Only one on my list is a death metal album (Arsis, A Celebration of Guilt).
1. Ayreon--The Human Equation
Ayreon is a project run by one Arjen Lucassen, with different musicians on each album. The Human Equation's most famous guest performer is James Labrie from Dream Theater; a previous Ayreon album had Bruce Dickinson. The Human Equation is a double CD and tells a story... Well, I'll save that for another time.
2. Megadeth--The System Has Failed
Alright, who hasn't heard of Megadeth?! 'Nuff said. While I've always felt that Megadeth is a
good band, they've never blown me away until now. This is the first 'deth record to lack the other Dave, David Ellefson, but I can't complain as it's utterly brilliant from start to finish. Original guitarist Chris Poland returns for a couple of tracks.
3. Iced Earth--The Glorius Burden
Great band that released their first album in '91 or so, but lost longtime singer Matt Barlow in 2002. After Rob Halford went back to Judas Priest recently, Iced Earth scored big when they recruited Tim "Ripper" Owens, Priest's singer for several years. (The JP albums with Owens sucked, but it wasn't his fault. He's got the pipes, Tipton&Downing just forgot how to write a f***ing song.
)
Each of The Glorious Burden's tracks is about something from history; the American Revolution, Manfred von Richthofen (the Red Baron), Atilla the Hun, etc. Disc 2 contains one epic song in three parts about the Battle of Gettysburg.
4. Cea Serin--..Where Memories Combine...
Okay, now I'm getting fairly obscure on you guys, but this was good. Don't know much about it, so I'll just say that if you like Dream Theater, Fates Warning, maybe Pink Floyd you might like this.
5. Pain of Salvation--Be
The previous releases and live performances I've heard/seen from Pain of Salvation I just don't get. This is closer to "emo" (though not in the commerical sense of the genre, hence you haven't heard of them :P), and supposedly... "Oh, Daniel [the singer] sounds all emoitional and s***! (sniff)" I just stand there shaking my head. Their previous music has sucked IMO, I just don't get it...
Be I like. It deals a lot with philosophical aspects of consciousness... And is generally pretty weird.
6. Evergrey--The Inner Circle
Good band that's been around for several years. Like Pain of Salvation and Ayreon Evergrey specialize in concept albums, but are much heavier than the two aforementioned bands. TIC is about a guy who joins a cult. Their last album was about a kid whose mother dies. Happy, fun stuff. (not)
7. Fates Warning--FWX
Good band, some of you have heard of 'em. Another solid release.
8. Threshold--Subsurface
Great band that plays prog-metal with heavy AOR influences. Their 2001 album, Hypothetical is one of my top ten favorite of all time. 1998's Clone is probably in my top 15. Subsurface is another solid release from these guys.
9. Symmetry--A Soul's Roadmap
Getting really obscure again; good prog metal, again, is the best descriptor.
10. Enertia--Force
Good American-style power metal (as opposed to the wingy-wingy-wingy Sonata Arctica/Edguy Eurpean style).
11. Tears of Anger--The Awakening
Good power power, but more in the European vain I was just b.tching about. Not bad, not top ten.
12. Arsis--A Celebration of Guilt
COOOOOKKKKKKKIEEEEEE! My token death metal selection. This record was hailed by melodic death fans as the second coming of that subgenre, but I'll still take At the Gates' Slaughter of the Soul over this. That said, aCoG isn't bad at all. Good metal if you can stomach the "vocals."
13. 3 Inches of Blood--Advance and Vanquish
Old school, Maiden-esque style power metal with Manowar-style lyrics and two singers. Fun stuff.
14. Into Eternity--Buried in Oblivion
Okay, this album features some death vocals, but also clean. Again, two singers. Decent music.
15. Dio--Master of the Moon
I think Ronnie James Dio is at his best when he's working with Tony Iommi ("Ozzy IS Sabbath, Sharon told me so!" Oh, shut up...) or Ritchie Blackmore. I don't like most of the mid-tempo chugging that takes place on a lot of Dio songs, but that said MotM had a few songs I liked. "One More for the Road" is the best moment on here.
--T.J.
