Rating: 4/5
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Reckoner thrashes, it froths, and it gallivants across your speakers with purpose. Perhaps a bit prog metal standard at times, but for a first album it sets a strong precedent.

Rating: 3/5
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Full Blown Chaos sticks to what they know with this release. Unfortunately, they’re 10 years too late. Clean up the sound, vocals and please, for the love of Alex Jones, write about something relevant for a change.

Rating: 4/5
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Royal Thunder is tough yet tender, like a good jerky, and every bit as savory (perhaps venison, judging by the antlers on the cover). The Peach State again proves a solid source for 21st-century heaviness. This should keep your tongues wagging until their LP drops later in 2011.

Our final Best of 2010 is from Brad Barratt, who lists six studio albums and one live release in this lineup of releases he reviewed.

Rating: 2/5
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The Fifth Mind Over Metal Limerick

Rating: 3.5/5
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Overall, this is a very good debut from Sons Of Tonatiuh. Fans of doom, sludge and crust will likely enjoy this release.

Rating: 3.5/5
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If Murder Construct intends to record more material, expanding their boundaries past traditional grind distinguishes them better. Travis Ryan is a monster behind the mic, and his latest explorations have been beneficial to his progression as a vocalist.

Rating: 3.5/5
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Is this a great album? Not quite. But, is it a great *tribute* album? Most certainly!

Rating: 4/5
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City of Fire sounds more impassioned and writes tighter songs than any post-grunge alt metal knockoff. I’d like to live in a world where THIS would be considered pop music.

Rating: 4/5

Stranglehold. The Norwegian death rock band Kvelertak give the listener the proper feel for their music with their name and self-titled debut album. The band borrows the explosive energy from underground hardcore, the riffs from 21st century metal and the chorus anthems from hard rock.