#18 - Les Descrets | Septembre et ses dernières pensées

I remember the Alcest/Les Descrets split from earlier this year and me neglecting the Les Descrets songs just because I was too anxious to hear what Neige had been up to. That was pretty stupid of me.

This record is fantastic and is one of a few really great atmospheric black metal CDs to drop in 2010 (the rest are obviously coming). The shoegaze influence in the songs is a huge plus for me as it's something I'm continuously falling in love with; the feminine side of this dark music. Although the parts aren't full on dance 'gaze like some Ameseours songs, there is definitely a wicked catchyness to a lot of these songs within the blatant neofolk sections (middle section of "L'echappe").

One thing that's interesting about this CD is the complete lack of harsh vocals. Everything on this is soft sang, even with blast beats and classic black metal drumming. I'm still not sure if that's a good thing or not. It's definitely a CD that a lot of people who can't quite grasp the coldness of black metal could actually acquire either way.

#19 - At the Soundawn | Shifting

Although parts of this album are rather cliche or too reminiscent of other post metal bands, I still found this record entirely enjoyable and would return to it often. The atmosphere at times is wonderful, mostly reminding me of Jakob, while the tone of the guitars and song writing reminding me of Callisto. It's a good combination.

The straight up clean singing is also refreshing to listen to within this style of music, especially in the opening track.

Check this album out if you're a fan of Callisto, Isis, or Rosetta.

#20 - A Swarm of the Sun | Zenith

We made it to the top 20!

I know it wasn't long ago that I made a post about this record. There isn't else much to say.

It's dark, somber, and minimalistic. It relies on repetition of sad melodies and every now and then it get's loud.

It's like a mix of Tool, Isis, Post-Rock and Logh.

I also love the reprise of the opening track toward the end of the title track. I'm almost certain that melody reappears more than that one time as well. Awesome CD.

#21 - Memoryhouse | The Years

Holy shit! Another EP?!?! How could I?!

If the first two songs were the only two songs released for this EP, it would still have made it into the top 30.

Gorgeous dream pop that focuses on simplicity. It's something that I continuously find myself enjoying in music. Less parts. More affective melodies and harmonies.

The female vocals are a huge plus too, as well as the Eternal Sunshine rip.

#22 - Ion Dissonance | Cursed

Some of the most hilariously shitty lyrics I've ever heard yet some of the most insanely heavy music I've heard IN AWHILE.

Way better than Minus the Talent.

I listened to this maybe too much over the period of two weeks. It's still wicked awesome.

#23 - The Contortionist - Exoplanet

WHOA?! What is this? Pandolfo still listens to metalcore?

Yeah, only the best metalcore albums of the year. And there was only one really good one of the year.

The Contortionist.

It's like Self Titled Between The Buried and Me meets The Faceless. I couldn't help myself for about a week this summer. This was pretty much on repeat and every once in awhile I still get the urge to just blast the hell out of it.

So to answer that question actually...no I don't still listen to metalcore. It's a rarity. But every once in awhile a good band is still alive somewhere in the sea of shitastic gimmicky bands. This is one of them.

#24 - Periphery | Periphery (Instrumental)

Yeah, I may seem like a dick for stating that the number 24 album of 2010 is strictly NOT the actual CD with the vocals. As much as I do believe Periphery's vocalist has a great singing voice, and I didn't hate his screaming, the incredible instrumentation on this CD totally gets blocked out when there are constant vocals.

There were several things I noticed on this record that I wouldn't have if they never had released the instrumental album. Plus, there are moments of this CD that are actually much heavier due to the fact that there are no vocals.

Anyways, this was an awesome CD to blast as loud as possible. Although I think it's slightly too long at times, I must say that "Racecar" is an unbelievably awesome track, especially that it's clocking in around 15 minutes. I hope their new stuff sounds more like that.