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October 8, 2008 |
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Well metalheads, it's that time of year again! The votes are in and the scribes of METALEATER.COM have banded together to decide upon 2004's best, along with our own individual lists of hits & misses and high hopes for 2005. After some calculations using the good old average point system, we've come up with what we feel are the best 25 metal offerings of 2004.
Standing proud at the top of the class as METALEATER Spin 2004 is ICED EARTH's remarkable masterpiece, "The Glorious Burden". We salute Jon Schaffer and Co. for delivering (in our humble opinion) the finest metal album of 2004. Rounding off the top 5 are NIGHTWISH's stunner, "Once", KATALKYSM's brutal onslaught, "Serenity In Fire", and two surprises that had us here at METALEATER feeling like we'd been kicked in the teeth a few times - ENSIFERUM's "Iron" and VADER's most crushing form of destruction to date, "The Beast".
The other 20 spins topping-off our 2004 list contains a variety of selections from some of metal's most prominent countries, including Sweden, Germany, and the United States. So, enough said. The verdicts are in....
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#1
ICED EARTH
The Glorious Burden
(SPV/Steamhammer)
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#2
NIGHTWISH
Once
(Roadrunner)
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#3
KATAKLYSM
Serenity In Fire
(Nuclear Blast)
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#4
ENSIFERUM
Iron
(Spinefarm)
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#5
VADER
The Beast
(Metal Blade)
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#6
CANNIBAL CORPSE
The Wretched Spawn
(Metal Blade)
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#7
NORTHER
Death Unlimited
(Spinefarm)
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#8
WINTERSUN
Wintersun
(Nuclear Blast)
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#9
FINNTROLL
Nattfödd
(Century Media)
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#10
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
The End Of Heartache
(Roadrunner)
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#11 - MASTODON - Leviathan (Relapse)
#12 - GRAVE - Fiendish Regression (Century Media)
#13 - EDGUY - Hellfire Club (Nuclear Blast)
#14 - INTO ETERNITY - Buried In Oblivion (Century Media)
#15 - HYPOCRISY - The Arrival (Nuclear Blast)
#16 - FEAR FACTORY - Archetype (Liquid 8)
#17 - MEGADETH - The System Has Failed (Sanctuary)
#18 - SHADOWS FALL - The War Within (Century Media)
#19 - CRADLE OF FILTH - Nymphetamine (Roadrunner)
#20 - LAMB OF GOD - Ashes Of The Wake (Sony)
#21 - UNLEASHED - Sworn Allegiance (Century Media)
#22 - AMON AMARTH - Fate Of Norns (Metal Blade)
#23 - THE HAUNTED - rEVOLVEr (Century Media)
#24 - EXODUS - Tempo Of The Damned (Nuclear Blast)
#25 - DISMEMBER - Where Ironcrosses Grow (Candlelight)
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TONY ANTUNOVICH
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#1 - ICED EARTH - The Glorious Burden
(SPV/Steamhammer)
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#2 - NIGHTWISH - Once
(Roadrunner)
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#3 - DEMONOID - Riders Of The Apocalyse
(Nuclear Blast)
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#4 - WINTERSUN - Wintersun (Nuclear Blast)
#5 - EDGUY - Hellfire Club (Nuclear Blast)
#6 - KATAKLYSM - Serenity In Fire (Nuclear Blast)
#7 - VADER - The Beast (Metal Blade)
#8 - HYPOCRISY - The Arrival (Nuclear Blast)
#9 - GRAVE - Fiendish Regression (Century Media)
#10 - ENSIFERUM - Iron (Spinefarm)
#11 - SHADOWS FALL - The War Within (Century Media)
#12 - CANNIBAL CORPSE - The Wretched Spawn (Metal Blade)
#13 - LAMB OF GOD - Ashes Of The Wake (Sony)
#14 - FEAR FACTORY - Archetype (Liquid 8)
#15 - CRADLE OF FILTH - Nymphetamine (Roadrunner)
#16 - AMON AMARTH - Fate Of Norns (Metal Blade)
#17 - UNLEASHED - Sworn Allegiance (Century Media)
#18 - FINNTROLL - Nattfödd (Century Media)
#19 - NORTHER - Death Unlimited (Spinefarm)
#20 - EXODUS - Tempo Of The Damned (Nuclear Blast)
#21 - THE HAUNTED - rEVOLVEr (Century Media)
#22 - DISMEMBER - Where Ironcrosses Grow (Candlelight)
#23 - RHAPSODY - Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II (SPV/Magic Circle Music)
#24 - MEGADETH - The System Has Failed (Sanctuary)
#25 - INTO ETERNITY - Buried In Oblivion (Century Media)
TOP 5 DISAPPOINTMENTS
#1 - ANVIL - Back To Basics (Galy)
Truly one of the most embarassing and feeble albums in music period!
