#9 - Top of 2017

Avatarium - Hurricanes and Halos (Nuclear Blast)

When Avatarium released their debut the world was stunned by the "female version of Candlemass" that Leif Edling created. Since then, the band has evolved by leaps and bounds and the third album veers the band straight into 70s hard rock with the doom influences of the past minimised, with their current feel being closer to Krux ("III") than Candlemass. In "Hurricanes And Halos" Leif Edling takes a backseat in performing and acts more as a mentor, with credit for the album being  shared between Edling (main composer) and Marcus Jidell (guitarist and producer) .
The inaugural "Into The Fire / Into The Storm" sets the tone for the album acting as a tribute to the great Deep Purple, while being a standalone great track at the same time. The next track ("Starless Sleep"), keeps the interest up by imbuing the album with a BOC feel. The next track also keeps the 70s levels consistent with  propably the most unique track of the record ("Medusa Child") with intense Led Zeppelin vibes. "The Sky at the bottom of the Sea" continues the trend of the album with paying trubute to Uriah Heep and is probably the least memorable here, nevertheless being a solid tribute to one  of Leif Edling's favorite bands. "When breath turns to air" is an introvert song which acts as a farewell from Markus Jidell to his father and is propably the most personally charged moment of the album. In the last song, "A kiss", the band comes  full circle with a very heavy Candlemass/Sabbath riff  that is here to remind us of the band's beginnings and give a heavy farewell until we meet again.


95.1/100


Below you can enjoy the music video for the "Starless Sleep".

#10 - Top of 2017

Mausoleum Gate - Into a Dark Divinity (Cruz del Sur Music)

In number 10 for 2017, another Finnish band, Mausoleum Gate with a very unique heavy metal release "Into a Dark Divinity". This is just the second album by the band formed in 2009 but it showcases a unique approach both in musical and lyrical themes. This is achieved by the a great combination of mellow vocals by the lead singer V-P Varpula and 70's inspired guitar riffs by Count LaFey and Kasperi Puranen along with typical heavy metal rhythm section (Wicked Ischanius and Oscar Razanez). "Condemned to Darkness" definitely sets the tone and high expectations that are met throughout the album which has no low moment, although it is on the short side clocking at only 42 minutes. The short but effective "Burn the Witches at Dawn" is an interesting change of pace and serves as a nice transition to the heavier and more epic "Apophis"and "Solomon’s Key"! The groovy "Horns" and the grandiose "Into a Dark Divinity" wrap up a unique heavy metal record which sets the tone for future work by the band.

95/100

Below is the lyric video for the song "Solomon's key".

If you like what you hear, you can order the album from here and help support and upcoming melodic heavy metal band.

# 11 - Top of 2017

BattleBeast - Bringer of Pain (Nuclear Blast)

Bringer of Pain is the fourth full-length record by the Finnish heavy metal band, BattleBeast; and the third with the powerful lead vocalist Noora Louhimo who always make the songs stand out! From the radio-friendly "Straight to the Heart" to the title-track "Bringer of Pain"(with its quick-paced chorus that is made for sing-alongs) and the catchy "King for a Day" (full of rhythmic keyboards), there is a song for every mood! There a number of highlights in the album that add different vibes including "Familiar Hell" with its awesome guitar riffs, the galloping "Bastard Son of Odin" (worthy of its title) and the power-ballad "Far from Heaven" showcasing Noora's vocals. This record is another amazing release by BattleBeast that makes for a great feel-good listen and definitely has a replay value!


94.9/100

Below is the video clips for the title song "Bringer of Pain" and "King For a Day" and "Familiar Hell".

#12 - Top of 2017

Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pacifisticufs (Spinefarm Records)

Diablo Swing Orchestra (DSO) are back after a long break following the release of "Pandora's Pinata" with a new album which once again challenges the boundaries of genres and ventures boldly to new styles of music featuring genres from bluegrass to disco.  There are only a few bands with as unique a sound as DSO and despite rumours of disbandment after the break-up with ex-singer Ann-Louise Loegdlund, the band returned with a worthy follow-up to its equally excellent predecessor.  There are, as always symphonic prog, swing and metal elements to the record but they are enhance by new musical ventures as well. In particular one might hear elements of Balkan folk, tango, country, disco and string compositions all mixed in a frantic melodic ensemble. Some of the most intriguing tracks include "The age of vulture culture" which combines Balkan music with waltz elements, "Jigsaw Hustle" which is a clear tribute to cheesy disco bands and "Knuckleheads", which features a crossover of a musical with bluegrass music.  Of course there are tracks that are throwbacks to previous eras of the band ("Karma Bonfire", "Interruption") but these not only don't distract from the newest elements, but blend perfectly within the complete musical package that is Pacifisticufs.

