James Malone is one of the finest songwriters of this generation. This man rewards time and again, across and between both songs and albums. On Arsis’ most accessible opus to date, Malone consciously draws attention to not only his entire body of work, but notably, his physical body.

Fozzy has evolved over the years, from a fun side project to something its members wish to take seriously. “Chasing The Grail” again finds the band avoiding covers, and exploring new territories. In my interview with vocalist Chris Jericho, we discuss his desire for success in the music world, touch on Helloween for a bit, and answer a bunch of wrestling questions (cuz though I haven’t watched for years now, I did for about 20!). It’s a lot of fun, and yet another that’s unedited, save for trimming the ends… enjoy!

Fozzy endured many factors working against them. The band’s original mock past came complete with silly pseudonyms and “stolen” songs (which were actually covers), which gave an air of illegitimacy. But clearly, Fozzy now seeks to expand.

The heaviest Christian metal band this side of Zao has returned. Following a five year hiatus and a supporting tour with Demon Hunter, the Little Rock quartet has released their seventh studio album. Overall, it’s a well-balanced effort from one of the top three bands to ever grace the Solid State roster.

Have you ever wondered what Skid Row would sound like if the band were Finnish dudes, instead of New Jersey natives? I didn’t, until this Helsinki group released their fourth album, and it’s brimming with anthemic might!

TTEOTD has come a long way since 2005′s Bloodlust. After switching vocalists and releasing the superior Malice, three-fifths of the band quit. This left bassist Jake Ososkie and founding guitarist Justin Longshore to regroup (literally). The end result finds the deathcore quintet inching ever closer toward death metal. Producer Eric Rutan (Hate Eternal/Morbid Angel) likely initiated this change. Skepis is self-produced, and I think much was learned down in Mana Studios.

It’s only natural to expect something this majestic from one of Emperor’s pillars, but the fact that Ihsahn consistently delivers music of this caliber solidifies his deserved reputation as a leader in not just black metal, but the music world at large.

The first pick for Best of 2010!

The word that describes the Finnish sextet’s fourth album is “more”. There’s more memorable compositions, more attention to subtle details, and more successful sonic experiments. This is also their first time recording at Fascination Street with the famed Jens Bogren, who has worked on several superb albums, including the last couple from Daylight Dies, Katatonia’s latest, and perhaps most importantly, everything Opeth has released in the last five years.

Lawless still has power in his vocals and speed in his fingers, and anyone interested in veteran glam rockers should give Babylon a chance.

Rob Zombie is among the elite to have transcended his previous band––in terms of popularity and eponymous-ness––sharing that spotlight with both Marilyn Manson and Alice Cooper. They also have one thing in common with their mid-career output: it’s spotty at best.