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Best Albums of 2017

1. Iced Earth - Incorruptible
Iced Earth released one of their best albums in the career, Incorruptible grows with each listening.Schaffer and new guitarist Jake Dreyer from Progressive Metal band Witherfall meshes extremely well throughout the album.The opening track the "Viking" (tv-series inspired) "Great Heathen Army" sets the tone with with crunchy guitar work and delectable riffs "Seven Headed Whore" is the best track along with "Clear the Way (December 13th, 1862)" a 9.5-minute epic about the Battle of Fredderickson (the American Civil War) that will give you goosebumps.

2. Arch Enemy - Will To Power

Will To Power opens with "The Race" a bombardment of teeth gritting riffs with edgy and dark soloing. The great empowerment anthem "The World Is Yours" truly shines . Arch Enemy jumps the shark with “Reason to Believe" the worst song in the AE catalog a dreadfull (EMO cut your wrists song) I would love to hear more clean singing from Alissa White-Gluz in AE but not in the"Reason to Belive" songwriting style. Killer and stellar guitar work all trough the abum from Jeff Loomis and Michael Amott.

3. The Dark Element - S / T
This year's "Dark Horse" in all categories goes to The Dark Element where former Nightwish singer Anette Olzon joins former Sonata Arctica guitarist Jani Liimatainen. Together they create a powerful symphonic / melodic hardrock album with interesting and thoughtful lyrics. "Here's To You" is the song that gets stuck in your head, and you will will be humming it, a lot. "My Sweet Mystery" and "Ghost And The Reaper" are the are other stand-out tracks.

4. Kreator - Gods of Violence
The teutonic thrash metal legends Kreator release Gods of Violence the title-track is a true high-octane thrashing work-of-art with Mille and Sami Yli-Sirniö blasting their infuriated riffs like whirlwinds. Powerful, melodic thrash metal with devastating speed and soaring melodies all throughout the album.

5. Beast In Black - Berseker
After being fired from his own band Battle Beast, Anton Kabanen created Beast In Black and drafted talented Greek singer Yannis Papadopoulos. The title track drives aggressively full steam ahead before the mega choruses of "Blind and Frozen".

6.Europe - Walk This Earth
The grandiose title track with a seventies feel is one of Europe's best songs of all time. The mighty"Kingdom United" with "GTO" a speeding up-tempo rocker with heavy Norum riffs and catchy hooks are highlights.

7.Inglorious - II
Heavy classic 70s hard rock with superb vocals. The album contains high peaks like "I Do not Need Your Lovin" with is arena-rock vibe and the fantastic "High Class Woman".

8.Battle Beast - Bringer of Pain
After they fired their band leader, Battle Beast has gone more towards a melodic sound than the previous more metal sounding albums. I prefer the more metal sounding style of songs on Bringer of Pain like "Straight For The Heart" that will truly rattle your spine, the fast bombastic title track and the bonus song "God of War" Noora Louhimo is a outstanding singer with great vocal range.Halford comes to mind when she belts out her powerful vocals.

9.Crazy Lixx - Ruff Justice
The "Poor Man's Steel Panther" has delivered a truly hilarious sleaze / eightes metal album. Best tracks are "Hunter of the Heart" with its attractive, low-budget 80's music video. "XIII" and "Killer" are also really good.

10. Alice Cooper - Paranormal
The haunting sinister title track is phenomenal! I would love a Alice Cooper album in the style of the title track .The voice/song effect on the excellent "Fireball" is just terrible almost destroys the song.

2017-12-26 @ 00:26:00 Permalink Metal Kommentarer (0) Trackbacks ()

Gefle Metal Festival 2017

Opening Gefle Metal Festival is Canada’s Kobra and the the Lotus

Ripping through cuts like “Gotham”, “Soldier” and their hit song “You Don´t Know” with true passion. Kobra´s vocal qualities are outstanding with soaring power and a delightful vibrato.

Fleshgod Apocalypse walked on to the stage in victorian era clothes

to the orchestral intro "March Royale" a flashback to a eighteenth-century night at the opera.Fleshgod Apocalypse mesmerized the crowd with intricate hybrid metal/symphonic music.Masked soprano Veronica Bordacchini’s operatic delivery was amazing.

Sancturary for first time ever live in Sweden!

The show starts of with "Arise and Purify" (from their reunion album) the classic "Die For My Sins" sends the crowd into a frenzy. Mighty "Future Tense" roars "War in the name of God, or a playground killing spree, Politicians promise you the world, and a preacher cries, All he ever wanted was your money, and a bitch on the side What went wrong? Did society twist him? Public outrage no "Battle Angels" was performed?

Amon Amarth bring melodic death and viking brutality.

With a drumriser made of large replica of a battle worn viking helmet with illuminating eyes. "Death in Fire" lights upp the stage with fire. Pints flowing and long hair windmilling when Amon Amarth explode into their magnum opus “Cry of The Blackbirds”.

American Thrash Metal behemoths Testament was highly anticipated!

Testament hit the stage amid a bevy of red lights, strobes, and billows of smoke playing title track to last years Brotherhood of the Snake. Singer Chuck Billy and guitarists Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick excel with with the awesome rhythm section of Steve Di Giorgio and Gene Hoglan.Testament steamrolled the audience with “D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)”

Brazilian Thrash Metal band Nervosa impressed with raw classic in-your-face thrash

between the songs the ever growning audience chanted Nervosa, Nervosa,Nervosa the band looked a bit shocked of the great audience response.

From the motherland of Black Metal Nekrodelirium

Classical nordic melodic black metal with cold sweeping riffs and melancholy.

Finnish thrash group Lost Society hit the stage with verve and infectious passion.

Lead singer/guitarist Samy Elbanna tore up the stage in full throttle mode and the band gave a killer energetic performance and sent the crowd into sheer euphoria. Elbanna and guitar-slinger Arttu does awesome trade-off guitar leads.The atmosphere was absolutely electric throughout their performance. Lost Society are on their way to become one of Europe’s premiere metal acts.

After the "80´s Horror movie music" inspired piano intro theme of "Enemy Within"

Alissa White-Gluz captured the crowd’s attention and keept it throughout the concert. A mosh pit erupted as soon as ‘ "War Eternal" started and the song got biggest audience response of the night.

Guitar phantoms Mike Amott and Jeff Loomis melting faces.

Alissa virile ferocity whipping the pit into a frenzy during "My Apocalypse" earthshaking riffs

Footnote: all images with the name of the blog are taken by me under the influence in the audience with a bad camera

2017-12-25 @ 13:52:00 Permalink Music Festivals Kommentarer (0) Trackbacks ()