94.8/100

Below is the bass play-through for "The Age of Vulture Culture"

#13 - Top of 2017

The Samurai of Prog - On We Sail (Seacrest Oy)

In number 13, we have the 2017 release from  "The Samurai of Prog". The band with this album reach their most mature point yet, in terms of songwriting and cohesiveness and were able to present us with 65 minutes of immaculate  majestic prog rock!
The opener "On We Sail" is based on classic prog forms (think Kansas & Yes)."Elements of Life",  is more dynamic than its predecessor with some improvisation elements (along classic Yes compositions) and a beautiful central melody throughout the track. "Theodora" features guest vocals by Michelle Young, with her ethereal voice providing an excellent accompaniment to the dynamic composition. The instrumental "Ascension" that follows is more playful with the flute and the keyboards antagonising each other to create a magical music harmony, with piano adding a touch of melancholy. "Ghost Written" features more symphonic elements with violin and flute melodies playing a key part in the composition. "The Perfect Black" draws its  influences from Yes and is a very melodic instrumental composition with variation in the feelings it induces, from lightheartedness to epicness and all the variations in-between. "Growing Up" is a more 'earthy' and 'simple' composition, with more of a Genesis vibe than anything else. "Over Again" is an interesting piano solo composition which follows and eases the listener into "Tigers", the final track of the album. "Tigers" is the 10+ minutes epic of the release with guest vocals from Daniel Falt, which is gives an additional emotional range to the lyrics of the song.

Another excellent release for the band, who have already released the followup in 2018, with "Archivarium". Both releases are highly recommended for prog fans that want to hear fresh ideas on the basis of traditional prog forms.


94.7/100

Below is a video with various excerpts from the album

#14 - Top of 2017

Alestorm - No grave but the sea (Napalm Records)

2018 gave us another great pirate-themed treasure by the all time favourite privateers, Alestorm! The album starts right away with setting the "join the adventure" vibe with epic sing along "No Grave but the Sea", which also serves as the title song. Of course there are a number of more fun songs like "Mexico" that will make want to set a course for a bar in Mexico and the catchy "Alestorm". "To the End of the World" is a great surprise with a darker but full of epic feeling that goes over 6 minutes (!) and along with the pumped & heavier "Treasure Island" build on what Alestorm have shown us before but also taking it a notch further! Highlights of the records are definitely "Bar ünd Imbiss" with its great storytelling and guitar riffs, the aggressively funny "Fucked with an Anchor" (which is a personal favourite for bad days) and the awesome "Man the Pumps" that is straight-up Alestorm classic! Harsh vocals (with gang shouts and vulgar sing-alongs filled with hilarious swear words) blend with great & fun song-writing, upbeat songs and a range of folky instruments creating a perfect atmosphere for a pillaging voyage! If this doesn't sound fun enough you can check the  bonus track "Pirate Pizza Party" or the extra disc where the vocals have been replaced with dog barks and treat yourself!




94.5/100

Below is official videos for the the songs "Mexico", "Alestorm" and "Fucked With an Anchor".

#15 - Top of 2017

The night flight orchestra - Amber Galactic  (Nuclear Blast)

This is truly an excellent and unexpected rock release for 2017. The sound of NFO is a combination of the big "stadium rock" bands of yesterday with a fresh approach which succeeds not only making them sound classic but also very approachable to new listeners that may not heavily suffer from nostalgia. This is their third release and having never heard of them before this album I was taken aback from the wealth and depth of what these guys had to offer.
The album kicks off with "Midnight Flyer" that combines fast keyboards and catchy guitar solos with awesomely infectious vocals by Bjorn Streed (of Soilwork fame!). "Star of Rio" is a groovy track with an awesome coupling of  female vocals in the chorus that give it a Soul/70s vibe. "Gemini" draws clear influences from the great disco songs of the era, while the following "Sad State of Affairs" is a more of a AOR-inspired track. "Jennie" is another beautiful song that will bring to mind the dancing power ballads of yesteryear. The next song, "Domino", is an awesome track that is either a lost track from Toto's "Africa" or a David Gilmour secret song that we never  heard about. "Josephine" is another top-notch dance-floor track with heavy Boston influences that should be played in all high school parties for all time. "Something mysterious" draws from Foreigner and Survivor as main influences and breaks into a dreamy nostalgic chorus and an awesome solo taken from the greatest hits of the era. The album ends with "Just another night", which includes a sax interlude, boosting the listener with a final shot of nostalgia before pressing play once more for another round of  "Amber Galactic".


94.2/100

Below are the music videos for "Gemini" and "Something Mysterious" as well as the audio track for "Domino".

