2010 Muffins: literally more muffins than your body has room for.

Ok, first off, the "more X than your body has room for" statement that is oh so absurdly popular with some people is gramatically wrong, it's a sentence that ends in a preposition, which is all kinds of wrong, but, ok, I don't really care, so, moving along....

@)!)

oh, wait....

2010!!!

I guess you can't put numbers in CAPS... but, again, oh well, maybe that's a problem that will be fixed in 2011, we can only hope.

But what I was trying to say was that 2010 is finsihed, done, kaput, never again to be encountered on humanity's presumably (mostly) linear path through the 4th and 5th dimensions, and it was a pretty decent year all things considered.

Now, I know what you're thinking about: the economy, the president, the Koreas, all those other "World Events" and other such 'important' nonsense, well, what I was talking about was the fun stuff: video games, movies, music, and other such shiny nonsense.

But wait, there's MORE!!

Not only shall I tell you what the best stuff from 2010 was, so that you can have your nostalgia trip and welcome 2011 in with the warmed over leftovers from 2010, but I shall also tell you the worst of 2010, beacuse, lets face, it was 365 days for people to create shit, and oh the shit they created.

So, first up, best and worst......

VIDEOGAMES!!!!

Best:
Ok, this is not an easy choice, but, I must say StarCraft II, it's simple an unparalleled gaming experience.  Now, I could go on saying all the good things there are to say about this game, but, really, it's just a good game; the single player campaign is the best I've played in an RTS, only rivaled by World in Conflict, and the mutliplayer is... competitive, balanced, and very well executed- no complaints.  If you don't like this game you may not be American, and could be exported to Canada, yes, exported; you will become a national product, or a biological weapon, depending on your level of hygiene, and, knowing the type of people who don't like StarCraft, or America, your hygiene might be bad enough to halve the birthrate in the Canada and cause sterility issues for those just in your general vicinity.

Seriously, even if you're not American, you should want to be part of
this clusterfuck of awesome, and if you are American, you should be the
one starting this.

Runner Up:
Now, you may not have even heard of this game, but it has many things going for it, namely: it's free, and it's awesome, and it's very, very fun.  It is, technically, an "Online Arena Battle Game", but, basically, it's DotA, and if you don't know what DotA is, and I have to explain it to you, then you also obviously don't know what Google is either.  But it's a FREE, streamlined, game client that offers very stategic, cometitve gameplay at a variety of skill levels, but also, it's a social game- you NEED a team, and you need to work with them to win, and it's great if that team is your friends.  The game is almost like a social network in that respect, as you will meet people to game with, but not in that creepy "send me pics" kind of meeting, more of a "Lets ROFLSTOMP some n00bs" meet, and it's pretty nice, the userbase is, actually, generally decent, not like a certain Xbox Live service.  But give the game a shot, it's fun, it's competitive, it has an overall decent user-base, and, it's Fuckin Free.

Oh, and you can play as a pyromaniac girl that summons her demonic
giant ass teddy bear that's on fucking fire to kill everyone she doesn't
like; the game is just that kind of badass.

Worst:
Hm, now this is tough, I haven't played that many shitty games, because, well, I don't waste money on them, BUT, there was Darkstar One on the xbox 360. Now, I know what you may be thinking: "But Darkstar One wasn't all that bad, good even."  And, in some contexts, I would agree; however, it's an old PC game, from about 2006 +/- 1, and they RERELEASED it, as NEW, on the 360 and charged FULL price for this 4 year old game that wasn't all that great to start with, that is in my opinion, enough to win the Mr. McShitPants Award for Video Games.

Four years ago, this was a good game, now, it's just Microsoft giving gamers the finger.

