Five things in metal that I am thankful for

This is the fifth year I have done this feature and it's always fun to think about the top bands, labels, services or whatever that I am most thankful for from this past year. So here you go in no particular order.

Metal Mind Productions- This record label has been so consistent that they have made this list every year I have done it. They always manage to put out some great re-issues and this year was no exception as we were treated to re-issues from Mad Max, Blind Illusion, Quartz, Fist and others. Many included lyric booklets, some with band biographies and several contained bonus tracks as well.

Ratt-Certainly not a band I thought would end up on this list. Their last album the 1999 s/t reunion album was wretched so my hopes for "Infestation" were not high. I was wrong and Ratt came back with not just a good album, but one of the best hard rock albums of the year and one of the best of their career. I am thankful to them for proving that a veteran act can still make a fine record.

Canvas Solaris-Progressive metal is not exactly my favorite sub-genre of metal. Many bands is this field tend to be self-indulgent and frequently turn into giant wank fests as they to squeeze as many notes and beats possible into their music with complete disregard for emotion or spirit. However Georgia based instrumental prog-rock/metal act Canvas Solaris no better and they have been proving it for several years. Only they have also gotten even better with each release. This is a skilled prog band that hasn't forgotten how to rock plus be able to inject feeling and grooves into their music.

Self-produced metal acts-This is a broad choice, but an important one. Twenty or twenty-five years ago getting signed by a label was perhaps more important for bands. If they couldn't get signed by a major or an indie major label then they had to go the self-produced route which frequently didn't lead anywhere because they could make the album, but distribution for a self-produced release often meant they could only hit a small area. Years ago is seemed that only major label metal bands could get greater production values on their albums. Nowadays if bands can't get signed they produce their own product. It's easier to get great production nowadays thanks to technology so self-produced albums can sound great too. Also outlets like Myspace and Facebook allow bands to promote their product to a broader range of people and MP3s and downloads can allow fans to hear their music right aways. So their are many factors that go into helping bands that produce their own music, but I still applaud these bands for going this route and showing that the music business is always all about the big record labels.

Downloadable music-Another broad choice, but an important one and it ties in with the above choice. There are benefits to the physical product like artwork, but on the other hand downloading music can be done right, it doesn't take up space on your shelf unless you choose to put it on disc. Also it allows bands to get their music out to people in a manner that doesn't require as much money. An up and coming band can record and put their songs on Myspace and not have to go through the process of packaging and distributing a demo. Also labels and PR people can save some money on postage and packaging by sending downloads rather than mailing out physical copies. In tight times like these saving money where you can helps a lot. So if that's what it takes to keep music alive and available then I am all for it.

The unknown

I have hear a lot of bands over the years. The good, the bad and everyone in between. Still there are of course a multitude that I have not heard because of lack of time, money or just general lack of interest on my part. However back in the 80's I would spend so much time in record stores looking at all of the choices even if I didn't have the funds to buy anything. Some of these bands I heard back then, some I heard years later and some I have still never got around to hearing. Here are some that fall in the last category that I remember seeing albums for back in the 1980-early 90's.

Tarzen-I saw the s/t debut from this Spanish band in a local record store around 85-86 and was curious. Never heard or really pursued it. Most reports say I am not missing anything.

Darkness-No, not the Darkness, but rather a German thrash outfit that knocked out several albums. I loved Kreator, Sodom and the like years ago and several times I had albums by this band in my clutches, but always opted for something else.

Warlord-I remember seeing "And the cannons of destruction have begun" at one point and had even heard of this band in the metal mags. I don't know why I passed on them, but most sources say they are worth checking out.

I am sure there are countless others I passed on, but those are the top ones that come to my mind right away.

Five things in metal that I am thankful for

I think this is the third or forth year I have done this. Five things in metal that I am thankful for this year in no real order.

Metal Mind Records-Okay, these guys have made my list every year and with great re-issues of albums from Satan, Maltese Falcon, Acid Drinkers, Turbo and more they easily make the list again.

UFO-Their label was going under, Pete Way was having health problems and this veteran band probably had other things going against them too. They still put out a fine album in "The Visitor". Always good to see a veteran band dig down like that.

Admiral Browning-I never would have thought a band from not far from my area would put out one of the best albums of 2009. This instrumental doom/stoner act have done just that.

Slayer-I still need to tie my ideas together and get a review out of World Painted Blood. Still I know it's good. While Slayer have never strayed far from the sound they set up in the 80's they have at least have been very consistent. Metallica went way off, Megadeth strayed for years and Anthrax disappeared and were not very relevant when they did reappear, but Slayer have remained as a solid, long running force and influence in metal.

Iron Maiden, Sam Dunn, Scot McFadyen and everyone involved with making Flight 666-We all know how great Maiden are, but this movie shows what this band means to fans across the globe. It shows the band as the fine musicians they are, but it also shows the work and effort that went in to making a tour of this magnitude work. Of course the live clips and interviews with the fans are fantastic. A great film all the way around.

So there you go. I still have a big turkey award for 2009 to give out at some point. As it stands right now the nominees are Rocklahoma 2009, Lita Ford and Wal-mart exclusives (sorry, didn't hear the newest Queensryche or else I am sure they would make this list).