en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices Last.fm Group Journal: Jump In The Fire Bootleg Forum http://www.last.fm/group/Jump+In+The+Fire+Bootleg+Forum/journal The Last.fm group journal for Jump In The Fire Bootleg Forum. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. Best Albums of 2011 / Upcoming Releases http://www.last.fm/user/hurricane_mario/journal/2011/01/10/45gi8o_best_albums_of_2011__upcoming_releases Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:47:23 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/hurricane_mario/journal/2011/01/10/45gi8o_best_albums_of_2011__upcoming_releases RIP this journal. Here's the upcoming releases I actually care about:
Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn Of Events
Devin Townsend - Ghost 2 (September)
Nightwish - Storytime (Single September, Album December)
Old Silver Key (Alcest) - Tales of Wanderings (Sept 16)
We Came As Romans - Understanding What We've Grown To Be (9/13/11)
Angels & Airwaves - LOVE PART 2 (11.11.11)
Lunar Aurora - ? (December, hopefully!)


2011 Releases:
1) Format is "Artist - Album (Genre) (Best songs, if I so choose)"
2) Note that these ratings are based on the album as a whole, not individual songs. This includes production quality, how cohesive all of the songs sound, etc. I definitely prefer concept albums, which progress through a story or similar type of thing.
3) You will note I have a fairly eclectic taste in music. The fact is, if I listened to the album in it's entirety, it's going in here. If I couldn't finish, it's 2.5 or below, or not in here. Also (obviously) if it's bad it's 2.5 or below.
4) I feel the need to add "...blew away expectations" or "...disappointment" to the end of some of these. Should be self-explanatory.
5) Please comment/dispute these and recommend releases I missed!


1. Woods of Desolation - Torn Beyond Reason (Atmospheric/Depressive Black Metal) (The Inevitable End, November) ...blew away expectations
2. Emmure - Speaker of the Dead (Deathcore) (Dogs get put down, Last words to rose) ...blew away expectations
3. Symfonia - In Paradisum (Neoclassical Power Metal) (Fields of Avalon, Forevermore, Don't Let Me Go)
4. The Project Hate MCMXCIX - "Bleeding The New Apocalypse (Cum Victriciis In Manibus Armis)" (Melodic Death Metal) ("Iesus Nazarenus, Servus Mei", "Summoning Majestic War")


...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Tao Of The Dead (Alt/Indie rock) ...blew away expectations
Dornenreich - Flammentriebe (Black Folk Metal) (Flammenmensch, Erst Deine Träne Löscht Den Brand)
The Foetal Mind - The Grand Contraction (Atmospheric/Depressive/Instrumental Black Metal) (Silence, The Collapse)
Omnium Gatherum - New World Shadows (Melodeath) (Soul Journeys, Watcher Of The Skies)
Twinspirits - Legacy (Progressive Metal)
Winds of Plague - (Deathcore)


Burzum - Fallen (Traditional Black Metal) (Jeg Faller, Til Hel og tilbake igjen)
Condenados - A Painful Journey Into Nihil (Traditional Doom Metal)
Mercenary - Metamorphosis (Melodeath / Metalcore) (In A River Of Madness, Velvet Lies)
Power Quest - Blood Alliance (Power Metal) (Better Days, City of Lies)
Stratovarius - Elysium (Power Metal / Neoclassical) (The Game Never Ends, Move the Mountain)


Adele - 21 (Singer Songwriter)
Axenstar - Aftermath (Power Metal) (Agony, Signs of a Lie)
Bloodbound - Unholy Cross (Heavy/Power Metal)
Helrunar - Sól (Black / Pagan Metal) (Rattenkönig, Sól)
Moonsorrow - Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa (Atmospheric/Folk Black Metal) ...disappointment


Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising (Melodeath) (Töck's Taunt - Loke's Treachery Part II, Doom Over Dead Man)
Before The Dawn - Deathstar Rising (Melodeath) ...disappointment
Lifelover - Sjukdom (Depressive Black Metal) (Led By Misfortune, Nedvaknande)
Scheepers - Scheepers (Heavy Metal) ...disappointment


Dead Channel - Un-X-pressed (Nu-Metal / Industrial)
Jennifer Lopez - Love? (pop)


Holy Cross - Vaterland ("Epic Neo-Classical Metal"... good joke!)






.........................................................................................................................................................
2010 Releases worth mentioning, that I missed:


In This Moment - A Star Crossed Wasteland (Metalcore) (The Gun Show, Blazin, Bonus tracks)
Jónsi - Go (Ambient Rock?)
Spirit of the Forest - Kingdom Of Despair (Folk/Atmospheric Black Metal) (EVERYTHING, seriously this band could take on the "big" bands of the genre and win, go check them out!)


Eisbrecher - Eiszeit (Industrial Nu-Metal)
Ratt - Infestation (Glam/Heavy Metal)

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2011 releases I look forward to (Taken mostly from Metal Storm, format is day.month or ········ for unknown, so I went a little OCD with this but it will be hard for me to miss an album release I'm interested in now!!):

January:
········ Helheim - Heiðindómr Ok Mótgang
········ Protest the Hero - TBA
········ Fen - Epoch
11.01 Axenstar - Aftermath (Power Metal)
12.01 Mygrain - Mygrain
12.01 Stratovarius - Elysium
14.01 Theatres Des Vampires - Moonlight Waltz
19.01 Power Quest - Blood Alliance
26.01 Hibria - Blind Ride
28.01 Battlelore - Doombound

February:
Hypomanie – A City in Mono
········ Norther - Circle Regenerated
········ ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Tao Of The Dead
········ Symphony X - TBA
········ Shining - VII - Född Förlorare ...yeah right, this album has been delayed about 12 months already!
Sleeping Peonies
01.02 Stryper - The Covering
04.02 Omnium Gatherum - New World Shadows
04.02 Korpiklaani - Ukon Wacka
10.02 The Eternal - Under A New Sun
11.02 Emerald Sun - Regeneration
14.02 Dornenreich - Flammentriebe
14.02 Ava Inferi - Onyx
14.02 Lifelover - Sjukdom
Feb 15 - Dream Diary - You are the beat (http://kaninerecords.com/dream-diary)
15.02 Neuraxis - Asylon
15.02 Ralf Scheepers - Scheepers ... 0_0 nice
15.02 As Blood Runs Black - Instinct
21.02 Moonsorrow - Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa ... THIS.
22.02 Evergrey - Glorious Collision
23.02 Turisas - Stand Up And Fight
23.02 Deadlock - Bizarro World
23.02 Before The Dawn - Deathstar Rising
25.02 Voodoo Circle - Broken Heart Syndrome
25.02 Woods of Desolation - Torn Beyond Reason ... so says metal archives
25.02 Mercenary - Metamorphosis
25.02 Shakra - Back On Track
25.02 One Man Army and the Undead Quartet - The Dark Epic... ... no idea but sounds interesting by name
25.02 Visions of Atlantis - Delta
25.02 Imperia - TBA
25.02 Jag Panzer - The Scourge Of The Light
25.02 Stormwarrior - Heathen Warrior
25.02 Coldspell - Out From The Cold
28.02 Heavenwood - Abyss Masterpiece
28.02 Ixion - To The Void