#2 - KICK AXE - Kick Axe IV (Elfin Stone Music)
We waited 18 years for this??
#3 - DAMAGEPLAN - New Found Power (Elektra)
Nothing at all like what I had hoped it would be. This is a definite downgrade - sounds like PANTERA meets KORN! Ick!
#4 - TWISTED SISTER - Still Hungry (Spitfire)
Remastering and re-releasing the ORIGINAL would have been a much wiser choice.
#5 - DANZIG - Circle Of Snakes (Evillive)
What happened to traditional DANZIG?
TOP 5 LIVE SHOWS OF 2004
#1 - MEGADETH/EXODUS - The Commodore, Vancouver
#2 - ICED EARTH/CHILDREN OF BODOM/EVERGREY - The Commodore, Vancouver
#3 - W.A.S.P. - The Commodore, Vancouver
#4 - CANNIBAL CORPSE/THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER - The Commodore, Vancouver
#5 - LAMB OF GOD/FEAR FACTORY - The Commodore, Vancouver
HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR 2005
#1 - JUDAS PRIEST - It is time for the pioneers of heavy metal to return and reign at the throne of metal once again.
#2 - STRATOVARIUS - Enough wasting time! Bury the past and get back to business.
#3 - ARCH ENEMY - After 2001's "Wages Of Sin", the ARCH have just been getting heavier, faster, and more EXTREME! Their forthcoming offering should be a killer.
#4 - EIDOLON - A new singer and a new album on the way - this band is about to break more ground in 2005.
#5 - ACCEPT - The German legends are reforming for some European shows. This is truly good news for metal!!
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COREY BONNETT
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#1 - INTO ETERNITY - Buried In Oblivion
(Century Media)
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#2 - KATAKLYSM - Serenity In Fire
(Nuclear Blast)
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#3 - LAMB OF GOD - Ashes Of The Wake
(Sony)
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#4 - HATESPHERE - Ballet Of The Brute (Century Media)
#5 - MOTÖRHEAD - Inferno (SPV/Steamhammer)
#6 - HIRAX - The New Age Of Terror (Sony)
#7 - NORTHER - Death Unlimited (Spinefarm)
#8 - VADER - The Beast (Metal Blade)
#9 - THE CHASM - The Spell Of Retribution (Earache)
#10 - CRADLE OF FILTH - Nymphetamine (Roadrunner)
#11 - BLOODBATH - Nightmares Made Flesh (Century Media)
#12 - FULL BLOWN CHAOS - Wake The Demons (Stillborn)
#13 - SUFFOCATION - Souls To Deny (Relapse)
#14 - ATROCITY - Atlantis (SPV/Napalm)
#15 - GRAVE - Fiendish Regression (Century Media)
#16 - KILLSWITCH ENGAGE - The End Of Heartache (Roadrunner)
#17 - EDGUY - Hellfire Club (Nuclear Blast)
#18 - EXODUS - Tempo Of The Damned (Nuclear Blast)
#19 - SHADOWS FALL - The War Within (Century Media)
#20 - FLESH MADE SIN - Dawn Of The Stillborn (Karmageddon Media)
#21 - WINTERSUN - Wintersun (Nuclear Blast)
#22 - DIO - Master Of The Moon (Sanctuary)
#23 - INFERNAL MAJESTY - One Who Points To Death (Phantom)
#24 - AMON AMARTH - Fate Of Norns (Metal Blade)
#25 - ENLSAVED - Isa (Sony)
TOP 5 DISAPPOINTMENTS
#1 - MEGADETH - The System Has Failed (Sanctuary)
Maybe I was expecting too much.
#2 - KICK AXE - Kick Axe IV (Elfin Stone Music)
Not at all what I was anticipating after such a long wait (sigh).
#3 - TWISTED SISTER - Still Hungry (Spitfire)
One word: why?
