| Good Counts . com |
| TOP HEAVY METAL ALBUMS OF 2010 |
| The Wrath Of Vod 1 - ACCEPT-BLOOD OF THE NATIONS 2 - NEVERMORE-THE OBSIDIAN CONSPIRACY 3 - WITCHERY-WITCHKRIEG 4 - HATCHERY-FORCED TO FIGHT 5 - BLACK LABEL SOCIETY-ORDER OF THE BLACK 6 - FORBIDDEN-OMEGAWAVE 7 - BLIND GUARDIAN-AT THE EDGE OF TIME 8 - GRAVE DIGGER-=THE CLANS WILL RISE AGAIN 9 - FLOTSAM AND JETSAM-THE COLD 10 - HELSTAR-GLORY OF CHOAS 11 - KAMELOT-POETRY FOR THE POISONED 12 - DEATH ANGEL-RELENTLESS RETRIBUTION 13 - OZZY-SCREAM 14 - WOE OF TYRANTS-THRENODY 15 - CATAMENIA-CAVALCADE 16 - ABADDEN-SENTENCED TO DEATH 17 - CIRCLE II CIRCLE-CONSEQUENCE OF POWER 18 - SYMPHORCE-UNRESTRICTED 19 - MONSTER MAGNET-MASTERMIND |
| TigMan 1 - Accept - Blood Of The Nations " -is without a doubt the best album of 2010!" |
| Ronny Munroe 1 - ACCEPT - Blood Of The Nations 2 - IRON MAIDEN - Final Frontier Ronny has been busy with all the Metal music he is so involved in, yet these 2 Metal Classic bands have made their way into his ears this past year. |
| Powermaker listed in alphabetical order Accept - Blood of the Nations Angra - Aqua Armethis - Heroes Blind Guardian - At the Edge of Time Charred Walls of the Danmed - Charred Walls of the Danmed Constantine - Shredcore Crow's Claw - Over the Rainbow Delirion - Silent Symphony Demonica - Demonstrous Derdian - New Era Pt3 - The Apocolypse DGM - Synthesis Elevenking - Red Silent Tides Gamma Ray - To the Metal Ghost Machinery - Out for Blood Helloween - 7 Sinners Helstar - Glory of Chaos Innerwish - No Turning Back Iron Fate - Cast in Iron Jorn - Tribute to Dio Nevermore - The Obsidian Conspiracy Overkill - Ironbound Pretty Maids - Pandemonium The Sword - Warp Riders Symphorce - Unresticted Tristania - Rubicon Van Canto - Tribe of Force Vindex - Ultima Thule Winter Verge - Tales of Tragidy The last two are bands the released singles in 2010. Atrizan - Artizan (EP) Written in Blood - We Are Divinity This is my list of CD release that stood out this past year. There is no particular order minus alphabetically. I don't do Top # lists any longer due in part I can't listen to everything released this past year. It would be unfair to list one CD better than one I wasn't able to listen to. |
| Ok fellow metalheads, here we go. The definitive best of 201 from RAVENVCROSS 1) For the first time ever a 3 way tie for number one cd of the metal year: ACCEPT-BLOOD OF NATIONS/ GRAND MAGUS- HAMMER OF THE NORTH/ OVERKILL-IRONBOUND Three very diverse cds in content but all worthy of a number one slot. ACCEPT- Storming back from a few lacklustre releases the past few years ACCEPT blew everyone away with this one. No bad tracks here- all are on fire with an intensity heretofore unknown with this band, save for the early stuff with UDO. Sure to please anyone with an ear toward traditional metal this has to be heard to be believed. Get it, and just enjoy! GRAND MAGUS- Topping all their previous efforts (no small feat) GRAND MAGUS has shown the door to all pretenders to the doom throne. Melding incredible vocals with unparalled musicianship these dudes rock with no fillers in sight. Start to finish this is a masterpiece that just can't be ignored by those who like this stuff. OVERKILL- What can anyone say about this band? Innovators, reliable as hell, and still killing after 25 plus years! Traditional thrash with a modern touch here and there, they have never really wavered their approach to metal. I had the pleasure of seeing this band live a couple of years ago and they were incredible. So, if you get a chance catch them live do so at your own risk. They will kill you! 2) HEATHEN- EVOLUTION OF CHAOS- This one damn near made a 4 way tie for 1st place! But, how many bands can lay claim to that exalted number? A lot if you ask me, but thats a story for another time. After a 25 year absence from the metal wars this band has created a monster of a cd evoking all the good stuff on their seminal cds and and actually surpassing them. "Speed metal" has never sounded so good and like all great bands no filler at all. If old style "speed metal" has you enthralled then I suggest you get this forthwith!!!!!!! 3)- BLAZE BAYLEY- PROMISE AND TERROR- I remember listening to this for the first time at 6:30 AM and quaffing a few brews to it (yes, I can quaff at 6:30 AM if there's nothing on the agenda for that day) and then waking up a few hours later for more brews and this cd. I listened to it four times that day, a record for me as I don't like stuff to get stale. This cd did not get stale. A highly personal record of Blaze's struggles after his wife's untimely death it's more than amazing that a man can write like this in the throes of such a tragedy. I'd call this "power metal" with the emphasis on "power"and you will to after you hear it. HIGHLY recommended! 