Sunday 27 December 2020

2020 Round Up

I'm still alive!

Here we go the big 2020 round up. Another fantastic year of music of all sorts of styles that I enjoy. All my fave genres delivered massive highlights for me and then some. This may have been the dreaded year of the Covid plague but metal and rock music didn't stop even if touring did. I stopped on 10 gigs pre Covid. My lowest total this century. However I did instead buy far far more CDS than usual - probably around 70. By my count I rated 554 albums and EPs at 7/10 or higher. I would say this was probably much more than recent years. I don't know the figure off hand but I would guess it's around 300-400 max for the previous few years of the last decade. I may be using a different rating system though as I know I never really used to rate to a figure out of ten until more recently. Anyway I figure that whilst 7 or 7.5 out of 10 albums can sometimes be like yeah whatever, yet to me, they still have value as a whole as solid listenable albums. I won't list the whole lot as they can all be seen in the monthly round up posts but here's what I consider the top 150 in some sort of reverse order in mixed genres.


Albums/EPs from 150 to 51 are in some sort of order like I said but it's not really that big of a deal since No. 150 can be as good as say No. 75 on it's day but I had to do some kind of ranking based on how I remember things at the time of listening. All these are what I consider as hovering between 8 and 8.5 out of 10 albums and really good albums. I will write a tiny word or two on each.


150. Shrapnel - Palace for the Insane - Face ripping UK thrash

149. Buried Realm - Embodiment of the Divine - chunky death metal

148. Exa - Cut the Past - killer thrash

147. Hazzerd - Delirium - cool as hell thrash

146. Psychosomatic - The Invisible Prison - deathly thrash

145. Vader - Solitude in Madness - classic Vader

144. Steve Harris' British Lion - The Burning - A very decent second go from matey Harris.

143. Mindtaker - Toxic War - rip fest thrash.

142. Darker Half - If You Only Knew - quality heavy power.

141. Divine Chaos - The Way to Oblivion - face ripping UK thrash - said that before hehe!

140. From the Depth - Moments - Italo power. You know the drill.

139. Reverber - Sect of Faceless - Kreator worship.

138. Grace Disgraced - Immortech - Death worship with a female growler.

137. Heartwind - Strangers - Catchy melodic rock.

136. Ironflame - Blood Red Victory - True metal victory!

135. Glory Force - The Restoration of Erathia - Happy metal victory!

134. Serious Black - Suie 226 - classy conceptual power metal.

133. Tidal Dreams - Access Denied - Greek melodic power metal.

132. Gomorra - Divine Judgement Euro thrash.

131. Ambush - Infidel - Swedish trad.

130. Wolf - Feeding The Machine - Swedish masters deliver as usual.

129. Harem Scarem - Change The World - Solid follow up to United.

128. Ilium - Carcinogeist - Quality Aussie melodic power.

127. Shiraz Lane - Vibration I (EP) - Killer Swedish melodic/glam rock

126. Dark Forest - Oak, Ash & Thorn - Rollicking English trad.

125. Slaves - To Better Days - Modern emo rock with very catchy tunes.

124. South Haven - Motion - Modern rock with great female vocals.

123. Warning Sign - Path to Destruction - Trad heavy power metal.

122. Serenity - The Last Knight - Austrian power metal masters.

121. Principium - Principium - Great vocals in this melodic power metal band.

120. Alma Arcana - The Human Enigma - Brazillian prog power project ala Angra

119. AlogiA – Semendria - A power metal project from eastern Europe with Boals on vox.

118. Arida Vortex - Riders of Steel - Quality Russian power metal.

117. Silvera - Edge Of The World - Modern rock with big hooks.

116. Captain Black Beard - Sonic Forces - Swedish melodic hard rock/AOR.

115. Iron Savior - Skycrest - Euro metal kings.

114. Gama Bomb - Sea Savage - Northern irish masters of goofy thrash.

113. Skeleton Pit - Lust to Lynch - face melting thrash.

112. Cats in Space - Atlantis - kings opf 70s flavoured AOR.

111. Fairyland - Osyrhianta - Euro Rhapsody worship.

110. Firewind - Firewind - Gus g and co with a killer return.

109. Havok - V - US modern thrash overlords.

108. Arch Echo - Story I ep - killer instrumental.

107. Surma - The Light Within - female fronted symph metal.

106. Invisible Fortress - Sojourner - Very melodic and catchy metal.

105. Trivium - What The Dead Men Say - Much better than last album.

104. Incinery - Hollow Earth Theory - Ripping uk thrash. We're not bad at this game!

103. Grave Digger - Fields of Blood - Best album from legends in a long while!

102. Operus - Score of Nightmares - canadian symphonic power. Great vox.

101. Paralydium - Worlds Beyond - Quality progpower mix.

100. Sevencrows - Deep Thoughts - Brazillian powerprog mix.

099. Subconscious - The Inevitable - Death worship.

098. Warkings - Revenge - Battle power metal from Georg of Serenity.

097. Bailout - Road to Redemption - very cool melodic prog rock.

096. Annihilator - Ballistic, Sadistic - Jeff does the business as usual.

095. Greyhawk - Keepers of the Flame - True epic US metal armoury.

094. Spirit Adrift - Enlightened In Eternity - epic heavy metal with chest beating vocals.

093. Massive Wagons - House of Noise - Classic UK goofy melodic rock.

092. Starblind - Black Bubbling Ooze - Swedish Maiden worship.

091. Terra Atlantica - Age of Steam - Teutonic power metal goodness.

090. Ocean Hills - Santa Monica - catchy modern rock with great vocals.

089. Communic - Hiding from the World - Quality of long winded offering.

088. The Waymaker - The Waymaker - Going into battle for the Lord!

087. 10 Years - Violent Allies - Catchy modern rock.

