Power Metal in 2023
it took me 5 attempts to get this list submitted |
| 1 |  | Moonlight Sorcery
Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle
Holy shit dude, this album is fucking incredible. Sure, it’s not pure power metal, but it has power metal elements; which is good enough for me. You gotta check this fucking band out folks.
Verdict: Must Listen |
| 2 |  | Smoulder
Violent Creed of Vengeance
Female fronted power metal done RIGHT. We love Smoulder in this house.
Verdict: Must Listen |
| 3 |  | Anthem
Crimson & Jet Black
Most consistent band in metal history. Of course this album fucks.
Verdict: Must Listen |
| 4 |  | Kamelot
The Awakening
So much better than their previous album. So much better.
Verdict: Highly Recommended |
| 5 |  | Powerwolf
Interludium
For an album of leftovers, this album is surprisingly awesome. Dare I say it’s one of their best to date.
Verdict: Highly Recommended |
| 6 |  | Bloodbound
Tales From The North
Not reinventing the wheel by any means, but it didn't need to. By playing it safe Bloodbound ensured that almost every song on here slaps.
Verdict: Highly Recommended |
| 7 |  | Twilight Force
At the Heart of Wintervale
The kings of modern power metal deliver ANOTHER fuckin banger. Sure, the long tracks are a little lackluster, but you’ll have that on those bigger jobs.
Verdict: Highly Recommended |
| 8 |  | Iron Savior
Firestar
Hell yeah.
Verdict: Highly recommended |
| 9 |  | Galneryus
Between Dread and Valor
Galneryus back at it again with another banger.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 10 |  | Derdian
New Era Part IV - Resurgence
I was expecting this to be the most generic thing I’d heard all year. I mean look at that artwork. Much to my surprise, this shit slaps, and you should check it out.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 11 |  | Angus McSix
Angus McSix and the Sword of Power
Angus definitely kicked Gloryhammer’s ass this time around.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 12 |  | Battle Born
Blood, Fire, Magic and Steel
Is it generic? Yes. Do I give a fuck? No.
This album is so much fun.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 13 |  | Wings of Steel
Gates of Twilight
Some classic shit right here.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 14 |  | Theocracy
Mosaic
The worst Theocracy album is still pretty damn good.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 15 |  | Evermore (SWE)
In Memoriam
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 16 |  | Thunderforge
Vanquish the Sun
“All or Nothing” fucked my mom, and I’m not even mad about it.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 17 |  | Cirith Ungol
Dark Parade
Riffs.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 18 |  | Triumpher
Storming The Walls
While I’m not totally in love with this album, these guys show a lot of promise. I’ll wager the follow-up to this will be a banger.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 19 |  | Helms Deep
Treacherous Ways
Fun little chunk of throwback metal, with a cheeky little dose of power thrown in for good measure.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 20 |  | The Lightbringer of Sweden
The New World Order
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 21 |  | Frozen Land
Out of the Dark
I could completely understand why you would hate this album, but I thought it was a ton of fun. "Senorita" is delightfully stupid.
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 22 |  | Primal Fear
Code Red
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 23 |  | Vansidian
Reflecting the Shadows
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 24 |  | Celestial Wizard
Winds of the Cosmos
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 25 |  | Sacred Outcry
Towers of Gold
Verdict: Solid Recommendation |
| 26 |  | Saint Deamon
League of the Serpent
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 27 |  | Gloryhammer
Return to the Kingdom of Fife
Let’s be real here, this is their worst album so far. With that being said, it’s still a lot of fun; it’s just missing that magic spark that made Gloryhammer so special.
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 28 |  | Serenity
Nemesis AD
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 29 |  | Silver Bullet (FIN)
Shadowfall
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 30 |  | Tragedian
Master of Illusions
God this album is lame in the best way possible.
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 31 |  | Signum Regis
Undivided
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 32 |  | Eunomia
The Chronicles of Eunomia, Pt. 2
I don’t think this album is amazing or anything, but it’s got a little something special that I can’t place my finger on.
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 33 |  | Stray Gods
Olympus
Dude sounds like vintage Bruce Dickenson. I like that.
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 34 |  | ScreaMachine
Church of the Scream
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 35 |  | Narnia
Ghost Town
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 36 |  | Lovebites
Judgement Day
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 37 |  | Virgin Steele
The Passion of Dionysus
If you can get past the absolutely DOGSHIT demo-level production, you might find yourself enjoying this one. At least from a songwriting standpoint, Virgin Steele is back in action. If this album didn’t hurt to listen to, it would be much higher.
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 38 |  | Axenstar
Chapter VIII
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 39 |  | Jag Panzer
The Hallowed
Come on Panzer, you can do better than this. You’re lucky your worst form is still acceptable.
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 40 |  | Great Master
Montecristo
Verdict: Mild Recommendation |
| 41 |  | Fifth Angel
When Angels Kill
It’s okay, but they’ve done much better than this.
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 42 |  | Skull & Crossbones
Sungazer
It’s generic, but I kinda like it.
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 43 |  | Burning Sun
Wake of Ashes
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 44 |  | Thorium (BE)
Extraordinary Journeys Pt. I
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 45 |  | Prime Creation
Tell Freedom I Said Hello
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 46 |  | Angra
Cycles Of Pain
2 prog 4 me
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 47 |  | Warmen
Here for None
Decent Bodom worship, but not much else.
