Average Rating: 3.63 Rating Variance: 0.51 Objectivity Score: 71% (Fairly Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicEmbodiment PalingenesisIron Maiden Brave New WorldBrave New World. Easily one of my favourite Iron Maiden albums. With the return of Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith to the fold after the mid 90's albums with Blaze Bayley as the vocalist. This album marks a triumphant return to form. Combining the classic feels of the 80's albums with tracks like The Wicker Man with its shorter run time and anthemic chorus. There is a more progressive nature to this album of Ghost of the Navigator, Out of the Silent Planet, Dream of Mirrors, and The Nomad. The band have always dabbled with this side if you think of Rime of the Ancient Mariner, but to me it draws on the work the band started on The X Factor album but refine it.Iron Maiden Seventh Son of a Seventh SonPotentially my favourite of the classic Iron Maiden albums, and up there as one of their very best works. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son builds on everything the band had been working on and introducing up to this point. We have epic length songs with the title track and Infinite Dreams, the synth work from Somewhere in Time, plus the crowd pleasing sing along moments for live shows in the shape of Moonchild, Can I Play with Madness, The Evil That Men Do, and Only the Good Die Young. The fact it is also a concept album that doesn't fall into the concept pitfalls is great. No awkward spoken word interludes that break the flow of the album, and all the songs can be listened to in isolation from the concept and still be enjoyable! The only downside is Can I Play with Madness being overplayed, but that doesn't stop it being a fun track. Tracks to check out: Moonchild, The Evil That Men Do, and Infinite DreamsIron Maiden A Matter of Life and DeathThis was the first Iron Maiden studio album I bought and listened to. I had listened to a few classics, but this was the new album at the time when I was getting into the band, so the first Iron Maiden album I sunk my teeth into. From the great cover art with the tank and the undead soldiers to the songs on the albums I was hooked. Starting off with the fast paced anthemic Different World, still an all time favourite to this day, to the slower and darker songs about war and death. It could be argued that some of the songs outstay their welcome, but for me I have always enjoyed the whole album and really like the more progressive approach to Iron Maiden. Songs to check out: Different World, These Colours Don't Run, The Longest Day.Unleash The Archers ApexApex is a slab of fantastic power metal! It is also a concept album - a very enjoyable one that you can either sit down and absorb the story, or just enjoy the music. Additionally it doesn't have the awkward spoken interludes concept albums tend towards that ruin the flow. Imagine a mix of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and 3 Inches of Blood with a sprinkling of melodic death metal. Refreshingly the stereotype elements of power metal are not present here. This is not the traditional swords, dragons and wizards inspired power metal with cheese all over. Music wise we have great riffs and shredding solos that are reminiscent of the previously mentioned bands. The vocals also avoid some of the common stereotypes of female fronted metal bands and feels to be channelling Dio. This is my introduction to the band and I am very impressed! Songs to check out: Awakening, The Matriarch, Apex4.5 superbBlaze Bayley War Within MeBodom After Midnight Paint the Sky With BloodDevin Townsend Devolution #2: Galactic QuarantineEvergrey The Storm WithinFear Factory GenexusFear Factory Aggression ContinuumThis album at the moment is my album of the year. The syncopation of the guitar riffs and drum fills slaps throughout the entire album! Especially on End of Line and Fuel Injected Suicide Machine. Burtons vocals are really good too, particularly his harsh vocals. Even though the album is really heavy, I also found it to be incredibly catchy.Gojira The Way of All FleshIron Maiden En Vivo! (DVD)The first time I was lucky enough to see Iron Maiden was on The Final Frontier tour. The tour this live album is from. The setlist itself is a great mix of classic Maiden songs such as Number of the Beast, 2 Minutes to Midnight, Fear of the Dark etc, to plenty of songs from the modern era and The Final Frontier album. Highlights for me being the epics: The Talisman, and Where the Wild Wind Blows. A fantastic way to see & hear a modern Iron Maiden show. Iron Maiden Piece of MindPiece of Mind is up there as one of my favourite classic Iron Maiden albums. Including one of their best songs in the fast paced anthem The Trooper. Plus the other war inspired epics of Where Eagles Dare and Die with Your Boots On. Flight of Icarus being one of the first Iron Maiden songs I heard and had me hooked, even though it isn't a favourite of the bands. We also get epic album closer in To Tame a Land based on the sci fi book Dune. The only songs I don't go back to are Still Life and Sun and