Metal Reviews

So we are nearing month 12 of this year and my 2008 power, heavy, and prog metal collection is minimal. It has been a great year for death metal, as far as I'm concerned, but why are the genres I love the most so weak?! Maybe I've overlooked something. I need your guy's help. Here are a few I've picked up this year:

Avantasia - Scarecrow (crap. was this even released in '08?)
Ayreon - 0001001011 (Ok. not nearly as good as Arjen's other stuff.)
Falconer - Among Beggars and Thieves (Good. Still kind of disappointing)
Judas Priest - Nostradamus (Ok. Also kind of disappointing)
Power Quest - Master of Illusions (Ok, but still probably my disappointment of the year)
Seventh Avenue - Terium (Probably the best album that has come out this year.)

I also have Theocracy and Hammers of Misfortune on order, so we'll see what they bring. But I need some more suggestions, bad! I'm lacking in prog the most though.

Check out Alkemyst - Through Painful Lanes. I haven't heard that one myself, but I've read some very positive reviews for it.

Btw, did you really think "The Scarecrow" was crap? I agree that it was a disappointment with some real WTF moments, but it was still a good album IMO.

First PQ album I like and you hate it.

I'm more or less in the same boat here. I've hardly heard more than 10 power metal albums this year and all from old bands I follow. Here is some of the good stuff:

Firewind - The Premonition
Dark Empire - Humanity Dethroned (it's going to be either this or the new Kiuas at the top)
Kiuas - The New Dark Age
Arthemis - Black Society (i'm suprised you haven't heard this; singer and guitar player from PQ are here.)
Cloudscape - Global Drama
Brainstorm - Downburst

Alright, I'm gonna help you, but I warn you: I won't recommend any fruity poppy power here Better try before buy.


Power:

Helstar - The King of Hell This is a great sample of US Power and a good comeback from Helstar; it's heavy and intense, with sledgehammer riffing and great vocals.

Marshall Law - Razorhead Another great comeback from an underrated legend; sounds like a combination of US power and Painkiller, and it's very long, over 70 minutes of gritty, heavy, scorching metal goodness.

Order Of Nine - A Means To Know End Marty did a great review for these guys, look it up; the album is basically white collar US power, think early Queensryche/Crimson Glory, lots of feeling and excellent songwriting;

Squealer - The Circle Shuts A pretty obscure German band, although they did release an album with Gus Chambers (Grip Inc) on vocals at one point and also Mike Terrana used to play for them; this is a midtempo and thrashy power metal album, sort of like a teutonic Morgana Lefay. Pretty interesting melodies.

Heavy:

Blaze Bayley - The Man Who Would Not Die This album blows away everything Blaze has done so far; fast, furious, melodic, memorable, it's got it all; it's sort of like his personal Painkiller, very nice surprise.

Motorhead - Motorizer I was never a big Motorhead fan (I suspect you're not either) but this album rocked my world, it's that good; Rock out/with your cock out! heh, classic.

Ross The Boss - New Metal Leader Pretty good album, on the Manowar side of metal, much better than recent Manowar; the only downside is the singer, very average, but the compositions are good enough to get over it.

Grand Magus - Iron Will Heavy metal goodness, with a slight touch of doom; great album over all.

The Metal Shakespeare Company - s/t This is a debut from an american band that puts Shakespeare classic plays over heavy metal music; it's a fun band and a fun album, very influenced by early albums of Priest, Maiden and Manowar.

Rage - Carved In Stone Perhaps not as good as the previous 2-3 albums, but still good enough; after all it's Rage, so it's mandatory.

Prog:

I'm not a big fan of prog lately, especially the one influenced by Dream Theater; I'd rather have my prog come from the extreme side of metal, that's why I only recommend (but really recommend) these 3:
Cynic - Traced In Air
Ihsahn - angL
Enslaved - Vertebrae

Hey ness, you should check out the new Serenity, I guess you'll like it. Seventh Wonder's new one is also very good. Cloudscape - Global Drama should be good. Haven't listened yet.

Thanks for putting up that list, Oldschool
Man, I have a lot to check out (Rage, Grand Magus, Blaze Bayley, Order Of Nine and Helstar from that list). These are other ones I need to get my hands on:

Pyramaze - Immortal (sounds amazing)
Falconer - AB&T (sounds as good as northwind)
Edguy - Tinnitus Sanctus (sounds like disappointment of the year)
Serenity - Fallen Sanctuary (sounds like something new and fresh)

I have just listened to some clips and quick run-throughs of those albums.