March:
Kladovest - Atmosphere
········ Within Temptation - The Unforgiving
········ Blackfield - Blackfield III ...omfg!!
········ Sonata Arctica - TBA [DVD]
········ Paragon - TBA
········ Whitesnake - Forevermore
········ Autopsy - Macabre Eternal
········ Avantasia - The Flying Opera [DVD]
········ Myrath - TBA
········ Iced Earth - Festivals Of The Wicked [DVD]
········ Saxon - TBA
········ Divinefire - Eye Of The Storm
········ Pagan's Mind - TBA
········ Draconian - TBA
········ Blood Stain Child - TBA
04.03 Agnostic Front - TBA
11.03 Sylosis - Edge Of The Earth
Soundgarden to Release Live on I-5 March 22
25.03 Midnattsol - The Metamorphosis Melody
25.03 Wizard - Of Wariwulfs And Bluotvarwes
25.03 Symfonia ... confirmed release date last i saw
Crimson Wind, the Italian metal band featuring Thy Majestie singer Alessio Taormina, will release its debut album, "The Wings Of Salvation", on March 25 via Germany's Rock It Up Records.
Negura Bunget "Focul Viu
Lantlôs "Lantlôs" re-release with bonus
29.03 Blackguard - Firefight
29.03 Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising
29.03 Dredg - TBA
Mar 29 - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Belong

April:
Falconer - Armod
Alcest - Le Secret re-record ... done as of 10/xx/2010, just waiting on the label
········ Samael - Lux Mundi
········ Saturnus - TBA
········ Iced Earth - TBA
········ Primordial - Redemption At The Puritans Hand
........ Dragonland - The Return ... confirmed album title
········ Leaves' Eyes - TBA
········ Fuck The Facts - Die Miserable ...ooooooh
········ Rhapsody of Fire - From Chaos To Eternity ...wow, already??
15.04 The Poodles - Performocracy ... assuming it's live
29.04 Lake Of Tears - Illwill

May:
········ Devin Townsend - Deconstruction
········ Arch Enemy - TBA
········ Wolf - Legions Of Bastards
········ Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - A Sense Of Decay ... sounds cool
········ Devin Townsend - Ghost
········ Enid - TBA
········ A Storm of Light - As The Valley Of Death Becomes Us, Our Silver Memories Fade
Moby - Destroyed
03.05 Prey For Nothing - Against All Good And Evil
20.05 U.D.O. - Rev Raptor
20.05 Hammerfall - TBA

June:
········ Adagio - TBA
········ Venom - TBA
········ Wyrd - Death Of The Sun
········ Unearth - TBA
········ In Flames - TBA
········ Absu - Abzu
········ Virgin Black - Requiem - Pianissimo
········ Exumer - TBA
········ Exhumed - All Guts, No Glory ...lol such similar names
········ Summoning - TBA (Epic Black Metal) ... Yeah right, this will be pushed to 2012, at least
········ Kiss - TBA ... ??????????
········ Powerwolf - TBA

July:
········ Gojira - TBA [EP]
········ Armory - Empyrean Realms
········ Der Weg Einer Freiheit - TBA [EP]

August:
········ Nightwish - TBA
········ Today Is The Day - TBA
········ Lacuna Coil - TBA

September:
········ Vader - Return To The Morbid Reich (working title)
········ Steel Assassin - WWII: Metal Of Honor

October:
········ Opeth - TBA

November:
········ Serpentcult - Raised By Wolves .. sounds cool

December:


Unknown, but expected in 2010 (No dots - mine carried over from 2010, not from Metal Storm):
Aesma Daeva ... album is written, needs to be recorded and produced as of 12/xx/2010
•••••••• Agathodaimon - In Darkness (working Title)
Albrah - Anjos Sem Asas (Power Prog Metal) ... apparently I made this artist up! No results on google. Perhaps a typo of Almah, or Albra (at least that one exists)???
Alchemist (Power Progressive Metal) ... "Alchemist are hibernating indefinitely!" as of 01/10/2011 T_T
•••••••• Alestorm - Back Through Time
Alkemyst (Power Progressive Metal... not to be confused with Alchemist) ... "working on new album" but no updates on it since at least 2009. Way to alienate your few dedicated fans!
Amesoeurs ?
•••••••• Amorphis - TBA
Amusement Parks on Fire (eh, who knows)
Anderz Wrethov (Pop but amazing voice, sounds like Andre Matos somewhat) ... Has had solo material on myspace since 2007, announced album in late 2008 and still has not released the first single from it. I give up.
Andre Matos - hey why not he's release albums about every two years.
AnnaGrace (Ian Van Dahl) (Dance)
•••••••• Ark - Aradiokaos
•••••••• Arkona - TBA
•••••••• As We Fight - Rockcore [Working Title]
Atoma (ex-half of Slumber) - Resonance (Epic Atmospheric Doom Metal) ... "Skylight is already recorded and mastered (January 2, 2011), and will be released in the fall of 2011"
- Unnamed band from second half of Slumber - http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=787563
Aquaria ... They released past two albums in 2007 and 2009
Borealis (Symphonic Power Metal) ... two new songs as of January but no news http://www.myspace.com/borealismetal
•••••••• Charred Walls of the Damned - TBA
•••••••• Circus Maximus - TBA
•••••••• Cloudscape - New Era
Corpus Christii - Luciferian Frequencies ... done as of 12/29/2010 but again will probably take 2 friggin years to release it
•••••••• Cult of Luna - TBA
•••••••• Daylight Dies - TBA
•••••••• Delain - TBA
Desire (Symphonic/Melodic Black Metal) ... looking for a keyboard player
•••••••• Devin Townsend - Z²
•••••••• Diablo Swing Orchestra - TBA
•••••••• DragonForce - TBA
•••••••• Elysian Blaze - Blood Geometry
•••••••• Falconer - Armod
•••••••• Fates Warning - TBA
•••••••• Forever Slave - TBA
•••••••• Frostmoon Eclipse - The End Stands Silent
Grey Waters - Full-Length
•••••••• Haggard - TBA
•••••••• Insomnium - TBA
kattah - Eyes Of Sand (Power Metal) ... sounds amazing, track list is set, touring with Angra in 2011, no word of a release date still.
Kreuzweg Ost - Gott mit uns ... summoning side-project, also heavily delayed! Originally supposed to release mid 2009, still no sign of it. why not put mp3s and a paypal link on your site? That's what I'd do, fvck labels and CDs.

