Metal & Hardcore
Readers Poll Results 2005
System of a Down
Mezmerize/Hypnotize (Columbia)
"If the music wasn't so freakin' good on both, I think this concept would have been crowned cheesiest. But I can't argue with the riffs and melodies." Abe Levy, Dollard-Des-Ormeaux QC
"I can't get enough, no matter how big they get." Petar Dzalto, St. Catharines ON
"Gets everybody pumped in long car rides." Missy Richardson, Welland ON
"Two solid albums and no bad songs." Jason Thibault, Port Robinson ON
"It made me feel alive. The song B.Y.O.B.' really got me going, and it doesn't let go until the end. Excellent for wild parties." Jerry Rundle, Shipka ON
2. SunnO)))
Black One (Southern Lord)
"You cannot fuck with an album that has vocals recorded in a casket." James Graham, Vancouver BC
"The true standout this year was Black One. Their sub-sonic experiments have taken a terrifyingly major leap forward on this one. A captivating listen from start to finish with great use of guest vocalists, including one stuffed in a coffin for maximum blackened vocal effect. Cool." Brent Mundy, Winnipeg MB
"This album represents the original spirit of metal more than anything you will find on the Ozzfest tour or on MuchLoud. Once upon a time, Black Sabbath and Blue Cheer were also viewed as unlistenable garbage." Daniel Sylvester, Windsor ON
3. Cursed
Two (Goodfellow)
"They took an old, dated style that few were into, pumped it up, gave it some balls and then started smashing them. Fast, slow, full of groove and brutality; it's got all of this and nothing holds this album back." Brett Reib, Richmond BC
"Nice dudes." Andy Ledger, Toronto ON
"Just enough noise." Adam Dodds, London ON
"What? You're right. Best album of the year." Nicholas Boshart, Montreal QC
"Not quite as good as One but really good nonetheless." Dane Richard, Dartmouth NS
4. High On Fire
Blessed Black Wings (Relapse)
"If you've ever seen the movie Gladiator, and remember the Visigoth dudes who fight the Romans at the beginning, well, this is the album they would have released. When I first heard the name High On Fire, this is what I expected from them. Their previous efforts were all right, but Blessed Black Wings is the perfect crossroads of focused songwriting and raw brutal riffing. It's dirty and unpolished in the best sense of the words. Metal needs more of this." J.F. Allard, La Prairie QC
"Matt Pike finally gets his act together post-Sleep. Only took him a few years..." Heather Ostrander, Kitchener ON
"Wow! Just listen." James Brotheridge, Regina SK
5. Pelican
The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw (Hydra Head)
"I have been waiting, literally waiting, for a band to use metal riffs as an instrument for mood and atmosphere. Apparently others secretly wanted it too. Pushing their sound further towards their vision and fully free of Isis comparisons, Pelican have found their place and continue to make crushingly immense and beautiful soundscapes for those who like to dream heavy. I realised I dream heavy. I dream of Pelican." Greg Jackson, Surrey BC
"If there was a better metal album out this year, I haven't heard it." Mathieu Robitaille, Montreal QC
"They mellowed a little, but got a lot more interesting. Parts of this record could not be prettier (yeah I said prettier'), other parts are completely obliterating" Joel Rempel, Winnipeg MB
Readers Poll Results 2005
System of a DownMezmerize/Hypnotize (Columbia)
"If the music wasn't so freakin' good on both, I think this concept would have been crowned cheesiest. But I can't argue with the riffs and melodies." Abe Levy, Dollard-Des-Ormeaux QC
"I can't get enough, no matter how big they get." Petar Dzalto, St. Catharines ON
"Gets everybody pumped in long car rides." Missy Richardson, Welland ON
"Two solid albums and no bad songs." Jason Thibault, Port Robinson ON
"It made me feel alive. The song B.Y.O.B.' really got me going, and it doesn't let go until the end. Excellent for wild parties." Jerry Rundle, Shipka ON
2. SunnO)))
Black One (Southern Lord)
"You cannot fuck with an album that has vocals recorded in a casket." James Graham, Vancouver BC
"The true standout this year was Black One. Their sub-sonic experiments have taken a terrifyingly major leap forward on this one. A captivating listen from start to finish with great use of guest vocalists, including one stuffed in a coffin for maximum blackened vocal effect. Cool." Brent Mundy, Winnipeg MB
"This album represents the original spirit of metal more than anything you will find on the Ozzfest tour or on MuchLoud. Once upon a time, Black Sabbath and Blue Cheer were also viewed as unlistenable garbage." Daniel Sylvester, Windsor ON
3. Cursed
Two (Goodfellow)
"They took an old, dated style that few were into, pumped it up, gave it some balls and then started smashing them. Fast, slow, full of groove and brutality; it's got all of this and nothing holds this album back." Brett Reib, Richmond BC
"Nice dudes." Andy Ledger, Toronto ON
"Just enough noise." Adam Dodds, London ON
"What? You're right. Best album of the year." Nicholas Boshart, Montreal QC
"Not quite as good as One but really good nonetheless." Dane Richard, Dartmouth NS
4. High On Fire
Blessed Black Wings (Relapse)
"If you've ever seen the movie Gladiator, and remember the Visigoth dudes who fight the Romans at the beginning, well, this is the album they would have released. When I first heard the name High On Fire, this is what I expected from them. Their previous efforts were all right, but Blessed Black Wings is the perfect crossroads of focused songwriting and raw brutal riffing. It's dirty and unpolished in the best sense of the words. Metal needs more of this." J.F. Allard, La Prairie QC
"Matt Pike finally gets his act together post-Sleep. Only took him a few years..." Heather Ostrander, Kitchener ON
"Wow! Just listen." James Brotheridge, Regina SK
5. Pelican
The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw (Hydra Head)
"I have been waiting, literally waiting, for a band to use metal riffs as an instrument for mood and atmosphere. Apparently others secretly wanted it too. Pushing their sound further towards their vision and fully free of Isis comparisons, Pelican have found their place and continue to make crushingly immense and beautiful soundscapes for those who like to dream heavy. I realised I dream heavy. I dream of Pelican." Greg Jackson, Surrey BC
"If there was a better metal album out this year, I haven't heard it." Mathieu Robitaille, Montreal QC
"They mellowed a little, but got a lot more interesting. Parts of this record could not be prettier (yeah I said prettier'), other parts are completely obliterating" Joel Rempel, Winnipeg MB