My annual top albums of 2019

This year's list will comprise of albums that I deemed worthy of a score of 8/10 or higher only. Need to cut out the merely good however counting albums from the 7/10 threshold I would have 161 more albums listed. So altogether a total of 283 titles liked for 2019. Those albums can be seen in the monthly posts with the search function in case 122 albums is not enough lol!

I think 8/10 is a good number to list and there's still bloody 122 of them! I've also decided to list them all in the one list. Normally I split albums into 3, the melodic, then thrash and death. The oddballs go in with the melodic but this year I'm just gonna list them as one long list of albums from the 8/10 ranking upwards. Obviously many albums have the same ranking but I'm gonna sort of put them in preference if I can but it's mainly splitting hairs but what the hell. I've

also gone to the trouble of providing one link for a song for each album. Buy me a beer when you see me!

Some stats from this list of 122 albums

Styles:
Power/Heavy/Trad/Prog - 63
Melodic Rock/AOR - 20
Death - 16
Thrash - 10
Modern/Metalcore/Mixed - 13

Countries:
Sweden - 27
America - 16
England - 13
Italy - 11
Germany - 10
Finland - 6
Mixed - 6
Australia - 5
Denmark - 3
Holland - 3
Greece - 3
Norway - 2
Switzerland - 2
Chile - 2
Austria - 1
Scotland - 1
Tunisia - 1
Slovakia - 1
France - 1
Japan - 1
Faroe Islands - 1
Ukraine - 1
N. Ireland
Canada - 1
Ireland - 1
Israel - 1
Paraguay - 1




122. Accursed Spawn - The Virulent Host
Tight death metal with cool riffs- https://youtu.be/0CQ0bcf7vkU

121. Warchest - Sentenced Since Conception
Severe thrash metal madness - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWCxilsPVKE

120. Aggravator - st
Slayer like thrash with old school Death riffs. https://youtu.be/IsEDEJhNJHo

119. Grimgotts - Dragons of the Ages
Cheesy happiness from here in the UK, keep smiling lads! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKN5ALYNaR0

118. Amulet - The Inevitable War
Trad metal with epic high vocals, raise the horns of war, Roundhead! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS5u1oSeHzs

117. Ancient Bards - Origine (The Black Crystal Sword Saga Part 2)
Symphnonic power metal extravganza - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujq1bBi7sYU

116. Entrails - Rise of the Reaper
Blood gargling old school death with crunchy groove and atmosphere! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XVYGpZJscg

115. Crashdïet - Rust
Modern dirty glam with edge - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fE1wPv7eNA

114. Black Star Riders - Another State Of Grace
Classic inspired rock n roll, great vocals from Ricky. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLkBt1eR8tM

113. Cognizance - Malignant Dominion
Mental rapidfire tech death madness - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChUTHKQhehY

112. Contrarian - Their Worm Never Dies
Strange and twisted tech death with some mindbending melody - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx2Enr1BZ9Y
                                             
111. No Name Faces - Walls Of Anxiety
Modern rock with soaring vocals and choruses - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZFNP4HnDjE                                 
110. Crazy Lixx - Forever Wild
80s fixated melodic rock with killer tunes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXekI0LiBLA

109. Klaw - LightCrusher
Angry and raging thrash metal for headbangers to go nuts to - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xorvDh3xL3Q

108. Adrian Benegas - The Revenant
Power metal project from South America - https://youtu.be/Ns-xYFhCRDU
                         
107. Sinner - Santa Muerte
Nice mix of heavy metal and classic rock styles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsKhwT08f0M

106. The Murder of My Sweet - Brave Tin World
Best effort from this Frontiers project of female fronted melodic rock - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L4oCz34nPg

105. Destruction - Born to Perish
Schmier and co raging as hard as ever - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lad5XCWmbBo

104. Amon Amarth - Berserker
The Vikings have released better but they never change and thank Odin for that! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRWMB4veO5c

103. Dream Theater - Distance Over Time
The kings of prog metal. Can't deny this solid album - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gylxuO6dKOw

102. Gladenfold - When Gods Descend
OTT power, death, melody, fantasy and the kitchen sink! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg63eoGn0uo

101. Excalion - Emotions
Catchy melodic power metal with keyboards galore - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw_w_T6kzHs

