Metal Awards

Joe's Top 15 albums of 2007

  1. Dark Tranquillity - Fiction
    Every album I always think "they'll never top this..." and thankfully I'm always proved wrong, a masterpiece.
  2. Novembre-The Blue
    Same reason as above
  3. As I Lay Dying - An Ocean Between Us
    One of my first ventures into metalcore and there's no going back. Blew my mind
  4. Nightwish - Dark Passion Play
    Better than Once? Not a chance, but still great and I love Anette's voice and the new sound.
  5. Sonata Arctica - Unia
    It takes a lot of listens, trust me, A LOT, to get into this album, but once it clicks you realise it's fantastic. Try not listening to it for a month then come back to it, worked for me. "Paid in Full" -best Sonata track ever.
  6. Viikate - Marraskuun Lauluja 1
    Folk Rock at it's finest
  7. Sonic Syndicate - Only Inhuman
    So much energy and life in this album, lovin it.
  8. Ensiferum - Victory Songs
    Filled the "Jari" void nicely, probably not better than previous albums but certainly just as good, viking metal played with gusto.
  9. Swallow The Sun - Hope
    Very slow, but fantastic doom metal
  10. Fear My Thoughts - Vulcanus
    Shame singer left after this, but this album is far above the average melodic death releases by other bands.
  11. Devin Townsend - Ziltoid The Omniscient
    Nothing bad can come from this man
  12. Arch Enemy - Rise Of The Tyrant
    What I expected, but very enjoyable.
  13. Apocalyptica - Worlds Collide
    I didn't like it as much as previous albums, but still incredibly original and well written music
  14. Threshold - Dead Reckoning
    Another quality release from these Brits, shattered Mac has left, but I'm sure they'll be just as good with future releases.
  15. Mind's Eye-A Gentleman's Hurricane
    Tons darker and less fun than their previous, but I'm liking this a lot.
Joe's Top 5 surprises of 2007

  1. Pain Confessor-Purgatory Of The Second Sun
    Sledgehammer to the face, full on metal assult.
  2. Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
    Not at all what I expected, but I'm digging the album.
Joe's Disappointment(s) of 2007

  1. Kamelot - Ghost Opera
    Sounds too rushed, almost like offcuts from their previous album "The Black Halo", which was just incredible. "Ghost Opera" however is such a dissapointment, no hit songs.
  2. Vision Divine - The 25th Hour
    Exactly the same reason as Kamelot, these guys were on incredible form with their previous album "The Perfect Machine", which was an amazing album. They messed up badly with "The 25th Hour" and I wanted it to be so much better, but it's just not happening.
  3. Moonsorrow - V: Havitetty
    Seriously, two half hour songs, it's just too much to digest. The music is OK but I find I can't listen to it properly cos I get bored after a while. I'd like them to go back to ten minute songs like previous albums.
Joe's words about 2007
  1. Still got so many releases to check out from last year and still heaps coming in at the start of 2008, it's great! Heavy metal music is flourishing right now and it's fantastic to see so many bands and different styles coming out, rock on! Can't wait for the new In Flames and Children Of Bodom, gonna be great I reckon.