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Revocation - Existence is Futile: I seriously don't understand what the big deal is with these guys. The singer is nothing special and too many times the guitar work reminded me of Joe Satriani or Steve Vai or someone like that. Nowhere near the status being exalted on them by the "media".

Converge - Axe to Fall: It's Converge. Nuff said. Well, I can say a bit more. This album is, in a word, powerful. Decidedly hardcore, energetically metal. It amazes me how people can compose music like this. I'll have to listen to it a few more times before I can start to place in my Top 50 of 2009 list. It'll be there, just where is the question.

Children - Hard Times Hanging at the End of the World: I am having a hard time. A hard time deciding how to describe Children. I can hear all sorts of genres. Punk speed, thrash riffs, hardcore vocals, and some crazy solos. Instead of sounding like a band that doesn't know what they are, they sound like a band that is able to put all their influences in the same pot and still come out with something delicious.

Burning Human - Resurrection Through Fire: Yet another reason that 2009 has been a great year for death metal. Fast, brutal, evil.

Dismember, Cursed, Children of Bodom, Coldworker, Embrace the End

Dismember - Dismember: This is what death metal is supposed to sound like. Not overly fast, destructive guitar tone and low growled vocals. Old school rules. Thumbs up.

Cursed - Three Architects of Troubled Sleep: Not sure what to say here, I listened to it yesterday. They aren't easy to describe anyway. Other than they rule. It's Cursed!! The last track, Gutters, is worth the price of admission all by itself. Thumbs UP!

Children of Bodom - Blooddrunk: I thought I would see what all the fuss was about with COB. Well, I won't be fussing any. Laiho is a very talented guitarist, and to sing at the same time is an accomplishment. But, I found it was too overindulgent. Pointless guitar interludes and stuff. Sounded like Satriani or something like that. Thumbs down.

Coldworker - Rotting Paradise: Remember what I said about Dismember? Well, take that and speed it up. Well done you Swedes. Thumbs up.

Embrace the End - Ley Lines: Trying to hard. To many little things thrown into the songs. They break up any kind of flow. When will metalcore end? Thumbs down.