#40 - Top of 2017

Samael - Hegemony  (Napalm Records)


Samael are giants in their own right, with very influential black metal albums in the beginning of their career, transitioning into an atmospheric/industrial/gothic vibe later on, and producing one of the best albums of that genre, "Passage". Many years have passed since then, with the band dabbling in many different genres, but keeping their essence true, while lyrically expanding into societal issues, from a socialist perspective. Their new album, Hegemony, swings the pendulum back into a more "heavy" sound compared with its 6 year old predecessor, and pays tribute to "Passage" by being by far the album more reminiscent of that sound since then. But that does not mean that the band compromises or simply imitate itself; rather it can be seen as an introspective step backwards to move forward for Samael. Best tracks out of the album include the almost operatic "Red Planet" and bass-heavy "This World", as well as "hit" song "Black Supremacy", which generated some controversy when released.  Overall, a solid listen from a band that here, did not re-invent the wheel, but rather went back to its roots, to reclaim all elements defining it.

91/100


Below is the music video for "Black Supremacy".

#41 - Top of 2017

Vulture Industries - Stranger Times (Season of Mist)

The top albums of 2017 open with yet another excellent album from the Norwegian avant-garde scene. Here, in their 4th album, Vulture Industries evolve from their previous endeavour (2013's The Tower), which while also superb, bore many similarities to Arcturus. Here, the band makes their sound even more distinct from the rest of the scene, borrowing influences from other great bands of the genre (like D.S.O. and Ghost) and producing an end result that establishes the band as one of the most important of the avant-garde scene this decade.
This time the Vultures experiment, moving away from the style of the previous albums and reducing their speed,  focusing on the theatricality of the tracks. In Stranger Times, the Norwegians create nine compositions with quite a variety,  passing through doom trails, escaping from the "typical" avant-garde metal framework. Good examples of this direction of the album include "As The World Burns", "Strangers" and "Something Vile".  The former ("As The World Burns") is a rock opera where Bjørnar's vocals dominate throughout, leaving  you with a heavy metal aftertaste. "Strangers"incorporates a trumpet track, which provides a perfect showcase of the band's evolution.
 Finally, "Something Vile" with its doomy riff and surrealist video brings to mind the late Woods Of Ypres and creates a dark an uneasy atmosphere. Recommended release for all fans of the scene.


90/100

Below are the music videos for "Strangers" and "Something Vile".

Top 41 Albums of 2017

The blog returns with a vengeance as we will soon start to be counting down the top 41 metal and prog releases of 2017.

Stay tuned for more top albums to come in the future!

#1 - Top of 2016

The Neal Morse Band - The Similitude of a Dream (Inside Out)

In the (belated) top spot for 2016, we are proud to present the second full length release from the Neal Morse Band! This is a structured concept album and is clearly a more collaborative effort than the first NMB album and with a greater sense of purpose. 
In terms of lyrics, the concept of the album was inspired by the1678 Christian allegory written by John Bunyan. For the puposes of the album, it recounts a dream-like tale, recounting the story of a man named Christian who after a life of spiritually unfulfilling anguish is told to leave the evil City Of Destruction and make a pilgrimage to the Celestial City, where he can find peace and, ultimately, salvation. The album is split in two parts with ifferent narrative tone and the music shifts along with it from the dark industrial paths of the City of Destruction to the salvation that is the Celestial City.
Beginning with a melancholic string part, the opener "Long Day - Overature" transforms in an inspired jazz-fusion riff that gives way to a Yes solo sequence that then jumps into a labyrinth of keyboard sounds and hard rock riffing. "The Dream" is very Floydian with intense retro-prog flashbacks to the seminal "The Wall" as the song progresses. "City Of Destruction" is a 70s hard rock track, while there are hints (more discreet or more obvious to other prog legends throughout the album: The Beatles ("The Ways Of A Fool"), Peter Gabriel ("Slave To Your Mind"), Led Zeppelin ("The Man In The Iron Cage") and The Who ("I'm Running"). Also throughout the album you can hear influences from other musical genres that have worked their way into the album: Country ("Freedom Song"), piano ("The Mask") and prog metal ("Confrontation."). The instrumental masterpiece"The Battle" that acts as a closer is a prog orgasmatron with musicality and technicality meeting halfway to produce the bastard child that every prog musician would be proud to have.
The album is a veritable prog rock experience that is by leaps and bounds the best release of 2016, marrying the old with the new with a perfect blend of retro and progression. It does not get any better!

98/100

Below are the music videos for "City of Destruction", "The Man in the Iron Cage" and "So Far Gone".

 

#2- Top of 2016

Grand Magus- Sword Songs (Nuclear Blast Records)

Grand Magus are back with yet another explosive album, Sword Songs (their 8th!) which succeeds in packing all those epic and heavy elements characteristic of the Swedish metallers! "Freja's Choice" is an awesome intro song  showcasing JB's powerful vocals and amazing guitars riffs which are of course combined with Fox's bass and Ludwig's drums to create a mix that becomes better every time you hear it! "Varangian" has one of the most catchy and heavy introductory riffs ever made by Grand Magus while "Forged in Iron - Crowned in Steel" and "Born for Battle (Black Dog of Brocéliande)" are songs that are made for sing-alongs in lives that make you wish you were a Viking heading for Odin's hall! "Master of the Land" is equally heavy with a twist midway guitar solo though JB's vocals manage to steal the show! "Last One to Fall" is another instantly classic song with an epic chorus, followed by heavy-riffed "Frost and Fire" that will get you pumped with catchy tunes and lyrics! The instrumental "Hugr" is a nice twist that Grand Magus like to add to their albums to give you a break from headbanging! Last but not least "Every Day There's a Battle to Fight" with each amazing guitar solo and chorus could easily be the motto of the band and makes the perfect ending to this heavy-loaded album!
The limited edition adds two more songs (!), the aggressively epic "In for the Kill" and a surprise cover of Deep Purple's "Stormbringer" which is made heavier (while keeping the keyboard element) to perfectly fit JB's clear and heavy vocals! 