Steel, but they are not exactly bad songs. Vocals are great. All the instruments have their moment to shine. Tracks to check out: The Trooper, To Tame a Land, Where Eagles Dare.Protest the Hero PalimpsestSmith/Kotzen Smith/KotzenReally enjoy the classic blues inspired rock approach. Guitar work is outstanding across the entire album, really catchy riffs and some tasty solos. Vocals are another highlight, Richie Kotzen?s Chris Cornell-esque vocals being a real standout. Adrian Smith definitely needs to show his vocals off more too!Soilwork A Whisp of the AtlanticThe Devin Townsend Band Accelerated EvolutionA very solid part of the Devin Townsend discography and his first album under "The Devin Townsend Band" moniker. A great mix of his wall of sound style. Combination of progressive rock/metal with some of the happy sounding "pop" influence that would go on to influence later albums. An easier to get into album that the likes of previous albums Terria or Infinity. If you enjoyed the Ocean Machine album this is definitely worth listening to. Tracks to check out: Deadhead, and Depth ChargeTimes of Grace Songs of Loss and SeparationTrivium What the Dead Men Say4.0 excellentAnneke van Giersbergen The Darkest Skies Are The BrightestFirewind FirewindIced Earth The Glorious BurdenThe Glorious Burden album is the one by Iced Earth that when I first listened to it a few years ago I couldn't get into it. Recently I have revisited it and am enjoying it a lot more! Unfortunately Iced Earth have a revolving door or band members with guitarist Jon Schaffer being the only consistent member. The vocalist of this album being Tim "Ripper" Owens, one time vocalist of Judas Priest. He actually does a great job on vocals here, bringing a great heavy metal range from soaring high pitched to a clean thrash inspired style. Lyrically this albums is refreshing in its content for power metal. It focuses mostly on a range of historical subject areas e.g. Attila, Red Baron/Blue Max. The highlight of the album being the final 3 track epic covering the American Civil War and Gettysburg (The Devil to Pay, Hold at All Costs, and High Water Mark). These tracks are experimental for Iced Earth and contain different elements such as a string section, canon fire, battle sounds etc. Instead of being cheesy, they are subtle and add to the music. The guitar work is more thrash inspired and less over the top compared with other power metal bands. Tracks to check out: Hollow Man, Attila, Declaration Day, Gettysburg (The Devil to Pay, Hold at All Costs, and High Water Mark)Igorrr Spirituality and DistortionThis album is a crazy eclectic combination of music styles. The base and core is rooted in metal, but there are so many genres and influences in this mental mixing pot. There are classical, operatic, electronic, eastern influences just to name a few that stuck with me. This is by no means an easy listen, but each listen rewarded me with discovering something new. If you want a challenging and truly experimental album, I highly recommend this. being a fan of Devin Townsend I thought I had heard odd and experimental choices in music, but Igorrr takes it to another level. Tracks to check out: Parpaing (with George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher on guest vocals) this is the "normal" sounding track on the album, Downgrade Desert, Musette Maximum, and Camel Dancefloor.Iron Maiden Somewhere in TimeIron Maiden were in their stride by Somewhere In Time. Taking the formula of Powerslave and adding the extra layer of 80's synth. This was the start of the more experimental side to Iron Maiden. The epic Alexander the Great doesn't reach the same heights as Rime of the Ancient Mariner or To Tame a Land, but for me that is the only main downside of this album. Recommended tracks: Wasted Years, Caught Somewhere in Time, and Stranger in a Strange Land.Iron Maiden The X FactorI've got a soft spot for The X Factor album. Darker lyrical content and the first album album with Blaze Bayley as the vocalist. Easily overlooked as the being an album without Bruce Dickinson as the vocalist. This album for me sets up what Maiden would go on to do once Bruce came back to the fold. The longer, more progressive leaning songs. Songs to check out: Man on the Edge, Lord of the Flies, and Sign of the Cross.Iron Maiden Dance of DeathDance of Death is one of the first albums I listened by Iron Maiden. For me it's almost as good as Brave New World. It brings some interesting and dynamic elements to the Maiden sound. That includes the first acoustic song in Journeyman. A great way to end the album. The true highlight comes with Paschendale, the war based epic and potentially one of the best Maiden songs of all time! The worst thing about this album for me, is it's unfinished album art. Song wise the only let down is the lacklustre Gates of Tomorrow, personally I find the quality of the other songs for than make up for this. Songs to check out: Paschendale, Journeyman, Dance of DeathKillswitch Engage Atonement II B-Sides for CharityAtonement II B-Sides for Charity is a great hard hitting EP from metalcore veterans Killswitch Engage. How some of these songs didn't make the main Atonement album is crazy, as they are arguably better than some of the songs we did get on the main album. If you enjoy Killswitch, you will not be disappointed with these 6 tracks! Songs to check out: To the Great Beyond, I Feel Alive Again, and Killing of LeviathanMajestica A Christmas CarolMaster Boot Record Floppy Disk OverdriveFloppy Disk Overdrive album. Fully computer synthesised instrumental ?metal? album. Sounds like a video game soundtrack combined with metal. Very high energy.rWorks as great background music while gaming, reading or working.rRecommend track to check out: ANSI.sysMotorhead BomberOrden Ogan GunmenOrden Ogan are a band that have previously gone unnoticed by me until this year. Having more time to listen to different bands I found this excellent symphonic power metal band. The lyrical content is refreshing for this genre. We go from Western inspired from the title track, to the more horror inspired with Vampire in Ghost Town. Great clean vocals that don't stray into the genre stereotypes, but are certainly catchy enough to get you humming and killer anthem chorus' that would work very well in the live setting. The music itself is great with hooky guitar riffs and amazing solos. There are also flashes of keyboard work that adds a welcome layer to the music. Songs to check out: Gunman, Forlorn and Forsaken, Ashen Rain.Rise Against The Sufferer and the WitnessSepultura QuadraSoilwork VerklighetenSoilwork UnderworldStrapping Young Lad The New BlackSylosis Cycle of SufferingSylosis finally return with new album Cycle of Suffering after main man Josh Middleton's stint in Architects. A great combination of thrash and melodic death metal influences. From crunchy, groovy riffs and breakdowns to melodic and blistering solos. There are also some quieter moments that help break up album. Guitar is definitely the standout element on this album. Backed up throughout by intense drum work. Vocally Josh sounds as brutal with his growls and scream as ever, plus he is easy to understand. No cookie monster vocals here. He even tries out some slightly different techniques, especially on epic album closer Abandon. If you didn't like Sylosis before, this album will not do much to change your opinion. But if you have enjoyed their releases so far, you will find a lot to enjoy here, with a small amount of experimentation to keep things fresh. Standout tracks to check out: Calcified, and I Sever.Symphony X IconoclastTestament Titans of CreationNew album Titans of Creation is a fantastic slab of modern thrash metal. It puts some of the recent releases of the thrash big 4 of Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax to shame.rTracks to check out: Curse of Osiris, Code of Hammurabi, and Children of the Next LevelTwilight Force Heroes of Mighty MagicUnleash The Archers AbyssAbyss is a fantastic follow up to Apex and continuation of the concept started there. But it is hard to compare the albums as they have different styles. Abyss is more synth driven which reflects the retro sci fi content of the concept. The album is also a grower, it takes a few listens for everything to click and sink in, but I then found myself returning for more multiple listens. These guys have a great mix of power metal, traditional heavy metal with influences from melodic death metal and progressive metal. The track Legacy in particular sounds like something Devin Townsend might put out, in a good way! The midsection of the album from Legacy to Faster Than Light is outstanding! The only slight issue being the pacing, we get the epic The Wind That Shapes the Land which feels like an album closer... but it then goes on for an extra 2 tracks. Although not bad songs, they don't quite live up to the epic conclusion. I guess they are the end credits/epilogue of this story. Tracks to check out: Soulbound, Faster Than Light (the DragonForce feeling song), and Abyss.White Moth Black Butterfly The Cost Of Dreaming3.5 greatDevin Townsend Devolution Series #1 - Acoustically Inclined, LiveDines X Heafy Dines X HeafyEpica OmegaGojira FortitudeReally enjoyable continuation for these guys. I liked the experimentation, especially on Amazonia but also the use of clean vocals. For me though it was the heavier tracks that I gravitated to, album closer Grind being a particular highlight alongside lead single Another World.Me And That Man New Man, New Songs, Same Shit Vol. 1New Man, New Songs, Same Shit Vol. 1 (actually the second album of this project) is an interesting continuation of Behemoth front man Adam Darski's side project. Swapping out the blackened death metal for quiet, melodic dark country with blues, bluegrass, and southern rock influences. Where the first album was a collaboration between Adam and John Porter. This album sees John Porter out of the mix. Instead we get an eclectic mix of guest vocalists and musicians. Including the likes of Matt Heafy (Trivium), Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stone Sour) to Ihsahn. The downside of all the guests, is this doesn't feel like a cohesive whole like the first