Two-thousand and five was one hell of a year. I think I consumed more music than I ever have before this year. I would say I listened to at least 2 new albums a week from bands I’d never listened to before. That’s over 100 new artists!

As always this year there were some surprises and some disappointments. All of this made it hard to choose only ten albums. My list was heavily influnced by my own amount of play although I consider other factors such as improvement from previous works and success in the mainstream market.

I think metal made a huge comeback in the last year. Aggressive music is back. After 9-11 people were scared to promote metal because they didn’t want to give anyone the wrong idea. I’m glad they’ve realized terrible tragedies like the events of 9-11 and metal music aren’t associated at all.

10. Haste the Day - When Everything Falls
When Everything Falls This year When Everything Falls was one of my most anticipated albums of the year coming into 2005. They were able to create a powerful album filled with masterful songs. And who thought they’d ever hear a Goo Goo Dolls cover?

9. Between the Buried and Me - Alaska
Alaska

 By far Alaska was my sleeper hit of the year. I listened to it when it first came out, and couldn’t get into it. Even a couple months later I figured I’d give it a second shot and still wasn’t interested. I must have not been listening close enough because Between the Buried and Me can shred like no other.

8. A Dozen Furies - A Concept From Fire
A Concept From Fire

I’ve been following this band for a couple years now. I even got to see them live this year. At the time, I hadn’t heard any of their material from this album. From what I’d heard at that show, I was excited. It was no surprise to hear some more aggressive material on this full length. Any time a band gets heavier is always a plus.

7. A Day to Remember - And Their Name Was Treason
And Their Name Was Treason Who thought emo and metal could coexist in the same song? A Day to Remember are experts at crafting catchy melodies and crunchy metal to go in between. This was another album that came out of left field. After listening to it the first time, you’ll have their songs stuck in your head for days.

6. Funeral For A Friend - Hours
Hours Although a bit less aggressive than their previous albums, Hours shows the maturity of Funeral For a Friend. At first I wasn’t sure about the change in musical direction, but I’ve come to embrace it. This band continues to impress.

5. Cry Havoc - The Outcome of Misery
The Outcome of Misery

 Who? That’s what I was saying when I stumbled across Cry Havoc. This is the best independent album of the year. For being a self-released affair, the production on this record is outstanding. The band plays a punk style along the lines of A Wilhelm Scream. It’s technical and intricate yet still simple enough to be punk.

4. Bullet For My Valentine - The Poison
The Poison

Another band from the UK. I should hate them for how generic they sound. They are about as commercialized and accessible that metal can get. Yet somehow I can’t get enough. The Poison is full of slick hooks and chantable choruses.

3. Darkest Hour - Undoing Ruin
Undoing Ruin On Undoing Ruin, Darkest Hour definitely outdid themselves. The intensity on this album is way above 10. As a follow up to Hidden Hands, it makes sense and was a natural progression. If you thought this was it, just wait, this band is only getting better.

2. As I Lay Dying - Shadows Are Security
Shadows Are Security After listening to Shadows Are Security only once, I knew it was going to end up near the top of my list. They took metalcore to a new level this year. Melody and aggression are married in perfection on just about every song.

1. Trivium - Ascendancy
Ascendancy

 This year metal made a big resurgence. Heavy music is back and who better to lead the charge than some young superstars. Trivium has every opportunity to rise to the top. The entire band is completely at home on their respective instruments. Ascendancy was another one of those albums that is brutal while still having a certain accessibility to it.

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order)
A Love Ends Suicide - The Cycle of Hope
The Agony Scene - The Darkest Red
Amber Pacific - The Possibility and the Promise
A Wilhelm Scream - Ruiner
Chiodos - All’s Well That Ends Well
Comeback Kid - Wake The Dead
Demon Hunter - The Triptych
Devildriver - The Fury of Our Maker’s Hand
Hand to Hand - A Perfect Way to Say Goodbye
Hell Within - Asylum of the Human Predator
Lorene Drive - Romantic Wealth
Nodes of Ranvier - The Years to Come
Still Remains - Of Love and Lunacy
Thebleedingalarm - In the Wake of Separation
War of Ages - War of Ages