Bring Back Glam! Picks the Best Albums of 2010

Avenged Sevenfold, 'Nightmare' via Warner Bros. For the first time, the annual Bring Back Glam! “best of” list was compiled as a team effort instead of just based on my opinion. Since 2010 saw the addition of two writers to this site - Christian Graus and Brian Carvell - it's only fitting they get to weigh in with their favorites of the year.

Please note, this list is not all Glam. It's just rock, heavily weighted toward metal bands in general. There was simply too much good Metal in 2010 to restrict this list to only Glam.

So here's the list:

10. 'The Heart' by Jimmy Gnecco – selected by Brian Carvell
09. 'The Final Frontier' by Iron Maiden – selected by Christian Graus
08. 'Blood of the Nations' by Accept – selected by Christian Graus

What does Christian say about Blood of the Nations? This:

“This whole album is classic metal... where real song writing happens instead of just layer after layer of super heavy riffs and growly vocals, as is so common nowadays. Accept have shown they have a lot of good music still in them. If you love traditional heavy metal, then you need this CD, and you should also check out their live show, which is killer."

07. 'Slash' by Slash (and friends) – selected by Christian Graus and Allyson Crawford
06. 'My Darkest Days' by My Darkest Days – selected by Allyson Crawford
05. 'Sting in the Tail' by Scorpions – selected by Allyson Crawford
04. 'Fever' by Bullet For My Valentine – selected by Allyson Crawford
03. 'Infestation' by RATT – selected by Brian Carvell and Allyson Crawford
02. 'Cold Day Memory' by Sevendust – selected by Brian Carvell and Allyson Crawford

What does Brian say about Cold Day Memory? This:

"The collective mind of Sevendust has the ability think in time signatures and syncopation that is far and away ahead of their peers, and this album is pinnacle-to-date of their ability to deliver amazing songs. Cold Day Memory is, by far, the strongest effort to date from a tragically under-appreciated band that consistently excels, both in the studio and as a live act."

01. 'Nightmare' by Avenged Sevenfold – selected by Christian Graus and Allyson Crawford

So how did I determine Avenged Sevenfold deserved the top spot? Easy. There are three albums on this list I personally returned to over and over: My Darkest Days, Cold Day Memory and Nightmare. It was nearly a toss-up for me when it came to Sevendust and Avenged Sevenfold: both bands put on great live shows and Sevendust's live show was my single favorite memory from this year's Shiprocked cruise. That said, the loss of A7X drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan was just too big to ignore. Avenged Sevenfold is simply an amazing metal band. For those that disagree or say they are “kiddie metal” - you're not paying attention. Their songs are technically amazing and the talent undeniable. The guitar solos are something straight out of the 1980s – true talent. While so many modern bands eschew guitar solos, Avenged Sevenfold embraces them. On Nightmare, the listener travels on a roller-coaster of emotions on the dark side of life. While the future of Avenged Sevenfold is in question – the band doesn't have a permanent drummer at this point – one thing is for certain: the band has arrived. Give them some due.

What are your favorite albums of 2010?

In case you are wondering, my favorite song of the year is "Porn Star Dancing" from My Darkest Days.  It's just too fun to ignore!

Want more "best of" lists? Check out the fine blogs below. All will be revealing their picks for the best of 2010 within the next few days!

All Metal Resource — http://allmetalresource.com/

Hair Metal Mansion — http://hairbangersradio.ning.com/

Hard Rock Hideout — http://hardrockhideout.com/

Heavy Metal Addiction —  http://heavymetaladdiction.com

Heavy Metal Time Machine — http://metalmark.blogspot.com/

Imagine Echoes — http://www.imagineechoes.com/

Metal Excess — http://metalexcess.com/

Metal Odyssey — http://metalodyssey.wordpress.com/

The Ripple Effect — http://www.ripplemusic.blogspot.com/

Hard Rock Nights — http://hardrocknights.com/

Layla's Classic Rock — http://laylasclassicrock.blogspot.com/

The Metal Minute — http://rayvanhornjr.blogspot.com/

Comments

[JT]

Good list. Just a quick update for Hard Rock Nights' website, HRN is now on its own domain... http://www.hardrocknights.com ...my list as well as Brian's and Myron's will be posted there soon.

[Bryon]

I completely agree with your choice of A7X at the top. Just an incredible album!

