Top 5 time!

OK, so I felt that as the year was drawing to a close, and with a quick glance at Decembers releases (all Xmas pants), it was time to name my top 5 albums of the year! Drum roll please:


1.) Zozobra - 'Harmonic Tremors' (Hydrahead)

Caleb Scofield (Cave In/Old Man Gloom) and Santos Montano (Old Man Gloom), present 2007's answer to the perfect metal album, a perfect blend of doom metal and late 90's Soundgarden-esque pop, mixed with a healthy dose of Jesu droniness!



2.) John Zorn - 'Six Litanies For Heliogabalus' (Tzadik Records)

What do you get when you blend Aleister Crowley, Mike Patton, John Zorn, Trevor Dunn and a whole bunch of other crazy Avant Garde lunatics on one record...this classic jazzbo hellathon! If you dug Moonchild and Astronome, you will love this chaotic offering.



3.) Tomahawk - 'Anonymous' (Ipecac Records)

A drastic change in direction, again starring Mike Patton, Tomahawk introduce the western rock stylings to native American influenced compositions. When I first heard about this record alarm bells began ringing, luckily this album is great!


4.) Hella - 'There's No 666 in Outer Space' (Ipecac Records)

If, like me, your bored of the anally retentive technical guitar war currently being waged by the likes of Dillinger Escape Plan; then here is your saviour! Hella rule, nuff said!



5.) Pelican - 'City Of Echoes ' (Hyrdahead)

I'm starting the wonder if Hydrahead and Ipecac Records are in on some great conspiracy to capture all the best bands and release them? If so, their musical takeover is most welcome. Pelican, premium doom band, premium record, can't wait till the next one!



Phew! Well, after what looked like a sparse year of actual good music being unleashed upon us, it all turned out ok! 2008 looks to be a potentially great musical year with new releases from the likes of Fantomas, Secret Chiefs 3, John Zorn, Old Man Gloom and a whole bunch of fantastic musical mentalists!