Year End Reflections 2006
Top 10 Albums of the Year
Brian
Candlemass
– Candlemass
Cathedral – Garden of Unearthly Delights
Evergrey – Night to Remember Live 2004
Gamma Ray – Majestic
High
on Fire – Live at the Relapse Contamination Festival
Journey
– Live in Houston 1981 Escape Tour CD/DVD
Judas
Priest – Angel of Retribution
Kreator – Enemy of God
Nile
– Annihilation of the Wicked
Opeth – Ghost of Reveries
Nevermore – This Godless Endeavor
Matt
Chrysalis
EP
Aeva
Disaster – Signals and Skylines
KMFDM
– Hau Ruck
The
Birthday Massacre – Violet
Mankind
is Obsolete – Rise
Mindless
Self Indulgence – You’ll Rebel to Anything
Relenter
– Through the Mirror
Danko
Jones – We Sweat Blood
51 Peg Live
Rammstein – Rosenrot
Rachel
Opiate
for the Masses – The Spore
Opeth – Ghost Reveries
Clutch – Robot Hive/Exodus
A Life Once Lost
– Hunter
Queens of the Stoneage – Lullabies to Paralyze
Relenter – Through
the Mirror
Fear Factory –
Transgression
10 Years – The Autumn
Effect
Strapping Young Lad – Alien
Lamb
of God – Killadelphia
Most Disappointing Album of the Year
Brian: Demons and Wizards – Touched by the Crimson King
Matt: Nine Inch Nails – With Teeth
Rachel: Nine Inch Nails – With Teeth
Song of the Year
Brian: “The Garden” (26:58 in length) by Cathedral
Matt: “Miscarriage” by Chrysalis
Rachel: "Pain & Panic" by A Life Once Lost
Best National Tour of the Year
Brian: Judas Priest
Matt: I haven’t seen any this year, but let’s say NIN
Rachel: Nine Inch Nails & Sounds of the Underground
Best Show Seen this Year
Brian: Symphorce’s 45-minute set at ProgPower VI in Atlanta
Matt: 51 Peg and Chrysalis at Fletcher’s in Baltimore on my birthday
Rachel: Nine Inch Nails & Sounds of the Underground both in Chicago
Best New Band of the Year
Brian: No new band impressed me
Matt: Aeva Disaster
Rachel: Opiate for the Masses
Most Underrated Independent Band of the Year
Matt: Firewerk
Rachel: Relenter
Vocalist of the Year
Brian: Andy B. Franck of Symphorce for vocal ability and stage presence
Matt: Bilaal of Chrysalis
Rachel: Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth
Guitarist of the Year
Brian:
Matt: Carlo Pizarro of 51 Peg/Aeva Disaster
Rachel: Matt Pike of High on Fire
Bassist of the Year
Brian: Byron Stroud of Strapping Young Lad for pulling double duty with SYL and Fear Factory on the same tour
Matt: Luis Castellanos of Chrysalis
Rachel: Byron Stroud of Strapping Young Lad & Fear Factory
Drummer of the Year
Brian: Martin Lopez of Opeth
Matt: Jon Siren of Mankind is Obsolete
Rachel: Seven Antonopolous of Opiate for the Masses
Favorite Random MySpace Page
Brian: Rotting Corpse guitarist Luke Brewer. He has a new account, send love his way.
http://www.myspace.com/gentlemanluke