THE BEST OF 2006
As chosen by our East Coast Editor, Christopher J. Kelter

by Christopher J. Kelter


In a year when I probably spent more time listening to classic rock than metal/hard rock I find myself adjusting my Top 20 list to reflect the quantity of times I listened to an album over the relative quality and merits of the best discs of 2006. You might find fault with that and I wouldn’t blame you. But it seemed to be an appropriate approach this time around, especially given time constraints. However, my initial fears of actually reviewing all the new music I listened to in 2006 would not allow me to come up with a satisfactory Top 20 list but I discovered that there were some pretty good albums released in 2006.

As usual some honorable mentions in no particular order that deserve their moment of glory:
Borknagar – Origin
Audioslave – Revelations
Walls of Jericho – With Devils Amongst Us All
Burn In Silence – Angel Maker
Fall of Serenity – Bloodred Salvation
White Willow – Signal to Noise
Queensryche – Operation: Mindcrime II
Wastefall – Self Exile
Evergrey – Monday Morning Apocalypse
All That Remains – The Fall of Ideals
Teeth of the Hydra – Greenland
Home – The Gathering
The Hellacopters – Rock & Roll Is Dead
Krisiun – AssiNation
Karmacode – Lacuna Coil
By Night – A New Shape of Desperation
Trivium – The Crusade



Top 20 of 2006

20: Joe Satriani – Super Colossal
Satch’s most complete effort since “Crystal Planet.”


19: The Red King – Somniferum
Deliciously diverse and haunting.


18: Amon Amarth – With Oden on Our Side
Solid and unforgettable.


17: Dysrhthmia – Barriers and Passages
A real man’s thinking man’s album.


16: Canvas Solaris – Penumbra Diffuse
Wickedly wild – a mind-bending trip.


15: Misery Index – Discordia
Relentless and catchy – Baltimore’s favorite sons never disappoint.


14: Moonspell – Memorial
Moonspell return to the black metal roots and produce an inspired
collection of songs.


13: Witchery – Don’t Fear the Reaper
Catchy grooves and tight musicianship make this Witchery’s best album to
date.


12: Tool – 10,000 Days
Brooding and thoughtful – difficult to fully absorb but extraordinarily
rewarding.


11: Iron Maiden – A Matter of Life and Death
Simply my favorite post-reunion Iron Maiden album.


10: Burst – Origo
In the future music critics will look kindly upon the sonic wrath of Burst.


9: My Dying Bride – A Line of Deathless Kings
It doesn’t take me much to get excited about My Dying Bride – yet, even my
critical ear was pleased by the solid form of this disc.


8: The Haunted – The Dead Eye
The Haunted have been the blueprint for modern thrash, but with “The Dead
Eye” are creating a more unique style.


7: Killswitch Engage – Daylight Dies
Slightly heavier, just as emotional, and even more refined.


6: In Flames – Come Clarity
Catchy aggression never goes out of style.


5: Lamb of God – Sacrament
Another powerful statement from the leaders of American heavy, heavier,
and heaviest metal.


4: Amorphis – Eclipse
One of my favorite bands produces one of my favorite albums of the year.


3: Katatonia – The Great Cold Distance
Dark, gloomy, and emotionally draining. One of a kind.


2: Mastodon – Blood Mountain
Brutal, complex, and ultimately exhilarating.


1: Isis – The Absence of Truth
This is the sound of contemplation and discovery. This is the most
rewarding album of 2006 bar none.


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Revised: 06 Oct 2019 11:48:48 -0400
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