album did. It reminds me of a best of album. A best of album from an alternate universe where all these metal musicians made country inspired music. All of the guest vocalists means that Adam seems to take a backseat when it comes to vocals apart from the song Mestwo. It may in my opinion be a slightly disjointed project, but it is still highly enjoyable and experimental and shows that these guys are capable of making music that doesn't have to be heavy. If you enjoy Johnny Cash or Devin Townsend's Casualties of Cool album, I highly recommend this. Songs to check out: You Will Be Mine, Run With the Devil, By the River, and Surrender.Opeth OrchidHaving got into Opeth around the time between Watershed and Heritage it has taken me a while to get around to listening to Orchid, their first album. It is of course very different to current, modern Opeth, but for me there is a lot like with this album. First off the production is quite raw, especially the vocals. There is also a lot less clean singing here, it is mostly harsh vocals, and has more in common with forms of black metal. Instrumentally the album is fantastic, the guitar work especially is consistent throughout, swapping between crushing riffs and haunting melodies. This is the area that reminds you that this is an Opeth album. There is also the piano instrumental of Silhouette which turned into a personal favourite. Songs to check out: Under the Weeping Moon, In Mist She Was Standing, The Twilight is My Robe.Orden Ogan Final DaysScar Symmetry The Unseen EmpireStar One Victims of the Modern AgeThe Black Dahlia Murder VerminousA decent slab of death metal. Tracks to check out: The Wereworm's Feast, Godlessly, and Child of NightThe Night Flight Orchestra AeromanticAeromantic, the new album by 80's influenced rock side project of Soilwork and Arch Enemy members - The Night Flight Orchestra. There are plenty of ear worm songs on this album that you will just find yourself humming along to and singing the words to! From arena rock anthems to rock ballads. A great production means all the elements get their time to shine. From the amazing clean vocals and female backing vocals, to the guitar riffs & solos, keyboard & synth work, bass and drum work. It is all easy to identify in the mix. Guitar is a definite stand out for me, each song has it's own catchy, groovy 80's sounding riff, with a great bass line complimenting it. The downside of the album is it could have done with trimming a couple of the less memorable tracks as it clocks in at just under an hour. If you enjoy cheesy rock, this album is for you and makes a refreshing change to the metal in my playlist. Standout tracks to check out: Divinyls, Curves, and If Tonight Is Our Only Chance.The Night Flight Orchestra Aeromantic IIUnleash The Archers Time Stands StillValis Ablaze RenderRender by Valis Ablaze sits in the djent/progressive metal genre. If you have listened to Tesseract or Skyharbor you will know the kind of sound to expect. Delicate guitar riffs and solos over the top of the pounding guitar and bass combo that you would expect with this genre. Great clean vocals throughout with the sprinkling of the occasional harsh vocal. The best way I found to listen to this album was in one go as it flows very well, although as far as I know it is not a concept album. The reason I say listen to the whole album, is I found it hard to pinpoint one standout track, it is solid album with no dud tracks. The production on the album is great, each element is easy to pick from the mix without one instrument dominating the other. Songs to check out: Hollow Heart, Neon Dreaming, and Elevation.3.0 goodAyreon TransitusBattle Beast SteelSteel is a decent debut album from power metal band Battle Beast. It isn't particularly ground breaking but it is very enjoyable. It feels like a cross musically between classic Judas Priest and strangely Lordi. For me it is the inclusion and use of keyboards combined with similar male vocals/backing/gang vocals, plus the pounding stomp of the guitar riff. The main female vocals are very powerful but don't go over the top like some do in the power metal genre, another plus. Most of the songs have killer guitar solos that are air guitar worthy. Lyric wise it is cheesy and fun: Enter the Metal World, Justice and Metal, and Steel give you an idea what you are getting from song titles alone. Overall a solid but not ground-breaking album. Songs to check out: Cyberspace, Enter the Metal World, and Iron Hand.Battle Beast Battle BeastBloodshot Dawn ReanimationChildren of Bodom I Worship ChaosDemons and Wizards IIIA decent slab of power metal from this super group combining the riffs of Jon Schaffer from Iced Earth and the epic vocals of Hansi Kursch of Blind Guardian. This project leans more towards the heavier side of power metal like the aforementioned Iced Earth then the over blown epic of Blind Guardian. The same goes for the lyrical content being mostly of the darker IE fare, than fantasy swords and dragons. I'd go as far to say, if it wasn't for Hansi doing the vocals you could easily see this being a IE album. Decent production, great thrashy