#10 - Top of 2020

Wytch hazel - iii: pentecost (bad omens records) 

If you are looking for a melodic hard rock album with a feel-good attitude, look no further than the UK and and amazing Wytch Hazel. The previous album (II: Sojourn) was very interesting but they have managed to evolve their sound with their by far best album so far, III: Pentecost. Armed with a new bassist, Andy Shackleton, the band carries on in their exploration of spirituality, battles and truth with their unique style and the mellow voice of Colin Hendra, the lead vocalist, in the frontlines. After warming up to their retro and uplifting sound with the intro song, you get hit with the awesome "Spirit and Fire", which a very memorable chorus and melodic guitar riffs that are impossible to get out your mind, except by hearing the album on repeat! Other memorable tracks include  and the Lucifer-inspired "Archangel" which has an edgy vide reminiscent of the eerie Ghost-vibe of hard rock/heavy tunes and vocals , and "Dry Bones" which has everything from the best guitar intro riffs to high-pitched vocals that will get any listener pumped for more. The album also has different aspects like the acoustic "The Crown" and the instrumental "Sonata" which change the pace at the right moment, just before the more epic and gloomy "Reap the Harvest" which has a more proggy feeling and a great piano intro/ending. Even if you are no fan of the Christian themes and the album won't entice you to go to church, you will 100% appreciate their ability to write great music and want to listen more of their work in the future!

94.95/100

Below is the official music video for "Spirit and Fire".

 

#18 - Top of 2020

 Marko Hietala Pyre of Black Heart (Nuclear Blast Records)

Marko Hietala might have become known by joining Nightwish as a bassist and providing some rougher vocals as a support vocalist but he has a very unique mellow but at the same time edgy voice that has led him to get involved in a range of very diverse projects including his own heavy band Tarot for which he is a lead singer, providing supporting vocal for Amorphis but let's not forget his perfect "casting" by Arjen Lucassen for his Theory of Everything progressive metal album (Top 2013) as the vengeful rival. Although he recently announced that he will be stepping down from his role with Nightwish, it doesn't seem he is ready to stop making music as it can be seen from his diverse outputs which include his new solo project. Although the aim was to release his debut as half English, half Finnish the decision was made to first release the album Mustan Sydämen Rovio in 2019 in Finnish with the English version being released in 2020 so this is technically a double entry. Both version are great and enjoyable with Hietala being equally confident in signing and writing lyrics in both languages, though the uniquely-sounding Finnish language adds a folky feeling in every track. The album has been years in the making and presents some more personal themes, including his father's alcoholism which affected him deeply, that would not fit with his other projects and can be heard in tracks like "The Voice of My Father" or "Isäni ääni"" . All tracks have interesting melodies with the catchy "Stones", the more sorrowful "For You" (which has an Ayreon vibe) and the electronic keyboard-based "Star, Sand and Shadow" while the album could be best described as hard rock/prog. Overall, a unique entry that is elevated by Hietala's amazing voice and his great lyrical themes that clearly show he was truly passionate about this album!

 

94.5/100

 Below is official music video for "Stones".

#20 - Top of 2020

Dynazty -  The Dark Delight (AFM)

Dynazty are a power/rock band from Sweden with little claim to fame up to this release. While their previous two albums have been relatively good showing a steady progress, their latest endeavour "The Dark Delight" shifts the tone in a darker, more visceral direction, resulting in their best release so far. It is still full of melodic pop metal with ‘80s glam references, while Nils Molin remains a great singer, with amazing vocals throughout, which elevate the already pretty good compositions.

The first songs are really  good, while "From Sound To Silence" has some more bombastic drums and a chorus that really takes the song to the next level. "The Man And The Elements" has a more eclectic feel, while "The Road To Redemption" is a slower more introspective track. "The Black" is a light piece (probably the only  mediocre composition in "The Dark Delight"). "Heartless Madness" is by far one of the most stand out compositions here, while "Waterfall" is a must for hard rock fans, as is the ballad "Hologram". There are two parts on the album, power metal and hard rock/AOR, which do not necessary blend, but are presented in succession as the bands quickly shifts gears from one track to the next. We were impressed with how good "The Dark Delight" sounds and are looking forward to the next release from Dynazty!