4) HELSTAR- GLORY OF CHAOS- Another band that has seemingly been around forever (I guess they have been around forever now that I think about it) they have churned out a barnstormer of a cd worthy of all their past efforts. One would think that after all these years with an incredible body of work behind them that they would run out of ideas but that is simply not the case. Like a fine wine they just get better and better with age. James Rivera actually sounds better today than he did in his formative years and so does the rest of the band. Many kudos to these veterans for producing yet another classic! 5) THE CROWN- DOOMSDAY KING- Ahh- another of my fave bands from the past who broke up a long time ago but get together every so often for a stab at re-creating "Deathrace King". Impossible to top that opus but this comes pretty close. Not much has changed in THE CROWN camp with the barked vocals and ace players so if THE CROWN is your thing then you need this cd. 6)- GRAVEDIGGER- THE CLANS WILL RISE- Another chapter in the "comeback" series by these German veterans (ok dudes, you ARE back) that is every bit as good, if not better, than their previous "comebacks". They pick a theme with each new cd and this time out it's Scottish lore. They immerse themselves in history and just blaze away with each and every track. More trad stuff for the howling masses! 7) IRON MAIDEN- THE FINAL FRONTIER- Hey, it's IRON fucking MAIDEN ok? 8) HAIL OF BULLETS- ON DIVINE WINDS- This came as a late surprise and what a surprise it was! Featuring Martin Van Drunen on vocals, a man who has graced just about every death metal band in Eastern Europe at one time or another but known mostly for his work with ASPHYX (some versions of this have NO vocals- lol- inside joke that only my metal bros from P-town will get) this sounds like a death metal MOTORHEAD. Very pleasing to the ear if u like this stuff so by all means enjoy! 9) JOHN OLIVA'S PAIN- FESTIVAL- As a lontime fan of Mr. Oliva, I grab everything I can by the man as he is just an amazing vocalist and writer. He has not failed on this new one and this might be his best yet. A ton of real rockers here, except for one ballad (an amazing piece in itself), and a cd sure to please fans of metal no matter what sub-genre) give this one a good listen and hear a true genius at the top of his game. Bravo JON! 10) CRYSTAL VIPER - LEGENDS- I'd be remiss as well as remorseful if I didnt include this latest offering from the mighty Poles CRYSTAL VIPER! While not quite as good as their previous two efforts it would be damn near impossible to dismiss this one. A little samey or even derivative of their previous work it nonetheless rocks like a bastard. Good job guys and girl!!!!!!!!! That's it my metal freinds- hope u enjoyed the journey as much as I did. |
| A reading from the Gospel Of Felix 1. Heathen- Evolution of Chaos-Simply put, this is a great thrash album with some progressiveness thrown in. The songs are instantly memorable, the guitar work has some damn meaty riffs & great guitar solos all over the place. 2. Accept- Blood of the Nations- THIS is an album for the fans...in due time will be recognized as one of the finest in Accept’s history. 3. Blaze Bayley - Promise & Terror-there is not a bad tune on this album, plenty of melodic guitars & this is lyrically awesome. Gutsy songs like 1633, City of Bones & God of Speed have instant listenability & the last 4 songs really finalize the album well- they are not as heavy & they don’t need to be due to their personal nature. Simply outstanding! 4. Overkill- Ironbound-Blitz & Co return with one of the best albums of their fabulous careers, an all out thrash guitar festival. Just hit replay each time. 5. Nevermore- The Obsidian Conspiracy- seems like the theory of “less is more” is the recipe here. The songs are shorter, the shredding a little less but still well placed & we have the usual engaging lyrics. 6. Painside- Dark World Burden- wow, this album is aggressive, well written, melodic HEAVY metal that just kicks ass at every turn. No slouchin’ here, the guitar playing is spot on & the vocals are fitting to each song. I was floored at the first listen & continue to be picking myself up from wherever this album has flung me to after each listen. 7. Wuthering Heights- Salt- get out your Viking caps & beer mugs cause this is one seaworthy music festival in the folky/power/proggressive vein. If you like great songs about the sea and the relationship between man & sea, you can’t go wrong with this one. The lyrical content is well thought out & the musicianship top notch. Has folk tinged flavorings to the power metal on display here. Really intelligent stuff here to match the music. 8. Helloween- 7 Sinners- Not being a big Helloween fan, I cannot compare this to the earlier albums. I can say this is heavier than Gambling w/ the Devil, with fewer melancholy moments (which I miss a little) & a little less melody overall. The songs really have a lot of explosive energy & some damned catchy chorus’ & in the end this just rocks. 