What no Iced Earth's Crucible Of Man on that list Ness

I do agree though that his has been somewhat of a slow year for good power/prog metal.

some more:

*alestorm - captain morgans revenge
*benedictum - seasons of tragedy
*bob catley - immortal
*circle II circle - delusions of grandeur
*crystal viper - the last axeman (compilation, but still worth it)
*crystallion - hattin
*dokken - lightning strikes again
*dominici - a trilogy part 3
*edenbridge - my earth dream
*exciter - thrash speed burn (no matter what people say, this album is still beter then most shit those new bands bring out.)
*energy vampires - energy vampires
*girlschool - legacy
*imagika - feast for the hated
*Jon Oliva's Pain - Global Warning
*Jorn - lonely are the brave
*metal church - this present wasteland
*metalium - incubus
*orden organ - vale
*royal hunt - collission course
*sabaton - the art of war
*sinner - crash & burn (maybe to much hard rock for this topic)
*steel attack - carpeDIEnd
*Sturm Und Drang - Rock N Roll children
*TNT - Atlantis (idem sinner)
*U.D.O. - mastercutor alive (great live cd)
*Volbeat - Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood (i say it fits here)
*X-World/5 - New Universal Order

and i second rage, helstar, motorhead, ross the boss, blaze bayley, serenity, edguy, pyramaze, iced earth, and seventh avenue. It HAS been a good year.

Ness has stated quite a few times that he cant stand Iced Earth and also that he is gay.

The new Ayreon album is basically the only good power/prog I've heard this year. I haven't heard much though, so whatever.

Thought the new Ayreon was okay. Not something I'd listen to everyday, that's for sure. If complicated song structures/melodies, intriguing lyrics and great vocals float your boat, be sure you'll like it (even though it wouldn't hurt if was Hansi was more present)

Yes, no Iced Earth.




...and I only married my wife for show.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll get on some of those. And thanks for the descriptions Old School, it really helps narrow my search. Looks like I'm missing out on a ton of good stuff.

Dark Empire is easily my top album of the year.

In the brackets I am listing what I think would be a good song or songs to listen to first just for a quick listen on Youtube or something to see if you would then like to check out the rest of the album. Are all of my song suggestions on Youtube you may ask. I dunno, I'm eating cereal.

Power/Heavy
Jon Oliva's Pain - Global Warning (Before I Hang and Walk Upon The Water)
Keldian - Journey of Souls (Dreamcatcher and Lords of Polaris)
Firewind - The Premonition (Mercenary Man)
Pyramaze - Immortal (Touched By The Mara)
Dark Empire - Humanity Dethroned (No Sign of Life)
Benedictum - Seasons of Tragedy (Beast In The Field)
Crystal Viper - The Last Axemen (The Anvil of Hate)
Rage - Carved In Stone (Drop Dead)
Epiclore - Labyrinth Alpha (Cold)
Stormwarrior - Heading Northe (Heading Northe)
Circle II Circle - Delusions of Grandeur (Soul Breaker)
Ultimatium - Hwainoo (Descent)
Jorn - Lonely Are The Brave (War of The World)

Prog
Neal Morse - Lifeline (Leviathan)
Gates of Winter - Lux Aeterna (Winter Flight)
Dark Suns - Grave Human Genuine (Thornchild and Amphibian Halo)

And thats all you're getting out of me you piece of shit

Cool dude. I like this obscure band.
I'm assuming you learned of them from my review... great to see you're a regular site visitor.

Actually yes, I love your site

I haven't heard much this year, but so far my two favourite power/prog/heavy releases are Helstar's The King of Hell and Metal Church's This Present Wasteland. Very honourable mentions to the new Exciter and Motorhead albums.

Awesome!!!

... while we're on the subject of Epiclore - I'm currently spinning a debut from another young and obscure Finnish band (in the style of Epiclore, Sonata Arctica, etc.). I'll be providing a full review and it will be published December 19th, as part of the last MCDR update of the year. We've got an update coming sooner though - on December 5th, and it will include the new Edguy, Almah, Cryonic Temple, and others...

Harmony- chapter II- The aftermath. This is a very solid power/prog album. This is far better than the debut. I think these guys were also involved in that Darkwater project that was pretty good as well.
Daniel Heiman sings on one of the tracks as a guest vocalist