1. METALLICA - DEATH MAGNETIC
Is this too obvious a pick? perhaps.....but it's absolutely deserving.
No other album has kicked my ass this year as much as this one has...
This is the new Metallica album I've been waiting almost 20 years for!
That they made an album this strong and inspired 25 years after their debut is absolutely incredible and completely unprecedented (I challenge you to name 3 other bands that you can say that about......I cant!)
2. PROTEST THE HERO - FORTRESS
This album is totally insane....awesome playing, crazy arrangements, breakneck tempo and time changes...this is what Mr. Bungle would've sounded like if they grew up on equal portions of Dream Theater and Dillinger Escape Plan!

3. THE MARS VOLTA - THE BEDLAM IN GOLIATH

After being disappointed with their last one, this latest one is back on track with some very cool, more cohesive (by their standards) writing. And new drummer Thomas Pridgen is worth the price of admission alone for all you drummers out there...

4. BEARDFISH - SLEEPING IN TRAFFIC PART 2

These Swedish retro-proggers were on my 2007 top 10 list with their "Traffic Part 1" and they have done it again with the equally as great Part 2. If you dig early 70's prog stuff like Zappa, Genesis and Yes, you'll dig these guys....(if you're a close minded Blabbermouth-posting idiot, don't bother.....not that you would've anyways!)

5. SLIPKNOT - ALL HOPE IS GONE

For any doubters, look beyond the masks....these guys have made an absolutely amazing metal album with some great playing and a bit of Corey Taylor's more melodic side making its way into the sound without losing any of their edge and power.

6. OPETH - WATERSHED

My Progressive Nation tourmates never disappoint...I think every album they've released in this millennium had made my year-end list! They're one of my all-time favorite metal bands.... 'nuff said!

7. BLOODBATH - UNBLESSING THE PURITY / THE FATHOMLESS MASTERY

For the Opeth fans that dont like their melodic and progressive side (shame on you!) there are these two absolutely brutal side project releases with Mikael Akerfeldt's trademark death growls and Martin Axenrot's intense double bass drumming and blast beats that are tighter than a nun's vag.....

8. TRIVIUM - SHOGUN

My favorite release so far from these guys who have really fallen into their own.
It's refreshing to see a young band who obviously take their playing and writing as serious as they do and keep the shredding alive in metal.
(And yes, this is the 3rd Roadrunner release in my top 10...and it is not due to any kind of shameless self-plugging or ass-kissing...they just happen to have the best metal roster around and are the best label on Earth...which is why we made them DT's home!)

9. STEVEN WILSON - INSURGENTES

The newset addition to my ipod in the past few weeks is this latest masterpiece from Porcupine Tree's leader and sonic genius. Some serious ear candy here....

10. CYNIC - TRACED IN AIR

The pioneers of Progressive Death Fusion are back with a sophmore release that took 15 years to come to fruition!

Nice list. Go Mike "The Man with the Extra-ordinary large kit"

Knew Mike wouldn't let us down. He's got Cynic and Bloodbath in there, and it's good to see even Dream Theater have noticed Protest the Hero! Fortress is PTH's only good album really, but it is a ludicrously amazing one.

I dont really see how death magnetic is #1, but its good to see protest the hero at #2. there a great band and fotress was amazing, its just that no one has really heard of em b4, so im suprise to see them there on Mike Portnoy's Top 10 . Its a good top 10 list, and its mean that trivium's shogun is on it.

QUOTE(DyingSun @ Dec 2 2008, 11:08 PM) [snapback]459031[/snapback]Knew Mike wouldn't let us down. He's got Cynic and Bloodbath in there, and it's good to see even Dream Theater have noticed Protest the Hero! Fortress is PTH's only good album really, but it is a ludicrously amazing one.
Kezia was great too! I DONT CARE IF RODY SOUNDED MORE POST-HARDCORE ON THAT ONE! IT WAS GREAT!
But yes it's great someone like Portnoy took notice of PTH. I find them amazing.

I hadn't really heard of Protest the hero, other than from Guitar World, listened to a bit of there stuff today, its not my usual, but its not exactly bad either, the guitarists are pretty good.

That's a good list. I'm glad that PTH is on his list.

Good list...but I do wonder if he has heard some of the other new albums...
Planetery Duality - The Faceless
Awaken The Dreamers - All Shall Perish
Overcome - All That Remains
just my 2 cents...

QUOTE(Slaughterhouse @ Dec 29 2008, 03:19 PM) [snapback]462212[/snapback]Good list...but I do wonder if he has heard some of the other new albums...
Planetery Duality - The Faceless
Awaken The Dreamers - All Shall Perish
Overcome - All That Remains
just my 2 cents...
I love those 3 albums!!!

Nice to see Canada being noticed. PTH is amazing! Kezia was a great album too but Fortress blew it out of the water! Overcome was good but ATR are getting repetetive nowadays.

Planetery Duality - The Faceless
Awaken The Dreamers - All Shall Perish

This is one of my favorite albums!
i'm surprised that Mike listens PTH and Opeth , Cynic)