[Allyson B. Crawford]

Hey JT, I updated your domain. My website is a striaght .com as well but Squarepace pops up in the address about half the time - depending on the browser. Makes me crazy.

Can't wait to read your lists!

Allyson

[Kenny Ozz]

I will never understand everybodys obsesssion with Avenged Sevenfold. Pure garbage if you ask me.

[kari]

I've said this a ton in the last couple of weeks....my votes are RATT/SLASH/SCORPS & SEVENDUST!!!

My TOP of the year is RATT, Infestation! RATT N ROLL! I LOVE EM!
Have to be honest, I haven't checked out AX7. Guess its time to finally do so and see what the hype is about.

HAPPY GLAM HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE IN BBG LAND!

[kari]

Any chance of doing a WORST album list?

[Bob]

I'm with ya Kenny, I totally don't get the A7X thing, but that's just my opinion. Personally, I think accept - Blood of the Nations is the best album of 2010.

[John]

Hinder!!! All American Nightmare!

[Glenn]

My favorite albums of the year were 1-AB III 2-Slash 3-Audio Secrecy by Stone Sour 4-Infestation 5-STP 6-Taddy Porter 7-La Raza by Armored Saint 8-BLS 9-Maiden 10-Buckcherry

[Christian]

I forgot Fever was this year, and just plain forgot 'sting in the tail', or they would have made the lists I submitted. BFMV and A7X are the bands that give me hope for the future of metal. I bet there are people who hated Metallica and thought true metal died with Black Sabbath. These bands have a fresher sound but it's still everything I love about metal, so I love the new bands AND the old bands. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion.

[Brian C.]

I was lobbying for 7Dust at #1, but I will settle for #2. Everyone go buy that album.

[concertsrock]

Plenty of great records on your list, but how does a site called Bring Back Glam not list Crashdiet's Generation Wild, Reckless Love's self-titled album, and Crazy Lixx's New Religion on its list?

There's plenty of great music released outside the US?

[Shattered]

Scorpions- Sting in the Tail
Ratt-Infestation
Slash
Armored Saint-La Raza
Black Label Society-Order of the Black
Tora Tora-Bombs Away, Miss B. Haven, and Before and After
Hinder-All American Nightmare

[Shattered]

Almost forgot, One Less Reason-Faces and Four Letter Words.

[Christian]

concertsrock, for me, I have all those albums, but, fun tho they are, the 'best' albums IMO are the ones that push the genre, not the ones that wallow in it's most obvious cliches.

[Metalboy!]

Metalboy!'s Top 10 Albums of 2010:

1) Hansel, "Never Say Die"
2) Reckless Love, "Reckless Love"
3) Bad City, "Welcome To The Wasteland"
4) Accept, "Blood Of Nations" (Bonus Version)
5) Airbourne, "No Guts,No Glory", (Special Edition)
6) Hungryheart, "One Ticket To Paradise"
7) State Of Rock, "A Point Of Destiny"
8) Crazy Lixx, "New Religion"
9) Crash Diet, "Generation Wild"
10) Ratt, "Infestation" (Deluxe Edition)

Honorable Mention: Slash, "Slash" (Deluxe Edition), Major Tom, "A Night On The Lash", Buckcherry, "All Night Long", Vince Neil, "Tattoos & Tequila"

p.s. Thanks to everyone in 2010 for all your suggestions and tips, especially Allyson!

[Shadow]

Ouch no love for Ozzy!

My top 5 for the year!

1)Scream- Ozzy
2) Infestation- RATT
3) Order of the Black -BLS
4) IronBound- OverKill
5) Slash-Slash

Worst Album- Anything with the word Bieber on it! lol!

[The Sexy Armpit]

I actually had not heard the Avenged song Nightmare until reading this post and WOW it definitely is good. Good picks you guys listed there!

[Brian L]

Avantasia--Wicked Symphony
Keel--Streets of Rock N Roll
Crazy Lixx-New Religion
Ratt--Infestation
Scorps---Sting of the Tail
Wig Wam--Non Stop Rock N Roll
Reckless Love
Airbourne---No Guts No Glory

[Bob]

A huge thumbs up to Shadow for mentioning Ironbound by overkill!!!!! there's a band that's brought it hard for over 25 years and never compromised.