Well, I literally got a ton of new music this past year due to my being on the mailing lists of multiple labels, so I have done my best to narrow it down:
Best Albums of 2007
1. Pyramaze - Legend of the Bone Carver (this is also tied for my favorite album of all time with Iced Earth's Alive in Athens 3 disc set)
1. Bloodbound - Nosferatu (tied for number 1 of the year - I got the European version that came out in the beginning of 2006 for those of you who like to be picky)
1. Winters Bane - Redivivus (also tied for 1st place on my list, this album is fucking mindblowing. If you haven't heard the new material from Winters Bane I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend checking them out:
www.wintersbane.net/red/seal.mp3
www.wintersbane.net/red/burning.mp3
www.wintersbane.net/red/dead.mp3
www.wintersbane.net/forum/world.mp3 )
2. Outworld - Outworld
3. Beyond Fear - Beyond Fear
4. Insomnium - Above the Weeping World
5. Warmachine - The Beginning of the End
6. Beyond Twilight - For the Art of Love and the Making
7. Dark Empire - Distant Tides
8. Firewind - Allegiance
9. Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life And Death
10. Fate - V
Honorable Mentions:
Cloudscape - Crimson Skies
Satyricon - Now, Diabolical
Best DVD Albums
Iced Earth - Alive in Athens (Although there were major issues with the audio on the first run of pressings [Century Media issued corrected copies to people who got a fucked up copy] this is a MUST for die hard fans, and fans of the Barlow-era)
Sentenced - Buried Alive
Children of Bodom - Chaos Ridden Years: Stockholm Knockout Live
Arch Enemy - Live Apocalypse
Worst Albums of 2006
1. Black Label Society - Shot to Hell (Now I love Zakk to death, but with this release it made me stop and ask the question "What was he thinking?" Every album from Stronger Than Death onwards has been amazing, but this one was a real let down for me)
2. Evergrey - Monday Morning Apocalypse (Like I stated above, I love the boys in Evergrey, and have spent time hanging out with them when they come to Toronto, but no matter how many times I listen to this album, it really lets me down. To me, a person who takes pride on know virtually everything there is to know about the bands I like and just really knowing the industry in general, this album has "Written for North American mainstream market" written all over it. Kind of a sell out for the die-hard fans.)
Predictions for 2007:
Iced Earth - Something Wicked This Way Comes 2 - I'm really looking forward to 2 new LP albums over 4 discs and 5 hours of music and one EP single from Iced Earth to continue the Something Wicked storyline including a re-recording of the original Something Wicked Trilogy with Ripper on vocals and slightly re-written to be heavier and more aggressive. I CANT WAIT FOR THIS !!!
Balance of Power - ever since Lance King joined them, they have yet to put out anything even close to remotely poor, so their new album should be fantastic. Really anxious to see who their new vocalist is since John K. left them.
Evergrey - lets see if they can rebound from the sell-out of an album Monday Morning Apocalypse and return to the sound and style that the fans like and want.
Bloodbound - I cant recall the last time I found a band whose debut album I enjoyed as much as Bloodbound's Nosferatu (and Pyramaze's Melancholy Beast)
Lou St. Paul - For those of you who don't know, Lou is the founder, songwriter, music writer and rhythm/lead guitarist of Winters Bane. He'll be going into the studio in the spring to record Heart of a Killer 2, which will be released 14 years after the original HoaK album was released with a still unknown, undiscovered Tim "Ripper" Owens on vocals. After that Lou will be going into studio with his other band, Kill Procedure to record their second album, and first album in over 10 years. Lou's "Mega-Band" project Mourning Scar will be released in March as well featuring a star-studded lineup from the metal community.
And lastly, Pyramaze - after the departure of Lance King, it'll be interesting to see who and what Michael Kammeyer pulls out of his hat to replace Lance and follow up the immensely successful Legend of the Bone Carver album.
Well, thats my list. Lets hear your thoughts!