'UMOS 2006 - Year in Review' - My Most Memorable Metal Moments.....

[Powermetal Rebel]

Maybe / Maybe not a good idea to start thinking about YOUR contribution to this thread....I think it might be cool to share what each of us thinks was....
Best & worst new band discovered
Best & worst CD purchase
Best concert etc..... Anything that may have had a big impact on you this year (relating to metal).

Anybody willing to participate?
PMR

 

[Hawk]

Sure! Good idea PMR!

Best band discovered

This year that would be Seventh Wonder their album 'Waiting in the Wings is fantastic and a classic in my book at least. A spectacular album by a spectacular band. I would love to see them live. Together with Arch Enemy they are on the top of my 'must see' list.

Worst band discovered

That would be Mylidian. I found their album 'Birth of the Prophet' mindbogglingly boring!

O and Tyr! Their latest album 'Ragnarok' was imho so boring I almost contemplated committing suicide because that would have been more exciting! As far as I am concerned, one of the worst, if not the worst album I ever heard.

Best cd purchased

Zero Hour - Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond

Worst cd purchased

Since I am a reviewer for Aardschok magazine and Digital Steel webzine I hardly have to buy cds. Most of the time I know an upcoming album before I can or need to buy it. Therefore I have bought no bad cds this year

Best concert of the year

Exodus at the Effenaar! Really a killer gig! Rob Dukes rules supreme. Dukes is for me the only legitimate replacement to Paul.

Worst concert of the year

Vengeance supporting UFO at 013 in Tilburg. Very boring 80s act with a singer that likes to act like an idiot. Annoying to say the least.

While I am at it I might as well give you my year list

Top 10 cd's 2006

01 Zero Hour - Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond
02 Seventh Wonder - Waiting In The Wings
03 Meyvn - Splintered Skies
04 Into Eternity - The Scattering Of Ashes
05 Beyond Twilight - For the Love of Art and the Making
06 Outworld - Outworld
07 Twisted Into Form - Then Comes Affliction To Awaken The Dreamer
08 Communic - Waves of Visual Decay
09 Winters Bane - Redivivus
10 Wolverine - Still


Best 4 DVD's

01 Iced Earth - Alive In Athens
02 Rainbow - Live In Munich 1977
03 Kamelot - On A Cold Winters Night
04 Arch Enemy - Live Apocalypse
05 Children Of Bodom - Chaos Ridden Years Stockholm Knockout Live

Good idea for a tread PMR.

 

[Wyvern]

Astounding thread PMR!

Best band discovered

Even if it wasn't with a 2006 release have to be Obstruction. A fine Hungarian band that plays classic heavy metal with lots of melody and energy, despise the fact that I don't understand shit of the lyrics the band definitively won a place in my collection by quality.

Worst band discovered

Cellador. I found some reviews and samples and got for the album but it's frankly too flowery and simplistic even for a power metal fan like me.

Best CD purchased

Probably "Northwind" special edition, the bonus disc with 5 songs in Swedish kick serious ass in the folk/metal department this year.

Worst CD purchased

Lacuna Coil - "Comalies" I had to get rid of that crap what a bunch of stinkers sellouts, pure mallcore

Best concert of the year

Prog Power VII, Letaherwolf kicked me big time but Jorn...Jorn set Atlanta on flames and pf course Dio, what can I say it was Dio!

Worst concert of the year

Psychowhatever, a horrible pseudo punk band that luckily for everybody desintegrated after the gig, because they suck big time. Their an ugly girl going by the nickname Twiggy (absolutely sarcasm) goes throug gigs with a rock star attitude that makes me uke:

Top 10 CD's 2006

Still a bit too early for the final list, but to this date will be:

1. Sabaton – “Attero Dominatus”
2. Pharaoh – “The Longest Night”
3. Abandoned – “Thrash Notes”
4. Jorn – “The Duke”
5. Benedictum – “Uncreation”
6. Wolf – “The Black Flame”
7. Astral Doors – “Astralism”
8. Firewind – “Allegiance”
9. Hammerfall – “Threshold”
10. Tyr – “Ragnarok”

Best 4 DVD's

I don't do DVD's so

01 Gary Moore & Friends - "One Night In Dublin - A Tribute To Thin Lizzy"

O and Tyr! Their latest album 'Ragnarok' was imho so boring I almost contemplated committing suicide because that would have been more exciting! As far as I am concerned, one of the worst, if not the worst album I ever heard.