Lost Horizon ... been looking for a singer for about 8 years now, please someone go help them out, even if you're terrible! http://www.oncelosthorizon.com/clips/
•••••••• Lunatica - TBA
•••••••• Megadeth - TBA
Naildown
Necrophagist - TBA (Technical Death Metal) ... was told in I think 2008 at a concert it was coming "soon"... 2008 passed, then 2009, then 2010, don't expect it in 2011 either.
•••••••• Persuader - The Fiction Maze
•••••••• Queens of the Stone Age - TBA
•••••••• Ram-Zet - TBA
Rapture (Epic Atmospheric Doom Metal) ... Just no. No updates in at least two years. Vaporware. But it doesnt hurt to hope? They are still actively touring though.
•••••••• Rush - Clockwork Angels
•••••••• Satyricon - TBA
•••••••• Secrets of the Moon - Seven Bells
Serj Tankian - Music Without Borders (Alternative) ... not sure if this is even coming? System of a Down Reunion in 2011 though!!
Sigur Rós
Soulspell - The Labyrinth of Truths (Power Metal Opera including Edu Falashi among others)
Seth MacFarlane (creator of Family Guy)
Soundgarden
•••••••• Stormwarrior - If It's Not In Your Bloode... You Will Never Understande! [DVD]
•••••••• SuidAkrA - Book Of Dowth
•••••••• Tesla - TBA
•••••••• The Devil Wears Prada - TBA
•••••••• The Fall of Every Season - Amends
•••••••• The Kovenant - Aria Galactica
•••••••• To/Die/For - TBA (Gothic/Doom Metal)
Unisonic (Michael Kiske, Dennis Ward, Mandy Meyer and Kosta Zafiriou) .. demos done, aim for release spring 2011
•••••••• Uriah Heep - TBA
Virus From Hell ...really want ... I think november 2009 it was announced there was a new album, nothing since. Sigh...
WhoCares "Out of My Mind" - In October 2010 it was announced that Jason Newsted would be joining a supergroup with singer Ian Gillan from Deep Purple, guitarist Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath, keyboardist Jon Lord from Deep Purple and drummer Nicko McBrain from Iron Maiden.
•••••••• Winds of Plague - TBA
•••••••• Wintersun - Time (Melodic Speed/Black Metal)
•••••••• Wolves in the Throne Room - TBA
•••••••• Woods of Ypres - Woods V: You Were The Light
Xandria ... new singer found, no word of release date still
•••••••• Xerath - TBA (Symphonic Epic "Film Score" Metal)


2012, probably (believe me my section for releases that didnt make it out in 2010 was massive, I'll need this):
········ Eternal Tears Of Sorrow - TBA
Far Beyond (Epic Black Metal) ... confirmed from artist it will not release in 2011
········ Riverside - TBA]]> http://www.last.fm/user/hurricane_mario/journal/2011/01/10/45gi8o_best_albums_of_2011__upcoming_releases#comments My favorite (mostly metal) albums of 2010 - Final list! http://www.last.fm/user/hurricane_mario/journal/2010/12/30/44q6g4_my_favorite_%28mostly_metal%29_albums_of_2010_-_final_list%21 Thu, 30 Dec 2010 23:55:11 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/hurricane_mario/journal/2010/12/30/44q6g4_my_favorite_%28mostly_metal%29_albums_of_2010_-_final_list%21 I am fairly open-minded (as you should be), so expect any genre in here, though metal is definitely my favorite. However, I usually won't bother to review non-metal releases unless it's one of the extremes - really good, or really bad and I feel like trashing it. Though, I'm just realizing that my taste has shifted away from metal even more this year...

This is my final list, containing almost every album I have listened to which came out in 2010. I will not be updating this entry any more unless someone enlightens me to something super-fantastic that came out this year that I missed. I can’t believe 2010 is over already, it seems like yesterday it was new years eve, and now it is tomorrow again. I will likely not do a list like this again next year, its too much work. But it's been fun and a good way to keep track of the excessive amounts of music I like. Perhaps next year just a top 20 and other great ones.

A playlist including one song off each of the top 20 albums and 7 other songs, is up on my blog as of 1/9/11... Go download it (link in my profile)! Songs with an asterisk next to them are on my blog, I will try to get all the top 20 (Except Alex Band due to a complaint) on the blog by the end of January.

Bold albums are a must-listen! Top 20 are in order, rest of categories are alphabetical. " ...disappointment" means albums I could not wait for did not meet or exceed expectations.

Keep in mind, I am rating these albums as a whole, not judging it based on the quality of particular songs. For example, if there are no songs that stand out as good, but the album is a concept album that reveals to me the meaning of life through music, it would probably be #1. Production is a BIG part of my review process as well, it's 2010 so I want my albums to sound futuristic, refined and shiny!

And please comment, either to debate my reviews or to recommend me albums I don't know about!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10.0-9.5 (Top 20)
1. Angra - Aqua (Progressive Power Metal)
2. Revolution Renaissance - Trinity (Power / Progressive Metal ... make sure to get the bonus track off their website!)
3. The Depreciation Guild - Spirit Youth (Chip-tune / Shoegaze)
4. Arid - Under The Cold Street Lights (Atmospheric / Alternative Rock)
5. Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer (Hip Hop / Soul)
6. Senmuth - Секененра (Sekenenra) (Symphonic Industrial Metal)
7. Alex Band - We've All Been There (Alternative Rock)
8. Pretty Maids - Pandemonium (Heavy / Power Metal)
9. Mr. Big - What If... (Hard Rock / Hair Metal)
10. Shining - BlackJazz (Blackened Progressive Avant-Garde Jazz Metal Rock... no, really!)
11. Heimataerde - Unwesen (Darkwave / Dark Electro / EBM)
*12. Lantlôs - .neon (Depressive/Suicidal/Atmospheric/Shoegaze Black Metal)
*13. Les Discrets - Septembre Et Ses Dernières Pensées (Post-Black Metal / Shoegaze)
*14. Sofa Surfers - Blindside (Alternative Rock / Trip-Hop / Downtempo / Chillout / Experimental)
15. Amusement Parks on Fire - Road Eyes (Shoegaze / Post-Rock)
16. Mar De Grises - Streams Inwards (Experimental Atmospheric Death/Doom Metal)
17. Dexter Freebish - Shine On (Electro Pop / Hard Rock)
*18. Analog Rebellion - Ancient Electrons (Indie / Electronic / Pop / Rock)
*19. Alcest - Écailles de Lune (Post-Black Metal / Shoegaze)
20. Tetsuo Sakurai - Vital World (Bass Virtuoso / Jazz Fusion)


9.4-9.0 (Honorable Mentions)
Alesana - The Emptiness (Post-Hardcore / Screamo)
Agrypnie - 16[485] ("Avant Garde" Black Metal)
Ancient Bards - The Alliance Of The Kings (Female Fronted Power Metal)
The Breathing Process - Odyssey (un) Dead (Symphonic/Electronic Deathcore / Melodic Death Metal)
*Burzum - Belus (Black Metal)
Counterparts - Prophets (Progressive Melodic Hardcore)
Decrepitaph - Beyond The Cursed Tombs (Traditional Death Metal)
Grey Waters - Below the Ever Setting Sun (EP) (Blackened Shoegaze / Emo)
Joe Satriani - Black Swans & Wormhole Wizards (Instrumental Rock / Guitar Virtuoso)
Kalmah - 12 Gauge (Melodic Death Metal)
KHY - Volver a Creer
MindSplit - CHARMED HUMAN ART OF SIGNIFICANCE (Progressive Metal .. really great for being so unknown!)
Nanowar Of Steel - Into Gay Pride Ride (Power Metal / Experimental / Parody)
Pay No Respect - Moving On (Hardcore ... another unknown band that doesn't deserve to be)
Rage - Strings To A Web (Power Metal)
Ratt - Infestation (Glam/Heavy Metal)
*Rhapsody of Fire - The Frozen Tears Of Angels (Symphonic Power Metal)
S.A.W. - Young Rebel (Heavy Metal / Metalcore)
VersaEmerge - Fixed at Zero (Female Fronted Alternative Rock)
Wrath of the Weak - Solace (Noise / Ambient Black Metal)


