#7 - Top of 2020

 Arrayan path - The Marble Gates to Apeiron (Pitch black records)   

Moving up through the 2020 Top, we find another band which has repeatedly appeared in our list of 2016, 2018 and the Best of Epic Tops. They are none other than Arrayan Path, the epic power metal band from Cyprus who released their 8th album. The Marble Gates to Apeiron from beginning (with its title track) to end is packed with blasting drum bits, memorable choruses and melodic guitar interludes. Once again, the songs are elevated by the front vocalist, Nicholas Leptos and his one of a kind voice which only seems to get better as time goes by. A personal favourite and highlight of the album is "Metamorphosis", a great example of great musicianship and memorable lyric-writing. The more theatrical and dark "Virus" which is eerily relevant to the past 2 years of the COVID era, the positive "To Live Another Day" with its romantic touch and the amazingly melodic "Mask of Sanity" are also great tracks that provide a interesting change of pace while the perfect ending is given with the even more catchy "A Silent Masquerade" and the epic "Black Sails (The Nemean Ode)" which is impossible to get un-stuck from your mind!

Nemean ode oh Nemean, heeding the beat of a drum

 

95.7/100

Below official music video for "Metamorphosis".

 

#8 - Top of 2020

Sorcerer - Lamenting of the Innocent (Metal Blade Records)

The epic doometallers from Sweden are are no strangers to our annual lists of best albums, previously entering our 2015, 2017 and the Best of Epic Tops. Their 3rd full length album is a worthy follow up to their track record with all the favourite characteristic elements, including memorable heavy doom riffs and amazing mellow and powerful vocals by the one and only Anders Engberg. There is no time wasted and after a short instrumental intro the listener is stuck with the full force of "The Hammer of Witches" which is packed with heavy and at the same time melodic riffs (with an awesome midsong interlude) and perfectly blended with majestic vocals! This is followed by track which gives the title to the album and is one of its highlights "Lamenting of the Innocent" which starts by building an eerie ceremonial mood that encompassed this more toned-down and sorrowful song that spans almost 9 minutes but does not have a dull moment! If you are here for the straightforward tracks the heavy and doomy "Where Spirits Die" and "Age of the Damned" (with one of the catchiest choruses of the year) are just what you are looking for. The menacing chimming bells of the "Condemned" and the verses in latin of the "Dance with the Devil" further enhance the epic doom vibe that permeates all the song. This beast of an album is another release worthy of the Sorcerer record track which despite being short has already developed a unique and memorable identity that keeps evolving with each album becoming even more refined!

95.2/100

 

Below is the official music video for "The Hammer of Witches".

#9 - Top of 2020

Romuvos -  The Baltic Crusade (dangus productions)   

For the fans of pure FOLK metal, 2020 was a great year as these pagans from Lithuania released their 3rd full length album, The Baltic Crusade. Romuvos are an excellent example of a band which knows how to mix  EPIC melodies with strong male vocals and folk sounds including a range of instruments such as flutes, bagpipes, mouth harps and nyckelharpa. Straight from the first song, you know this is going to be a great album as "Saule 1236" hits all the right points with amazing sounds and its lyrics falling within the album concept inspired by historical events entailing the fight of pagans against Christianity which ended with the Christianisation of Lithuania (or Courland as described in the lyrics) in 1387. The chronicle carries on with the more melodic "Memel 1257"  and the battle-anthem ""Skuodas 1259" (a personal favourite and worth checking out for fans of epic sing along choruses) which continue the saga of Romuva in line with the Romuva movement back to Baltic pagan traditions and customs. There are refreshing changes of pace from more mellow folk like "Pokarwis 1261" and a healthy dose of melodic guitars mixed with other instruments in the title song "The Baltic Crusade" that keeps you on your feet waiting for the next track. Overall, this is an album worth checking out both in terms of musicianship as it is packed with epic chants and folk instruments without losing their heavy sound, but also in terms of lyrical themes on the interesting tale of pagans of Romuva that is not well known.

95/100

 

Below is official music video for "Memel 1257".