Inspired by About.com Heavy Metal's recent postings of Best Of lists the 2000's I managed to find my personal list from that year!
Oh how times have changed.
Here it is!
Here is my list for 2006. I listened to A LOT more music this year so I am sure some stuff got lost in the shuffle. You won't agree with everything on this list, but I won't agree with yours either. I guess this isn't so much a BEST of 2006 as it is My Favourites of 2006.
My process was pretty much "What did I go back to, what did I get cravings for? What got stuck in my head? What grabbed me right off the bat?
Feel free to talk to me about my selections. I like talkin' music.
1. Mastodon - Blood Mountain
2. I Hate Sally - Don't Worry Lady (Very close second, great mix of styles, great live, and awesome people)
3 . Lamb Of God - Sacrament (I got the invitation, and I am going!)
4. Kalas - Kalas (Matt Pike! incredible first, last and only album. R.I.P. Kalas)
5 . Slayer - Christ Illusion (They still got it! and Lombardo is back!)
6 . Accept Death - Accept Death (Death Accepted. Cool samples, great doomy feel, scary vokills)
7 . Deicide - The Stench of Redemption (I am SO glad Benton didn't kill himself at 33)
8. The Abominal Iron Sloth - s/t (uh, it's real good)
9. Kylesa - Time Will Fuse It's Worth (Two drummers, two vocalists, too good)
10 . Kataklysm - In the Arms of Devastation
11 . Jucifer - If Thine Enemy Hunger (not metal, not conventional, like Veruca Salt on LOTS of drugs)
12 . Om - Conference of the Birds (two ex-members of Sleep crafting epic doom masterpieces)
13 . The Sword - Age of Winters
14 . Witch - s/t (This stuff makes you high just listening to it!)
15. Napalm Death - Smear Campaign (grind at it's best)
16 . Sepultura - Dante XXI (who needs Cavaleras? I know Iggor played on this one)
17 . Bury Your Dead - Beauty and the Breakdown (If you're gonna be metalcore, at least be good at it)
18. Sworn Enemy - The Beginning of the End (token hardcore album)
19. Lair of the Minotaur - The Ultimate Destroyer
20. Black Cobra - Bestial (great tone, sounds like a giant tank plowing across the landscape blowing up everything in sight)
21. Hatebreed - Supremacy (formula starting to get old, just enough difference to make the list)
22. Saviours - Crucifire (another great "stoner" album)
23. Norma Jean - Redeemer (who knew christians could rock so well?)
24. Scissorfight - Jaggernaut (if you like Clutch, you'll like these guys)
25. Fucked Up - Hidden World (if this is fucked up, I don't want normal)
26. Dry Kill Logic - Of Vengeance and Violence (Cliff Rigano rules)
Top 5 "Really fun to listen to but not necessarily great albums"
1. Dragonforce - Inhuman Rampage
2. Funerot - Invasion from the Death Dimension (Tyrannosaur could be my fave song of the year)
3. Cross Examination - Hung Jury
4. Venom - Metal Black
5. Motorhead - Kiss of Death
Surprise of the Year:
I Hate Sally - Don't Worry Lady (who knew I'd love a local band this much, and the fact that Mike Kopko hated it)
Disappointment(s) of the Year (other than no new Clutch):
Tool - 10,000 days
Five Horse Johnson - Mystery Spot (JP from Clutch drumming, thought it would be better)
The false start (demise?) of Black Veil Choir (Justin Marler from Sleep)
Stuff I Thought I'd Like But Wasn't Really Feelin':
Trivium - Crusaders (bad lyrics)
Protest the Hero - Kezia (hate the vocals)
Isis - In the Absence of Truth
Compilation of the Year :
Sucking the 79's 2: Back in the Saddle Again
Collaboration of the Year :
Rebel Meets Rebel
Top EPs of the Year:
Jesu - Silver
Arise and Ruin - The Fear of...
Stuff I Missed in 2005 That Would Have Made My List:
Most Precious Blood - Merciless
Early Man - Closing In
I Really Want To Hear It But I Can't Find It:
Neil Fallon's solo performance from the Glasgowbury Festival
Most Anticipated of 2007:
Clutch - From Beale St. To Oblivion
Baroness full length (look out Mastodon!)
Kingdom of Sorrow (again)
Down
Fu Manchu - We Must Obey