The Best Of 2007

The Best Of 2007

© Justin Donnelly.

Dropkick Murphys - The Meanest Of Times

Dropkick Murphys
The Meanest Of Times
Born & Bred Records/Dew Process/Universal Music Australia

For more information on the Dropkick Murphys, check out - https://www.facebook.com/DropkickMurphys.

© Justin Donnelly.

Pinback - Autumn Of The Seraphs

Pinback
Autumn Of The Seraphs
Longtime Listener/Inertia Distribution Pty Ltd.

For more information on Pinback, check out - https://www.facebook.com/pinbackband.

© Justin Donnelly.

Samsara - The Emptiness

Samsara
The Emptiness
Trial And Error/Stomp

For more information on Samsara, check out - https://www.facebook.com/Samsara-293766327672/.

© Justin Donnelly.

Plain White T's - Every Second Counts

Plain White T's
Every Second Counts
Hollywood Records/Fearless Records/EMI Music Australia Pty. Limited

For more information on Plain White T's, check out - https://www.facebook.com/plainwhitets.

© Justin Donnelly.

Kid Rock - Rock N Roll Jesus

Kid Rock
Rock N Roll Jesus
Atlantic/Warner

For more information on Kid Rock, check out - https://www.facebook.com/kidrock.

© Justin Donnelly.

Underoath - 777

Underoath
777
Tooth & Nail Records/Solid State/EMI Music Australia Pty. Limited

For more information on Underoath, check out - https://www.facebook.com/underoath.

© Justin Donnelly.

Bring Me The Horizon Interview

Bring Me The Horizon Interview

For more information on Bring Me The Horizon, check out - https://www.facebook.com/bmthofficial.

© Justin Donnelly.

A Life Once Lost - Iron Gag

A Life Once Lost
Iron Gag
Ferret Music/Stomp Records Distribution

For more information on A Life Once Lost, check out - https://www.facebook.com/A-Life-Once-Lost-206021002752294.

© Justin Donnelly.

Motion City Soundtrack - Even If It Kills Me

Motion City Soundtrack
Even If It Kills Me
Epitaph/Shock Records

For more information on Motion City Soundtrack, check out - https://www.facebook.com/motioncitysoundtrack.

© Justin Donnelly.

As I Lay Dying - An Ocean Between Us

As I Lay Dying
An Ocean Between Us
Metal Blade Records/Stomp Entertainment

For more information on As I Lay Dying, check out - https://www.facebook.com/asilaydying.

© Justin Donnelly.

Sodom - The Final Sign Of Evil

Sodom
The Final Sign Of Evil
Steamhammer/SPV/Riot

For more information on Sodom, check out - https://www.facebook.com/sodomized.

© Justin Donnelly.

The Cult - Born Into This

The Cult
Born Into This
New Wilderness/Roadrunner Records/Warner Music Australia

For more information on The Cult, check out - https://www.facebook.com/officialcult.

© Justin Donnelly.

Dekapitator - The Storm Before The Calm

Dakapitator
The Storm Before The Calm
Relapse Records/Riot!

For more information on Dekapitator, check out - https://www.facebook.com/Dekapitator.

© Justin Donnelly.

Tesla Interview

Tesla Interview

For more information on Tesla, check out - https://www.facebook.com/TeslaBand.

© Justin Donnelly.

Throwdown - Venom & Tears

Throwdown
Venom & Tears
Trustkill Records/Shock Records

For more information on Throwdown, check out - https://www.facebook.com/throwdownOC.

© Justin Donnelly.

Heaven & Hell - Radio City Music Hall - Live 2007

Heaven & Hell
Radio City Music Hall - Live 2007
Rhino Records

For more information on Heaven & Hell, check out - https://www.facebook.com/HeavenandHell.

© Justin Donnelly.

KMFDM - Tohuvabohu

KMFDM
Tohuvabohu
Metropolis Records/KMFDM Records/Stomp

For more information on KMFDM, check out - https://www.facebook.com/officialkmfdm.

© Justin Donnelly.

