Well, seeing as its nearly the end of the first year of the new decade, one would consider stepping back and taking a look at the musit that has been flung at us over these past 12 months. We've seen deaths and we've seen comebacks.We've seen masterpices and dissapointments of epic proportions. And here is my top 10 albums of 2010. Also some honourable mentions below, because there were so many good albums released this year. Enjoy!

10 -Dimmu Borgir - Abrahadabra

Who would have thought that two band members leaving a band would actually make the music better? Dimmu Borgir's keyboardist and bassist left the band earlier in the year which caused quite a lot of laughs in the media. The one thing that every metal fan thought upon reading this is “there is no way they can make a good album now”. So you would think that the band would simply either give up or take extra precautions making their next album.

They sure as hell didn't. The band then announced that they were using an orchestra to make the music a little more powerful, something the band hasn't done since 'Death Cult Armegeddon', which also raised a few eyebrows. And as it turns out, Abrahadabra is probably their best album since 'Enthrone Darkness Triumphant'. The guitar riffs and solos were speedy and effective, the orchestra and use of female vocals gave the album a kick, and even Shagrath's vocals didn't seem plain and unimpressive this time. Check it out!

9 - Daath - Daath

I'll be honest. It isn't every day a death metal album can keep me interested from start to finish. This album is one of the very few exceptions. I'm not even sure why. It must be the demented screaming that blasted through the speakers the entire time the album was played, or was it the ferocious drumming on tracks such as “Double Tap Suicide”. Either way, death metal fans are in for a treat with one of this years finest brutal offerings!

8- Helloween - 7 Sinners

Ahhh..power metal. Who else could release one of the best power metal records this year other than one of the main pioneers of power metal itself? Helloween proved once again that they're worth the hype. This album has pretty much everything a power metal fan needs : Speedy riffs and drumming, catchy, memorable sing-along choruses and a fucking jazz flute solo (see “Raise The Noise”). Perfect for driving or drunken sing-alongs at parties!

7 - Nevermore - The Obsidian Conspiracy

There are plenty of qualities about this band that will keep you coming back to them. Personally, I find the showmanship of Warrel Dane on each of their albums to be completely and uterrly mesmerizing. He may not show much in the way of range. In fact his voice sounds the exact same in almost every Nevermore track.But goddamn, its so unique and memorable! You can tell the man is made to entertain on a stage. Everything about this album was clean, consise and dramatic, which I always love in an album. That, and Jeff Loomis making love with the guitar on each track.Particularly “The Termination Proclamation” and “The Obsidian Conspiracy”. Theres a lot to love on this album, so I recommend it to pretty much anyone.

6 - Nachtmystium – Addicts : Black Meddle, Part 2

Whats this? An original black metal record you say? This really is a miracle! As much as I like black metal, it is a very tired genre. There are either way too many bands trying to keep “trve” and stick to the raw old school sound (ie: shit) whilst calling it “atmospheric” or just add symphoic keyboards making the entire band look unoriginal. Nachtmystium however fuse their black metal roots with psychadelic rock, creating a pretty unique twist on an already exhausted type of music. Think of Queens Of The Stone Age being raped by Darkthrone and you have Addicts:  Black Meddle, Part 2. Easily one of the best black metal records of 2010.

5 - Ophelia – Do Sympathy with Your Fantasy

The review for it is below here, so I'll be breif on this one. It is easily the best Doom record of the year. It's just an inspired mix of Doom, Shoegaze and ethereal metal that is just perfect for those who love thought-provoking music. I really haven't seen many albums as good as this at all over the year!

4 -Alcest - Écialles De Lune

The best french album of the year? Certainly. The best black metal album of the year? You bet!

What would be considered pompous, gay black metal at first glance turns out to be a very icy and beautiful album from French instrumentalist Niege. Each track providing a chilling blend of shoegaze and atmospheric black metal. Don't write this off as another pretentious black album, Niege delivers probably the most emotionally stirring work he's ever done. Perfect for listening to at night or when feeling rather down, you will be transported to Niege's dark little dreamworld of melancholy and bliss.

3 - Blind Guardian - At The Edge Of Time

If there is one thing that this album has proven, it's that Blind Guardian, a band who's career blossomed well into the 80's, still have it. “It” being that magic spark than makes their music memorable and iconic. Be it the blistering guitar work, particularly on tracks “Voice In The Dark” and “Ride Into Obsession”, two tracks of pure speed metal energy ; or the rousing scream-your-heart-out symphonic-oriental epic “Wheel Of Time”. This album is a must have from the veterans of power metal.

2 - Avantasia - Angel Of Babylon/The Wicked Symphony

Yes it's a double album. Or rather, a pair of albums released at the exact same time continuing the same storyline from 2008's “The Scarecrow”.At gunpoint, I would have to choose “Angel Of Babylon” because compared to it's more solid counterpart, it just had more memorable songs. That said, this is a huge achievement for Avantasia's mastermind Tobias Sammet. Featuring a who's who of power metal veterans including Russel Allen, Michael Kiske of Helloween and of course Masterplan's very own Jorn Lande. Each song on each album practically presenting itself as an epic sing-off, providing a new level of sheer showmanship and power. This is without a doubt not to be ignored. Because once you hear tracks such as “Promised Land”, “The Wicked Symphony” or “Death Is Just A Feeling” (featuring Savatage's Jon Oliva), you will no doubt be hooked to this melodic metal opera and Tobias's crowning opus!

And the winner is.........

1- Star One -Victims Of The Modern Age

OK, I didn't think this album could grow on me even more than it already did. Despite giving it 9/10 in the review below, it just seemed more and more enjoyable after more and more listens. It's just an amazingly pristine and well put together Prog metal album, and it's actually HEAVY.You need this nerdy nerdy album.Check out the full review below!

Honorable mentions :

Pendulum – Immersion : Say what you want about these guys, they know how to make some catchy shit! It's not going to change your life or anything, but it will get anyone and I mean ANYONE moving at a club or festival.Its a tonne of fun and easily worth checking out!

Cee-Lo Green – The Lady Killer : Cee-Lo Green being Cee-Lo Green. What's not to love?

Melechesh – The Epigenesis : Not the most memorable album admittedely, but probably one of the most solid ones. Showing both brutaility riffs and vocal carnage and very chilled Mesopotamian folk instrumental-ism at the same time, and pulling it off near flawlessly!

Coffinworm - When All Became None : This album hates you.It hates everything about you, and every human like you. This hellish mix of Sludge and Black metal is sure to leave your ears in shreds, in the most awesome way possible.

James La Brie – Static Impulse : This album will surprise you. Instead of the expected Dream Theater-esque Acoustic power ballads, you will be greeted by tracks filled with speedy melodeath! It doesn't have much of a long-lasting appeal but it has some pretty neat tunes and is well worth seeing!

Kamelot – Poetry For The Poisoned : It's definately a grower, even for a die-hard Kamelot fan. The fact that it's moved on from it's memorable symphonic power metal roots into something darker and more progressive kind of makes it a lot harder to digest, but with a few more listens it will grow on you, simply because Kamelot are all about ignoring doing things by the books and making their own music. And as an album? It does deliver, mostly.

Iron Maiden – Final Fronteir : Same argument with the new Kamelot album really. This really didn't get the reaction it deserved, especially from the fans. The Final Fronteir does deliver, just not in the way we are used to. Long gone are the days of the over the top choruses and galloping. Instead we are given complex, more thought provoking tracks while still showing off a trememdous amount of skill. I really do think more people should listen to this album with an open mind, only then will it shine.