94.25/100

Below is the lyric video for "Heartless Madness"

#21 - Top of 2020

 HEAT - HEAT II (Avalon Label)   

It seems like some Swedish hard rock bands have found the secret to creating memorable tunes that can become instant hits. H.E.A.T are the perfect example of Whitesnake-reminiscent bands with songs like "Rock Your Body" which stick to your mind and are perfect to lift your mood at any time and day. The band has been active since 2007, but changed their sound along with their lead singer for 10 years. The return of Kenny Leckremo in the lead vocals is a pleasant surprise which notes their return to the earlier days of the first album. Leckremo's energy fits perfectly with the melodic tunes that ooze from all tracks.  The album is packed with awesome tracks like "Adrenaline" and "Dangerous Ground", but there is no doubt that "Rise" is by far the most uplifting song and personal favourite. H.E.A.T have gone back to their heavier but still melodic sound, so if your are looking for an unapologetically upbeat album do not hesitate to check H.E.A.T II out!

 

94.2/100

 Below is the official animated video for "Rise".

Honourable Mentions - Top of 2020

 Welcome to another list of best albums, counting down the best among 2020 records. Before we get to the meat of the list, we will present some records that came out that while great, didn't quite get there. Without further delay, we are presenting:

2020 HONOURABLE MENTIONS (In no particular order)

Lucifer - Lucifer III (Trooper Entertainment)

 Lucifer, released their 3rd full length album in 2020 and it doesn't lack anything from what makes their sound unique including a retro dark feeling and amazing female vocals which steal the show. The band is not afraid to move between different sounds and styles, from atmospheric tracks like “Leather Demon”, to the more energetic “Flanked by Snakes” and the title-track “Lucifer” without missing out on their doomy beginnings. Worth a listen for those who are into that occult-inspired heavy rock.

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Merkfolk  - Echo (Independent)

 

Merkfolk is a an interesting folk band from Poland who released their third full length album in 2020. All songs are in the band's native language which fits perfectly with a mixture of flute, fiddle and accordion melodies. The record is pure folk with many tracks having a traditional but yet unique sound like "Dwa wina". A great listen by "the bringer of folk" (as the band's name loosely translates)!

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Moon Reverie - Moon Reverie (Rockshots Music)

 

Italian Neoclassical Rockers Moon Reverie truly impressed us with their debut outing from Rockshots last year. Their combination of technical musicianship with beautiful vocal lines and lengthy neoclassical instrumental pieces that demonstrate their virtuosity and their passion for music, was enough to stand out from the rest of the releases in their genre this year, exciting everyone regarding possible future music outputs from the band and  showing how a mildly contrived genre can get new ideas and directions from young and energetic artists that pay tribute to its past while shaping its future.

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Jet Jaguar - Endless Nights (Pride and Joy Music)

Another debut album, this time from Mexican speed/glam metallers Jet Jaguar. A breakout act from Wacken 2017's Open Air Metal Battle, they were able to take full advantage of that fact, by signing to a label (Pride and Joy) that is very good at showcasing new acts in a wider audience, and released a killer debut album, which includes not only hooky songs (such as "Blinding Lights"), but excellent compositions of pure speedy heavy metal! 

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Magnum - The Serpent Rings (Steamhammer)

 Magnum is one of those bands who still remain "true rockers" and ALWAYS deliver on their releases (making it into a number of our earlier Tops including 2016, Hard Rock Top and 2018). Armed with Bob Catley's unique voice, The Serpent Rings (the 21st full length album by Magnum!!!), has all the great traits of band including catchy tunes that are bound to be instant classics like "Where Are You Eden?" and chorus that are made for sing alongs like "Not Forgiven". Definitely worth a listen while waiting to see them live sometime in the future.

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Lord Vigo - Danse de Noir (High Roller Records)

In their 4th full length release, German Doomsters completely flipped the script, and presented a record that differs quite considerably from their previous releases, approaching their doom metal through the lens of the Dio-era albums of Black Sabbath and adding a very distinct 80s Neon/Scifi aesthetic to their distinct epic doom sound. Their experiment was successful for the most part and while we may miss the epicness oozing from their previous releases, this is still a great album unveiling a different aspect of the band, showing that the band is way more than a one-trick pony.