Various Artists - Bam Margera Presents Viva La Bands Volume Two

Various Artists
Bam Margera Prents Viva La Bands Volume Two
Ferret Music/Stomp

For more information on Bam Margera, check out - https://www.facebook.com/BamMargera.

© Justin Donnelly.

Atreyu - Lead Sails Paper Anchor

Atreyu
Lead Sails Paper Anchor
Roadrunner Records/Warner Music Australia

For more information on Atreyu, check out - https://www.facebook.com/Atreyu.

© Justin Donnelly.

Will Haven – The Hierophant

Will Haven
The Hierophant
Bieler Bros. Records/Stomp

For more information on Will Haven, check out - https://www.facebook.com/willhavenband.

© Justin Donnelly.

Amorphis - Silent Waters

Amorphis
Silent Waters

Nuclear Blast Records/Riot! Entertainment

Reinvention is the name of the game.

Introducing a new vocalist into a well-established band is never an easy move at the best of times, but in the case of Finnish progressive/folk/melodic metal act Amorphis, the move to replace vocalist Pasi Koskinen with Tomi Joutsen in 2005 was not only a successful one, but a very smart one, with their seventh album “Eclipse” (Released in 2006) one their more inspired and well received releases in many years. Obviously still inspired with their new line-up, Amorphis (Who comprise of vocalist Tomi Joutsen, rhythm guitarist Tomi Koivusaari, lead guitarist Esa Holopainen, bassist Niclas Etelävuori, keyboardist Santeri Kallio and drummer Jan Rechberger) are back with their eighth release “Silent Waters”, marking a mere eighteen months between albums.

In a lot of ways, the ten tracks on “Silent Waters” aren't too far removed from the template laid down by 1999's Tuonela and the band successive releases. But that's not to say that the Finns' new album sounds like a collection of leftovers, as “Silent Waters” (Which is once again based on an episode from the Kalevala) sees Amorphis take a step beyond what “Eclipse” offered up, while remaining true to their unique sound from the past.

The opening track “Weaving The Incantation” is a bombastic mix of heavy riffs and acoustic passages, Joutsen's dual clean and death metal vocals, subtle organ backing and huge harmonic guitar solos, which inevitably makes the song the perfect way to introduce “Silent Waters”. The hard-edged and rocking follow-up numbers “A Servant” and the title track “Silent Waters” (Which is the first single and promotional video clip lifted from the album) continue the same heavy direction of “Weaving The Incantation”, while the brooding “Towards And Against” starts out with some heavy guitar work and some impressive death growls from Joutsen, before breaking free with a huge uplifting chorus that is as impressive as it is memorable.

“I Of Crimson Blood” is certainly one of the more dynamic and epic sounding numbers from the band this time around, with the piano giving the song a melancholy feel that perfectly compliments the subdued guitar work, while slower paced “Her Alone” is a credit to Joutsen's ability to deliver real emotion. On the folk front, the acoustic driven “Enigma” is a huge anthem that is nothing short of a masterpiece, while the mid paced “Shaman”, the darker and twisted “The White Swan” and “Black River” (Which is a warped sense reminds me of “Love Over Gold” era Dire Straits at the beginning) finish off the album in a strong manner.

“Silent Waters” is a huge reinvention for Amorphis over Eclipse, but it is Amorphis at their strongest and most inspired in years, easily making this their first classic since “Tuonela”.

For more information on Amorphous, check out - https://www.facebook.com/amorphis.

© Justin Donnelly.

Freestate - Surrender

Freestate
Surrender
Crusade Records/Modern Music Records/Sony BMG Music Entertainment

For more information on Freestate, check out - https://www.facebook.com/FreestateBand.

© Justin Donnelly.

Bolus - Sonic Schematics

Bolus
Sonic Schematics
Independent Release/MGM Distribution

For more information on Bolus, check out - https://www.facebook.com/BOLUS-79034944641.

© Justin Donnelly.

Bring Me The Horizon - Count Your Blessings

Bring Me The Horizon
Count Your Blessings
Visible Noise/Shock Records

For more information on Bring Me The Horizon, check out - https://www.facebook.com/bmthofficial.

© Justin Donnelly.