2008 has been one of the strongest years for new Rock/Metal albums in recent times. Here is my 2008 top 10 Rock albums of the year in reverse order.
10) Thunder: BANG! Thunder still rock after all these years. The trouble they have is that they are a victim of 2 things. The first is that they are constantly living in the shadow of their first album Backstreet Symphony and the second is that they get no radio play at all while other not as good bands (you know who you are!!) seem to get it all.
Music needs Thunder and BANG! their latest studio album is an excellent example why. They possess one of the best voices in music in the form of Danny Bowles and they are still an excellent live band.
9 ) The Quireboys: Heartbreakers & home wreckers – The UKs Quireboys have been around for what seems like forever. This album is the best since the debut album A Bit Of What You Fancy released way back in 1990. Spike and Co have put together an excellent package of new songs and they all keep in tradition with the Quireboys unique sound of bluesy orientated Rock N’ Roll. This band remind me of the Rod Stewart & the Faces and that’s not a bad thing.
8 ) The Wildhearts: Stop Us If You Have Heard This Before – A cover album of some of the songs that have influenced the band over the years. All members take a turn of the vocals with some decent results. Nothing amazing but a fun album. The trouble is that the songs Ginger writes are a lot better than these songs. Expect a new album from Newcastle’s finest next year.
7 ) Slipknot: All Hope Is Gone – The boys from IOWA bounced back to release a beast of an album. Many thought that this album could be a bit of a duffer as singer Corey Taylors side project Stonesour has done so well. Many were wrong! This album is as heavy as a JCB with Bella Emberg sitting on it but also shows the bands lighter side with some toned down tracks. Slipknot also proved how big they are in the UK with 3 sold out shows at Hammersmith Apollo at the beginning of this month.
6 ) Avenged Sevenfold: Diamonds In The Rough – This album compromises of 11 songs. There are 2 covers (Pantera & Iron Maiden), 2 newer versions of older songs and 7 songs that the band decided not to put on their self titled album which was released in 2007. These 7 songs are possibly the strongest they have ever wrote so how the hell did they not make the last album? If finger shredding guitar solos and huge riffs are your thing then this album is a must. Also comes with a bonus DVD of a live show which is filmed in HD.
5 ) Motley Crue: S.O.L.A – LA’s sleaziest were back in 2008 with a cracking album. Their best since 1989s Dr Feelgood. Based on their top selling book soon to be made into a film, The Dirt, S.O.L.A leaves no stone or story uncovered. This album put the Crue back in everyone’s faces after a disappointing last few albums. Guitarist Mick Mars is the unsung hero on this album as his guitar playing on S.O.L.A has gone to another level that’s out of this planet.
4 ) AC/DC: Black Ice – This was only the legendry rockers 3rd album in 18 years so the pressure was on. Could AC/DC deliver? You bet they could. OK, so they have been cooking the same album for the last 30 years but if it tastes this good why change the recipe? This album went straight to No 1 keeping Keane and Razorlight of the top of the charts. Their UK tour next year sold out within minutes of going on sale last month. AC/DC are back now crank it up.
3 ) Metallica: Death Magnetic – The metal world held its breath as the heat was on the San Francisco metal gods to deliver a thunderous album after the disappointment of 2003s St Anger. DM is filled with old style Metallica songs. The solos are back and so too is the energy of the band after a decade of mediocre releases by their standards. If you loved old style Metallica then this is the album you have been praying for. Play loud !
2 ) Ginger: Market Harbour – What can you say about Ginger (Wildhearts singer/songwriter) that hasn’t already been said? This album is a masterpiece. 21 songs of shear perfection. This guy is up there with Lennon, Plant & Jagger as one of the best songwriters of all time. MH is recorded at a slightly lower volume but this just enhances the brilliance of the songs. If you don’t have this in your music library then you don’t have a very good record collection. Go buy !
1 ) Guns N’ Roses: Chinese Democracy – Was there going to be any other number 1? Was it worth the 17 year wait? Of course. This album is a massive rock album on all levels. Overblown, egotistical & ball dropping all at the same time have helped W Axl Rose take GNR to a level that no one thought existed. The 14 songs are wrote with heart , passion and are littered with amazing finger burning guitar solos. After a few listens it all falls into place. Album of the year doesn’t do it justice but album of the decade should just about cover it.
Posted under Album Reviews, Music
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