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 48 |  | Majesty (DE)
Back To Attack
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 49 |  | Within Temptation
Bleed Out
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 50 |  | ShadowStrike
Traveler's Tales
Not amazing, but these guys do show promise. I think they'll be releasing some bangers down the line. |
| 51 |  | Mystic Prophecy
Hellriot
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 52 |  | Blood Star
First Sighting
Wanna give this a higher score, but the band sounds permanently locked at 60%.
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 53 |  | Frozen Crown
Call of the North
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 54 |  | Apostolica
Animae Haeretica
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 55 |  | Onmyo-Za
Ryuuou Douji
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 56 |  | Rexoria
Imperial Dawn
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 57 |  | Excalion
Once Upon a Time
Verdict: Toss Up |
| 58 |  | Xandria
The Wonders Still Awaiting
I’m sorry guys, I just don’t typically enjoy female fronted power metal albums; mostly because they all sound exactly like this.
[2]
Verdict: Skip it? |
| 59 |  | Project: Roenwolfe
Project: Roenwolfe
Verdict: Skip it? |
| 60 |  | Delain
Dark Waters
I’m sorry guys, I just don’t typically enjoy female fronted power metal albums; mostly because they all sound exactly like this.
Verdict: Skip it? |
| 61 |  | Prydain
The Gates of Aramore
Verdict: Skip it? |
| 62 |  | Percival (ARG)
The Seventh Seal
Verdict: Skip it? |
| 63 |  | The Unity
The Hellish Joyride
While I don’t think this album is anything special, the closing track is some cheesy goodness that I revisit quite a bit.
Verdict: Skip it? |
| 64 |  | Majustice
Ancestral Recall
What a weird album.
Verdict: Skip it? |
| 65 |  | Draconicon
Pestilence
Verdict: Skip it |
| 66 |  | Perc3ption
Art in Extreme Situations
Verdict: Skip it |
| 67 |  | BABYMETAL
The Other One
I don’t give a shit, I love Babymetal. With that being said, this album was a huge disappointment for me. It’s basically Babymetal with all the fun, creativity and life sucked out.
Verdict: Skip It |
| 68 |  | Chaos Control
The Legacy Within
Verdict: Skip it |
| 69 |  | Ad Infinitum
Chapter III - Downfall
Verdict: Skip it |
| 70 |  | Elvenking
Reader of the Runes - Rapture
Am I missing something? Why is this supposed to be good?
Verdict: Skip it |
| 71 |  | Eleine
We Shall Remain
Verdict: Skip it |
| 72 |  | Winterage
Nekyia
Verdict: Skip it |
| 73 |  | Wonders
Beyond the Mirage
Lame album, but that artwork sure is pretty isn’t it?
Verdict: Skip it |
| 74 |  | Marco Garau's Magic Opera
Battle of Ice
Power Metal: The Album
Verdict: Skip it |
| 75 |  | Agora
Empire
This album was so close to being something okay.
Verdict: Skip It |
| 76 |  | Adrian Benegas
Arcanum
_Skip it |
| 77 |  | Temperance (IT)
Hermitage: Daruma's Eyes Pt. 2
Who the fuck is Daruma
Verdict: Skip it |
| 78 |  | The Silent Rage
Nuances of Life
Verdict: Skip it |
| 79 |  | Noveria
The Gates Of The Underworld
I don’t even remember listening to this.
Verdict: Skip It |
| 80 |  | Doro
Conqueress - Forever Strong and Proud
All the respect in the world for a female metal legend, but damn this album ain’t it.
Verdict: Skip It |
| 81 |  | Walk With Titans
Olympian Dystopia
Verdict: Skip It |
| 82 |  | Edu Falaschi
Eldorado
I’m seeing a lot of positive reviews of this album, and I can’t for the life of me understand why.
Verdict: Skip It |
| 83 |  | Kingdom of Tyrants
Architects of Power
Verdict: Skip It |
| 84 |  | Vision Denied
Age Of The Machine
I wanted to like this. I didn’t.
Verdict: Skip It |
| 85 |  | Sirenia
1977
Verdict: Hard Skip |
| 86 |  | Beyond The Black
Beyond the Black
Verdict: Hard Skip |
| 87 |  | Edge Of Paradise
Hologram
Verdict: Hard Skip |
| 88 |  | Avaland
The Legend of the Storyteller
I really liked their first album, so I have no idea what went wrong here. One of the most tiring records I’ve heard all year.
Verdict: Hard Skip |
| 89 |  | Protean Shield
Protean Shield
I hate shitting on new bands, but this album sucks.
Verdict: Hard Skip |
| 90 |  | Front Row Warriors
Wheel of Fortune
This album is bad.
Verdict: Hard Skip |
| 91 |  | Marius Danielsen
War of the World
The worst PM album I’ve heard all year. Sure, it isn’t the worst thing I’ve ever heard in my life, but damn the material here is unapologetically generic. There is also a Kevin Shirley level botched production job, and some surprisingly poor musicianship to boot. The only redeeming quality is a Ripper Owens guest appearance, but his presence alone can’t save that lame ass song.
Verdict: Hard Skip |
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