Go sit on an egg! "Ragnarok" is an excelent album and even if not going to make top 5 this year the melodies, harmonies, choruses, great guitar work and songs ranging from good to very ctachy makes this a absolutely interesting album.

 

[Trans-Siberian Outcast]

As usual, I'm not following the rules, other than the subject of the thread "Most Memorable Metal Moments - 2006". I have a few I can think of right off the bat.

#1) Discovering that Benedictum's singer was a woman: I found this gem thanks to carnut on the first Soulseek weekend. I heard it once and felt obligated to hear it again an hour later. During this second listen, I decided to hit the 'net and do some research on the band. Lo and Behold! That's a chick singing like Dio! I was so shocked at the revelation that I had to listen to the album for a THIRD time in that first day/night.

#2) My faith in Jon Oliva's songwriting talent is renewed (again): I knew I liked the new JOP from the first listen, but it wasn't until about the fifth time through that I began to realize how great this man is, and how great Maniacal Renderings was to become in my ears. I barely went a day without hearing this masterpiece for the first two months I had it.

#3) Finding a hidden gem in the seldom-used Western Metal genre in Dezperadoz: Once again, credit goes to carnut on the second Soulseek weekend. He was pimping a german band who had released a Western concept album based on the Shoot-out at the O.K. Corral (located one hour south of me in Tucson, Arizona). From the first listen I was enraptured and as everyone in the room that weekend knows, I went hell-bent, deterimined to find this disc for sale here in the U.S. Hawk found it for me and I ordered it immediately, including paying extra for 2-day shipping. I'm not sorry I spent the extra money as this album kicks my ass in the most special of ways.

#4) Cruising out of the mountains jamming to Synchestra: On one of my mountain sojourns this summer, I was partying with a friend of mine who also shares an appreciation for Devin Townsend. After 6 hours of great music and conversation (and a case of beer), we headed out of the mountains at dusk. Synchestra was our soundtrack for the ride home and we had a blast stretching the limits of my speakers. The memorable part was that we started the album as we left our picnic spot, and it ended just as we arrived in town. Perfect length, and perfect music for the time.

#5) Spreading the disease to a 13-year-old (it's not what you think, get your mind outta da gutter!): This summer I did a lot of camping with my best friend in Montana and his young son, Trevor. Trevor likes to ride with me up into the mountains because of my truck stereo and music selection (and more importantly, get away from his dad). This summer he latched onto Vanden Plas and Slayer and wouldn't let go. Everytime I'd ask him what he wanted to hear on the way to the camp spot, he'd inevitably respond with either VP or Slayer. I was so proud to spread the disease of quality heavy metal to a new generation.

And here's my top-10 list so far this year. I expect some minor shifts here and there, plus a couple albums may yet break through, like the new Tarot and Vicious Rumors.

Jon Oliva's Pain - Maniacal Renderings
Vanden Plas - Vanden Plas
Devin Townsend - Synchestra
Iron Maiden - Matter of Life and Death
Benedictum - Uncreation
Wolf - The Black Flame
Dezperadoz - Legend and the Truth
Rage - Speak of the Dead
Wuthering Heights - The Shadow Cabinet
Edguy - Rocket Ride

 

[poundingmetal74]

Best & worst new band discovered
Best = Edguy
Worst = Too numerous to mention.

Best & worst CD purchase:
Best = Dream Evil - United (excellent Comeback album)
Worst = Domain - The Artifact (not bad, but not that good either)

Biggest Dissapointment:
Skid Row - RPM.... Being the Skid Row fan I am this disc wasn't bad but it wasn't very good either.... Mediocre boys!

Best concert:
Queensryche - Mindcrime 1 and 2... My only concert but it was killer.
Final Stage - CD Release Show (obvious reasons)

Best movie of the year:
Borat

Music DVD:
Fates Warning - Live in Athens

Honorable mentions for CDs:
Edguy - Rocket Ride
Wolf - The Black Flame (Their best yet)
Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime II (good return to form)
Brainstorm - Liquid Monster (Awesome Power Metal)
Avian - The Depths of Time
Outworld - S/T
Z-Lot-Z - New Demos (Not an album but from the demos I've heard so far I can't wait!)
Warmachine - Beginning of the End (Canadian Power/Thrash)

Oh yeah, and, Final Stage - Flight of the Phoenix

 

[carnut]

Best band discovered

Best new bands dicovered would be 7th Wonder and Beyond Twilight.