97/100

Below is the official  video for the song "Freja's Choice" and the lyric video for the song "Varangian".

#3 - Top of 2016

Eternal Champion- The Armor Of Ire (No Remorse Records)

Eternal Champion blast their way to number 3 with their debut album, "The Armor Of Ire" which is an amazing journey to epic heavy metal inspired by none other than Michael Moorcock's stories about the quests of the Eternal Champion! "I Am the Hammer" sets the mood in a blaze of heavy footsteps, a brooding riff and clear strong vocals by Jason Tarpey, along with Manowar/ Grand Magus vibes that are made for headbanging! "The Armor of Ire" is another instant heavy classic with awesome guitar riffs and interludes that is logically followed by "The Last King of Pictdom" with its even more infectious Maiden-like riffs and blasting drums by Arthur Rizk! The instrumental "Blood Ice" is a refreshing break before the next blast under the title " The Cold Sword" that is everything you want to hear from an epic heavy metal song! The equally epic "Invoker" and "Sing a Last Song of Valdese"merit the listener with exciting lyrical themes and powerful anthems! The final instrumental "Shade Gate" showcases great guitar lines by the band's three (!) guitarists Carlos Llanas, Blake "Rossover" Ibanez and Nujon Powers! The length of the record doesn't takes away from the epicness, leaving you wanting to hear the next chapter from the Eternal Champion's struggle for Cosmic Balance!

seriously and unapologetically smuggles a doomed quote from Skeletor into the mix:
"Madness! I demand of destitution, shame, and loneliness of scorn. It is my destiny! It is my right! Nothing will deter me from it…"
- See more at: http://yourlastrites.com/reviews/9044/eternal-champion-the-armor-of-ire#sthash.pqt08IO2.dpuf

seriously and unapologetically smuggles a doomed quote from Skeletor into the mix:
"Madness! I demand of destitution, shame, and loneliness of scorn. It is my destiny! It is my right! Nothing will deter me from it…"
- See more at: http://yourlastrites.com/reviews/9044/eternal-champion-the-armor-of-ire#sthash.pqt08IO2.dpuf

seriously and unapologetically smuggles a doomed quote from Skeletor into the mix:
"Madness! I demand of destitution, shame, and loneliness of scorn. It is my destiny! It is my right! Nothing will deter me from it…"
- See more at: http://yourlastrites.com/reviews/9044/eternal-champion-the-armor-of-ire#sthash.pqt08IO2.dpuf

97/100

Below is the lyric video for the song "I Am The Hammer".

#4- Top of 2016

Spiritual Beggars- Sunrise to Sundown (InsideOut Records)

"Sunrise to Sundown" is the 9th album of hard rock band from Sweden, Spiritual Beggars which despite having changed a couple (or three!) lead singers, seems to have found yet another perfect match with the current lead vocalist Apollo Papathanasio (since 2010). The record sets the feel-good mood with the titular song "Sunrise to Sundown" and maintains this road-trip/rock jukebox vibe throughout in all of the songs! The groovy "What Doesn't Kill You", the catchy "Hard Road" and the aggressive "Still Hunter" are filled with great heavy guitar tunes and interludes, while a change can be heard with the rocker "No Man's Land" which stands out for its unexpected middle-song piano section! The second half of the record adds different elements to the mix with songs like the stoner-oriented "Dark Light Child " and the more melancholic "Lonely Freedom"! "Southern Star" with its Deep-Purple inspired themes acts as an ideal closer to a highly energised retro hard rock album that unveils the many styles and aspects of the characteristic "Spiritual Beggars" music style! A great listen if you are looking for record chock full of hard rock vibes, heavy/ clear vocals and amazing 70s nostalgic riffs!

97/100

Below is the official video for the song "Dark Light Child".

#5 - Top of 2016

Ironwood - Well and Tree (Independent)

In number 5 of the top 2016 albums, we have the third full length from a very intriguing less known progressive outfit, Ironwood. Ironwood play a breed of prog rock with heavy metal, folk and black metal elements mixed throughout, resulting in a thoroughly enjoyable, innovative and thought provoking album, truly worthy of a place among the top 5 of last year. The album kicks off with "Song of Mimir" that starts with a whisper of wind and develops to a progressive metal orgasm with a truly inspirational riff, which  stands out as a testament to the abilities of these guys. The second song "Solace in Memory" starts with a mix of Fates Warning and blastbeats (!) and evolves in a beautiful progressive heavy metal folk piece with influences ranging from the aforementioned prog giants to the folk heaviness of bands like Primordial. Especially noteworthy is the acoustic passages that tie the composition together and fuse these elements in a true epic of modern heavy music. The third song "Sanctuary" is very mellow, offsetting the blasting first two compositions and starting with an acoustic passage mixed with forest sounds with mellow choral vocals coming in around the 3 minute mark. "Flowing Through" acts as a natural continuation of Sanctuary with music veering towards a more folk-oriented sound (bordering on epicness) coupled with, again, amazing guitar work, and closing out with dynamic blastbeats which complement the composition and lead into "The Glorious Tree", a song starting out with vocals within the Avant-Garde Black Metal genre with a falsetto leading into a blastbeat attack and a guitar based extravaganza. This is a very experimental composition with a host of different music themes changing throughout and aggressiveness alternating  with serenity and quiet mysticism. The final song "Origin" starts slowly with a catchy acoustic riff and as it evolves through its twists and turns, it provides "Well and Tree" with a balanced and emotional way to temporarily fade out, until next time...
If you can only listen to one thing from 2016, listen to this!




