2009: The First 100 Days

So, 2009. I don’t even know where to begin. So far, so good as far as metal year goes. This is in no particular order so bare with me.

We got a new Lamb Of God album that I still think is not as good as everyone else thinks; and a new Mastodon album that is musically amazing but people seem to bitch about because it’s not heavy enough or something.

Cannibal Corpse release an album that is, well, another good Cannibal Corpse album. Nothing extravagant enough to go on a murder spree, but a good album. Cattle Decapitation almost convince me to not eat beef while Sepultura almost gave me hope that I could listen to them again. That didn’t last. Psyopus almost convince me that something is wrong with my ears.

Thrash is still alive and vibrant with new releases from Kreator and neo-thrashers Lazarus A.D. bringing an old school sound with a modern touch. God Dethroned give us a WW1 History lesson.

The members that try to steal the name of the black metal band that they didn’t own the rights to, lose and start their own band. Something they should have done in the first place instead of wasting money in court.

God Forbid releases a killer, new album and then they lose a key member. Arsis also kind of loses another member and a Hatebreed member leaves the band. Arsis and Hatebreed get old members back. James Malone comes clean about his problems with anorexia, while Dallas Coyle prefers to keep his exit reasoning’s of GF private. I commend both of them for that.

Fuck Limp Bizkit. Oh, and Papa Roach too.

Dave Mustaine and Kerry King grow up and schedule tour dates with each other. Metallica gets inducted in to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Both bassist’s thank the bands that helped launch their career, while James Hetfield doesn’t thank anyone that helped them launch theirs. Lars Ulrich claims that he downloaded Death Magnetic to see how this internet thingy works. I publish a spoof that says that Warner music file lawsuit against him and numerous sites copy me and one even publishes their own version as an April Fools joke.

Metal has two new doc[rock]umentaries that are getting rave reviews. Iron Maiden’s Flight 666 is a fan favorite and most haven’t even seen it yet. Anvil beat Hannah Montana’s ass in opening weekend of their flick The Story Of Anvil. Disney is pissed and vows revenge, citing that Anvil will never play at The House Of Blues.

I’ve yet to get an Infection from Chimaira, but Daath’s The Concealers is currently in my top 10 of 2009.

Fear Factory reunites, kind of, sort of, even after Burton C. Bell says that metal was never his thing. He then shows up at a Ministry show where him and Dino kiss and make up. Well, okay, they just talked.

I know I’ve missed a bunch of cool, or not so cool shit that has happened in ‘09, but I have to close this out somehow. There is a lot of great things in metal to come this year. More great albums, tours and surely a few more reunions, with the economy in the shitter.