086. Mystic Prophecy - Metal Division - Always good to go into battle with the Mystics.

085. Veritates - Killing Time - unknown US heavy power metal goodness.

084. No Name Faces - Dark Secrets - Cool modern rock.

083. Lik - Misanthropic Breed - Old school Swedeath classic.

082. Memories of Old - The Zeramin Game - Tommy fronted UK power metal. Was expecting more actually but still amazing.

081. Napalm Death - Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism - Brutal Brummie bastards.

080. Unleash the Archers - Abyss - Killer Canuck power metallers. Perhaps not as good as Apex but still great.

079. Self Deception - Shapes - Heavy modern rock goodness.

078. Skeletal Remains - The Entombment Of Chaos - Savagely catchy death metal ala Corpse/Angel.

077. Stardust - Highway to Heartbreak - Catchy Hungarian AOR!

076. A Perfect Day - With Eyes Wide Open - Catchy Italian modern hard rock.

075. Shadowquest - Gallows Of Eden - Swedish power metal.

074. Bells and Ravens - In Our Blood - Another unknown Euro power metal gem.

073. Benediction - Scriptures - Uk vets return with a classic slab.

072. Black Fate - Ithaca - Conception fanciers delliever miles better than the band they are aping.

071. Eternal Doubt - Tales Of Roland Tebute - Unknown power metal gem.

070. Fatal Punishment - Fatal Punishment (EP) - Ripping Metallica worship.

069. Glacier - The Passing of Time - Classic trad power metal return.

068. Intervals - Circadian - killer instrumental.

067. Rob Moratti - Paragon - AOR vet returns with the goods.

066. Visions of Choice - Mistress of the Gods - Killer unknown power metal.

065. Wytch Hazel - III Pentacost - cool as hell Lizzy style trad supporting the Lord.

064. Skeletal Throne - Human Deterioration - Devastatingly heavy death metal.

063. Temperance - Viridian - Italian modern power metal troop with a catchy set.

062. Blindman - Expansion - Catchy classic metal/rock from Japan.

061. Citizen Soldier - Down the Rabbit Hole - Very cool heavy modern rock with big vocals.

060. Delain - Apocalypse and Chill - their best in a long while.

059. Cristiano Filippini's Flames Of Heaven - The Force Within - Unknown dude delivers a quality set of tunes.

058. Dark Tranquillity - Moment - usual quality fare from the Svensk melodeath masters.

057. Hell In The Club - Hell of Fame - catchy Italian melodic sleaze rock.

056. Amberian Dawn - Looking For You - Loved the Swedish symph happy metal troop since the beginning. Abba metal basically.

055. Attick Demons - Daytime Stories, Nightmare Tales - Portugeezers do Maiden metal.

054. Eternal Idol - Renaissance - Fabio and the gal combine very well indeed.

053. Black Soul Horde - Land of Demise - Unknown green melodic heavy metal with great vocals.

052. Eternal Champion - Ravening Iron - True heavy metal iron fist!

051. Lords of Black - Alchemy Of Souls, Pt. I - Ronnie and co deliver a very heavy slab of metal!




The top 50 is made up of albums rated minimum 8.5 and obviously way north of that hehe.



50. Aquaria - Alethea

Loved this Brazillian Angra worship. A top class effort.


49. Stormzone - Ignite the Machine

Northern Irish trad metal. Easily their best album for me. Singer John "Harv" Harbinson has one of the best trad metal voices in the Uk today.


48. DeVicious – Phase Three

Melodic rock troop with their third album in succession. The latest one by far their best in the Eclipse energetic melodic rock style.


47. Alpha Souls - Carousel Of Emotions

A recent find these Spaniards fronted by a Greek. just love this dude's voice and the songs are fantastically memorable.


46. Teramaze - I Wonder

Aussie prog metallers get more and more melodic. Yet this could have even been better but still classy as all hell for me.


45. Aquaria - Alethea

Another unknown band delivers the goods from the mighty shores of Brazil. High quality melodic power metal.


44. Alitor - Alitor II

Killer melodic thrash metal from Serbia. Fast as hell intricate riffs and epic musicianship all round.


43. Badd Kharma - On Fire

Greek bands are on fire these days and so much so the band named their album On Fire! Great melodic metal this one with another brilliant Greek singer.


42. Khymera - Master Of Illusions

Back to form Khymera after the so so previous album. This one really hit the sweet spot for me. Not huge into Dennis's vocals but he sounded fine here and the production as always was immaculate.


41. Shining Black - Shining Black

A fantastic project with Olaf Thorsen from Vision Divine and Mark Boals of a million bands. This one really delivered the melodic metal goods. Boals is always a bit hit and miss for me but he really delivered all the goods.


40. Pinnacle Point - Symphony Of Mind

Kansas copyists deliver a classy release worthy of the legends they ape.


39. Brother Firetribe - Feel the Burn

Finns know AOR song book backlwards.


38. Pride Of Lions - Lion Heart

Jim Peterik and Toby Hitchcock are a great match for AOR lovers across the world.


37. Invisible Horizon - Deafcon One

A totally new and unknown band with a cracking melodic progpower release.


36. Jeff Scott Soto - Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)

Jeff is great on this as usual. Guy is a superb singing when given great songs like these and thankfully it doesn't really sound like Journey at all.


35. Falconer - From A Dying Ember

Farewell to the mighty Falconer. An epic way to bow out..


34. Palace - Rock and Roll Radio

Mr Palace delivers a killer set of melodic rock/AOR tunes with a super polished sound...just how I like my aor to sound.