Music:

Best:
This one is a newbie to the table of music, Operatika.  They've released only one album to my knowledge, but damn, holy fuck damn, their guitarist might just be the result of chuck norris and zeus having a baby and that baby growing it'self a guitar while it was still in the womb by it's sheer willpower and desire to kick every other guitarist alive in the teeth.  Overall, their style is much like older Nightwish, when they still had Tarja, but with guitars from Dragonforce, but better.  The sheer out-of-bumfuck-nowhere mindfucking awesome that this band has from a talent perspective wins them my best of the year award, stealing the victory from Mr. Tremonti himself- an accomplishment worth writing to Olympus and good ol' Dad Chuck about.  Now, I know what you're thinking; Parkway Drive's new album had enough raw brutal to maim you and every one of your descendants for the next millenia or so, and The Devil Wears Prada's EP kicked enough ass to put Hollywood's action movie division out of business, but, both of those were expected; if one of those had come from out of bumfuck nowhere, they'd have gotten the award, but for them, that's par for the course, or, maybe a birdie, but still, they cannot compete with the baby of Zeus and Mr. Norris.

No witty comment here, keep reading.

Runner Up:
Also not Mr. Tremont, Eyes Set to Kill's third album: Broken Frames.  From a technical standpoint their musicianship is simply are not as technical as Alterbridge, or many of the other bands that I could have chosen, but the way they integrate excellent metalcore style screams and Alexia's beautiful vocals is a feat still unmatched in my listening.  Other bands have come close, others can sing a tiny bit better, others can probably scream a better, others have much more technical and faster guitarists, and others are more brutal, but no others work together as well and have such a coherent sound.

Again with you looking for the witty comments, just look at the damn picture
and keep reading, seriously, the girls in the band are good looking, and I like
to at least think my writing is amusing, so, dammit, just read the next paragraph.
Read it or orphans will cry, and they'll know it was you, and they'll keep their tears
so that one day they can drown you in them.  Now you wish you had just kept reading
and looked at the picture, don't you?  Well, too late, maybe try again in 2012.

Worst:
Hmmm........ I don't listen to bad music all that much, but, I suppose if Nickleback released anything, or if there was a country album that tried to feature great country 'singing' then maybe that, but, I don't want to punish myself enough to go find something.  So, I'll just say Nickleback wins again, with a close runner up for Nirvana, simply because people still listen to them.

Movies:

Best:
Kickass, Scott Pilgrim, Inception, How to Train Your Dragon, Paranormal Activity 2, the Crazies, Iron Man 2, Percy Jackson, Book of Eli, Shutter Island.... now that's quite a list of better than decent movies...

So, the WINNER is.... I have to give it to Paranormal Activity 2.  Now, you're surely asking how in the frozen canadian hell that beat Inception.  Hear me out: it's a sequel that was better than the first, and not only better, scarier.  It is legitimately the only truly scary movie I have ever seen, with the exception of the first.  And that to me is a truly UNIQUE accomplishment worth an award more than an intricate plot and phenomenal directing and effects.

This  movie is more terrifying than the idea that people actually
enjoy Kanye West's music.  See, a witty comment, just for you.

Runner Up:
Scott Pilgrim.  Also not Inception.  Rating: Asskicking +10  Verdict: watch it now.  Really, it is maybe the best adaptation of a graphic novel to film I have yet encountered.  It's highly entertaining, has a useful message, well choreographed fights, and an 8 bit style with more class than Sean Connery on a yacht playing poker with Morgan Freeman.

I apologize in advance for Michael Cera, but everyone else is good enough to make up for him being a pussy.

Worst:
Human Centipede (thankfully I didn't watch it, only the trailer, but, it was enough), The Room (not 2010, i know, but this movie is bad enough to TRANSCEND TIME, don't believe me.... well then, go watch A clip on youtube, just one, that's all it takes, now then... go, no, really, GO WATCH IT, back?  Oh hi. You see my point.)