100. Magoria - JtR1888
Rock opera from Dutch prog rock scene telling the story of Jack the Ripper - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9nO-UiSW3s
                                             
99. Any Given Day - Overpower
Modern metalcore with huge melodic choruses - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1C4lrcQBZw

98. Equipoise - Demiurgus
OTT hyperspeed tech death with masterful bass playing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnJwsmx6UIs

97. Everfrost - Winterider
Funny power metal with frosty themes perfect for this time of the year - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy6qZbWWSGU

96. Dawn Of Destiny - The Beast Inside
High quality female fronted symphonic metal - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xr4C905_Ms
                                                           
95. Exxocet - Mighty Jungle
Super catchy glam metal from Chile of all places - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y_QwNQDF64

94. The Raven Age - Conspiracy
Modern catchy metal with George Harris son of Steve - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWTXd30mzVs

93. West of Hell - Blood of the Infidel
Super raging angry thrash/power with sky piercing vocals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqLmmy4rY-M

92. Frozen Crown - Crowned in Frost
Guitar shredding power metal with female cleans and male rough vocals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o0imRANjm0

91. Edenbridge - Dynamind
Long standing symphonic metallers return with another lush effort - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZbflZDstsM
                                                                 
90. VLTIMAS - Something Wicked Marches In
I really got into this new vehicle for dodgy Evil D. Very catchy stuff! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DaUskT8JSU
                                             
89. Horizon's End - Skeleton Keys
Hi class melodic prog metal return from the Greeks. Riffs! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsgrmqceMjk

88. Inglorious - Ride To Nowhere
Nathan is one of the best singers in rock - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EIXos7j4eQ

87. Convictors - Atrocious Perdition
Heavy and groovy old school death metal just the way I like it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxeAXDGucgM

86. Singularity - Place Of Chains
Masterful atmospheric tech death speed fest - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhMnlHOyG8M

85. Metalite - Biomechanicals
Catchy as hell bubblegum metal, chew hard! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL8RG5roSHY

84. Moron Police - A Boat On The Sea
A big surprise and a new band to me. Playing mix of pop and rock from the 70s in the main but with a lot of melody and loads of humour - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7AYBpFc5uE

83. Envenomed - The Walking Shred
Aussie troop does heavy and melodic power with heavy vocals, what's not to love? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxa5Un6IuqM
                                                               
82. Orpheus Omega - Wear Your Sins
These Aussie guys produced a tight wad of clean death metal, check it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNA5ztjxOWw

81. Pretty Maids - Undress Your Madness
Ronnie and co with another great slab of melodic metal. I even like Ronnie's vocals a lot - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsBz33HAoh0

80. Saint Asonia - Flawed Design
One of my top modern rock albums from this year - https://youtu.be/uMcsrZwfqpo

79. Wake The Nations - Heartrock
Nice and cacthy melodic rock, typical stuff from Scandinavia - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGJX0D_1x7o

78. SellSword - ...Unto the Breach
UK brothers of steel play epic and cacthy heavy metal. Sadly the singer has since left and he's one of the best things about the band - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJlq3T54eHE

77. Desert - Fortune Favors the Brave
Best Israeli band I recall in recent years. A must for fans of Sabaton - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_HkN0LPGog

76. Fireland - Fireland IV Forged in Fire
This band from Northern ireland is almost completely ignored and I don't get it. THey sound really good and the album is really top notch melodic power metal - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLZmkvj9Y-4
                                                                       
75. SkeleToon - They Never Say Die
Funny and humourous animation fixated power metal from Italy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB0UJZ9VfTg

74. Leverage - Determinus
These Finns came back with an album all in their own style. I warmed to this a lot after a few spins -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnKdGnwYKSE

73. Steel Prophet - The God Machine
Huge comeback from the Steel Prophet boys. Getting RD Liapakis was a stroke of luck - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly7NzrFTlYo

72. Suicidal Angels - Years Of Aggression
Greek brothers of thrash fucking metal... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk4Rtzlgl2c

71. Sweet Oblivion - st
The best Tate sung disk in centuries even though he phoned it in..literally! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYsLG2VtTN0

70. Bestial Invasion - Monomania
Fantastically oddball thrash metal - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VF4JnHOxVw
                                                         
