Our Digital Music gives us top 10 stories in the digital music industry and where the music industry is going as a result.

Big Apple has a great list of the best NY labums for 2007

Earsucker broke it down to the best 50 songs of 2007

Toronto Unplugged states 10 albums your collection should not be without and their view of the state of the music industry

The Production Side Shows us the best of 2007 in video and The Biggest Disappointments.

Post from: Metal Martyr

I have dumped a bunch of money into CDs this past year, probably more than I have in a long time. I have discovered and re-discovered bands that I’ve been missing out on and was even introduced to new music by record labels that sent me CDs to review (Thanks Bob at Prosthetic and Taylor at Dwell). While most of these albums didn’t come out in 2007, 2007 was the year I bought them and therefore; the first list will be my Favorite Buys Of 2007. The second list is a short one. It’s my favorite Debut records of 2007. Lastly is my Biggest Disappointments of 2007. Records I bought and was throughly disappointed with.

MetalMarty.com 10 Favorite Buys Of 2007
1. Lamb Of God- Every Record. After hearing Ashes Of The Wake I fell in love with this band and bought every LOG record this year. I really like everyone with perhaps the exception of New American Gospel. I can’t wait to see whats next from this band and try to see them next time they come around here.
2. Killswitch Engage- Once again, every record. I got into Killswitch when I bought As Daylight Dies and quickly became a fan.
3. Hatebreed- Supremacy. In my opinion this is Hatebreed’s best work to date. Every song on this record is great. If you haven’t been impressed with Hatebreed in the past I say give them a second chance with Supremacy.
4. As I lay Dying- An Ocean Between Us. I bought this album after only hearing the first song and I’m still impressed.
5. All That Remains- Fall Of Ideals. Diverse in every way. From beginning to end it has your attention. The guitar work, solos, vocals and drums all mix well. This is in my opinion the best Christian metal you will hear.
6. Led Zeppelin- Mothership. If your looking for an inexpensive, GOOD Zeppelin Compilation then look no further. For a two disk set it has the essentials.
7. Megadeth- United Abominations. Megadeth’s Best work in a long time. It’s good to see Dave back on track.
8. Yakuza- Transmutations. You have to truly like all sorts of music styles to enjoy this record. It’s not for everyone, but it does kick ass!
9. Mastodon- Blood Mountain. These guys have a style all their own and Blood Mountain shows it.
10. Danzig- The Lost Tracks. This 2 disk set brings out some b-sides and stuff that has been left out on older records. These days Glenn is more into the industrial stylish sound but the older stuff on this set is great!

Honorable mentions: A life Once Lost:Iron Gag, Haste The Day: Pressure The Hinges, Shadows Fall: Threads OF Life

Best Debuts Of 2007

Divine Heresy- Bleed The Fifth. Dino Cazarez did well with this line-up and vocal choice. Sure it kinda sounds a bit Fear Factory-ish, but hell, FF isn’t putting anything out good these days so why not.
Hail!Hornet- Southern Sludge Metal at it’s best. Even coining their own genre as Grime Metal, Hail!hornet keeps it heavy and dirty. With members from Weedeater, Alabama Thunderpussy, and Sourvein, this record will ruin your life as they say.

Biggest Disappointments of 2007
Dragonforce- Inhuman Rampage. I don’t like the singer’s voice, the overuse of synthesizers, and overdone, drawn out songs. It felt like I was stuck in a Japanimation soundtrack or an old Nintendo game.
Ozzy- Black Rain. Sorry Ozzy. Sounds to pop-ish. With over- repetative choruses, Zakks pinch harmonics every other note and the sound as if someone wrote the lyrics for you it just made for an undesirable record. Good effort…bad outcome.

Well thats it. I’m sure I have missed a lot of great metal out there that I haven’t got to check out but I’m kinda picky when it comes to new music and a lot of stuff I sampled just didn’t fit my likings or was substandard to me. I hope 2008 has even more to offer!

—————-
Now playing: Jackyl – I Stand Alone
via FoxyTunes

Post from: Metal Martyr