Note the lack of small, indie, artsy movies.  They're not here for several reasons.  A.) I don't usually watch them and thus cannot render judgement B.) I don't watch them beacuse they usually suck more ass than an Oprah branded ass sucking vacuum that's been shoved up Oprah's own ass.  Now, they're small and indie for a reasons, and it's not, for once, literally, once, that the populace is too dumb to figure them out, or appreciate them or some such bullshit, it is, factually, because most of them suck.  If you disagree, ok, but, know that you're throwing your lot in with them, the ones that sit in coffee shops talking about things other people hate just because they can't stand the thought of being entertained, or of admitting that they'd enjoy it, rather, they prefer obscurity, and I'm ok with that, so they can fuck right off and I'll enjoy me some KickAss while they suffer through their misery of shitty scripts, worse actors, and drug addict directors.

Books:

um, I didn't read shit this year, well, not books from this year, well, other than text books, but, yeah... anyway.... honorary award to Mr. Oscar Wilde, why?  because I can, and because in the realm of classical literature The Picture of Dorain Gray kicks Jane Austin's ass, and anything that kicks Jane Austin's ass is an automatic winner in my book.

Yep, this could tear off Jane Austin's face and feed it to her ancestors.

Gadgets:

Um... I refuse to say the iPad, so, I'll say the Kinect, not for it's gaming capabilities, but for what it represents as the next step forward in user interaction with digital media in any of it's forms; basically, it's the future, but not the future.  The Future is still flying cars, but until those get here, this is pretty damn close.

Oh, wait, this is what the Kinect is used for... damn, this is "The Future"....
Dammit Microsoft.
We are so fucked.

So, that was 2010, 365 days that humanity can never get back, and 365 days that humanitiy spent not sending people to the moon, mars, developing flying cars or doing anything else of epic asskicking proportions, but bloody hell, at least we got some good tunes out of the deal.  So here's to 2011, and some more asskicking, and maybe a trip to pluto, but not until we find some aliens there, because this is America, and until we find some ass to kick, we just won't give a damn.  So, here's to asskicking and not giving a damn: the real American Dream, and it's realization in 2011.

Oh, and I still want flying cars dammit.  Maybe someone should call Stephen Hawking and get him on that one; they are the future after all, and if anyone's going to bring us the future, it's that mad genius son-of-a-bitch.

Darkest Before Muffins

Ladies and gents, I present to you The Devil Wears Prada's younger brother: Darkest Before Dawn. Not quite as polished, but just as energetically heavy, this Florida sextet has finally released their debut full-length, and they certainly delivered.

Darkest Before Dawn, as I implied, plays a very similar brand of metalcore mixed with electronica to that put forth by the giant that is The Devil Wears Prada. That's what you're going to get. If you don't like that style because you don't like metal, then that's fine. It's not for everyone. It's ok. I don't hate you. If you don't like that style because it's "scene metal" (which is the single dumbest musical label on the planet), then you need to step off your high horse and realize that the music is still incredibly good.

Another common point that this Florida based six piece has with TDWP is the major Christian influence. DBD considers themselves to be as much of a ministry as a band, and I feel like this passion adds to the energy and brutality of this album.

So, on to the album itself. Vagary starts off with a slow, ambient, haunting intro track. Heavy on the reverb and synth, "Sometimes I Like To Get Classic" slowly builds to a climax that leads seamlessly into the second track "Dan Deere From DeLand" (yes, the song titles don't make sense - yet another similarity to TDWP). This song shows you exactly what you should expect if you've payed any attention to my review. You get the heavy, riffing guitars, the pummeling drums, the touch of synth, and the mix of high screams, low growls, and perfectly tuned clean vocals. The album continues in this vein with more ridiculously titled songs sporting impressive musicianship and songwriting. Track number five, "B Is Not For Brandon", might be my favorite track, but I couldn't honestly tell you why. It's a fun song that will definitely get you up off your feet.

DBD slow things down with the softer, flowing "One Plus One Equals Three". Going back to the same style used in the intro track, they show that they're not just an unstoppable breakdown machine. They have a sensitive side. After that short reprieve, they come back out swinging and don't let up. With the help of Joshy Singer, vocalist for Author & Creator, they manage to bring a new level of brutal to the table on "Waldo". With the absurdly titled "Tatch A Ciger Ty The Boe" and "Sideward And Foreways", these Florida boys close out a very solid debut album.

