2011

Here's my favorites of the year in alphabetical order. There were so many great releases that I could have easily done a top 30 but I've narrowed it down to the 10 I listened to the most. All of them have been on heavy rotation throughout the year and I cannot recommend them enough. Bands and labels are all links so click away if you'd like to find out more.

Albums

Corrupted - Garten Der Unbewusstheit (Nostalgia Blackrain)
Deathcharge - Love Was Born An Early Death (Unseen Forces)
J Mascis - Several Shades Of Why (Sub Pop)
Kromosom - 8 Tracks (Hardcore Victim, Havoc, Freedom Fighter, D-Tact & Rapunk)
Loss - Despond (Profound Lore)
Morne - Asylum (Alerta Antifascista, Armageddon, Profound Lore)
True Widow - A.H.A.T.H.H.A.F.T.C.T.T.C.O.T.E. (Kemado)
Wolves In The Throne Room - Celestial Lineage (Southern Lord)
Yob - Atma (20 Buck Spin, Profound Lore)
Zola Jesus - Conatus (Sacred Bones, Souterrain Transmissions)

EPs, Splits & Demos

Crime Desire - Alone In A Dream 12" (Gravity, Life's A Rape)
D-Clone / Nerveskade - Split 7" (Hardcore Survives)
Get Destroyed - Shut In 7"(625 Thrashcore, Give Praise, To Live A Lie, RSR)
Hatred Surge / Mammoth Grinder - Split 12" (Cyclopean)
Iron Age - The Saga Demos (BSVIV, Cyclopean)
Ruinebell - Demise In Disgrace (Doomentia)
The Bellicose Minds - S/T 7"
Thou - The Archer & The Owle 12" (Robotic Empire)
True Widow - I.N.O. 12" (Kemado)
Warthreat - Demo

2012 is looking like another good year for music with rumors there may be new records from Get Destroyed, Framtid, Neurosis, Slices, Swallowed, Tragedy, Walls and Worship! Bring it on.

Helta Skelta - LP

Some might remember these guys dropping a great demo tape over a year and a half ago and then mysteriously disappearing. Well thankfully Perth's Helta Skelta have returned with a new self released LP. The fact that they've covered both SSD and now 70s Perth band The Victims shows the mix of influences going on here. Definitely one of the better Australian releases to come out this year. Only 250 copies were pressed up by Pirates Press with the first 20 coming with a cassette too. Grab one here for only $16 plus postage, that's gotta be the cheapest 12" in Australia! Keeping it affordable for the punx.

  I AM SHIVA, GOD OF DEATH by skeltahelta

Pig Heart Transplant / The Endless Blockade - Split 7"

Here we have the final release from The Endless Blockade and one of probably many more from the prolific Pig Heart Transplant. A great pairing of noise meets power violence and a rare case of a split having two decent sides. Limited to 545 copies courtesy of SuperFi Records. Comes in an amazing 6 panel screened sleeve with artwork by Feeding.

Bastard Noise - Skulldozer

Skulldozer follows on from last years "A Culture of Monsters" with more of the same bass and drums assault. This time dropping a member as well as "The" from their name and recruiting Aimee Artz on vocals/electronics. A welcome new addition in my opinion and such an incredibly brutal vocalist. This is the pre-order edition on marble vinyl limited to 100 copies. Available now from Deep Six Records.

Extortion Collection

Collecting Extortion records turned out to be a bad habit. Here's a complete collection of their releases so far. Rumor is that there's a new LP in the works as well as splits with Cold World (Austria), Hatred Surge, Low Threat Profile and Agoraphobic Nosebleed.