#4 - DAMAGEPLAN - New Found Power (Elektra)
To my dismay, not PANTERA Mach-II by any means.
#5 - PAIN OF SALVATION - Be (InsideOut Music)
What the hell?
HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR 2005
#1 - KREATOR - Enemy Of God - I'm expecting Mille and Co. come back with a vengeance and get back to basics.
#2 - JUDAS PRIEST - With the return of the "Metal God", hopefully the PRIEST will deliver the type of metal they're historically known for, and what the fans are expecting.
#3 - DARK TRANQUILLITY - I'm a huge fan of melodic death metal, and anxiously await what "Character" will bring us.
#4 - GRAVE DIGGER - The Last Supper - Growing a stronger following with the last few albums, this lineup has been together for about 5 years and should once again impress.
#5 - TRIVIUM - These Floridian youngsters have been touring so much, I'm sure they've learned a lot, and "Ascendency" should prove to be a stepping stone to a bright metal career.
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CIARAN MEEKS>
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#1 - ENSIFERUM - Iron
(Spinefarm)
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#2 - NORTHER - Death Unlimited
(Spinefarm)
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#3 - FINNTROLL - Nattfödd
(Century Media)
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#4 - WINTERSUN - Wintersun (Nuclear Blast)
#5 - KILLSWITCH ENGAGE - The End Of Heartache (Roadrunner)
#6 - ICED EARTH - The Glorious Burden (SPV/Steamhammer)
#7 - AMON AMARTH - Fate Of Norns (Metal Blade)
#8 - MEGADETH - The System Has Failed (Sanctuary)
#9 - SHADOWS FALL - The War Within (Century Media)
#10 - LAMB OF GOD - Ashes Of The Wake (Sony)
#11 - MASTODON - Leviathan (Relapse)
#12 - SOULSCAR - Victim Impact Statement (Galy)
#13 - TURISAS - Battle Metal (Century Media)
#14 - UNLEASHED - Sworn Allegiance (Century Media)
#15 - PROBOT - Probot (Southern Lord)
#16 - EDGUY - Hellfire Club (Nuclear Blast)
#17 - DISMEMBER - Where Ironcrosses Grow (Candlelight)
#18 - CRADLE OF FILTH - Nymphetamine (Roadrunner)
#19 - DEATH ANGEL - The Art Of Dying (Nuclear Blast)
#20 - EVERGREY - The Inner Circle (InsideOut Music)
#21 - DISARMONIA MUNDI - Fragments Of D-Generation (Scarlet Records)
#22 - HYPOCRISY - The Arrival (Nuclear Blast)
#23 - FEAR FACTORY - Archetype (Liquid 8)
#24 - IN FLAMES - Soundtrack To Your Escape (Nuclear Blast)
#25 - INSOMNIUM - Since The Day It All Came Down (Candlelight)
TOP 5 DISAPPOINTMENTS
#1 - ANVIL - Back To Basics (Galy)
Funny for all the wrong reasons. Sounds like a fictional movie band in a film making fun of Metal. Bleeehhh!
#2 - W.A.S.P. - The Neon God Part II: The Demise (Sanctuary)
While a good portion of the W.A.S.P. back catalogue will forever remain hallowed in Metal legendry, the fact of the matter is, this buzzing hive of pretension and overwrought, anticlimactic musical/conceptual wankery needs the exterminator!
#3 - VISION DIVINE - Stream Of Consciousness (Metal Blade)
All the technicality and frilly prog finery in the known universe shall avail ye naught unless thou art capable of writing an actual SONG!!!
#4 - CATTLE DECAPITATION - Humanure (Metal Blade)
Yeah, yeah...eating a hamburger makes me Jeffrey Dahmer. Yeah right. Get a grip! Meat is not murder.
#5 - STEEL ATTACK - Enslaved (Arise Records)
So much potential wasted on such subpar songwriting. This is a technically capable band with a lot of musical talent. Why can they not write a simple song?
TOP 5 LIVE SHOWS OF 2004
#1 - ICED EARTH/CHILDREN OF BODOM/EVERGREY - The Commodore, Vancouver
#2 - LAMB OF GOD/FEAR FACTORY - The Commodore, Vancouver
#3 - W.A.S.P. - The Commodore, Vancouver
#4 - DIMMU BORGIR/SOULSCAR - The Commodore, Vancouver
#5 - MEGADETH/EXODUS - The Commodore, Vancouver
HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR 2005
#1 - The Return Of JUDAS PRIEST - Guaranteed to show the world the temper of true British Steel!!! PRIEST will kick ass and take names!!!