Darkest Before Dawn, as I mentioned above, consider this band as much a ministry as a music making endeavor. All of the songs focus on their Christian faith, and it's this honesty and pure love that truly adds to this album.

In addition to all of this, the production on Vagary is spectacular - absolutely top notch work. So, if you like The Devil Wears Prada, you'll love this album. A band with mountains of potential and a message that they want to scream from any stage that will have them, Darkest Before Dawn are on the way up. Don't miss out on this one.

Illuminated Muffins

No Bragging Rights are no strangers to the melodic hardcore/metalcore scene. With several releases under their belts, NBR have developed quite a following, and they deserve every single fan. Their music manages to be heavy and catchy without sacrificing their sound at all.

Illuminator is the southern California quintet's third full length record, and they definitely know what they're doing with their music. With the perfect blend of melody, hardcore, and metal, NBR has a great sound.

"Beautiful And Spineless" shows you exactly what to expect on this album: intricate, driving guitars, crushing drums, and Perez's flawless switches from screams to clean vocals. Track number two, "6th & Main" takes things more from the metal side of their sound, while "Weeding Out The Weak" opts to focus a little more on the hardcore side of things, though both feature the refreshing singing voice of Perez. NBR decides to change course and do a 180 degree flip soundwise, as the fourth track, "Cease Fire", gives us a blues-infused instrumental interlude. However, they get right back on the hardcore train and go to town with the title track.

"Empire: Decay" switches back to the metalcore side of things for the start, but changes gears back to the melodic hardcore before too long, and then flips back over to their breed of metalcore. With a slow, muffled build, "The Prospect" is there to kick your teeth in, hardcore style, before you realize what's happened. "Blind Faith" lets the guitar play around with a simple little riff that leads nicely into a breakdown before the expert guitar work we've come to expect from NBR takes over for the verse. Track nine gives us an intro that almost sounds like something Oh, Sleeper would do that leads into it's metalcore-tastic goodness. "And They Threatened Us With Fire" punches you in the chest with gang vocal growls that lead nicely into the verse and chorus. The album closer, "Death Of An Era", combines the complex guitar work of the metalcore sound with the lightning speed of hardcore to give this album a perfect finish.

Illuminator was only released yesterday, and already I've listened to it at least four or five times straight through. It combines the heaviness of metalcore, the speed of hardcore, and the catchiness of pop-punk for an absolutely brilliant release. Do yourself a favor and pick this album up. You won't regret it.

The Hymn Of A Broken Muffin

Adam Dutkiewicz and Jesse Leach have worked together before, as many of you may know, in the metal juggernaut Killswitch Engage. However, Leach left the band for personal reasons, though he later reconciled with them and continued his own musical career through Seemless and The Empire Shall Fall. Adam D., in addition to continuing as guitarist for KsE, has produced quite a number of spectacular metal albums over the years. To sum up, these two have more talent in their little fingers than the majority of the music industry combined.

Conceived by Adam while he was hospitalized due to a back injury he sustained on tour, the music for Times of Grace's debut album was written entirely in his head before he had a chance to get home and demo them himself. Then he did the single greatest thing he could have possibly done and called up Jesse to write the lyrics and take vocal responsibilities. Several years later, we finally get to hear this musical masterpiece that already holds the title for best album of the year, and it will take a miracle to remove it from that post.

The Hymn Of A Broken Man starts in with "Strength In Numbers" - a drum roll fading in to a full blown metal-tastic blend of metalcore and melody. They follow it up with the crushing, slow-but-steady "Fight For Life". Already we can hear that this dynamic duo still have all the chemistry they did before, if not even more. Jesse's screams and singing are complimented perfectly by Adam's backing vocals and superb guitar work. Next up is "Willing", which lulls us into a false sense of security with an echoing guitar opener before it crashes through with a battery of guitar and drums that operate at near hardcore speeds. "Where The Spirit Leads Me" brings to mind Jesse's work with KsE and Seemless, with his screams and clean vocals bringing to mind both of those bands, while Adam continues to hammer away on the guitar.

