For Those About to Squawk: Waldo’s Pecks of the Year

Well boys and girls, we’ve survived the apocalypse, and there’s not much coming out soon, so I’ll review my best of this year. In case you missed my expertly honed reviews, you should check these out. I will put a caveat that these are in no particular order.
Napalm Death, Utilitarian
Grind, grind and more grind. This is their strongest outing in some time. Fast and concise.

Goatwhore, Blood for the Master
This is a fine slab of blackened thrash. And, oh yeah, they hate God.

Evoken, Atra Mors
Transcendental doom. Not unlike dISEMBOWLEMENT, this slab of meanness moves, and breathes life into a sometimes stagnant genre.

Pig Destroyer, Book Burner
This is the best record ever, of all time, period. (You think I’m biased?)

Zombiefication, Reaper’s Consecration
Like some old school in your death metal? These brown metal dealers bang your brain with retro vengeance.

Phobia, Remnants of Filth
This slab of grind starts up like a pit bull, never lets go. Blasts, sore throat vocals and general filth–this does not disappoint.

Locrian, The Clearing/The Final Epoch
This is called “ambient black metal,” and it very well may be: moody and dark, bordering on evil.

Deathspell Omega, Drought
Oft discussed and never seen, this EP of brutal black metal smacks you in the face, repeatedly, like a whole bunch.

Municipal Waste, The Fatal Feast
Thrash anthems to beer, the man, and mutant space people that exist on human flesh. What could be better?

Mares of Thrace, The Pilgrimage
A sludge-doom amalgam that both rocks and slays at the same time

HAARP, Husks
Sludgy swamp-influenced doom, There is no easing into this record. Put it in and turn it up to the maximum volume.

Dying Fetus, Reign Supreme
Slams. This is death metal, pure and to the point. This is nasty, vile, troo death metal made to kick you in the dick.

Neurosis, Honor Found in Decay
Epic. It’s Neurosis, goddammit. There’s not much here that will shock anyone, but prepare to take a fucked-up journey with Neurosis as your tour guide.

Afgrund, The Age of Dumb
Although the record cover is dumb, the music is short, blistering and to the point.

Gaza, No Absolutes In Human Suffering
Nihilism, short and to the point. These guys hate Jesus, life and you, and go a long way to prove it sonically.

Black Sheep Wall, No Matter Where It Ends
Dark and twisted, BSW are the definition of doom, and this release will flatten you like a monstrous steamroller.

Dragged Into Sunlight, Widowmaker
This is just fucked-up, swirling eddies of black, disgusting hate.

Author & Punisher, Ursus Americanus
One foot in industrial, and most definitely heavy, this one-man machine blurs the edges of traditional music to bring you one spiteful package.

That’s it for now, I’m SURE there’s a ton I’m forgetting, but hey, I smoke seeds.–Waldo