96/100

Below is the full album from Bandcamp. Listen to it and support the band!

#6 - Top of 2016

Freedom Call - Master of Light (SPV)

Freedom Call have been a known quantity for a while now in the power metal circuit. Always "quite good", but more often than not, not really "exceptional". The band here attempts and succeeds in subverting that stereotype by creating one of the best (and more optimistic) power metal albums of 2016, Master of Light. From the get go to the end of this album, you can feel the positive energy of the band oozing through the tracks. There is no unifying concept to the album, except for an undying love for positive power metal music and what it truly represents. Despite that, the album is by no means an anachronism. It is an effort truly representative of the band's state of being in 2016 and a contemporary unification of power metal with more "modern" metal elements which are not oppressive throughout the album but instead are carefully dispersed here and there, serving as subtle reminders of freshness. There is not much more to delve into here, as all the tracks are (more or less) in the same hyper-energetic and super-positive vein, but this should not dissuade the listener. Freedom Call prove here that they have matured in a very positive manner and have evolved their music while maintaining a romantic approach to their sound. Awesome album and a great getaway point to the career of Freedom Call!


95/100

Below is the music video for "METAL IS FOR EVERYONE"

#7- Top of 2016

Iron Mask - Diabolica (AFM Records)

Iron Mask's "Diabolica" is an excellent example of how to make a great and entertaining power metal album, using the right amount of epic and outrageous themes! Right from the first song "I Don't Forget, I Don't Forgive" you know this is gonna be a great listen full of catchy power metal riffs, clear vocals (by lead vocalist Diego Valdez) and powerful choruses! The neoclassical "Doctor Faust" is an example of a longer song that doesn't overdo it due to its amazing orchestration and theatrical elements that can also be seen in "Diabolica". There also contrasts in terms of tone with  "Oliver Twist" showing an energetic and feel-good vibe while "The Rebellion of Lucifer" moves towards a darker tone. "All for Metal" is a guilty pleasure made for sing alongs and "Ararat" adds different elements and tunes while "The First and the Last"'s chorus competes with "Galileo" for the album's catchiest tune (of course both are bound to stick to the listener for a while)! This symphonic pandemonium is perfectly wrapped up by the "Cursed in the Devil's Mill" (in all its 13:45 glory) which serves as an fitting epic closure to this power metal journey!



96/100

Below is the official music video for the song "I Don't Forget, I Don't Forgive".

#8 - Top of 2016

Wolf Clan - Pagan Preachers (Independent )

Going into number eight, we have a truly obscure one! Wolf Clan are a very young and fresh band, founded in 2014 and releasing this (their first EP) in 2016. Drawing inspiration from mythological themes, while at the same time blending female-fronted modern metal with old school hard rock of the 70s, this band offers a refreshing new addition to the (already blooming) female-fronted metal/hard rock scene with a personal touch that is very promising for their future releases.
The EP kicks off with "Witch Hunt", a heavy metal track with a strong old school vibe that mixes in modern vocal approaches for a very satisfying and groovy final result. The second track, "Muses of the Underworld", is more catchy with a very melodic chorus, heavily influenced by Iced Earth. The third  track "Dear Lizzy", is more on the slow side and here the singer Elena "Mirabelle" Erokhina shows off a different aspect of her vocal range. The album continues with "Sins of our Fathers", with a more Sabbath-like riff and a very dynamic choral part that integrates flawlessly with the rest o the composition. The EP concludes with "Send me to the Sea" , a song where the folk influences of the band are unveiled with the song serving perfectly as a melancholic send-off. If the band continues on their own unique style, as they have here, I only see good things in their future!


95/100

Below is the audio for "Dear Lizzy".

#9 - Top of 2016

Mountain Witch - Burning Village (This Charming Man Records)

Moving up the top 10, is an interesting stoner/ hard rock metal band from Germany, Mountain Witch, who released their third full-length album, "Burning Village". Despite its short length (just over 39 minutes), the record is packed with doom groove and hard rock vibes! The trio, René Roggmann in drums/vocals, Tobert Knopp in bass and René Sitte in guitars/vocals, manage create a heavy atmosphere starting with the "The Dead Won't Sleep" which sets the mood leading to the heavy but groovy riffs of "Stone Age Funeral"! "The Cold Hands of Fate" picks up the pace without losing the doom elements that are distinctively more dominant in the "At the Mountains of Madness"! "Haunted by War" with its infectious chorus and tunes, and the "Burning Village" with its clear/ powerful vocals and epic riffs is are the highlights of the second half of the album which wraps up perfectly with the galloping quick-paced "Forbidden Forest" and the melodic 70s hard rock - oriented "Isle of Bones". A very interesting hard rock/doom entry for 2016!


93/100

Below is  the link for the stream of the full album! Have a listen, these guys are worth it. You can also support them in their Bandcamp page.

#10 - Top of 2016

Van Canto- Voices of Fire (earMUSIC)

No introduction is needed for the unique a Capella metal band, Van Canto, who continue differentiating from the initial path of covering songs to making their own music with the power of their voices (and a drummer)! The captivating narration by the amazing actor John Rhys-Davies that starts/ closes the record and binds the songs together (best known as Gimli) adds to the epicness of the album.
The band moves from quick-paced epic songs like the blasting "Battleday's Dawn", the chorus-based "Dragonwake" (which starts off low key before turning into a blasting song) and the intriguing "Time and Time Again" (with its more groovy vibe)! However, it doesn't end there, as there are more highlights of the album in the second part with the multi-layered "The Oracle", the powerful "The Betrayal", the catchy "The Bardcall" and the amazingly structured "To Catharsis" showcasing perfectly what Van Canto are amazing at doing, making the listener want to sing along both the lyrics as well as the backing vocals! Rakkatakka!



