It’s that time of year again can you believe it? How the hell is it Christmas already?? I know I say that every year but damn, time really flies when you’re having fun.

I’ve been in the studio working on the new Anthrax album since November 4. The drums, bass and rhythm guitars are done (I just finished up 19 tracks of blistering rhythms a few nights ago) and the vocals started in NYC today. So far we are right on schedule and it’s sounding REALLY FUCKING GREAT. We should be mixing at the end of January and soon after that giving birth to a really pissed off, loud, fast and heavy child.

Being that it is the end of the year it’s time for my year end favorites in music, movies, TV, and of course food. 2008 was a strange year for me music-wise because I have spent all year writing and then going into the studio so I wasn’t as involved in “the scene” or staying up to date with the ever growing world of metal as I usually would be. I really have been living in a cave as they say.

I based my favorite album choices on what I listened to the most on my iPod and iTunes when driving or flying or working out or sitting around the house. It makes it really easy because it gives you the play counts so you know how many times you listened and when. I love technology.
OK, here are my lists:

Favorite Albums (in no specific order):

— Muse – HAARP
— Toxic Holocaust – An Overdose Of Death
— Metallica – Death Magnetic
— AC/DC – Black Ice
— Death Angel – Killing Season
— Testament¬ – The Formation Of Damnation
— Bloc Party – Intimacy
— Slipknot – All Hope Is Gone

Favorite Live Gigs:

— AC/DC at the Forum, Los Angeles (possibly the best show I have ever seen)
— Tenacious D at Reading Festival
— Metallica at Reading Festival
— Van Halen at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas
— Iron Maiden at Verizon Amphitheater Los Angeles

Favorite TV:

— Lost (Season 5)
— The Shield (Season 7)
— Battlestar Galactica (Season 4)
— The Office
— Dexter

Favorite Movies:

— The Dark Knight
— Iron Man

(I barely went to the movies this year and I plan on catching up on DVD and yes I know, Slumdog Millionaire is great and I have to see it.)

Favorite Food:

— The whole chicken and fries at Publican, Chicago. Seriously, I’ve written about this before and a day doesn’t go by without me craving it.

— Maccheroni alla Chitarra con Bottarga at Babbo, NYC. Best pasta dish ever.

— The oysters at Blue Ribbon, NYC.

— The fried chicken at Blue Ribbon, NYC.
I like Blue Ribbon. I like chicken.

— The Gnudi at The Spotted Pig, NYC.
Little magical cheese pillows.

— Devil’s On Horseback at The Spotted Pig, NYC.
What are Devil’s On Horseback? They’re fucking assholes they’re so good, that’s what they are. (Bacon wrapped dates.)

— The grilled Octopus at Osteria Mozza, LA.

— A cheeseburger from the Apple Pan, LA

— A cheeseburger from In-N-Out, California

— A cheeseburger from the Shake Shack, NYC
(Why have one favorite cheeseburger when you can have 3???)

— Epoisses on raisin date toast with quince paste form the cheese selection at BLD, LA.

— The NY Strip at David Burke, Chicago

— The fresh ricotta and egg raviolo at Osteria Mozza, LA

— Blueberry pancakes and bacon at John O’Groats, LA

— The smoked salmon and scrambled eggs put back into the shell at the Park Café, San Jose Costa Rica

— The calamari at House Of Nanking, SF

— The oysters and the chowder at Swan Oyster Depot, SF

And finally……

— The whole meal I had at Schwa in Chicago. Michael Carlson is a madman/genius creating dishes that I could never hope to explain. I can only say that the meal he served us that night was the best meal I’ve ever had.

That’s that for 08. Here’s to a killer 09.
Happy holidays.


Cheers,
Scott
www.anthrax.com
www.myspace.com/scottian
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Scott Ian is SuicideGirls' monthly Food Coma columnist. Click HERE for more of his musing on sustenance and libations. He plays guitar for revolutionary metal band Anthrax and also for Pearl.