Worst band discovered

'Journey into the 4th dimension'..worst instrumental CD ever !!

Best cd purchased

Benedictum - Uncreation

Worst cd purchased

not really purchased a bad one

Best concert of the year

Tight race in between Benedictum, Celtic Frost, Wolf, Heir Apparent & Riot

Worst concert of the year

Warhammer at KIT

Biggest Disappointment

New Voivod CD


Top 10 cd's 2006

No final order, but close to what it's gonna be...

Cloudscape - Krimson Skies
Benedictum - Uncreation
Beyond twilight - For the love...
7th wonder - Waiting in the Wings
Wolf - Black Flame
JOP - Maniacal Renderings
Outworld - Outworld
Beautiful Sin - The Unexpected
Celtic Frost - Monotheist
KRUX - II

Coolest "Metal" moment in 2006: meeting Jon Oliva ...

 

[Orfanos]

I can't give answers to all the questions, so:

Best band discovered

Antiquus from Canada, with their two amazing CDs, Ramayana (2005) and Eleutheria (2006, for me the best of the year so far).
But this year I discovered excellent bands from strange countries like Hungary (Ossian, Pokolgep, Kalapacs, Obstruction, Morpheus, Stress), Russia (the mighty Aria and also Master, Catharsis, Arida Vortex) and of course France (Malediction and the legends from the '80s Sortilege, Blaspheme, Killers etc.)

Worst band discovered

Hmm... Probably Arteria. It's the band of the Russian guitarist Sergey Terent'yev, former member of Aria. I didn't like their CD, sorry.

Best CD purchased

A lot. I will go with the two Antiquus CDs, the new Katagory V and Saturnus... Too many...

Worst CD purchased

The Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine

It's not right to say that this CD is bad. But it is not my cup of tea and I didn't know it.

Top 10 CD's 2006

Of course is early for the final list, but to this date will be:

1. Antiquus – Eleutheria
2. Saturnus – Veronica Decides to Die
3. Katagory V - The Rising Anger
4. Solitude Aeturnus - Alone
5. Tyr - Ragnarok
6. Queensryche - Operaton: Mindcrime II
7. Obsession - Carnival of Lies
8. Amorphis - Eclipse
9. Metal Church - A Light In the Dark
10. Riot - Army of One

 

[ElectricWiz]

Best band discovered

Sahg. Awesome, awesome debut from this Sabbathy (but also original) throwback.


Best cd purchased

Celtic Frost - Monotheist (digi-pack with extra artwork and bonus song)

Worst cd purchased

AFI - DECEMBERUNDERGROUND

Best concert of the year

An exact tie between to wildly different performers/bands, those being:
Celtic Frost (amazing comeback)...and
Paul Stanley (what a great, GREAT show he put on)

Worst concert of the year

I saw Tool and ISIS in an arena in Oakland. Tool was predictably great, but ISIS did NOT translate to the big setting. I like ISIS, have seen them before....but didn't enjoy them in the least. They played three new songs, but the sound was so mushy it might just as well have been some other band I've never heard of....big dissapointment.

Top 10 cd's 2006

1. Celtic Frost - Monotheist
Heavier, murkier, darker than everything else, best comeback album ever...
2. Vanden Plas - Christ O
This is interchangable with Monotheist for #1 really. Amazing record. Understated, melodic, pro.....goes on to my all time top ten list, and places me forever in debt to Bryant.
3. Enslaved - Ruun
Progressive, black, genius.
4. Tool - 10,000 Days
Are them metal? Prog-metal? Math rock? Who knows. Who cares. Great album.
5. Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death
After the dissapointing DOD, Maiden charges back with their best late era disc, and in fact one of their best ever. Hotly debated, but I fall onto the "This fucking rules...." side of the fence.
6. Lisa Gerrard - The Silver Tree
Amazing.
7. The Mars Volta - Amputechture
The best prog-rock band out there. This album, their third, proves they aren't likely to begin making mistakes anytime soon. Not for the faint of heart, nor the short of attention span.
8. Blind Guardian - A Twist in the Myth
The first that the Blind Guardian faithful felt disspointed in, and ironically the first I really love. Listened to this alot this year.....
9. Sahg - I
Great debut. Great riffs, hooks, lyrics, etc.
10. Jon Oliva's Pain - Maniacal Renderings
Bitchin'.

