Finally got my list together, I got a lot better at sifting through albums and finding what I like, so I made the effort to preview every heavy metal album could find.
1. "Tragic Magic" Spell (Heavy Metal/Hard Rock)
They have been very consistent with their unique blend of heavy metal with elements of classic hard rock. Band is still best described as hypnotic metal.
2. "Of Solitude Triumphant" The Temple (Doom Metal)
They are still the best example of what I call cathedral doom metal. It was a close second to Spell’s album.
3. "Feed the Fire" Trial (Swe) (Heavy Metal)
I was a bit worried with their “Sisters of the Moon” EP that these cover songs were indicating that they were moving in a new direction. But this album still delivered what they have put out on their past albums. “In the Highest” was one of my favorite songs I found this year.
4. EP "Emissary" Emissary (Power Metal)
Band sounds like they listened to Matthias Steele’s “Haunting Tales of a Warrior's Past” and said lets do that. Really great stuff but I wish they had chosen a different band name since there is another Emissary currently active and it will likely cause confusion.
5. EP "First Contact" Kontact (Heavy Metal)
Interesting stuff, and the Sacred Blade cover was a pleasant surprise even if it doesn’t quite work with their style. Band sounds very promising and I hope to hear more from them soon.
6. "Reclaim the Might" Pöwer A.D. (Heavy Metal)
With so many bands having flat sounding overproduced albums, this was a nice change of pace. I could see it being a hard sell for some people, but I love the raw ancient haunting vibe I get from this album.
7. "Basom Gryphos" Pestilength (Black/Death/Doom Metal)
Cool stuff, fairly unique sound title and some of the track names give off Lovecraft vibes.
8. "In the Lonely Light of Mourning" Eric Wagner (Doom Metal)
Sadly ended up being a really great farewell album. “If You Lost It All” hit particularly hard. R.I.P. Eric Wagner you will be sorely missed.
9. "The Tunnel, The Well, Holy Bedlam" JIRM (Psychedelic Rock/Doom Metal)
10. "All That Has Never Been True" Ultha (Black Metal)
11. "Dwell in the Fog" Firebreather (StonerMetal)
12. "Kosmic Attunement to the Malevolent Rites of the Universe" Kamru (Doom Metal)
13. "Geddon Dangerous" Doublegeddon (Heavy Metal)
Fun stuff, lyrics are quite humorous on some of the tracks.
14. "Electric Elite" Riot City (Heavy/Speed Metal)
A big improvement over the last album.
15. "Pathological" Mythosphere (Progressive Doom Metal)
16. "Serpent Storm" Armagh (Heavy Metal)
17. "Midnight Marauder" Powertryp (Heavy Metal)
18. "Where the Shadows Adorn" Mother of Graves (Atmospheric Death/Doom Metal)
19. "Island" 明日の叙景(Asunojokei) (Post Black Metal/Hardcore Punk)
Really interesting sound, blending the raw aggression of hardcore with the more elegant nostalgia feeling that post black metal bands get.
20. "Acheron" Blood Python (Heavy Metal)
Infesting sound bringing elements an theme of epic metal, but played with simple and very effective riffs.
21. "Riders of Rohan" Riders of Rohan (Hard Rock/Proto Heavy Metal)
Fairly unique band. Sounds dominantly like 70’s Rock but leans into the NWOBHM a bit.
22. "Āl Bēlūti Dārû" Wyatt E. (Drone/Doom Metal)
23. "Synchro Anarchy" Voivod (Progressive Thrash Metal)
I enjoyed this a lot more than “The Wake” which I thought was pretty boring on the whole. This album reminds me more of Target Earth which was my introduction to the band and I like a lot.
24. "Return into Forever" Clarent Blade (Epic Heavy Metal)
Very raw weird and haunting sounding. One of the more interesting albums I found this year.
25. "Windows of Your Heart" Haunt (Heavy Metal)
Still solid but didn’t like the songs as much as the past couple of albums.
26. "Decay" Tension (Heavy Metal)
27. "Deadlights" Sleazer (Heavy Metal)
28. "Loose Lips" Pursuit (Heavy Metal/Hard Rock)
29. "The Sick Die by Sunrise" Athanasy (Death/Doom Metal)
Concept album about the last day of a dying man. Probably the bleakest album on my list, but very interesting to contemplate on.
30. "Solid Source of Steel" Sin Starlett (Heavy Metal)
Fun stuff, vocalist is what I imagine Rob Halford would sound like if he was cast as Skeletor in a He-Man musical.
31. "Reborn" Olhava (Atmospheric Black Metal)
32. "Pathos" Obsidian Sea (Doom Metal)
33. "This Sceptred Veil" Sergeant Thunderhoof (Stoner Metal)
34. "Cities of Mars" Cities of Mars (Atmospheric/Stoner Metal)
35. "Echoes from the Gutter" Venator (Heavy Metal)
36. "Inward" Moozoonsii (Progressive Metal)
37. "Strange Machine" Alunah (Stoner Metal)
38. "Sons of a Lie" Rave in Fire (Heavy Metal)
39. "Beyond the Wall" Metalian (Heavy/Speed Metal)
40. "Metal Dream" Witchunter (Heavy/Speed Metal)
“Metal Dream” & “Rolling Queen” were the only songs I really liked on this album.
41. "Isomorphism" Hispÿn (Sludge Metal)
“Hammernaut” & “Call” were the only songs I really liked on this album.
42. "Shadow of a Fallen Star Pt. 1 - The Demos" Seven Sisters (Heavy Metal)
On the whole the final version of the album was much better sounding, but I liked the way Kyle McNeill’s voice sounds on “Truth Eternal [Demo Version]”. I can’t decide if I like it or the album version “Whispers in the Dark” better.
43. "Crest of the Martyrs Demos" Twisted Tower Dire (Heavy/Power Metal)
Sound is a lot better than the original release which had a really fake sounding production. I still don’t like most of the album but “Some Other Time, Some Other Place” sounds great.
44. "Stay With Me When You're Gone" Rise to the Sky (Funeral Doom Metal)
Made the list because of the song “A Time I Was Loved”. It really got the mournful beauty and elegance this genre can have, unfortunately the rest of the album didn’t capture the same magic.
45. "Between The Circles" Moon Shepherd (Heavy Metal)
Made the list because of “Methusalem”.
46. "Michigan Drag" Locust Point (Heavy Metal/Hard Rock)
Made the list because of “Quiet Ones”.