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Aether Realm - Redneck Vikings from Hell (Napalm Records)

 Aether Realm are one of those releases you hear about randomly and gets you hooked right away. Coming from the US, the band has a melodic death sound with a more "radio-friendly" twist that makes them memorable. The album has a number of great tracks including the super-catchy "Goodbye" and the fanbase-dedicated "TMHC" (standing for the Tiny Metal Hand Crew) making it enjoyable to listen through the album. It is worth having this band in mind as they show some great traits differentiating themselves from the classic melodic death metal sound.

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Mike LePond's Silent Assassins - Whore of Babylon (Silver Lining Music)

In their third offering, the personal band of Symphony X's bassist continue playing unadulterated pure heavy metal with touches of speed. prog, power and epic metal sprinkled in at different quantities throughout the record. Lepond has developed over these three releases a personal sound and this is even more evident here, where almost any composition could easily be a hit single, with almost no filler chaff mixed in. Among the best tracks of the album are "Ironborn", "Ides of March" and "Dracul's Son", but virtually any song has the potential to grow into a mega-hit. Highly recommended for all metal-heads with an affinity for late 90's power/heavy metal sound!

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Temperance  - Viridian (Napalm Records)

Italy is known for a breadth of melodic heavy metal bands but not many are as successful in creating memorable and catchy tunes like Temperance. The album is packed with with tracks that stick to your mind and you are bound to listen on repeat with examples like the pumping "I Am the Fire", the melodic "My Demons Can't Sleep" and last but not list the Mission-Impossible2-inspired "Mission Impossible". With the bonus of a blend of great female and male vocals complimenting each other, Viridian makes for an uplifting release worth checking out.

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Boisson Divine - La Halha  (Brennus Music)

It might have been some time since we last heard from French folk band (previously in the 2013 Top) but they still got this unique sound that fits perfectly with their mixture of French and regional Occitan dialect. Straight from the first track "Lo pèla pòrc" to the memorable "Libertat", the album is packed with traditional sounds (including hurdy gurdy, flabuta, boha and accordion). A very interesting 2020 release from the French folk scene, making us wish there were more bands like them!

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Greyhawk - Keepers of the Flame (Fighter Records)

 What a debut album! Greyhawk show signs of great things to come in the future with their Keepers of the Flame. Riding on the wave of great heavy metal bands coming out of the US in the past couple of year, Greyhawk sound like a band to keep in mind with great clear vocals which along with heavy metal riffs make for some memorable EPIC tracks like "Frozen Star" and "Keepers of the Flame". Definitely worth a listen for all those true heavy metal fans!

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The Flower Kings - Islands (Inside Out)

Another year, another great release from Roine Stolt and company this time around, just one short year after the release of the excellent Waiting for Miracles! While not as masterful as its predecessor, Islands manages to be another highly enjoyable release in the long list of beautifully crafted albums by one of the most consistently good prog rock acts out there. Highlights of the record include the single "Broken" and "Tangerine" which interweaves the vocals of Hasse Fröberg with those of Stolt in a truly magical vocal interplay worthy of any previous release of the band!

#10 - Top of 2019

Tanith - In Another Time (Metal Blade)

Stylistically, Tanith have the unique ability and flexibility to go through the full cycle of folk, hard rock, classical heavy metal and epic metal without acrobatics, and that in on itself is a great honour. In addition, the individual references, although quite a few, are very harmoniously intertwined, so much so, that the result looks like an exciting fifty-year journey, where the landscape consists of the covers of immersive and excellent records. After all, this is a time when true innovation is considered almost impossible. Thus, the creation of a new blend of familiar materials, where the proportions are just right and the execution is passionate, then the  result is exquisite exactly like the full-length debut of the quartet, "In Another Time". The male and female vocal mix, the two guitars, the warm production, the epic wonderous storytelling along with a mixture of amazing melodies and finally the dominant riffs , are the main ingredients that Tanith's offer, wrapped in the magical artwork of Roger Dean. The album kicks off with the best song of the album "Citadel" with a magical chorus part and a solo directly reminiscent of "Don't Fear The Ripper",  while in "Book Of Changes" some of the finest moments of Budgie are prevalent.  Throughout the record, there are times when the songs speak to your heart, making you feel the music and rendering any further musical "analysis" pretty pointless, given that emotions cannot be truly be put into words.