95/100

Below is the official music video for "The Bardcall".

#11 - Top of 2016

Psychedelic Witchcraft - The Vision (Soulseller Records)

Psychedelic Witchcraft is an Italian band which perfectly balances doom, blues and (of course) psychedelic rock elements with their debut album! "The Vision" is an impressive debut album showing the band's unique sound and attitude. It sets the mood with the amazing guitar riffs of "A Creature" before moving to the bluesy and catchy "Witches Arise"! Throughout the record the captivating vocals by Virginia Monti, the diverse guitar riffs by Jacopo Fallai and the powerful drums by Mirko Buia, elevate the songs, adding their touch to the classic 70's psych blues vibes! There are a number of elements dominating each song, with examples like the energetic "Demon Liar", the psychedelic "Wicked Ways", the darker "The Night" and lighter ballad-like "The Only One That". The hard-rocking "War" and the genuinely catchy "Different" wrap up the album which ends with the "Magic Hour Blues", a solid ending to a great album full of psychedelic sounds and occult themes. An amazing first step to a a journey into the occult psych rock path!


95/100

Below is the lyric video for the song "Magic Hour Blues".

#12 - Top of 2016

Kai Hansen & Friends - XXX-Three Decades In Metal (earMUSIC)

Kai Hansen has been in the epicentre of power metal music for almost three decades now; whether from the position of Helloween's Guitarist, Gamma Ray's Singer-Guitarist or supporting other bands in their first steps. This album serves as a retrospective for Hansen, with a narrative following his long career and the hurdles he had to overcome in his way to becoming who he is today. Along the way, a number of his friends and collaborators over the years also pitch in to give this album a celebratory tone worthy of Kai Hansen's long career. Piet Sielk (Iron Saviour),Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear, ex-Gamma Ray), Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Tobias Sammet (Edguy), Michael Kiske (Place Vandome - ex-Helloween), Roland Grapow (Masterplan, ex-Helloween), Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian), Marcus Bischoff (Heaven Shall Burn) and Michael Weikath (Helloween) are only some of the names guest starring in this ambitious project, all paying their tribute to their mentor or comrade. A fantastic power metal experience worth having a listen for all fans of Kai's long career. Here's to the next 30!


94/100

 Below is the music video for "Born Free"

#13 - Top of 2016

Devin Townsend Project - Transcendence (Inside Out)

In the lucky number 13 for 2016, we have the latest endeavour from Devin Townsend Project. After a short break from new material in 2015, Devin is back and, as always, delivering the goods.
The album starts with the chorus-heavy "Truth" (a rendition from the Infinity album) with Anneke van Giersbergen (DTP's usual partner in crime) singing first with Devin's vocals joining in later as the song finishes abruptly, reverting to soft whispers, leading directly to "Stormbending". This is a very "typical" DTP song with Devin's soft vocals taking central stage, before a guitar-driven part of the song which directly leads back to Devin's singing concluding with the chorus joining in, creating a very spiritual ending to the song with the chorus and Devin singing together. "Failure" is a more heavy song - starting with the bass and the drums and leading to an amazing riff. The choral part of this song is superb and is definitely one of the "hits" of the album. An instant classic composition! "Secret Sciences" is a more prog-oriented pieces with with keyboards having a strong influence on the melodic lines and off-tempo riffs contributing to a very metal piece with a beautiful solo at the 4 minute mark. The rest of the album flows beautifully with "Stars" and "From the Heart" being highlights of the second  half. The closer "Transdermal Celebration" is a cover, but despite that, it matches the mood of the album and constitutes a very good closing statement to another engaging record by Devin and co.

94/ 100


Below is the music video for "Stormbending".

#14 - Top of 2016

Sellsword- ... And Now We Ride (Independent)

In number 14,  we are introduced to Sellsword, an epic heavy metal band coming from "the barren plains" of Yorkshire. They  released their debut album "... And Now We Ride" in 2016 independently, and it is truly one of the best albums of epic metal music to come out of the UK for ages! After the mood is set with the intro "...and Now We Ride", "The Warrior" gives the listener the first taste of epicness, while the "Battleground" gives a heavier note! The mix of epic and heavy elements is successful thanks to the lead vocalist's powerful voice (Stuart Perry), the melodic riffs (by Henry Mahy and Jacek J. Mazur) and heavy drums (Alex Brandsen)! The epic element is present throughout the album  with a number of highlights including the amazing "Rise and Take Command", the "Against the Wind" (with its awesome sing-along chorus!), the riff-based "Ashen Hand" and "The Siege"! The record concludes perfectly with the interesting and more theatrical "Meet Your Maker" in all its over-10-minutes glory! In its mission to conquer the world, this Mercenary metal band is bound to capture the interest of all power metal fans with their debut album! Hopefully this is only the first quest of this band of Barbarians!

93/100

Below is the lyric video for the song "Against The Wind".