8.9-8.0 (Great)
Abandon All Ships - Geeving (Trance-core... once again I am not making this up)
Agalloch - Marrow Of The Spirit (Atmospheric Black Folk Metal)
Anthriel - The Pathway (Progressive Metal)
Black Sun Aeon - Routa (Doom Death Metal)
Blind Guardian - At The Edge of Time
Christopher Lee - Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross (Epic Symphonic Film Score Metal)
Cold Body Radiation - The Great White Emptiness (Blackened Shoegaze / Post-Black Metal)
Crystal Viper - Legends (Female Fronted Power Metal ... sounds exactly like Dreamaker singer)
Daft Punk - Tron Legacy (Score / Electronic / Dance)
Damn - Forbidden Anger (Traditional/Experimental Death Metal)
Deftones - Diamond Eyes
Dimmu Borgir - Abrahadabra (Black Metal)
Dolarhyde - Dolarhyde (Punk)
Dopamine - Dopamine EP (Blackened Shoegaze / Post-Black Metal)
Drudkh - Handful of Stars (Blackened Shoegaze / Post-Black Metal)
Down - Diary Of A Mad Band (Heavy / Stoner Metal)
enos - Chapter 1 (Atmospheric Stoner Metal)
Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini (Progressive Black Metal)
Everlasting Rain - Everlasting Rain (Modern metal, death and clean female vocals... unknown, check them out!!)
Heaven Shall Burn - Invictus (Iconoclast III) (Melodic Death Metal / Hardcore)
Jorn - Dio (Heavy / Power Metal)
KISKE-SOMERVILLE - Kiske-Somerville (Melodic Metal)
Knights Of The Abyss - The Culling Of Wolves (Metalcore)
Labyrinth - Return To Heaven Denied Pt.II A Midnight Autum's Dream (Power Progressive Metal)
Lissie - Catching a Tiger (Indie Rock)
*Mägo de Oz - Gaia III: Atlantia (Folk Power Metal / Folk Rock)
Nils Patrik Johansson - A Night For Ronnie James Dio (Heavy / Power Metal)
Oathean - Oathean (Melodic Black Metal)
Pain of Salvation - Road Salt One (Progressive / Psychedelic style rock)
Parabelle - Reassembling the Icons
Powerglove - Saturday Morning Apocalypse (Tony Kakko singing Pokemon... oh right Power Metal)
Royal Hunt - X (Progressive Power Metal)
Senmuth - Chambers (Ambient / Atmospheric)
Star One - Victims Of The Modern Age (ANOTHER Ayreon project - Heavy Progressive Metal)
Story Of The Year - The Constant (Emo)
Six Magics - Behind The Sorrow (Power Metal)
The Last Days - When The Tomorrow Is a Grey Day (Ambient / Post-Black Metal / Blackened Shoegaze)
The Sun Came Up Upon The Left - And The Dreams So Rich In Color (Atmospheric/Drone/Depressive Black Metal)
Troll - Neo-Satanic Supremacy (Epic Black Metal)
TRUE - Still Life (Spanish-themed Death Metal)
Vincent Diamante - Flower: Original Soundtrack From The Video Game (Atmospheric / Ambient)
Whirling - Faceless Phenomena (Unknown Progressive Black Metal. Give them a try)
*Wilds Forlorn - The Great Loss (Atmospheric Black Metal / Neoclassical)
Wurm - Insomnies (Atmospheric Depressive Black Metal)


7.9-7.0 (Very good)
A Forest of Stars - Opportunistic Thieves of Spring ("Psychedelic" Black Metal)
Abigail Williams - In The Absence Of Light (Black Metal)
Angels & Airwaves - Love (Emo / Post-Punk)
Avantasia - The Wicked Symphony + Angel of Babylon (Symphonic Power Metal Opera)
As I Lay Dying - The Powerless Rise (Metalcore)
The Birthday Massacre - Pins and needles (Synth / Industrial / Gothic Metal)
Bitter Frost - Bitter Frost (Melodic / Neo-classical / Blackened Power Metal)
Coheed and Cambria - Year Of The Black Rainbow (Progressive Rock / Metal)
Crematory - Infinity (Melodic Death Doom Metal)
*Deep - In Silence Somber Solace (Groove / Black Metal)
Ethereal Blue - Essays in rhyme on passion and ethics (Experimental Black Metal)
Freedom Call - Legend of the Shadowking (Power Metal)
Forgive Me - Last Drop of Life (DSBM)
Iron Fire - Metalmorphosized (Power / Heavy Metal)
Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier (Heavy Metal)
James LaBrie - Static impulse (Heavy Metal)
Linkin Park - A thousand suns (I don't honestly know. Which I like)
Myrath - Desert Call (Indian-themed Heavy Metal)
Negură Bunget - Maiestrit (Progressive Black Metal)
Nocturnal Depression - The Cult of Negation (DSBM)
Orphaned Land - The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR (Middle-Eastern-themed Progressive Folk Metal)
Ozzy Osbourne - Scream (Heavy / Doom / Alternative Metal)
Phenomena - Blind Faith (Hard Rock with lots of guest vocalists such as Tony Martin (Black Sabbath), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear))
Red Sparowes - The Fear Is Excruciating, But Therein Lies the Answer (Instrumental / Post-Rock)
Serj Tankian - Imperfect Harmonies (Symphonic / Experimental Alternative Rock)
Russell Allen & Jorn Lande - The Showdown (Heavy / Melodic Metal)
Sinbreed - When Worlds Collide (Melodic / Heavy / Power Metal)
Soilwork - The Panic Broadcast (Metalcore / Melodic Death Metal)...disappointment
Темнозорь - Haunted Dreamscapes (Pagan / Folk Metal)
Virgin Steele - The Black Light Bacchanalia (Symphonic Power Metal)
Volbeat - Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Elvis Metal)
Wall of Sleep - When Mountains Roar (Stoner Metal)
Xasthur - Portal of Sorrow (Raw Ambient/Depressive Black Metal) ...disappointment


6.9-6.0 (Good)
Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare (Progressive popcore) ...disappointment
Amorphis - Magic & Mayhem - Tales From The Early Years (Death Metal)
Cendres de Haine - Bellum Omium Contra Omnes (Experimental scary black metal that will make you sh*t your pants)
Dark Tranquillity - We Are The Void (Melodic Death Metal) ...disappointment
December Peals - People Have Demons (Hard Rock)
Disturbed - Asylum (Alt rock whatever)
Derdian - New Era, Pt. 3: The Apocalypse (Power Metal)
Dream Evil - In the Night (Power Metal)
Edenbridge - Solitaire (Symphonic Female Fronted Metal)Eluveitie - Everything Remains as it Never Was (Melodic Death Metal)
Elvenking - Red Silent Tides (Folk Metal) ...disappointment
Helloween - Unarmed - Best Of - 25th Anniversary (Symphonic Power Metal / Etc.) ...disappointment
Helloween - 7 Sinners (Power Metal) ...disappointment
HIM - Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice (Gothic / Heavy Metal)
Hoarfrost - Nattlig Självmord (Demo) (Ambient / Atmospheric Black Metal)
Ill Niño - Dead New World (Metalcore with a spanish edge)
Kamelot - Poetry for the Poisoned (Power Metal...?)
Krokus - Hoodoo (Traditional Heavy Metal / Hard Rock)
Lower Than Atlantis - Far Q (Melodic Hardcore)
Mekanix - Rise of the Mekanix (Thrash Metal)
Occultus - Inthial (Black Metal)
PlayRadioPlay! - Besides, Nothing (B-Sides And Rarities, 2003-2009) (Electronic / Etc.)
Rhapsody of Fire - The Cold Embrace of Fear
The Roots - How I Got Over (Hip Hop / Rap ... why so many guest singers?) ... disappointment
Scorpions - Sting In The Tail (Traditional Heavy Metal / Hard Rock) ...disappointment
Senmuth - Deathknowledge & Lifeperception (Symphonic Ambient? lol)
Sigh - Scenes From Hell (Experimental Black Metal)
Various - Whom The Moon A Nightsong Sings (Acoustic / Blackened Shoegaze) ... disappointment
The Vision Bleak - Set Sail To Mystery (Gothic / Doom Metal) ...disappointment
Tierra Santa - Caminos De Fuego (Straightforward/Traditional Spanish Power Metal)
We Are The Ocean - Cutting Our Teeth (Screamo)