#2 - Melodic Euro-Death Takes Over North America - Yup...all it'll take is a few key bands like say, IN FLAMES/SOILWORK/CHILDREN OF BODOM to release a killer album each and I guarantee you that a youth already weaned on a steady diet of Metalcore will turn to frostier fare like moths to a flame. Look for the legions of 'Hatecrew Deathroll', 'Natural Born Chaos', and 'Soundtrack To Your Escape' t-shirts et al to arrive soon to a mall near you.
#3 - STRATOVARIUS Reform - And not because it was all, like...y'know...a publicity stunt or anything. Nothing of the sort.
#4 - Production begins on film version of MOTLEY CRUE: The Dirt - One of the best damn reads of last year becomes one of this coming year's best films. Kickstart my heart indeed.
#5 - More Euro bands cross the big pond to tour North America - I hope. I fervently hope.
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WADE O'NEILL
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#1 - SKYCLAD - A Semblance Of Normality
(Demolition Records)
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#2 - SONATA ARCTICA - Reckoning Night
(Nuclear Blast)
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#3 - 3 INCHES OF BLOOD - Advance And Vanquish
(Roadrunner)
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TOP 5 DISAPPOINTMENTS
#1 - NIGHTWISH - Once (Roadrunner)
The heavy numbers sound too similar and ballads like "Creek-Mary's Blood", "Higher Than Hope" and "Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan" stir no emotion in me... other than boredom.
#2 - ICED EARTH - The Glorious Burden (SPV/Steamhammer)
Not only is the voice of ICED EARTH, Matt Barlow, missing, but this album lacks the dark feel that made "Dark Saga”", "Horror Show", and "Stormrider" such great albums.
#3 - RHAPSODY - Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II (SPV/Magic Circle Music)
An apt title: this is the worst RHAPSODY album since SoEL Pt. 1. Instead of continuing the fierce approach of "DragonFlame", RHAPSODY create film score drivel. If there are elevators in Middle-Earth, this music would be playing inside.
#4 - KING DIAMOND - Deadly Lyllabyes Live (Metal Blade)
I can't think of a better example of a live album being so good, it's bad. These live tracks sound so close to the studio versions that this long overdue double-live release is more like a "best of" with crowd noise inserted between songs.
#5 - SECTION VIII - Not Of Sound Mind (Independent)
I saw this band open for 3 INCHES OF BLOOD and was impressed by their live show. Free copies of their debut were thrown into the crowd, one of which I caught. I was disappointed that the disc was covered with scratches, relieved that it actually played on my computer, but disappointed again by the fact that the album was nothing more than mediocre melodeath: not even worth catching.
TOP 5 LIVE SHOWS OF 2004
#1 - TYRANT - Reds, Edmonton
#2 - TYRANT (again) - Red's, Edmonton
#3 - W.A.S.P. - Red's, Edmonton
#4 - MEGADETH/EXODUS - Red's, Edmonton
#5 - ICED EARTH/CHILDREN OF BODOM/EVERGREY - The Commodore, Vancouver
HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR 2005
#1 - SINERGY - "Suicide By My Side" destroyed every other release in 2002, and did so in only 38 minutes. Unfortunately, this band seems to take a backseat to the inferior CHILDREN OF BODOM. In SINERGY, Alexi Laiho's guitarwork runs wild, free, and unsugared
#2 - DEMONS & WIZARDS - Left unimpressed by the overambitious "A Night At The Opera" and the underambitious "The Glorious Burden", my hope now lies with the new D&W album. It will be great to hear only one Hansi sing, and hopefully his influence on Schaffer's writing will add that freshness "The Glorious Burden" lacked.
#3 - IRON MAIDEN - Although their next studio platter won't be released until '06, "The Early Days Pt. II" will make the wait a little easier. I've been waiting to see the "Live After Death" show, complete with its legendary Egyptian backdrop for as long as I've been a MAIDEN fan.
#4 - METALUCIFER - I once read on METALUCIFER's website that their next album, "Heavy Metal Bulldozer" is due out in 2005. They have since taken that message off (either that, or I just can't find it), but I hope '05 sees these samurais riding again. Either way, start placing your bets now: the over-under for the number of songs that contain the words "Heavy Metal" is 6.5
#5 - SUMMONING - "Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame" was good, but not as dark or memorable as past SUMMONING monsterpieces like "Dol Guldur". Hopefully on their next release, the band will change (or change back) for the better.
