Favourite albums of 2011?

[Loucifer]

Due to the nature of my own website, each year I find myself with the epic (and often impossible

) task of putting together a list of my favourite albums of 2011. I always start by trying to limit the list to a Top 10, but it always grows to a ridiculously large beast by the end of it.



...and I always manage to miss some amazing release out...

So, this year, things will be different. I've started to compile my list already - so I should have a pretty decent idea of what my favourite albums were by the end of the year. I realise that some albums will be released between now and 31st December, but I will slot them in as and when I need to. Well, that's the plan anyway.



Anyway, I thought I'd start a thread here to see what YOUR favourite albums of 2011 are? Most of the people I speak to usually list Metal / Rock releases, so it'll be interesting to see what else is making waves in different genres. Also, if your list does happen to include a lot of Metal / Rock stuff, it'll be cool to see which albums I've missed over the past 10 months or so.



So...



What's on your list?



And, on the other side of the coin... which albums have been the most disappointing of 2011?

 

[Crusader]

Not all the albums I want are out yet. Evanescence and Five Finger Death Punch's come out in a few hours. Then Steel Panther's is on the 31st of this month then Korn's is in December.



But so far the best of the year are (from highest to lowest)

1. In Waves by Trivium - Their best album yet, maybe?
   
2. American Tradegy by Hollywood Undead - More mainstream sounding, prefer Swan Songs at times, and at others this
   
3. Vices & Virtues by Panic! At The Disco - A more polished sound, closer to their first album which is still one of my all time favs
   
4. Gold Cobra by Limp Bizkit - Best album since Chocolate Starfish, might even be better
   
5. Call to Arms by Saxon - NWoBHM legends, still making epic music
   
6. Incomparable by Dead by April - Not as good as the first album, more pop than death metal
   
7. Dead Son Rising by Gary Numan - Since the album is just a bunch of reject demos it's to be expected that it isn't that great, a few good songs though
   

 

[Loucifer]

I just found out that Theudho are releasing a new album next month... that's gonna effect my list! That band is awesome!



Some of the albums that have stood out in 2011 for me (not in any particular order at the moment):



Taake - Noregs Vaapen

Kampfar - Mare

Moonsorrow – Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa

Vesperian Sorrow - Stormwinds of Ages

Saille – Irreversible Decay

Stillborn – Los Asesinos Del Sur

Spine Extraction – Spine Extraction

Helheim – Heiðindómr Ok Mótgangr

Herfst – Necrotica

Cryptic Throne – The Wolves Gather…

Shining РVII / F̦dd F̦rlorare

Sebastian Bach - Kicking & Screaming

Nervecell – Psychogenocide

Byfrost - Of Death

Omnium Gatherum – New World Shadows

The Very End – Mercy & Misery

PLAAG – UGH!

Saille – Irreversible Decay

Vader - Welcome to the Morbid Reich

Edguy - Age of the Joker

Tarot – Spell of Iron MMXI (Honorable mention, since it's a re-recording)

Decapitated - Carnival is Forever

 

[Raven]

Hmm I am useless at remember album years so I'll look them up.



Deathstar Rising - Before the Dawn

Sutur Rising - Amon Amarth

Circle Regenerated - Norther

Redemption at the Purtians Hand - Primordial

Drive - Poisonblack

Infected - Hammerfall

Communication Lost - Wolverine

The Lay of Thyrm - TYR

Black Fangs - Sourvein

The Hunter - Mastodon