6.0-4.0 (Decent)
1349 - Demonoir (Some kinda demonic black metal)
Alkaline Trio - This Addiction (Punk / Crap) ...disappointment
Astral Doors - Requiem of Time (Heavy Metal) ...disappointment
The Bird and The Bee - Interpreting the Masters Vol. 1 (Pop/Minimalist)
Blackmore's Night - Autumn Sky (Celtic / Folk)
Blaze Bayley - Promise And Terror (Heavy / Power Metal)
Everwhere - One by One... Dead (Thrash / Death Metal)
EgoNoir - Reste (Depressive Black Metal)
Daath - Daath (Technical Death Metal)
Danger Angel (traditional hard rock)
Dopefight - Buds (Take one guess as to the genre)
Drunken Bastards - Horns of the Wasted (Thrash Metal)
Folkodia - Battlecry
Fyrnask - Fjorvar Ok Benjar (Ambient Black Metal .. unknown!)
Greeley Estates - No Rain, No Rainbow (Hardcore)
Ihsahn - After (Experimental Black Metal)
Jimmy Eat World - Invented ...disappointment
Lordi - Babez For Breakfast ... disappointment
Nàttsòl - Stemning (Black / Viking Metal)
Orden Ogan - Easton Hope (Epic Melodic Power Metal)
ReinXeed - Majestic (Power Speed Metal) ...disappointment
Setherial - Ekpyrosis (Extreme Black metal or something)
Slash - Slash (Hard Rock)
Swashbuckle - Crime Always Pays… (Pirate Metal / Thrash)
Tarja Turunen - ("Gothic" Metal) ...disappointment
Tarot - Gravity Of Light (Heavy Metal) ...disappointment
Therion - Sitra Ahra (Symphonic Gothic metal)
Valkrja - Contamination (Kinda generic Black Metal)


3.9-0.0 (Burn it to a CD to play Frisbee with)
Apati - Morgondagen Inställd I Brist På Intresse (Black Rock?) ...disappointment
Bifrost - Heidenmetal (Folk / Black Metal)
Black Autumn - (DSBM)
Darkthrone - Circle the wagons (Death Metal)
Dead Channel - Destroyer (hardcore, electronic sounds, and nu-metal?)
DragonForce - Twilight Dementia (Live)
The Decaying - Binary Assault (Experimental Industrial Metal)
Exodus (Death?)
Fear Factory - Mechanize (Very Emo / Mallcore)
Immolation - Majesty And Decay (death metal)
Ignite The Ibex - Ignite The Ibex (Fecal matter)
Nachtmystium - Addicts Black Meddle Pt II (Disco indie pop generic mainstream garbage crap from a former raw brutal depressive black metal band) ...disappointment
Redrum - World De Termination(Thrash Metal)
The Seed - From Nowhere to No One (Thrash Metal)
Unholy Archangel - Obsessed By War
Wolfsmond - III]]> http://www.last.fm/user/hurricane_mario/journal/2010/12/30/44q6g4_my_favorite_%28mostly_metal%29_albums_of_2010_-_final_list%21#comments My Favorite albums of 2010. Updated 12/3 http://www.last.fm/user/hurricane_mario/journal/2010/09/01/3vx1pl_my_favorite_albums_of_2010._updated_123 Wed, 1 Sep 2010 19:10:51 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/hurricane_mario/journal/2010/09/01/3vx1pl_my_favorite_albums_of_2010._updated_123 I am fairly open-minded (as you should be), so expect any genre in here, though metal is definitely my favorite. However, I usually won't bother to review non-metal releases unless it's one of the extremes - really good, or really bad and I feel like trashing it.

Keep in mind, I am rating these albums as a whole, not judging it based on the quality of particular songs. For example, if there are no songs that stand out as good, but the album is a concept album that reveals to me the meaning of life through music, it would probably be #1. Production is a BIG part of my review process as well, it's 2010 so I want my albums to sound futuristic, refined and shiny!

Top 10 in order, rest of categories are alphabetical.

" ...dissapointment" Where albums I really wanted did not meet or exceed expectations.

bold is a must-listen!!

And please comment, either to debate my reviews or to recommend me albums I don't know about!

(If you want to read huge reviews for albums through july, go here. I got tired of doing the reviews and it's too much to read.)

* = These albums are on my blogspot... click the link in my profile if you want to hear them. ... Watch for a 74-minute "Best of 2010" playlist at the end of the year :)


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10.0-9.5 (Top 20)
1. Angra - Aqua (Progressive Power Metal)
2. Revolution Renaissance - Trinity (Power / Progressive Metal ... make sure to get the bonus track off their website!)
3. The Depreciation Guild - Spirit Youth (Chip-tune / Shoegaze)
4. Arid - Under The Cold Street Lights (Atmospheric / Alternative Rock)
5. Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer (Hip Hop / Soul)
6. Senmuth - Секененра (Sekenenra) (Symphonic Industrial Metal)
7. Alex Band - We've All Been There (Alternative Rock)
8. Pretty Maids - Pandemonium (Heavy / Power Metal)
9. Mr. Big - What If... (Hard Rock / Hair Metal)
10. Shining - Black Jazz (Blackened Progressive Avant-Garde Jazz Metal Rock... no, really!)
11. Heimataerde - Unwesen (Darkwave / Dark Electro / EBM)
*12. Lantlôs - .neon (Depressive/Suicidal/Atmospheric/Shoegaze Black Metal)
*13. Les Discrets - Septembre Et Ses Dernières Pensées (Post-Black Metal / Shoegaze)
*14. Sofa Surfers - Blindside (Alternative Rock / Trip-Hop / Downtempo / Chillout / Experimental)
15. Amusement Parks on Fire - Road Eyes (Shoegaze / Post-Rock)
16. Mar De Grises - Streams Inwards (Experimental Atmospheric Death/Doom Metal)
17. Dexter Freebish - Shine On (Electro Pop / Hard Rock)
18. Kalmah - 12 Gauge (Melodic Death Metal)
*19. Alcest - Écailles de Lune (Post-Black Metal / Shoegaze)
20. Tetsuo Sakurai - Vital World (Bass Virtuoso / Jazz Fusion)


