The Top 35 Best Metal Albums of 2022 by BeMetalways Editor

 

It's that time of the year again! 

35.Elder - Innate Passage

34.Misery Index - Complete Control

33.Magnum - The Monster Roars

32.Axel Rudi Pell - Lost XXIII

31.Avatarium - Death, Where Is Your Sting

30.Watain - The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain

29.Long Distance Calling - Eraser

28.Wilderun - Epigone

27.Candlemass - Sweet Evil Sun

26.Therion - Leviathan II

25.Joe Satriani - The Elephants of Mars

Joe Satriani has nothing to prove, after almost 20 studio albums he has collected millions of fans and accolades. However, with  The Elephants of Mars he demonstrates that standing still is not option. A dynamic album combining classic elements from the early albums with experimentation and fusion music makes this new album a pleasure to listen to. It's another delight also to inspire guitar players around the world.

24.Saxon - Carpe Diem

After more than 40 years on the road, Saxon brings their impressive new album with bristling steel-clad riffery and proud intent, the band draws on a variety of ingredients from its career to keep it loyal to their roots but also sounding fresh and modern. They kept simple and straightforward, pure traditional heavy metal flourishing from their 80's success. What else to say? Despite being frontloaded, a very good album, deserving the attention of new and old fans. 

23.Arjen Anthony Lucassen's Star One - Revel In Time

Musicians and singers choices make total sense for the style or vibe of each song, Arjen knows how to pick them. And his song writing is top notch as always. He delivers the material so that those singers can perform at their best. Given the pandemic, it's even more impressive that he was still able to produce such a high quality album with so many top musicians. I can only highly recommend this one. If you like prog/power metal and clean powerful singing over great guitar work and amazing solos, you can't go wrong with Star One's best album to date. 

22.Bloodbath - Survival of the Sickest

Bloodbath, Sweden’s undisputed masters of old school death metal, are back doing what they know best. This is a return to 90's death metal within the boundaries of the genre with a little flirting into death doom in the best Obituary veins. Old fans of the band or of the legends Morbid Angel or Death will have a great time with Survival of the Sickest. A very good death metal album deserving a sore neck.

21.Lamb of God - Omens

It took me a long time to get to this album (it is one of the only ones in this list that I didn't review on this channel). But I am glad I took the time because it's a voracious groove metal delight. Nothing that they haven't done before, but it's so well done that I couldn't find one song that I didn't like. No ballads, no BS, no clean singing, just modern metal madness from start to finish. It

s great to see the band going back to the basics and to their roots. 

20.Arch Enemy - Deceivers

In terms of marketing and promotion, band and label went all in with Deceivers. It's understandable, they have a superstar line up, a charismatic front woman, good songs, and rich discography. And as we all know headliners are needed. So Century Media did not save money on their budget here: A fantastic production, a whopping 6 music videos, (so more than half of the album) and a long pre promotion of the album starting from October 2021 with the first single "Deceiver, Deceiver". Although the album was officially announced on January 2022. Overall I like the results, it's their strongest album with Alissa and a very good one. 

19.Michael Romeo - War Of The Worlds, Pt. 2

As in Part 1, War Of The Worlds, Pt. 2 features a lot of super-heavy cinematic music and, obviously, lots of guitars to impress any seasoned player or prog metal fan. Musicianship is superb and the new singer Dino brought a lot of power to this album. The arrangements on this album are great, there's a lot happening and the symphonic parts are truly impressive. A very good album recommended for SX fans, prog metal in general and certainly if you liked part 1.  

18.Slipknot - The End, So Far

Another one I didn't review on the channel, but I did spend some time with it and I think it's pretty good. It's different, experimental, but also heavy and full of future live favorites. It didn't seem to have scored many points with different reviewers and magazines, but I dug it. It's worth the time. 

17.Evergrey - A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament)

Less than a year after the previous record Evergrey delivered one of their strongest albums in years, it can even become my favourite. The album flows greatly and I could sense I'd be hooked on it after the first listen. And since them it only grew on me. An overwhelming journey through progressive heaviness and searing emotionality is repeatedly accented by sonic melancholy and gripping lyrics. There's a lot of heaviness in this album but masterly combined with melancholy and slower moments. Besides it's very catchy and musically featuring strong riff and solos. Very good album. A progressive metal lesson without overdoing it.

16.Avantasia - A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society

Overall it's another very good symphonic power metal album from Avantasia. There are no surprises really, but it's fun, well written and executed. To me all songs but one are good to very good. The guests singers have all delivered great performances and the addition of Floor and Ralf was spot on. All in all, very good album, anyone who enjoyed the last four albums will like this one and any power metal fan should give it a try.

15.Kreator - Hate Über Alles

Kreator's 15th studio album is  remarkably consistent with the previous records. Aggressive German thrash metal, well written, produced and executed from start to finish. It doesn't bring a lot of new things to the table, other than the song "Midnight Sun" featuring a guest female singer, but it's damn good. A very good album where there are no weak songs. 

14.Threshold - Dividing Lines

Threshold keeps getting better with time and also takes the opportunity of the recent change of singers to evolve their sound while bringing back elements from the earlier albums. With Dividing Lines they fused their 2nd album signing style with the darker and heavier sound from the late Mac era but the band kept the adventurous side from the recent albums. Musically there's the heaviness of heavy metal acts such as Symphony X and Dream Theater combined with 80's Rush and 70's prog rock and Deep Purple. I just found this melting pot extremely interesting and satisfying. Musically the band is very talented but never overdo it. All in all ne of the top prog metal albums of 2022.   

