Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives :: View topic - Metal-Archives top releases of 2008 results!

Amon Amarth are a good solid band, but definitely not Best of 2008. That is ridiculous. The debut is probably the best they ever did, even though I haven't heard everything.

Sure, number one isn't where they should be standing, I agree. But "pop-melodeath"? If you're going to attack an album at least have substance behind your criticisms instead of doing the usual "its-popular-so-let's-hate-it" schtick.

Empyreal wrote:

Amon Amarth are a good solid band, but definitely not Best of 2008. That is ridiculous. The debut is probably the best they ever did, even though I haven't heard everything.

Perhaps because people, uh, don't like it? Even if the people who share their dislike of Amon Amarth then may branch into their own niches of metal, be it grind/gore, black or doom.

Jarnroth wrote:

Perhaps because people, uh, don't like it? Even if the people who share their dislike of Amon Amarth then may branch into their own niches of metal, be it grind/gore, black or doom.

I'm sure they do. Again, it's just a little frustrating because the criticisms rarely seem to rise above the "OMG P0P MELODEATH!!1!1!" cries.

Decrepit Birth so high?!

Bands like Waylander so low?!

IN FLAMES EVEN ON THIS LIST!??!?!

Well, it's good to see at least Amon Amarth made top spot which I agree with as well as several others so high. Nice job Mikey!

LOL Amon Amarth is very fucking overrated. I'm in awe that so many people thought THAT was the best album of '08. Sorry, but that Decrepit Birth album blew it away.

Necronipple wrote:

LOL Amon Amarth is very fucking overrated. I'm in awe that so many people thought THAT was the best album of '08. Sorry, but that Decrepit Birth album blew it away.

That Decrepit Birth album blows nothing but big black testicles.

Voyager didn't make the top ten? It has to be one of the best releases done by Manilla Road. Amazing.

DukeLetoAtreides wrote:

Voyager didn't make the top ten? It has to be one of the best releases done by Manilla Road. Amazing.

It wasn't in my top 10 list, but I was really expecting it to be in the top 10, or 5.

The_Boss wrote:

LOL Amon Amarth is very fucking overrated. I'm in awe that so many people thought THAT was the best album of '08. Sorry, but that Decrepit Birth album blew it away.

I'm actually surprised someone else voted for Asva's new release. Quite an enjoyable album. Better than most of what Sunn O))) has ever done.

Voyager didn't make the top ten? It has to be one of the best releases done by Manilla Road. Amazing.

...1. 448 Amon Amarth – Twilight Of The Thunder God <3-2-6-3-2-5-0-3-1-4>...

Hasn't it been two weeks since that MA fav album poll? Where are the results???

Do you think it'd be alright if there is a bottom 10 survey of 2008? If there isn't already, that is.

MikeyC wrote:

...1. 448 Amon Amarth – Twilight Of The Thunder God <3-2-6-3-2-5-0-3-1-4>...

And that is exactly why I didn't vote. I knew that there was nothing I could have done to prevent that from happening.

That, and I can't really think of more than perhaps 5 fucking stellar releases from 2008.

I knew that there was nothing I could have done to prevent that from happening.

Do you think it'd be alright if there is a bottom 10 survey of 2008? If there isn't already, that is.

Although... we all know what the "top spot" on that list is going to be. And it's not Metallica or In Flames.

Author:	Empyreal [ Fri Jan 09, 2009 8:49 am ]
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Amon Amarth are a good solid band, but definitely not Best of 2008. That is ridiculous. The debut is probably the best they ever did, even though I haven't heard everything.

Author:	Hybrid_Killer [ Fri Jan 09, 2009 8:55 am ]
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Empyreal wrote: Amon Amarth are a good solid band, but definitely not Best of 2008. That is ridiculous. The debut is probably the best they ever did, even though I haven't heard everything. Sure, number one isn't where they should be standing, I agree. But "pop-melodeath"? If you're going to attack an album at least have substance behind your criticisms instead of doing the usual "its-popular-so-let's-hate-it" schtick.