95.45/100

Below you can hear the official audio for Citadel.

#28 - Top of 2019

Church of the Cosmic Skull - Everybody's Going to Die (Septaphonic Records)

Members of the Cosmic Family rejoice! The brothers and sisters from the Church of the Cosmic Skull are back with another full-length album (following an amazing 2018 release) and a renewed invitation to believe in magic and join the family of the Church. Despite the ominous album title "Everybody's Going to Die" succeeds in mixing darker lyrical themes with 70's feel good tunes and a few bluesy twists (such as "The Hunt"). Throughout the album Bill Fisher's mellow vocals blend perfectly with the church-like choirs creating a unique atmosphere. Following the path to the Cosmic Compound above the clouds the listener comes across different musical styles, such as the country-themed "Do What You Want (With Love In Your Heart)" that adds a theatrical piano-based touch and quicker riffs as well as the groovy "Into the Skull" describing the journey from the real world through the Gate under the sound of heavier guitar riffs. Church of the Cosmic Skull might be wondering "Dont' You Believe In Magic" but the 100% succeed in teleporting the listener "Living In a Bubble" to experience a mystical journey away from the deserted real world and glimpse into the 7 Objects through tele-vision...


93.85/100

Below is the music video for the song "Sorcery & Sabotage".

#29 - Top of 2019

Rival Sons - Feral Roots (Atlantic Records)

Rival Sons are one of the greatest "real" rock bands of our time and last year they returned with one of the best and possibly more complete records of their entire backlog: "Feral Roots". A great album combining soul melodies with pure rock and roll aggression, containing no fewer than four compositions that are already considered classics: "Look Away" talks about empathy with a magnificent bridge which complements the dreamy intro, "Feral Roots" with emotional vocals reminiscent of the great Demis Roussos, "All Directions" with its retro vibe and finally the great "Shooting Stars" combining a full emotional explosion with the great vocal companionship of the the Nashville Urban Choir. These deeply emotional experiences are accompanied by wild rocking tracks like "Do Your Worst", "Back In The Woods" and the sexy "Sugar on the Bone" that taken into context create a complete record for all fans of rock music (and to be fair all music, in general).




93.8/100

Below are the music videos for "Do  your Worst" and "Sugar on the Bone".

#37 - Top of 2019

Sanhedrin - The Poisoner (Cruz del Sur Music)

Sanhedrin have released their second full-length album in 2019 and succeed in showing how female vocals can truly elevate a traditional heavy metal record. Straight from the first track, "Meditation (All My Gods Are Gone)", you can hear the awesomely galloping guitars by Jeremy Sosville which fit perfectly with the rough but crystal clear vocals of lead singer Erica Stolz. There are also some tracks like "For the Wicked" that are more quick-paced & heavily drum-based adding a more gritty & old-school sound. However, the songs that will get you hooked from the first to the last riff are definitely the groovy "Wind on the Storm" and the catchy "Saints and Sinners"! "In from the Outside" is a worthy epic closer (clocking at about 7 minutes) that wraps up the album with some great Maiden-like tunes and craftsmanship. Overall, "The Poisoner" combines old-school sounds with a unique voice, with the band creating their own unique soundscape and overcoming its (also very interesting) predecessor, A Funeral for the World. A great and unique record that combines the old and the new, setting a  new benchmark by which  new "old school" heavy metal releases should be judged!

92.9/100

Below is the audio for the song "Meditation (All My Gods Are Gone)".