13.Ghost - IMPERA

One of the things I love about Ghost is how concise they are, the songs are short the albums are not too long. And yet the songs feature changes, variations and go to different places all of that while being super catchy and dark or heavy at times. It's a powerful combination and it's not a surprise that they have grown so much so quickly. To me this is a very good album from a band that will continue to grow and increase their fan base while not alienating (all) the older ones like myself.  

12.Decapitated - Cancer Culture

Decapitated delivered an angry album with blasting energy and heaviness from start to finish but with enough variability and groove to keep it interesting throughout.  You can expect to hear an outstanding production, enjoy a fantastic artwork, and benefit from a little something here and there that you would not expect from Decapitated before Cancer Culture. A very good album, and one that may grow further on me as I keep listening to it. And did, it made my Spotify top list of artists and songs that I listened the most in 2022.

11.Behemoth - Opvs Contra Natvram

Opvs Contra Natvram is a heavy album and a natural evolution from The Satanist and Loved You At Your Darkest, it's super aggressive but also epic and melodic. It's also dynamic showing several influences from death metal to black metal but also very melodic moments. I didn't expect much from this album and I thought I'd brush it off quickly, but the truth is I found myself addicted to it and I came to the realization that it's a very fucking good album. If you like this phase of the band you gonna love this. 

10.Meshuggah - Immutable

I start the top ten with a surprise as I was not very kind with the initial review of this album. Immutable is less harsh sounding and more dynamic than previous albums. But it sounds like we come to expect from Meshuggah since Obzen. It features some good tracks, interesting moments, some risk taking and a lot to unpack. I think if you are new to this band, and you like this kind of music, this is as good as any of the last albums. But for seasoned fans like me, it did not stand out compared to recent albums. But it turns out that I was addicted to it and I listened this band more than any other one in 2022. Besides seeing some of those songs live in my first concert after the pandemic was a big positive factor.  

9.Steve Vai - Inviolate

Vai continues to use his solo work to expand and explore. He has been continually challenging notions of traditional guitar playing and composition even at the age of 60 and having accomplished so much in his successful career. With Inviolate he has done it again. Not only he re-imagined the instrument itself with the Hydra, but also this time around, Vai quite literally invented a new guitar-playing technique. And those are just two highlights of the so many things he did and explored in this album. Besides all that, the music is fun and entertaining to listen to. So I can only say it's a very good album and the guitar album of 2022.

8.Cult Of Luna - The Long Road North

Cult of Luna have very productive the last few years. The emotions and dedication of the band in those albums in undeniable. The lack of fixed structures and templates gives the album an open and honest artistic vibe. The music takes you to different places from super heavy screams, to beautiful melodies, melancholic moments and ambient soundscapes. All these combined really appeals to me and I like this album a lot, another very good album.

7.Dark Funeral - We Are The Apocalypse

I came to this album with no expectations and I am now surprised how much I enjoyed it. It's nothing new or innovative, but it's damn good straightforward black metal with that black and roll flavour at times. But most importantly, for a Black Metal album, it is also really dynamic with variability and not just tremolo picking guitars and blast beats. It's well written, performed and produced. In sum a very good black metal album, the best of 2022.

6.Blind Guardian - The God Machine

Blind Guardian revisits their early heavy and raw sound with The God Machine. A straightforward, mostly fast tempo and heavy album with minimal orchestrations but as expected great hooks, melodies and big choruses. If you know the early work of the band, there's nothing new here, it's a natural reaction to previous albums and sets the scene for maybe taking some more risks in the next album. For now, this is a good album and a certain success among long time fans.

5.Porcupine Tree - Closure Continuation

Many would never expect to see a new Porcupine Tree album ever again, but here we are. It was worth the wait. Not a heavy album, but another interesting step forward in the band's discography. Featuring an interesting guitar tone, odd time signatures, unconventional song structures and beautiful melodies. It's everything I'd hope to see from those guys. It's one of the albums I listened the most this year, with 3 songs featuring in my Spotify top 5 list. 

4.Machine Head - Of Kingdom And Crown

Specially compared to Catharsis, Of Kingdom And Crown is a heavier and more technical album. It builds from their roots, specially Burn my Eyes and The Blackening while paying homage bay area thrash metal, specially Exodus. To me it's a return to form and their best album since Unto the Locust which I like a lot. We get sick riffs and harmonics (it's nice that Flynn leveraged the writing music skills of new members), nice melodies, a good balance between clean and harsh vocals and a lot of aggressiveness. A very good album, enjoy it!

3.Battle Beast - Circus of Doom

I liked this album a lot, but I haven't seen many good reviews. That doesn't surprise me and it's one of the reasons I started this channel. Of course if you want extreme metal or prog metal adventures this is not the album. But we have to judge an album for what it is and tries to accomplish. In that sense Battle Beast stayed true to the formula of “100% heavy metal - 0% bullshit!” This is fun, catchy and contagious while delivering energy and quality song writing. It's a very good album and I keep listening to it and I am not ashamed. The band was also in my Spotify top 5 list. For me their best album yet. I also saw them live this summer and it was fantastic.

2.Soilwork - Övergivenheten

Soilwork has been evolving their sound for years into this perfect blend between Swedish Melo Death Metal meets Hard Rock/Traditional Metal. With Övergivenheten they may have found the perfect formula and it's their strongest album in many years. A very good achievement reaching easily the top of my list. If it would be just a bit shorter, it would've been number one. Overall for those who enjoy melo death and were happy with their latest albums, Övergivenheten will be a delight. And don't mind the Swedish title, my good friend Michael almost let is slide because of it.  

1.Zeal and Ardor - Zeal & Ardor

I'm a big fan of Zeal & Ardor first two albums and the trend continues now with the self titled third album. Zeal & Ardor continue to build on their unique combination of Black Metal and African American music. But this time around they doubled down on the heaviness of some tracks and post-metal elements in others. The album is dynamic, heavy, catchy and super interesting. I saw them live twice this year and those new songs blend perfectly with the older ones. I knew it was going to be high on my list, and here it is as number one. It was also the second most listened band for me in 2022. So all good reasons to be my album of the year.

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Honorable Mentions:

Krisiun - Mortem Solis

Queensrÿche - Digital Noise Alliance

Amorphis - Halo

Megadeth - The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!

Amon Amarth - The Great Heathen Army

Stratovarius - Survive

Audrey Horne - Devil´s Bell

Scorpions - Rock Believer

HammerFall - Hammer of Dawn

Biggest Disappointments:

Parkway Drive - Darker Still

Architects - The Classic Symptoms Of A Broken Spirit

Favorite Album Cover Art:

Axel Rudi Pell - Lost XXIII

Dark Funeral - We Are The Apocalypse

Evergrey - A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament)

Saxon - Carpe Diem

Stratovarius - Survive

Favorite Guitar Solos:

Little Pretty by Steve Vai from Inviolate

Hybrids by Michael Romeo from War Of The Worlds, Pt. 2

Sahara by Joe Satriani from The Elephants of Mars

We'll Be Back by Kiko Loureiro from Megadeth's The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!

Top 10 songs:

Passenger                 by Wilderun         from Epigone

Cold Burn                 by Cult Of Luna from The Long Road North

Master of Illusion         by Battle Beast from Circus of Doom

Candlepower                 by Steve Vai     from Inviolate

Deceiver, Deceiver         by Arch Enemy from Deceivers

Electric Again                 by Soilwork     from Övergivenheten

Övergivenheten         by Soilwork     from Övergivenheten

Slaughter the martyr by Machine Head from Of Kingdom And Crown

The Abysmal Eye         by Meshuggah from Immutable

Spillways                 by Ghost         from IMPERA

Favorite Shows: 

Mercyful Fate

Iron Maiden 

Helloween

Zeal & Ardor

Battle Beast

Disappointing Shows: None, after COVID...I think a concert will never be disappointing again in my life.

THRESHOLD Dividing Lines | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

Released by Nuclear Blast Records on November 18th, 2022

Quick Background

Threshold are an English progressive metal band formed in Surrey in the late 1980s. After adding vocalist Damian Wilson to the group, the band's debut album, Wounded Land, was released in 1993. Vocalist Andrew "Mac" McDermott, joined to record 1998's Clone and would remain with them until 2007. Threshold left their longtime label, InsideOut Music to join Nuclear Blast Records, releasing Dead Reckoning, probably my favorite album from them, in 2007. Mac left the band and original singer Damian Wilson returned as Threshold's frontman. Glynn Morgan, the band's former vocalist from 1994 to 1996 and the singer on the band's second album Psychedelicatessen, replaced Damian Wilson for the concept album Legends of the Shires released in September 2017. This was a good album, but quite long and not easy to digest. It anyways received widespread acclaim and record sales for the band. 

Dividing Lines

Now with their 12th studio album, Threshold brings 10 tracks in 65 minutes. As in previous records, they have a good mix of shorter 4 to 6 min long songs and some 10-ish minute epics. Darker, heavier and even more adventurous than its predecessor, Dividing Lines is a more traditional group of songs and not a concept album. "Haunted" opens it and from the get go we can not only hear Threshold trademark prog metal sound but also a clear call back to the Andrew "Mac" McDermott era. What do I mean by that? Well, prominent heavy guitar riffs surrounded by tasteful keyboards intertwined with softer parts with clean or acoustic guitars. Very melodic vocal lines, often sang with a bit of overdrive. All of that generates dynamic songs with tempo and mood changes. For example, "Let It Burn" starts moody but soon picks up with an engaging groove that turns into some heavy verses and a super catchy chorus. 

"Silenced" was released as a single, it's indeed one of the shortest song on the album and pretty straightforward prog rock tune. Great choice for a single. The other single "Complex" returns us fully to old school and makes me think of 2007's Dead Reckoning. While the other single "King Of Nothing" is a bit more radio friendly. "Lost Along The Way" starts as an 80's song reminding me of that era of Rush. It's a slower tempo and more emotional track, it works for me. "Run" follows and maintains the same flavor. 

"The Domino Effect" with 11 minutes is the longest song on the album. The mellow keyboard intro gives away to some heavy riffs, it's almost like Symphony X. The verses are quite mid tempo which works well in contrast to a heavier but catchy chorus. I specially like the 70's prog rock like bridge leading to a very melodic guitar solo. Some Deep Purple style keys help make this metal meets 70's prog rock association. The 10-minute plus closer "Defense Condition" sounds like a leftover track from the latest Damian Wilson albums. Which for the record it's a compliment. It features different passages and great guitar work. 

The Picky Guy

It's difficult for me to complain about this one. Maybe a bit shorter? Less short songs and focus on longer and more adventurous epics? Personally those work better for me. But again, I'm just searching for something to say...

Wrap Up Opinion 

Threshold keeps getting better with time and also takes the opportunity of the recent change of singers to evolve their sound while bringing back elements from the earlier albums. With Dividing Lines they fused their 2nd album signing style with the darker and heavier sound from the late Mac era but the band kept the adventurous side from the recent albums. Musically there's the heaviness of heavy metal acts such as Symphony X and Dream Theater combined with 80's Rush and 70's prog rock and Deep Purple. I just found this melting pot extremely interesting and satisfying. Musically the band is very talented but never overdo it. All in all ne of the top prog metal albums of 2022, a very good album, 83/100. Go check it out.   