9.4-9.0 (Honorable Mentions)
Abandon All Ships - Geeving (Trance-core... once again I am not making this up)
Alesana - The Emptiness (Post-Hardcore / Screamo)
Agrypnie - 16[485] ("Avant Garde" Black Metal)
*Analog Rebellion - Ancient Electrons (Indie / Electronic / Pop / Rock)
Ancient Bards - The Alliance Of The Kings (Female Fronted Power Metal)
The Breathing Process - Odyssey (un) Dead (Symphonic/Electronic Deathcore / Melodic Death Metal)
*Burzum - Belus (Black Metal)
Counterparts - Prophets (Progressive Melodic Hardcore)
Decrepitaph - Beyond The Cursed Tombs (Traditional Death Metal)
Grey Waters - Below the Ever Setting Sun (EP) (Blackened Shoegaze / Emo)
Joe Satriani - Black Swans & Wormhole Wizards (Instrumental Rock / Guitar Virtuoso)
KHY - Volver a Creer
MindSplit - CHARMED HUMAN ART OF SIGNIFICANCE (Progressive Metal .. really great for being so unknown!)
Nanowar Of Steel - Into Gay Pride Ride (Power Metal / Experimental / Parody)
Pay No Respect - Moving On (Hardcore ... another unknown band that doesn't deserve to be)
Rage - Strings To A Web (Power Metal)
*Rhapsody of Fire - The Frozen Tears Of Angels (Symphonic Power Metal)
S.A.W. - Young Rebel (Heavy Metal / Metalcore)
VersaEmerge - Fixed at Zero (Female Fronted Alternative Rock)
Wrath of the Weak - Solace (Noise / Ambient Black Metal)


8.9-8.0 (Great)
Agalloch - Marrow Of The Spirit (Atmospheric Black Folk Metal)
Anthriel - The Pathway (Progressive Metal)
Black Sun Aeon - Routa (Doom Death Metal)
Blind Guardian - At The Edge of Time
Christopher Lee - Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross (Epic Symphonic Film Score Metal)
Cold Body Radiation - The Great White Emptiness (Blackened Shoegaze / Post-Black Metal)
Crystal Viper - Legends (Female Fronted Power Metal ... sounds exactly like Dreamaker singer)
Damn - Forbidden Anger (Traditional/Experimental Death Metal)
Deftones - Diamond Eyes
Dimmu Borgir - Abrahadabra (Black Metal)
Dolarhyde - Dolarhyde (Punk)
Dopamine - Dopamine EP (Blackened Shoegaze / Post-Black Metal)
Drudkh - Handful of Stars (Blackened Shoegaze / Post-Black Metal)
Down - Diary Of A Mad Band (Heavy / Stoner Metal)
enos - Chapter 1 (Atmospheric Stoner Metal)
Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini (Progressive Black Metal)
Everlasting Rain - Everlasting Rain (Modern metal, death and clean female vocals... unknown, check them out!!)
Heaven Shall Burn - Invictus (Iconoclast III) (Melodic Death Metal / Hardcore)
Jorn - Dio (Heavy / Power Metal)
KISKE-SOMERVILLE - Kiske-Somerville (Melodic Metal)
Knights Of The Abyss - The Culling Of Wolves (Metalcore)
Labyrinth - Return To Heaven Denied Pt.II A Midnight Autum's Dream (Power Progressive Metal)
Lissie - Catching a Tiger (Indie Rock)
*Mägo de Oz - Gaia III: Atlantia (Folk Power Metal / Folk Rock)
Nils Patrik Johansson - A Night For Ronnie James Dio (Heavy / Power Metal)
Oathean - Oathean (Melodic Black Metal)
Pain of Salvation - Road Salt One (Progressive / Psychedelic style rock)
Parabelle - Reassembling the Icons
Powerglove - Saturday Morning Apocalypse (Tony Kakko singing Pokemon... oh right Power Metal)
Royal Hunt - X (Progressive Power Metal)
Senmuth - Chambers (Ambient / Atmospheric)
Star One - Victims Of The Modern Age (ANOTHER Ayreon project - Heavy Progressive Metal)
Story Of The Year - The Constant (Emo)
Six Magics - Behind The Sorrow (Power Metal)
The Sun Came Up Upon The Left - And The Dreams So Rich In Color (Atmospheric/Drone/Depressive Black Metal)
Troll - Neo-Satanic Supremacy (Epic Black Metal)
TRUE - Still Life (Spanish-themed Death Metal)
Vincent Diamante - Flower: Original Soundtrack From The Video Game (Atmospheric / Ambient)
Whirling - Faceless Phenomena (Unknown Progressive Black Metal. Give them a try)
*Wilds Forlorn - The Great Loss (Atmospheric Black Metal / Neoclassical)
Wurm - Insomnies (Atmospheric Depressive Black Metal)


7.9-7.0 (Very good)
A Forest of Stars - Opportunistic Thieves of Spring ("Psychedelic" Black Metal)
Abigail Williams - In The Absence Of Light (Black Metal)
Angels & Airwaves - Love (Emo / Post-Punk)
Avantasia - The Wicked Symphony + Angel of Babylon (Symphonic Power Metal Opera)
The Birthday Massacre - Pins and needles (Synth / Industrial / Gothic Metal)
Bitter Frost - Bitter Frost (Melodic / Neo-classical / Blackened Power Metal)
Coheed and Cambria - Year Of The Black Rainbow (Progressive Rock / Metal)
Crematory - Infinity (Melodic Death Doom Metal)
*Deep - In Silence Somber Solace (Groove / Black Metal)
Ethereal Blue - Essays in rhyme on passion and ethics (Experimental Black Metal)
Freedom Call - Legend of the Shadowking (Power Metal)
Forgive Me - Last Drop of Life (DSBM)
Iron Fire - Metalmorphosized (Power / Heavy Metal)
Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier (Heavy Metal)
James LaBrie - Static impulse (Heavy Metal)
Linkin Park - A thousand suns (I don't honestly know. Which I like)
Myrath - Desert Call (Indian-themed Heavy Metal)
Negură Bunget - Maiestrit (Progressive Black Metal)
Nocturnal Depression - The Cult of Negation (DSBM)
Orphaned Land - The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR (Middle-Eastern-themed Progressive Folk Metal)
Ozzy Osbourne - Scream (Heavy / Doom / Alternative Metal)
Phenomena - Blind Faith (Hard Rock with lots of guest vocalists such as Tony Martin (Black Sabbath), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear))
Red Sparowes - The Fear Is Excruciating, But Therein Lies the Answer (Instrumental / Post-Rock)
Serj Tankian - Imperfect Harmonies (Symphonic / Experimental Alternative Rock)
Russell Allen & Jorn Lande - The Showdown (Heavy / Melodic Metal)
Sinbreed - When Worlds Collide (Melodic / Heavy / Power Metal)
Soilwork - The Panic Broadcast (Metalcore / Melodic Death Metal)...dissapointment
Темнозорь - Haunted Dreamscapes (Pagan / Folk Metal)
Virgin Steele - The Black Light Bacchanalia (Symphonic Power Metal)
Volbeat - Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Elvis Metal)
Wall of Sleep - When Mountains Roar (Stoner Metal)
Xasthur - Portal of Sorrow (Raw Ambient/Depressive Black Metal) ...dissapointment


