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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.