69. Turilli/Lione Rhapsody - Zero Gravity (Rebirth and Evolution)
Luca and Fabio with a solid first outing as a duo with themes about space rather than dragons hehe -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWGG7FSLUsQ

68. Vanishing Signs - st
Very good, epic and lush melodic rock from these unknowns. I enjoyed this trip a lot. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6CBVVnGPVA

67. Tyr - Hel
Faroese brothers of viking metal returned with another typically catchy effort - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oAt3mBEKRk

66. Freedom Call - M.E.T.A.L
The more you hate them the happier their metal gets. Happy metal at it's best! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRgVvCcEo9s
                                       
65. Soilwork - Verkligheten
One of the first good albums released this year but not forgotten - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHZhl_pniUY

64. Lord - Fallen Idols
Yet another Aussie heavily penetrating my charts. Great comeback you Aussie blokes.. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCV0vXFxUzA

63. Scott Stapp - The Space Between the Shadows
Now this is odd. Mr Stapp charts heavily and look up and you see no sign of Alter Bridge. The AB album is good don't get me wrong but Mr Stapp really outdid his former brothers. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDRQXrRtE5M

62. DragonForce - Extreme Power Metal
You know what I was almost ready to trash this album after the first single but then this song in particular grabbed a hold of me and I started getting into Extreme Power Metal! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDtaDWel5bs
                                                             
61. Tygers of Pan Tang - Ritual
NWOBHM stalwarts return with a fantastic up to date offering with killer vocals too. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRBZ9V6tPCU

60. Anthem - Nucleus
Japan's famous sons of classic heavy metal return with probably their best album ever for me -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AttcCxA7gZ8

59. Dream Troll - Second to None
Super catchy melodic metal from the UK. Great songs, vocals epic. Sadly I believe the singer has left and he's one of the best things about the band. And sorry about the horribly cheap video hehe! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCKe1KwBCGg

58. Axenstar - End of All Hope
Very nice melodic power metal comeback from the Swedes. Clean and very melodic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixf8kqZfZ4U

57. Exumer - Hostile Defiance
German thrash merchants burn up the ground with riffs and mayhem ensues.. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJYNazlMWFI
                                                   
56. Children of Bodom - Hexed
Best Bodom album since Hatecrew Deathroll. Who can deny the superb riffs and catchy keys dueling till the end of time - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F_ws83QcSQ
                                         
55. Within Temptation - Resist
Took me a while but I really warmed to this more modern effort from WT team. More melodic but way more modern too which was a bit different but I guess Sharon was tired of the same old same old. A very good album of heavy pop - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3nb_r18ug0
                                   
54. Ad Patres - A Brief Introduction to Human Experiments
One of the best death metal albums of the year by these Frenchies. Hammering and staccato riffed death metal like old school Decapitated. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W3kia6RpMA

53. De Lirium's Order - Singularity
Quirky, technical and fantastically listenable death metal with a lot of their own ideas and style -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZXL7F6F-hQ

52. Toby Hitchcock - Reckoning
THis chap is one of the best singers in AOR today. I just love this guy's voice and teh Frontiers team give him some great songs to sing. Enjoy! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ5S21KRk60
                                         
51. Beast in Black - From Hell With Love
Hilariously OTT and catchy band. Just forget yourself and have fun with the tasty morsels of cheddar! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4waVZXKE0GU
                                         
50. Visions of Atlantis - Wanderers
Soft and gentle melodic power metal with atmosphere and dream yourself away themes all held together by the gorgeous vocals of Clementine Delauney. Just relax with this one and get captured by epic melodies - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV7iXGIeMjg
                                                           
49. Continuum - Designed Obsolescence
Another one of those warp drive death metal albums I love. Foot down and blast! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITT7IY78-jc

48. Grand Magus - Wolf God
True and epic heavy metal not much else to say - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn0o8Ly95UE
                                       
47. Gathering Of Kings - First Mission
Super catchy melodic rock project with great songs and a new album coming in 2020, happy days! -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz1XqJj8TAs

46. Fire From the Gods - American Sun
Modern rap/ragga metal with huge anthemic choruses - a true guilty pleasure for this year well I'm not even guilty. his band is badass! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqcgQwvmvig
                                         