33. Ad Infinitum - Chapter I - Monarchy

Debut album from melissa Bonny and crew. Girl can sing and she can growl and the band is shit hot too. Forget about Nightwish.... try Ad Infinitum.


32. Brothers of Metal - Emblas Saga

One of the very first albums released this year and easy makes my top 50. Love the mix of power metal bombast and goofy, viking power metal!


31. Æther Realm - Redneck Vikings from Hell

A hell of a fun listen of mental melodic guitar runs and raspy vocal attacks.


30. Harlott - Detritus of the Final Age

Aussie thrashers just never let up with precision level riffage set to kill!


29. Roadwolf - Unchain the Wolf

Recent play of these trad metal unknowns had me singing their praises highly. It seems any band with 'wolf' in their name is kuul!


28. Kansas - The Absence Of Presence

Huge comeback from prog rock legends. So heavy and so melodic and memorable. Even the singer who at first I was so so about, really grew on me.


27. Beyond The Black - Horizons

German melodic metal band became even more poppy and gothic on this one and it even worked better for me. Their kind of pop is one that I can easily stomach. Her voice is also gorgeous.


26. Damnation Angels - Fiber of Our Being

Unheralded English prog metallers return with a new singer and a spiffy new album. Killer melodies and plenty of crunchy riffs and pristine production.


25. Sacred Outcry - Damned for All Time

Greek power metal fronted by the Yiannis the Beast In Black vocalist doing more restrained vocals. Great music and memorable songs too. Looking forward to more from Sacred Outcry for sure.


24. Six Foot Six - End Of All

A recent outing from the outfit fronted by giant ex falconer man Gobel. A really solid melodic power metal release. Enjoyed from start to finish.


23. Jesters Tears - Perception

Long forgotten Swedish melodic metal released this album to little fanfare and what a great feast it turned out to be. Highly melodic and enjoyable for me. No complaints here at all brothers of Sweden!


22. Arctic Rain - The One

Off to Sweden we go again for an Eclipse like melodic rock project with energy, pace and melody laden songs.


21. Victorius - Space Ninjas From Hell

Hails to our German brethren with all things happy, metal and goofy!



20. Allen/Olzon - Worlds Apart

A perfect project that came together so well with song maestro Karlsson at the helm.


19. Vega - Grit Your Teeth

Britain's prolific melodic rock cats return with their 6th album in 10 years and it's a cracking effort too. Very melodic and a super enjoyable set of tunes with great solos too.


18. Lionville - Magic is Alive

Mr Lionetti can call on Mr Safsund for vocals so this couldn't come anywhere close to failure. Lush AOR gems and a golden larynx set to caress lovers of melody. AOR fans were happy as the proverbial pig!


17. Tokyo Motor Fist - Lions

The debut album from Ted Poley's troops was a fave of mine but this blasts it out of the water. This is a killer slab of melodic hard rock. Ted's voice can be an acquired taste to some but he's in tip top form here and the superb production makes this an absolute joy to listen to.


16. Mors Principium Est - Seven

Easily the best melodeath album of the year. Just a killer riff fest with melody and precision from start to finish.


15. Deeds Of Flesh - Nucleus

Absolutely savagely precise death metal mastery. Can't really say much more. Listening to this makes you feel like a meticulous brain surgeon in the vast array of savage riffs!


14. Majestica - A Christmas Carol

Yes well it's only a Christmas album but it's done so stunningly well that I just can't resist putting this very high. I'm not a very Christmasy kind of guy in general but this really puts one in a fantastic mood. A triumphant power metal ode to yuletide from the legendary king of swedish happy power metal, Mr. Tommy Johansson!


13. Pyramaze - Epitaph

I was pretty stunned with the quality of this release. Fantastic songs and great vocals with hooks that darg you on and on til the song's over. A magic effort!


12. Nightmare - Aeternam

French heavy power metal troop return with a ball bustingly heavy effort with a quality new female lead singer. The songs are crunchingly heavy and pounding at times. her vocals can get a little lost here and there with all the hammering riffs but she does a fine job overall. The music is for fans of the heavier side of power metal!


11. DGM - Tragic Separation

Simone Mularoni who is now a Frontiers go to guy like Ale Del Vecchio turns in a stupendous riff binanza in his own band as usual. DGM's last album was a corker and this one just takes it a notch further. This album is just a blaze of musical metal glory best enjoyed with headphones to get the best cinematic expanse of the production.


10. Amahiru - st

Ex Dragonforce and current Kreator man Fred started this project when he met Saki a female Japanese shredder girl and they decided to make this project together and what a superb listen it is. The band is rounded off by an unknown singer who's actually really good even though he does some growling too. In the end it's all about the songs which are fantastically played , written and produced. A shock high entry for this superb effort. Do yourself a favour and check Amahiru...


09. The Night Flight Orchestra - Aeromantic

The Speed Strid side band is now gaining more and more fans around the world with their latest late 70s early 80s retro album. Speed's voice is killer as usual. the song writing is super catchy and just pure ear candy. They pull it all off live too. Hope for another album in late 2021 who knows..


08. East Temple Avenue - Both Sides of Midnight

I've talked long and hard about Mr Robbie Le Blanc here in the past. That guy just has phenomenal voice that charm the hardest of hearts. The music here is pure sunset boluvard mid 80s AOR. Awesome stuff.



07. Magnus Karlsson's Free Fall - We Are the Night

It seems Magnus just never runs out of riffs, melodies and songs. There's a lot of singers on this but I think it all work perfectly. Magnus often gets accused of self plagiarism but this has never bothered me. There's just a knack for melody that Magnus has that wins me over every single damn time! Along with Erik this guy's pretty much a song writing genius though Erik will always be my number one hehe!