#15 - Top of 2016

Fury - Lost in Space (Broken Road Records)

Fury are a four-piece heavy metal band from Worcester UK, that in 2016 released their second album from a small local label. Despite their relative obscureness in the worldwide scene, they have been well-established in the local circuit for years and have been building on their good local reputation to branch out and play in more and more venues around the country. This album is their best effort yet and among the most genuine albums released in 2016. Hearing Fury you can tell that these guys are genuine and not another boring copycat label band playing the same things that used to sell last year. The album kicks off with the epic titular track with the warm inspiring vocals of Julian Jenkins and keeps you invested throughout its duration with songs that range from really heavy old-school tracks (like "Sons of War" & "Star Trippin'" ) to a really epic anthem ("A Tale of Silver") which acts as an epilogue to this inspiring heavy metal tale. A real gem worth a listen by all fans of real heavy metal.


93/100

Below is the audio for the title track.

#16 - Top of 2016

Marillion - F.E.A.R (earMUSIC)

Marillion return in 2016 with F.E.A.R. (Fuck Everyone And Run), their new album that through a very introverted and pessimistic tone is frighteningly reflective of the the times we live in. Marillion have been on a streak of excellent albums (as can be witnessed by the previous excellent "Sounds that can't be made") and this album is another gem that despite it's pessimistic cynicism, delivers high quality progressive rock music and is truly what is called "Food for Thought". Five-part opener "El Dorado" is very slow to reveal itself and initially comes across as disjointed fragments and only after hearing it multiple times does it start sounding cohesively as part of a whole. Lyrically the album recounts the plight of immigrants, and the roadblocks they face, with a very bitter and cynical edge to it.
`Living in Fear' is a more compact song, pondering about fear and how it creates barriers between people, dividing us. The lyrics are again very pessimistic with the highlight being "There's a price to pay, living in fear is so very dear". "The Leavers" is much more optimistic to its predecessors, packing a great real warmth. The band juxtaposes itself as 'leavers' versus the 'remainers', who lead a normal life, and cannot understand the way of life of the band until a moment, when in concerts, the band and its audience share their experiences and transcend their positions becoming a whole.
`White Paper' is an emotional ballad, with the band sounding personal and relating how personal relationships can be affected in the age of Fear. The album culminates with "The New Kings". This is a truly heavy and venomous piece with anger directed at the current status quo and how everything seems to be dictated by Big Money and concludes with the almost fatalistic  ""Remember a time when you thought that you mattered/Believed in the school song, die for your country/A country that cared for you -- all in it together?/A national anthem you could sing without feeling used or ashamed./If it ever was more than a lie, or some naïve romantic notion/Well, it's all shattered now./Why is nothing ever true?.../On your knees, peasant. You're living for the New King."
The album concludes with "Tommorow's New Country", that tries to aleviate the blow from the new Kings and close the album on a more positive note than the bleakness promised in "The New Kings".
The album is very political and for this it may not appeal to some who want their music to be separate to their political views, but for everyone else that lives in the real world, F.E.A.R. is a thought-provoking piece of progressive rock music that will live on as a testament of the times will live in.

93/100

Below is the audio for "The New Kings" track.

#17 - Top of 2016

Twilight Force - Heroes of Mighty Magic (Nuclear Blast)

"Heroes of Mighty Magic" is the second full-length album by the Swedish power-adventure metallers, Twilight Force and it offers everything that the fans of this genre might want from an album including: exciting keyboard-driven anthems (by Blackwald), clean high-pitched vocals (by frontman Chrileon), catchy&fast guitar solos (by Aerendir and Lynd), excellent musicianship with symphonic-neoclassical elements and the perfect amount of cheesiness, which ranges from the pompous titles of the songs (such as the intro song "Battle of Arcane Might" and "Flight of the Sapphire Dragon") to the pure fantasy-loaded cover of the record which seem like they were inspired by Dungeons & Dragons!
To top this up, the record also includes some impressive guest singers such as Joakim Brodén of Sabaton (in the title-song "Heroes of Mighty Magic") and Rhapsody Of Fire’s Fabio Lione (in "There and Back Again" which is one of the highlights of the album with all its 10-minute might)! Although some listeners might find the album over-the-top, it is an amazing example of true power metal that can make everyone excited and ready to join in an epic adventure!



93/100

Below is the music video for the song "Flight of the Sapphire Dragon".

#18 - Top of 2016

Headspace - All that you fear is gone (Inside Out)

Headspace is a band formed as a collaboration of Adam Wakeman (son of legendary Yes keyboardist, Rick Wakeman) and Damian Wilson (Threshold). Lee Pomeroy (ex-Archive) is on the bass while Pete Rinaldi (ex-Hot Leg) is on the guitars and Adam Falkner in drums. This is the band's second release with the very interesting "I am anonymous" being released back in 2012. Here, the band exceeds their debut, both in songwriting and album cohesiveness and produce an album of veritably contemporary progressive music, with elements from 90s progressive metal and 70s progressive rock mingling effortlessly. What truly separates this album from similar well crafted bands are the vocals of Wilson which truly put this over the top. Songs such as "Polluted Alcohol"(with a southern feel), "Your Life Will Change” or “Killing You With Kindness” are a very good indication of how the band has progressed in terms of songwriting and how they can produce very different songs that still sound as parts of the same whole due to the cohesiveness demonstrated throughout this release. However it is in big epic songs that Headspace truly shine. And this album has two such moments of progressive brilliance, the "The Science Within Us", a Yes-esque epic and "Secular Soul", the album closer. It is there that all elements found throughout the album converge, ideas intermingle and the album reaches its finale with a big emotional bang.

