20. Candiria-While They Were Sleeping
It's good to hear these guys again The album is all over the place and that's ok, that's what they do. NYHC at it's weirdest.
19. Death Angel-The Evil Divide
Death Angel proves why they are one of the originators of thrash metal.
18. Suicidal Tendencies-World Gone Mad
ST is back, this time with Dave Lombardo from Slayer on drums!
17. The Order-Rock'nRumble
The Order are a Swiss band that remind me of bands like Whitesnake and Montrose, and this album rocks.
16. Hypnos-Cold Winds
Hypnos is another European band that plays that retro rock feel I have been groovin' on. These dudes are from Sweden, a place that seems to be pumping out bands that rock left and right these days.
15. Scorpion Child-Acid Roulette
These Austin, TX rockers play hard rock/hair metal sounding rock that is now played on classic rock radio. They got a Skid Row/Jackyl/Extreme sorta thang goin' on and I can dig it.
14. Hammerfight-Profound and Profane
These guys remind me of metal from our area of upstate NY, they are from Jersey, so, kinda close. Sorta hardcore tinged like Crumbsuckers or Ludichrist. This type of band would have played this local club called Saratoga Winners, which was a thrash metal redneck saloon that burned down a few years ago.
13. Bloody Hammers-Lovely Sorta Death
Type O Negative worship, shall I suggest it may be a bit more goth. Dude wears face paint, which throws me off, but then again, I do listen to Kiss.
12. Hammers of Misfortune-Dead Revolution
Another 'hammer' band. This is Deep Purple metal.
11. Imperial State Electric-All Through The Night
Not exactly metal, but hard rock, and this album rocks. 70's classic rock that reminds me of the Kiss tunes Ace wrote.
10. The Golden Grass-Coming Back Again
These Psych-rock stoner dudes from California put out a album that was my soundtrack to last summer. Feel good rock, makes ya wanna wear a bandana headband. They get all dual harmony singin like my dad's old Grand Funk Railroad 8 track used to do.
9. Gygax-Critical Hits
This is former members of Gypsyhawk, and this album sounds a lot like as if this is a new Gypsyhawk album. I sure as hell ain't complainin'. I dig the Hotel Californiaesques dual harmony guitar solos all day.
8. Ghoul-Dungeon Bastards
These guys play that thrash death crust grind that brings everybody to the pit. I know they are from a buncha other bands that I don't listen to and that's ok, these dudes are better off doing this schtick.
7. Testament-Brotherhood of the Snake
I got a chance to interview Alex Scolnick at a time when they had just started to write this record, and it is a solid record, minus any cover song, booo, check it out y'all.
6. Anthrax-For All Kings
The new addition of Jon from Shadows Fall is quite the perfect matchup. I love his tasteful soloing on this record, and I may be biased for I love his work in Shadow Fall. This has to be the best choice for lead guitar that Scott Ian & the band have ever chosen.
5. Savage Master-With Whips And Chains
It's like Doro, Betsy Bitch and Wendy O had a love child.
4. Diamond Head-Diamond Head
This is straight up metal done right. These guys were a major influence to Metallica and many other bands. This album has some key gems, and still proudly carries that NWOBHM flag.
3. Megadeth-Dystopia
They sounded great, Dave actually sang, and this album is solid, there's even a Fear cover song to boot.
2. Blood Ceremony-Lord of Misrule
This album has many tracks that got stuck in my head over the course of this year. There is not a bad track on this album. The vocals are infectious and soothing, it's amazing she retains breath for that Jethro Tull flute. It was almost a tie for #1, it's that good.
1. Cauldron-In Ruin
These guys did it again, #1. Damn, Canada rocks!
They got into a horrible accident in Texas out in support of this mighty fine record, and I'm glad to see them back on their feet.
In Ruin is aptly named (after that accident), if they come to your town, come out and check out some metal in it's purest form. In Ruin is a dark album compared to their past efforts. The recording itself has a softer, darker tone to it, I'm not sure if it was intentional, but still reflects on and into their sound quite perfectly.
