- Dec 2, 2004
- 37
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All right, it's gotten boring around here, so to liven things up, I thought I'd share with you my views on the releases I've come across this year, and I hope that you'd all do the same if you happen to feel like it.
This was a strange year for metal, for me anyway. A few really good releases, and a bunch of above-average stuff that probably wouldn't make my list is making my list, simply because there isn't that much *stuff* to go around.
So here it is:
EDIT: So now I've heard Skyfire, Ensiferum, and Cipher System. I give you my final top 10 list:
1. Mercenary - 11 Dreams. An utter classic, in every sense of the word. Melodic? Yes. Heavy? Yes. Emotional? Yes. Complex and atmospheric and intricate and all those wonderful little things that make you squeal with joy? Absolutely. Best CD I've heard since the last Katatonia album.
2. Orphaned Land - Mabool. Possibly the most unique thing I've heard in metal, and a unique story. Simply amazing stuff, from wonderful piano solos overlaid with heavy guitars to exotic middle-eastern instruments interwinding with the main melody, to a great dual-vocal style performance, this concept album is a winner.
3. Therion - Lemuria. So they released a double CD, and while I like Sirius B, the stuff on their first disc just defies all words. Heavy, hard, yet atmospheric and classical, this is the release I've been waiting for Therion to put out for years now. Outstanding tracks like Uthark Runa, both parts of The Three Ships of Berik, and the awesome title track make this a real winner. Great work on the vocals, and great work on making something heavy and loud without compromising your sound, Therion!
4. Persuader - Evolution Purgatory. Excellent Power-Thrash! Catchy as hell choruses highlight an outstanding musical experience, complete with heavy, shredding guitars and a spectacular vocal performance that isn't quite clean, but isn't quite growling. Highly recommended.
5. TOC - Loss Angeles. The Finns strike again, and this release is every bit as good as their previous effort, "Pervertigo." Combining a great quantity of rock and near-rock and even Jazz influences, while still not afraid to thrash like hell (Particularly the song Acid Highway, which I cannot stop playing), it's a great release if you can find it.
6. Skyfire - Spectral. Took me long enough to get this release, and I like it, though not as much as I liked TD or MR. The album has some brilliant parts to it, but I think it was a little light on the keyboards to make me totally satisfied with it, and maybe a little too heavy for the style, but certainly a very good release and on-par with the quality I expect from SKYFIRE! \m/
7. Cipher System - Central Tunnel Eight. OK, so they're not original, but they sure are pretty damn good at what they do. With a sound reminiscent of Dimension Zero, and some spectacular passages that will have you begging for more (Particularly on the song "24 Hours Left", which is one of the best on the album). If you like melodic death with some thrashy elements to it, pick this album up, because it's really, really well-done.
8. Finntroll - Nattfodd. I'm probably the only one here who liked Nattfodd more than Jakten's Tid, but even if you like their previous effort more, this is not an album to be counted out. Great Humpah/death/folk/whatever, that's great for some fun and blasting out of your car on a crowded street.
9. Imperanon - Stained. Bodom Clones or not, they have a unique enough sound, and for a debut album they showed a lot of poise and experimentation that lends great optimism for where their sound is headed.
10. Ensiferum - Iron. Well, their follow-up to their self-titled debut isn't quite as good, and their song titles can be slightly laughable, but that comes with the genre, and as Viking Metal goes, Ensiferum are some of the best! Great folk-metal anthems that will have you chanting "LAI LAI HEI!" from start to finish.
Biggest Disappointment:
Iced Earth - The Glorious Burden. What the hell happened? I don't like their new vocalist, and since Matthew Barlow made that band for me, I guess this is it for them and me. It's a shame, because the concept EP that came with the CD was better than the CD itself.
I still have way more CDs to hear, but since I've been so carried away with school and a lack of funds, it's been tough. Hopefully this list will be much, much longer in a couple of weeks, come New Year's. Anyway, post your favorites, I guess.
-Radical Theory
This was a strange year for metal, for me anyway. A few really good releases, and a bunch of above-average stuff that probably wouldn't make my list is making my list, simply because there isn't that much *stuff* to go around.
So here it is:
EDIT: So now I've heard Skyfire, Ensiferum, and Cipher System. I give you my final top 10 list:
1. Mercenary - 11 Dreams. An utter classic, in every sense of the word. Melodic? Yes. Heavy? Yes. Emotional? Yes. Complex and atmospheric and intricate and all those wonderful little things that make you squeal with joy? Absolutely. Best CD I've heard since the last Katatonia album.
2. Orphaned Land - Mabool. Possibly the most unique thing I've heard in metal, and a unique story. Simply amazing stuff, from wonderful piano solos overlaid with heavy guitars to exotic middle-eastern instruments interwinding with the main melody, to a great dual-vocal style performance, this concept album is a winner.
3. Therion - Lemuria. So they released a double CD, and while I like Sirius B, the stuff on their first disc just defies all words. Heavy, hard, yet atmospheric and classical, this is the release I've been waiting for Therion to put out for years now. Outstanding tracks like Uthark Runa, both parts of The Three Ships of Berik, and the awesome title track make this a real winner. Great work on the vocals, and great work on making something heavy and loud without compromising your sound, Therion!
4. Persuader - Evolution Purgatory. Excellent Power-Thrash! Catchy as hell choruses highlight an outstanding musical experience, complete with heavy, shredding guitars and a spectacular vocal performance that isn't quite clean, but isn't quite growling. Highly recommended.
5. TOC - Loss Angeles. The Finns strike again, and this release is every bit as good as their previous effort, "Pervertigo." Combining a great quantity of rock and near-rock and even Jazz influences, while still not afraid to thrash like hell (Particularly the song Acid Highway, which I cannot stop playing), it's a great release if you can find it.
6. Skyfire - Spectral. Took me long enough to get this release, and I like it, though not as much as I liked TD or MR. The album has some brilliant parts to it, but I think it was a little light on the keyboards to make me totally satisfied with it, and maybe a little too heavy for the style, but certainly a very good release and on-par with the quality I expect from SKYFIRE! \m/
7. Cipher System - Central Tunnel Eight. OK, so they're not original, but they sure are pretty damn good at what they do. With a sound reminiscent of Dimension Zero, and some spectacular passages that will have you begging for more (Particularly on the song "24 Hours Left", which is one of the best on the album). If you like melodic death with some thrashy elements to it, pick this album up, because it's really, really well-done.
8. Finntroll - Nattfodd. I'm probably the only one here who liked Nattfodd more than Jakten's Tid, but even if you like their previous effort more, this is not an album to be counted out. Great Humpah/death/folk/whatever, that's great for some fun and blasting out of your car on a crowded street.
9. Imperanon - Stained. Bodom Clones or not, they have a unique enough sound, and for a debut album they showed a lot of poise and experimentation that lends great optimism for where their sound is headed.
10. Ensiferum - Iron. Well, their follow-up to their self-titled debut isn't quite as good, and their song titles can be slightly laughable, but that comes with the genre, and as Viking Metal goes, Ensiferum are some of the best! Great folk-metal anthems that will have you chanting "LAI LAI HEI!" from start to finish.
Biggest Disappointment:
Iced Earth - The Glorious Burden. What the hell happened? I don't like their new vocalist, and since Matthew Barlow made that band for me, I guess this is it for them and me. It's a shame, because the concept EP that came with the CD was better than the CD itself.
I still have way more CDs to hear, but since I've been so carried away with school and a lack of funds, it's been tough. Hopefully this list will be much, much longer in a couple of weeks, come New Year's. Anyway, post your favorites, I guess.
-Radical Theory