Author:	Melmoth_the_Wanderer [ Fri Jan 09, 2009 9:37 am ]
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Hybrid_Killer wrote: Sure, number one isn't where they should be standing, I agree. But "pop-melodeath"? If you're going to attack an album at least have substance behind your criticisms instead of doing the usual "its-popular-so-let's-hate-it" schtick. The bandwagon of hating something because its A) new or b) popular is bullshit, and I'm not even saying I hate the band I'm saying they are simple melodeath - nothing special. Simple melodeath is probably an oxymoron anyway, but when I listened 'Twilight...' I had to skip every track because its so repetitive and 'easy'. They just throw in a catchy melody and repeat it with a sing-a-long chorus. This in itself is not a bad thing, and the album's not as bad at it as, say Dark Tranquillity's 'Fiction', but to say its the best of 2008 is mad. Chart-busting yes, not great. In the past, they may have stuck to this formula, but maybe its the ultra-slick production that makes the damn thing so bubblegum.

Author:	MaDTransilvanian [ Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:12 pm ]
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Hybrid_Killer wrote: Empyreal wrote: Amon Amarth are a good solid band, but definitely not Best of 2008. That is ridiculous. The debut is probably the best they ever did, even though I haven't heard everything. Sure, number one isn't where they should be standing, I agree. But "pop-melodeath"? If you're going to attack an album at least have substance behind your criticisms instead of doing the usual "its-popular-so-let's-hate-it" schtick. About a third of the posts in this thread are a form of ''its-pupular-so-let's-hate-it'', incuding many of them against Amon Amarth. You can't really expect anything else from here, people who see that albums which they didn't vote for came out in front of theirs always bitch about them it seems. Twilight of the Thunder God is incredible, I don't see it as being any less worthy than Versus the World or With Oden on our Side. Hating well-known melodic death metal bands is incredibly popular here.

Author:	Jarnroth [ Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:49 pm ]
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Perhaps because people, uh, don't like it? Even if the people who share their dislike of Amon Amarth then may branch into their own niches of metal, be it grind/gore, black or doom.

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Author:	Hybrid_Killer [ Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:56 pm ]
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Jarnroth wrote: Perhaps because people, uh, don't like it? Even if the people who share their dislike of Amon Amarth then may branch into their own niches of metal, be it grind/gore, black or doom. I'm sure they do. Again, it's just a little frustrating because the criticisms rarely seem to rise above the "OMG P0P MELODEATH!!1!1!" cries.

Author:	Sir_General_Flashman [ Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:58 pm ]
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I'm kind of missing falconer on it, but I agree, for the most part, with everything else.

Author:	MeltedFace [ Fri Jan 09, 2009 9:23 pm ]
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Hybrid_Killer wrote: Jarnroth wrote: Perhaps because people, uh, don't like it? Even if the people who share their dislike of Amon Amarth then may branch into their own niches of metal, be it grind/gore, black or doom. I'm sure they do. Again, it's just a little frustrating because the criticisms rarely seem to rise above the "OMG P0P MELODEATH!!1!1!" cries. In addition to that, most people who "dislike" Amon Amarth's material don't just say "I didn't like it" or "I didn't think it was that good", they always have a need to bash it and in turn bash people that like it. How a criticism should look: "I thought Amon Amarth's riffs were very simplistic and it seems like Johan Hegg has lost his motivation." How most criticisms come out: "I thought Amon Amarth's riffs were very simplistic and it seems like Johan Hegg has lost his motivation. I don't understand how anyone could like this utter shit unless they have no musical knowledge and are complete simpletons." Also, the notion that Amon Amarth is turning "pop" is laughable at best. Yes, they are gaining popularity, but how has Amon Amarth changed their sound other than progressively getting cleaner production that separates the instrumentation (which coincidentally enough complements their shows)? Yes, it is true that many people might think that Amon Amarth is some sort of metal god and that they profess it far too often. But if you allow this to detract from your own enjoyment of the music, then you are the one with issues. No, I didn't think TotTG was worthy of #1. But what would bashing people who thought it was awesome accomplish?

Author:	Necronipple [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:42 am ]
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The_Boss wrote: Decrepit Birth so high?! Bands like Waylander so low?! IN FLAMES EVEN ON THIS LIST!??!?! Well, it's good to see at least Amon Amarth made top spot which I agree with as well as several others so high. Nice job Mikey! LOL Amon Amarth is very fucking overrated. I'm in awe that so many people thought THAT was the best album of '08. Sorry, but that Decrepit Birth album blew it away.

