Average Rating: 3.69 Rating Variance: 0.66 Objectivity Score: 71% (Fairly Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicAnthrax Among the LivingAnthrax Persistence of TimeBlack Sabbath ParanoidBlack Sabbath Master of RealityBlack Sabbath Black SabbathBlack Sabbath Vol. 4Black Sabbath Sabbath Bloody SabbathBlack Sabbath Heaven and HellCarcass HeartworkCarcass Surgical SteelExodus Bonded by BloodHelloween Keeper of the Seven Keys Part IHelloween Keeper of the Seven Keys Part IIIron Maiden PowerslaveIron Maiden The Number of the BeastIron Maiden Iron MaidenIron Maiden Seventh Son of a Seventh SonJudas Priest British SteelJudas Priest PainkillerJudas Priest Screaming for VengeanceJudas Priest Unleashed in the EastWho cares where this was unleashed? This album was easily the heaviest of it's time and serves as powerful collection of Priest's 70's greatest hits.Kreator Pleasure to KillLynyrd Skynyrd Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-NerdMastodon LeviathanMegadeth Rust in PeaceMegadeth Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?Meshuggah obZenMetallica Master of PuppetsMetallica Ride the LightningOverkill The Years of DecayPallbearer HeartlessBeautiful progressive doom. It's like floating on a cloud. . . from a coal power plant.Thrice The Artist in the AmbulanceUFO Strangers in the NightThis was my first exposure to UFO, and the live energy captured on this album can make some of their studio tracks sound disappointing in comparison.Vektor Terminal ReduxI almost shut this off halfway through the first track because I wasn't quite feeling it, but I am so glad I gave this a shot. Vektor has created a definite AOTY candidate and quite possibly the best thrash album since Rust in Peace. When this album finished, I had to pause and wonder, "what have I just heard?"4.5 superbAkercocke Renaissance in ExtremisProggy blackened death that can go from full on prog-rock to punishingly heavy. The clean vocals may take some getting used to though.Anthrax Spreading the DiseaseAnthrax For All KingsFor All Kings is not as thrashy as 80s Anthrax, but it demonstrates that 29 years since Among the Living they are still one of the best. With this album, they continue to be one of the (if not the) most fun and upbeat thrash metal bands around. It's one of my favorites of the year.Anvil Metal on MetalArchspire Relentless MutationTech death that doesn't get lost in trying to be as technical as possible. It features insane vocals, memorable melodies, excellent rhythmic interplay, and even dynamics! At only 30 minutes in length, you won't get bored before the end.Barren Earth A Complex of CagesSad, doomy, proggy, and melodic with one of the best vocalists in metal (and in the Faroe Islands) right now.Bufihimat IBrutal tech-grind that manages to incorporate memorable and immediate riffs within Gorguts weirdness. Car Bomb MetaCobalt Slow ForeverI avoided this album at first because I generally don't like black metal. But after listening to it, I thought this was AOTY (until I listened to Terminal Vortex). Now I just think this is an amazing album. Get ready to hear some atypical influences for a metal album.Enslaved In TimesEternal Champion The Armor of IreExodus Fabulous DisasterGojira MagmaA bit softer and catchier than previous albums, but they definitely are still Gojira, a giant among best modern metal bands. Also, Magma is loaded with earworms that just follow you around all day.Hammers Of Misfortune Dead RevolutionImagine if someone threw 70's hard rock, NWOBHM, thrash metal, progressive metal, a dash of doom, and a dash of folk metal into a blender. Dead Revolution is the delicious musical smoothie that would result. A 5/5 may seem like hyperbole compared to the other ratings, but I have never heard anyone combine so many amazing things all in one album quite like this.Helloween Walls of JerichoHyperion (SWE) Seraphical EuphonyInsomnium Winter's GateIron Maiden Piece of MindIron Maiden KillersIron Maiden Brave New WorldIron Maiden The Book of SoulsWith a little bit of trimming this would be an instant classic, but even the tracks that feel a bit like filler on this album are excellent.Josh Garrels Love and War and The Sea In BetweenJudas Priest Defenders of the FaithJudas Priest Sin After SinJudas Priest Redeemer of SoulsKatatonia