Blind Guardian - Beyond the Red Mirror (2015)

Blind Guardian are one of metal's biggest bands. Their over-the-top style and retelling of Tolkien's stories have endeared them to countless metalheads around the world. Albums like "Imaginations From the Other Side" and "Nightfall in Middle-Earth" are considered defining works of the power metal genre. And let's not forget that Hansi Kursch is one of metal's best vocalists.

Despite all that, I've never been anything more than a casual fan. I always felt like the band had talent and a number of really good songs but there was always something stopping me from counting the band as one of my favorites. I think it can partially be explained the fact that BG songs usually have too many lyrics/singing and not enough instrumentation for my taste, but mainly because other power metal bands have simply released more enjoyable material (i.e. Stratovarius' "Nemesis," Kamelot's "Black Halo" etc.)

But here on "Beyond the Red Mirror," Blind Guardian have truly proven themselves to me, despite it sounding quite typical for their style. I largely dismissed this album on my first listen, impressed only by the title track and not much else. However, on the second listen it began to click very quickly.

Whether it's the incredible chorus in "The Ninth Wave" or the catchy, extremely memorable choruses on pretty much every song, this album is absolutely killer. Their previous album "At the Edge of Time" was good, but here they've really refined and focused their sound to make something very cohesive, much like a concept album.

The only issues I have are with the slightly uneven production and the song "Miracle Machine." The latter piano ballad is pleasant enough but would have been a true testament to the band's songwriting abilities were it composed with an acoustic guitar.

Other than that, this is a stunning album that's already one of my favorites not only of 2015, but of power metal in general. For a legacy band far along in their career to release something of this caliber is incredible. Even if you're not a Blind Guardian fan, I highly suggest you give this a listen. In all likelihood it'll be the album that turns you into a fan.

9.5/10

Epica - The Quantum Enigma (2014)

I never thought that Epica could deliver something that rivals the great "Design Your Universe," my favorite album of theirs, but lo and behold it's happened. "The Quantum Enigma" is not only better than the album that preceded it; it marks the culmination of the band's artistic endeavors as they strive to create catchier, more concise songs. And by shifting to such a style, I don't mean to imply that they've abandoned their identity for commercial gain. Rather, they've made their message all the more direct and powerful by trimming the fat and thus delivering a more memorable product, at least compared "Requiem for the Indifferent." On this album you'll find some of the best songs Epica have crafted so far including the lead single "Essence of Silence," the grandiose "Second Stone," and the soaring "Natural Corruption." Whereas "Requiem" felt a bit stale and not all that satisfying, this album sounds fresh, vibrant, and energetic every time you hear it. Every song has something about it that will stick with you. There are no fillers or duds here and you'll undoubtedly come back to it repeatedly. With less growls and catchier choruses than ever before, "The Quantum Enigma" is bar none their most accessible album so keep that in mind if you're thinking of introducing people to the band. If there's anything wrong with this album, I'd say it's the lyrics. The themes they chose to discuss are quite intriguing, but the way Epica discusses them leaves a lot to be desired. Another slight imperfection is the repetitiveness of "Kingdom of Heaven Part II." Were it to be either cut in half or simply made more interesting it could have been as good as its predecessor. All in all though, this is a stunning accomplishment and quite a pleasant surprise for me. I expected to find them running out of ideas and circling the wagons after "Requiem" but instead it seems like they went back to basics, reevaluated their sound, found their creativity once again, and hit it out of the park. The odds of this album ending up on my top 10 list in December are quite high.
9.5/10

 

Within Temptation - Hydra (2014)

At first this album really disappointed me, but after a few listens I've grown to appreciate it. I still consider it a major step down from the phenomenal "The Unforgiving," but "Hydra" certainly has its share of memorable tunes that are some of the best in WT's catalog. The track "Paradise" featuring the one-and-only Tarja is certainly one of the band's crowning achievements and is my favorite off the album. Other tracks such as "The Whole World is Watching" and "Silver Moonlight" are highlights of WT's hard-rock/symphonic rock hybrid sound, and while they may be off-putting to fans of the band's earlier style, they are undeniably catchy and I find it's quite difficult to resist their charms. "Hydra" may not be the band at their peak, but it's a solid offering from a seasoned band that has enough power to stand on its own. If you're deciding which WT album to show to friends/family who are unfamiliar with the band, then this one is a good bet as an entry level piece.
8.5/10

 

Iced Earth - Plagues of Babylon (2014)

