Now that 2007 is half over.......

[Jasonic]

How do you rate the metal releases thus far?
What are your favorites?
Which are dissappointments?
What upcoming releases are you looking forward to???

For me.....
FAVORITES:
NOVEMBERS DOOM - The Novella Reservoir
Don't really know what more can be said about this album.
Perfect follow up to the Pale Haunt Departure, further proving the band's never ending ability to progress with each release.

MEGADETH - United Abominations
This is the big surprise for me of the year thus far. I had no intention of ever purchasing another 'Deth studio album, until I saw them on the H&H tour. Awesome dual-guitar riffage on this album makes for a fun listen.

CANDLEMASS - The King of the Grey Islands
This JUST came out, and it is still growing on me. Gets better with each listen. I was skeptical at first, as Messiah is a tough act to follow. Lowe fits in quite well.

KING DIAMOND - Give Me Your Soul...Please
One of my top anticipated releases for the year, and it does NOT dissappoint! Another great tale by the good King. If you liked the Puppet Master, you will certainly like this one. Andy LaRouque's guitar mastery shines through on this album. Only complaint is the lack of King's high register on most songs.

METALIUM - Nothing to Undo
In the modern era where Euro power bands are finally getting their due, it amazes me that these guys are consistently ignored. They release their 6th album of European power metal perfection. Are they the most original? Definitely not, though what they do, they do well.

TROUBLE - Simple Mind Condition
A great hard rockin' release from the mighty Trouble. I know the reviews have been mixed on this one, because some still believe that Trouble is going to write another Sabbath-worship album, ala The Skull or Psalm 9. Well, 15+ years has passed. This album should appeal to fans of all eras of Trouble.

HELLOWEEN - Live in Sao Paulo
I am placing this toward the end since it is a live album. And WHAT a live album this is!! Great crowd participation throughout along with a killer set list makes for a fun live album. This is lightyears ahead of the dissappointing HIGH LIVE they released a few years back.

DISSAPPOINTMENTS:
MANOWAR - Gods of War
Don't get me wrong. This isn't a BAD album. It seems though that their surge in popularity world wide over the past 10 years has had an adverse impact on their studio efforts. "Louder Than Hell" was brilliant! Though the 2 follow ups (first being Warriors of the World), leave a lot to be desired. Just more of the same old, musically and lyrically. There are some stand out tracks, but overall, it didn't grab me.

BLACK SABBATH - The Dio Years
I am only mentioning this release since it does contain three new studio tracks. I love Sabbath, and I love the fact that Dio is back touring with them. I was hoping for a bit more with these three songs. They aren't horrible, but just not very memorable. Also, they don't come off too well live either. I know the purpose of this release was to coincide with the H&H tour, and it is nice to have the classics remastered. The dissappointment is with the three new tracks.

ALREADY RELEASED BUT HAVEN'T HEARD YET:
Nocturnal Rites - The 8th Sin
Machine Men - Circus of Fools
Hidden Hand - Ressurection of Whiskey Foote
Sonata Arctica - Unia

LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING RELEASED:
Iced Earth - Framing Armageddon
Reverend Bizaare - So Long Suckers
Judas Priest
Helloween

 

[OrbWeaver]

Kamelot - Ghost Opera
Another fabulous release by the Kamguys! However, I do feel the first half of the CD is the strongest. The last few songs are somewhat forgettable, except for Eden Echo and the bouns track, The Pendulus fall. Overall, this is a fantastic album.

Sonata Arctica - Unia
My boyfriend and I decided that the SA guys were on a rainbow of drugs when they wrote this album. It's really not a bad album. In fact, I feel it's quite good. But it doesn't sound much like Sonata Arctica. The only song on the album that sounds like a Sonata Arctica song is the second track, Paid in Full. The rest of the tracks are very...strange. It's as if SA decided to suddenly become a progressive band. I fully support bands who want to branch out and play with new sounds, but this was just sudden. It took me a few listens to really like the album, but I can say now that I really like it. But it's still not a SA album.

Therion - Gothic Kabbalah
Each release by Therion is better than the last. I can't say enough good things about this album. The song writing, the musicianship, the vocals, they are all top class and extremely well executed. Therion is simply amazing.



And just out of curiosity, am I the only one that consistently misreads "Framing Armageddon" as "Farming Armageddon?"

 

[Jasonic]

Sonata Arctica - Unia
My boyfriend and I decided that the SA guys were on a rainbow of drugs when they wrote this album. It's really not a bad album. In fact, I feel it's quite good. But it doesn't sound much like Sonata Arctica. The only song on the album that sounds like a Sonata Arctica song is the second track, Paid in Full. The rest of the tracks are very...strange. It's as if SA decided to suddenly become a progressive band. I fully support bands who want to branch out and play with new sounds, but this was just sudden. It took me a few listens to really like the album, but I can say now that I really like it. But it's still not a SA album.

Thanks!! Your review further confirms the reality that I will probably not end up buying this album. I have yet to read a review that indicates this album sounds like anything SA has been known for.

I know change isn't supposed to be a bad thing for most bands.
But SA's bread-and-butter, if you will, for the most part has been their up-tempo keyboard driven "power metal" tunes.

There have been enough dissappointing power metal releases in recent years from the bigger bands. I don't need to add another one to the collection.

Oh well. It's a shame, as I was looking forward to this one.

 

[metalprof]

Thanks!! Your review further confirms the reality that I will probably not end up buying this album. I have yet to read a review that indicates this album sounds like anything SA has been known for.

Well, Jason, let me make your life more difficult by pointing out that I love this disc. It doesn't sound like typical Sonata Arctica, but there's certainly no doubt that it is Sonata Arctica. It's a bit more serious, a bit less speedy. But there are still many damn good songs, melodies, and awesome guitar leads. To me, it's a step up and I think that's a good thing; it keeps them from getting stuck in a rut.

