There stands one album from 2009 that unites metal-heads everywhere. Young and old, rich and poor, famous and infamous, men and women, cats and dogs, Jesus and Satan can all agree that this album supremely ruled. No, it’s not Mastodon.

It’s…

fucking Skeletonwitch!

Breathing the Fire is the best metal album of 2009. Thrashing, rocking, harmonizing, blasting, screaming and shredding its way to the top. The way the song-writing combines each of these elements is what makes this album stand out, and what makes it so enjoyable time and time again. This album embodies everything that is unholy (a.k.a., awesome): Skeletons, fire, death, Satan, destruction and more death.

Besides, how can you not vote for an album where the “hook” in the song is screaming “Crushed! Crushed! Crushed, beyond dust!” or “Bow before the filth, your rotting god. Worship the divine decay. Delight in the rot, the disease and pestilence. Praise the lord of the plague!”

Here are some more albums we enjoyed from 2009: