Top Albums of Q1/2016

Abbath - Abbath
8 songs in 40 minutes of straight up, catchy and "as you would expect" black metal from the former Immortal frontman Abbath. Apperently, he doesn't need Immortal to deliver black metal music at the highest quality. The self-titled debut album is a headbanger ride that it's easy to replay. The single "To War" open the album voraciously and lead the way to one of my favorites "Winter Bane" - what a  groove!  The avalanche takes from there and never stops. There isn't a lot of variability, but what the hell - it's lots of fun!

Redemption - The Art Of Loss
The American progressive metal band featuring guitarist/songwriter Nick Van Dyk and Fates Warning vocalist Ray Alder is back with its 6th studio album. Containing over 70 minutes, The Art of Loss follows its predecessor, 2011's This Mortal Coil, and continues to expertly play melody against aggression, without losing sight of what a good song needs: hooks and dynamics. Redemption play a fairly consistent prog metal without becoming self indulgent or pretentious. Ray Alder's performance is memorable and doesn't go over-the-top with high notes or screams. Another highlight is the guitar solos which feature guest appearances from a string of Megadeth alumni: Marty Friedman, Chris Broderick, and Chris Poland. The opener and title track is a enjoyable straightforward rock song but the epic closer 22-minute "At Days' End" shows the range with which the band play. My personal favorite track would be “Damaged” which features Friedman. Very catchy and direct.
The Art of Loss is a great album with catchy and yet technical songs. It's only flaw is being a bit too long, but time flies when listening to it. A must for prog lovers.

Avantasia - Ghostlights

I have enjoyed all previous releases by  Tobias Sammet's rock opera project Avantasia, specially "The Wicked Trilogy". For symphonic power metal fans, Avantasia offers everything you like and Ghostlights, the seventh full-length album, is no different . Overall, as expected, great melodies, catchy vocal lines and big choruses. 
The very good opener and first single sounds like something out of Edguy's Theater of Salvation. No guest singers in this one. Short and straightforward Hard Rock (think of Meat Loaf).

"Let The Storm Descend Upon You" is the longest and best track with 12 min of epicness. A piano intro lead us to verses and bridges and a big chorus all sang by Tobias, Jorn Lande, Ronnie Atkins, and Robert Mason. I wish more songs were like this one, because the album lacks the epicness and progressiveness of previous releases, which by their own standards gives Ghostlights a more simplistic feeling. "The Haunting" was the first track to really impress, the atmosphere depicts the lyrics and Dee Snider contribution is remarkable. The chorus gets immediately stuck in your mind. 

"Seduction Of Decay" is expandable and even here Geoff Tate cannot get it right. But the title track with Michael Kiske showing what his capable of brings the album back on track. However, it is not as powerful as "Reach Out For The Light" or "Shelter From The Rain" for example. "Draconian Love" is different but works well with the low vocals from Herbie Langhans. "Master Of The Pendulum" is heavier which fits well Marco Hietala's voice and has a fast tempo chorus. "Isle Of Evermore" with Sharon Den Adel is the avoidable ballad. "Babylon Vampyres" has some of the best guitar solos I've heard on Avantasia, not surprisingly this is the first song to feature Bruce Kulick on lead guitar. Overall the album has some of the most impressive guitar work that Avantasia has ever produced."Lucifer" is a great song with Jorn, a short power metal song with an interesting build-up and great melody. "Unchain The Light" is a good faster song with Michael Kiske. "A Restless Heart And Obsidian Skies" brings some epic feeling due to Bob Catley's voice and style but it lacks a punch, not the best Avantasia song wrote for Catley. 

Overall, a very good album, I'm sure fans will appreciate it as I also did, but realistically it falls shorter than previous releases.

Obscura - Akroasis
Obscura was founded in 2002 by Steffen Kummerer. The band was named after the Gorguts album Obscura. And after 3 albums and many line-up changes, the German technical death metalers released their fourth album: Akroasis. Obscura is far from being an easy band to listen to and this album is no different. The 15-min closer "Weltseele" doesn't make it any easier. But given time and attention, this is a great record. Heaviness mixed with new age/jazz/fusion textures is the highlight. The differentiation comes from the fretless bass and fretless guitar that can be heard throughout the record. Check it out if you are a prog-death aficionado.