93/100


Below is the music video for "The Science Within Us"

#19 - Top of 2016

Opeth -Sorceress (Nuclear Blast)

In 2016, Opeth released the third album of the new phase of their career, with "Sorceress" following in the footsteps of "Heritage" and "Pale Communion", with a really progressive rock feeling, taking the band further away from its metal roots, while at the same time, paradoxically, bringing some metal elements back! This is a very interesting release in terms of the progress & ongoing transformation of the band, while at the same time their musicianship remains at very high levels! The album kicks off with the interlude "Persephone" which directly leads to the title track, an interesting prog piece with constant changes in pace. It is followed by the mystical and progressive, but equally Opeth-esque "The Wilde Flowers", and while "Will-O-Wisp" is more solemn and personal, "Chrysalis" breaks out in a progressive orgasm of riffs and a very 70s feel, while retaining a more contemporary edge. "Sorceress 2" is more of an acoustic interlude which reprises the themes of the title track flowing into "The Seventh Sojourn", a mostly instrumental track which features some of the most "Opeth" melodies in recent memory. "Strange Brew" starts off slow and quiet and slowly adds some guitar touches before going full prog and then returning to its silent solemnity, coming full circle. "A fleeting Glance" is another masterpiece of blending the quiet with the powerful - with a very emotional solo- as most songs contained here, while "Era", which closes out the album, is a very experiential piece with a very strong chorus part. 
A very good effort, which while not reaching their creative peak in the progressive rock/metal genre (which was probably "Heritage"), is still an incredible musical journey worth exploring by any fan of the progressive scene.


93/100

Below are the official lyric video for the title track and the music video for "Era".

#20 - Top of 2016

Magnum - Sacred Blood, "Divine" Lies (Steamhammer)

Prolific rockers Magnum returned this year with the 19th studio album in their long and successful career, and boy they are still awesome. This album is a continuation of a "second youth" for the band, seeing them release excellent albums in the last years such as Escape from the Shadow Garden. The record starts with the dynamic title-track "Sacred Blood, Divine Lies" which showcases melodic guitar riffs (by Tony Clarkin) and Bob Catley's clear vocals, before moving to the unique power ballad-feeling "Crazy Old Mothers" (with great piano strokes by Mark Stanway)! The is no lack of catchy tunes with examples like the groovy "Gypsy Queen", the drums-based rocker "Princess In Rags (The Cult)" and pounding "Quiet Rhapsody" with its superb guitar solo! The dramatic "Afraid of the Night" (one of the personal highlights of the record!) is another melodic song which mixes perfectly heavy riffs and imposing symphonic elements that is followed by the interesting "A Forgotten Conversation" which starts off with a subtle introduction before giving us some amazing choruses. The album wraps up with the epic storytelling "Twelve Men Wise And Just" (and its upbeat sing-along chorus) and the equally amazing "Don't Cry Baby"! The album is bound to stay in your playlist for a while and can be a great introduction to Magnum's long song-writing career!


93/100

Below is the music video for the song "Crazy Old Mothers".

#21 - Top of 2016

Avatar - Feathers and Flesh (eOne)

The top albums of 2016 continue with the latest release from Avatar, a very unique avant-garde project from Sweden. Avatar have slowly but steadily been building a very devoted fan-base and
creating their personal sound by combining Swedish Death Metal motifs with a "circus" framework, along with very catchy and quirky songs. This is their 6th full-length release and the band continues refining their sound, even more than their previous very successful release (2014's "Hail the Apocalypse"). "Feathers and flesh" kicks off with a short interlude ("Regret") which transforms into "House of Eternal Hunt", a true epic hymn, with lyrics exploring the experience of hunting. The next song "The Eagle has landed" is a much more pompous song, almost sung from within a circus tent, complete with a catchy chorus and over-the-top lyrics.  The album is unrelenting in mood shifts, as "New Land" demonstrates clear 70's prog rock elements with a solemn atmosphere, while its successor "Tooth, Beak and Claw" combines groovy lines with a deep aggression, and an over-the-top chorus. "For the Swarm" is a frantic piece of circus madness, followed by dark and claustrophobic "Fiddler's Farewell". “One More Hill” is a chaotic piece of progressive extreme music, "Black Water" is a downbeat southern tune, while “Night Never Ending” is very upbeat with the vocalist leading the joyous parade. "Pray the Sun Away" is another piece of chaos, at time reminiscent of Messugah and others of soft esoteric prog rock. “When the Snow Lies Red” swings between true epic moments and sick beats that are close to the spirit of early Slipknot. The album closes out with “Raven Wine” and “Sky Burial”. The former fluctuates between sudden attacks and jazz interludes, while the latter is more solemn and quiet as the album comes to a whispering end, in stark contrast to some of its louder moments.

A very interesting and multifaceted release, that needs multiple hearings in order to be fully appreciated, but can still be a fun listen at face value.


93/100 

Below are the music videos for the tracks "For the Swarm", "The Eagle has landed" and "Night Never Ending".

#22 - Top of 2016

Serenity - Codex Atlanticus (Napalm Records)

Moving up the top is a symphonic power prog band from Austria, Serenity, who released their 5th album Codex Atlanticus in 2016! The clear and powerful voice of lead singer, Georg Neuhauser blends perfectly with the metal vibes and the orchestrated elements that are present throughout the album. One of the highlights of the record is the imposing "Iniquity" with its theatrical feeling, amazing symphonic orchestration and captivating melodies as well as the melodic "Caught in a Myth" with its awesome choruses. But this is not all! The record has a range of interesting songs including the powerful "Fate of Light", the piano-based "The Perfect Woman" and the epic "Spirit in the Flesh". It is also enhanced by amazing female guest vocals by Amanda Sommerville and Tasha, that add a more elegant note to the songs with "Sail" being one of the best examples! Overall, Codex Atlanticus is a great show of excellent musical craftsmanship and lyrical themes from an intriguing symphonic power metal band that is definitely worth a listen! 

93/100

Below is the music video for the song "Follow Me".