6.9-6.0 (Good)
Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare (Progressive popcore) ...dissapointment
Amorphis - Magic & Mayhem - Tales From The Early Years (Death Metal)
Cendres de Haine - Bellum Omium Contra Omnes (Experimental scary black metal that will make you sh*t your pants)
Dark Tranquillity - We Are The Void (Melodic Death Metal) ...dissapointment
December Peals - People Have Demons (Hard Rock)
Disturbed - Asylum (Alt rock whatever)
Derdian - New Era, Pt. 3: The Apocalypse (Power Metal)
Dream Evil - In the Night (Power Metal)
Edenbridge - Solitaire (Symphonic Female Fronted Metal)Eluveitie - Everything Remains as it Never Was (Melodic Death Metal)
Elvenking - Red Silent Tides (Folk Metal) ...disappointment
Helloween - Unarmed - Best Of - 25th Anniversary (Symphonic Power Metal / Etc.) ...disappointment
Helloween - 7 Sinners (Power Metal) ...dissapointment
HIM - Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice (Gothic / Heavy Metal)
Hoarfrost - Nattlig Självmord (Demo) (Ambient / Atmospheric Black Metal)
Ill Niño - Dead New World (Metalcore with a spanish edge)
Kamelot - Poetry for the Poisoned (Power Metal...?)
Krokus - Hoodoo (Traditional Heavy Metal / Hard Rock)
Lower Than Atlantis - Far Q (Melodic Hardcore)
Mekanix - Rise of the Mekanix (Thrash Metal)
Occultus - Inthial (Black Metal)
PlayRadioPlay! - Besides, Nothing (B-Sides And Rarities, 2003-2009) (Electronic / Etc.)
Rhapsody of Fire - The Cold Embrace of Fear
The Roots - How I Got Over (Hip Hop / Rap ... why so many guest singers?) ... dissapointment
Scorpions - Sting In The Tail (Traditional Heavy Metal / Hard Rock) ...disappointment
Senmuth - Deathknowledge & Lifeperception (Symphonic Ambient? lol)
Sigh - Scenes From Hell (Experimental Black Metal)
Various - Whom The Moon A Nightsong Sings (Acoustic / Blackened Shoegaze) ... disappointment
The Vision Bleak - Set Sail To Mystery (Gothic / Doom Metal) ...disappointment
Tierra Santa - Caminos De Fuego (Straightforward/Traditional Spanish Power Metal)
We Are The Ocean - Cutting Our Teeth (Screamo)


6.0-4.0 (Decent)
1349 - Demonoir (Some kinda demonic black metal)
Alkaline Trio - This Addiction (Punk / Crap) ...disappointment
Astral Doors - Requiem of Time (Heavy Metal) ...disappointment
The Bird and The Bee - Interpreting the Masters Vol. 1 (Pop/Minimalist)
Blackmore's Night - Autumn Sky (Celtic / Folk)
Blaze Bayley - Promise And Terror (Heavy / Power Metal)
Everwhere - One by One... Dead (Thrash / Death Metal)
EgoNoir - Reste (Depressive Black Metal)
Daath - Daath (Technical Death Metal)
Danger Angel (traditional hard rock)
Dopefight - Buds (Take one guess as to the genre)
Drunken Bastards - Horns of the Wasted (Thrash Metal)
Folkodia - Battlecry
Fyrnask - Fjorvar Ok Benjar (Ambient Black Metal .. unknown!)
Greeley Estates - No Rain, No Rainbow (Hardcore)
Ihsahn - After (Experimental Black Metal)
Jimmy Eat World - Invented ...disappointment
Lordi - Babez For Breakfast ... dissapointment
Nàttsòl - Stemning (Black / Viking Metal)
Orden Ogan - Easton Hope (Epic Melodic Power Metal)
ReinXeed - Majestic (Power Speed Metal) ...disappointment
Setherial - Ekpyrosis (Extreme Black metal or something)
Slash - Slash (Hard Rock)
Swashbuckle - Crime Always Pays… (Pirate Metal / Thrash)
Tarja Turunen - ("Gothic" Metal) ...disappointment
Tarot - Gravity Of Light (Heavy Metal) ...disappointment
Therion - Sitra Ahra (Symphonic Gothic metal)
Valkrja - Contamination (Kinda generic Black Metal)


3.9-0.0 (Burn it to a CD to play Frisbee with)
Apati - Morgondagen Inställd I Brist På Intresse (Black Rock?) ...dissapointment
Bifrost - Heidenmetal (Folk / Black Metal)
Black Autumn - (DSBM)
Darkthrone - Circle the wagons (Death Metal)
Dead Channel - Destroyer (hardcore, electronic sounds, and nu-metal?)
DragonForce - Twilight Dementia (Live)
The Decaying - Binary Assault (Experimental Industrial Metal)
Exodus (Death?)
Fear Factory - Mechanize (Very Emo / Mallcore)
Immolation - Majesty And Decay (death metal)
Ignite The Ibex - Ignite The Ibex (Fecal matter)
Nachtmystium - Addicts Black Meddle Pt II (Disco indie pop generic mainstream garbage crap from a former raw brutal depressive black metal band) ...dissapointment
Redrum - World De Termination(Thrash Metal)
The Seed - From Nowhere to No One (Thrash Metal)
Unholy Archangel - Obsessed By War
Wolfsmond - III


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Top 10" Updates:
March 17 - Almost time for someone to get kicked off the top 10! How exciting.
March 20 - Rage + Troll kicked. Replaced with Alcest + Les Discrets. I knew they would make it into my list.
March 27 - True kicked because I simply haven't listened, whereas other albums have been on constant repeat. Replaced with Sofa Surfers.
April 24 - Sorry I've been pretty busy with school and whatnot, so I am not trying as many albums as I want to, and definitely am not even touching this journal even though I want to. Wilds Forlorn kicked for Mago de oz. Finally, cause i heard this album 2+ weeks ago.)
June 16 - Tough choice, but had to make room for Lantlos. Sorry Kalmah.
June 17 - Kicked 8,9,10... Mago De Oz, Counterparts, Six Magics, cause I'm realizing they don't quite match up to the others. Added The Breathing Process because I suddenly realized how revolutionary it sounds.
July 10 - Not reviewing Senmuth albums anymore unless there's something phenomenal, as the rate of releases is overwhelming. If he takes his time to really flesh out his vision we get something amazing and unique like "Секененра" but most of his releases are good (7/10) at best.
July 27 - The Breathing Process re-kicked (lol) for some new stuff that I have been very addicted to (Including kalmah which I previously kicked but now I love more, go figure). Tough choice but there's only 10 slots. Have a feeling I'll extend it to 15 or 20 by years end.
Aug 31 - Alcest kicked for Angra.
Oct 22 - Burzum and Analog Rebellion kicked because I simply haven't listened. I've been addicted to Arid and Rev. Renaissance.
Oct 24 - Kalmah kicked for depreciation guild




Most Looking Forward To (definite top 10 potential):

June:
? - Shaman - Oracle
29 - Alex Band - We've all been there (vocalist of The Calling)

July:
2 - Jorn - Dio
31 (Japan) - Angra (Power Progressive Metal) - Aqua

August:
10 - Kelli Scarr - Piece (Listen here - click add to playlist under each song)
24 - The Devil Wears Prada - Zombie EP

Reinxeed, Tarja Turunen

September:
? - Allen-Lande - The Showdown
? - Conspiracy - Irremediable
? - Corpus Christii - Luciferian Frequencies
14 - Weezer - Hurley
14 - Linkin Park - A Thousand Suns
24 - - Kiske/Somerville (Whole album of Michael Kiske + Amanda Somerville duets as on two songs in Indigo Dying, composed by Matt Sinner of Sinner and Primal Fear, and Magnus Karlsson best known for Allen-Lande. Epic written all over it!)
28 - Jimmy Eat World - Invented
30 - Disturbed - Asylum

October:
19 - Dexter Freebish - Shine on ... f*** yes this just made my day after a crappy day!
22 - Heimataerde - Unwesen (Dark Electro)
27 - Virgin Steele - The Black Light Bacchanalia
31 - Helloween - 7 Sinners
? - Alcest - Le Secret re-record (done just waiting on the label)