06. H.E.A.T - H.E.A.T II

We didn't know it at the time but this was Erik Grownwall's farewell album with the band but what a way to go out. A ball bustingly heavy and melodic end to his tenure. The songs are just full of fire and passion. I look forward to see how the band follows this up with Kenny back in the fold. Maybe tone it down a touch is my guess hehe!


05. Perfect Plan - Time for a Miracle

Can't leave the Swedes alone can I! Back there again for the sophomore Perfect Plan album and what a corker we have on our hands. Jaw dropping vocals from Kent Hilli and super memorable and mature melodic rock/AOR from the backing band. This band deserves to get a bigger name in the melodic rock scene with an album of this standard. There's a Kent Hilli solo disk apparently coming out in '21 so i have high hopes for that.


04. Primal Fear - Metal Commando

You can rely on PF to deliver the goods like day follows night . It maybe a tad cliched to say this but it's 100% true that PF know the power metal song book inside out by now. The album offers absolutely no surprises but I wasn't after any was I! Metal to the boneee!


03. Gathering Of Kings - Discovery

This all star Swedis melodic rock project already had a superb debut and we just got more of the same on the quick follow up. They absolutely didn't fix what wasn't broke the first time round. Just honed it, polished, perfected and made a killer set of tunes with various vocalists who all know their job inside out. I especially love the Apollo fronted tunes. Maybe get him to do the whole album next time.


02. One Desire - Midnight Empire

Off to Finland we go for the sophomore One Desire album and this once again only improved on the already fantastic debut. The guitar sound was a little heavier. The vocalist/Guitaris Andre was in tip top form and the songs had enough swagger, mood and panche to send melodic rock lovers into Godsent Ecstacy just like the song itself. This band is up there with the best of the modern melodic rock giants and this after only 2 albums.


01. Dynazty - The Dark Delight

Nils Molin - take a bow sunshine. You and your band are absolute tops for me. Killer melodic metal with hooks to catch whales with and just a killer melodic vocal attack. I can even forgive the song with a touch of growling in it hehe! An epic melodic metal release that was the standout in a year with a lot of tough competition. I still haven't seen this band live yet though and I hope that's rectified one day. Till then I'll be spinning this one long into the night!


Top 25 songs of the year in no order (one per band). I like 100s upon 100s obviously but let's skim through and pick 25 worthy of an extra word:


Brothers Of Metal - One

Tidal Dreams - Access Denied

Shiraz Lane - You Will remain

Trivium - Catastrophist

Delain - Let's Dance

Testament - Children Of the Next Level

The Night Flight Orchestra - Divinyls

Dynazty - Heartless Madness

One Desire - Godsent Ecstacy

Gathering Of Kings - Highway To Paradise

Magnus Karlsson's Free Fall - Queen Of Fire

Operus - Ruin

Vega - Save Me From Myself

Tokyo Motor Fist - Monster In Me

Kansas - Throwing Mountains

Bailout - 1999

Bury Tomorrow - Better Below

Slaves - Talk To A Friend

10 years - The Shift

Smash Into Pieces - Arcadia

Pride Of Lions - Carry Me Back

Napalm Death - Contagion

Dark Tranquillity - The Dark Unbroken

Palace - Rock And Roll Radio

Amahiru - Hours



Breakdown of the top 150 by countries:


USA - 31

Sweden - 27

UK - 15

Germany - 11

Italy - 11

Mixed - 8

Greece - 6

Canada - 6

Finland - 5

Australia - 4

Brazil - 4

Austria - 3

Spain - 3

Serbia - 2

France - 2

Poland - 1

Ukraine - 1

Switzerland - 1

Russia - 1

Norway - 1

Hungary - 1

Czechia - 1

Mexico - 1

Japan - 1

Holland - 1

Portugal - 1

Denmark - 1


Breakdown by styles:


Power/Melodic Metal - 62

Melodic Rock/AOR - 31

Thrash - 16

Death - 13

Modern - 11

Traditional - 10

Prog/Instrumental/Mixed - 7



What's to come in '21.


