Over the last few weeks of 05 we will be posting our writers' picks for the best of 2005. 

Each day we posted a new Top 5 list from one of our writers. Now at the conclusion we are please to present the master list comprised of the top picks from all of our writer submissions. 

Mark Hensch's Top 5 of 05.

5.  Witchcraft – Firewood: a slice of classic early metal you'd swear these Swedes invented the stuff. A definite for fans of mellow guitar wankery, and beyond that, a much more complex album for the band. If it hadn't come out in early November (pretty late for our lists) I'd probably have moved it up a notch or two. 
(samples / buy cd)

4.  Bear Vs. Shark - Terrorhawk:  This album reminds me why I enjoy the screamo / punk / emo / post rock field. Original almost beyond belief, BVR play some of the most off-kilter, noisy, angular rock I have heard all year. The fact they live a couple towns over is also sweet. 
(samples / buy cd | review)

3. The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute:  the antidote to stale music everywhere. Early in 2005, TMV dropped an insane concept album slapping music fans with an indefinable mix of musical styles. Blowing tons of neurons, this one's a no-brainer for one of the top albums of 2005. Catchy, dark, intense, and simply powerful, this is the very definition of rock music....for people who like their rock to be kicking, screaming, and scaring the ignorant masses as opposed to being dead and decaying in the barren ground. Viva la Volta! 
(samples / buy cd | review)

2.  YOB - The Unreal Never Lived:  We're all doomed, and this proves it...a heavy, crushing, piece of nirvana for stoner/doom fans the world over. With YOB, I don't even need to say more. This was so close to pick number one, I'm still not sure if I made the right choice... 
(samples / buy cd | review)

1.  Nile - Annihilation of the Wicked: Simply the best, yes, the best Death Metal album I have heard in recent years. The very epitome of technical metal is displayed here, and some of the blistering riffs and sand-blasting solos must be heard to be believed. The drum parts on this album outdo most other drummers in the field today by ten-fold, and few people put as much dedication, devotion, heart, and actual interest in the fans as guitarist Karl Sanders, who crafted an amazingly intricate lyric book full of interesting tidbits on the songs. Bloody grand, and a must have for metalheads everywhere!
(samples / buy cd)