond of this record, I just liked seeing the PC fucks get upset.)

Top 10 Shows of the Year

1. and 2. The Eyehategod weekend - 6/19 and 6/20 at the Empty Bottle
3. Sleepytime Gorilla Museum 4/18 @ Bottom Lounge
4. The Melvins - 6/26 @ Double Door
5. Pentagram - 1/30 @ Empty Bottle
6. Bloodyminded - 4/23 @ The Moprey (R.I.P.)
7. Alcest - 4/24 @ Reggie's Rock Club
8. The Body - 7/26 @ Metal Shaker
9. Cold Cave - 6/17 @ Empty Bottle
10. Tie: High on Fire 4/2 @ Lincoln Hall and Converge - 5/9 @ Bottom Lounge

2009 Records I Should Have Discovered in 2009

Cold Cave - Love Comes Close
Morne - S/T
Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster
The Chasm - Farseeing the Paranormal Abysm

The 5 Kuma's Burgers that were much better than my three months at Northwestern University:

1. The Led Zeppelin: Pulled pork, bacon, cheddar cheese. You can get it with pickles too, but pickles are godawful.
2. The Insect Warfare: Panko-crusted medallion of goat cheese, creme fraiche, roasted corn and green chile salsa (SERIOUSLY DUDES, BRING THIS ONE BACK!).
3. The Black Oak Arkansas: Three Floyds Alpha King battered shallots, red wine barbecue sauce, white cheddar, bacon
4. The Lair of the Minotaur: Caramelized onions, pancetta, bourbon-soaked pears, brie.
5. The Black Sabbath: Blackening spice, chili, pepper jack, red onion.

Best Song of the Year, No Question: