Power Metal in 2021
I'm sure I missed some releases, but I simply don't give a shit enough to listen to it. I'm fuckin' done. |
| 38 |  | Agent Steel
No Other Godz Before Me
Some of the worst vocals I’ve heard in my entire life. Actually fucking embarrassing.
Verdict: Avoid At All Costs |
| 37 |  | Tarantula
Thunder Tunes From Lusitania
I could make a better album, and I can’t even play an instrument. One of the laziest albums I’ve ever heard.
Verdict: Avoid At All Costs |
| 36 |  | Whyzdom
Of Wonders and Wars
I don’t know what the fuck these guys were going for, but whatever it is, I want nothing to do with it.
Verdict: Avoid At All Costs |
| 35 |  | Wizard
Metal in My Head
This is what I imagine power metal sounds like to people who hate power metal.
Verdict: Avoid At All Costs |
| 34 |  | Crystallion
Heads or Tails
Words to the wise: If you don’t have any good material, DON’T record a fucking album.
Verdict: Avoid At All Costs |
| 33 |  | Sacred Oath
Return of the Dragon
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Verdict: Avoid At All Costs |
| 32 |  | Rage
Resurrection Day
First song is cool, but the rest is utterly stock and forgettable.
Verdict: Skip it |
| 31 |  | Witherfall
Curse Of Autumn
People seem to enjoy this one quite a bit, but I found it to be a total snoozefest. Then again, I find most progressive metal records to be boring as fuck anyway.
Verdict: Skip it |
| 30 |  | Rhapsody of Fire
Glory For Salvation
Good singles. That’s it.
Verdict: Skip it |
| 29 |  | Labyrinth
Welcome to the Absurd Circus
Yet another “great” record that I didn’t enjoy. Everything on here sounds super generic in my humble opinion.
Verdict: Skip it |
| 28 |  | Paladine
Entering the Abyss
Passible, but extremely uninspired.
Verdict: Skip it |
| 27 |  | Hollow
Tower
The stuff on here is fine i suppose, but it honestly feels unfinished.
Verdict: Skip it |
| 26 |  | Dragony
Viribus Unitis
If you’ve listened to any power metal album at any point in your life, you’ve heard everything this record has to offer. Inoffensive and completely useless.
Verdict: Skip it |
| 25 |  | Therion
Leviathan
If you really REALLY dig symphonic power metal, this might be worth a listen; but far better choices are readily available.
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 24 |  | Silver Talon
Decadence and Decay
I think these guys have potential, but I don’t think this album lived up to it. Dig the sound, but the songs themselves need some work.
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 23 |  | Brainstorm
Wall of Skulls
It’s okay.
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 22 |  | Bloodbound
Creatures of the Dark Realm
This was a big disappointment for me. Their last album was great front to back, but this new LP only contains a handful of tracks worth revisiting.
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 21 |  | Powerwolf
Call of the Wild
This was a big disappointment for me. Their last album was great front to back, but this new LP only contains a handful of tracks worth revisiting. [2]
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 20 |  | Project Roenwolfe
Edge of Saturn
Same as Silver Talon. The ingredients for a stellar record are here, but the end product is a bit underwhelming.
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 19 |  | Primal Fear
Metal Commando
The trend of putting a metal skull on your album cover needs to go the fuck away. I’d recommend listening to a different Primal Fear album, but this will get the job done.
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 18 |  | Paradox
Heresy II - End of a Legend
I like this record, but it is WAAAAYY too fucking long. Make sure you don’t have any plans if you’re gonna give this a listen.
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 17 |  | NorthTale
Eternal Flame
Generic, but enjoyable.
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 16 |  | Frozen Crown
Winterbane
Unremarkable? Sure. Bad? Fuck no.
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 15 |  | Temperance (IT)
Diamanti
Lots of filler, but there’s some real bangers on this.
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 14 |  | Orden Ogan
Final Days
Bad artwork, decent album.
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 13 |  | Burning Point
Arsonist of the Soul
Not the most memorable thing in the world, but this is some really solid, no-frills, meat and potatoes power metal.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 12 |  | Eclipse (SWE)
Wired
Bit of a disappointment compared to ‘Paradigm’, but Eclipse still deliver what you want from them.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 11 |  | Warrior Path
The Mad King
Solid chunk of D&D power metal.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 10 |  | Beast In Black
Dark Connection
From Hell With Love was gonna be hard to top. While they didn’t quite succeed, they definitely gave it a shot. Love the concepts on here, and the boys in black still hand in top notch performances.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 9 |  | Avaland
Theater of Sorcery
Nobody has listened to this yet, but you probably should. Kinda sounds like a budget Avantasia, but that isn’t a bad thing.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 8 |  | Crystal Viper
The Cult
I’m pissed I can’t think of any other descriptor other than “cool”, but it’s all I’ve got. I mean look at that artwork, that shit is fucking cool.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 7 |  | Primitai
Violence of the Skies
I usually complain when an album sounds a bit too polished, but these guys manage to make it work. Great batch of tunes and some of the sleekest production I’ve heard all year.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 6 |  | Evergrey
Escape of the Phoenix
I never thought I’d call a metal record “beautiful”, but this is a beautiful album.
Verdict: Highly Recommended |
| 5 |  | Blazon Stone
Damnation
I don’t give a fuck if they shamelessly rip off Running Wild, this band fucking KILLS. God the riffs on here are tasty.
Verdict: Highly Recommended |
| 4 |  | Running Wild
Blood on Blood
Running Wild haven’t had the strongest track record since their reformation, so my expectations were pretty low. To my surprise, this might be one of the best records they’ve released to date. Every single song fuckin’ rips, and rips hard.
Verdict: Highly Recommended |
| 3 |  | Flotsam and Jetsam
Blood in the Water
THERE’S BLOOD IN THE WWWWAAAAAAATTTTTTEEEEERRRRRRRRR
Verdict: Highly Recommended |
| 2 |  | Eternity's End
Embers of War
These guys are showoffs, but they’re the best kind of showoffs. The guys can shred till the cows come home, but they can also write amazing songs as well. Listen to this shit, yo!
Verdict: Must Listen |
| 1 |  | Helloween
Helloween
I was expecting this album to be good, but I had no idea just how amazing it would turn out to be. This is the sound of a band finally reaching their most powerful form, and it’s gonna melt your fuckin’ brain. Fitting that the band that basically created the genre put out the best album of the year. Show some respect, and listen to this fucking album.
Verdict: Must Listen |
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