riffs and Hansi's signature vocals. Not too surprising. Drum work is good and complements the rhythm work. Sparse but good use of guitar solos, this is about the riffs. Bass to me seems lost in the mix, it doesn't add or detract from the album. Personally what lets this album down is actually it's epic length songs: Timeless Spirit and Children of Cain. Too meandering for their own good and outstay their welcome. Diabolic being the standout when it comes to epic songs on this album. Other standouts: Wolves in Winter, Midas Disease, and Split.Evergrey Escape of the PhoenixHelloween HelloweenA really solid power metal album but the rest of the album doesn?t live up to the epic Skyfall. The multiple vocalist approach is really interesting, but for me I feel that they aren?t fully utilised outside of Skyfall. The other songs just aren?t as memorable. Iron Maiden No Prayer for the DyingNo Prayer for the Dying is an enjoyable listen for Iron Maiden fans, but it doesn't find them doing anything new or exciting. After the more progressive sound that peaked with Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, No Prayer is back to basics Number of the Beast style songs. Songs to check out: Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter, and Tailgunner.Iron Maiden SenjutsuJudas Priest Defenders of the FaithDefenders of the Faith is a solid and enjoyable heavy metal album. Is it the best in their collection? In my opinion, no. However there is still plenty to enjoy. The main highlight for me being The Sentinel. A pure classic song and one of my favourites from the band, varied vocal performance combined with great dual guitar work bring out the apocalyptic vibe of the lyrics. There is a varying of tempo in the songs on this album, it isn't all pedal to the metal like The Sentinel or Jawbreaker. There are some enjoyable more rock inspired tracks like Rock Hard Ride Free. Unfortunately not all the songs are as hard hitting, some mid paced uninspired rock songs derail what could have been a classic album. The ending of the album particularly being a culprit, ending on a flat and unmemorable note with the one two punch of Heavy Duty and the title track. The great songs however help to elevate this album into being a worthwhile listen and will easily find spots on metal playlists. Tracks to check out: The Sentinel, Jawbreaker, Rock Hard Ride FreeLight the Torch You Will Be the Death of MeMyles Kennedy The Ides of MarchNightwish HUMAN. :II: NATURE.New album Human. :II: Nature. is interesting addition to Nightwish?s discography.rLeaning more into the folk (check out the song Harvest) and symphony elements of their sound rather than the symphonic metal. Especially disc 2 epic track All the Works of Nature Which Adorn the World - an epic orchestra, instrumental symphony track with no metal sound whatsoever.rDepending what you want from Nightwish you?ll either love the experimentation or want them to get back to the more straightforward sound. I?m personally in the first camp.rRecommended songs to check out: Noise, Tribal, and Harvest.Oceans of Slumber Oceans of SlumberOrange Goblin The Wolf Bites BackOzzy Osbourne Ordinary ManAn unexpected and fairly solid release from Ozzy. Is it his best album? No. Is it still an enjoyable hard rock album that you would expect from Ozzy? Yes. A lot of the lyrical content revolving around his own mortality and the legacy he will leave behind. Some odd collaboration choices that range from working surprisingly well: Elton John's piano and vocals on title track Ordinary Man. What doesn't work so well - the Post Malone and Travis Scott tracks. It's A Raid being a decent trashy number let down by auto tune and poor production. The highlights overall on this album being the drum work from Chad Smith and the bass of Duff McKagan. The guitar work from Andrew Watt is ok, good riffs, but for me the solos leave a lot to be desired. Ozzy's vocals are pretty good all things considered, but as already stated can sometimes seem too auto-tuned. rStand out tracks to check out: Under the Graveyard, Ordinary Man, and Scary Little Green Men.Parasite Inc. Dead and AliveDead and Alive by Parasite Inc. is a good melodic death metal metal. At parts it reminds me of old school Children of Bodom. The combination of the riffing style, the blistering guitar work and solos, plus the style of harsh vocals all remind me of that. There is even synth/keyboards, but these are not as prevalent Bodom. Occasionally there are some distortion effects on the vocals, in particular on This World and Fall of the Idealist that really didn't work for me and took me out of the song. But these guys are not a carbon copy are worth your time to check out. They won't blow your mind, but it is entertaining melodic death metal. Songs like Headfuck Rollercoaster have never seemed more apt than in 2020. Songs to check out: Headfuck Rollercoaster, Sunset Overdrive, and Once and for All.Poppy I DisagreeI Disagree is a fun but unbalanced album. There are an interesting mix of influences present, from the obvious pop, to arena rock, industrial metal stomp and Babymetal. I'm all for experimental