Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny (1976)
Legendary heavy metallers Judas Priest has put out a bunch of excellent albums, and some rather weak ones. They've always been one of the legendary bands of the UK together with bands like Saxon, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden.
Sad Wings Of Destiny is together with Painkiller, the best Judas Priest has ever made. Sad Wings Of Destiny is filled to the brim with epic heavy metal, killer riffing, brilliant vocals by Mr. Halford and excellent production. It's nothing like their previous album, Rocka Rolla.
The album starts off with a prelude. A dark and mystical intro, with bass and piano sets the mood for this terrific album. After that song, "Tyrant" kicks in. A heavy, mid-paced, catchy song. Standard Priest, you could say. Pretty excellent song.
"Epitaph" is one heck of a song even if it's not really heavy metal. A n all-out ballad with almost no guitars at all, just piano and Halford doing the work here. It's a bit cheesy (it sounds a bit like Queen at times, seriously), but just give it some time and it'll grow on you. The songs ends by fading into the next song, "Island Of Domination", a wicked track that is a must for any heavy metal-fan to hear! Give it a listen or cry. Also, "Victim Of Changes" (the longest song on the album) is a must as well.
On to the last part of the album, the best part. "The Ripper" is probably the best song in Judas Priest's catalogue of songs ever. Top-notch vocals and riffing, a catchy chorus and brilliant work by both the bassist and drummer! Not only that, the lyrics are quite nice too, so sing along! The next song, "Dreamer Deceiver"/"Deceiver" (two songs) is a hell of a ride, sometimes it's slow as a ballad, and at times it's slow-paced, sometimes mid- and sometimes fast-paced. Acoustic guitars, slow bass and Halford screaming. Hear it to believe it.
It's hard to describe the album in words (as you can see...), really. If you haven't heard this record before and you're a metal-fan, get it now and love it. I'll guarantee it.
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Ayreon - The Human Equation (2004) - http://www.ayreon.com/
Ayreon is a monster of a band. The Final Experiment, Into The Electric Castle and The Universal Migrator Part I and 2 are all fantastic albums that everyone should take a look at. In 2004, another Ayreon-CD arrived, The Human Equation.
The Human Equation is a tremendous album. Progressive Metal combined with everything from folk, power and ordinary heavy metal to jazz and blues. The mastermind behind this project, Arjen Anthony Lucassen, does all the instrumental work on this album (with some guests) and vocals. He did an incredible job this time, and even the production is greater than ever this time!
The Human Equation is a concept-album (just as all of the other Ayreon-albums). The story is simpe: A man (not named, but supposedly he is "Ayreon". He is reffered to "Me" in the booklet. James LaBrie of Dream Theater plays him) is in a car accident, and ends up in comatose state. By his bed, his wife (Marcela Bovio of Elfonia) and his best friend (Arjen Lucassen) is sitting, hoping that he will wake up soon, but he won't wake up before he confronts his "emotions"...
Everything in this album is superb. Every single song on it is better than anything else Ayreon has ever released (and believe me, they got a bunch of great music). It has a greater cast of vocalists than any other album ever. Mikael �kerfeldt of Opeth, James LaBrie of Dream Theater, Devin Townsend of Strapping Young Lad and Mike Baker of Shadow Gallery, to name a few. Every single vocalist contributions are amazing, but Mr. LaBrie's contributions are the best. His vocals sounds better in this album than in any Dream Theater-album in my humble opinion (as if it matters).
Get this album if you want to live.
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Kamelot - The Black Halo (2005) - http://www.kamelot.com/
Kamelot is another one of these band that people seems to praise over anything else. I've heard snippets from several Kamelot-albums, and none of them really impressed me. Maybe this album will? Read on.
As said, this is the first time I listen to a Kamelot-album all the way through to the end. I had to listen to it several times before being able to base an opinion on the album, but I'm still having problems. I haven't been able to read any lyrics, as this is a concept-album based Wolfgang Goethe's "Faust", it's very hard to say anything about that... but let's move on.
All of the instrumental-work is very good, their keyboardist does an exceptional job here. The vocalist also does a great job, it's nice to hear a power metal-vocalist without a cheesy accent. The guests appearing on this album perfoms without a flaw (especially Shagrath, and I don't like Dimmu Borgir. Imagine that!).
The album starts off with "March Of Mephisto", and excellent track and probably the best on the album. Good sound-effects (soldiers marching through a battlefield?) and superb work by both vocalists (Shagrath of Dimmu Borgir being one of them). Another song worth mentioning is "Soul Society" (Bleach?), which sounds like something of In Flames' Reroute To Remain in the start of the song, but suddenly changes into a powerful song. Worth giving a listen.
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Six Feet Under - 13 (2005) - http://www.sfu420.com/
I've never liked Six Feet Under. They've only released horrid albums, such as Warpath and their butchering of classic song in Graveyard Classics. They even managed to make AC/DC's Back In Black sound horrible on Graveyard Classics 2, where they cover the whole album.
