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The Good
Swallow the Sun - The Morning Never Came
Dark and doomy, with heavy guitars aplenty. Keyboards keep things atmospheric, with some clean vox thrown in here and there to add even more diversity. One of those albums that you can just look at the cover art and have the perfect feel for the music.
Pelican - The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw
Awe-inspring epic instrumental post-rock. This is music perfect for the soundtrack of a sunset over the ocean.
Soilwork - Stabbing the Drama
Newest release from melo-death pioneers. Not what the band once was, but they can still write a hell of a catchy song. The title track is one of my favorite songs of this year.
30 Seconds to Mars - A Beautiful Lie
Very different from their space-rocky debut, but just as catchy. Jared Leto's vocals really shine here. Probably my favorite radio-friendly music I've heard all year.
Poets of the Fall - Signs of Life
Also very radio-friendly, but virtually unknown in the United States. Hailing from Finland, the band is able to write some killer hooks with better-than-average lyrics to boot. If you can find the album, give it a listen. You may have heard "Late Goodbye" if you've played Max Payne 2.
The Great
Dark Tranquillity - Character
The band is also one of the best acts I've seen all year. The album picks up right where Damage Done left off, with twice as much heaviness. Not a bad track on the entire record.
Trivium - Ascendancy
One of the top acts in Roadrunner's roster. The little-too-radio-rocky "Dying in Your Arms" could have been left off the record, but the rest of the album shreds enough to put it in this list.
Blackfield - Blackfield
Porcupine Tree mastermind Steven Wilson's side project. Songs are cut down to 3 to 4 minutes, but are astonishingly good nonetheless. Mellow record with a heavy atmosphere. A must have for fans of Mr. Wilson's work.
Byzantine - And They Shall Take Up Serpents
Cleaner sounding than The Fundamental Component, but just as good. These guys could be huge if they had proper promotion.
Sentenced - The Funeral Album
The suicide rockers call it a day, and they do so at the height of their career. Shame. This is one hell of a farewell album.
The Best
Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor
The band's best work to date. Incredible production, as well as musicianship. "Born" is one of the best metal songs of the year.
Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Well. It's Opeth. Take Blackwater Park, Damnation, and a dash of Deliverance, and you have Ghost Reveries. Brilliant music.
Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
Brilliant follow-up to In Absentia. Epic, progressive, and downright beautiful at times. I'm convinced that anything Steven Wilson touches turns to gold. Deadwing = aural alchemy.
I had been debating for months whether Ghost Reveries or Deadwing should earn the title of Best Album of 2005. I guess it all really depends on my mood. Both albums take the listener on a wonderful listening journey. Today I might say Deadwing. Tomorrow I might say Ghost Reveries. Eh, who cares? They're both breathtaking records. Do yourself a favor and listen to them if you haven't already.
Swallow the Sun - The Morning Never Came
Dark and doomy, with heavy guitars aplenty. Keyboards keep things atmospheric, with some clean vox thrown in here and there to add even more diversity. One of those albums that you can just look at the cover art and have the perfect feel for the music.
Pelican - The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw
Awe-inspring epic instrumental post-rock. This is music perfect for the soundtrack of a sunset over the ocean.
Soilwork - Stabbing the Drama
Newest release from melo-death pioneers. Not what the band once was, but they can still write a hell of a catchy song. The title track is one of my favorite songs of this year.
30 Seconds to Mars - A Beautiful Lie
Very different from their space-rocky debut, but just as catchy. Jared Leto's vocals really shine here. Probably my favorite radio-friendly music I've heard all year.
Poets of the Fall - Signs of Life
Also very radio-friendly, but virtually unknown in the United States. Hailing from Finland, the band is able to write some killer hooks with better-than-average lyrics to boot. If you can find the album, give it a listen. You may have heard "Late Goodbye" if you've played Max Payne 2.
The Great
Dark Tranquillity - Character
The band is also one of the best acts I've seen all year. The album picks up right where Damage Done left off, with twice as much heaviness. Not a bad track on the entire record.
Trivium - Ascendancy
One of the top acts in Roadrunner's roster. The little-too-radio-rocky "Dying in Your Arms" could have been left off the record, but the rest of the album shreds enough to put it in this list.
Blackfield - Blackfield
Porcupine Tree mastermind Steven Wilson's side project. Songs are cut down to 3 to 4 minutes, but are astonishingly good nonetheless. Mellow record with a heavy atmosphere. A must have for fans of Mr. Wilson's work.
Byzantine - And They Shall Take Up Serpents
Cleaner sounding than The Fundamental Component, but just as good. These guys could be huge if they had proper promotion.
Sentenced - The Funeral Album
The suicide rockers call it a day, and they do so at the height of their career. Shame. This is one hell of a farewell album.
The Best
Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor
The band's best work to date. Incredible production, as well as musicianship. "Born" is one of the best metal songs of the year.
Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Well. It's Opeth. Take Blackwater Park, Damnation, and a dash of Deliverance, and you have Ghost Reveries. Brilliant music.
Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
Brilliant follow-up to In Absentia. Epic, progressive, and downright beautiful at times. I'm convinced that anything Steven Wilson touches turns to gold. Deadwing = aural alchemy.
I had been debating for months whether Ghost Reveries or Deadwing should earn the title of Best Album of 2005. I guess it all really depends on my mood. Both albums take the listener on a wonderful listening journey. Today I might say Deadwing. Tomorrow I might say Ghost Reveries. Eh, who cares? They're both breathtaking records. Do yourself a favor and listen to them if you haven't already.
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