#23 - Top of 2016

Marauder - Bullethead (Pitch Black Records)

The epic power metal band from Greece are back with their 6th full length album Bullethead and it lives up to the expectations! Equipped with a new vocalist, Nikos Antonoyiannakis (with his imposing and metal voice) but still loyal to playing heavy metal music their way, Marauder start with the heavy and epic battle cry of "Son of Thunder", an amazing intro song with a very Manowar feeling! The record is full of melodic riffs and amazing guitar solos that add to the epicness of the themes of the songs with examples like the rhythmic "Metal Warriors", the quick-paced "Spread Your Wings", "Dark Legion" (with its powerful chorus) and the guitar-based "The Fall". From start to end, the listeners are bound to have tunes and choruses stuck in their mind as the album is packed with infectious grooves and lyrics that are made for headbanging! Marauder manage to deliver all the elements that are expected from a heavy metal album, with a release that is destined to become an awesome sing-along in their live concerts!


92/100

Below is the lyric video for the song "Son of Thunder".

#24 - Top of 2016

Hammers of Misfortune - Dead Revolution (Metal Blade Records)

Hammers of Misfortune, after 5 long years of silence finally return to deliver et another progressive metal/rock masterpiece. with the "Dead Revolution", a much more heavy and dark record  than its predecessor. Classic metal elements are much more prevalent than the prog quality of the double "Fields / Church". Within the 46 minutes that this album lasts, it most closely approximates the sound of previous masterpieces "The Locust Years" and "The August Engine". The riffs,  are heavy but at the same time witty and playful, with no need to drag to distinguish themselves. Keyboards  give a distinct 70's sound and their interplay with the more dry guitar sounds creates a distinct sound rarely heard from any other band.
Despite the uniformity of vocal performances all across the record, if you compare the highly aggressive "Flying Alone" with the folk/doom/epic "Days Of '49", the range and technique are obvious. The best songs of the record are as follows: First, the uplifting title track, in which  the brilliant guitars rage along with the keys to a vocal soundscape/background. Second, the "Here Comes The Sky", a very different composition of this album, with a haunting piano, the excellent vocals of guitarist Leila Abdul-Rauf, and trumpets. Hammers of Misfortune are no longer one of the bands that show us that there may be a future to the heavy metal sound, like ten years ago. They are  the kings of an in-between genre, whereas they might too soft for metallers or too heavy for progsters, but they are truly beloved by those few that have come to know them as the wonderful band that they are. 

92/100

Below is the promo video for the title track

#25 - Top of 2016

Anthrax - For all Kings (Megaforce Records)

Anthrax released in 2016 their second album since the return of Joey Belladona, and while 2011's "Worship Music" sounded at times all over the place due to the many changes in the band line-up during its recording, the new album sounds very focused and an excellent piece of craftsmanship, sounding almost as "the album that could have been", instead of "Sound of White Noise", if Belladona had never left. The album's quality is of a similar calibre to "Sound of White Noise" and combines the maturity of musicianship that Anthrax achieved during the Bush era, with the powerful vocals of Belladona, creating an extremely volatile and equally powerful mix.

The album kicks off with an atmospheric intro, straight into "You Gotta Believe" - a straightforward old-school groovy thrash song that serves as a warning - Anthrax are back! "Monster at the end" is on the more melodic end of the Anthrax, with a trademark sing-along chorus and very emotional vocals by Joey. The album continues with "For all Kings", a very fresh song from the band which combines their trademark sound with a very epic atmosphere and frantic riffing. "Breathing Lightning" brings the speed down and is by far the more radio-friendly track of the album with Metallica-sounding riffs and an alt-rock feel, straight out of the 90s. The next two track "Suzerain" and "Evil Twin" are more straightforward and aggressive, without loosing their catchiness. "Blood Eagle Wings" is where we slow down again, in a very alternative-sounding track, straight out of the Bush era, with the emotional strength that only Joey's voice can give. "Defend Avenge", one of the weakest moments of the album, still manages to impress with its groovy intro, even though the track falls a bit short of its initial promise. "All of them thieves" is a heavy as hell, live firestarter, "The Battle Chose Us" is typical Anthrax mosh pit material, while "Zero Tolerance" is a hell of an aggressive piece, which closes the album with the foot on the pedal, the same way the album started. A pleasant surprise from Anthrax, in an era where the other Big 4 have failed to produce anything of real substance, they are  able to record their best album in decades.

92/100

Below are the music videos from "Monster at the End" and "Blood Eagle Wings"

#26 - Top of 2016

Wings of Destiny - Kings of Terror (Power Prog Records)

Wings of Destiny is an interesting and fresh power metal from Costa Rica who released their 2second full length album in 2016, under the title "Kings of Terror. The album starts of with the heavy and quick-paced "We Bring You the Night" and is followed by the amazing "Angels & Demons" which is bound to stick to your mind for a long time! The band even provides an alternative version of the song at the end of the record which features an awesome cameo by Fabio Lione (best known as the lead singer of Rhapsody & Vision Divine) who brings an extra touch of epic element to the song! "Eye of the Storm" is another highlight with its melodic riffs while the theatrical "Siren's Song" is a showcase of the lead singer's (Anton Darusso) vocal abilities and guest vocals by Rebecca Malavassi! The melodic "Lie to Me", the captivating "Touch the Sky" (with its amazing intro of bagpipes!) and the acoustic "Eternity" (full of keyboards and violins) are also great examples of the band's ability to balance all the positive aspects of power metal while at the same time having a unique personal sound!  
Wings of Destiny are a great representative of the new era of the power metal genre, keeping true to the roots o the genre but adding their own personal elements to the music. This is an album full of great lead vocals, catchy choruses and epic/heavy guitar riffs (by Cristian Jiménez and Allan "Kalay" Murillo) that will make you look forward to hearing more from the band!