Honorable Mention:
Motorhead - Kiss of Death
Wolfmother - S/T (cool fuzz rock debut. Catchy, heavy, retro....)




Favorite DVDs:

Kissology (essential)
Motorhead - Stage Fright (Awesome set by the warhorses)
Rainbow - Live in Munich (RJD in top form)

Discovery of previously released album:
Having been a Mercyful Fate/King Diamond fan for years, have just now discovered the Puppet Master, and it's fucking fantastic. A great metal album.

Biggest dissapointment of the year:
Another small American Maiden tour....and on an album I really like...and they played the whole thing. Really sorry I didn't have a good chance to see them.

Cool metal....show:
Metalocalypse is freaking hilarious.

 

[Powermetal Rebel]

With a month left for quick editing - here's my preliminary list...
Since I've only re-discovered heavy metal about 2-1/2 years ago (after a 10-12 year lapse) many bands are still new to me.

Best artists discovered this year -
1. Rage
2. Sabaton
3. Seventh Avenue
4. Virgin Steele
5. Iron Savior
6. Black Destiny

Biggest disappointment -
Rhapsody Of Fire & Luca's new stuff. B-O-R-I-N-G
Since I never was a big Rhapsody fan I suppose it wasn't much of a disappointment, but it would have been nice to hear something redeeming from them.

Best comeback album -
Falconer - Northwind - After G vs. G I thought this band was done. 'Northwind' may just be my favorite Falconer album yet.

Best & Worst concert -
Only saw one show this year - Dragonforce, All That Remains & Horse, The Band. That about sums it up.

Best 2006 CD purchases....
1. Wuthering Heights - The Shadow Cabinet
2. Falconer - Northwind
3. Seventh Avenue - Between The Worlds
4. Rage - End Of All Days
5. Sabaton - Attero Dominatus
6. Sabaton - Primo Victoria
7. Abraxas - Tomorrow's World
8. Wyvern - No Defiance Of Fate
9. Virgin Steele - Hymns to Victory
10. This page left intentionally blank .

Best DVD :
Therion - Celebrations Of Becoming (4 DVD / 2 CD) Box Set.

Best new metal CD resource :
Sentinel Steel (Thanks to Wyvern)

Worst CD(s) purchased....
TBA

Looks like I've got about 30 days to fill in the blanks & make alterations.
PMR

And the award for coolest metal discovery.... UMOS & Last.FM

 

[Trans-Siberian Outcast]

Best DVD : Therion - Celebrations Of Becoming (4 DVD / 2 CD) Box Set.

Excellent DVD package! Two full HiQ concerts, tons of extras. I've been a huge Therion fan for five years now and this was my first taste of seeing them live. Awesome presentation...I always wondered how they would reproduce the studio albums and the video confirmed they do have the backing musicians to pull it off in grand fashion.

On another note, I'm surprised to see Falconer listed among your faves, PMR. When you told me Benedictum was "too slow" I figured Falconer would automatically be DQ'd. I guess the folk element overrides you aversion to mid-tempo music, eh?

 

[Powermetal Rebel]

Excellent DVD package! Two full HiQ concerts, tons of extras. I've been a huge Therion fan for five years now and this was my first taste of seeing them live. Awesome presentation...I always wondered how they would reproduce the studio albums and the video confirmed they do have the backing musicians to pull it off in grand fashion.

That was one of my more enjoyable purchases this year & you've really summed up why.

On another note, I'm surprised to see Falconer listed among your faves, PMR. When you told me Benedictum was "too slow" I figured Falconer would automatically be DQ'd. I guess the folk element overrides you aversion to mid-tempo music, eh?

