As the Bloglin’s primary Metal reviewer I was tasked with compiling the Bloglin’s top 10 Metal albums of the year. 2011 was a rough year for metal. Compared to years past, the good albums were few and far between and most of them were immediate follow ups to last year’s releases. New bands came into focus, but their work just wasn’t there. These ups and downs come every few years and while some of the top 10 metal albums aren’t as great as their preceded releases, they’re still better than 90% of the field. Maybe this is just a sign of the end of the world in 2012? Who knows but we can all hope and pray to Oden that things pick up a bit more.

While blackened thrash dominated the 2010 rankings, 2011 saw a pique in black metal acts. While a majority of lo-fi releases were strictly released on cassette, the forefront was manned by some of the longest-standing names in the black metal genre. From Norway to the States, bands brought out some of their best work in years. And then came the new wave of British heavy metal. Bands like Devil, Ghost and Capricorn emulated acts like Sabbath and Saint Vitus. As Cathedral played their last show ever, earlier in December, a slew of new bands picked up the torch and marched onward.

Wolves In the Throne Room

While this list might not be in agreeance with your top 10 picks, keep in mind, I tried to represent some of the more prominent acts of the year. You may notice that my list doesn’t follow how I graded these 10 albums in my original reviews. There are some rank shifts, putting higher graded albums below lower graded albums. I wanted to revisit the rankings for the list because over the course of the year opinions on an album can change. This list was ordered by albums I kept to coming back to time after time over this past year.

You’ll probably notice the Metal albums here vary some from the Bloglin’s general Top 50 abums of 2011 in inclusion, exclusion and placement (No Liturgy this time, sorry folks!). That is because this is entirely my list of the best Metal releases for the year, unlike the Top 50, which was a group effort. So without further ado, here’s the top 10 metal albums of 2011, which still holds nothing on 2010′s list!

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10. Absu – Abzu [Candlelight]

Back in 1990, the Plano, Texas trio Absu began compiling a healthy arsenal of death metal tracks which they compiled into five demos. Yes, five demos. When they were pleased with their sound, the dark lords said “It is good” and released Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L. in 1993.

Now, almost 20 years later, the’ve put out six full lengths, including their newest, Abzu. A lot has changed since their early days. The band has morphed into a blackened thrash act and their sound has achieved numerous accolades. Abzu is one hell of a ride.

Original Bloglin Review

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9. Orchid – Capricorn [Doom Dealer]

San Francisco based Orchid created quite the stir when they released their first EP over a year ago. Now, one of the most anticipated releases of 2011 is upon us and what is my verdict? Pretty solid. While it’s easy to get hung up in the “It sounds like Sabbath” mindset while you’re listening to Capricorn, you have to appreciate their sound craft.

Orchid’s songwriting and production is almost mind-numbingly precise. These guys executed one solid doom album in the time from their first EP to Capricorn‘s release. While it’s easy to capture the sounds of Sabbath, it’s difficult to capture the 70′s in that same breath. Many bands attempt to emulate the sounds of the Ozzy-era Sabbath but finding that delicate balance of context and construct is rare.

Original Bloglin Review

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8. Weedeater – Jason… The Dragon [Southern Lord]

Knowing what Steve Albini has done for bands like High on Fire, I was beyond stoked when I received the press-release announcing their new album, Jason… The Dragon. Arik Roper artwork. Check. Kick-ass producer. Check.

I can assure you that this album is still convincing of their “FUCK YOU,” Southern metal mentality.

Original Bloglin Review

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7. YOB - Atma (2011) [Profound Lore]

The Oregon doom metal trio YOB have returned after a successful 2009 release The Great Cessation to unleash Atma, their sixth album on their attention-starved fan base. At just over 50 minutes long, the 5-track album is what we’ve all been waiting for. But what made The Great Cessation so epic is lacking in Atma. Maybe YOB is turning a new leaf in their music. Whatever it is, I am digging it.

Original Bloglin Review

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6. Elder – Dead Roots Stirring [Meteorcity]

Last year, Elder’s S/T awoke the doom metal scene with their familiar sound, filled with youthful energy and optimism. This year, Dead Roots Stirring brings back the return of Elder and it’s a whole new sound. It’s not the same Sleep worship as their self-titled album and it’s got a bit of its own identity.

The band has matured with their sound and this album delivers. Like Sleep and other traditional stoner bands, Elder’s songs are all on the longer side. “Gemini” is the opener and you can tell right off the bat that this is a new Elder. It’s got bite and kick.

Original Bloglin Review

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5. Wolves in the Throne Room – Celestial Lineage [Southern Lord]

With song titles like “Thuja Magus Imperium,” you’d better believe that Wolves In The Throne Room are confident that they can built an epic, nigh mythical mood and keep the listener’s interest and belief sustained.

When it comes down to it their success in this endeavor comes from pure musicianship, the ability to come up with a complex and ambitious idea and handily achieve it. Layers upon layers of noise, Celestial Lineage is accomplished black metal.

Original Bloglin Review

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4. Devil – Time to Repent (2011) [Soulseller]

Last year when they put out their EP, Magister Mundi Xum, Devil became an instant hit. This NWOBHM band came out of nowhere with a refreshing and addicting sound. Everything about Devil embodied doom and heavy metal at its finest. You really can’t go wrong here.

When the band released their new full-length, Time to Repent, my palms began to sweat. After many rotations, one thing is obvious: Time to Repent is void of any ostentation. There’s no futile attempts at creating anything epic or over-produced. What we have here is down to Earth (or under-Earth) doom metal.

Original Bloglin Review

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3. Blut Aus Nord - 777 Sect(s) (2011) [Candlelight]

With their sound bouncing and reverberating all over the place in the last few years, it’s hard to determine where this band is taking their unique approach to black metal next. Maybe that’s a by-product of the genre dying out, or at least changing scope. Bands that take it seriously are often led down the path of mockery to the original intent of a cold and essentially compressed, low-fi genre.

Gone are the compressed vocals and distorted sounds and now all that remains are the few lone acts who consistently nail down the feel by using their own experimentation with cross-genres. That’s where Blut Aus Nord’s new album, 777 Sect(s) comes into play. It’s clearly black metal but it’s a redefinition of said genre.

Original Bloglin Review

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2. Burzum – Fallen (2011) [Byelobo]

Burzum seems to forever be shrouded in great controversy. Varg’s past is his past and his future, release after release, is looking promising. With Belus being one of my favorite albums of 2010, I was ecstatic when Fallen was announced. Surely after a successful return to recording, Varg was back to creating classic black metal.

While I wouldn’t classify Burzum’s current work as modern black metal, it does embody the same ideologies as even the earliest albums by the Norwegian scene.

Original Bloglin Review

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1. Krallice - Diotima (2011) [Profound Lore]

NYC black metal and I don’t get along too well, unless it’s Krallice. Over the years, Krallice has been honing their sound and after two successful albums, Krallice and Dimensional Bleedthrough, the band has created a great album entitled Diotima.

The new Krallice is powerful, more skilled and fucking delivering solid USBM for NYC and beyond. Diotima was by far, the most successful metal album of 2011.

Original Bloglin Review

- Prolly