92/100

Below the music video for the song "Eternity".

#27 - Top of 2016

Arrayan Path - Chronicles of Light (Pitch Black Records)

Arrayan Path (previously known as Arryan Path), have always been consistent in producing excellent albums of epic power metal. However, their latest attempt with "Chronicles of Light", might be their greatest album yet. With excellent riffs, powerful choruses and tight songwriting, this album exceeds the expectations of their previous very good album "Stigmata".  The album starts with the two superb tracks epic power tracks  "Solomon Seed" and "Gabriel is Rising". "The distorted looking glass" flirts with a more theatrical side of the band while "Ignore the pain" is an old school power ballad with a lot of emotion. "Scorpio" is a cover of a cheesy 90s pop rock anthem, while the title song brings the album back into a more epic path. This is echoed in "Lex Talonis" a 7 minute track of Epic awesomeness, which is the most representative track as to where the band finds itself right now. The album finishes with "December", an old-school heavy metal anthem with emotional undertones.
Recommended release for all fans of the heavy/power/epic sound!

92/100


Below is the music video for the track "Gabriel is rising".

#28 - Top of 2016

Stonerider - Hologram (Self-released)

Stonerider is an interesting band from Atlanta that oozes with a 70s blues rock vibe! Their new album,  "Hologram", opens up with amazingly catchy "Sleepwalking Awake" that gives you a taste of guitar riffs and smooth vocals by Matt Tanner, drums by Jason Krutzky, magic keys by Noah Pine and solid bass by John Pratt.
"Hologram"which gave its name to the album, is a dreamy song that travels the listener through a journey of rock riffs and great vocals, while the psychedelic "Dayrunner" is a great change of pace full of groovy guitars and keyboards. "War, Traffic, and Blind Faith" is a 70s throwback song with an awesome guitar interlude (a real treat in the middle of the song) that is followed by the funky and feel-good "Elevator Operator"! The instrumental "Your Chains" gives of a definitely Pink Floyd vibe (with its amazing intro, great keyboards/guitars and its length, reaching a bit over 11 minutes) that smoothly passes on to the equally groovy "Undertow" before wrapping up with the "The Great Divide" that perfectly captures the 70s nostalgic feeling.An excellent blues/retro prog rock album from a really promising up and coming band.



92/100

Below is the music video for the title-song "Hologram".

#29 - Top of 2016

Sixx:A.M. - Prayer for the Blessed Vol.2 (Eleven Seven Music) 

Nikki Sixx, who is known from Motley Crue, along with DJ Ashba and James Michael, are having a good year as they released two albums in 2016, starting with Prayers for the Damned and continuing with Prayers for the Blessed (which completes and surpasses the former)! The album kicks off with groovy and of course catchy "Barbarians(Prayers for the Blessed)" giving us a taste of the attitude of this record.  "We Will Not Go Quietly" remain on the same dynamic track while "Wolf At Your Door" has a rougher vibe along with a very catchy chorus theme! "Maybe It's Time" changes the tone only as a classic rock ballad with acoustic elements can, while "The Devil's Coming" is definitely made for sing alongs! "Catacombs" is an amazing guitar solo interlude that is followed by "That's Gonna Leave a Scar" which is bound to grab your attention and "Without You" an interesting cover of an all time classic. Wrapping up the album, "Suffocate" succeeds in the combination of grooviness and heaviness, "Riot In My Head" adds a dramatic and theatrical note and finally "Helicopters" is an interesting mix of guitar and tambourine tunes!

Even if you are not a fan of this genre, Sixx:A.M. will manage to get you hooked with a range of hard rock and melodic songs, and make you look forward to singing along in a live show!


92/100

Below is the official music video for the song "We Will Not Go Quietly".

#30 - Top of 2016

Fates Warning - Theories of Flight (Inside Out)

Gracing number 30 of the top 2016 albums, we have the twelfth release by perennial Prog Metallers Fates Warning. With their return in 2013 being a success, the band released last year its successor, which sees the band return to more familiar grounds, with an album with a distinct sound that, at the same time, feels very close to the renowned concept album of the band back in the 90s ("A Pleasant Shade of Gray").
The album opens with "From The Rooftops", a  very dynamic song featuring melodic lines reminiscent of the early lines of the  band, incorporated into a more fresh sound. "Seven Stars" starts off with amazing guitars with the vocals culminating into a pretty classic-sounding FW chorus. "SOS" opens with guitars grinding away as emotional vocals join in. Riffs galore at times and this would sound awesome live. "The Light And Shade Of Things" is dark and laid back with atmosphere as soft vocals arrive. The chorus is heavy and catchy with really angry interludes integrating flawlessly within the song. "White Flag" is a killer track that has very deep emotion and seems to be one of the best tracks of the album. "Like Stars Our Eyes Have Seen" starts with an all out assault from Jarzombek, as Adler joins in with attitude!
"The Ghost Of Home" starts with speech samples which suddenly stop, before a Maiden-like guitar riff appears to kick-start a magnificent song with a very emotional culmination. "Theories Of Flight" is the interesting atmospheric closer which bring to mind the aforementioned "A Pleasant Shade of Gray most vividly and with its melancholic atmosphere brings the album to an end. This album, along with the Arch/Matheos collaboration rank as the two best albums that Fates Warning (and their offshoots) have created in the 21st century, and show a deep vein of creativity that not only is still rich in beautiful music but can also be surprisingly innovative at times! Well-worth your time.

92/100

Below are the music videos for "SOS" and "Seven Stars".

#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.