You Wanted The Best?

This was a good year for heavy music, and by that, I mean there were a lot of really good records released. So I hounded some notable Chicagoland headbangers and begged them to name their top five heavy albums of 2007. A few people used the ol’ “in no particular order” line when they submitted their lists, but I numbered them one through five anyway because I’m a bastard for continuity, though I did let Bruce Lamont have seven instead of five (“Top five? No! Seven for ’07”). I think there is a good cross section of local (Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante is a Chicagoan now) personalities here, so enjoy, and thanks to those who participated. FYI: I gave a short explanation for my picks; it is my column, after all.

Trevor Fisher, Illinois Entertainer
1. Down Over The Under (ILG) – Phil Anselmo’s triumphant return
2. High On Fire Death Is This Communion (Relapse) – HOF get better each record
3. Skeletonwitch Beyond The Permafrost (Prosthetic) – The best elements of black metal and thrash in one record
4. Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster II (Ferret) – Technically “Christian metal,” but for once I don’t care
5. Superchrist Headbanger (Rock Saviour) – Turn off brain; crack open beer

Charlie Benante, Anthrax
1. Job For A Cowboy Genesis (Metal Blade)
2. Dimmu Borgir In Sorte Diaboli (Nuclear Blast)
3. Only Hell Remains demo
4. Down Over The Under (ILG)
5. Heavy The Fall demo

Chris Black, Superchrist/Pharaoh/ Dawnbringer
1. Bad Religion New Maps Of Hell (Epitaph)
2. Helloween Gambling With The Devil (SPV)
3. Dekapitator The Storm Before The Calm (Relapse)
4. Inquisition Nefarious Dismal Orations (No Colours)
5. Nifelheim Envoy Of Lucifer (Regain)

Deena Dasein, Illinois Entertainer
1. Yakuza Transmutations (Prosthetic)
2. Vesania Distractive Killusions (Napalm)
3. Dark Funeral The Secrets Of The Black Arts (Regain)
4. Horna Sotahuuto (Moribund)
5. With Passion What We See When We Shut Our Eyes (Earache)

Scott Davidson, Rebel Radio
1. Trouble Simple Mind Condition (Escapi)
2. Machine Head The Blackening (Roadrunner)
3. Slayer Christ Illusion reissue (Sony/American)
4. Iced Earth Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Pt. 1 (Steamhammer/SPV)
5. Ministry The Last Sucker (Megaforce/13th Planet)

Steve Forstneger, Illinois Entertainer
1. High On Fire Death Is This Communion (Relapse)
2. Pelican City Of Echoes (Hydra Head)
3. October File Holy Armour From The Jaws Of God (Candlelight)
4. Gallows Orchestra Of Wolves (Epitaph)
5. Down Over The Under (ILG)

Mark Hoffmann, Bible Of The Devil
1. Slough Feg Hardworlder (Cruz Del Sur)
2. High On Fire Death Is This Communion (Relapse)
3. Witchcraft The Alchemist (Candlelight)
4. Trouble Simple Mind Condition (Escapi)
5. Weedeater God Luck And Good Speed (Southern Lord)

Blake Judd, Nachtmystium
1. Weedeater God Luck And Good Speed (Southern Lord)
2. Hacavitz Katun (Moribund)
3. Manes How The World Came To An End (Candlelight)
4. High On Fire Death Is This Communion (Relapse)
5. Zoroaster Dog Magic (Battle Kommand)

Bruce Lamont, Yakuza
1. Byla And Jarboe Viscera (Red)
2. Neurosis Given To The Rising (Neurot)
3. Minsk Ritual Fires Of Abandonment (Relapse)
4. Intronaut The Challenger (Translation Loss)
5. Cephalic Carnage Xenosapien (Relapse)
6. Sweet Cobra Forever (Hawthorne Street)
7. Indian Slights And Abuse (Seventh Rule)

Chris Lotesto, Ion Vein/Chicago Powerfest
1. Machine Head The Blackening (Roadrunner)
2. Between The Buried And Me Colors (Victory)
3. The Agonist Once Only Imagined (Century Media)
4. Soilwork Sworn To A Great Divide (Nuclear Blast)
5. (tie) The Autumn Offering Fear Will Cast No Shadow (Victory) & Novembers Doom The Novella Reservoir (The End)

Rodney Pawlak, Chicago Metal Factory
1. Devin Townsend Presents: Ziltoid The Omniscient (Inside Out)
2. Dax Riggs We Sing Of Only Blood Or Love (Fat Possum)
3. Clutch From Beale Street To Oblivion (DRT)
4. Ministry The Last Sucker (Megaforce/13th Planet)
5. Municipal Waste The Art Of Partying (Earache)

Greg Spalding, Bible Of The Devil
1. Slough Feg Hardworlder (Cruz Del Sur)
2. Trouble Simple Mind Condition (Escapi)
3. High On Fire Death Is This Communion (Relapse)
4. Stinking Lizaveta Scream Of The Iron Iconoclast (At A Loss)
5. Orange Goblin Healing Through Fire (Sanctuary)

Mark Weglarz, Metal Haven
1. Slavia Strength And Vision (Drakkar)
2. Skeletonwitch Beyond The Permafrost (Prosthetic)
3. Nosvrolok Luciferian Doctrine (Infernus Rex)
4. Dekapitator The Storm Before The Calm (Relapse)
5. Gospel Of The Horns Realm Of The Damned (Invictus)

E-mail the column at mosh@illinoisentertainer.com.

Category: Caught In A Mosh, Columns, Monthly