Konquest - The Night Goes On - January 8th, 2021

Michael Schenker Group - Immortal - January 8, 2021

Midnight Spell - Sky Destroyer - January 8th, 2021

Need - Norchestrion: A Song for the End - January 12th, 2021

Accept - Too Mean to Die - January 15th, 2021

Bloody Hammers - Songs of Unspeakable Terror - January 15th, 2021

Crystal Viper - The Cult - January 15th, 2021

Dragony - Viribus Unitis - January 15th, 2021

FireForce - Rage of War - January 15th, 2021

Voodoo Circle, Alex Beyrodt's - Locked & Loaded - January 15, 2021

Asphyx - Necroceros - January 22nd, 2021

Creye - II - January 22, 2021

W.E.T. - Retransmission - January 22, 2021

Wig Wam - Never Say Die - January 22, 2021

Human Fortress - Epic Tales & Untold Stories - January 22, 2021

Labÿrinth - Welcome to the Absurd Circus - January 22nd, 2021

Nervosa - Perpetual Chaos - January 22nd, 2021

Phantom Elite - Titanium - January 22nd, 2021

Therion - Leviathan - January 22nd, 2021

Art Of Illusion - X Marks The Spot - January 29, 2021

Soen - Imperial - January 29, 2021

Angelus Apatrida - st - February 5th, 2021

Foo Fighters: Medicine at midnight - Feb 5th

La Torre, Todd - Rejoice In The Suffering - February 5, 2021

Immortal Guardian - Psychosomatic - February 12th, 2021

Kreek: Kreek - Feb 12

Simulacrum - Genesis - February 12th, 2021

3.2 - Third Impression - February 12, 2021

13, Joel Hoekstra's - Running Games - February 12, 2021

Inglorious - We Will Ride - February 12, 2021

Sirenia - Riddles, Ruins & Revelations - February 12th, 2021

Toledo Steel - Heading for the Fire - February 12th, 2021

Crystallion - Heads or Tails - February 19th, 2021

Wizard - Metal in My Head - February 19th, 2021

Ricky Warwick: When life was hard and fast - 19th Feb

Einherjer - North Star February 26th, 2021

Epica - Omega - February 26th, 2021

Evergrey - Escape of the Phoenix - February 26th, 2021

Cooper, Alice - Detroit Stories - February 26, 2021

Violblast - Lazarus Abandoned - February 27th, 2021

Secret Sphere - Lifeblood - March 12th, 2021

Thunder: All the right noises - March 12

Sunstorm - Afterlife - March 12, 2021

Hughes, Gary - Waterside - March 12, 2021

Issa - Queen Of Broken Hearts - March 12, 2021

Karlsson, Magnus - Heart Healer, The Metal Opera - March 12, 2021

Atkins, Ronnie - One Shot - March 12, 2021

Orden Ogan - Final Days - March 12, 2021

Saxon - Inspirations - March 19th, 2021

Metalite - A Virtual World - March 26th, 2021

Witherfall - Curse Of Autumn - March 26, 2021

Blaze Bayley: War Within Me - April 9


Unanounced but defo in the pipeline:

Maiden

Megadeth

Kreator

King Diamond - The Institute

KK’s Priest: debut album

Stratovarius

Symphony X

Overkill

Bodom After Midnight: new debut album

Carcass: Torn arteries

Ghost

Dream Theater

Helloween - with Kai and Kiske

Iced Earth - If Jon gets his finger out lol

Judas Priest

Mastodon

Toby Hitchcock with Ale Dv.

Scorpions

Kamelot


and 1000s more....!!

Tuesday 24 March 2020

Corona kills live metal

but it will be back! The metal will rise again! For now hold all concert tickets...

Friday 27 December 2019

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






Monday 23 December 2019

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

Wednesday 2 January 2019

2018 Top Albums Polls

Here are my lists for 2018. Another great year for music. The first section features un-ranked albums followed by my top 50 and then thrash and death metal lists.

Black Veil Brides - Vale
Ammunition - st
Frozen In Time - The Edge of Nothing (EP)
Lechery - We Are Born All Evil
Orphaned Land - Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs
Panorama - Around the World
Shezoo - Agony of Doubt
Spiral Key - An Error of Judgement
Tonight Alive - Underworld
Victorius - Dinosaur Warfare - Legend of the Power Saurus
White Wizzard - Infernal Overdrive
Animal Drive - Bite!
New Horizons - Inner Dislocation
Rivals - Damned Soul
Saxon - Thunderbolt
Thaurorod - Coast of Gold
Trick or Treat - Re-Animated
Visions of Atlantis - The Deep and The Dark
Voodoo Circle - Raised on Rock
Arida Vortex - Small Toy Soldier EP
Blaze Bayley - The Redemption of William Black (Infinite Entanglement Part III)
Borealis - The Offering
Collibus - Trusting the Illusion
Grand Design - Viva La Paradise
Jaded Heart - Devil's Gift
Rick Parfitt - Over and Out
Stone Broken - Ain't Always Easy
Stormzone - Lucifer's Factory
Three Days Grace - Outsider
Black Rose - A Light in the Dark
Bonfire - Temple of Lies
Breaking Benjamin - Ember
Captain Black Beard - Struck By Lightning
Gus G - Fearless
Hekz - Invicta
Kamelot - The Shadow Theory
Melodius Deite - Episode III The Archangels and the Olympians
Mustasch - Silent Killer
Runelord - A Message From the Past
Seven Sisters - The Cauldron and The Cross
Stonelake - Thunder and Rain
Volster - Perfect Storm
Arena - Double Vision
Dyecrest - Are You Not Entertained
Follow The Cipher - Follow The Cipher
Grailknights - Knightfall
Heartwind - Higher and Higher
Lordi - Sexorcism
Lords Of Black - Icons Of The New Days
Subsignal - La Muerta
Vega - Only Human
Big City - Big City Life
Exlibris - Innertia
Sunstorm - The Road To Hell
Triddana - Rising From Within
Walls of Babylon - A Portrait of Memories
Zero Theorem - Ataraxis (EP)
Dream Troll - Witche's Curse 3 track ep
Every Hour Kills - Fragile Machine EP
Graham Bonnet Band - Meanwhile, Back In The Garage
King Company - Queen Of hearts
Ravage - The Derelict City EP
Snakebite - Rise of the Snake
Ted Poley - Modern Art
Lords Of The Trident - Shadows from the Past
Ethernity - The Human Race Extinction
Grave Digger - The Living Dead
Hardcore Superstar - You Can't Kill Mr Rock n Roll
Leverage - The Devil's Turn EP
Massive Wagons - Full Nelson
Outloud - Virtual Hero Society
Soulhealer - Up From The Ashes
Hammer King - Poseidon Will Carry Us Home
A Light Divided - Choose Your Own Adventure
Dragony - Masters of the Multiverse
Fifth Angel - The Third Secret
Hank Erix - Nothing But Trouble
Leah - The Quest
Orion's Reign - Scores of War
Sacral Rage - Beyond Celestial Echoes
Smash Into Pieces - Evolver
Dire Peril - The Extraterrestrial Compendium
Flashback of Anger - Shades
Heidra - The Blackening Tide
Kalidia - The Frozen Throne
Kambrium - Dawn of the Five SUns
Normandie - White Flag
Seventh Dimension - The Corrupted Lullaby
Sirenia - Arcane Astral Aeons
Ten - Illuminati
Them - Manor of the Se7en Gables
BillyBio - Feed the Fire
Magic Dance - New Eyes
SkyEye - Digital God
Frozen Land - st
Last Union - Twelve


Top 50 melodic styles

50. Kissin' Dynamite - Ecstasy
Very catchy melodic rock with a modern slant. Just a nice set of songs basically.

49. State of Salazar - Superhero
Slick 80s fixated AOR. Great singer.

48. Holter - Vlad the Impaler
Solid second effort but not as good as the debut but I've warmed to it with repeated plays.