Having regained their stride with Stu Block's entrance in the band on "Dystopia," metal legends Iced Earth's 11th album is a very worthy successor even if it doesn't quite live up to the expectations set by its predecessor. On "Plagues of Babylon," the band seem to have focused on accessibility in terms of very catchy choruses, simplified song structures, and less screaming. This results in a somewhat more generic sound, but one that eventually grew on me. There are some really strong songs on this album including the title track, "If I Could See You," "Cthulhu" and "Democide." The rest of the songs are very good even if some of them (especially "Highwayman" and "Peacemaker") feel out of place. In terms of innovation, there are guest vocals for the first time (I think) from such metal celebrities as Russell Allen and Hansi Kursch and the songs "Highwayman" and "Peacemaker" have a distinct country sound to them. Otherwise, it's the same Iced Earth sound you know and love. And I can't really fault them for that. At the end of the day, it's just a fun album with some really cool riffs and excellent choruses. I'm not gonna complain too much about that.
8.5/10

 

Sirenia - Perils of the Deep Blue (2013)

After a somewhat disappointing, yet still not bad release in 2011, Sirenia have returned with what is their most ambitious album to date. Incorporating classical/power metal elements is just what the band needed to kick them out of their slump. Songs like "Seven Widows Weep," "My Destiny Coming to Pass," and "The Funeral March" are some of the best songs they've ever written. Ailyn really shines on this album pushing her voice into the operatic realm and doing an ace job at it. The growls fit perfectly and really enhance the melodramatic quality of the music. There's lots of really good, heavy, dark riffs here as on previous records and most of this album actually is still gothic. While some may consider it good that they've kept much of their old sound on this album, I was slightly disappointed that it wasn't as bold a leap as I was expecting. That said, even the more old-sounding songs on this record are still very good. If they continue in this direction on their next album, they might even rival the mighty Nightwish or Epica.
9.25/10

 

Dark Moor - Ars Musica (2013)

Spanish power metal band Dark Moor have already made a name for themselves with their bombastic, classically influenced, Rhapsody of Fire-esque wizardry, but on Ars Music they decided to go in a different direction. This time, they've greatly pared down the shredding and focused on simply making good, catchy songs. As much as I like their previous albums, this one resonates with me more because of its emotionality and utter catchiness. In fact, this album contains some of the catchiest songs I've ever heard from a power metal band. If I had to compare this to anything, it would be to Kamelot's Silverthorn albeit not as dark. There's still a bit of wizardry on this album, particularly on the superb instrumental "Asturias" but even there it's quite restrained compared to some of Dark Moor's older songs. This may not be a popular opinion, but I think this album is the best so far in Dark Moor's discography. Check it out if you like well-written, highly catchy symphonic metal.
9.5/10

 

Amaranthe - The Nexus (2013)

Most metalheads who do like this band would be ashamed to admit so. The truth is that while we shy away from anything that seems too "mainstream" and "poppy", most of us can't resist a catchy chorus. I know I have a soft spot for catchiness and this album delivers it in spades. Once you get past the sameness which is to be expected of a "pop-metal" album, you'll find that the all the songs are really solid, there are great riffs, and the vocals are everything you'd want them to be. Elize Ryd is a phenomenal singer who delivers a memorable chorus on every single song. Of course, you have to listen to the album several times to even tell one chorus apart from the other, but you should try not to let that get in the way of enjoying this. The death vocals are rather generic, but they still complement Elize very well and push the band's sound closer to that of In Flames. I'm exactly sure why I'm rating this so high, but it's just such a seductively catchy piece of earcandy that I can't resist.
9.5/10

(P.S. If you like this band, you might want to try Blood Stain Child from Japan as they're pretty similar.)

 

Eternal Tears of Sorrow - Saivon Lapsi (2013)

Like Omnium Gatherum, Eternal Tears of Sorrow is another Finnish death metal band that makes epic, melodic music but they add in symphonic elements to give the music a unique twist. This is my first full experience with this band and I'm quite impressed by it. The last track especially impressed me with its sheer epic quality and its showcasing of the band at its full potential. However, a few of the other songs on the album didn't quite hold my attention and the vocals sounded a bit typical, but despite these shortcomings this is still a very good record that shouldn't be missed.
8.5/10

 

Stratovarius - Nemesis (2013)

On my first listen, I'm convinced that this is Stratovarius' best release since Infinite. The band seem to have eschewed all the elements that kept them in mediocrity and come up with a solid, worthwhile slice of fun power metal. The track "Unbreakable" is easily the catchiest number they've written in years while "Halcyon Days" sees the band at their most diverse and unpredictable. But of course, seeing as they are one of the foremost power metal bands in the world, the album as a whole is pretty predictable and the band do not stray very far from their roots. It's quite impressive to see that such a seasoned band still possesses the same creative drive which inspired them to start making music all the way back in 1989. I highly recommend Nemesis. It's sure to be one of the best power metal albums of the year.
9/10