albums with plenty of influences, it's just for me some of the songs don't land. I feel if the songs were more focused to a particular style I would have enjoyed it more. I'm very intrigued to see what Poppy does next. Songs to check out: Concrete, and I DisagreeSabaton The Art of WarSabaton for me are the Motörhead or Slayer of Power Metal. I don't mean that as an insult, but you do know what you are going to get with these guys. The Art of War combines the writings of Sun Tzu with the typical lyrical fare of wars (specifically the world wars), tanks, and guns you would expect. This for me is a refreshing change from the power metal stereotypes. Vocally it isn't your over the top high clean screams, instead they opt for normal clean vocals which works but can get repetitive as the range and style varies little. The music itself is a combination of mid tempo and high tempo songs. Most songs have got a good, memorable stomping guitar riff and a great shredding solo. There is also good inclusion of keyboard, which adds a welcome extra layer to the songs. The main downsides of this album are the awkward spoken word intros that break the flow of the album, plus some less memorable songs. If you already like Sabaton, you'll find plenty to enjoy here. If however you are not a fan this is unlikely to win you over. Tracks to check out: Ghost Division, 40:1, Panzerkampf, and Swedish Pagans (bonus track)Take That Beautiful WorldBeautiful World has been a great palate cleansing album for me and break from what I normally listen to. A fun and easy going, laid back pop/boy band album. Take That are becoming a guilty pleasure when it comes to my music collection, if the other albums live up to the quality of this. Songs to check out: Patience, Shine, and Reach Out.Transatlantic The Absolute UniverseUnleash The Archers Demons Of The AstroWasteWarkings Revolution2.5 averageBlack Sabbath Seventh StarSeventh Star album. I'm continuing my discovery of Black Sabbath music without Ozzy or Dio as the vocalist. Instead we have Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple. This is an odd album, originally meant to be a solo Tony Iommi. Instead the Sabbath label was applied in the hopes of more record sales. This leaves you with an album that doesn't have the trademark doom laden sound and riffs you would associate with Sabbath or the lyrical content. Instead you get a very 80's Judas Priest feeling heavy metal album. It certainly isn't a bad album, it?s better than the Born Again album and I probably enjoy it more than some of late Ozzy era albums. However the best way to enjoy this is without too many comparisons to other Black Sabbath works. Songs to check out: Turn to Stone, In for the Kill, and Danger Zone.Hammer King Hammer KingIron Maiden KillersKillers for me is one of my least favourite Iron Maiden albums. I have come back and re-listened to it many times over the years but it has never clicked with me the way the self-titled album did. Recommended tracks: Wrathchild, Killers, and Purgatory.Lordi Scare Force OnePowerwolf Call of the WildSerenity The Last KnightThe Last Knight by Serenity is unfortunately not a mind blowing album. It is also not the most fun album to listen to. Serenity sit in the Power/Symphonic Metal genre. Power metal for me works when it is over the top and bombastic. Memorable songs that are catchy, even if the lyrics are pure cheese. Most of the songs are mid paced stomp and very similar structure - all clocking in at just over 4 mins. Things also slow down a couple of times for power ballad style tracks. Again not a problem in-themselves, but here it feels like the album struggles to get going and flounders. However the vocalist does a great job. Good clean singing that doesn't go over the top, the forgettable lyrics are normally the let down here. My Kingdom Comes being a standout due to experimenting with harsh vocals. This gives the album a much needed breath of fresh air. Guitar work is good, with great solos on most songs, the riffs themselves seem to get lost in the symphonic mix. When the bonus acoustic version of Souls and Sins proves to be one of the highlights and more interesting parts of the album, you know this isn't the best album. Why it wasn't on the main album I don't know as it adds the variety of style this album is severely lacking. Tracks to check out: My Kingdom Comes, Keeper of the Knights, Souls and Sins (Acoustic)Strapping Young Lad Strapping Young LadWarkings Revenge2.0 poorBlack Sabbath Born AgainAwful album art should be the giveaway that the album is not gonna be amazing. But don't judge a book by it's cover... well maybe you should with this. The production is very muddy and dull. Under that the songs themselves aren't that amazing. Either over long and drawn out tracks that outstay their welcome (Zero the Hero) or lyrics that really don't fit with Sabbath (Digital Bitch). After the Ozzy and Dio era, this starts Sabbath's revolving door of members. Ian Gillan this time holds the mic and for me doesn't fit. Tracks to check out: Trashed, Disturbing the Priest.
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