#31 - Top of 2016

Welcome back to the Metal and Prog Tops blog, where today we will begin to unravel the music masterpieces of a whirlwind of a year that was 2016. Given that we will be including 31 albums in this list, no honourable mentions will be awarded; instead we dive straight through the list of the most amazing albums of 2016.

Thundershield -Thundershield (Independent)

The countdown starts with the debut album of Thundershield, a fresh power metal band from Dallas, Georgia who have made a great and promising start! Few info are available on the band other than their single which came out in 2014 (Crown of Blood) and the band's self-description as "The most ridiculous Traditional Power Metal"! But this is all you need to know! Thundershield consist of Mikel Hutchings (Vocals), Joshua Street (Drums), Austin Dix (Bass), and Sam Bryans and Chris Holter (Guitars). The album starts with the mighty "Specter of Light" which makes an amazing 8:55 minute intro and continues strongly with the epic "Red Mountain" and the awesomely catchy "Hammerhead"! There is no low point in the record with songs like the "DragonCycles (Dragons on Motorcycles)" which is a classic-heavy tune (with a unique title), the quick-paced "Draconia",  the melodic "Done Dirty", the infectious "Selfish Lover" and the heavier "The Doctor Is In" wrapping up with the epic"Thundershield" which gave  the album its title! This is an intriguing release that shows great potential and a true metal spirit that is truly rare to find these days!

92/100


Below is the audio for the self-titled song which epically closes out the album.