BEST OF 2008
If 2008 had a theme it was the return of Classic Rock, with
bands like Whitesnake, Journey, Def Leppard, Lice, Cooper, Uriah Heep, ACDC,
Venom, Metallica and even Guns N Roses releasing albums this year, some a
welcome return to form and others not doing quite so well, I will leave which
ones were welcome and which weren’t down to you.
2007 saw the return to favour of Thrash and 2008 witnessed a
consolidation with fantastic new albums from Dark Angel, the inspired new
Testament album and a very good one from Exciter, kept the Genre in the
forefront again this year with some new names like Toxic Holocaust adding new
credibility. Drawing up the top 20
of 2008 was even more difficult than usual with some big names not making it
purely because the bench mark Was so high so I wanted to add the following role
of honour list for those who didn’t make the top twenty, not because they went
good enough but purely because there wasn’t enough room, the following can hold
their head up high, Esoteric, Byzantine, Omnium Gatherum, Zimmers Hole, Judas
Priest, Dozer, Bison BC, Deicide, Darkthrone, Helstar, Eyefear, Zonaria, Dark
Fortress, Iced Earth, Motorhead, Disfear, Dismember, Grand Magus, Trivium, being
the ones I have enjoyed the most.
My album of the year was a difficult choice between
Metallica and Virgin Black but in the end Virgin Black has the edge purely
because it crossed so many barriers.
On the HFM front the station fast approaches its
2nd anniversary in February and I have clocked up 46 Metal Mayhem
shows, as always I would like to thank all the labels that continue to send
Promo’s to me as show features new bands and new material heavily so without the
kindness of the following people I literally could not do my show, my heartfelt
thanks go out to: Andy@ Metal Blade / Napalm, Paul @ Peeaceville, Karl@ Eleven
PR, Roland @ Work Hard, Danielle @ Roadrunner, Sarah @ Century Media, Dave @
Relapse, Tom @ Massacre and last but y no means least Simon (Webmaster) Parry
for uploading everything.
I wish everyone and especially you a Heavy N Prosperous New
Year looking forward to playing some great Metal to you in the coming
year,
Regards
Justin
Case
BEST OF 2008
AC/DC / Black
Ice
Amon Amarth /
Twilight Of The Thundergod
Arcane Order / In
The Wake Of Collisions
Biomechanical /
Cannibalized
Children Of Bodom
/ Blooodrunk
Cradle Of Filth – Godspeed On The Devils
Thunder
Daylight Dies /
Lost To The Living
Ihsahn / Angl
In Flames / A Sense Of Purpose
Lord Belial /
Black Curse
Metallica / Death
Magnetic
Moonspell / Night
Eternal
Opeth /
Watershed
SAHG /
II
Six Feet Under /
Death Rituals
Slipknot / All
Hope Is Gone
Soulfly /
Conquest
Testament /
Formation Of Damnation
Venom /
Hell
Virgin Black /
Requiem Fortissimo