Other 2007 releases I'm enjoying are

Allen-Lande - The Revenge
Dark Moor - Tarot
Novembers Doom - The Novella Reservoir
Redemption - The Origins of Ruin
Silent Force - Walk the Earth
Threshold - Dead Reckoning
Therion - Gothic Kabbalah

Disappointments:

Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
Pain of Salvation - Scarsick
Rush - Snakes and Arrows
Tarot - Crows Fly Black

Still being digested:

Kamelot - Ghost Opera. So far, I'm fairly indifferent to it. It's good, but I get this "well, it's Kamelot" feeling. Nothing new is offered ... unlike on Unia

Ken

 

[Diabolik]

Some of the highlights for me were......

Cruachan- Moriggan's Call - great Irish folk-metal. This release is amazing.
From start to finish it is non stop. Really catchy stuff with great
female vocals and great rough (not death metal) male vocals.

Metalium - Noting to Undo - they are the generic of generic power metal but
this disc was really good. From start to finish it is what power
metal should sound like.

Machine Men - Circus Of Fools - great disc from a decent band. Hopefully
they can keep this up and release more like this one. I expect
big things from them.

Dark Moor - Tarot - solid release after some just ok disc.


some disappointments.....Nocturnal Rites, Sonata Arctica, and Therion

cant remember what else I got this year. I will have to update when I get home.

 

[Jasonic]

I appreciate everyone's take on Sonata.
As I said previously, it's their up-tempo craziness that I liked about their music.
I am not too interested in a matured, proggy sounding effort.
Just my opinion.

I might check it out still, just not as hyped about it after reading the initial reviews.

 

[Jasonic]

some disappointments.....Nocturnal Rites, Sonata Arctica, and Therion

I am worried about the new Nocturnal Rites.
This has wound up on most people's "Disappointment" lists.

I have even read some reviews hinting that they take a "pop" direction on the new one.

 

[Knulla]

Pain of Salvation - Scarsick
Cephalic Carnage - Xenosapien
Suspyre - A Great Divide
Thurisaz - Circadian Rhythm
Manowar - Gods of War
King Diamond - Give Me Your Soul... Please
Symphony X - Paradise Lost
Municipal Waste - The Art of Partying
Akercocke - Antichrist
Mayhem - Ordo Ad Chao

Disappointments:
Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
Megadeth - United Abominations
Kamelot - Ghost Opera

Waiting for:
Meshuggah
Slough Feg
Blotted Science
Alarum
Judas Priest
Opeth (probably gonna be 2008)
Darkthrone

 

[Diabolik]

I am worried about the new Nocturnal Rites.
This has wound up on most people's "Disappointment" lists.

I have even read some reviews hinting that they take a "pop" direction on the new one.

not pop at all....just not catchy like the last few. Kind of like a collection of B-sides.

Hey Ken...I agree.....Tarot's new disc was a MAJOR disappointment.

 

[Jasonic]

Ah, I forgot about the new Symphony X as well.
I would like to hear this one.

 

[Dolamite S. Biffle]

Albums that I Love start to finish:
Symphony X
Nocturnal Rites
Megadeth
Candlemass
Iced Earth (I know it is just the EP)
Silent Force

I records that I just enjoy:
Dream Theater
Metalium
Trouble
Sonata Arctica
Kamelot
Therion
Allen-Lande
Rush
Tarot
Thurisaz
Suspyre

In Different:
Dark Moor
Novembers Doom

Huge Disapointments

Manowar

Records I knew I would hate

PoS
Municipal Waste
Cephalic Carnage

I havent heard enough of the Machine Men or King Diamond releases

 

[Jasonic]

My favorite album of the year thus far is Trouble - Simple Mind Condition

You are a good boy!!!!

Do you own the new Rev Bizarre, or is it a leak?

 

[Knulla]

What album would you say is the best Rev Bizarre to start with? I've been wanting to check them out.

 

[Jasonic]

I only have Harbinger of Metal. I need to expand my Rev Biz collection.

These guys are indeed TRUE DOOM.
(IE - Not stoner, not drone, not Sabbath worship...)

 

[ShadowLioness]

My top picks for the year so far:

Novembers Doom - The Novella Reservoir
Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Black Planet
Dark Tranquillity - Fiction

I haven't run into any huge disappointments yet...though there's always the new Nightwish album. :Smug:

 

[Jasonic]

Holy smokes!!!!
Porcupine Tree did a remake of THIS classic album??

That would be something to hear!

 

[OrbWeaver]

Jasonic, your best bet is to borrow the new SA from a friend that has it. Then if you hate it, no money spent! If you like it, you got to hear it for free.

 

[Diabolik]

Some other great disc this year were....

Lumsk - Det Vilde Kor - great female fronted folk with some metal. Only die
hard folk metal people would really like this one. Very
cool relaxed happy metal.

Folkearth - By The Sword Of My Father - fantastic russian folk metal. The
disc was good but poorly mixed. This time they got
a great mix with a fantastic album. Great blend of
folk instruments and power and death metal.

Wuthering Heights - The Shadow Cabinet - great from start to finish.

Heavenly - Virus - this is the disc that Gamma Ray should have put out.

Fairyland - The Fall Of An Empire - like above...this is the disc Rhapsody
should have put out.

 

[Jasonic]

Jasonic, your best bet is to borrow the new SA from a friend that has it. Then if you hate it, no money spent! If you like it, you got to hear it for free.

Yeah, though do you really think Diabolik would lend anything to anyone???

 

[OrbWeaver]

Dangle something shiny in front of him, then gank the CD while he's distracted.