With 2009 kicking off with killer new albums from Gallows, The Answer, Trigger the Bloodshed and Architects, Beez thinks this is one wave of British bands that we should be damn proud of.

My lord, what a start to 2009 we’ve had. Metal in general is off to a flyer this year, the Defenders of the Faith tour was a truly amazing event, Mastodon and Lamb Of God are ready to release two absolute belters of albums and both Download and Sonisphere look like they’re going to be awesome.

The best thing of all thus far into 2009 though is what a healthy situation the British scene is in. I’ve been listening to metal since ‘96. I’m no veteran but I’ve been around the block a bit (it must be true, I read it on the walls of a public toilet recently) and this is the best we’ve had it.

The Answer, Gallows and Trigger The Bloodshed are all ready to drop ‘difficult’ second albums. The point in time when the likes of Hundred Reasons, Funeral For A Friend and their ilk fell at the first chance they had to cement themselves as a world force.

Bullet For My Valentine have had no such problems with their second album.Say what you like about them (and I know a lot of you will) but they’re outselling Trivium and have become one of the biggest rising bands in world metal.

The Answer, Trigger The Bloodshed, Malefice and particularly Gallows have each provided a kick ass second album. Whether or not they sell by the bucket-load is up for debate but the quality is undeniable and that’s what we really care about. Check out our track-by-track guide to Gallows’ new album, Grey Britain.

Bring Me The Horizon! Jesus, the British scene is on form so much that even BMTH provided one of last year’s best albums (if it was another band, you’d dig it) and recently became the first British band to be put on the cover of Alternative Press magazine since Radiohead. It’s insane!

Alright, we’ve had false dawns like this before but we’re providing the world with top quality music right now and that is surely worth mentioning. Have you heard the Architects album? It rules. You won’t have heard the new Malefice album yet but trust us, it rules.

It probably is a bit vain to crow about this sort of thing but who cares. Right now, we the British are on fire. If we can’t celebrate that now then we’ll never be able to. Rule Britannia indeed!

On an entirely seperate note, we’re still all buzzing off of the Defenders show at Brixton on Saturday night. What a show and the reaction of every one of you helped make those shows the great events they are. Metal rules and the reason’s outlined in our review are why.

‘Til next time…