This year, I probably haven't obtained as many albums as I perhaps could have, but regardless, I've found some excellence.
Winterfylleth- The Mercian Sphere is probably my favourite album so far this year. I think it has a perfect balance for a black metal record, powerful without being crushing, and I think it does what bands such as Primordial, Agalloch etc do so well, and that is provoke very strong imagery in the mind, of another age.
Other metal albums of note:
Drudkh- Handful of Stars- A good return to form from Drudkh after the poor Microcosmos. It is quite different compared to the Drudkh many know so well, so it will certainly divide the fans a little I think.
Dark Fortress- Ylem- I was surprised by this one, their best album in quite some time.
Orphaned Land- The Neverending way of the ORwarrior- It's always great to find a progressive metal album that isn't wank, even though the title may indicate otherwise.
Looking forward to Enslaved's new album too, though I would hope that it is better than Vertebrae, which was boring. Deathspell Omega have an new album coming out in November too.
Agalloch and Primordial have new albums due in the not too distant future, but I think they will be released in early 2011.