#8 - Top of 2018

Church of the Cosmic Skull - Science Fiction (Independent)

 Church of the Cosmic Skull are one of those rare gems you hope to find while searching for new music and sticks with you from the first moment you give them a listen. This is perfectly complemented with weirdly "cultish" music videos that encapsulate the feeling that the band is trying to convey,  enticing the listener to enter the Inner Sanctum and join the Cosmic Family. Right off the bat, you become immersed in that retro 70s feeling with "Science Fiction", with an awesomely feel-good vibe serving as an introduction to the members of the Church. A bluesy tone is added in "Go By The River" along with some peaceful vocals and classic 70s guitar riffs reminiscent of Deep Purple, which are also prominent in "The Cards That You're Playing" with its gospel choir vocals & melodies. "Revolution Comes With An Act Of Love" is a ballad with the added spice of a Hammond organ, as melodic guitar riffs join a great choral symphony which invites the hapless listener , "all we've got to do is sing along". The catchiest song of the album has got to be "Cold Sweat" (accompanied by a uniquely strange music video), managing to combine even more groovy tunes with musical vibes emanating from the chorus. "The Others" is a tribute to that special Pink Floyd feeling, taking you on a trip to receive the Cosmic Transmission. "Timehole (Gonna Build A Rocket Tonight)" returns to the 70s hard rock sound, with a surprisingly heavier mid-song switch, while "Paper Aeroplane & Silver Moon" is a psychedelic rock song mixed with some the best guitar riffing on the album. "Science Fiction" wraps up with "The Devil Again" that features some excellent church organ and low-key soothing vocals in complete contrast with the lyrical theme of the song, thus ending this spectacular journey through the 70s and re-emerging in the present relaxed and ready to join the family of the Church.


96.25/100

Below is official music video for "Cold Sweat".

#9 - Top of 2018

The Night Flight Orchestra - Sometimes the World Ain't Enough (Nuclear Blast)

It's beyond belief that this album wasn't released back in the '80s.  It is almost as incredible as the way that NFO are able to convey the emotion and cheesiness of the 80s. Sometimes the World Ain't Enough, however, is not simply a tribute to the past, but a genuine contender among the best albums of the era. Let's not forget of course the polished Swedish music mastery of this supergroup, which brings a cinematic quality to every song! From the almost stereotypical AOR of "This Time" and "Turn To Miami", the album offers the epic "Paralysed" with its funk '70s disco vibe and the year's biggest chorus. While flirting with prog rock in the grandiose "The Last Of The Independent Romantics",  it revisits what love is in "Lovers In The Rain" and the dreamy and mysterious theme tune of " Pretty Things Closing In " leads to the incredible sing-along power of the chorus of" Can't Be That Bad ".  "Sometimes The World Ain't Enough" is a timeless classic album. It might truly be the ultimate AOR album for those who don't hear AOR. In other words...

The Night Flight Orchestra are simply the guiltiest pleasure of the year.

96.1/100

Below are the music videos for "This Time", "Can't Be that Bad", "Turn to Miami" and "Lovers in the Rain".

#11 - Top of 2018

Clutch - Book of Bad Decisions (Weathermaker Music)

What can be said about the latest endeavour of southern/stoner/slacker rockers Clutch? The album follows suit from previous releases "Earth Rocker" and "Psychic Warfare", continuing the trend of the band experimenting with different song structures and playfully dipping their toes in variations of the sound that made them famous. They can't go too wrong as the vocals of Neil Fallon and the riffing by Tim Sult, accompanied by the ever-present rhythm section of Dan Maines (bass) and Jean-Paul Gaster are a surefire guarantee of a good-time. And in the "Book of Bad Decisions", the band again delivers with another album good from the bottom to the top. Thus, the band seems to have found the recipe for success in creating groovy compositions that seem destined to dominate any live show they play! After all, they can write anthems effortlessly, with "How To Shake Hands" and "Weird Times" being two of the more distinctive compositions that confirm Clutch's excellence in this area and are distinguished for their functionality and simplicity. At the same time, as noted above, they continue to display a tendency to experiment and mix different stylistic elements. This results to a host of truly memorable compositions, with 'In' Walks Barbarella "(with the excellent use of wind instruments) and" Vision Quest "(with a fantastic piano orchestration) being perhaps the most stand-out tracks. Along with the aforementioned tracks,  "Emily Dickinson", "Ghoul Wrangler" and "Lorelei" (with a very .. soundtrack dynamic) are a set of compositions that would fit seamlessly in almost any previous band release, and once again reaffirm Clutch as one of the best rock acts of any kind out there.