45. Signum Regis - The Seal of a New World
A solid power metal record with great music and solid high pitched vocals. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69DRcxmKBfg
                                                           
44. Great Master - Skull and Bones - Tales from over the Seas
These Italians are totally unheralded but if you miss Domine like I do then Great Master is the next best thing. This album brings me epic joy with it's theatrical flavour and great melodies - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv4U5sVi-xo

43. Hollow Haze - Between Wild Landscapes and Deep Blue Seas
Another bunch of eyeties playing modern and melodic prog metal. Very cool release indeed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWzxmPDapH8

42. Inanimate Existence - Clockwork
Another album in the vein of the style that I love. Wizard level instrumentation bending minds to the extreme! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-0sIWTZ3Jg

41. First Signal - Line Of Fire
Superb effort from this AOR project fronted by Harry Hess of Harem Scarem. Killer AOR tunes all over the shop. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH8nv2qb7zI
                                                         
40. M.I.GOD. - Specters On Parade
Unknown band with one of those out of the blue killer albums that I love being surprised with. These guys play modern progressive metal with killer music and melodies all over the shop. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv--TClfSSc

39. Merging Flare - Revolt Regime
Another relatively unknown with a really fun power metal album full of great galloping happy songs. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd6R9YJIRr0

38. Evergrey - The Atlantic
You can rely on Evergrey to be consistently good and this epic album delivered everything you expect from an album with Evergrey on the front. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBne5lE66u0

37. Rockett Love - Greetings from Rocketland
I loved this melodic rock gem of an album mixed by our old friend Mr Erik Maartensson. Catchy and groovy with tough man vocals. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEmf9vjnCNA

36. Myrath - Shehili
Another episode from the Myrath song book. Beautiful oriental flavours and melodic metal genius. -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2rKORvyOcM

35. Thornbridge - Theatrical Masterpiece
German theatrical power metal in the Orden Ogan vein. Lots of cool melodies and catchy melodic metal music. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR_EeIM4bFY

34. Silver Bullet - Mooncult
Another pretty unknown Swedish power band released a classy album. Must be something in the water..! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4RFhAwR9kc

33. Power Theory - Force of Will
Very classy late power metal entry this one again by pretty much unknowns. Very cool album. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml2uY6QvSAw

32. Teramaze - Are We Soldiers
Yet another great Aussie band in my list. THese guys delivered a very cool progressive metal album with top notch music all round. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oofj4VFG7sk

31. Thunder and Lightning - Demonicorn
Heavy German power metal. Nothing was broke from last time so just more enjoyable power. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTtgUS1NP_M

30. Gloryhammer - Legends From Beyond The Galactic Terrorvortex
Just a hilariously cheesy band with stupidly memorable tunes. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkUAzcja74Y

29. Liv Sin - Burning Sermons
Finally Liv and her troops get it very right with a very cool, heavy and melodic trad metal album -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3zbjIZx2LU

28. Edge of Forever - Native Soul
A great effort this one with cool riffs and memorable tunes with great vocals from leadman Ale DelVecchio. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmpLo3xC36k

27. Crystal Eyes - Starbourne Traveler
Possibly even their best album and a great return from the Swedes. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvstQaJcDgw

26. Diviner - Realms of Time
Super crushing as far as power metal goes with mental OTT heavy vocals. Pounding! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QN28AXXGvY

25. Find Me - Angels In Blue
Killer AOR fronted by mister voice in a million Robbie Le Blanc. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C9OOx4uXdo
                                         
24. X-Romance - Voices From The Past
Unknown Swedish guys released their old demos as a full album and boy was it good for AOR junkies that is. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPV5jbSka24

23. The Defiants - Zokusho
Follow up album from a melodic supergroup of sorts and a fine fine effort indeed. Very melodic and with a fantastic production too. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQmUkCWCYME

22. XentriX - Bury the Pain
One of the best thrash metal comebacks in history. Absolutely ripping with killer riffs at every turn. -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8YzHhQg9s8

21. Nightqueen - Seduction
Another band that came and blew me away from out of nowhere. Dutch melodic metal with awesome female vocals. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SBhRVZdvuE

20. As I Lay Dying - Shaped by Fire
Exciting metalcore comeback in controversial circumstances but the album is just superb with awesome vocal melodies and raging riffs. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdUhTHGR1Tk