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MARTY OGILVIE
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#1 - NIGHTWISH - Once
(Roadrunner)
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#2 - DREAM THEATER - Live At Budokan
(Rhino Records)
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#3 - FEAR FACTORY - Archetype
(Liquid 8)
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#4 - CANNIBAL CORPSE - The Wretched Spawn (Metal Blade)
#5 - VELVET REVOLVER - Contraband (RCA)
#6 - ANATHEMA - A Natural Disaster (Music For Nations)
#7 - MNEMIC - The Audio Injected Soul (Nuclear Blast)
#8 - MEGADETH - The System Has Failed (Sanctuary)
#9 - PROBOT - Probot (Southern Lord)
#10 - HYPOCRISY - The Arrival (Nuclear Blast)
#11 - BEHEMOTH - Demigod (Regain)
#12 - MASTODON - Leviathan (Relapse)
#13 - SHADOWS FALL - The War Within (Century Media)
#14 - JON OLIVA'S PAIN - Tage Mahal (SPV)
#15 - SLIPKNOT - Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses (Roadrunner)
#16 - THE HAUNTED - rEVOLVEr (Century Media)
#17 - DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN - Miss Machine (Relapse)
#18 - LAMB OF GOD - Ashes Of The Wake (Sony)
#19 - 3 INCHES OF BLOOD - Advance And Vanquish (Roadrunner)
#20 - TIM DONAHUE - Madmen And Sinners (Frontiers)
#21 - BORKNAGAR - Epic (Century Media)
#22 - DEREK SHERINIAN - Mythology (InsideOut Music)
#23 - SIRENIA - An Elixir For Existence (Napalm)
#24 - BLACK LABEL SOCIETY - Hangover Music Vol. IV (Spitfire)
#25 - BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION - Here Comes The Brides (Sanctuary)
TOP 5 DISAPPOINTMENTS
#1 - GENE SIMMONS - Asshole (Sanctuary)
The album starts out great, but after song 3, it's quickly downhill with lifeless, boring songs. What happened Gene?
#2 - CRADLE OF FILTH - Nymphetamine (Roadrunner)
I just can't shake the feeling that I've heard CRADLE do this all before. I was just really hoping for more.
#3 - IN FLAMES - Soundtrack To Your Escape (Nuclear Blast)
These guys used to be a force, but lately it seems that they're losing their way. If they get back to doing 'metal', then a lot of people will be happy.
#4 - DREAM EVIL - The Book Of Heavy Metal (Century Media)
Great players sure, but those lyrics are just so silly that it's hard to take this album seriously.
#5 - W.A.S.P. - The Neon God Parrts 1 & 2 (Sanctuary)
Is it me, or does this storyline seem awfully similar to "Snow" by SPOCK'S BEARD? Sorry Blackie, but this is very unoriginal.
TOP 5 LIVE SHOWS OF 2004
#1 - DREAM THEATER - Moore Theater, Seattle
#2 - DIMMU BORGIR/SOULSCAR - The Commodore, Vancouver
#3 - VAN HALEN - Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver
#4 - DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND - The Showroom, Vancouver
#5 - DYING FETUS (support for GWAR) - The Commodore, Vancouver
HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR 2005
#1 - STRAPPING YOUNG LAD - The new album, "Alien", should take Hevy Devy and Co. to new heights. Apparently, Dev didn't think the SYL album was chaotic enough, so he wanted this one to be even more! You've been warned!
#2 - JUDAS PRIEST - The reunion everyone was waiting for. With the Metal God back in the fold, JUDAS PRIEST should show all the young bands just how the big boys do it.
#3 - BLOODBATH - 2002's "Resurrection Through Carnage" was amazing. Now with Peter Tägtgren handling the vocals, "Nightmares Made Flesh" will terrorize the masses.
#4 - DEMONS & WIZARDS - Hansi Kursch and Jon Schaffer created the best album of 1999 with D&W 1 - there are high expectations for the new disc, but Jon and Hansi will not disappoint.
#5 - SLAYER - The follow up to "God Hates Us All" will see the return of Dave Lombardo to the band. Satan's favorite henchmen will deliver the goods.
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