Just got back from ProgPower XIII (which was awesome btw) ........
and man was I impressed with the vendor room. I bought more awesome cds in one day than ever.
1# Anathema - Weather Systems: This was the first of my choice though not really metal. I heard a lot of good things about this former doom/death band and I can see why. Very calm but powerful.
2# Seventh Wonder - The Great Escape: I think I bought both this and Anathema over at the Nightmare Records booth. I already love this album but didnt have it in physical format and was getting tired of Spotify commercials.
3# Elvenking - Era: I was surprised to find this at an imports booth where there were so many albums to sift through it made my head spin. It came out on the 14th I believe so you can imagine why my first reaction was an abrupt "ooh" and then immediately picking it up to check the price of $16. Its nothing ground breaking but its good, raw Elvenking (not too fond of the vocal production though).
4# Extol - The Blueprint Dives: This was a pleasant surprise because I has already been at the online Century Media store checking on my DTP - Epicloud preorder when they were advertising this album for only $5. I hesitated because I was already ordering so many albums anyway, but I somehow discovered it in a bin of clearanced albums in a cardboard box near the imports vendor booth at the same price. Check this out if you like an interesting take in production and almost post-hardcore sounding progressive metal.
Also Epicloud came in the mail while I was gone. I really like this album despite it being overall not very original in terms of the simple songs. Great production and very Epic and Loud
. Not much else I can say but I love it and if you like a more than modern, heavy-industrial take on anthem rock like Queen, Van Halen, Journey, etc., this is for you.