#16 - Top of 2017

The Grammers - Dream in a minor key  (VR Label)

At number 16 we have the Grammers with "Dream in a minor key". These guys ain't no "new and promising" act. These are hard rock/ AOR veterans and have been releasing quality album after quality album for more than 15 years. Their latest release is no different, and yet its quality surpasses its predecessors enough to warrant inclusion among the best albums of 2017.

The album kicks off with "Run & Hide", which creates a relaxed atmosphere through the use of acoustic guitars and slowly builds towards the dynamic chorus and a Uriah Heep - inspired interlude which helps in developing the ambience of the song. "Dreams in  minor key" is an extremely catchy AOR song with piano-led verses leading  to the dynamic chorus. "Take it or leave it" is the best anthem of the album and truly deserving to be the AOR trademark of this decade, with equal parts of cheesiness and epic-ness and the excellent guest verse by Maria Hanninen. "Liar, liar" is another powerful rock song with theatrical vocal lines that reveal the impressive range of lead singer Hannu Vainiopaa. "79" is another rocking track with the piano accompanying the vocal interplay of the singer with the choral parts impeccably. The closer "Long Gone" is a slow sombre and nostalgic song with a catchy melody and a melancholic guitar/keyboard solo that serves as an excellent outro to the album. 

An unknown gem with some of the best songs I have heard in its genre in a long time.


94/100

Below is the music video for "Take it or Leave it"

#17 - Top of 2017

Operus - Cenotaph (Dark Star Records)

Cenotaph is the debut album of Operus, a epic symphonic metal band from Canada and it succeeds in giving us an amazing symphonic record for this year's top, starting with the epic instrumental intro "Silver Spell"! The pompous "Steel Against Steel" is full of acoustic and electronic guitar riffs that are perfectly completed by powerful lead vocals (David Michael Moote), supported by backing vocals (Robin Howe (cello) and Wojtek Sokolowski (bass))! The theatrical "Colosseum" adds a darker tone and more pronounced cello notes that transitioned to another awesome acoustic-based instrumental "Sands of Time" (which brings in mind an epic movie soundtrack) preparing the listener for the blasting "Fate's Pantomime" with its operatic elements. The melodic "Wretched Play" lets the listener catch a breath before the epic title-song "Cenotaph" and bound-to-stuck-to-your-mind "Maya & the Wolf "! The wrap-up song "The Return" runs over 7 minutes and its perfect blend of symphonic and operatic tunes with heavy guitar riffs and impressive vocals that you will leave you wanting for more. Stellar album!


94/100 

Below is the lyric video for the song "The Return".

#18 - Top of 2017

Steven Wilson - To the Bone  (Caroline International)

Like (almost) every year since the hiatus of Porcupine Tree, this year sees the release of the newest Steven Wilson album. But if someone comes expecting a hyper prog masterpiece along the lines of "The Raven that refused to sing ", he will be in for a surprise. In his newest album, Steven forgoes the prog elements of his recent personal albums and the Storm Corosion collaboration, and instead chooses to focus on the pop elements of his music, previously more prominent in his work with Blackfield. Gone are the intricate melodies and guitar solos, replaced by a more straightforward and "pop" sound. The album kicks off with the upbeat "To the bone" whose middle section is straight out of one of the last Porcupine Tree records. "Nowhere now" is a dreamy radio rock song, very close to a Blackfield composition. "Pariah" is the first song of the record where Ninet Tayeb's lyric lines are front  and centre and the whole ambient song is constructed around her lyrical performance. "The Same Asylum as Before" is more upbeat and belongs to the "Blackfield" type of songs that have been included in the record, albeit with a sharper edge on the guitars than "Nowhere now". "Refuge" was written on the wake of the large humanitarian refugee crisis and contemplates the existential crisis of being a refugee in a predominantly ambient track. "Permanating" is a very poppy and fresh song that tries to convey the essence of "Carpe Diem", with a quick pace and an extremely catchy chorus.  "Blank Tapes" is an acoustic interlude, paving the road for "People Eating Darkness", which adheres to the very easy-listen vibe of the record, while dealing with racism in every day life. "Song of I" features the lead vocals of Sophie Hunger and has a jazzy/prog/pop fusion feel.  "Detonation" is the most progressive rock song of the record and is closer to the recent personal records by Wilson. The album closes with "Song of Unborn", the third and final "Blackfield" song of the record which also features some amazing choral moments and come back to the "Carpe Diem" theme which seems to permeate at least part of the album. Overall, an excellent, if uneven, album which tries and at times succeeds to redefine the sound of Wilson while keeping as constants the brilliant songwriting and hones & thoughtful  lyrics that have been the backbone  of Wilson's career since moment one.


93.75/100


Below are the music videos for "Permenating", "Pariah", "Song of I" & "Nowhere now".