 

The Howling Void - The Womb Beyond the World (2012)

The Howling Void is an excellent one-man symphonic funeral doom band. This being my first experience with symphonic funeral doom, I can say that it's a brilliant combination of genres and that this album is a fine specimen of it. The symphonic elements, along with the pulsating guitars, make it one of the darkest metal albums I've heard and about on par with the heavyweights of the genre such as Evoken, Esoteric etc.
9/10

Edenbridge - The Grand Design (2006)

Here's an excellent power-prog release with soaring choruses, awesome neoclassical riffing, beautiful ballads, and even some acoustic work. If you're a fan of Nightwish, Epica and similar bands then you should have no problem getting into this.
9/10

 

Secret Sphere - Portrait of a Dying Heart (2012)

This band absolutely floored me. Without exaggerating, I can say that this is one of the best power or prog albums I've ever heard. It mixes in the best elements of Dream Theater, Symphony X and Kamelot into a beautiful and powerful melange. The vocals are stellar. The riffs are phenomenal. The choruses are all very catchy. There's not a single moment of filler on the whole album. What more do you need? If you love power-prog, do yourself a huge favor and listen to this album right now.
9.5/10

Pythia - The Serpent's Curse (2012)

 

This is a solid symphonic metal release with great vocals, catchy choruses and some good riffs. Some of the songs did find my attention wavering a bit, but overall it's pretty enjoyable and something I'll be returning to in the future.

8.5/10

Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pandora's Pinata (2012)

When I first checked this band out on Youtube, I thought "swing-metal." When I checked out this album, I discovered that such a reductive term as that does not really apply to most of this band's music. The music is classicaly orchestrated, complex and very intriguing. It is certainly one of the most unique metal albums I've listened to, but the strength of the album lies primarily in the airtight songwriting abilities of the band rather than the "novelty factor" (one could say the same about Volbeat, another very unique and very talented band). Everything from the riffs to the string sections to the amazing operatic vocals is carefully choreographed and expertly placed to form compelling and mostly quite catchy music. If you want to take a walk on the wild side of metal then I highly recommend this amazing album to you.
9.5/10

 

Helloween - Straight Out of Hell (2013)

The latest Helloween album doesn't break any new ground, but then again why does it have to? They have a winning formula that appeals to fans of both traditional and power metal, and it wouldn't really make sense to change it at this point. On the other hand, this does reduce the variety of the album to a rather disappointing level. That's not to say that this a bad album at all. In fact, it's plenty catchy and packed with very strong riffs. Overall, it's yet another slab of enjoyable poppy metal from a legendary band. But, if you're looking something that'll really catch your attention and set itself apart from the pack then there's other albums you should be checking out.

8.5/10

Nothgard - Warhorns of Midgard (2011)

This is certainly one of the most unique and melodic blackened folk albums I've come across recently. It's incredibly epic and in your face with death metal and neoclassical stylings. I highly recommend this one.
9/10

Haggard - Eppur Si Muove (2004)

WOW. Just WOW. This album is stunningly good. I have never heard death metal like this. The classical elements don't just play backup for the metal parts; they're actually counterparts as it really should be. This is a metal band giving classical music its full due and doing a bang-up job of it. I am blown away and I hope you will be too after you hear this album.
10/10

 

Xanthrochroid - Blessed He with Boils (2012)

If you want epic metal then you've got it with these extremely talented Californian upstarts. There's influences and similarities from many awesome bands including Opeth, Emperor, Moonsorrow, Wintersun, Ne Obliviscaris, and Dimmu Borgir. Hell, they even recorded a cover of Wintersun's "Land of Snow and Sorrow." Plus, the harsh vocals sound just like Ihsahn which is a big plus. This is an extremely dense record to say the least, and it's just amazing. The folk and classical interludes are superb, and the atmosphere is just exquisite. This is yet another sleeper hit. Oh and the band name is really cool too. In short, this band shows an incredible amount of promise and I can't wait for their next release.
9.5/10

Secret Sphere - A Portrait of a Dying Heart (2012)

Now for something a little different. This is a pretty decent Italian power metal release. The vocals are very good, and the choruses are pretty catchy. The songs do drag a fair bit in some parts, but there should be something in this album for pretty much every power metal fan to enjoy.

7.5/10

Summoning - Stronghold (1999)

Well this is a pretty interesting find. Who thought classical music would go so well with atmospheric black metal? Actually, it sounds really good even on paper, and even better in its execution. This album is epic and has a medieval feel. It's very hypnotic as the band like to take things slow and gradually develop their pieces. One could easily imagine this music in an alternate soundtrack for Lord of the Rings or Skyrim. I'll definitely be coming back to this band for more.
9/10