Thursday, October 8, 2009

Autothrall's Best Metal Albums of 2001

The Top 20 Metal Albums of 2001

01. Sigh (Japan) - Imaginary Sonicscape
02. Destruction (Germany) - The Antichrist
03. Opeth (Sweden) - Blackwater Park
04. Hollenthon (Austria) - With Vilest of Worms to Dwell
05. Grave Digger (Germany) - The Grave Digger
06. Anaal Nathrakh (UK) - The Codex Necro
07. Vomitory (Sweden) - Revelation Nausea
08. Gamma Ray (Germany) - No World Order
09. Summoning (Austria) - Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame
10. Melechesh (Israel) - Djinn
11. Emperor (Norway) - Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise
12. Enslaved (Norway) - Monumension
13. My Dying Bride (UK) - The Dreadful Hours
14. Primal Fear (Germany) - Nuclear Fire
15. Entombed (Sweden) - Morning Star
16. Thorns (Norway) - Thorns
17. Borknagar (Norway) - Empiricism
18. Yearning (Finland) - Frore Meadow
19. The Meads of Asphodel (UK) - The Excommunication of Christ
20. Blut Aus Nord (France) - The Mystical Beast of Rebellion

Probably not the strongest of years for the genre at large, but that's not to say there weren't some damned impressive offerings. The big story of 2001 was hearing Destruction return to full capacity, kicking everyone's ass and producing what might be the finest pure thrash album to date in the 21st century. Having said that, I'd give the slight edge to Sigh's album this year, which I'd consider their very best. An eclectic, unusual, and unforgettable experience. A lot of experimentation and variation here, as well as a lot of good power metal. Norse bands like Enslaved, Thorns, and Borknargar had strong showings, even Emperor released their divisive swan song, which I've grown to love.

UPDATED FOR 2020

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