Top 10 for 2003

TheBigBlack's Rock Top 10

Powderfinger
Vulture Street

Alternative Rock | Album | 4 July 2003

Korn
Take A Look In The Mirror

Nu Metal | Album | 21 November 2003

'Take A Look In The Mirror' is the sixth studio album by Korn. It is the last Korn studio album to feature their full original lineup, as their original guitarist Brian 'Head' Welch left the band in February 2005 until his return in 2013 (with the release of their 2013 album The Paradigm Shift).

Limp Bizkit
Results May Vary

Nu Metal | Album | 23 September 2009

Jet
Get Born

Rock | Album | 14 September 2003

'Get Born' is the debut studio album by Jet. It has sold over 4 million copies worldwide.

Jane's Addiction
Strays

Alternative Rock | Album | 22 July 2003

'Strays' is the third studio album by Jane's Addiction. Released 13 years after 'Ritual de lo Habitual' (1990), the album marks the band's longest gap between full studio albums, although the group had recorded and released two new songs six years prior on the compilation album 'Kettle Whistle' (1997). It is the first album to feature bassist Chris Chaney. Regarding the decision to record a new studio album after such a long hiatus, drummer Stephen Perkins stated that the band had already completed two reunion tours performing old material, and that Jane's was ready for "a new challenge." Upon its first week of release, the album sold 110,500 copies in the United States, debuting at number four on the Billboard 200, and was eventually certified Gold.

Blink-182
Blink-182

Punk Rock | Album | 18 November 2003

Radiohead
Hail To The Thief

Alternative Rock | Album | 9 June 2003

Muse
Absolution

Alternative Rock | Album | 9 September 2003

The Butterfly Effect
Begins Here

Alternative Rock | Album | 3 August 2003

'Begins Here' is the debut album by The Butterfly Effect. It reached number 23 on the ARIA Album Charts, the band's first entry to the top 100, as their first extended play 'The Butterfly Effect' (2001) had peaked outside of the Top 100.

The Mars Volta
De-Loused In The Comatorium

Alternative Rock | Album | 24 June 2003

TheBigBlack's Rock Honourable Mentions

Jebediah
Glee Sides And Sparities

Alternative Rock | Album; Compilation | 20 October 2003

Led Zeppelin
How The West Was Won

Classic Rock | Album | 27 May 2003

Pearl Jam
Lost Dogs

Grunge Rock | Album; Compilation | 11 November 2003

TheBigBlack's Metal Top 10

Type O Negative
Life Is Killing Me

Gothic Metal | Album | 17 June 2003

'Life Is Killing Me' is the sixth studio album by Type O Negative. The album's title and content refers primarily to frontman Peter Steele's dissatisfied life outlook and experiences with mental illness at the time of writing and production, with lyrics concerning relationship problems and the illness and death of his parents. The album reached No. 39 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 27,000 copies in its first week.

Arch Enemy
Anthems Of Rebellion

Death Metal (Melodic) | Album | 23 July 2003

'Anthems Of Rebellion' is the fifth studio album by Arch Enemy.

Virgin Black
Elegant ...And Dying

Gothic Metal | Album | 1 June 2003

'Elegant... And Dying' is the second studio album by Virgin Black. Prior to the release of the album, the vocalist Rowan London trained with a professional opera singer, bolstering the album's operatic elements further.

Akercocke
Choronzon

Death Metal (Blackened) | Album | 4 November 2003

O.S.I. (Office Of Strategic Influence)
Office Of Strategic Influence

Progressive Metal | Album | 17 February 2003

For many heavy music fans 'progressive metal' is a place they generally avoid going to. It is understandable, as most progressive music isn't likely to simply entertain, but instead forces you to pay attention and put in some real effort to unravel it. With complex and often lengthy passages, and vocals generally more operatic than heavy music allows, these bands leave most listeners confused - and often bored. When O.S.I. first emerged, formed by guitarist Jim Matheos of Fates Warning and keyboardist Kevin Moore of Chroma Key and Dream Theater, it seemed this would be another band creating complex music for a small group of listeners. From the moment 'The New Math (What He Said)' starts the influences of the two main men shine through, but this is something very different. The music is still complex, but it feels as though the passages where a mass audience would lose interest have been excised, getting straight the point. At only three and half minutes the track is an instrument, and sets up the listener nicely for what they will hear over the next 45 minutes. Track 2, 'O.S.I. (Office Of Strategic Influence)', smoothly transitions from the last song with barely a space to show the album has moved on from the opening track. Vocals are handled by Moore, and although his voice isn't amazing, it perfectly fits the pseudo spoken-passages he places in each song. There is moments of big metal glory, with super heavy breakdowns appearing suddenly, but nothing here is over used or outstays its welcome. 'Horseshoes And B-52's' is like an industrial horrorshow, before moving onto simpler moments like the moody 'Head' or the Filter-like 'Hello, Helicopter!'. The album's centerpiece, the 10+ minute 'shutDOWN' has prog-royalty in Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson providing vocals, and is for its majority a grinding megalodon. Although the album is very listenable, there are still moments of progressive oddity, such as the electronic-tinged 'Memory Daydreams Lapses', but listened to as an album (rather than individual songs) these moments work as a beautiful contrast to the heavier tracks. There is a chance that this is an album that will open the door to those who would normally avoid anything with the word 'progressive' in the title, providing to listeners a sort of beginners guide.

