The list they don't want you to see

So this may seem to stray a bit from the kind of things I normally post here, but I feel compelled to do it regardless. This year has been great for music. There was a time in my life (around the time Layne Staley died) where I thought that the music industry was really going into the shitter for good, but 2005 has given me hope. Yes this list is biased, and no I don't give a shit. These are the albums I've been obsessed with in the past year.

1) NIN - With Teeth

Just when everyone thought NIN was old news, this work of art comes out. Easily one of my favorite albums of all time. Trent Reznor has outdone himself and formulated an excellent sidekick to The Fragile.

2) Opeth - Ghost Reveries

The way metal is supposed to be played. It's not for everyone, it's got rapid time changes, its loud as fuck, and Mike Akerfeldt churns out demon cries at every turn. It's their first album on a major record label so this may be the one to capture everyones attention. Reminiscent of Blackwater Park, Ghost Reveries is a metal masterpiece.

3&4) System of a Down - Mesmorize/Hypnotize

Cracked out lyrics, beautiful harmonies, government propaganda, and a wonderful array of drug/sex imageries. This album duo sets out to claim the masses with radio friendly pop spoofs like BYOB and Hypnotize and draws the underground pre-SOAD fame crowd with Old School Hollywood, She's Like Heroine, and Attack. If you've ever liked SOAD, these albums have something for you.

5) Mastadon - Leviathon

Moby Dick themed metal. The album is Ahab's hunt for the infamous great white whale. I usually cringe at concept albums, but this one works. They have an incredibly unique style and they bring a lot to the genre. People who think metal is one dimensional and repetitive would benefit from giving this one a listen.

6) CKY - An Answer Can Be Found

They progress, and it's good. Chad hits the CKY pedal, Deron uses his voice to enhance and diversify the CKY catalogue, and Jess plays drums like he's in Clutch. This album takes CKY to places they haven't been to before. It's a more relaxed sound than the previous hard rock Infiltrate.Destroy.Rebuild. but it really brings their sound full circle. They will lose fans and they will gain fans. Listen to CKY.

7) Trivium - Ascendancy

Young band from Florida rocking out harder than anyone else. This is the heaviest metal album of the year, and the singer is 18 years old. This album isn't exactly changing the scope of metal as we know it, but its catchy as hell. The guteral scream vocals are unique and the riffs are mesmorizing. A modern day Metallica?

8) Dredg - Catch Without Arms

Nothing I say will interest people in this album. They have a unique sound that will NEVER catch on. Anytime I need a relaxing tune I turn this on. Stoners will eat this up. (No pun intended)

9) Gorillaz - Demon Days

Second release from The Gorillaz causes millions to dance their asses off. Despite the whoring of the tune Feel Good Inc. to Apple ,the song is still awesome. Many tracks on this album are designed to keep people flocking to the dance floor in droves (Dare). They retain their style in songs like Every Planet We Reach is Dead and Kids With Guns. Simply put, it's fun.

10) Children of Bodom - Are you Dead Yet?

Finnish glam metal upgrades. The lead guitarist/vocalist can pound out riffs like the best of them. This album is packed full of the Bodom we've all grown to love, with a slight upgrade. The album flows better than those of the past and songs like Are You Dead Yet? and In Your Face will soundtrack your dreams. The one thing that keeps Bodom off of my definitive best of metal list is the lyrics. They are usually battle oriented, but not in a good way (Manowar). This album contains one of the dumbest lines I have ever heard. "It's my world. You're in it. It'll take you down in a minute." Despite the weak lyrics, they don't get in the way of Bodom's epic sound.

Honorable Mentions

The Fall of Troy - Doppelganger

Three piece post hardcore progressive rock insanity. The first listen I was annoyed, the second time I started hearing the complexities of the music, the third time I couldn't get enough. If you like fast paced guitars and high pitched vocals this is for you. A lot of the tracks on this album are heavy enough to make you want to punch yourself in the head. Recommended to anyone with an open mind as to where the underground scene has brought us.

The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute

Inventing new emotions with this unique blend of prog rock. The Mars Volta is a case of love it or hate it and this album is no different. If you liked De-Loused in the Comatorium give this one a listen.

Shitstorms of the year

Coldplay - Way to make the most generic sounding boring piece of shit humanly possible
Weezer - I'm just dissapointed
Green Day - You take the cake for biggest tools in the music industry. You must be laughing your asses off in your million dollar homes paid for by the very Americans you shit all over.

A special shoutout to the chick from Black Eyed Peas who I thought was hot before I saw the video for Lady Lumps. Nice job making yourself into a dumb whore.

So you might be thinking at this point, Hey Dan who the fuck do you think you are putting all this angry sounding music on the list. What are you, a nazi? To quote the great Bill Hicks:

When the end comes, I'm going to be surfing the lake of fire ROCKING OUT.