95.5/100

Below are the music videos for "In Walks Barbarella", "Hot Bottom Feeder", "Give Me the Keys", "How to Shake Hands" and "Ghoul Wrangler".

#13 - Top of 2018

Ghost - Prequelle (Loma Vista)

The journey of the weirdest superstars of the decade continues, as Ghost released their 4th full-length album, to critical and commercial acclaim. The album continues on the same creative vein with the previous work of the group, mixing 80s pop rock and metal - lite elements along with satanic imagery and lyrics, while preserving an overall fun factor that has made the band as popular as it is. The album has 9 tracks (+ intro), that keep the listener on its feet while at the same time the band successfully transcends mere imitation and establishes its own musical identity, more strongly than ever, clearly demonstrating that they are their own superstars right now.  Tracks like "Rats", "Dance Macabre", "Faith" and "Life Eternal", are among the best the band has ever written and while theatrics still remain a focal point for the band in this age of image, this would still be a great album regardless of all that. There are multiple superstar collaborators in the album (Mikael Åkerfeldt [Opeth], Vincent Portare [Avicii]) and a stellar production by Tom Dalgety (Royal Blood, Pixies), whose work might be the true superstar of the album as the production mixes modern and old-school evoking enthusiasm and nostalgia at the same time. Ghost are not overrated, nor are underrated. They are correctly rated as one of the hottest acts of this decade!

95.2/100

Below are the music videos for "Rats"  and "Dance Macabre".

#15 - Top of 2018

Magnum - Lost on the Road to Eternity (Steamhammer)

It  comes as no surprise that Magnum know how to create a hit album adding more songs to their list of all time classics with their 20th (!!!) full-length album. Following their last release "Sacred Blood, "Divine" Lies", the band continues showcasing their musicianship and excitement for what they are doing. Kicking off with the amazingly catchy "Peaches and Cream" and followed up with "Show Me Your Hands", we are re-introduced to Bob Catley's uplifting vocals, great guitar riffs by Tony Clarkin and mellow keyboards by Rick Benton (replacing Mark Stanway who left the band following the release of the previous album) through two songs created for live sing-along situations. "Storm Baby" starts out with a power-ballad vibe but also has some heavier guitar riffs while "Welcome to the Cosmic Cabaret" has a more electric atmosphere and a great guitar fadeout at the end of the song. "Lost on the Road to Eternity" with its surprisingly fitting guest vocals by Tobias Sammet (of Edguy and Avantasia) is definitely among the album's highlights, with Sammet and Catley having previously collaborated in a number of Avantasia albums. If you are looking for a cheesy song with a designated sing-along section that can easily become an instant radio hit you don't have to look further than "Without Love". If you are into a more 80's aesthetic and sound "Tell Me What You've Got to Say" is your song. "Ya Wanna Be Someone" has a 60's-70's feel-good/ Deep Purple vibe,  while closer"Glory to Ashes" is a great melodic elegy with more depth in the sound and orchestration and of course the amazing vocals of Bob Catley! Magnum's secret formula has once again succeeded and the band once again release an album that has everything for everyone, young and old alike!


95/100

Below is the official lyric videos for "Lost on the Road to Eternity" and "Without Love".

#38 - Top of 2018

Spiral Skies - Blues for a Dying Planet

In number 38 of the best albums of 2018, we have the debut album from Swedish psychedelic hard rockers Spiral Skies. Fronted by Frida Eurenius (ex-Lapis Lazuli) and complemented  by a band of unknown first class musicians, the band is another excellent entry to the retro female fronted rock/metal bands that have really broken through in the 2010s. The album is  dominated by mellow melodies accompanied by hard riffs and the big voice of Frida that sells the whole package. Opener "Awakening" is an indication of the more hard side of the band, while follow up "Dark Side of the Cross" combines melodic mellow guitars with a more symphonic attitude on the vocal side. "The Wizard's Ball" & "Danse Macabre" showcase the more psychedelic side of the band with the former being more straightforward while the latter has swing elements reminiscent of Diablo Swing Orchestra. "Labyrinth of the mind" walks a more familiar Doom/Psychedelic path while "Shattered Hopes" brings echoes of Rush to mind. "Left is Right and Right is Left Behind" continues in more psychedelic routes, with sprinkles of doom throughout, while closing track "The Prisoner" is  more of a classic rock/metal epic tune. Overall the album's best features are the awe-inspiring vocal performance by Frida coupled with excellent ideas in the songwriting department and shifting tones across the album, experimenting with various classical forms of rock. While the band is still trying to find a personal sound, it takes us along for the ride on a journey across the sounds of various classic rock permutations, making this an exciting debut worth recommending.

