Sweden rules!

[Wyvern]

I think now Sweden is the major producer of metal bands (except maybe in thrash).

Just between 2013 and now we have new releases or debuts by Avatarium, Hammerfall, Astral Doors, Wolf, The Order Of Israfel, The Dagger, Grand Magus, Falconer, Sabaton, Opeth,

UK bands are not far behind with Savage Messiah, Battleaxe, Monument, Alestorm also having releases.

And as for classic bands Nazareth, Judas Priest, Overkill, Accept, Exodus, Grave Digger, Cannibal Corpse, Skid Row, Stryper, Helstar, Tesla, Loudness, Helix all have something out this year too.

I don't see neither metal as a genre, nor the CD died yet (not to mention many of these releases also being out as vinyls).

The old school lives!

 

[SoundMaster]

The Avatarium album is AWESOME…..the year's best after Accept.

 

[Wyvern]

Actually the Avatarium album is from 2013.

And still is one of the best album is a long time.

 

[Bloopy]

The Graviators released a decent album this year. Truckfighters aren't metal or particularly old school, but their new one isn't bad either.

 

[Burkhard]

Actually the Avatarium album is from 2013.

And still is one of the best album is a long time.

It's one of the best debuts I've heard in a long time and has been one of my three most played albums over the last 10 months. An EP with two new songs and two live songs has already been recorded and hopefully will be released soon. I'm also looking forward to seeing them live again at the Hammer of Doom festival in November. (I saw them for the first time at the Roadburn festival in April in The Netherlands and enjoyed their concert a lot. A few - sized-down - pics I took there can be found here.)

 

[Wyvern]

It's one of the best debuts I've heard in a long time and has been one of my three most played albums over the last 10 months. An EP with two new songs and two live songs has already been recorded and hopefully will be released soon.

I'm not that nuts about an EP, I rather have a new LP.

I'm also looking forward to seeing them live again at the Hammer of Doom festival in November. (I saw them for the first time at the Roadburn festival in April in The Netherlands and enjoyed their concert a lot. A few - sized-down - pics I took there can be found here.)

Lucky you!

 

[Bryant]

I think now Sweden is the major producer of metal bands (except maybe in thrash).

The old school lives!

Speaking of Swedes, Urban breed's band, Project Arcadia will "officially" release their sophomore album on 09/09/2014. It rips, btw........

Bryant

 

[Wyvern]

Speaking of Swedes, Urban breed's band, Project Arcadia will "officially" release their sophomore album on 09/09/2014. It rips, btw........

Bryant

I didn't mention it on my post since the band is from Bulgaria. Also Serious Black will soar too soon, speaking of Urban.

 

[poundingmetal74]

New Astral Doors is fantastic. Time to go revisit their back catalog

 

[Burkhard]

I'm not that nuts about an EP, I rather have a new LP.

I also would have prefered an entire new album, but two new songs are still better than none at all.

 

[Burkhard]

A recording of Avatarium's concert at Sweden Rock by the Swedish radio can be streamed here:

http://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/430296?programid=2333

To start the programme, click on the blue "Lyssna"-button. Avatarium's concert starts at about 1:11:20. The programme will only be available for streaming for one month.

As you scroll down a bit further on that page, you will find some more programmes about Swedish bands available for streaming. Only those with the blue "Lyssna"-button are still available for streaming.

By the way, Avatarium's new EP will be released on November 14th, one day before their performance at the Hammer of Doom-Festival in Germany:

http://www.nuclearblast.de/fr/label/music/...-i-want-ep.html

They will also do a short tour as supporting act of Amorphis at the end of December (four concerts in Germany, one in The Netherlands and one in Switzerland):

https://www.facebook.com/amorphis/photos/a....?type=1&theater

 

[Wyvern]

New Astral Doors is fantastic. Time to go revisit their back catalog

Not sure if fantastic. Is a very AD release indeed, all that I expected from them is there, but at the same time is pretty average nothing special about it. Currently #17 in my top albums of the year.