SCORE: 83/100

Genre: Progressive Metal

Released by Nuclear Blast Records on November 18th, 2022

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

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THERION Leviathan II | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

Released by Nuclear Blast Records on October 28th, 2022

Quick Background

Therion is a Swedish symphonic metal band founded by Christofer Johnsson in 1987. Its name was inspired by the Celtic Frost album To Mega Therion. "To Mega Therion" is Greek for "The Great Beast". Originally a death metal band, Therion adjusted its musical style by adding orchestral elements, including choirs, classical musicians, and even a full orchestra at some concert performances. As a result, they are considered pioneers of the symphonic metal genre. 1996's Theli is their masterpiece and one of my favorite albums of all times. But its 1998's Vovin is their most commercially successful album. 

Leviathan II

Leviathan II is the 18th album from the Sweden's symphonic metal pioneers. Named after a giant sea monster from Judeo-Christian myth, Leviathan II follows up the part I released in 2021. As it was the case with Part I, Part II is a simple, straightforward album, 11 relatively short songs in just over 45 minutes. So basically we are being tricked into another triple album, but I appreciate that being released as 3 albums. It will make it much easier to digest them. Part III is expected to be released next year and should be more guitar oriented and heavier. Remember that Part I was a "back to the roots" album and I thought it was a very good one. Part II follows a similar concept, but focus more on the Vovin era with less focus on guitar and riffs and more on the female singers, choirs and orchestration. "Aeon of Maat" for example gives me a "Wine Of Aluqah" vibe. But it's not a song that fully represents the album. Why? Because it is more hard rock oriented than most of the album. On the other hand, it already shows the dominance of female choirs and singers on this album. I really like the guitar focus of this song and also the contrast between the female singers and the hard rock male voice. I just feel the song to be too short, almost rushed to be concluded. The single "Codex Gigas" builds up from this beautiful melancholic melody into a mid tempo gothic song which is full of emotions and melodies. It's another example of great male/female vocal balance. It's the perfect bridge to another single and album closer "Pazuzu". This one is a rocker and written for the male singer to take center stage. "Lucifuge Rofocale" and "Midnight Star" featuring a nice guitar work are also hard rock songs.

Conversely, the single "Litany of the Fallen" doubles down the focus on the female singers. It's really the theme of this album, "Alchemy of the Soul" is another example. Both songs are short and fast tempo. Another single "Marijin Min Nar" and "Hades and Elysium" focus on the symphonic elements and choirs. The cool thing with "Marijin Min Nar" are the many guitar solos underneath, at moments sounds like Malsmsteen is a guest player. It also features this eastern music flavor. 

The Picky Guy

But not everything works on Part II. "Lunar Coloured Fields" for example is a very mellow ballad that goes on for a bit too long. Then "Cavern Cold as Ice" feels a bit too poppy for my taste. Other than that the only complain is that the album is pretty safe and doesn't add much to their discography growth.  

Wrap Up Opinion 

But it does add some cool tunes to their setlist and helps the band to remain relevant after all those years. So, if you are a Therion fan of any of their phases, then you will enjoy this one. I'm actually surprised of so many low rates I have seen for this release. To me it is an 81/100, good album that delivers what Therion intended to do with quality and energy. 

SCORE: 81/100

Genre: Symphonic Metal

Released by Nuclear Blast Records on October 28th, 2022

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

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AVANTASIA A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

Released by Nuclear Blast Records on October 21st, 2022

Quick Background

Avantasia is a German supergroup metal opera project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist of the band Edguy. It has been characterized as a rock opera, as it features the contributions of various vocalists and musicians and it consists of concept albums. Conceived in 1999 as studio-only, two-album project, Avantasia has since released six other studio albums and has toured the world multiple times.

A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society

Their ninth studio album doesn't bring any surprises and it's similar and at par with its predecessor Moonglow (2019). We have the return of singers who have been on several albums: Michael Kiske (23 songs since the first album), Bob Catley (13) and Jørn Lande (22). Ronnie Atkins, Geoff Tate and Eric Martin who have been in most of the last albums are also back. And the new comers are Floor Jansen with two songs and Ralf Scheepers in one.  Tobias Sammet sings in all tracks of course and always with just one other vocalist, except for the closer "Arabesque" which features both Kiske and Lande. So we have 9 singers, 11 songs in 54 minutes. 

As with the last two album, A Paranormal opens again with Meat Loaf-like song, "Welcome To The Shadows". It's also with Tobby as the only lead singer accompanied by a lot of backing vocals and choirs. Track number two was the first single named "The Wicked Rule the Night". This is a fast tempo 80's power metal beast, think of Judas Priest, so consequently the debut singer Ralf Scheepers was the perfect choice to bring that Rob Halford flavor to Avantasia. It also reminds me a lot of Edguy's "Mysteria".

"Kill The Pain Away" is a tailor made song for Floor Janssen, and what I love about it is the fact that it's a powerful fast tempo rocker. I hate the stereotype of using female singers for ballads only, here she like she does in Nightwish or After Forever she demonstrates a powerful but beautiful voice. She is my favorite female singer who doesn't use harsh voice or death metal growls.  It's great to see her in yet another track "Misplaced Among The Angels" which happens to surprisingly be my favorite despite being almost a ballad. I just love the chorus, the vocal melodies and of course Foor's contribution. 

The long time contributors Kiske and Lande are featured in "The Inmost Light" and "I Tame the Storm" respectively. Both are typical and straightforward Avantasia power metal songs that are well crafted for their singers. Another long time contributor Bob Catley returns to sing the title track which has a Van Halen flavor to it specially due to the guitar work during the intro. And as usually in a Catley song, it features a big and epic chorus. 

"Arabesque" closes the album and as the epic 10-min song with 3 singers (Toby, Kiske and Lande) is one of my favorites. I actually wish the album had more songs like this one. It's a dynamic song full of different passages, it gives this middle eastern flavor due to the use of the Phrygian scale. It's just great progressive power metal stuff.  

The Picky Guy

While I am happy there's no female singer ballad on this album, there is a ballad still, "Paper Plane" featuring Ronnie Atkins from Pretty Maids. I really don't like this song which is pity as Atkins has sang some great songs in previous albums. Other than that my only disappointment is that the album seems to be very formulated, in the sense of structure, choices, guests are all very similar to recent albums. Maybe that's intentional to create a 4 album consistent era of Avantasia. In that case I hope to see something a little bit different in the next album. But as always, that's just me being picky. 

Wrap Up Opinion 

Overall it's another very good power metal album from Avantasia. There are no surprises really, but it's fun, well written and executed. To me all songs but one are good to very good. The guests singers have all delivered great performances and the addition of Floor and Ralf was spot on. All in all, 82/100, very good album, anyone who enjoyed the last four albums will like this one and any power metal fan should give it a try.

SCORE: 82/100

Genre: Power Metal

Released by Nuclear Blast Records on October 21st, 2022

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

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QUEENSRŸCHE Digital Noise Alliance | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

Released by Century Media Records on October 7th, 2022

Quick Background

Queensrÿche is an American heavy metal band. It formed in 1980 in Bellevue, Washington. The original lineup consisted of guitarists Michael Wilton and Chris DeGarmo, drummer Scott Rockenfield, bassist Eddie Jackson, and legendary lead vocalist Geoff Tate. From 2012 to 2014 the band split into two due to a lawsuit with Geoff Tate, who was replaced by Todd La Torre then-frontman of Crimson Glory. The band has released 16 studio albums and having sold over 20 million albums worldwide. They received worldwide acclaim after the release of their 1988 album Operation: Mindcrime, which is often considered one of the greatest heavy metal concept albums of all time.

Digital Noise Alliance

Their 16th studio album features 11 new tracks in 56 minutes plus a cover version of "Rebel Yell". It's already the 4th album to feature La Torre on vocals and the follow-up to 2019's The Verdict. Overall Digital Noise Alliance is not very different from the La Torre era albums. High quality and well written progressive metal in a condensed form where most of the songs are around the 4 to 5 minute mark with a couple of more adventurous ones (e.g. "Tormentum" and "Behind the Walls"). La Torre continues to sing impressively reminding us of his predecessor but often adding some Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford flavors to it. Queensrÿche are considered one of the leaders of the progressive metal scene of the mid-to-late 1980s, and often referred to as one of the "Big Three" of the genre, along with Dream Theater and Fates Warning. Intentionally or not, the song "Out of the Black" is pure Fates Warning and it's a really cool song except that I don't like the chorus that much.

The album opens with the powerful "In Extremis" and then follows with the melodic but heavy "Chapters" which features a memorable chorus. The 80's like riff takes us into "Lost in Sorrow" which is very similar to classic era Queensrÿche. So is the longer mid-tempo "Nocturnal Light".

"Sicdeth" exemplifies how the band can be progressive and concise at the same time. The song is less than 5 minutes. But it's super dynamic from the moody intro to Priest-like first verse to a catchy chorus and slower tempo bridge. Many songs are adventurous like that and those are my favorite moments on this album. Take the closer "Tormentum"  for example, 7:30 minutes of progressive Judas Priest of sorts. "Realms" is also on those veins and features a very nice guitar work. The band is a not a virtuoso guitar hero band, but instead the guitars support the overall experience rather than taking the spotlight. With that said, there are some pretty cool arrangements. The typical prog metal clean and pristine production is once again credited to Chris “Zeuss” Harris

The Picky Guy

There's also a lot of more mid-tempo / ballad territory songs which to me drags the album a bit too long. Surprisingly, the band has been focusing on those songs as singles. Take "Hold On" for example after a very prog somber start we go into this moody verse  so far so good, but then the chorus is very poppy-like to my taste. Still an OK song, but then we also have "Forest" which is a full-on 80's ballad, it's nothing for me. Really can't listen to it. On the bright side, the proggy single "Behind the Walls" saves the day with its 80's Rush meets Iron Maiden sound.

Wrap Up Opinion 

Queensrÿche has found their modern sound without loosing their roots. With the 4th album with La Torre on the vocals the band kept their compositions and sound very consistent. There's heaviness, progressiveness and ballads spread across the album to keep different fans happy. I'd prefer to have less ballads and more progressiveness and that's why the album looses some points with me.  Still, it's a good album and it won't surprise long time fans. 80/100 and worth checking it. 

SCORE: 80/100

Genre: Progressive Metal

Released by Century Media Records on October 7th, 2022

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

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STRATOVARIUS Survive | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

Released by earMUSIC on September 23rd, 2022

Quick Background

Stratovarius is a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1985. Since their formation, they have released fifteen studio albums. In its history, the band has gone through many lineup changes, and after founding guitarist Timo Tolkki's departure in 2008, there are no founding members left. However since then, the line up has been quite stable. Currently, the longest standing member is singer Timo Kotipelto, who appeared first on Fourth Dimension (1995), the band's 4th album. Episode (1996) and Visions (1997) are my favorite albums and I remember when they were released, so as you can see I am long time fan. They have been very important for power metal and specially Visions is considered a milestone in power metal music. 