The Fall of HeartsKhemmis HuntedLegend (USA) From the FjordsLiving Sacrifice Conceived In FireLiving Sacrifice The Infinite OrderLiving Sacrifice Ghost ThiefLor In Forgotten SleepMegadeth Countdown to ExtinctionMegadeth Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!Meshuggah KolossMetallica Kill 'Em AllMuse AbsolutionMutoid Man War MoansFun, catchy stoner rock influenced by a variety of metal sub-genres, but this has a enough technicality hidden underneath the accessible sheen to keep things interesting.Oh, Sleeper Children of FireOverkill IronboundOverkill The Electric AgeOverkill White Devil ArmoryPagan Altar The Room of ShadowsSounds like a cross between Manilla Road and Black Sabbath. The riffs are catchy and the production is excellent, especially on the title track.Pat Travers Live! Go For What You KnowHow does this have so few ratings?! This is essential listening for non-metal double bass drumming, and the interplay between a bluesy hard rock guitarist and a sharper metal guitarist is extremely rare.Samson Shock TacticsMy Iron Maiden fanboy bias may cause me to overrate this a tad, but albums such as this and Head On allow me to appreciate the influence that Dickinson brought to Maiden. Saxon Wheels of SteelSUMAC What One BecomesTestament Practice What You PreachTestament Brotherhood of the SnakeThank You Scientist Stranger Heads PrevailThe Dillinger Escape Plan DissociationThin Lizzy Black Rose: A Rock LegendThrawsunblat MetachthoniaRidiculously catchy and melodic black metal-based folk metal. Fans of maritime folk music will particularly enjoy this one.Thrice VheissuThrice The Alchemy Index Vols. I & IIThrice The Alchemy Index Vols. III & IVThrice Major/MinorTribulation Down BelowTribulation perfects the sound they discovered on CotN by crafting catchier and tighter (i.e. shorter) songs without losing any of their trademark haunting atmosphere.Unleash The Archers ApexCanadian power metal with possibly the best female vocalist in metal finally figured out how to write a consistent album! Each superbly written song has its own identity, which is rare in power metal, and fits well into the entire album. Additionally, Apex is a concept album with a cohesive story that never feels forced onto the music. I also dare you to sit through this because it will be the happiest hour of your day (unless you hate epic, melodic music and just want to listen to post-metal and funeral doom all day.)Venenum Trance of DeathDeath (not the band) goes prog-rock, but not in an Opeth way. This still has a grimy old school sound.4.0 excellent'68 Two Parts ViperAeternam Ruins of EmpiresAether Realm TarotAn American take on folkened Finnish melodeath. The excellent songwriting and catchy melodies kept me engaged throughout this album's extended run time.Agalloch The Serpent and the SphereAlcest KodamaAlestorm No Grave But the SeaI never took Alestorm seriously until I heard this album. The lyrics may still be a joke, but the band now writes a legitimate power/folk metal songs. This is just too fun and catchy to hate.Alter Bridge BlackbirdAlter Bridge FortressAnthrax State of EuphoriaAnthrax Sound of White NoiseAnthrax Fistful of MetalAnvil Forged in FireAstronoid AirAugust Burns Red Phantom AnthemPA does sound like a typical ABR album. The songs are built out of the same in pieces in mostly the same orders as before. However, they have refined all those pieces. This album has some of the best riffs (and heaviest!), melodies, breakdowns, and rhythms I have ever heard from ABR. Also, the transitions don't feel forced they way they did on FIFAP (don't you hate it when a banjo interrupts an awesome riff?). All in all, this is one of their best ever.Ayreon The SourceI approached this album thinking, "Oh great, some Dream Theater wannabes think they can make 80 minutes worth of compelling music." (Clearly, unfamiliar with Ayreon). I was so wrong. Dynamics, infectious melodies, crunchy riffs, varied influences (folk, pop, Queen, grunge), and more guest vocalists than a hip-hop album not only kept me engaged for 80 minutes, but they also have me coming back for more. It's one of those albums that makes me feel when it's finished.Benighted NecrobreedBrand New Science FictionCaligula's Horse In ContactCloak To Venomous DepthsThese guys play the same gothic death as Tribulation, expect Cloak puts more emphasis on death and less on catchy melodies.Converge The Dusk in UsCrimfall AmainDawn Ray'd The Unlawful AssemblyRaging black metal with strong folk influences. The album varies the pace and intensity very well, and even incorporates some straight-up folk tracks.Death Angel The Evil DivideDeftones GoreDemon Hunter Summer of DarknessDemon Hunter The TriptychDemon Hunter Demon HunterDemon Hunter Storm the Gates of HellDirty Shirt FolkCore DeTourThis is basically the live Eastern European version of Roots. The metal on its own isn't particularly unique, but when paired with the Romanian folk music of the Ansamblul Transilvania, the album is imbibed with a unique and outrageously fun character for all 20 tracks. Additionally, the producer manages to capture an energy that has been absent from live albums for decades.Dyscarnate With All Their MightThis is easily gym album of the year. It's pounding, meat-head death metal with enough variety to keep things interesting. Elder (USA-MA) Reflections of a Floating WorldExpander Endless ComputerDeceptively complex, heavier than expected sci-fi crossover thrash produced by Kurt Ballou. Fates Warning Theories of FlightI was skeptical of the positive reviews because I have never even been a fan of The Spectre Within or Awaken the Guardian, but I was impressed and pleasantly surprised by this album.First Fragment DaseinHamferd Támsins likamHavok ConformicideI wish every record had a rhythm sections sounding this good. Not only are the musicians some of the best in metal right now, but the production on this record is a clinic on drums and bass. Heidevolk Vuur Van VerzetIn a month when Tribulation and Hamferd blew me away, VVV is the album I could not stop listening to. Catchy melodies, heavy riffs, harmonized deep male vocals, and the Dutch language drive this album along. Impressively, the bonus drinking track is a perfect soft closer. My only complaint is that there is two many songs in English. Also, some people may find the mid-tempo monotonous after a while.Ihsahn Arktis.In Vain (NO) CurrentsIron Maiden Dance of DeathIron Maiden Somewhere in TimeIron Maiden A Matter of Life and DeathIron Maiden The Final FrontierIslander Violence and DestructionJag Panzer The Deviant ChordJosh Garrels The Light Came DownJudas Priest Angel of RetributionLatitudes Old SunlightLed Zeppelin CodaNot the best song writing by Zeppelin standards, but the album features great production (fat bass and a very clear drum set) and great instrumentation, Bonzo in particular. His performance alone makes this album worth listening to.Living Sacrifice The Hammering ProcessLiving Sacrifice RebornLunatic Soul FracturedMastodon Emperor of SandMegadeth YouthanasiaMegadeth The System Has FailedMegadeth So Far, So Good... So What!Megadeth EndgameMetallica ...And Justice for AllMetallica MetallicaMilton Man Gogh Stress to ImpressA jazz trio consisting of a jazz saxophonist, proggy bass player, and metal drummer.Mithras On Strange LoopsMoonsorrow Jumalten aikaMotorhead MotörheadMuse Origin of SymmetryMuse Black Holes & RevelationsNevermore Dead Heart In A Dead WorldNorma Jean Polar SimilarNova Collective The Further SideNovembers Doom The Novella ReservoirNovembers Doom AphoticO'Brother Endless LightImagine if Thrice's music hadn't atrophated over their hiatus, but instead gotten better. This is the album they would have made.Oh, Sleeper When I Am GodOh, Sleeper Son of the MorningOverkill HorrorscopeOverkill Under the InfluencePremiata Forneria Marconi Emotional TattoosI can only comment on the Italian version of this album. I found PFM's prog to be smooth and catchy without every feeling long winded.Replacire Do Not DeviateSaxon Denim and LeatherNot as good as either of Saxon's 1980 releases (I like their rougher sound), but it still shows they were one of the best NWOBHM bands. However, to call them better than Maiden or Priest is certainly hyperbole.Skillet CollideThe Crown Cobra Speed VenomViscous death-thrash with excellent riffs and earworm melodies. Impressively, this sounds 100% 80's influenced without sounding like a complete rehash of old ideas. It also is holding the title for Gym AOTY.The Great Old Ones EOD: A Tale of Dark LegacyThe Night Flight Orchestra Amber GalacticThis may not be the most original material, and 55 minutes is a bit long for a rehash of old ideas, but this record is an absolute blast. Theocracy Ghost ShipWith Ghost Ship, Theocracy proves that they CURRENTLY are one of the best power metal bands. The album is filled with exactly what you'd expect in power metal: speed, catchy melodies, soaring choruses, and face-melting solos. The band also works some pop (tastefully) and thrash influences into a couple songs. Also, the album features a couple ballads, which are my only complaint because they feel like filler compared to the heavier tracks. All in all, Ghost Ship is nothing new, but it is exceptionally well executed. Thrice Identity CrisisThrice The Illusion of SafetyThrice BeggarsTrophy Eyes Chemical MiracleVallendusk Fortress of Primal GraceThis band is from Indonesia!? FoPG is packed with epic European folk melodies floating on top of a blackened base that sounds more like a northern woodland than a tropical rain forest. One of the songs even had pagan chanting. The progressive songwriting is also wonderfully executed. The songs ebb and flow with seamless transitions and tasteful variations in intensity. Finally, the raw production grants this album a bit of a youthful innocence and excitement.Vukari DivinationI'm typically not a big black metal guy, but my prejudices were overwhelmed by strong melodies and flowing dynamics. Also, these guys are on the more atmospheric side of black metal which makes this album a bit more accessible. Watchtower Concepts of Math: Book OneThe instrumentals are easily a 4.5, but the vocals and lyrics seem like an awkward afterthought in comparison (especially Arguments Against Design and Technology Inaction). After a few listens, they grew on me enough to give this a 4. Witchery In His Infernal Majesty's ServiceWode Servants of the CountercosmosA wrecking ball of black metal that is as catchy as it is extreme.Wormwood Ghostlands - Wounds From A Bleeding EarthZao The Well-Intentioned VirusZZ Top Eliminator3.5 greatAborted RetroGoreThe album art mostly tells you what to expect. This is one disturbingly fun and surprisingly catchy record.Allegaeon Proponent for SentienceAllegeaon once again manages to write technical death metal songs that are actually catchy and don't get stuck in a morass of endless wankery. However, they can't write 72 minutes of compelling material. "The Extermination" is a perfect album closer. Unfortunately, it is followed by an OK Rush cover that should have been a bonus track. Removing "Subdivisions" and at least 1 other track would have made this a 4 or better.Alter Bridge One Day RemainsAlter Bridge The Last HeroThis album has many flashes of brilliance (the riff in My Champion, most solos, and The Last Hero) and overall is very solid, but about halfway through I found myself losing patience. Anciients Voice of the VoidI agree with the Mastoolopeth comparisons, but these guys have yet to write anything as engaging as their influences have. That said, they have huge potential. I can't wait to see what they do next.Animals As Leaders The Madness of ManyAnthrax Worship MusicArtificial Brain Infrared HorizonAsphyx Incoming DeathBe'lakor VesselsBilly Squier Don't Say NoThis is a surprisingly fun bluesy 80's hard rock album. It's best when it's rocking, such as Lonely Is the Night. However, this album looses at least half a point for occasionally drifting into the realm of 80's cheese, in a glam way. Billy Talent Afraid of HeightsBlack Peaks StatuesBlue Oyster Cult Cultösaurus ErectusBolzer HeroBorknagar Winter ThriceBossk Audio NoirBudgie NightflightBudgie draws influences from some of the NWOBHM and traditional heavy metal acts of the day with mixed results. The last couple tracks brought this down a notch for me.Carcass Necroticism: Descanting the InsalubriousChelsea Wolfe Hiss SpunChevelle The North CorridorChthe'ilist Le Dernier CrépusculeCult of Luna and Julie Christmas MarinerDark Tranquillity AtomaExcellent songs but they start to run together after a while. Def Leppard On Through the NightDemon Night of the DemonThis is basically two EPs in one album. Side A is excellent NWOBHM. Side B is more mainstream and composed of hard rock/heavy metal typical of the 70s. Demon Hunter The World Is a ThornDemon Hunter True DefianceDeparte Failure, SubsideDestroyer 666 WildfireDevin Townsend Project TranscendenceDischarge End of DaysDunsmuir DunsmuirDunsmuir is a supergroup composed of Neil Fallon (Clutch) and Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio). Their album sounds exactly you'd expect. It's Clutch with a mid-80's heavy metal influence. Be careful: these songs will get stuck in your head.Every Time I Die Low TeensExmortus Ride ForthGoatess Purgatory Under New ManagementThe whole album is Sabbath worship, but they do it exceptionally well. They are masters of groove. Unfortunately, they Sabbath worship for too long, and I start losing interest towards the end.Gorguts Pleiades' DustGrand Magus Sword SongsHighly recommended for all fans of Manowar. This band takes the best of 80's heavy metal (I'm using heavy metal as a sub-genre here) and bundles it into one glorious, catchy, cheesey package.Haken AffinityHarakiri for the Sky III: TraumaExceptional atmospheric black metal and quite possibly the best production I have ever heard on a snare drum imo; however, it's run time is not justified.Havukruunu Kelle Surut SoiThis album is packed with epic catchy riffs; however, some of these riffs sound all too familiar and generic. I was ready to turn this off after two tracks, but the occasional explosions of brilliance (every song had at least one) pushed me onward to the magnificent title track. Helloween The Time of the OathHowls of Ebb Cursus Impasse: The Pendlomic VowsJeff Rosenstock WORRY.Korn The Serenity of SufferingKrallice PrelapsarianKreator Gods of ViolenceMantar Ode to the FlameSeriously fun blackened doom n' roll. They take the best of mainstream hard rock and bury it in the underground.Megadeth DystopiaMeshuggah The Violent Sleep Of ReasonExcellent musicianship but very monotonous. Compared to Obzen and Koloss, this album is a chore.Messa BelfryBased on the cover, I was expecting a snooze-fest. Then, I hardly made it through the droning first track. But on the second track my patience was rewarded with fat, fuzzy guitars and full soulful female vocals. Fans of Witch Mountain should definitely check this band out.Metal Church XIMichael Schenker Group The Michael Schenker GroupA must listen for any fan of hard rock from this era. Schenker's guitar is definitely a highlight. As a metal fan, this is a bit too mainstream and the production is a bit slick for me to give a higher rating.Mistur In MemoriamMuse The ResistanceMuse DronesNapoleon Newborn MindNight Demon Darkness RemainsNight Demon manages to create a homage to traditional heavy metal without sounding exactly like any 1 band... usually. There are couple moments where they sound like Maiden, but it's not often enough to detract from the album. Besides, what's so bad about sounding like the greatest rock band ever? On the topic of Maiden, "Maiden Hell" lyrics are a listing of Maiden song titles in mostly chronological order. The album length is perfect and the title track is fantastic closer.Nocte Obducta Mogontiacum (Nachdem die Nacht herabgesunken)Experimental German black metal. Mogontiacum is experimental to the point of hardly sounding like black metal, but it's sound is dark throughout. At times the album sounds more like doom metal or industrial. I found the material on this album engaging and unique. I would have preferred a shorter run time though. Novembers Doom Bled WhiteNovembre UrsaOathbreaker RheiaI can see why people are calling this combination of black metal and post-hardcore AOTY, but her clean vocals are so off-putting I cannot love this album. Obscura AkróasisOmnium Gatherum Grey HeavensPeriphery Juggernaut: OmegaPeriphery Juggernaut: AlphaPink Floyd The WallPower Trip Nightmare LogicNightmare Logic may not bring nothing new to the table, but it recreates old 80's thrash exceptionally well. Revocation Great Is Our SinRussian Circles GuidanceSkillet ComatoseSource Return to NothingSpiritus Mortis The Year Is OneSolid old school doom metal (think Saint Vitus) with somewhat evil lyricsrStyx Pieces of EightOn Side B, Styx dials down the cheese a tad and improves the songwriting. Renegade and Blue Collar Man are classic tracks. Side A sounds like a continuation of The Grand Illusion. Sum 41 13 VoicesI was very surprised by this. Definitely worth checking out. I would have rated it higher if it weren't for it's poor use of generic pop on some songs.rSumerlands SumerlandsSome very well done 80's revival; however, I do not understand why this album has received more praise than the releases from Eternal Champion, Grand Magus, and High Spirits. It lacks the fun the other albums have. The Damned Damned Damned DamnedA 70's punk album with dynamics and some variation in songwriting. You could almost call this progressive punk.The Reticent On the Eve of a GoodbyeWow, a 1-man-metal-band that doesn't make black metal! I didn't know these existed. I was blown away on my first listen by this prog-metal concept album. At times it has a 90's alt-metal sound, other times there's a NWOBHM influence, and then it sometimes sounds like Opeth. Unfortunately, it sounds way too much like Blackwater Park for too many songs. But if you're going to sound like someone else, you may as well try sounding like one of the best. Tygers Of Pan Tang Wild CatVainaja VerenvalajaVoyager Ghost MileDjent covered with a layer of slick pop. All the components of the songs are very well arranged, and, as others have said, the vocals are excellent. My one complaint is some of the pop melodies and the djent rhythms sound all too familiar and a bit forgettable for me. Wardrum AwakeningWell-done power metal. Soaring (and sometimes even aggressive) vocals and catchy melodic guitar work, what more do you want? Maybe a bit more speed. This is a tad slow by power metal standards, but it's not a bad thing. I'd have to disagree with Trevor though. Theocracy released the best power metal album in 2016 (imo).Wreck and Reference Indifferent Rivers Romance EndMellowish hanting music with shouted vocals. Sounds sad and passionate, but gets exhausting. Some of the rhythms are interesting though.r3.0 goodAC/DC For Those About To Rock We Salute YouThe individual tracks on BIB may dwarf FTATR; however, FTATR is more enjoyable to listen to in its entirety because it displays variety.Alter Bridge AB IIIAB should have spent some more time trimming fat on this one.Anvil Hard 'n' HeavyApril Wine Harder... FasterBiffy Clyro EllipsisBrujeria Pocho AztlanGood mix of hardcore and death metal. Solid, but nothing too original. Probably more entertaining to a Spanish speaker who will understand humor/political commentaryrCellador Off the GridOff the Grid is excellent... if you've never heard power metal before. Destrage A Means to No EndThe band is obviously skilled, but none of the segments the band madly hops to and from manage to capture my interest. Enslaved The Sleeping Gods – ThornExciter Heavy Metal ManiacFightstar Behind the Devil's BackThe mixture of genres is interesting, but many of the parts within a specific genre are rather bland and have been overdone elsewhere, particularly the choruses.Halestorm Into the Wild LifeHe Is Legend fewHope For The Dying LegacyInglorious IISolid hard rock/heavy metal throwback. Well done, but not particularly original.Iron Maiden Fear of the DarkIron Maiden The Book of Souls: Live ChapterMcBrain's kit is the highlight of this album. It sounds better than on The Book of Souls. The album also features a solid set list. Otherwise, the guitars sound compressed at times, I usually have a hard time hearing Harris, Bruce really sounds old, and the crowd interaction isn't as good as other live Maiden albums. Islander Power Under ControlAs a fan of Violence and Destruction, this album is a letdown. The potential for a 4-star album is here, but too many average and cringe-worthy moments bring it down.Kyy Beyond Flesh - Beyond Matter - Beyond DeathLed Zeppelin In Through the Out DoorLotus Thief GramaryeMetallica Garage Inc.I loved this album until I heard all the original songs.Metallica Death MagneticMuse ShowbizNick Cave and The Bad Seeds Skeleton TreeNovembers Doom HamartiaOneohtrix Point Never Garden of DeletePalace of Worms The LadderSolid black metal that dips into doom/sludge and atmospheric at time, but failed to captivaterPeriphery Periphery III: Select DifficultyRedemption The Art of LossOutside of the guitar and keyboard solos, this album just feels flat. I wish this were just and instrumental showdown of the Megadeth guitarists. They bumped up my rating half a point.Riot Restless BreedThis is a glammier style for Riot, but they