the 15 best albums of 2010 in no particular order according to action recon

We decided to pick 15 albums that we thought made the 2010 year sound better. This list is in no particular order and the music on here ranges from Country, to Pop, to Black Metal to Street Punk and Hip Hop. The greatest thing about music is how much of it one can enjoy and how it can differ so greatly, but still be something that brings some joy to your life. So here are the 15 best albums of 2010 according to Action Recon presented in no particular order.

1) Terror : Keepers Of The Faith

Keepers Of The Faith was one of the best hardcore albums we have heard in a long time. It was tight, fast, pissed off and with out a doubt the height of Terror’s long roster of music. The lineup the band is playing with at the moment is obviously the most complete the band has ever been and they are working together like a well oiled machine. The only thing left to do now is check these songs out live.

2) Watain : Lawless Darkness

It was a good year for Black Metal and the year was made perfect with this release. Watain’s album Lawless Darkness set a new president when it comes to Black Metal albums and they created an album that will stand the test of time and will not be topped for years to come. This is one of the most epic Black Metal albums ever and Watain have truly set their throne in the Black Metal scene with this record. This album put together with their live act is something that must not be missed by an true Black Metal fan.

3) Willie Nelson : Country Music

Anytime Willie puts an album out is a good thing, but with Country Music it felt like an old school stripped down country album like they used to be. The album had a great feel to it and proved that after many years of albums, touring and living a crazy life Mr. Nelson can still turn out a killer album and keep the soul of country music alive and well.

4) Vinnie Paz : Season Of The Assassin

Hands down my favorite MC of all time and a solo offering from him was a welcome addition to the music collection. Season Of The Assassin was a heavy album both lyrically and musically, this album had some of the most rugged beats of the year and that put together with Vin’s furious vocals made this album untouchable. Anyone who is into real hip hop needs to have this in their collection and will understand immeditaley why Season Of The Assassin makes the list of best albums in 2010.

5) First Blood : Silence Is Betrayal

This album was a great return to what hardcore was originally about lyrically and that is speaking out against injustice with an uncompromising voice. Silence Is Betrayal simply puts plays like a violent political upheaval and it was a welcome addition to all the bull shit going on in the world. Musically there was not a heavier hardcore album that dropped this year and First Blood more then made up for the long wait in between albums. Get informed, get involved and buy this album.

6) The Corps : Bottle Of Rock N Roll

A little known band that hails from Australia and rocks like no ones business with songs about drinking, fighting and lose women. Fans of Motorhead, Blood For Blood and the Dropkick Murphys will love this band and I assure you will not be able to stop pumping Bottle Of Rock N Roll for a long time. This is good time music that makes you want to enjoy the simpler things in life and raise many a glass with your friends, do yourself a favor and seek out his band.

7) Gaslight Anthem : American Slang

Gaslight Anthem is a band I was turned onto about a year ago and ever since then they have been one of my favorites. This year they put of American Slang and like all their other albums it was a great slice of Bruce Springsteen inspired rock and roll. Anyone who likes The Boss or Social Distortion should check out his band and why not start with American Slang? The album offers all you need and explores lots of different emotions and topics, check it out and enjoy.

8 Lady Gaga : The Fame Monster

Love her or hate her the fact is Lady Gaga is very talented, has a killer voice and writes some of the catchiest songs out there. Fame Monster in my opinion blew her first album out of the water and really showed off how well this girl can sing. It would seem we have another Madona on our hands here, but Gaga takes it to a whole other level with both her music and her flash. For the most part pop music is a horrible thing, but Lady Gaga restored my faith in it for a few seconds and that is no easy task.

9) Snowgoons : Kraftwerk

Underground Hip Hop had a banging 2010 and it was brought to a close with the recent release of the new Snowgoons album Kraftwerk. Two of the best producers in hip hop bring together some of the greatest MC’s in the game and you are left with an album that will blow your mind. Very heavy, string and symphony driven music coupled with vocal offerings from the best in underground hip hop made Krafwerk not only one of the bets Snowgoons albums, but one of the best hip hop albums this year.

10) Ragnarok : Collectors Of The King

Ragnarok are by far one of the most over looked Black Metal bands out there today. Collectors Of The King was released and did not seem to receive that much attention from any of the so called metal websites. This album is true Norwegian Black Metal at its finest and easily one of the best Black Metal albums to drop in the last few years. Ragnarok delivered pure blazing metal from start to finish and manage to keep the traditions of Black Metal alive and well. Do yourself a favor and start paying this band some attention, you will be glad you did.

11) Bulldog Courage : From Heartache To Hatred

Another little known band this time from the USA who know what they are doing and how to play good rock n roll inspired hardcore. Songs about life and being down and out all the while trying to make the best of your situation blended with a Sheer Terror/Blood For Blood style of music make this an amazing album. Bulldog Courage have a great thing going here and released a killer album with the guys over at Thorp Records. Be sure to check this band out asap.

12) The Rolling Stones : Exile On Main Street Re- Issue

Duh. Perhaps the Rolling Stones best album and it was long overdue for a re-issue. This album can play all day long and I will never get tired of it and the best part about this re-issue was we got to hear some never heard before music. A welcome addition to the music collection and thanks to the song Plundered My Soul we all got to hear something other then Satisfaction on the radio this past summer.

13) Merle Haggard : I Am What I Am

I had the pleasure of meeting Merle Haggard just before I saw him live this past year and more of a gentleman he could not have been. On his new album I Am What I Am we get some more great real country the same great country that Merle helped invent. His voice is still as great as it always was and the songs on the album play like they should, filled with emotion and honesty. This is not an album anyone should be without.

14) Facebreaker : Infected

Old School Death Metal is alive and well and the new Facebreaker album is where its living. One of the heaviest metal albums of the year and a great kick back to bands like Entombed, Dismember and Grave. Facebreaker deliver the goods on Infected like no one else did this year and they also seem to be a band that was over looked by all these nancy metal website out there. If you are looking for that old school Swedish Death Metal sound then look no further then Facebreaker.

15) Slaine : The Devil Never Dies

With his full length album being pushed into the new year due to sample clearance issues, Slaine went into the studio and turned out one of the best mix tapes in the shortest periods of time that I have ever heard. Amazing production, killer guest appearances and as if that was not enough it was free. If the Devil Never Dies is what Slaine can produce in a few weeks then I can not even imagine what his full length A World With No Skies is going to be like when it drops in the new year. Slaine is amazing and you should support him.

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1. Behemoth : Evangelion : Review
2. Action Recon @ Summer X-Games 2010.
3. Welcome to Action Recon
4. Cisco Adler : The Action Recon Interview
5. The 2010 Grammy Awards.