47. Sinbreed - IV
They lost their best singer but made their best album. Vocals take time to get used to and some may never do that but I did and I found a really nice power metal album.

46. Perfect Plan - All Rise
Slick as hell AOR. Brilliant new singer.

45. Satan - Cruel Magic
Their best album in recent times IMO. One of the best old timer NWOBHM bands going these days.

44. Leaves' Eyes - Sign Of The Dragonhead
Losing Liv or sacking her rather was a bold move but they've triumphed over all. New gal is great and the songs are at the top catchy level. Probably their best album though I'm not their biggest fan in the first place.

43. Nils Patrik Johansson - Evil Deluxe
A really solid and catchy solo effort. NPJ's vocals have become quite an acquired taste these days. Some can't stand him but he sounds pretty good to me. The songs are really cool for the most part too.

42. Nozomu Wakai's Destinia - Metal Souls
The best recent project of the many that feature Ronnie Romero. The Japanese fellow can shred and has a knack for a memorable song melody.

41. Riot V - Armor of Light
Plenty are saying this is shit but to me it's really good so there! Great melodic singing and rapid fire riffing helps me tap my toe and enjoy what I'm hearing.

40. Against Evil - All Hail the King
A massive surprise from India. All hail Against Evil for a fun slab of true heavy metal.

39. Groundbreaker - st
Slick as hell project with Steve Overland and Robert Sall from Work of Art. This is seriously lush and soothing for the ears.

38. Maverick - Cold Star Dancer
Northern Ireland's best melodic hard rock band. Great singing and cool as hell tunes. The band has improved beyond measure since when I heard their last album and saw their average live performance. I could hardly believe the change.

37. Lost In Thought - Renascence
English prog metallers return after a long absence with a superb effort. Lot of melody and epic tunage here with solid instrumental skills.

36. Temperance - Of Jupiter and Moons
Italian power metallers return with easily their best album. They got a new gal singer and she turns in a great performance. The songs are very cool and catchy to boot. Their best by a mile.

35. Treat - Tunguska
Treat stands for quality in melodic rock. Since Coup De Grace they've been kicking ass. This album is better than their last effort Ghost of Graceland but not as good as "Coup". Which makes it a bloody great melodic rock record if you ask me.

34. Amorphis - Queen Of Time
Amorphis albums almost never make any list of mine but this I found engaging from the moment I heard the first single. There are a lot of catchy moments in these dense songs. There's a lot of heaviness and growling but I can handle that as a big death metal fan and the music calls for it anyway. A proud effort for the Finns no doubt.

33. Kobra and The Lotus - prevail II
I would expect this to chart much higher than it's current position as I loved Prevail I. Alas it's just not as good. It is however very good given more plays and Kobra herself soudns as amazing as ever. Probably a too big of a challenge to make so many great songs over a double album released just a year apart.

32. Warkings - Reborn
The gimmick band featuring Georg from Serenity. Much heavier and harder hitting than his day job. The songs and riffs rock hard. So heavy and pounding, like the best of Dream Evil!

31. Lione Conti - st
An album from way way back in January. Seems like an eternity away but this album had so much class that its presence in my list was guaranteed. Great stuff, heavy, melodic and epic.

30. Divine Ascension - The Uncovering
The Aussie progpower merchants came out of nowhere with this fantastic release. Very catchy female vocals and heavy melodic music kept me entertained for many hours.

29. Michael Romeo - War Of The Worlds Pt. 1
So yes this one came out of the blue at the time and but I think it kept almost all of the Symphony X fans happy. Sure it had some departures and it should do since it's a solo disk but there were some amazing songs here and a fantastic singing find to boot.

28. Creye - st
A recent AOR release from Frontiers really delivered the goods. These youngsters are slick as hell. I love this kind of AOR with it's super pumped crisp sound. Lovely!

27. Monument - Hellhound
England's latest answer to classic Maiden worship. Easily their best album. If you want a trip down memory lane to 1985 then what are you waiting for - go get some Monument!

26. Juducator - The Last Emperor
Mix up Blind GUardian and Iced Earth and you have Judicator. Probably even better than both band's recent output. Epic melodies all over the shop and great music too. This band deserves a much higher profile.

25. Care of Night - Love Equals War
Not quite as good as the debut but I just love this band. Wonderful AOR for those who like it melodic with a superb singer to boot. Could be higher possibly but it's very tight this year.

24. Impellitteri - The Nature Of The Beast
I am huge fan of the Imp man and Rob Rock and they shredded like beasts on this release. The production was huge and Rob Rock is still a monster on the mic.

23. The Unity - Rise
German melodic rock/metal super group of sorts really delivered on their sophomore album. Their first was good but this was even better and more memorable even. If you enjoy Helloween/Gamma Ray/Edguy or any Germanic teutonic power metal act then you'll love The Unity.