Survive

Seven years after the release of their last album Eternal, Stratovarius return with one hour of new power metal music in the form of Survive, their 16th studio album featuring 11 songs in just under one hour. 10 of them being straightforward power metal as we come to expect from them. But the closer "Voice Of Thunder" is a bit different as it is an eleven-minute epic. The title track opens the album with a very heavy guitar tone and riff, I was quite surprised. While the heaviness is somewhat muffled by the production values as the keyboards and vocals join in, it is still a quite dynamic and catchy song. 

"Demand" is a fast tempo and catchy track with one of the coolest choruses, it is a very Helloween-like song. "Firefly" is on the same veins, it's a super up lifting and fun 80's like song. "Frozen In Time" goes a bit more progressive which I really appreciate. It closes the 1st half of the album with a flavor of Visions and some very nice melodies. It is one of my favorites on the album. Talking about Visions "Glory Days" intro really bring us back to the 90's with a cool guitar and keyboard duo riff. The big and epic chorus is another love letter to the band's past. 

As we have seen in some of their other albums, again Visions included, Stratovarius close the album with a long epic song, namely the 11-mnute long "Voice Of Thunder". It's a nice song that gives you the feeling even in the first listen that you have heard it before. Epic and anthemic.    

The Picky Guy

It's a long album for power metal and my problem with it is that the album is not consistent from begging to end. Some choices do not always work for me. For example "Broken" has some good movements, but the mid tempo and overly sugared chorus are a barrier for me to enjoy it fully. "World On Fire" is about climate changing destroying the planet, while that's not the kind of lyrics I expect in power metal, the song is quite ok. But it's really the ballad "Breakaway" followed by "Before The Fall" that makes the album loose points with me.

Wrap Up Opinion 

A comeback album from one of power metal’s most seminal bands, Survive is Stratovarius as we know it. And actually the strong points of the album are when they stay truthful to their 90's roots. Melodic, with strong drum beats, the heavy guitar and keyboards duo, and high pitched vocals singing catchy vocal lines. It's mostly fast tempo and direct power metal anthems, but there's also some progressive touches and dynamic moments with mid tempo songs. It's nothing new for long time fans and while not as good as their classic album, it's a good sample and maybe their best album of this new era of the band. 79/100 and worth checking it out. 

SCORE: 79/100

Genre: Power Metal

Released by earMUSIC on September 23rd, 2022

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

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BEHEMOTH Opvs Contra Natvram | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

Released by Nuclear Blast Records on September 16th, 2022

Quick Background

Behemoth is a Polish extreme metal band formed in 1991. They are considered to have played an important role in establishing the Polish extreme metal underground. Specially since 1999's Satanica  the band sound is by most considered to be Blackened death metal. Last albums have received critical acclaim and the band has grown to a position to headline festivals. Behemoth was formed as a trio, with Adam Darski, a.k.a ‘Nergal’ on guitar and vocals. The frontman and lead songwriter is the only found member left and continues to be the brains and driving force behind the band's success. With that said the line up continues to be a trio but with the fourth member being a session guitarist. This formation has been stable since 2004. 

Opvs Contra Natvram

It's their 12th studio album following 2018's I Loved You at Your Darkest. The new effort brings us 10 tacks in 45 minutes. The Album title means going against the current.

Behemoth take their time to get started as the intro track," Post-God Nirvana" is about 3 minutes of sound effects, screams, spoken words and some tribal chanting. It creates the mood and it can certainly be used to open their concerts. The very short and voracious "Malaria Vvlgata" follows. it's a punch in the face, almost a punk song. "Off To War!" which already became a live favorite is another super fast tempo and aggressive song, but more dynamic. Another aggressive song is "Disinheritance" and what I love about it are the drum fills during the intro! "Once Upon A Pale Horse" is another song with very cool drumming, but the hallmark here is this power metal-ish vibe, but since it is still death metal, it makes me think on Amon Amarth. Even the guitar solo is quite clean and melodic. It's a nice touch to the album. 

"The Deathless Sun" has plenty of aggression and melody, a combination that the band has mastered, and to me it sounds like a bridge between the 2014's masterpiece The Satanist and the band of today. It's one of my favorite songs on the album. "Ov My Herculean Exile" was the first single out of the album and follows the same veins as the previous track. But even more epic and midtempo with a long build up intro. 

As the album approaches the end we get one more super fast and aggressive song "Thy Becoming Eternal" featuring several vocal layers and choirs specially in the mid section interlude. It paves the way nicely into the album closer "Versvs Christvs". The longest song on the album with 6:30 is a dynamic one, with voice over piano, choirs, and a slow build up leading to blasting riffs.  It closes the album in a very high note.

Production is great and performances as well. No surprises that Nergal is signing particularly well on this album and also the drums are quite engaging. Guitar work is not their highlight but it does an excellent job wrapping up the package. 

The Picky Guy

Honestly I don't know what to complain here. "Disinheritance" is the only song that doesn't completely appeal to me as the rest of the album does. For the rest it is a perfect modern Behemoth album.

Wrap Up Opinion 

Opvs Contra Natvram is a heavy album and a natural evolution from The Satanist and Loved You At Your Darkest, it's super aggressive but also epic and melodic. It's also dynamic showing several influences from death metal to black metal but also very melodic moments. I didn't expect much from this album and I thought I'd brush it off quickly, but the truth is I found myself addicted to it and I came to the realization that it's a very fucking good album. 83/100 and potentially higher as I continue to listen to it.  If you like this phase of the band you gonna love this. Check it out. 