92.3/100

Below is the music video for "The Wizard's Ball".

The Best of Hard Rock 2010-18 (Part 2)

In the second part, we will be counting down the truly BEST ten albums out of....

The TOP 21 Hard Rock Albums of 2010-18

 

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10. Uriah Heep - Into The Wild (Frontiers - 2011)

Uriah Heep have been critised at times for being unapologetically the same band since their early days till recent times. However it is this timeless quality of the band that results in exellent records time after time. In fact if you heard songs from their early days and from this album  you would be at a loss to tell which song belongs to which era. The band has huge amounts of energy still, and this is very well recorded into the opener "Nail to he head" but at the same time shows willingness to express itself in more epic forms such as the awesome "Trail of Diamonds" and the anthemic "Southern Star".  Worth checking out by all fans of classic hard rock.

93.5/100

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9. Spiritual Beggars - Sunrise To Sundown (InsideOut - 2016) 

The hard rock Swedes, Spiritual Beggars, have released another great album in 2016. With the amazing Apollo Papathanasio, as the lead vocalist for this record, "Sunrise To Sundown" is packed with great guitar riffs and great vocals making it an awesome addition to any playlist. You can find the full review here.

94/100

 

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8. Hällas - Excerpts from Future Past (The Sign Records - 2017)

Hällas is a very interesting and less known melodic rock band with great retro elements. Their self-description as an adventure rock band perfectly describes their atmospheric music. A more detailed review can be found here.

94.3/100

 

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7. The Grammers - Dream In a Minor Key (VR Label - 2017) 

The Grammers is a feel-good AOR band, true  veterans of the genre. Their "Dream In a Minor Key" is bound to make your day with their catchy music and sing-along choruses! The full review can be found here.

 94.5/100

 

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6. Rival Sons - Great Western Valkyrie (Earache - 2014)

This hard rock from California is definitely a great breakthrough act of this decade with  groovy riffs and southern vibes, worthy of its position in the top 10. You can find a review of the "Great Western Valkyrie" here.

 94.7/100

 

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5.  Magnum - Sacred Blood Divine Lies (Steamhammer - 2016)

Another excellent release by the melodic rock legends which is an instant classic record. How can it go wrong with Bob Catley on the lead vocals? "Sacred Blood Divine Lies" is a great addition to their lengthy streak of amazing records. You can find the full review here.

95/100

 

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4. The Winery Dogs - The Winery Dogs  (Loud & Proud Records - 2013)

Michael Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater, Sons of Apollo etc.) is back with another project, this time with a hard rocking twist. The Winery Dogs released a great album in 2013 full of groovy vibes and of course impeccable drumming. Read more here.

 95.5/100

 

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3. The Night Flight Orchestra - Amber Galactic  (Nuclear Blast - 2017)

If you are looking for a great hard rock record that you can use as an allure to the dark side of 80s, this is the one! "Amber Galactic" is packed with catchy tunes straight from the disco. You can find more about the album here.

96/100

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2. The Soulbreaker Company - Graceless (Alone Records - 2014)

The Soulbreaker Company released a unique psychedelic rock album in 2014 that succeeded in taking the listener on a chill-out musical journey of amazing tunes that are perfectly blended with melancholic vocals. Read more here.

97/100

 

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1. Blues Pills - Blues Pills (Nuclear Blast Records - 2014)

Blues Pills definitely are a surprise entry at the first place of the list for those who have not heard them. The band succeeds in combining a 70's retro vibe with psychedelic and blues elements creating an amazingly catchy and feel-good hard rock album! Read the review of the "Blues Pills" here. They followed this up with another great record, "Lady In Gold", in 2016 sticking to their great formula and making us hope for amazing things to come from this band in the future!

 99/100