Megadeth - Dystopia

Dystopia is a straight up thrash album, no doubts there. There are no bad or experimental songs, no ballads or made-for-radio tunes. The new line-up brought a new feel to the music while fusing it with the Rust in Peace era sound. And even if we are just 22 days into 2016, I know one thing: Dystopia is already one of the top guitar albums of the year. Kiko brought a new take to the Megadeth guitar sound, specially when it comes to solos and shredding. But the album misses more thrash riffs, there's a lot of palm muting and it gets a bit repetitive.  Dave's vocals are back to the early 90's sound and as usually the lyrics are political. The first 4 songs are killers, including the title track which is a modern "Hangar 18". The album does loose its punch in the middle section with exception of the fantastic old style instrumental thrash "Conquer Or Die". The last original track "The Emperor" brings the energy back and it's another great song. Although not perfect, the 15th studio album marks the return to shape and a great promise for the near future. 

Magnum - Sacred Blood "Divine" Lies
The rock veterans are back with their 19th!!! studio album. Now their last album was superb so I didn't expect this one to top it, and it doesn't. However, it's still a great record and consistent with previous releases. 

Anthrax - For All Kings

For All Kings is the 11th studio album by the thrash metalers. It starts with a progressive touch, "You Gotta Believe". After a 1.5 min drum/orchestra intro, we dive into a typical thrash riff followed by the great Belladonna vocals. It's a banger. The twist is the middle part of the song that has several variations and some of the best guitar solos I've ever heard in Anthrax. There's even a bass interlude! A promising and perfect opener that is followed by "Monster at the End", another very strong song that could've been in the great previous album, Worship Music. The title track is a good one, fast and catchy. "Breathing Lightning" features a very catchy chorus and good riffs, nice song.

"Suzerain" is a mid-tempo track with good guitar work but overal it didn't do much for me. "Evil Twin" was the first single and it's a good straightforward track. "Blood Eagle Wings" is the longest song with almost 8 min and slow tempo but good chorus and a minute long guitar arpeggio closing. "Defend Avenge" after a build up intro the song picks up speed before the verse. It does make me think of 80's Anthrax, so it's a good one. "All of them Thieves" it's again mid tempo, and a grower. "This Battle Choose Us" has a nice riff and groove. "Zero Tolerance" starts directly into the verse and closes the album with power.

Overall For All Kings features great guitar solos (welcome Mr. Donais), several good riffs, more progressive and modern sounding than previous records. The album starts and closes with great songs but it's the middle part that has some up and downs with less memorable, mid tempo songs that miss some thrash aggressiveness.

Primal Fear - Rulebreaker

I could basically copy and paste the ARP review in here. As with Mr. Pell, if you know Primal Fear, you know what you will get. No curve balls here, they don't change their formula. Traditional Heavy Metal heavily influenced by Judas Priest and now also with some hint of Accept. And if you know their discography, every song albeit different will sound familiar and soon you will be singing along. For the most part the album is again full of good power metal riffs, catchy choruses and fast tempos. All fueled by Ralf's powerful vocals. It does get repetitive and some lyrics are, as expected, cheesy, e.g. "In Metal We Trust". "We Walk Without Fear" brings something different, slower tempo and with almost 11 min explores instrumental transitions and more variability. A good album for long time fans, not the right start for newbies.

Axel Rudi Pell - Game of Sins

If you know this band, you can be sure of what you will get. More of the same, just like AC/DC, they don't change their formula. Hard Rock with outstanding vocals with catchy melodies, cheesy lyrics and big choruses, plus great guitar riffs and solos. But if you know their discography, every song albeit different will sound familiar and soon you will be singing along. The mandatory ballad and cover song are present. Couple of songs are longer and more proggy like the title track and the good till the world. But most of the songs are straightforward 5min  hard rock fast tempo tracks. A good album for long time fans, not the right start for newbies.

Holy Grail - Times of Pride and Peril

A surprise that entered the list later on, Holy Grail appeals to my power/traditional metal roots and makes it a fun ride. The band puts a modern spin into traditional heavy metal. The songs are melodic with a power metal vocal approach while yet powerful with death metal riffs and modern breakdowns. The first 6 songs are certainly the best, highlight to "Crystal King". But the album looses a bit its strength on the last 4 songs. Overall a fun metal experience - raise your horns!