HA !!! Falconer was one of the first bands I became familiar with a couple years back & had to special order their CDs from a local shop (Before I started web shopping). I really liked the first two CDs but I grew tired of them really fast. I've yet to tire of 'Northwind' & it is actually having an opposite effect on me - it is an amazing album. To me, Benedictum is nothing special & I don't dislike them because thay are mid-tempo. I like a lot of mid-tempo stuff and maybe I will appreciate their music more at another time. A prime example of that is Salamandra's 'Twilight Of Legends' - When I bought that CD I hated it. Somehow it ended up being played in my car several months later and I completely changed my opinion. It's turned out to be one of the better & more original CDs in my collection. I don't impose stringent guidelines on what I like and I've got some very unusual tastes (just ask Wyvern).
PMR

 

[Trans-Siberian Outcast]

HA !!! Falconer was one of the first bands I became familiar with a couple years back & had to special order their CDs from a local shop (Before I started web shopping). I really liked the first two CDs but I grew tired of them really fast. I've yet to tire of 'Northwind' & it is actually having an opposite effect on me - it is an amazing album. To me, Benedictum is nothing special & I don't dislike them because thay are mid-tempo. I like a lot of mid-tempo stuff and maybe I will appreciate their music more at another time. A prime example of that is Salamandra's 'Twilight Of Legends' - When I bought that CD I hated it. Somehow it ended up being played in my car several months later and I completely changed my opinion. It's turned out to be one of the better & more original CDs in my collection. I don't impose stringent guidelines on what I like and I've got some very unusual tastes (just ask Wyvern).
PMR

I've got the utmost respect for Falconer, and they are one of my fave second-tier bands. But nothing Falconer has done even compares with Benedictum's debut. It's not just the heaviness or tempo, it's the amazing songwriting. I encourage you to explore it further.

It's not for no reason that Benedictum ranks in my top five of 2006. And it should be explored in all moods.

 

[Powermetal Rebel]

I've got the utmost respect for Falconer, and they are one of my fave second-tier bands. But nothing Falconer has done even compares with Benedictum's debut. It's not just the heaviness or tempo, it's the amazing songwriting. I encourage you to explore it further.

It's not for no reason that Benedictum ranks in my top five of 2006. And it should be explored in all moods.

Pardon my ignorance but what is a second-tier band? I've listened to the entire Benedictum CD this afternoon & though there are a couple cuts that mildly appeal to me ('Ashes To Ashes' & 'Two Steps To The Sun' - Plus the last couple minutes of 'Valkyrie Rising') the balance of the songs just bore me. While most of the songs have a heavy structure, I think me they lack the intensity the band seems to be striving for. I consider Falconer a far more original band who continue to develop their own sound and abilities. I just don't get that level of originality or commitment from Benedictum.
Just my thoughts...
PMR

 

[Trans-Siberian Outcast]

Pardon my ignorance but what is a second-tier band? I've listened to the entire Benedictum CD this afternoon & though there are a couple cuts that mildly appeal to me ('Ashes To Ashes' & 'Two Steps To The Sun' - Plus the last couple minutes of 'Valkyrie Rising') the balance of the songs just bore me. While most of the songs have a heavy structure, I think me they lack the intensity the band seems to be striving for. I consider Falconer a far more original band who continue to develop their own sound and abilities. I just don't get that level of originality or commitment from Benedictum.
Just my thoughts...
PMR

No ignorance on your part, my friend. "Second-tier" is a term of my own making. It's what I call bands who are good, but have yet to put out a truly GREAT album earning a gold pedastal in my Hallowed Hall of Fame. I've never ranked a Falconer album above 4 of 5 stars.

We must have two completely different views when it comes to the mid-tempo music. Because I hear the intensity every time I listen to Uncreation and it never fails to entertain me. Falconer, on the other hand, is completely devoid of intensity. They are such a laid back band, it is difficult to really call them power metal. I think they are more straight forward folk metal. Which is fine, I have no problem with that. I enjoy their music very much when I'm in the mood for something laid back. But it never really gets me excited the way Benedictum does.

Likely we'll just have to agree to disagree on this.

 

[poundingmetal74]

Just heard the new Burning Point CD.... Blew me away!