Author:	Lepernicus [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:55 am ]
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Necronipple wrote: LOL Amon Amarth is very fucking overrated. I'm in awe that so many people thought THAT was the best album of '08. Sorry, but that Decrepit Birth album blew it away. Irony alert!

Author:	Avaddons_blood [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:13 am ]
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Necronipple wrote: LOL Amon Amarth is very fucking overrated. I'm in awe that so many people thought THAT was the best album of '08. Sorry, but that Decrepit Birth album blew it away. That Decrepit Birth album blows nothing but big black testicles.

Author:	Lepernicus [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:27 am ]
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Avaddons_blood wrote: Necronipple wrote: LOL Amon Amarth is very fucking overrated. I'm in awe that so many people thought THAT was the best album of '08. Sorry, but that Decrepit Birth album blew it away. That Decrepit Birth album blows nothing but big black testicles. I'm pretty sure it's indiscriminate as to what color of balls it has slapping against its chin.

Author:	AltoVariago [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:14 am ]
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wow Sunn's Dormkirke only one vote... and Cult of Luna's Eternal Kingdom isnt even listed (but Krallice and Deathspell Omega fared pretty well i think, nonetheless the circumstances) well it is always impressive to see the how faithful following of aging (dying?) bands such as Judas Priest, Metallica or Motorhead (or even darkthrone) can warp the sense of time... for sure these great icons have their deserved place in history of rock, but imo not in the history of 2008

Author:	~Guest 135210 [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:21 am ]
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I haven't heard many albums from 2008, so I didn't vote, but I'm glad that at least 2 people voted for Spite Extreme Wing - Ultra. That's an underrated unknown gem.

Author:	ENKC [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:23 pm ]
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Well that was the least suprising first place since Michael Phelps went near water (or Lance Armstrong sat on a bike). What is it that makes AA so enormously popular on metal forums? They always win everything. I like them myself, but I'm not used to so many metalheads agreeing on a band so consistently. <edit> Oh yes, I thought Agony of Death by Holy Moses was my favourite of the year. Twilight of the Thunder God I'd possibly put second overall, but it'll be a couple of years before I have a sufficiently comprehensive collection of 08 releases to be certain.

Author:	Seto [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:57 pm ]
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Surprised and frankly a bit disappointed by the result. I like AA, but what a thoroughly mediocre release. Steadfast was my particular favourite; a superb album. Ultimately, I think the list shows what an incredibly average year it was for metal. 2009 looks much more promising though, starting with Destroyer 666.

Author:	Kruel [ Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:16 am ]
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caspian said he had 40 more votes to tally (out of a total of about 200.)

Author:	Wet Pussy [ Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:45 am ]
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Especially when someone has to compile like 200 lists.

Author:	Empyreal [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:37 am ]
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Yeah, I'm really unsure why people like the Decrepit Birth album. Guess some things will never be explained.

Author:	the16th6toothson [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:20 am ]
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grrrr trifecta of strong opinion forthcoming!!!! Amon Amarth simply make boring albums, but they put on a killer kickass live show. LOVE them live but i can't stomach their albums at all Decrepit Birth are just crap. the end. DismembeR wrote the best album this year

Author:	DukeLetoAtreides [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:11 am ]
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Voyager didn't make the top ten? It has to be one of the best releases done by Manilla Road. Amazing.

Author:	Wet Pussy [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:41 am ]
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DukeLetoAtreides wrote: Voyager didn't make the top ten? It has to be one of the best releases done by Manilla Road. Amazing. It wasn't in my top 10 list, but I was really expecting it to be in the top 10, or 5.

Author:	Empyreal [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 12:09 pm ]
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MegaHassan wrote: DukeLetoAtreides wrote: Voyager didn't make the top ten? It has to be one of the best releases done by Manilla Road. Amazing. It wasn't in my top 10 list, but I was really expecting it to be in the top 10, or 5. Yes, people here often don't have the best taste. (;))

Author:	pwd666 [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:28 pm ]
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I'm glad to see Esoteric up there! Some deifferent metal on top for a change. Props for doing the survey etc..

Author:	Khomaniac [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:02 pm ]
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Ha, Evergrey didn't make the list at all? I'm a huge Evergrey fan but not surprised by this, Torn was atrocious.