19. Cyhra - No Halos In Hell
First album was good but this one just takes it to the next level with a classy set of vocal melodies and melodic modern metal backing. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPrnuk6hRlc

18. The Dark Element - Songs the Night Sings
Pretty great follow up record from this duo with a lot of awesome tunes but still not as good as the debut. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJvh7Ku7K6Q

17. Rhapsody of Fire - The Eighth Mountain
Very surprised to see that RoF outdid Luca this year though both made the list. I just enjoyed this album a lot more than Luca's effort. I love me some cheesy OTT goodness and Rhapsody of Fire delivered by the barrell load. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tF692t0I9c

16. Iron Savior - Kill or Get Killed
Piet Sielck has been on a hot streak of form and so it continues with this rock solid album. Just love Iron Savior's style of melodic metal and Piet's unique throaty vocals. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnMFjC7QMGc

15. Battle Beast - No More Hollywood Endings
They just continue to get better and better as far as I'm concerned. They're brand of melodic metal is just a joy to listen to. In the end the biggest draw in the band is Noora's amazingly powerful vocals. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndSXNhF9g7E

14. Noveria - Aequilibrium
A brilliant return by these forgotten Italian lads. A great mix of power and progressive metal. -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUbmnmlWYZs
                     
13. Flotsam and Jetsam - The End of Chaos
Long running melodic thrashers hitting a rich vein of form with great riffs, songs and most importantly very expressive vocals. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgNExqvHDhc
                                         
12. Vision Divine - When All the Heroes Are Dead
A monster return frm the Italian power/prog giants with a new singer and tasty new tunes. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmmUkKcDtG8

11. Sabaton - The Great War
The album is a bit short but the songs are still as addictive as ever. Another one of those albums I played to death for a few weeks after release. What's more to say it's Sabaton. They haven't changed. - Fave tune - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MRSLSQdelI

10. Savage Messiah - Demons
The best Savage Messiah album yet. Moving further away from their thrash metal roots to a more trad metal style but with heaviness and a whole heap of melodic choruses. A tryly excellent release and this band deserves to have a much higher profile in the metal community. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok494Fz_SHM

09. The Darkness - Easter Is Cancelled
The first Darkness album I've liked front to back. Just addicted to some of these tunes. Justin is a lyrical genius and a great tunesmith. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTWJcDq0dCg

08. Volbeat - Rewind, Replay, Rebound
I just love Volbeat no matter what they do. Go hard go soft it's all the same to me. Great great tunes. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBZi7JIdSps

07. Bloodbound - Rise of the Dragon Empire
I sort of forgot about the album after a while but then I started playing it again and realised what I was missing. Just a fantastic set of tunes. They may not have an original bone in their body but their song writing skills are second to almost none and as you can see I have this album rated slightly higher than Sabaton, their heroes lol. Forever Bloodbound! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAO723ZthZU

06. Work of Art - Exhibits
In awe of these chaps ability to write class AOR tunes. Masterful stuff as always. Lush, happy and super melodic with sublime vocals. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GtzlHTnkf4

05. Avantasia - Moonglow
Tobi is the king of overblown theatrics in rock and metal, there's absolutely no doubt about that. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loKZyb0xOz0

04. Darkwater - Human
This is one of those surprise efforts that blew me clean away when it was released. I was aware of teh band but when a band makes a crushing comeback you have to stand up and take note. THe band was on fire on this album. A superb production and room filling sounds made this a captivating listen. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q-FoZIt71k

03. Twilight Force - Dawn of the Dragonstar
God I played this a lot when it came out. Pure addiction it was. I weaned myself off slowly but it had to be done. Still an amazingly spectacularly cheesy power metal album. I was fascinated by Alex Conti's lilting, high vocals and terribly funny accent at times but with this band it's all about choruses that stick in your brain with super glue. This album makes me forget about reality... jump on my dragon and make for the stars! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmHOIDUApfA

02. Eclipse - Paradigm
Everyone should know by now I am the biggest Erik fanboy the world has ever seen. The guy is just soemthing else. He's been delivering solid gold for a full decade that boy. Pardigm is just more of the same goodness. People call it samey and there is an element of that but I don't get this rush of energy from other melodic bands that Eclipse can give me over and over. Delirious is my fave song. Very close to number one but hair's breadth behind Majestica. Epic! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PFSOqETwsQ