They switch gears with the fifth track, "Until The End Of Days". A haunting, ethereal melody follows the whole song, and Jesse's singing voice shines through beautifully. This brings us to my favorite track on the album: "Live In Love". Adam's guitar work provides a perfect structure for Jesse's screaming/singing combination. This song really shows how perfectly they work together. "In The Arms Of Mercy" is a beautiful instrumental that gives us a short rest to relax before things get going again with the title track, "Hymn Of A Broken Man". After a deceptively calm intro, Adam suddenly finds the gas pedal and floors it, letting Leach match him. Showcasing their diverse musical influence and talent, "The Forgotten One" gives us a taste of western blues. Jesse has an excellent voice for this, with just the right combination of grit and melody, and Adam harmonizes with him perfectly.

"Hope Remains" is track number ten - a slow starter that builds steadily as a murderous double kick fades in, setting the pace for the rest of the song. Jesse's screams and Adam's speed on the guitar make for a wicked ride. "The End Of Eternity" has the feel of a behemoth making its way across the land. Pummeling drums and guitars give it a sludgy feel, while it still maintains its melody at the same time. Number twelve, "Worlds Apart", is a true melodic metalcore anthem, plain and simple. After 48 minutes of play time, Times Of Grace brings us to the final song on the album: "Fall From Grace". Haunting, heavy, moving, earth-shattering, this song gives us the perfect close to the perfect album.

I tried to find a flaw in this album. I really did. There isn't one. With influences ranging from metalcore to blues to country western, Jesse Leach and Adam Dutkiewicz have crafted a musical masterpiece. Amazing songwriting paired with precise musicianship show that The Hymn Of A Broken Man is a work of love, passion, and skill. If you only buy one album this year, get this one. You'll never stop listening to it.

No Muffin Revealed

What would happen if power metal and metalcore had a baby? Affiance, that's what. With soaring vocals and pummeling guitars, these boys are doing something original, and I like it. A five piece from Ohio, Affiance recently signed to Bullet Tooth Records for the release of their first full-length album No Secret Revealed.

The Ohio quintet won me over immediately by doing something I was fairly certain had been forgotten. They used a sound clip (from the movie Network) for the first track "Mad As Hell". I loved hearing bands throw audio bites from movies or TV shows into their songs. The musical part of the album kicks in right after that with "Call To The Warrior", and Dennis Tvrdik's (don't ask me how to pronounce his last name, 'cause I have no idea) vocals will probably catch you as off guard as they caught me. He has an almost power metal quality as his range soars to highs generally reserved for those wearing tight leather pants and crazy face makeup. The rest of the music fits into a finely tuned metalcore style. On this song, as on several others throughout the album, Tvrdik's melody is matched by Dominic Dickinson's growling vocals.

"Nostra Culpa" follows suit with excellent guitar and drum work setting the stage for Tvrdik and his incredible range, with sprinklings of Dickinson's brutal touch. Up next is "For Power" which uses fast, heavy verses to lead into a slower, more technical chorus and a bridge that builds to a thundering crescendo. Track five, "A Monster Fed" opens with some complex picking and tapping before Tvrdik's vocals come in and carry us away. "The Hive" really shows what Affiance can do with it's brand of metal. The guitars are incredibly executed, the vocals have a beautiful layering to them, and the drum work is very tight and polished.

The next song, "A Reading From The Book Of" opens with a breakdown. 'Nuff said. "Der Fuhrer" is the first song on the album that combines power metal-esque guitars with the vocal style that gives Affiance its unique sound. With a sound that would make the greats of metalcore proud, "Dissent!" opens with a fast, technical riff reminiscent of War Of Ages. The final song on this album, "Calculate And Control", takes a little more of a melodic route musically on the intro, with slower, softer guitars and atmospheric drums that build to the heaviness we've come to expect from Affiance. In keeping with the way they opened the album, they close with another sound bite.




