Average Rating: 3.70 Rating Variance: 0.75 Objectivity Score: 72% (Fairly Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicCynic FocusCynic Traced in AirThere are no words that I can think of to describe this album. It is not music--Traced in Air is transcendent of such an ephemeral, petty label. It is something that you must listen to time and time again, until you can fully experience the multitude of atmospheres and emotions that it evokes. This is art, in its purest, most beautiful, and most powerful form.Dream Theater Images and WordsFates Warning Perfect SymmetryFates Warning DisconnectedThis is the highlight of Fates Warning's career after the departure of Aresti and DiBiase. There's no lack of technicality or melody, and every musician on this album plays his part perfectly, complimenting the others at the same time (especially Kevin Moore and Joey Vera). The pieces themselves are all beautifully composed by the genius that is Jim Matheos. There are numerous time changes, addictive melodies, and powerful lyrics that evoke emotions of all sorts. Highly recommended.Gordian Knot EmergentJaco Pastorius Jaco PastoriusKing Crimson In the Court of the Crimson KingKing Crimson RedKing Crimson Starless and Bible BlackPorcupine Tree Lightbulb SunQueensryche Operation: MindcrimeRush 2112Sleep DopesmokerThe Beatles Abbey RoadTool Lateralus4.5 superbBlind Guardian Nightfall in Middle-Earth If you didn't know already, this album tells a story, that of The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. Blind Guardian's interpretation is very faithful to the orignal work, and at the same time, very unique and suitable for their brand of power metal. The album is interlaced with spoken word interludes, that really help to convey that you are not only listening to excellent music, but also how the Noldor were exiled from Aman, how Fingolfin valiantly fell in single combat in front of the iron gates of Angband, how Morgoth forever doomed the children of Hurin . . . etc. In other words, you're listening to a tale of epic proportions, told by a band playing technical and melodic music of epic proportions. Highly recommended.Death The Sound of PerseveranceDeath SymbolicDream Theater Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a MemoryFates Warning No ExitFates Warning Awaken the GuardianGordian Knot Gordian KnotKing Crimson DisciplineMiles Davis Bitches BrewPelican The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon...Porcupine Tree Fear of a Blank PlanetRush Moving PicturesSepultura AriseThe Cure Disintegration4.0 excellentAlice in Chains Black Gives Way to BlueThere's something about bands taking a few years off, and then all of a sudden, coming back with an album that just kicks my ass. Cynic blew me away with Traced in Air in 2008, and now, Alice in Chains comes back out of nowhere, with an album that is almost better than their previous works. Jerry Cantrell shows no signs of wear over the 10+ year dissolution of Alice in Chains--his blues-laced riffs are back, and are chugging along fiercer than ever. Sean Kinney and Mike Inez are still holding a tight rhythm section, and the newcomer, William DuVall, is quite possibly the perfect singer for this new incarnation of Alice in Chains. DuVall's vocals give this album a very fresh feel, and at the same time, do enough justice to Layne Staley that when listening to this album, you know you're listening to Alice in Chains. In other words, this is not some half-assed comeback attempt, but a faithful sequel to the previous works of Alice in Chains.Burzum FilosofemColdplay A Rush of Blood to the HeadColdplay Viva la Vida or Death and All His FriendsDeath HumanDream Theater AwakeDream Theater Black Clouds and Silver LiningsElliott Smith From a Basement on the HillEmancipator Soon It Will Be Cold EnoughA great trip hop/instrumental album. An overall chilled out, organic vibe, with original beats and melodies. Standout tracks are "Lionheart," "Good Knight," and "First Snow." Explosions in the Sky Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die...Fates Warning ParallelsFates Warning FWXFates Warning A Pleasant Shade of GrayIncubus (USA-CA) A Crow Left of the Murder...Iron Maiden PowerslaveIron Maiden Death on the RoadIron Maiden A Matter of Life and DeathJaco Pastorius Word of MouthKing Crimson THRAKLinkin Park Hybrid TheoryMastodon Crack the SkyeCrack the Skye brings more to the the table than your run-of-the-mill metal album. Amazing technicality, strong performances from both lead vocalists, great melodies, and excellent riffage that will be stuck in your head for days. Tag on a truly unique lyrical concept/theme, and you've got an album that you'll be spinning for years to come.Memento BeginningsMetallica Death MagneticI will admit that this isn't another Ride the Lightning or Master of Puppets. In fact, it would be foolish to even expect such from Metallica in this day and age--bands are a liberty to change their sound, especially over the course of 20 years. It just so happens that over the course of five years, Metallica seems to have changed their sound for the better. The riffage is quite melodic, coherent, and technical (to a certain degree), and long gone are the trash can snare and lack of solos. Although each piece averages about 6-7 minutes in length, there are enough melodies and progression to still keep you interested. Highly recommended, regardless of whether you're an older or newer fan. Just approach the album with an open mind, and toss any preconceptions out the window. Miles Davis Kind of BlueOpeth Blackwater ParkOpeth WatershedPelican City of EchoesPorcupine Tree The IncidentQueensryche EmpireReturn to Forever Romantic WarriorRush A Farewell to KingsRush HemispheresRush Snakes & ArrowsSepultura Chaos A.D.Sleep Sleep's Holy MountainSpiral Architect A Sceptic's UniverseStuart Hamm OutboundSymphony X V: The New Mythology SuiteTool ÆnimaTool SalivalTool 10,000 Days3.5 greatBoards of Canada Hi ScoresCynic Re-TracedDeath Individual Thought PatternsDeftones Diamond EyesDream Theater Six Degrees of Inner TurbulenceDream Theater A Change of SeasonsDream Theater Falling into InfinityDream Theater Systematic ChaosExplosions in the Sky How Strange, InnocenceExplosions in the Sky The RescueGodsmack GodsmackIncubus (USA-CA) Morning ViewIncubus (USA-CA) The Morning View SessionsIncubus (USA-CA) Light GrenadesIron Maiden KillersMetallica LoadOpeth MorningriseOpeth DamnationPorcupine Tree In AbsentiaQueens of the Stone Age Rated RTool Opiate3.0 goodAudioslave Out of ExileCavalera Conspiracy InfliktedColdplay ParachutesDream Theater OctavariumEmancipator Safe In The Steep CliffsGodsmack FacelessIncubus (USA-CA) Make YourselfIron Maiden The Number of the BeastKing Crimson Larks' Tongues in AspicLinkin Park Minutes to MidnightPelican AustralasiaQueensryche Hear in the Now FrontierThe Cure PornographyTool UndertowWeezer The Green Album2.5 averageDream Theater Train of ThoughtIron Maiden Fear of the DarkLinkin Park MeteoraLinkin Park ReanimationMetallica ReloadP.O.D. SatelliteQueensryche Operation: Mindcrime IIRush Caress of SteelSymphony X Symphony X2.0 poorBetween the Buried and Me ColorsIron Maiden The X FactorIron Maiden No Prayer for the DyingIron Maiden Virtual XINickelback Silver Side UpProtest the Hero FortressQueensryche TribeSepultura Roots1.5 very poorQueensryche Q2K1.0 awfulMetallica St. Anger
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