22. Nordic Union - Second Coming
So my lord and master Erik 'melodic rock master" Martensson made
an album that didn't immediately wow me. Not to say that it was bad at all. It took it's time but it finaly made an impact in thrash/death metal infested listening time and I got to release it was a classy piece of work. Still a disappointment when you look at it next to WET but far better than Amunition the other album he was involved in this year. Next year Eclipse returns to action and I'll tighten my seat belt for a serious fun ride. No doubt he'll be involved in something else also. Anyway, NU very good but not as good as the debut.

21. Mob Rules - Beast Reborn
Possibly not as good as the last album but I really enjoyed this follow up album. It's just more of the same and that same was good to begin with.

20. Brainstorm - Midnight Ghost
German vets returned with their best effort in a long long time. They've been going through the motions for years but it all finally clicked for Andy and co. Good to have the vets of the scene back on form. Welcome back lads!

19. Guardians of Time - Tearing up the World
These guys returned after a long absence with easily their best album ever. A pretty crushing and enjoyable power metal album. Should be enjoyed by all pm fans the world over.

18. Ghost - Prequelle
So Ghost finally ditched being heavy metal and embraced classic melodic rock. It's ok people. Not every one will like this band but damn I can't deny Tobias Forge's ability to pen a monster hook. Having said that the album isn't perfect. It has faults, but damn it, it has some addictive tunes. Love to see where they go from here.

17. Angra - ØMNI
OK so Fabio has his detractors and I can see he won't be a fave for everybody but he does a really good job on this release. The backing music is utterly world class and the songs are majestic and emotion packed, yet typically progressive in the Angra style. A very enjoyable release.

16. Manimal - Purgatorio
Swedes Manimal return with their best album. It's your regular good old power metal album done with extra zest and a psychotic power metal front man. Great effort that should please regular power metal fans the world over.

15. Primitai - The Calling
The UK's best trad band period with a really great effort. Still not sure if it's as good as Rise Again but the production is way better and the songs are lean mean and precise. I just love these guys and have met then a coupld of times and catch them regular at gigs too. The Calling is a brilliant effort from this underrated and under appreciated band. Hopefully their profile can increase with future albums.

14. Judas Priest - Firepower
So who'da thunk it? The Priest is back! Ok so they got a massive helping hand from top producer Andy Sneap who's now even in the band but I'm not a stuck in the mud traditionalist who wants only classic Priest. This was Priest finally setting foot into the 21st century. Purists will hate but Halford was back and how. The metal God turned in a sterling performance himself. Having said all that I don't love every song on this disk. It's not faultless musically but sonically it IS faultless and when was the last time you could say that about a Priest record. Not sure if this is their last album but if it is then it's a great way to bow out. I'm hoping that Halford makes a solo album next actually, hopefully with Sneap again but who knows. For now we get the best Priest album since the legendary
Painkiller. Be happy Priest fans.

13. The Night Flight Orchestra - Sometimes The World Ain't Enough
Speed Strid's troops deliver their best album yet. That's happened a few times this year with bands delivering their best album of their careers. This one was a classic retro AOR disk delivered with pure panache and class. Very cool and classy effort.

12. Artillery - The Face of Fear
Some would say this is classic thrash but I place it in my melodic list because it is just that - very melodic and catchy. I love the power of the songs and the singer delivers it all with a mighty more load of power lolol!

11. Striker - Play To Win
Probably Canada's best trad metal throwback or retrad band. This is easily their best album. I don't know the fellow's name on the mic but boy can he sing. He's one of the few who can hold a candle to Nils Molin in my book. The song writing is also really excellent on this release. Top notch band if you ask me.

10. Shiraz Lane - Carnival Days
These young chaps knocked it out of the park with this edgy guitar driven piece of scandi rock earlier in the year. Not every song bowled me over but the ones that did were jaw droppingly good. This band is going places if they can hone it even further on their next release.

09. Seventh Wonder - Tiara
The melodic prog kings returned after a hell of a long time away with a really epic album. They still kept melody at the forefront in their songs whilst still showcasing their amazing chops. All in all, a wonderful package of music, vocals and melody.

08. Primal Fear - Apocalypse
You use to able to rely on Judas Priest to "deliver the goods" and now you can rely on their famous modern day equivalents to do the very same. PF albums are always something trad power metallers can look forward to without trepidation. They don't re-invent the metallic wheel of course just keept it turning. Horns up for da 'Fear!

07. Light the Torch - Revival
An emotionally draining and difficult listen but in the end the rewards are immense with this latest musical incarnation of Howard Jones. The man just sounds like a pained monster, leaving every ounce of pain and suffering for the listener to digest. Dark stuff but still melodically very pleasing. Blistering heavy music too. This is the closest any metalcore related album got near my lists but this album is undeniable. Epic!

06. Veonity - Legend of the Starborn
This band is just a fave of mine and seem to pass most people by. Their knack for epic, choir laden choruses is almost second to none in the power metal scene. Just love these guys on their last record and this latest offering. It's criminal how they're pretty much ignored by the power metal community. Hails to Veonity! You have a massive fan here if nothing else!

05. Visigoth - Conqueror's Oath
Easily the best album from these American fellows. This is all held together by the fantastic chest beating vocals on offer and epic and anthemic songs. Like the best of Manowar and Grand Magus mixed together to bellow along with in Valhalla. Hails!

04. Dynazty - Firesign
What can I say about Nils Molin? This boy is hands down the singer of the year. The lad can sing his ass off. He's the guy who's gonna take the mantle of classic melodic singing from the old guard. The songs in the album were just more of the same but with a finer sheen on them which is more than good enough for me. Nils sings and magic happens - that's it basically.