do preserve enough grit to make it palatable. The record starts solid, but eventually suffers from too much cheese and songs begining to sound the same.Royal Thunder WICKSaor GuardiansThe music is beautiful, but I found myself getting bored frequently. The melodies tended to all blend together, and many of the transitions seemed arbitrary and awkward. There was too much fluff (but it was pleasant fluff) between any stirring and memorable moments.Saxon ThunderboltSolid classic heavy metal. The album isn't exceptional, but these tracks will be fun live. Only two elements on the album stand out to me: 1. Byford's voice has aged better than any other NWOBHM singer. 2. Hegg (Amon Amarth) does growls on "Predator". Schammasch TriangleThere is an excellent album buried somewhere in here. Some critical editing could have found it.Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex PistolsSilent Planet Everything Was SoundStyx The Grand IllusionI'm a Swiss Wisconsinite, and this has a bit too much cheese for me.The Dear Hunter Act V: Hymns with the Devil in ConfessionalThe Devil Wears Prada Transit BluesThrice To Be Everywhere Is to Be NowhereAdmittedly I got into Thrice in their post-hardcore days; however, this is their first disappointing album for me. In Beggars and Major/Minor, Thrice managed to still have some form of heaviness or aggression, but it seems their sound got neutered in their hiatus. Despite all the negative things I have said, this is still an above average alt rock album. For those of you who haven't given up on hearing "Deadbolt" again, this album puts another nail in the coffin.Tygers Of Pan Tang Crazy NightsOn this album, Tygers ditch some the punk influences heard on earlier albums in favor of a more straight forward hard rock sound. The riffs solid, but the mid-tempo pace gets a bit monotonous on the B-side. However, the album changes pace closes on a fantastic note with "Raised on Rock, "Ulcerate Shrines of ParalysisI think I would rather listen to an instrumental version of this album.Unfathomable Ruination FinitudeAmazing music. It's relentless brutality will appeal to some, but it's lack of space made this a tough listen for me.Uriah Heep High and MightyUriah Heep AbominogHeep's blend of their 70's sound and the stuff Kerslake and Daisley had been writing for Ozzy is hit or meh on this album (even within a song). It's a catchy and upbeat album that is worth checking out for fans of both styles.Violet Cold Magic NightAbove average atmospheric black metal. I'd rather spend my time listening the music that Alcest, Astronoid, and Harakiri for the Sky put out this year.Viva What the Hell Is Going On!What the Hell Is Going On falls somewhere between Breaker and Animal Magnetism on the heavy metal spectrum. It features some nice solid riffs that are pretty catchy too. The rhythm section is tight. Vocals are raw and energetic (usually). Barabara Schenker's (yes, she is related to them) keys are a nice touch that separates them from many of the other metal bands at the time. I initially rated this a 4; however, after subsequent listens, the repetitiveness of the songs - particularly lyrics - and the cheesy/lame one-two punch of "Screaming for Your Love" and "Give It to Me" forced me to lower my rating.Wage War BlueprintsWhitesnake LovehunterThis album is a bunch of cheesey pickup lines in a mainstream hard rock form performed by some excellent musicians. The musicians managed to save a lame formula from simply being average.Whores. GoldYOB Our Raw HeartYOB crafts a doom metal album skillfully blending sadness and pain with hope and beauty. However, the tracks linger too long and turn that pain and beauty into boredom. The closing track was the worst offender at 6 minutes longer than it needed to be.ZAUM EidolonZZ Top DegüelloThis album is packed with light, easy-listening blues. It's well done, but it sounds unoriginal and lacks energy.2.5 average12 Stones Beneath the ScarsAs Lions Selfish AgeDemon Hunter ExtremistDisciple (USA-TN) AttackDOROTHY ROCKISDEADIron Maiden No Prayer for the DyingMesarthim .- -... ... . -. -.