I did have one complaint on this album, though. The vocals are turned way up in the mix. It's not so much that you can't hear the instruments, but it is an obvious production flaw that will need to be remedied on their next album. Beyond that, No Secret Revealed is a breath of creativity into the metal scene. Be sure to check this one out.

He Who Has Muffins

I know it's been a while, but you can stop worrying. I'm not dead. Yet.

Now that the Apocalypse Death Blizzard is upon us, I figured you fine individuals could use some metal to listen to, as you probably won't be leaving your houses for quite some time.

Day Of Vengeance probably slipped under most of your radars, as it almost avoided mine as well. This five-piece Christian metalcore act out of Florida deserves far more publicity than it gets. Such is the price of being signed to a smaller label like Red Cord Records. Don't let their lack of fame fool you, though. Day Of Vengeance is here to stay.

He Who Has Ears kicks off heavy with the oddly titled "Horseback Riding In Arabia", a guitar driven crusher with some solid screams courtesy of Ben Greene. What really caught me off guard were the clean vocals and, specifically, how well they work with the screams and music. They don't feel out of place even a little bit. Continuing the melodic metalcore trend, "Call Me Disaster" follows similar footsteps to the opener. The third track, "He Who Has Ears" gives us a little southern swing on the intro before flowing smoothly into the metalcore sound DOV does so well. However, the chorus has an almost pop-rock feel to it, which contrasts nicely with the brutality of the verses.

Greene's screams welcome us to the next song "Let Him Hear" and really push this song along, which doesn't happen often, and is done this well even more infrequently. "Taklimakan" gives us the heaviest introduction on the album with a trudging, pummeling, absolutely chest-crushingly combination of guitars and drums before switching to a poppy/post-hardcore riff that leads into a metal-infused verse. "I'm Used To Melee Combat" keeps the contrast of melody and brutality alive as Greene's growls and Josiah Hughes' singing voice compliment each other nicely. With a slow build, "Go Back To Thailand" lets the guitars and drums really have some fun before Greene comes into the picture. "Jeremiah's Beard" and "Show Us Your Mercy" keep the heavy coming before the album comes to a close with "How Sweet The Sound". They start this closer off with the same crushing metal as they've used throughout the rest of the album. About a minute or so in, though, they switch over to a much softer sound than anything we've heard so far. This was Hughes' chance to really shine, and shine he does. After that little interlude, Greene comes back and the metal follows with him. The soft, melodious chorus makes another appearance and slowly builds back up for a heavy rendition of "Amazing Grace" forming the final minutes of this song.

Overall, Day Of Vengeance may not have brought anything new to the table, but they refined it to a point of excellence. That's what makes He Who Has Ears more than worth your time.

2010's Muffinest Albums

Happy New Year, boys and girls. Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for: it's time for the best full-length releases of 2010! It wasn't easy, considering there were so many excellent releases in 2010, but I've managed to pick my top 15. I can't think of a better way to start the new year, so let's get right down to it.

Who will win the coveted title of NMFY's best album of 2010?

15. 36 Crazyfists "Collisions And Castaways"
The Alaska boys of 36CF did it again, improving on everything they'd done in their last album and then some. Hard-hitting metalcore combined with some incredible melodies earned "Collisions And Castaways" a spot on this year's best albums list.

14. Underoath "Ø (Disambiguation)"
Coming up next is Underoath's latest effort. With a new drummer, a new clean vocalist, and a darker sound,  "Ø (Disambiguation)" is definitely their best work to date. Ambient and heavy, the Florida boys have shown that they've got more than enough fight left in them to keep the heavy coming.

13. Conducting From The Grave "Revenants"
Technical deathcore masters Conducting From The Grave have brought the pain once again. The new members breathe new life into the band, and "Revenants" showcases a ridiculous amount of talent and brutality, the likes of which the metal scene needed.