SCORE: 83/100

Genre: Death Metal

Released by Nuclear Blast Records on September 16th, 2022

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

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BLOODBATH Survival of the Sickest | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

Released by Napalm Records on September 9th, 2022

Quick Background

Bloodbath is a Swedish death metal supergroup from Stockholm. They began life as a humble tribute. Formed by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström (both of Katatonia), Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) and Dan Swanö (Edge Of Sanity) in 1998. Today the group consists of Martin Axenrot (ex-Opeth) on drums, Anders Nyström on guitars , Jonas Renkse on bass, Nick Holmes on vocals (Paradise Lost) and Tomas "Plytet" Åkvik – guitar .

Survival of the Sickest

It's their 6th studio album and already third with Nick Holmes on vocals and the follow-up to The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn (2018). This time we are delighted with 11 pure death metal tracks in just about 45 minutes. With this release they went in true old school fashion. Think Morbid Angel, Death, Deicide and Obituary. And the lyrics? Well pure gore and death metal, the titles say it all, and the artwork reflects that. 

The single "Zombie Inferno" opens the album with some suspense as it takes 30 seconds for the fade in to take shape and the sick and fast tempo guitar riff starts. A strong punch in the face of a start, if you ask me. “Putrefying Corpse” feat. Barney Greenway of Napalm Death follows and it's one of the best songs on the album, a gory video is also available for this one. The groovy "Carved" feat. Luc from Gorguts is another highlight. Luc is also on another groovy but brutal song titled "Born Infernal". The third guest is Marc from Morgoth on the sludgy "To Die". "Dead Parade" is another heavy song but also on the mid tempo / doomy region. But songs like "Malignant Maggot Therapy", "Tales of Melting Flesh" or "Affliction of Extinction" keep the fast tempo classic death metal side of the album very much alive. 

The Picky Guy

The only song to break the 4 min mark, "No God Before Me" closes the album in a mid tempo and sludgy fashion. While not a bad song at all, it departs too much from the album overall direction and alienates me a little bit. Another point, if you are not bothered by the fact that it's a pretty safe album offering nothing really new, I have nothing to complain about it.  

Wrap Up Opinion 

Bloodbath, Sweden’s undisputed masters of old school death metal, are back doing what they know best. This is a return to 90's death metal within the boundaries of the genre with a little flirting into death doom in the best Obituary veins. Old fans of the band or of the legends Morbid Angel or Death will have a great time with Survival of the Sickest. A very good death metal album deserving a 82/100 and a sore neck.

SCORE: 82/100

Genre: Death Metal

Released by Napalm Records on September 9th, 2022

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

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BLIND GUARDIAN The God Machine | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

Released by Nuclear Blast Records on September 2nd, 2022

Quick Background

After taking a detour in 2019 with the orchestra and vocal album, Legacy of the Dark Lands under the name Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra, the German power metal icons are back with new music. In case you don't know, Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in 1984 in Krefeld, West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres. The band's line-up has consisted of singer Hansi Kürsch, guitarists André Olbrich and Marcus Siepen, then drummer Frederik Ehmke since 2005. They are currently using bassists as session musicians. They released their first album, Battalions of Fear, in 1988. Most of Blind Guardian's albums were well received by fans and critics alike: Somewhere Far Beyond (1992), Imaginations from the Other Side (1995), and Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998), are especially seen as influential works and also my favorites.  They have released eight other studio albums.

The God Machine

This makes The God Machine their twelfth studio album. It is the band's first 'regular' studio album in seven years, following Beyond the Red Mirror, marking the longest gap between two Blind Guardian studio albums (although the Orchestral album was released three years earlier). The new effort clocks in at 51 minutes and features 9 songs. All between 4 and 7 minutes. 

This is a heavy, direct and back to the roots kind of album. After releasing the most orchestral metal album in history, they hit the limit and there was nowhere else to go. Even Beyond the Red Mirror was already a complex album (albeit not as much as A Night at the Opera (2002)). So The God Machine is on the same veins as Tales from the Twilight World (1990) and Somewhere Far Beyond (1992), but still sounding fresh and modern. 

“Deliver Us from Evil” is the opening-single released back in December 2021. The song is inspired by Aurther Miller’s play The Crucible (a dramatic and partially fictionalized take on the Salem witch trials). It's a fantastic album opener with a big chorus, full of hooks and backing vocals, variations, and 190 bpm speed metal instant classic. Most of the album follow the same template. "Violent Shadows" is the 4th and last single and it's about Kaladin Stormblessedfrom the fantasy novel series The Stormlight Archives. The shortest song on the album is heavy and straightforward, if it would be on  Follow the Blind, we would not be surprised. "Architects of Doom"

Released in March 2022 as second single, "Secrets of the American Gods" references Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel American Gods. It's the longest song on the album with 7:30. It slows down a little bit compared to the opening track and "Damnation". I's clear from the moody intro that we have some orchestration and choir in this one. But it's still a heavy song, as the song builds amazingly from there, to a trademark mid-tempo Blind Guardian song with some great hooks. And I love the song outro, kind of Stargazer's ending. "Life Beyond the Spheres" is about the creation of the universe and as such it's an epic tune with more groove and also slower tempo. Talking about slower tempo, we also get a sort of ballad, "Let It Be No More", a very personal song to Hansi Kürsch as it deals with the death of the frontman's mother. 

The third single "Blood of the Elves" references the video game The Witcher and to me sounds a lot like a song out of the Nightfall in Middle-Earth album. So needless to say it's a very good song, straightforward and heavy. With almost 7 minutes, "Destiny" closes the album dialing down a bit the heaviness of the album but remaining faithful to their very early work.

