2007 is a-here folks, and if it's anything like the year we just had, well then we'll will official 'splode in our Duty pants over the pending excitement. '06 was a grand year in the Heavy Duty's staff existence, with the starting of this very blog, the up and coming rock and or roll juggernaut manTooth, and a steady stream of bad-ass records that proved one and for all that metal never fucking dies.
So instead of doing a standard top ten list of our favorite records that came out in 2006, we decided that we would rank any record we got into this last year, regardless when it was released. So open a cold one or 12 to kill that New Year's hangover and lets do some Duty:
10. Gwar "Beyond Hell" Gwar's funniest album in years, and their most coherent concept album to date. STANDOUT TRACK: "The Ultimate Bohab": We've got our red Gwar hoodie, and we're not afraid to use it.
9. Gojira "From Mars To Sirius" The break down in "Ocean Planet" is enough to place this record in the top ten. DU DU DU DU, OOOOOH, DU DU DU DU, SCHLLEWWWWWWW. STANDOUT TRACK: "Flying Whales": Best riff of '06.
8. Witch "Witch" Grandma Mascis and some other dudes playin' some real stoner metal for y'all. Please tour! STANDOUT TRACK: "Seer": We love opening cuts, and this one is eight minutes of Mass. style sludge.
7. Early Man "Closing In" Easiest band sound to describe of all time: "Kill 'Em All" Metallica with Ozzy on vocals. Sweet. STANDOUT TRACK: "Death Is The Answer": YEAAAAAAAAAHAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
6. The Sword "Age Of Winters" We saw these guys more last year than any other band, 2.5 times. Hipster Sabbath is a fairly new genre, and these dudes are the kings. Austin's loudest band. STANDOUT TRACK: "Song #6" is pretty good.
5. Intronaut "Void" These guys bring the jazzy-beef, with the fretless bass in yo face and swirly backdrops, mixed with body/soul/small Vietnamese village crushing metal. The Duty are ridin' shotgun on this bandwagon. STANDOUT TRACK: "Gleamer" with them china splashes and rollickin' rhythms.
4. Diamond Nights "Popsicle" The Spring/Summer album of '06. Bringin' the sexyback to rock and or roll. STANDOUT TRACK: "The Girl's Attractive": Ha Ha Ha, Ha Ha Ha.
3. Black Flag "My War" We've always liked the Rollins thing, never been into this band until a member of the Duty staff told us we'd like it. Sounds like "Bleach" but with more Rollins. We love recyclin' material. STANDOUT TRACK: "My War": The screamin' is awesome, and on this track we-thinks Hank means it.
1B. Mastodon "Blood Mountain" This record is un-fucking-believable, with crystals and the birchmen and the hands of stone and more stuff we don't know what they're singin' 'bout. But the music is killer so who cares. STANDOUT TRACK: All of them. It's kind of a concept album so we're cheesing out on this one.
1A. Lamb of God "Sacrament" Takes a lot to beat out the mighty Mastodon, so think of these records as co-champions. But for classic style heavy metal, Lamb Of God are the new titans. "Sacrament" is an instant classic that goes along with "Reign in Blood," "Master of Puppets," and "Frampton Comes Alive." STANDOUT TRACK: "Beating On Death's Door": This song makes us want to punch you in the face, and we like you. You smell nice.
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