So here it is again, for those that are interested! My top musical highlights of 2011.

My Favourite Releases of 2011 (in no particular order)

DECAPITATED - Carnival Is Forever

http://www.revolvermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Decapitated-Carnival-Is-Forever1-e1305111834722.jpg?9d7bd4

The polish masters return after the loss of most of their band with a strong release, possibly their most progressive yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrgKMFG4IQw

CHTHONIC - Takasago Army

http://www.newreleasesnow.com/art/Chthonic–Takasago-Army.jpg

Another slab of awesome from Taiwan's finest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heF_NPJbv8Y

PUSCIFER - Conditions of My Parole

http://ourvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/puscifer-conditions-of-my-parole-400x400.jpg

Maynard James Keenan returns with more eclectic electronic weirdness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPC9wvTpvL4

THE WOLVES OF AVALON - Carrion Crows Over Camlan

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AYc-zBSuRrs/TixLgBZd4EI/AAAAAAAAAI0/46f7Wg4vIWs/s400/R-2935851-1309904602.jpeg

Supergroup side project featuring members of Meads…

So as a few other people are doing it, thought I would too. It's THAT time of year again - so what were my favourite and least favourite releases for 2010? (I hear you all cry, obviously)

Top 20 Albums of 2010

I have done these in alphabetical order only, as I find it almost impossible to decide with these things, but I would say my no.1 spot would be a battle between Triptykon, Rotting Christ, Fear Factory and Winterfylleth.

Cathedral – Guessing Game
Dark Fortress – Ylem
Enslaved – Axioma Ethica Odini
Fear Factory - Mechanize
Ihsahn – After…

Sat 31 Oct – CHTHONIC UK tour 2009

http://www.setlist.fm/widgets/setlist-image-v1?id=13d7c179
| More ChthoniC setlists

My 2 pence (or 2 quid) about last night's gig, for what it's worth..

Review (skunk_monk)

Gig Entry
Pain
Nightwish

Chthonic - Live @ Barfly Camden, London, 13th November

Finally got to see a band I've been wanting to see for ages last night - Taiwanese black metal band ChthoniC….

Basically they were absolutely stunning and I'm totally glad I made the trek to London, even if it was just to see a 40 minute support slot.

Just all round bloody brilliant - perfect sound, great stage prescence, really electrifying songs that just got me headbanging like a looney. A performance I only hope is not too long before I experience again.

Was great to see such a unique…

Having received the promo of the eagerly awaited Nightwish album "Dark Passion Play" last week, these are my initial thoughts, rather than a full on review as such.

Having totally lost interest in this band over the last 18 months due to ridiculous over-exposure and the never ending sea of teen-goth muppets jumping on the NW bandwagon, despite previously being an active member in the UK Nightwish Fanclub "Oceanborn" for several years, "Dark Passion Play" has not only restored my faith in the band - but also given me a glimmer of hope for the dying gothic metal scene.

Anyways…

My two pence worth if anyone cares over the recent Type O Negative UK Touring Fiasco:

Despite my worries after hearing about the Birmingham disaster, the London gig was fairly decent.

Zico Chain started off well with some nice heavy trad-metal riffing and then slowly descended into crap, bouncy pop punk like the Offspring mixed with Trivium. Ho hum.

Paradise Lost I have to say were adequately entertaining but not that exciting - with sound that got steadily worse throughout their set. The new material sounded very strong alongside some of the more loved tunes, so at least that speaks…

No Mercy Fest 2007 - London UK, Camden KOKO (10.04.07)

Lineup:

Moonspell
Napalm Death
Behemoth
Dew Scented
Root
Hades Something Or Other But I can't remember their name

Saw Moonspell play a gig this week with Behemoth, Napalm Death, Root and Dew Scented. Needless to say it was a corker!

My wife's mini blog of the gig is here:
http://the-prawn.livejournal.com/63997.html

My mini gush-fest about Moonspell/Behemoth is available here, including pics and videos:
http://skunk-monk.livejournal.com/25378.html

For those that can't be arsed to go that far and read the whole lot, the Selist for Moonspell was as follows:

In Memoriam
Finisterra
Memento Mori…

Now I may be into much more extreme or avante garde bands these days, but NIN was integral to my youth in opening my eyes to "heavier" music. While I think that "With Teeth" was a bit - shall we say - "wank" (bar the odd catchy single) I have always loved Nine Inch Nails and always will. Their live performance, was, and still is, one of the most amazing experiences full stop. They are by far and away head and shoulders above ALL of the extreme bands I have seen in terms of tightness, musicianship and just plain balls-out…

One for you Meads of Asphodel fans…

ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND SHIT

The Meads of Asphodel have a brand new unreleased track included on the cover CD of the December issue of UK Metal mag "Terrorizer"

http://www.terrorizer.com

Titled "All Things Bright And Shit", it is an homage to the xmas single - done Meads style!

It's also hilarious and black like most of the Meads wonderful satire :D Get hold of it while you can ;)