The Picky Guy

While I praise the band for going back to a raw and early sound, I also miss something. It all sound very familiar so while most songs are good, they also don't stand out compared to the classic albums. It's still a very fun album, don't get me wrong. Again, just being picky. 

Wrap Up Opinion 

Blind Guardian revisits their early heavy and raw sound with The God Machine. A straightforward, mostly fast tempo and heavy album with minimal orchestrations but as expected great hooks, melodies and big choruses. If you know the early work of the band, there's nothing new here, it's a natural reaction to previous albums and sets the scene for maybe taking some more risks in the next album. For now, this is a good album, 81/100 and a certain success among long time fans.

SCORE: 83/100

Genre: Power Metal

Released by Nuclear Blast Records on September 2nd, 2022

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

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MACHINE HEAD Of Kingdom And Crown | Weekly Heavy Metal Album Review

Released by Nuclear Blast Records on August 26th, 2022

Quick Background

Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist/guitarist Robb Flynn, who remains the only original member of the band. Machine Head's aggressive musicianship made it one of the pioneering bands in the new wave of American heavy metal.

Having experimented with elements of groove metal and nu metal in its early releases, the band changed to a more traditional thrash metal sound and longer songs with its sixth album, The Blackening (2007), which drew critical acclaim. They also achieved success with its following two albums, Unto the Locust (2011) and Bloodstone & Diamonds (2014), but Catharsis (2018) was an experiment that to me and many, did not work. Let's see with their follow-up.

Of Kingdom And Crown

Of Kingdom And Crow is their tenth studio album featuring 13 tracks in one hour with 3 of them being short intros and/or instrumentals. MH's first concept album is set in a decimated futuristic wasteland where the sky is stained crimson red. The crux of the story is based on two main characters: Ares (pronounced Aries) and Eros (pronounced Arrows). It is the band's first album to feature guitarist Wacław Kiełtyka (Decapitated), who joined the band in late 2019. Matt Alston, who joined the band at the same time, does not play on the album; instead, drum duties are handled by Navene Koperweis, who acted as a session drummer for the album. 

While the album sound like a riff driven thrash metal album, it still carries some nu-metal and metalcore influences. But for the most part it's very thrash and groove metal oriented. All in all, it's on the same veins of the 2007's The Blackening. The epic opening "Slaughter the Martyr" stands out as by far the longest song of the album, it's cinematic and certainly the best. It could easily be part of  The Blackening. It features a 3-min build up before going into this sick guitar riff which include some harmonics, classic MH. Then we get brutal verses and big melodic choruses, double-bass groove, and sick fucking breakdown.

In contrast, all other songs are between 4 and 6 minutes, and they are all also heavy. Take track number two and third single "Choke on the ashes of your hate" for example: It starts with more sick riffs, rolling fast speed, neck breaking breakdown and overall an homage to Exodus' Bounded by Blood with a modern Slipknot flavor. "Become the firestorm" completes the punch in the face opening trio. MH  meets black metal influences in their fastest song on the album, well except for the sick Hatebreed-like breakdown. A great choice for a single and currently being already on their setlist.  

Then the album calms down with the intro to "My hands are empty". According to  Flynn this song which was released back in Nov/2020, became a wild turning point for them in writing the storyline. So lyrically it is an important song, but musically I am not a big fan of the gang vocals and the mellow chorus, but overall it's OK. "No Gods, No Masters" was the single released on the same day as the album. I'm on the fence on this one. It's a different song, super melodic and influenced by hard rock. While I like the song, I'm not a big fan of the chorus. Another single "Unhallowed" is pure groove and more mid-tempo and melodic song filled with sick riffs. This reflects the character's depression.

The album closes with the epic "Arrows in words from the sky". A very melodic song with harmonies and nearly all clean singing. It's a different way to end such an aggressive and sometimes dark album on a high and positive note.

 Other than this slightly softer side of the album, all the other songs are super aggressive and heavy. Vogg's influence is clear on this album, he brought some aggressiveness to some songs that make them close to Decapitated. "Bloodshot" is the best example, there’s no clean singing, and it’s just a killer uptempo groove featuring sick guitar riffs and modern metal sound overall. "Kill thy enemies" is another 90's groovy song where the pounding tribal drums are the highlight. and "Rotten" is another banger, it's where Burn My Eyes meet Exodus, I hope gets you the idea.

I like the album production the guitar tones, nice album cover and a story to follow along.

The Picky Guy

I don't have a lot to complain here. So it's maybe a wish list. I'd prefer the album to be a bit shorter, but I will contradict myself as I not only don't know how to cut it but also I'd actually prefer more songs like the opening track. Meaning long epics with lots of dynamics and yet heavy. So this is just me splitting hairs. Now the only thing I dislike on the album are the gang Oh Oh vocals in a couple of songs. 

Wrap Up Opinion 

Specially compared to Catharsis, Of Kingdom And Crown is a heavier and more technical album. It builds from their roots, specially Burn my Eyes and The Blackening (2007) while paying homage bay area thrash metal, specially Exodus. To me it's a return to form and their best album since Unto the Locust which I like a lot. We get sick riffs and harmonics (it's nice that Flynn leveraged the writing music skills of new members), nice melodies, a good balance between clean and harsh vocals and a lot of aggressiveness. A very good album, 84/100 and probably will be in my 2022 list. Enjoy it!

SCORE: 84/100

Genre: Thrash Metal

Released by Nuclear Blast Records on August 26th, 2022

Rating System

99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad

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