November:
16: Bruce Springsteen - The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story
Dark Moor – New album ‘Ancestral Romance
Shaman – New album 'Origins'’

December:
? - Virgin Black - Requiem - pianissimo

Later 2010...hopefully:
Aesma Daeva
- Anderz Wrethov (Pop but amazing voice, sounds like Andre Matos somewhat)
- Alchemist (Power Progressive Metal)
- Albrah - Anjos Sem Asas (Power Prog Metal)
- Alkemyst (Power Progressive Metal... not to be confused with Alchemist)
- AnnaGrace (Ian Van Dahl) (Dance)
Aquaria
- Axenstar (Power Metal)
- Borealis (Symphonic Power Metal)
- Desire (Symphonic/Melodic Black Metal)
- Dexter Freebish (Rock)
Dimmu Borgir
Dragonland - The Return
- Far Beyond (Epic Black Metal)
- Kamelot (Power Metal)
- kattah - Eyes Of Sand (Power Metal)
Naildown
- Necrophagist (Technical Death Metal)
Parabelle
- Rapture (Epic Atmospheric Doom Metal)
- Savage Circus (Heavy Power Metal... Blind Guardian clone except better)
- Serj Tankian - Music Without Borders (Alternative)
- Shining (Epic Black Metal)
Soulspell - The Labyrinth of Truths (Power Metal Opera including Edu Falashi among others)
Symphony X
- Summoning (Epic Black Metal)
- To/Die/For (Gothic/Doom Metal)
- Thriving Ivory (Pop Rock but so good at it and such unique vocalist)
- Unisonic (Michael Kiske, Dennis Ward, Mandy Meyer and Kosta Zafiriou)
- Wintersun (Melodic Speed/Black Metal)
- Xerath (Symphonic Epic "Film Score" Metal)
Xandria

2011:
Woods of Desolation - Torn Beyond Reason (Jan 2011)
Moonsorrow (Feb 2011)...finaf***ingly
Amesoeurs
25.3.2011- Symfonia
January 21, 2011 - Mr. Big - What If...
Virus From Hell
- Atoma (ex-Slumber) - Resonance (Epic Atmospheric Doom Metal)]]> http://www.last.fm/user/hurricane_mario/journal/2010/09/01/3vx1pl_my_favorite_albums_of_2010._updated_123#comments new ep http://www.last.fm/user/alanwebsteral/journal/2010/05/10/3mk0o9_new_ep Mon, 10 May 2010 11:35:25 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/alanwebsteral/journal/2010/05/10/3mk0o9_new_ep "mashed n confused" it's the tytle, it comes out with two songs "mash mallow yeah", and "sweet bongy", it's different from what i did i the past, i try always different solutions in music..., everybody is invited to listen and say something about the music, if you like it or not, see ya.Alan Websteralan+webstermashed n confused]]> http://www.last.fm/user/alanwebsteral/journal/2010/05/10/3mk0o9_new_ep#comments There's hope for Stratovarius! (And for that matter, Revolution Renaissance too) http://www.last.fm/user/hurricane_mario/journal/2008/06/09/20kxtb_there%27s_hope_for_stratovarius%21_%28and_for_that_matter%2C_revolution_renaissance_too%29 Mon, 9 Jun 2008 02:42:57 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/hurricane_mario/journal/2008/06/09/20kxtb_there%27s_hope_for_stratovarius%21_%28and_for_that_matter%2C_revolution_renaissance_too%29 So this whole business with Stratovarius breaking up shocked and confused me so I'm writing this more for myself than anyone.

Stratovarius broke up like last October but didn't make the official announcement until like March. I personally feel that they are the "best" power metal band. As in, they do it best, put the most feeling into it and are the most innovative. Not my favorite, but the best. What I thought was that Kotipelto (singer) had tension with Timo Tolkki (guitarist/composer), which is true, but I figured the rest of the band would go with T, and K would go back to his solo albums. I was content with that.

But today I looked into it more, and Found out that instead, Tolkki is finding new, permanent members. Ok, so Stratovarius recorded the entire album with Kotipelto on vocals (which has recently leaked under the name Revolution Renaissance - New Era, which I feel should be changed to Stratovarius as they are the ones that recorded it).

Then they broke up, I read an interview with Tolkki and it seems it was mainly his decision, citing poor live performance and lack of cohesion within the band. I don't know about that, as the "Last Night on Earth" live in 2007 I thought was great. But listening to this unreleased album I do understand the move, K seems uninspired and weak even though the music is great. So T quickly pulled the most popular power metal singers to re-record vocals and throw the record out the door. Meanwhile the members (bass/keyboard) of Stratovarius are still on the final album (right?) so I find this odd. Mirka Rantanen (Thunderstone) on drums, Pasi Heikkilä (45 Degree Woman) on bass and Joonas Puolakka on keyboards. But it still seems random and just weird to me.
Now here's what I found today.

http://www.timotolkki.com/WAVE%20OF%20RIGHTS.jpg
Tolkki gave the name "Stratovarius" to the three other band members, and cited that he will not accept any money from any past or future albums. I found this a bit extreme, but honestly I still think he's crazy. (he had some kind of mental break down a few years ago)

Or maybe not? He is auditioning and getting new members for RR. I nearly shat myself when I read.
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog&FriendID=85129540 (scroll down to May 8/12/13/27)
The singer from Adagio and the drummer from Aquaria? Now he is auditioning bassists, who is he going to get, Billy Sheehan? This band could be so epic.

Meanwhile as the 3 remaining Stratovarius members have rights to the name, they could release new albums, and as they are still very popular would profit. Plus it would feel completely fresh as (obviously) they will have a new composer.

AMIRITE?

1 Play Angra
622
2 Play Mago de Oz
457
3 DJ Mystik
451
4 Play Kamelot
425
5 Play Metallica
421
6 Play Black Sabbath
401
7 Freedom Call
311
8 Play Mr. Big
280
9 Play Red Hot Chili Peppers
267
10 Play Helloween
255
11 Play Emerson, Lake & Palmer
248
12 Play Arch Enemy
247
13 Play King Diamond
230
14 Play Rush
227
15 Play Sonata Arctica
218
16 Play Stratovarius
212
17 Play Rhapsody
191
18 Play Nightwish
184
19 Play Rapture
183
20 Play Bob Marley & The Wailers
175
21 Play Dethklok
169
21 Play Down
169
21 Play The Click Five
169
24 Play Scorpions
168
25 Play Alice Cooper
166
26 Play Yngwie Malmsteen
164
26 Play Dio
164
28 Play Eternal Tears Of Sorrow
163
29 Play Elvenking
162
30 Play Megadeth
158
31 Play Blind Guardian
154
31 Play System of a Down
154
33 Play Bruce Dickinson
150
34 Play The Beatles
149
35 Play Moby
147
36 Play Dark Tranquillity
142
36 Play Iced Earth
142
38 Play Avantasia
141
39 Play Ozzy Osbourne
140
40 Play Eric Martin
137
41 Play Bee Gees
134
42 Play All Time Low
132
43 Play Symphony X
129
44 Play Primal Fear
127
45 Play Sofa Surfers
125
46 Play Chumbawamba
123
47 Play Dark Moor
122
48 Play Dschinghis Khan
120
49 Luca Turilli
115
50 Play At Vance]]> http://www.last.fm/user/hurricane_mario/journal/2008/06/09/20kxtb_there%27s_hope_for_stratovarius%21_%28and_for_that_matter%2C_revolution_renaissance_too%29#comments