Action Recon Presents : The Top 10 Metal Albums Of 2011.

Last year we did a list of the top 15 albums of 2010 and while it was fun to do we felt that a lot of good stuff was left off the list. So this year we are starting off December with the Top 10 Metal albums of 2011, next week we will be dropping the Top 10 Punk/Hardcore albums of 2011 which will be then followed by the Top 10 Hip Hop albums of 2011.

This list is in no particular order, it includes bands that have been around a long time and others that are newcomers, there is death metal, thrash, black metal and dirty rock n roll style metal. Be sure to leave your two cents worth in the comments section and let us know what some of your favorite metal albums of 2011 were. Now with out further nonsense we present “The Top 10 Metal Albums Of 2011″.

1) Deicide : To Hell With God

This album was a complete and total return to form for Deicide. It was one of the best offerings of their career and songs like “Conviction” and “Angels Of Hell” will remain some of the heaviest tracks the band has ever written. The guitar work on the album was incredible and Glen’s vocals sounded better then they have since “Once Upon The Cross”. Improved production and an all round new passion made this album a monstrous offering from one of the greatest American Death Metal bands of all time.

2) Toxic Holocaust : Conjure And Command

The low-fi almost crust punk sounding trash metal that Toxic Holocaust put forth on “Conjure And Command” was not only totally on point, but it was also a nice departure from all the other trash bands out there today. They have a sound and style all their own and the aggression and pure pounding metal on this album makes for tracks that never get old. Stand outs for us were “Bitch”, “Sound The Charge” and “In The Depths (Of Your Mind)”. Incredible album.

3) Havok : Time Is Up

Speaking of thrash metal Havok are a band that have been taking the genra by storm and are a group of guys that know what real thrash is supposed to sound like. “Time Is Up” is a shredding example of a band that has an incredible amount of musical talent and can pay homage to the heroes of their past with out ripping them off. This album really reminded me of the classic Exodus album “Bonded By Blood” in that it housed the same type of aggressive sound and pure thrash metal worship.

4) Amon Amarth : Surtur Rising

Sweden is well known for their death metal bands and Amon Amarth are one of the greats. The fact that they were even able to follow up “Twilight Of The Thunder God” was impressive in itself, but when we heard songs like “War Of The Gods”, “Destroyer Of The Universe” and “A Beast Am I” we knew Amon Amarth meant business. This is one of the tightest and most impressive sounding metal albums you will ever hear.

5) Entrails : The Tomb Awaits

If old school Swedish death metal is what you like via Entombed, Grave and Dismember then Entrails is a band you need to check out. “The Tomb Awaits” is on par with any of the aforementioned bands best albums and boasts even better production value. While they are a little known band they have been around in one way or another for a long time and are steeped well in the tradition of playing and executing that old school sound perfectly.

6) Vader : Welcome To The Morbid Reich

Another long running death metal band, this time from Poland, Vader has once again dropped a album that is so heavy and aggressive that is virtually destroys anything newer bands are doing. The songs are so tight and the guitar, drum and vocals fit together so well that this album is basically flawless. Tracks such as “Come And See My Sacrifice”, “I Am Who Feasts Upon Your Soul” and “The Black Eye” are some of the most brutal death metal songs we have heard all year. Vader is king, pay attention.

7) Speedwolf : Ride With Death

Speedwolf dropped their new album “Ride With Death” on November 21st 2011 and this album rips like nothing we have heard this year. Front man Reed sounds like Lemmy on steroids and the music is truly a blend of rock n roll and thrash metal. Machine gun double bass, shredding solos and songs of booze, satan and chaos. What more could you ask for in a metal album? The cover says it all, do not sleep on this band, get down with Speedwolf now.

8) Warbringer : Words Torn Assunder

Warbringer have been at the top of the heap when it comes to the modern thrash revival and with good reason. “Worlds Torn Asunder” found Warbringer with a new drummer and making some subtle changes to their sound that we felt leant a great deal of depth to the music and overall feel of the album. They maintained the trashing brilliance they have become known for, but added some much needed variety and tempo changes that really brought the album to life more then previous efforts. Not a popular opinion amongst the metal community, but we disagree whole heartily when we hear tracks like “Living Weapon” and “Savagery”

9) Chrome Division : 3rd Round Knockout

The sleaze rockers from the Norway are back and they really topped what I think anyone thought this band was capable of producing with this album. Think Motorhead, Venom and WASP all mixed together and that should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect from Chrome Division. A great album and a soundtrack for a night of whiskey, women and sin.

10) Demonical : Death Infernal

Another group who are bringing back that dirty old school Swedish death metal sound, Demonical dropped their 3rd full length this year and it was a beast of a album. Anyone out there that is a fan of Dismember needs to get on board with Demonical. “Death Infernal” is a hard driving, heavy sounding metal album from start to finish and tracks like “March For Victory” and “Slain Warriors” hold the key to the past when it comes to Swedish death metal.

Edit / Honorable mention.

The following album came out in late 2010 and we did not include it on last years best of list. This year we wanted to give it some love :

Honorable Mention : Impaled Nazarene : The Road To The Octagon

Impaled Nazarene is a black metal band from Finland that have been turning out some of the most furious and thrashing black metal on the planet for about 20 years. Their latest offering “The Road To The Octagon” is easily one of our favorite albums from their long discography and is about as aggressive as anything they have ever done. A band that can put out some of their best work 20 years into their career is a band that is true to what they believe and “The Road To The Octagon” is a true black metal masterpiece. The track “Corpses” is all the proof anyone needs.

Related posts:

1. the 15 best albums of 2010 in no particular order according to action recon
2. Warbringer : Worlds Torn Asunder : The Action Recon Review
3. death metal band hail of bullets set to release new album this october
4. End the day with some heavy metal.
5. An Evening With Amon Amarth : The Action Recon Review