9. Jon Oliva’s Pain- Festival- I happen to feel this is Jon’s strongest effort to date, just so well written & the music is styled wonderfully, masterfully played….. outstanding! 10. Black Label Society- Order of the Black- Zak hasn’ t been this fiery since The Blessed Hellride- his guitar playing is absolutely ferocious & the pace much quicker than usual on many songs. Opening with 3 ass cracking songs tells you exactly where this album is headed, it slays your ears wide open. Much better songwriting this time around, there is actual lyrical content, not just words in between the jam sessions- Ozzy we THANK YOU! 11. Grand Magus- Hammer of the North- this album picks up right where Iron Will left off, only JB’s lead guitar playing is up a few notches. The songwriting is the relatively the same, excellent all around for the most part but I sense a some recycled ideas here & there that dont ramp this up the ladder further. 12. Masterplan- Time to be King- Jorn returns and he really sounds excellent on this album. But it’s the keyboard & guitar interplay that really makes this one a true winner. Roland's guitar work here is excellent. Nice tempo shifts, great bass guitar & drum work, the band just seems to gel nicely here. This album is consistently good from beginning to end in the songwriting department. 13. Hail of Bullets- On Divine Winds- Death metal has never really been my music du jour, but there are always exceptions & this is one of them. The power of the album just washes over you! Understandable (somewhat) lyrics (yes Raven, there ARE vocals on this album, lol ) that are also amazingly well researched/ well written about the subject matter (Japanese invasion of/ war in Asia) with killer guitar work to match. Certainly my surprise album for 2010. 14. Circle 2 Circle- Consequence of Power- steady band that just writes great songs. Whispers in Vain, Consequence of Power, Remember & Episodes of Mania are some choice cuts. I noticed that Andy Lee really shines on this album as there's a few cuts that he just tears it up more than usual with some killer soloing. Highly recommended ! 15. Enslaved- Axioma Ethica Odini- a little more blackened metal, a little less Floyd-ian influenced this time around. Much heavier rocking songs than on Vertebrae. 16. Forbidden- Omega Wave- much like Heathen, this band has converted me ! This band embraces progressive elements on occasion & that makes for a more interesting listen. They catch fire & thrash it up nicely on choice cuts like Forsaken at the Gates, Omega Wave, & Hopenosis. 17. Witchery- Witchkreig- Fear not metalheads, they've put their foots on the gas pedal again. The level of aggression is on high here & it is a great evil sounding album. Diggin the guitar work here- riffs galore, plenty of killer solos as well as some nice guest appearances. Even though I prefer Toxine, the new singer is a great fit. 18. Helstar- Glory of Chaos- well this was a late year entrant & after ramming several listens into my head at the last minute, I must place James Rivera & Co on the final listing. Far heavier & much less melodic than King of Hell, this is well constructed with excellent riffage. 19. Holy Grail- Crisis in Utopia- always gotta have at least one "FUN" album on the list & this is it, the 80's throwback album. Very upbeat, it is not a rehash album but one that just plays homage to the old sound with excellent guitar work. The bass playing is really well heard here also, the "cheese factor" kept only at a mild cheddar at worst. 20. Myrath- Desert Call - the boys from Tunisia hit us again with a really well done recording & not a sophmore slump. Some songs are quite heavier than the debut & a few have much more keyboard focused melodies, in the end its pretty close to the first one. Honorable Mentions (not in any particular order) Y&T- Face Melter Pretty Maids- Pandemonium Crystal Viper- Legions Melechesh- The Epigenesis Allegaeon- Fragments of Form & Function The Absence- Enemy Unbound Death Angel- Relentless Retribution Arsis- Starve for the Devil Vanden Plas - The Seraphic Clockwork BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR -the crown goes to one of my favorite bands: Iron Maiden- The Final Frontier- Too long winded, too proggy & the honest to goodness “metalness factor” is missing here. There ya have it metalheads, it's been an awesome year of metal, one of the best I've ever seen. FelixtheMetalcat |
| ProgJohnson top 10 10 ANTHRIEL - the pathway 9. MANTICORA -safe 8. LABYRINTH -return to heaven denied part 2 7. BLIND GUARDIAN- at the edge of time 6. MASTERPLAN -time to be king 5. ORDEN OGEN -easton hope 4. HEATHEN- evolution of chaos 3. WUTHERING HEIGHTS- salt 2. VANDEN PLAS- the seraphic clockwork 1. ORPHANED LAND - the neverending way of our warrior. |
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