Quite a few records released this year were very pleasant surprises:

1. Arsis - We Are The Nightmare

Arsis with some production value = a great record. An incredibly technical, powerful release from this band.

2. Bloodbath - Unblessing The Purity EP

With so many lineup changes I wasn't sure what to expect here, but Bloodbath really delivered with their most interesting and complex work to date. Really looking forward to the upcoming album.

3. Filter - Anthems For Rebellion

An incredibly long wait for this record, but it was worth it. Anthems is a much more mature record than anything Filter has done before.

4. Moonspell - Night Eternal

A very welcome return to form for Moonspell. Definitely their best release in quite a long time.

5. Opeth - Watershed

A surprisingly experimental release from Opeth turns out to be yet another fantastic record. I can't wait for the "super special" edition with the Alice In Chains cover.

6. Scar Symmetry - Holographic Universe

Scar Symmetry had yet to really impress me until I heard this release. What a fantastic effort, it's impossible not to be hooked by this one.

7. Stereolab - Chemical Chords

After a few off the mark releases, Stereolab is back! "Three Women" in particular is one of the best songs of their long career.

No Soulja Boy? Dave, I'm disappointed.

Where do you find new music these days? The most recent stuff I listen to is usually at least 10 years old because I can't find any of the new stuff worth listening to.

Hahaha, sorry, no Soulja Boy.

While most popular music is really horrible these days, the heavy metal scene is actually really strong right now. There are even some decent American bands, though you'd never know it since Killswitch, Shadows Fall, and Trivium get all the attention. I mostly find new music on which is THE definitive metal site.

Some of the stuff I'm really looking forward to in the remainder of this year:

Opeth - Roundhouse Tapes Live DVD

Metallica - Death Magnetic (I expect this will suck hard, but I admit I'm still curious to see if they can actually pull off a comeback album).

Amon Amarth - Twilight Of The Thundergod

Omnium Gatherum - The Redshift

Gojira - The Way Of All Flesh

Pain - Cynic Paradise

Hmm, my link got lost in there for some reason. The site I was referring to is metalstorm.ee