Author:	The_Boss [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:59 pm ]
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Necronipple wrote: The_Boss wrote: Decrepit Birth so high?! Bands like Waylander so low?! IN FLAMES EVEN ON THIS LIST!??!?! Well, it's good to see at least Amon Amarth made top spot which I agree with as well as several others so high. Nice job Mikey! LOL Amon Amarth is very fucking overrated. I'm in awe that so many people thought THAT was the best album of '08. Sorry, but that Decrepit Birth album blew it away. Wow, I don't think I even need to say anything back to that. I'll let your own explanation do the work for me...

Author:	Chozzyb [ Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:29 pm ]
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Satanic_Shoe wrote: I'm actually surprised someone else voted for Asva's new release. Quite an enjoyable album. Better than most of what Sunn O))) has ever done. I thought i would be the only one who voted for it, glad to see someone else voted for it. Suprised that Coldworld and Darkspace came so low down, i expected them to do better.

Author:	Lyrici17 [ Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:26 am ]
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The list, generally speaking, was pretty expected. obviously bands who are more popular are going to be heard by more people and thus receive more votes. Did Amon Amarth release the best album in 2008? Probably not (I personally don't think so). However, you have to take their #1 spot with a grain of salt. They're very well know, and are obviously going to garner some votes. Additionally, I think you could do a lot worse than Amon Amarth at #1. Sure, they haven't changed their sound in [probably] a decade, but that sound isn't exactly a revolting one. Overall, the list is pretty solid. Like many others, I'm glad to see Ceremonial Castings get some love (even though I haven't heard "Salem 1692" - I can only assume that it is amazing). I would have voted, but I didn't feel that I had heard enough 2008 releases to really create a real/good list... Good job MikeyC for all the hard work...!

Author:	Expedience [ Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:51 am ]
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DukeLetoAtreides wrote: Voyager didn't make the top ten? It has to be one of the best releases done by Manilla Road. Amazing. That isn't saying a lot. Just what were people thinking voting for Enslaved?

Author:	LokiGoddess [ Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:10 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Metal-Archives top releases of 2008 results!
MikeyC wrote: ...1. 448 Amon Amarth – Twilight Of The Thunder God <3-2-6-3-2-5-0-3-1-4>... And that is exactly why I didn't vote. I knew that there was nothing I could have done to prevent that from happening. That, and I can't really think of more than perhaps 5 fucking stellar releases from 2008.

Author:	Nolan_B [ Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:12 am ]
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Anybody know when the results for the all-time metal album poll are coming?

Author:	Entranceemperium [ Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:50 am ]
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Glad to see many of the bands I favored made it high. Wish Cor Scorpii would have made it higher though.

Author:	agentsteel666 [ Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:24 am ]
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Hasn't it been two weeks since that MA fav album poll? Where are the results???

Author:	Lyrici17 [ Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:29 am ]
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agentsteel666 wrote: Hasn't it been two weeks since that MA fav album poll? Where are the results??? The lists don't just add themselves up... that shit can take some time...

Author:	Goatfangs [ Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:54 am ]
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Do you think it'd be alright if there is a bottom 10 survey of 2008? If there isn't already, that is. Although... we all know what the "top spot" on that list is going to be. And it's not Metallica or In Flames.

Author:	MikeyC [ Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:56 am ]
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Goatfangs wrote: Do you think it'd be alright if there is a bottom 10 survey of 2008? If there isn't already, that is. Sounds good on paper, but I don't think that'll ever get the green light. At least, not by me. I've done one survey, and that's enough for one year.

Author:	Nhorf [ Sun Jan 11, 2009 11:51 am ]
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Voyager should be higher. ---------------- Now playing: David Gilmour - Shine On You Crazy Diamond [Live]

Author:	Jarnroth [ Sun Jan 11, 2009 11:57 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Metal-Archives top releases of 2008 results!
LokiGoddess wrote: MikeyC wrote: ...1. 448 Amon Amarth – Twilight Of The Thunder God <3-2-6-3-2-5-0-3-1-4>... And that is exactly why I didn't vote. I knew that there was nothing I could have done to prevent that from happening. That, and I can't really think of more than perhaps 5 fucking stellar releases from 2008. The second thing I can understand, but not the first one. It's like people who don't vote in elections even if there are alternatives they think are good, if even somewhat.