 

[JonnyD]

This has been a Turbulent year I will do my best to remember

Best band discovered
Freak Kitchen I think


Worst band discovered
Lamb of God ... not that I actually discovered them this year ... Just discovered that I have heard enough of them to never want to hear them again

Best cd purchased
Edguy - Rocket Ride

Worst cd purchased
Beyond Fear ... Love Ripper but this was kind of a let down

Best concert of the year
Progpower VII!!! ofcourse! it was also the only concert this year

Worst concert of the year
N/A

Top 10 cd's 2006
1.Manticora - The Black Circus Pt.1 ... its not everyday I get mentioned in the credits Plus it fucking rocks!
2.Edguy - Rocket Ride
3.Circle II Circle - The Burden of Truth
4.Jon Oliva's Pain - Maniacal Renderings
5.Metal Church - A Light in the Dark
6.Suffocation - Suffocation
7.Into Eternity - The Scattering of Ashes
8.Sonata Artica - For the Sake of Revenge

The last 2 spots are reserved as I havnt heard the new WH yet and dont own the new Vanden Plas yet

it has been interesting this year, I think I have grown very much as a person, I have had alot of pain but I have also experinced alot of happiness

 

[TRrEiTxIxRiE DTrash]

Best band discovered?
Brother Firetribe!!!! Guitarist from Nightwish's AOR side project!!

Best albums?
Brother Firetribe - False Metal
Wig Wam - Wigwamania
Paul Stanley - Live To Win

Best concerts?
Got to see more bands this year than any other year (we are deprived of tours in Australia), but I'd have to say my favourite was the Cathouse Anniversary in Hollywood - Faster Pussycat, Metal Skool, LA Guns (Tracii & Phil on stage together!), Jetboy, Rhino Bucket, Bang Tango, and an all star jam with STEPHEN PEARCY singing a few songs! That was the highlight for me!!! Best gig I saw in Australia would probably be Malmsteen or Queensryche...

Best metal highlight of the year for me?
Finally getting to America, staying in Hollywood and getting to see all those bands mentioned at the Cathouse gig, plus 2 Metal Skool shows, the other version of LA Guns, Pretty Boy Floyd, seeing Jani Lane get up to sing with Metal Skool, meeting heaps of my heroes there, making some awesome friends over there including the guys from Revlon Red & Toxic Twist who were super cool... and most of all actually getting to play live with Pretty Boy Floyd & LA Guns!! Dream come true... This has been my best year!!!! I only joined The Deadthings around this time last year, and it's been the best thing that's happened to me, couldn't wish for a cooler band to be in or 4 guys cooler guys to be in a band with!

 

[tsorl]

The really good 2006 releases I've heard so far:

Falconer - Northwind
Excellent comeback, this is really a flawless album.

Jon Oliva's Pain - Maniacal Renderings
Much better than 'Tage Mahal.

Leatherwolf - World Asylum
Biggest surprise this year, relentless songs with punchy production. Too bad Wade had to leave so soon...

Circle II Circle - Burden Of Truth
C2C's best yet, a major improvement over the boring Middle of Nowhere.

Iron Maiden - A Matter Of Life And Death
Everyone's got their own opinions about this one, I'll just say I enjoyed it very much.

Blind Guardian - A Twist In The Myth
Everyone seems to be disappointed in this one and I just don't see why. Much better than ANATO. And I liked ANATO.

Vicious Rumors - Warball
Not a completely balanced album, but most of it kicks ass. Immortal and Sonic Rebellion just might be my two favorite songs of the year.

Evergrey - Monday Morning Apocalypse
Again, all of their fans hated this and I'm on the opposite.


Disappointment of the year:
Mindcrime II would be an easy choice, but I never actually expected it to be any good so it was hardly a disappointment. I'll go with Rage - Speak of the Dead. It's not bad, but a major step down from Soundchaser and just one more mediocre Rage album.
The productionon Virgin Steele's new album deserves an honorary mention in this category, fine songs pussified to an almost non-listenable level.

Best live album:
Kamelot - One Cold Winter's Night. Can't go wrong with Kamelot... I still haven't seen Royal Hunt's new live dvd though.

Best live show:
King Diamond. Never was a big fan but he was really good live despite having problems with his voice, almost made me want to check out more of his studio material... almost...

Best new band discovered:
Royal Hunt. Hey, they're new to me!

 

[Hawk]

Unsticked!