Fleshgod Apocalypse: Mafia (4/5)

Joshua's Top Five EPs from 2010
#5 of 5



Year: 2010
Genre: Technical Death Metal
Label: Willowtip Records
TRT: 23:57

Tech death is far from my favorite flavor of metal, and I'm extremely picky within the genre. Fleshgod Apocalypse does a good job with keeping away from the "virtuoso" (read: wankery) of many of their peers, utilizing clean vocals and symphonic elements to add balance and contrast to the otherwise brutal assault on the senses.

01 Thru Our Scars
02 Abyssal
03 Conspiracy of Silence
04 Blinded by Fear (At the Gates cover)
05 Mafia

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Meshuggah: obZen (5/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Metal Albums of 2008
#2 out of 10


Year: 2008
Genre: Technical Experimental Poly-rhythmic Metal Masturbation
Label: Nuclear Blast
TRT: 52:39

Many times when a band has been around for a few years, they will begin to compromise their style to go for a more accessible sound. This will usually disenfranchise their loyal fan base, while brining in many new listeners who couldn’t appreciate the bands older style.

So when I say that in 2008, Meshuggah released the most listenable and accessible album of their twenty year career, isn’t that cause for worry?

Have no fear. These Swedish juggernauts of metal insanity combine the fury of their earlier albums with the technicality and unmatched time signature mastery of their more recent offerings.

Riff after riff, drum beat after drum beat, obZen is pound for pound one of the most awe-inspiring metal creations ever released. Wrapping your head around the intricacies layered within takes multiple listens. Just be careful to give your ears a break every now and then, or they might start bleeding from the beating.

01 Combustion
02 Electric Red
03 Bleed
04 Lethargica
05 obZen
06 This Spiteful Snake
07 Pineal Gland Optics
08 Pravus
09 Dancers to a Discordant System

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Crowpath: One With Filth (4/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Metal Albums of 2008
#10 out of 10



Year: 2008
Genre: Technical Death Metal
Label: Willowtip
TRT: 31:22

In their twelve year career, this group of Swedes has put out four albums, and barely two hours of material. But I for one am willing to let the length of their albums slide, because they’re very good at what they do. Which is of course bringing face-crushing and ear-smashing chaos to the table. Technical death metal, mixed with elements of crust, sludge and wee bit of mathcore…This band keeps you thrashing for half an hour, and then leaves you wanting more.

01 One With Filth
02 Where Angels Do Sin
03 Fondling the Grotesque
04 Plague Bearer
05 I Gryningen
06 Cleansed in Chlorine
07 The Deed
08 The Hunt
09 Septic Monarch
10 In Pitch Black Piss
11 Retarded Angel

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Arsis: A Celebration of Guilt (5/5)

Year: 2004
Label: Willowtip
Genre: Technical Death Metal
TRT: 44:20

Death metal with a keen sense of melody is what you'll find here. These metalheads from Richmond Virginia serve up an intense ride that will have you humming along in no time at all. Be assured, this is a brutal record, but it's also as catchy as a bad case of mononucleosis. And it'll stick around for longer.

01 The Face of My Innocence
02 Maddening Disdain
03 Seven Whispers Fell Silent
04 Return
05 Worship Depraved
06 Carnal Ways to Recreate the Heart
07 Dust and Guilt
08 Elegant and Perverse
09 The Sadistic Motives Behind Bereavement Letters
10 Looking to Nothing
11 Wholly Night

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Crowpath: Son of Sulphur (4.5/5)

Year: 2005
Label: Willowtip
Genre: Brutal Technical Death Metal
TRT: 33:49

This is a concept album following the exploits of an arsonist, a paradoxically chilling journey through the mind of a psychopath. There's just something about this record (and this band period) that sets them apart from the plethora of similar bands. Maybe it's their wonderful ability to create atmosphere, or the way the furious precussion section includes the extensive use of bell cymbals, or perhaps it's just the sheer precision and passion displayed by the band as a whole. Whatever that "something" is, they have an abundance of it, and I can't get enough.

01 Candles and Kerosene
02 The Will to Burn
03 Chased, Caught and Charged
04 Pidgeonmasher
05 Children of Boredom
06 Self Destruct Pessimism
07 Seed of Arson
08 Picked Clean
09 The Lucanthrope
10 Scab Coated Attraction
11 Lights Out, Left For Dead
12 End in Water

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Sympathy: Invocation (3.5/5)

Year: 2002
Label: Fear Dark
Genre: Progressive Technical Death Metal
TRT: 47:33

This was one of the first Technical Death Metal albums I ever heard, and I thought it was pretty cool. With furious drumming, solid guitar work and unaltered depth-of-hell growls, what's not to like? On this album, Canadian Dharok wrote and played everything, but these days guitarist Jeff Lewis (known for his work with Mortification and Abolishment of Hate), and drummer Jim Austin (formerly of Into Eternity).

01 Invocation
02 Fey Illusion
03 Occupy
04 Circle of Light
05 Final Ordeal
06 Cup of Demons
07 Arise
08 Realm of Disease
09 Prelude and Toccata in E Minor
10 Christus Factus Est
11 Immolation of the Dragon
12 Death of the Immortals

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