01. Majestica - Above the is day job by my account.
It was a toss up between Erik and Tommy for my AOTY but I just give it to Tommy. The guy was busy with Sabaton who also released and he managed to outdo his brothers there with a really fun happy power metal release. Yes the album is gloriously cheesy but who cares when the songs are absoluetly fantastically memorable. I even saw his live this year as he turned up at the show when Power Quest where celebrating their album. What a night that was! Anyway back to this album..sure not every one is gonna like it but to me this was just a superb effort. Reinxeed was great but Majestica is just brilliant and what a start to life in this new band. Roll on the next album..here's my fave song from the album. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SfXGlAezr0

2019 Gigs

Have not posted here for over a year. Here I am..I'm still alive! Went to 36 gigs this year. 2 down on last year and not close to my record of 44 from a couple of years ago. Here's the full list.

The Top 3 gigs were:

Morbidfest with I Am Morbid, Power Quest and Gloryhammer. But a lot of fun nights throughout the year. I have 8 shows booked for 2020 at the moment listed at the bottom.

1.  01 Feb - Inglorious - Shepherds Bush Empire
2.  08 Feb - Obscura with Fallujah + Allegaeon + First Fragment - O2 Academy Islington
3.  16 Mar - Cats In Space with Dirty Thrills - The Garage
4.  21 Mar - Overkill with Destruction and Flotsam and Jetsam - O2 Islington Academy
5.  30 Mar - Wolf - Camden Underworld
6.  05 Apr - In Flames with Norma Jean and Light The Torch - Roundhouse
7.  16 Apr - Avantasia - O2 Forum
8.  30 Apr - Battle Beast - Dome
9.  02 May - Morbidfest - I Am Morbid and Others - Underworld
10. 11 May - Dark Forest - Boston Music Room
11. 16 May - Jag Panzer - The Underworld Camden
12. 25 May - Cryptic Shift - free gig - The Dev
13. 26 May - Visigoth - Moth Club
14. 06 Jun - Symphony X with Savage Messiah - Electric Ballroom
15. 12 Jun - Last in Line - O2 Academy Islington
16. 20 Jun - Metallica with Ghost - Twickenham
17. 21 Jun - Vltimas and Others - Camden Underworld
18. 30 Jun - Demons & Wizards with Dendera - Islington Assembley Hall
19. 06 Jul - The Who with Eddie Vedder - Wembley Stadium
20. 26 Jul - Grimgotts and others- Free gig - The Unicorn Camden
21. 03 Aug - Gruesome - 229 The Venue
22. 14 Aug - Queensryche - Islington Assembley Hall
23. 26 Sep - Volbeat with Baroness and Danko Jones - Brixton Academy
24. 17 Oct - Wishbone Ash - Islington Academy
25. 18 Oct - Gloryhammer - Heaven
26. 30 Oct - Majesty with Warkings and Victorius- Boston music room
27. 02 Nov - Machine Head - Brixton Academy
28. 08 Nov - Dragonforce with Lovebites- Forum
29. 16 Nov - Power Quest - Celebrating The 15th Anniversary Of Neverworld + Absolva - The Garage
30. 22 Nov - Ghost - Wembley Arena
31. 30 Nov - Battle Beast with Cyhra - ULU
32. 06 Dec - Poets of the Fall - Heaven
33. 11 Dec - Max and Iggor -  Kentish Town Forum
34. 16 Dec - Cats in Space - Garage
35. 20 Dec - The Darkness - Roundhouse
36. 21 Dec - Alter Bridge with Shinedown and The Raven Age - O2 Arena

2020 gigs booked:

1. 31 Jan - Five Finger Death Punch and Megadeth - Wembley Arena
2. 08 Feb - Sabaton with Amaranthe and Apocalyptica - Wembley Arena
3. 05 Mar - Visigoth - Black Heart
4. 06 Mar - Testament with Exodus and Death Angel - Forum
5. 15 Mar - Grand Magus - Dome
6. 28 Mar - Saxon - Apollo
7. 23 Apr - Visions Of Atlantis - Underworld
8. 29 May - HEAT - Garage