-. .Black metal vocals and drumming put to the soundtrack of an inspirational movie trailer. Sounds epic at first, but gets boring quickly.rMetallica LoadMetallica S&MHetfield's vocals ruin every song that they had originally written in the 80's. Metallica's song writing ruin every son they had written in the 90's.Metallica Hardwired...To Self-DestructUnfortunately, this album was written by Mehtallica, and not the band in the 80's that was one of the greatest metal bands. Hardwired has some great riffs and few funky bass lines, but not enough to keep anyone awake for 80 minutes of otherwise OK music and painfully boring drumming. Motionless in White Graveyard ShiftOranssi Pazuzu VärähtelijäReading all the acclaim this album receives is like watching two people laugh at their own inside joke. By no means is this an average album, but I enjoyed about half of it, and the other half was painful. What did I miss?Plebeian Grandstand False Highs, True LowsThis is not an average album, but rather I found it highly enjoyable at times, but those times very evenly balanced with when the atonal guitar work became irritating. Better than the Deathspell release in my opinion.Praying Mantis Time Tells No LiesPraying Mantis creates a rather bland take on NWOBHM. The flashes of brilliance are weighted down by the overwhelmingly mediocre content and dragged into an abyss of boringly unlistenable music.Rainbow Difficult to CureSkillet AwakeStarset VesselsSylar Help!The Charm The Fury The Sick, Dumb & HappyThe only somewhat unique thing about this band is one member has two X chromosomes.The New Black A Monster's LifeExactly what you would expect from a post-grunge albumTouche Amore Stage FourThis will sound cold, but his venting got annoying after a while. It lowered my rating by 0.5. Twisted Sister Under The BladeFull disclosure: I have never made it past track 2 (I have tried). The band is tight. Production is good. Dee Snider is good. Songwriting is painfully generic.2.0 poorAt the Drive-In in•ter a•li•aBoring is not a word typically used to describe At the Drive-In, but it sums up this album. It is repetitive, flat, and forgettable. This was a tough listen.Bush Black and White RainbowsDeathspell Omega The Synarchy of Molten BonesI wanted to like this album and enjoyed most aspects, but usually the guitar work was just too unpleasantly jarring.rIron Maiden The X FactorIron Maiden Virtual XIKid Rock Devil Without a CauseMegadeth RiskMetallica ReloadOrbs Past Life RegressionSuperb instrumentals ruined by horrible vocals. I got through half of track 7 before turning it off (I actually breathed a sigh of relief). I highly recommend all fans of post-hardcore or progressive metal check this out though. If you can tolerate singing more abrasive than death and black metal vocals, you will love this.Pyrrhon What Passes for SurvivalIt is my understanding this is excellent avant-garde stuff. It seems I don't like avant-garde.Skillet RiseSylar To Whom It May Concernmediocre rapping, iffy singing, and boring riffs and songwritingTrivium The Sin and the SentenceThis album has some good riffs and will introduce many people to metal (I assume that's the source of the positive ratings). However, the sterile production and unoriginal songwriting are painful, especially those choruses. I only lasted 3.5 tracks before it became unbearable. Also, why is everyone raving about the drumming? It's just as generic as the rest of the album. EDIT: I tried listening to the rest of this (but failed). While the back half is heavier and features some excellent bridges/solos (see Sever the Hand), their uncanny ability to neuter metal amazes me.UXO UXOBad hardcore-ish vocals and average stoner rock riffs.1.5 very poorAttila ChaosBlack Sabbath ForbiddenIllustrations Acts of GodThe avant-gardeness can't cover up boring riffs.Liturgy The Ark WorkMetallica St. AngerTaylor Swift ReputationI used to feel some remorse for occasionally making my car pool buddy listen to extreme metal when it's my turn. After being forced to listen to this in it's entirety today, I have no more sympathy. I wonder if the gas savings were worth it.Venom Welcome to HellHistorically this is a classic, highly influential album. When removed from the context of the history of metal, the album's title warns daring ears (and souls) of the questionable musicianship and horrible production they will face should this be given a spin.1.0 awfulAttila Guilty Pleasure
Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