The album sounds at times like a mix of Soulfly played death metal style and Slipknot. Okay, I may be overreacting, but this album is horrendous, just like their others. The vocals is crappy (what happened to Chris Barnes after Cannibal Corpse anyway?), the drumming is poor and the riffs are too repetive. The solos and bass is quite ok, though.
The songs are all short and repetive, and most of them sounds just the same. "Rest In Pieces" is quite catchy though (catchy isn't what I think death metal should be like), the riffs are ok, but still, the vocals ruins everything once again. And you know what? This album is the one I like the most from Six Feet Under. Wow.
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Freedom Call - The Circle Of Life (2005) - http://www.freedom-call.net/
I never say no to some power metal Helloween/Iron Saviour/Gamma Ray-style, even if it is cheesy as hell. Freedom Call's previous album where great, but is this one as good as the others?
Every instrument is well played. The vocals sounds like all three Helloween-vocalists at times (Kai Hansen, Michael Kiske and especially their present vocalist, Andi Deris), and it's fits perfectly with the music.
The album starts of excellent, with the song "Mother Earth" (not to be confused with Within Temptation's horrid album). The song sounds like something that could easily been ripped of Gamma Ray's Land Of The Free. Catchy chorus and excellent vocals (sounds like Andi Deris at times). Next song, "Carry On", is probably the cheesiest song on the album, but also the best. The excellent chorus makes you want to sing your ass off.
"Hunting High And Low" (not to be confused with the A-Ha or the Stratovarius-song (although the chorus is similar)) is another good track. The keyboards is used well in this song. "Starchild" is also good, typical Iron Savior-style song.
I recommend this album to those who like Gamma Ray and Hellowen or just power metal in general, but others should stay away and try their previous album, Eternity, instead of this one.
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Sodom - Tapping The Vein (1992) - http://sodomized.info/
Sodom is one of the three german thrash-metal legends, the two others being Destruction and Kreator. Sodom is without a single doubt my favourite among those three bands (though the others are great as well). Both Destruction and Kreator changed their styles during the 90's (and believe me, those styles weren't good), but did Sodom?
Tapping The Vein is not Sodom's best album, but it's still one of the most overlooked Sodom-albums that deserved more fame than it actually got. It's very heavy, it got some killer riffs and drumming too. The vocals given to us by Angelripper could have been better, but still, they're quite good. Dark and extreme, just like they usually are.
The whole show starts off with "Body Parts", with a speed faster than light-riff and vocals that are dangerously close to Black Metal. In addition, there is a great Slayer-esque solo just before the end of the song. Same thing goes for "Skinned Alive", another song worth mentioning. "Wachturm" has less speed than the rest of the album, and doesn't really fit in, but nevertheless, it's a great song. Angelripper's vocals is a bit different (probably because of the accent), but I like it alot better that way.
Not the best Sodom-album, but worth giving a listen anyway.
Guardians Of Time - Machines Of Mental Design (2003) - http://guardiansoftime.com/
Guardians Of Time is a rather unknown band hailing from my homecountry, Norway. They've released one album earlier called Edge Of Tomorrow, which I haven't had the chance to hear yet, but I hear it's supposed to be good.
After a rather short intro with some talking and stuff (this might be a concept-album, I'm not sure), you're introduced to an album filled with straight-forward power metal with excellent vocals. Some songs are ridicously good, some sucks. That's what annoys me with this album. While every instrument is played well and the vocals are great, but some of the songs are simply boring or exact copies of other songs. Of course, there are exceptions, like "TriOpticon", "More Than Man" and "Point Of No Return" saves this album from getting only 2 and a half star. Instead I will be generous and give it 3 and a half star.
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Mot�rhead - Iron Fist (1982) - http://www.imotorhead.com/
Mot�rhead is one of those bands who's been in businness well over 20 year without changing once. Just like AC/DC, right? No matter what Mot�rhead do, they can't go wrong. Name one horrible Mot�rhead-album and I'll bite of my wang for you.
The album starts right off with the song "Iron Fist". If you compare the opening riff of "Ace Of Spades" with the opening riff in this song, you'll notice they're almost the same, just with a few changes. Still a great track, a nice and speedy rocker with an attitude.
"Loser" is a typical Mot�rhead-track with a really catchy main riff and chorus. This one is bound to be stuck in your brain for a few hours after hearing it, believe me. Another good song is "America", which is a pretty nice, mid-paced song with (once again), a very catchy chorus.
The production and instrumental work could have been a little better, but then again, is good production something Mot�rhead is in need of? No way. The vocals contributed by Lemmy (reffered to as "The God Of Heavy Metal" by many) has never been good, and will never be, but nevertheless, it fits the music they play really nice, so no need to worry. An album worth getting if you just want plain hard rock with some speed to it.
Vio-Lence - Eternal Nightmare (1988) - http://www.vio-lence.com/
USA has tons of fairly unknown thrash-metal band from the 80's. Death Angel, Dark Angel and Vio-Lence, to name a few of them. What does all these have in common? They're all faster than a jet on a happy day.