03. Tremonti - A Dying Machine
I have enjoyed all Tremonti albums released previously and he's an amazing songwriter/guitarist but the lad has outdone himself this time. This is the best Tremonti record by far. It's a deep conceptual piece but you can still listen to each song as a stand alone piece, that's how good the song writing is. Amazing stuff. Even saw his show twice this year that's how much of a fan I am. Can't wait for the next Tremonti album but goddamn it's gonna be very tough to get anywhere near ADM. Next year will be the return of Alter Bridge which should be good and hopefully better than their last CD. But they've got a hell of a job living up to Tremonti's solo efforts.

02. W.E.T. - Earthrage
So yes the return of the melodic rock super group with Erik, Jeff and Robert. Could anything possibly go wrong? Not a cat in hell's chance. Just a wonderful album to listen to. So melodic, catchy and this is the kind of music that I like to hear Jeff sing over not his SOTO heavy modern band. Easily the best WET album yet and the competition was pretty stiff.

01. Powerwolf - The Sacrament of Sin
What can I say about these guys huh? You already knew it was my numero uno right? They just blew it out of the park with this release. I've loved all their albums and they've all been bloody great to me but TSOS is by far their best album. It's just so damn catchy! Just a riotous joy to listen to and they bring it live too. Not sure how they are going to top this album in the future as this could be the pinnacle for Powerwolf. Easily my album of the year and it's not even close. Brings me no end of happiness peeps. Hails to the mighty wolfy ones! \m/


Recommended thrash:

This was a fallow year for thrash metal. I found plenty of albums that I liked but none of the mainstays or vets were in action this year so you had to dig deep for the rethrashers. However if you look deep deep underground like I do. there's a lot of great pit inducing music to be found. There's some real gems in here that most people won't give the time of day to.

Unranked ALbums/EPs


Damn Youth - Breathing Insanity
Bomber - Sommation
Strikeback - The Plague
Godslave - Reborn Again
Hostil - Infernal Rites
Traitor - Knee-Deep In The Dead
Distillator & Space Chaser - split ep
Ultra-Violence - Operation Misdirection
Wulfpäck - War Ain't over!
Cultural Warfare - Warmageddon
Processor - Heliopolis
Tonic Breed - Install Memory
Trioxine - Rise From The Grave ep
Final Breath - Of Death and Sin
HateSphere - Reduced to Flesh
Tyrant Disciple - Weight Of Oblivion
Thrashback - Sinister Force
Razgate - Welcome Mass Hysteria
Solace in Murder - Homicidal
Wreck-Defy - Fragments of Anger


10. Black Reaper - Birth of Extinction - recent discovery of heavy raging thrash.
09. Gama Bomb - Speed Between The Lines - Northern Ireland speed mechants
08. Nightbreed - Beyond Inferno - heavy groovy thrash.
07. Thrashquatch - Axe to Inherit - recent raw discovery. Energetic riffs
06. Atomic Death Squad - Brain Dead - another recent discovery. Pure raging crossover thrash. Mental!
05. Thrashist Regime - Carnival of Monsters - One of the UK's best rethrashers.
04. Injury - Wreckage EP - just a five track but full of amazing riffage to chew bricks to
03. Hatchet - Dying To Exist - classic bay area thrash
02. Defiatory - Hades Rising - heavy and catchy Swedish thrash if I recall correct. Very catchy riffs.
01. Crimson Slaughter - Surveillance States - A recent discovery goes in staright at No 1. Just mental rage with these guys. Riffs to cut through ice with!



Recommended death:

This was a real solid year for death metal. Lots of really good releases. Heavy if you like it heavy, tech if you like it cerebral and catchy if you like it old school. Creating a top 10 was somewhat difficult as I could easily change some albums for the unranked albums on any given day. I keep thinking that I may reduce my love for death metal since its glory days but then it seems to re-energise itself again when I hear something heavy or technical that I like. Anyway here's the list.

Unranked albums/EPs

Revolting - Monolith Of Madness
Xenosis - Devour and Birth
Halo Creation - Altered Behaviour
Öblivïon - Resilience
Asenblut - Legenden (EP)
Unreal Overflows - Latent
Desdemonia - ANguish
Night In Gales - The Last Sunsets
Inferi - Revenant
Frosttide - Decedents (EP)
Micawber - Beyond the Reach of Flame
Ahtme - Sewer Born
Unbirth - Fleshforged Columns Of Deceit
Jungle Rot - st
Hateful Agony - Plastic Culture Pestilence
Maligner - Attraction To Annihilation
Svavelvinter - Mörkrets Tid
Human Remains - Depths of Hades
Omnium Gatherum - The Burning Cold
Where Deprivation Lies - Psalms to the Synthetic Divine (Ep)
Infected Mind - Far from Reality
Resumed - Year Zero
Crowheart - Plague King EP
Dysmorphic - An Illusive Progress
Unleashed - The Hunt for White Christ
Inexistence - Infinite Forms (EP)
Deadborn - Dogma Anti God
Mephostophilis - Craft Of Rotten Flesh
Unplexiety - Anomalies Of Consciousness (EP)
Spectral - Neural Correlates of Hate
Obscenity - Summoning the Circle

10. Euphoreon - Ends of The Earth - very clean melodic death
09. Exile - Unveiling Insanity - Death worship from Jordan
08. Slugdge - Esoteric Malcology - heavy as hell crunchy death
07. Monstrosity - The Passage of Existence - classic death
06. Lik - Carnage -absolutely filty old school death, love it!
05. Carnation - Chapel of Abhorrence - classic old school death with modern sheen
04. Obscura - Diluvium - back to form tech death
03. Soreption - Monument of the End - insaly intricate tech death
02. Pestilence - Hadeon - classic catchy death
01. Skeletal Remains - Devouring Mortality - covering all angles in classic groovy semi technical death metal. Catchy as fuck!