The seven best hard rock/metal bands of the last seven years

Okay, to celebrate the seventh blogiversary I commited to coming up with a list of what I think are the seven best bands of the last seven years. So that allows us back to mid 2005. My task is selecting what seven hard rock metal bands have produced the best music since then. There were some bands who started that time period well, but have since broken up and that ended their chances (Ogre and Byzantine fall in this cateogry). There were the bands that did something great in the early part of the seven year time period, but  have not followed it up (Acid King, Celtic Frost). So here are my final choices in no real order.

 Ufomammut-This Italian outfit plays a combination of experimental/doom/stoner/noise and they have just gotten better and better with each album. They released my favorite album of 2010 and their current album is my favorite of 2012 so far.

Sigh-I have trouble thinking of Sigh as being a veteran outfit, but with more than 20 years in the business they are. Their sound hasn't as much changed over the years as it has evolved. I enjoy their earlier material, but I am mesmerized by their more recent efforts.

Between the buried and me-A prog band? What was I thinking? Sure, these guys have the technical skills, but the important thing is they put the rock into progressive rock and they are heavy to boot. It's also possible that they have not yet reached their peak.

Admiral Browning-Yes, I know you've probably never heard of them. They are a Maryland trio who play doom/stoner/progressive instrumentals. They are amazing and really mix up the tones and sounds.

Iron Maiden-What? This isn't the 80's, what kind of suck-up fanboy are you, Metal Mark? Stick with me here. Now granted Maiden's output isn't as frequent as they once were. This seven year period has seen them release A matter of life and death (great, one of their best and best album of 2006), The Final Frontier was a top five in it's year plus add in Flight 666 and En Vivo! and you see and hear a band that's still one of the best going.

Hibria-Come on, Metal Mark the list is almost over and not one younger retro-thrash or retro-classic metal or retro-something. Okay, how about Hibria. Unfortunately their "Defying the rules" album falls about eight months before the cutoff, but their other albums are just as good. I could pick someone like Municipal Waste or Enforcer who have done a good job of channeling the vibe of old school metal. However Hibria do that plus they combine classic metal and power metal plus they manage to develop some of their own identity as well.

Gypsy Pistoleros/Gypsy Pistolero-What no glam bands on this list? Easily the best glam band in recent years. Creative, energetic and catchy. The only downside is they have really suffered from being unable to keep a stable line-up.


There you go. Love it, hate it, add own list.

Between the buried and me-The parallax: hypersleep diaries

Metal Blade
2011

Surprises in music can be a wonderful thing if done correctly. With a band like Between the buried and me I kind of know what's coming on a new album, but only in a loose sense. I know they'll bring a huge platter piled high with elements of prog-rock, jazz, punk, folk, metal and other. I know that will bring everything at a brisk speed and have my head spinning the whole. However I don't know exactly specifically beyond that and that's where they keep me on my toes and keep amazing with each new twist and turn. Opener "Specular reflection" is a wonderful example of BTAM at their best. It's over 11 minutes of a full on assault on spiraling sound clashing and flowing as the band flies through, over and around far too many musical passages to count. A number of bands can mix different musical styles in songs, but not every one can mix the styles as seamlessly as this band. Also I have yet to hear a band who can switch the vocals so easily and no matter what have them completely in sync with the current musical landscape that is going on. "Augment of birth" follows with another spectacular display thunderous beats and rapid fire blasts of sound. This song is more intense, but the band still manages to infuse so many parts and tones into the mix and every piece fits perfectly. "Lunar Wilderness" spends the first few minutes living up to it's title as we are flown out on a cosmic journey being jarred by a wild and furious attack as BTAM go all out, but the cosmic bits find their way back into the sound here and there. This may be my favorite song just because it's such a perfect blend of pounding heaviness, technical madness and odd meanderings. Some fans bicker about the length of this band's songs on recent albums, but I think that's nonsense because short or long they give so much on every track. Totally brilliant release from one of the most interesting bands going today.