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I was so excited too :(

excellent, i was waiting for the awards to actually listen to some albums from 2006.

Some pretty interesting lists. Here is my 2 cents....

Top 15 of 2007

1. Frequency (When Dream and Fate Collide) - Yeah I know, a band knowbody has heard of and I discovered it purely by accident cause I didn't see any reviews on it here or anywhere else. This is their debut album and it comes from the small Scarlet records label which may be part of the reason. Anyway this just hit with me hard cause they sound like a mixture of Nocturnal Rites, Tad Morose, and Nevermore. Three of my fav bands. Most importantly of course the songs are awesome IMO anyway.

2. Blind Guardian (A Twist in the Myth) - Many longtime fans seem a bit disappointed with this? Ironically I have never been a huge BG fan but I was blown away by this album. Sounds to me a lot heavier, aggressive, and in your face!

3. Pyramaze (Legend of the Bonecarver) - Found this one to be even better than the first. 'The Birth' is contender for my song of the year!

4. Firewind (Allegiance) - Wow killer album! Great songwriting and guitar work courtesy of Gus G. Elequently combines the spirit of the 80's with modern melodic metal. The crushing production via Nordstrom doesn't hurt either.

5. Rage (Speak of the Dead) - Another crushing power/thrash clinic from the masters! I didn't mind the symphonic stuff at the begining either. 'Full Moon' is another contender for my song of the year.

6. Into Eternity (Scattering of Ashes) - Took me a few spins to get into this one. Got past the artifical drum sound, then the catchy choruses won me over.

7. Scar Symmetry (Pitch Black Progress)

8. In Flames (Come Clarity) - I am one of the few who has liked their past few albums as well. Although I admit I liked hearing some of the older touches being brought back though (Guitar Harmonies!).

9. Outworld (ST) - Cool Debut album with that nice 7 string tone. Symphony X meets Nevermore.

10. Iron Maiden (A Matter of Life and Death) - Some loved it, some hated it, count me in the former. I think it's their best since Dickinson rejoined the band.

11. Mercenary (The Hours that Remain)

12. Persuader (When Eden Burns)

13. Nocturnal Rites (Grand Illusion) - a lot better than their previous album ' New World Messiah'. Still waiting for another 'Afterlife' from these guys.

14. Manitou (Deadlock) - Such an underated band. Their previous album is just as good too.

15. Evergrey (MMA) - Another controversial album. Maybe not as good as some previous albums but better than their last 'TIC'

Top 5 Surprises

1. Mystic Prophecy (Savage Souls)
2. Winter's Bane (Redivivus)
3. Kayser (Frame the World Hang it on the Wall)
4. Trivium (The Crusade)
5. Circle II Circle (Burden of Truth)

Disappointments

Well maybe Skid Row but I really was not expecting much anyway.

Haha! Of all the letters to misspell with.

I fixed it.

Come on guys... No one liked Manticora this year? Am I the only one who loves this band? Besides that, mainly good lists.

I love Manticora too.

No, not really. A d instead of a p would be much worse.... and I'm not talking about the p in "page"

I'm surprised no one has Daylight dies - Dismantling devotion in their list as it is my pick for album of the year.

I do. #11 if you look.

Most likely missed it! my bad!

I do but i didnt hear the new album (nor their previous ones) after the poll ended.

Manticora is a great band, but I have not listened to the new CD as of yet, thus why it is not on my list.

My only problem over the last 4 years of the Awards segment is that albums that make the tops seem to be what we should be listening too rather than what is high quality. Granted, it's cool that some reviewers discover bands for the first time and give them their albums tops, but it does get a bit too presumptuous.

Surprisingly, this applies to absolutely nothing I picked. A newly discovered band can't make a top 15 list? Presumptuous is what you just posted.

Quality is subjective you realize...

Anyone have any issues with what I did?

you one was quite clearly a cut above the rest there ken .

I love that album. It's been growing on me more and more each time I listen to it. I just didn't hear it until right before I entered my list. There was just so much great stuff that came out last year. Some really good albums didn't make the cut that might have been in my '05 top 10.