Eternal Nightmare is filled to the brim with riffs. Not only a few, but tons of insane riffs that will rip your brain in pieces. The drumming is fast as hell and flawlessy performed. The vocals are rather strange, punkish and "germanish" (note: I'm not sure if they vocalist is actually german, but fuck, it does sound like it) but not bad at all. It's like Mot�rhead without Lemmy or Megadeth without Mustaine on the vocals. It wouldn't have been the same, would it? The lyrics are damned good as well. Who wouldn't love songs containing sentences like this?; "Stand still, it'll make my job easier!"
One of the standouts on this album is without a doubt "Serial Killer". It's faster than you can imagine, the riffs and drumming just destroys any opposition. The lyrics are kickass as well. One of the best thrash-metal songs ever? In fact, yes. "Bodies On Bodies" will make you headbang for days. The drumming on this one is so fucking fast it'll make you go crazy (as mentioned before...). It's un-fucking-believable.
Like thrash? Don't even hesitate to get this one. I really pity those who haven't heard this record. I'd give it a full score, but the vocals pulls down a bit.
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Bruce Dickinson - Tyranny Of Souls (2005) - http://www.screamforme.com/
Iron Maidens's vocalist, Bruce Dickinson's (yes, THE Bruce Dickinson) solo career is rather unknown to most people. He has released a bunch of under-appreciated albums like Accident Of Birth and The Chemical Wedding. Once again, Bruce puts out a new album. Is it as good as the older albums?
The album start with a rather weird, "space"-like intro. Bruce speaks a few words, then the song "Abduction" takes over. Thrashy riffing, melodic solos (think Iron Maiden, just less... awesome) and awesome vocals (well, what did you expect?). It follows the same recipe as Accident Of Birth and The Chemical Wedding, which is indeed a good thing. The next song, "Soul Intruders" is also a heavy track but is one of the weaker tracks on the album, but an ok song. I could do without it, but I don't mind.
"Kill Devil Hill" is probably the best track on the CD. Kickass lyrics and vocals, the riffing is awesome and the dark atmosphere is kicking nuts. We also get served a nice and dark acoustic cut in the middle of the song as well. The song is like gum in your hair, it won't leave your head unless you force it out. "Navigate The Seas Of The Sun" presents us a lighter side of the album, a really nice acoustic song (accompanied by el-guitars at times, though).
"Power Of The Sun" is an upbeat, dark track with a really nice chorus that reminds me of something that could have been on one of Bruce's earlier efforts, Skunkworks. It's the shortest track (except from the intro, of course). Single-material, perhaps? "Devil On A Hog" reminds me of a typical Balls To Picasso or Tattooed Millionare-song. Kickass old-school solo. Back to the roots?
The production is great, the vocals is superb and so is the instrumental work. Still, this ain't perfect. Some of the tracks are rather weak, like the disapointing title-track "A Tyranny Of Souls" and some of the tracks are too repetetive or overlong. Not better than the previous albums, but not worse either. It should please most Dickinson and Iron Maiden-fans, and perhaps even non-fans.
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Nile - Annhiliation Of The Wicked (2005) - http://www.nile-catacombs.net/
Nile is an interesting death metal band inspired by, as the name implies, Egypt. They play Death Metal of the brutal kind, or "Itylphallical Death Metal" as they call it. One of their albums called Black Seeds Of Vengeance never impressed me and I was really disapointed upon hearing it (I'd heard so much good about it). It had an interesting sound, but was too long and too boring. What about this one?
Rumours has it that Nile has lost their egyptian "feel". This is not true at all, but the egyptian influences are much harder to hear in this album than the previous albums. It's still there. The production is good, the vocals is as it usually is, low and deep growling with no clean vocal at all. The instrumental work is also as expected; heavy riffing and bass and great drumming. The acoustic work is also good, but sadly, it's not as much acoustic stuff in this album as you would expect.
The album starts with a nice acoustic song inspired by typical, Egyptian tunes. A mystical intro that sets the mood for the album. It's called "Dusk falls upon the Temple of the Serpent on the Mount of Sunrise". Longest title on the album? Nope. I think Nile has gotten inspiration from Bal-Sagoth or something. Next song, "Cast Down The Heretic" sounds more like a usual death metal-track with almost no egyptian feel to it at all. However, it still has some extremly good riff and frantic drumming that will make you headbang for a while. A damned good song.
One of the better songs on the album is "Lashed To The Slave Stick", that many Nile-fans may already be hating or loving. It's actually the least brutal track on the album, so no worries if this is the only track you've heard (it was released as a sample on Nile's website, I think).
It's better than I expected, and much better Black Seeds Of Vengeance
in my opinion, even if Black Seeds Of Vengeance is more egyptian-feel than this one. Nile-fans will either hate or love this.
, downloading the album right now
Originally Posted by kratos
I'd understand if you were talking about the single, but apparently you aren't since you didn't mention the other tracks on the Quiet Place single. If you feel that's In Flames' best, you've never listened to the first five albums. 
