Besides the first halves of their names, the three bands reviewed herein are also bound by a triad of other likenesses: all venture on the dark side of power metal, flirt with wild outer space themes on these latest albums, and have annoyingly throwaway intros.

We may be the first to post Brian Posehn’s Best of 2011 list, as lifted from Twitter.

Our first 2011 list from Brad Barratt, who sets ablaze a top 10 of doom legends, stoner stalwarts, and modern masters.

Zebulon Pike, Morkobot, Animals as Leaders, and Abnormal Thought Patterns!

It’s a generic jam session with simple superimposition as its best effect; anyone could have shot this. So as we all question why, I’ll cope through limerick (#36!), cuz that’s how I roll sometimes.

Roadburn has evolved into a mighty four-day event, with the earlier years’ Afterburner Party now mushroomed into a full day of destruction, and the impressive result is 70+ groups gathered with thousands of dedicated fans for the best bender of the year.

Rating: 4.5/5
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This is an ideal time for Immolation to freely disseminate their material with the Scion backing, because no NYDM band this side of Suffocation is as universally respected as these trailblazers, and the kids need to recognize.

Patterns, yay! I think the end of the year is making me crave shorter albums and greater efficiency—so yes, expect more of these in threes. Here’s “Evermore Darkly”, “Carbon-Based Anatomy”, and “Dromomania” for intensifying your holiday season.

“Globalization is a metaphorical magnification of the quest for spiritual identity in all humans.”

~Keith Spillett

Four Worlds Media releases Killing Joke (with all original members) and Thin Lizzy (with lots of newer dudes), while Niji Entertainment Group reacquaints us with The Elves (before they became Elf).