Metal Awards

Jeff's Top 15 albums of 2007

  1. Starcastle - Song of Times
    Almost thirty years later, this band reforms to give what is by far their best album. What's even more amazing is that this band sounds better than ever. Unfortunately the main songwriter and bass player of the band passed away prior to this release. This album had the most staying power out of any I listened to.
  2. Wizard - Goochan
    My first review of 2007 and what was very close to being an Album of the Year for me. This album grabbed me by the balls and never let go. Wizard's best to date!
  3. Type O Negative - Dead Again
    Type O Negative's most ambitious work so far. A nice mix of fast tempo songs with slower ones. Some very epic pieces as well. These guys out do themselves with every release.
  4. Alter Bridge - Blackbird
    The sophmore release from ex guitarist, bass player and drummer for Creed. An excellent modern rock release that even borders a more metal feel at times. Plenty of memorable hooks and choruses. This could have been a surprise as much as something on the Top 15. I highly recommend it!
  5. Pink Steel - Out At The Devil
    Some really funny parody hair metal with gay themes. Lots of insinuations without being directly vulgar. Very much in the tradition of Spinal Tap.
  6. King Diamond - Give Me Your Soul...Please
    Another fantastic tale of terror from the master himself. Love the storyline and the music. King still has it!
  7. Slough Feg - Hardworlder
    Slough Feg continue to deliver some fantastic traditional heavy metal albums. I've really grown to love this band.
  8. Candlemass - King Of The Grey Islands
    At first I had my doubts about this album. It even took me a while to accept it. But with time it as grown on me like the hair on my head. I look forward to their next release.
  9. Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
    This one almost missed my radar. One of the more digestable Dream Theater albums in recent years as well as their most aggressive.
  10. Steel Seal - By the Power of Thunder
    Exellent debut from these power metallists from Italy.
  11. Agent Steel - Alienigma
    One of the original thrash/speed metal bands that has not only survived since the 80's but has managed to offer more now than they did back then. One of the best thrash albums of 2007.
  12. Saxon - The Inner Sanctum
    Another band that continues to survive and offer music that rarely disappoints.
  13. 3 Inches of Blood - Fire Up The Blades
    Despite some major line up changes this band prevailed with an album that totally kicks ass!
  14. Cage - Hell Destroyer
    Another power metal album that did the genre justice. Great conceptual storyline with in your face riffs and drumming.
  15. Helloween - Gambling With The Devil
    Within recent times I've become more familiar with Helloween's later releases. They still remain a force to be reckoned with in the speed/power metal world.
Jeff's Top 5 surprises of 2007

  1. Ted Nugent - Love Grenade
    I love how this guy went back to a sound and style that was missing for years.
  2. Trimonium - Son of a Blizzard
    More like the Sons of Immortal. These guys fill the void Immortal has left. Very good pagan metal.
  3. Dr. Wily And The Robot Masters - It's Time For Revenge... Let's Attack Aggressively
    Very interesting instrumentals inspired by video games. In the vein of bands like Iron Maiden.
Jeff's Disappointment(s) of 2007

  1. Ozzy Osbourne - Black Rain
    More down tuned than ever. The songs have a very short shelf life. Ozzy sounds uninspired and boring.
  2. Manowar - Gods of War
    Manowar is venturing into Rhapsody territory more so now than ever. Expect a few more albums like this one.
  3. W.A.S.P. - Dominator
    This album was just OK for me. Blackie continues to recycle stuff that he did before. Probably the most straightforward release for him to date.
  4. Shadows Fall - Threads of Life
    This album fell a bit short of my expectations. Not sure if the move to a major label affected how they wrote their music this time around. The albums does have it's moments but as a whole it is a bit weak.
  5. Therion - Gothic Kabbalah
    This album didn't grab me at all. After two fantastic albums like Lemuria and Sirius B, this one fell way short of my expectations.
Jeff's words about 2007
  1. Every year it always seems there is so much to listen to with so little time to do it. As always, I base my lists on what I had a chance to listen to. I'm sure at some point I'll discover some more gems from 2007 in 2008 like I did with The Who's "Endless Wire" from 2006 in 2007!