12. After The Burial "In Dreams"
You may be noticing a trend of "bands got new members and suddenly got even better than they were" going on here. Following that line of thinking, we have After The Burial's "In Dreams". Technical, heavy, and melodic, these progressive metalcore masters absolutely destroy with this new album.

11. The Absence "Enemy Unbound"
Blending the best elements of thrash and death metal, The Absence return with their third full-length entitled "Enemy Unbound". This album hits fast and hard and never lets up. With solos that wreck and choruses that will leave you floored, you definitely need to check this one out.

10. Miss May I "Monuments"
Rise Records, you may have noticed, have put out a lot of good records this year, and this one is no exception. Miss May I are back in action with their sophomore album "Mouments". Wicked guitar work, growling vocals, and soaring melodies earned MMI the number ten spot.

9. War Of Ages "Eternal"
War Of Ages have some of the best guitarists I've ever heard. Period. "Eternal" absolutely delivers with some of the best guitar solos on the planet. The addition of clean vocals to a couple songs adds so much depth to the music that this is their best work so far, and well worth a listen.

8. Sea Of Treachery "Wonderland"
Yet another band with new members, Sea Of Treachery are finally back with a new album. And the time and lineup change give the band a much more fine-tuned sound. Clean vocals play a major role this time around, but the heaviness doesn't suffer even a little. Be sure to pick up "Wonderland" and start your year off right.

7. Embracing Goodbye "Rock & Roll Ain't Dead"
You had to know this was coming. Southern metal is too awesome to just ignore. Embracing Goodbye's gritty vocals and crunchy guitars hit hard, and the melodic portions will have you singing along in no time. These southern boys make sure you know that "Rock & Roll Ain't Dead".

6. As I Lay Dying "The Powerless Rise"
Metalcore maestros As I Lay Dying are back in action with their most incredible release so far. It's obvious that frontman Tim Lambesis's time with Austrian Death Machine has done great things for AILD. Don't miss out on "The Powerless Rise".

5. Alter Bridge "AB III"
Mark Tremonti is one of the best guitarists alive, and anything he writes sounds amazing. The downside is that this level of talent takes time to write. Alter Bridge, his latest group, finally released their third album, and it's exactly what we've come to expect from them. Technical and catchy, "AB III" more than earns its place at number 5.

4. The Showdown "Blood In The Gears"
Southern metal masters The Showdown have returned to bring us a thrash infused good time. The pummeling guitars, gruff vocals, and pounding drums will have you out of your seat and moving before the end of the first song. With elements of southern, thrash, and death metal, with just a splash of hardcore, "Blood In The Gears" is one album you won't want to miss.
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Once again, we've come to the top three. These albums absolutely deserve your time. If you can only pick up a couple albums, make sure these three are on your list.
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3. The Word Alive "Deceiver"
The Word Alive's debut album "Deceiver" is a work of art. With soaring guitars, a perfect blend of screams, growls, and melodic vocals, and a brilliant gift for song-writing, TWA put an incredible amount of passion and energy into this album. At number three, "Deceiver" keeps finding its way back onto my playlist, and it'll find its way back to yours, too.

2. Four Year Strong "Enemy Of The World"
Pop-mosh is here to stay, and Four Year Strong are making sure of that. "Enemy Of The World" is a magnificently executed example of this style. Brilliant guitar-work and harmonized vocals make this album a must have for anyone who enjoys good music.

1. Parkway Drive "Deep Blue"
Brutal, technical, and downright heavy, it should be no surprise that Parkway Drive earned the number one spot with their latest effort "Deep Blue". Expanding on the foundations they've built with their first two albums, the Australian metalcore quintet put forth their best work to date. With a world of potential, I can't wait to see what they do next.

The winner of 2010's Muffinest Album of the year!

There you have it, folks - the top 15 albums of 2010. But don't think that this is the best that the music world has to offer. With a lot of great releases slated for this year, 2011 has the potential to be even better. So, farewell to 2010 - thanks for all the metal - and welcome 2011 - may you bring as many great albums as your predecessor. Happy New Year, my fellow muffiners.