And finally the last haul of 2005:
Holocaust - "The Nightcomers": I always had left this behind mainly because my only exposure is Metallica's cover of 'The Small Hours' which I consider a boring song. But finally at a incredible price ($4.99
) I found this one and since it's NWOBHM I gave it a try considering I have read some favorable commentaries in this forum. At first glance excep the title track it seems good hard rock.
Sweet Savage - "Killing Time": another relegated NWOBHM (yeah, yeah I know the guys that recorded 15 years too late
) band which I finally incorporate to my collection. Again at first glance it's damn good traditional metal
Chainsaw - "Smell The Saw": ok, I admit I got just because of the bare girl in the cover. Maybe I wanted another band from Holland (a bad one this time
), maybe I need to dilute the S&H. In anycase it's here, it's raw, it's speed metal, it's bad and it's funny. I mean it's bad enough to be fun, so at first glance I dig it.
Metalucifer - "Heavy Metal Chainsaw": this was a big itch I had to scratch deeply. I had read a lot of favorable things about this band, it's was a rave in a forum I used to frequent. And some samples I got just feed the itch, so finally I found this their second album and in a weird sense I wish I hadn't bought it...cause it rocks! From start it grabbed me and that only with a quick examination, this is damn good speed metal. Now I'm gonna be like nuts trying to find the first album (they have too some EPs and 3 live albums
, but hose are no big deal for me right now).
Anubis Gate - "A Perfect Forever": another 2005 release. Our postfellow Torben do the vocals here and frankly when I check their debut I didn't like them (don't kill me man!), but then downloaded this one months ago and upon check it did click in my ears, so finally I got it. It's neat trad/power metal on the non-happy side, more akin to Angel Dust, Icarus Witch, Force Of Evil, Seventh One if you catch my drift. Very recommended (btw Torben seems to be out of the band
).
Forsaken - "Evermore": blame Fang on this one, he convinced to get into this doom metal outfit from Malta. Not much to say here it's doom, it's epic and it's like Thunderstorm, Solstice, Solitude Aeturnus so it's good!
Forsaken - "Dominaeon": thier 2005 release, I mean I trust Fang so why get for only one album? Sadly I couldn't get the previous one "Anima Mundi", in anycase I have another good doom album, and with this three doom albums for the year which is pretty good in general terms.
Merci Flo mon ami
Highland Glory - "From The Cradle To The Grave": ooposed to Anubis Gate I have happy power metal in the form of the debut of this band which gave me yet another great album for 2005 "Forever Endeavour". This Norwegians (and no corpsepaint!
) deliver a neat Euro-power descendant from Helloween and since I like this type of stuff it suits me.
"A Baroque Tribute To Rush": similar to the strings tributes out there, but adding harpsichord and pipe organ five guys made a tribute to the almighty Rush. It's all instrumental and maybe it's not as neat as Rondellus tribute to the Sabbath but still is very enjoyable. The choice of songs is mostly classic era going as far as 'Force Ten' (only song I like from "Hold Your Fire"), being 'The Trees', 'Madrigal' and 'Closer To The Heart' the best accomplished. What can I say I'm nuts for tributes
Mesmerize - "Stainless": finally! it's mine, mine! The most searched album of 2005 for me. I love Mesmerize and had followed them from start, and when I found they have a new album this year I was like nuts. Sadly these Italians are always hard to find even if SPV distribute Dragonheart thier label, so even if early in the year it took me almost to the end to get it. Mesmerize is traditional/power metal very oriented to the 80's IMO, I have enjoyed this one as a download and finally it's on my hands. Interstingly they had added violin to some songs which gave especially on 'Windchaser' and absolute Skyclad vibe which in my book spells like HELL YEAH!
And all arrived before Christmas, ain't that sweet?