Katatonia
Viva Emptiness

Doom Metal | Album | 1 March 2003

'Viva Emptiness' is the sixth studio album by Katatonia.

Dimmu Borgir
Death Cult Armageddon

Black Metal (Symphonic) | Album | 9 September 2003

Green Carnation
A Blessing In Disguise

Gothic Metal | Album | 17 June 2003

Opeth
Damnation

Death Metal (Progressive) | Album | 14 April 2003

Metallica
St. Anger

Thrash Metal | Album | 5 June 2003

mk's Metal Top 10

Alchemist
Austral Alien

Death Metal (Progressive) | Album | 5 December 2003

'Austral Alien' is the fifth studio album by Alchemist. It was recorded and mixed in only ten days. It is semi-conceptual with a lyrical focus inspired by the Australian environment and the impact of man on the ecology.

Cradle Of Filth
Damnation And A Day (From Genesis To Nemesis...)

Black Metal | Album | 25 March 2003

Edge Of Sanity
Crimson II

Death Metal | Album | 26 August 2003

'Crimson II' is the eighth and final studio album by Edge Of Sanity. It is a continuation of the storyline first heard on the album Crimson (1996). It is the only Edge Of Sanity release that does not feature original members Andreas Axelsson, Sami Nerberg, Anders Lindberg and Benny Larsson. Opeth frontman Mikael Akerfeldt, who provided vocals and guitar on the first album, also does not appear. The album is dedicated to the memory of Death frontman Chuck Schuldiner.

The Haunted
One Kill Wonder

Thrash Metal | Album | 17 February 2003

Fear Factory
Hatefiles

Metal (Industrial) | Album; Compilation | 8 April 2003

Dimmu Borgir
Death Cult Armageddon

Black Metal (Symphonic) | Album | 9 September 2003

Cryptopsy
None So Live

Death Metal (Technical) | Album | 10 July 2003

Opeth
Damnation

Death Metal (Progressive) | Album | 14 April 2003

Firstly I have to stop myself from writing an essay on this release. It IS brilliant. Opeth released Deliverance and Damnation 5 months apart. It seemed a deliberate attempt to highlight to fans that future releases will not be full of heavy death metal vocals and that Mikael will truly embrace is love of Prog. Nothing wrong with that - we knew that would eventuate. This is an amazing piece of work from Mikael. For some reason, from first listen I loved it. His vocals perfectly match the music composition, which itself doesn't deviate to far from song to song. I do have to point my favourite song 'Closure' which has that middle eastern sound from the middle. Listening today still brings back the same memories from my first listen. Incredibly bold release, and it worked for the band, given the acclaim it has received.

Metallica
St. Anger

Thrash Metal | Album | 5 June 2003

It's way past time to review this beast of a record. Yeah that's right - I'm in the minority, along with TheBigBlack, that absolutely love this release. We all know the lead up to its release. Heck a movie was made for the making of. Personally as you know, I strayed away from the band in the 90's and they had minor success in the post lack album releases during, but dang did this release knock my teeth to the back of my throat on first listen. Let's get straight into it. Opener 'Frantic' introduces the listener to a sound that is not familiar to Metallica fans. The songbook from previous releases is out of the window. Take notice of a band that has gone through hell and back and with the first track you can see the anger they hold. Possibly from the years it has taken them to put something new out. Perhaps getting to the point to almost break-up. This is a big 'eff you' to any of the doubters. 'Frantic' delivers one of the best lines I've heard - "My lifestyle determines my deathstyle." Speaking of anger, track 2, the title track, focuses specifically on that anger feeling. Mixed with some moody, slow paced verse, building up into a fast-paced chorus is well orchestrated. For track 3 'Some Kind Of Monster' my immediate thought is this is as close a link as you might have to their back catalogue. Very straight forward verse, chorus, verse mid-tempo but with the frenetic Lars drumming where it suits. 'Dirty Window' is flat out the head down, bum up frenetic anger (I should stop using that word). Possibly their heaviest song on the record perhaps. 'Invisible Kid' is a little strained for me to be honest. It isn't the best song on the record but still full of speed, however the topic and the output probably marks this as a low-light on the record. I had planned to review each song but it'll end up a long review so from here a few highlights to look out for. 'Shoot Me Again' has the most brilliant intro. The thumping drums actually linked into the drum beat. Love it. Great song also. 'The Unnamed Feeling', which had episodes on future releases, is a very "pull at the heart-strings" song. And the final track which is different to what you expect from any final track that Metallica put together for their albums. Equally this puts a perfect end-point on a record that no doubt was difficult to put together. All up - if you pair this release with what the band had been through for the previous 5 or so years, there was a time where us fans thought they were done. So in some respects we just wanted something from them. With St. Anger I think they delivered that and more. Yes, it is different, but hey - some of you might have a different hair cut (or no hair anymore) since the 80's so just accept it and thank the almighty Beelzebub they still exist! Welcome Rob to the band. Only good things can come from here (which in hindsight reviewing this is 2025, we know do).

Arch Enemy
Anthems Of Rebellion

Death Metal (Melodic) | Album | 23 July 2003

'Anthems Of Rebellion' is the fifth studio album by Arch Enemy.