Jahresrückblicke Meilensteine

Flashback 2018 – II. Feinheiten

Kult - Kollektiv19. Dezember 2018

~ Fortsetzung unseres gewohnt kleinen Jahresrückblicks ~

( Teil I ist hier )

TOP 30

Michael Haifl

Top 11-30 (in alphabetischer Reihenfolge)

ALKALOID – Liquid Anatomy
ANDERES HOLZ – Fermate
ANNA VON HAUSSWOLFF – Dead Magic
BATTLEROAR – Codex Epicus
GALAHAD – Seas Of Change
GHOST – Prequelle
KHEMMIS – Desolation
LEVEL FIELDS – 1104
NECROS CHRISTOS – Domedon Doxomedon
OPEN BURN – Divine Intermission
PERFECT BEINGS – Vier
SATAN – Cruel Magic
SUBSIGNAL – La Muerta
THEM – Manor Of The Se7en Gables
TOBY DRIVER – They Are The Shield
URIAH HEEP – Living The Dream
WARREL DANE – Shadow Work
WEAPONLORD – Hail The Victorious
WITHERFALL – A Prelude To Sorrow
WYTCH HAZEL – II: Sojourn

Demos & EPs

LEATHÜRBITCH – Leathürbitch (EP)
TRAVELER – Demo 2018

Beste Box-Sets:

NAZARETH – Loud & Proud
Kate Bush – Remastered in Vinyl 1-4
THE MONCHROME SET – 1979-1985 complete recordings
TOTO – All In
Udo Lindenberg – Das Vermächtnis der Nachtigall 1983-1998
SUPERPUNK – Mehr ist Mehr (1996 – 2012)
DIE ÄRZTE – Seitenhirsch

Beste unveröffentlichte Wiedergeburt:

JOHN COLTRANE – Both Directions At Once: The Lost Album

Instrument des Jahres: Saxofon an jeder Ecke

Dell Hull (OPEN BURN)

Judas Priest – Firepower
Riot V – Armor of Light
Fates Warning – Live Over Europe
Heir Apparent – The View From Below
Michael Schenker Fest – Resurrection

Jasun Tipton (A DYING PLANET, ZERO HOUR)

Steve Perry – Traces
Jason Becker – Triumphant Hearts
Tesseract – Sonder
Between The Buried and Me – Automata ll
Powerwolf – The Sacrament of Sin

Hagen Schmidt (PAYNE’S GRAY)

DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT – Ocean Machine – Live at the Ancient Roman Theatre Plovdiv
HOWLING SYCAMORE – Howling Sycamore
MEGADETH – Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good – The Final Kill
SNOWY SHAW – White Is The New Black
FATES WARNING – Live Over Europe

Richie Seibel (THEM, LANFEAR, IVANHOE)

GHOST – Prequelle
TNFO – Sometimes The World Ain’t Enough
FIFTH ANGEL – The Third Secret
LONG DISTANCE CALLING – Boundless
FREAK KITCHEN – Confusion To The Enemy

Juan Ricardo (SUNLESS SKY, WRETCH, RITUAL)

Judas Priest – Firepower
Shadowkeep – Guardians of the Temple
Saxon – Thunderbolt
Primal Fear- Apocalypse
Kamelot – Shadow Theory
Beast in Black – Berserker
Heir Apparent – A View from Below
Them – Manor of the Seven Gables
Immortal – Northern Chaos Gods
Seven Sisters – The Cauldron and The Cross

TOP 30

Jürgen Tschamler

Top 11-30 (in alphabetischer Reihenfolge)

ALL THEM WITCHES – ATW
BEGGARS – The Day I Lost My Head
BLACK MOTH – Anatomical Venus
CULTURAL WARFARE – Warmageddon
HEIR APPARENT – The View From Below
HIGH REEPER –High Reeper
LA CHINGA –Beyond The Sky
LEE AARON – Diamond Baby Blues
LEVEL FIELDS – 1104
MASS – When 2 Worlds Collide
NIGHT DEMON – Live Darkness
RIOT V – Armor Of Light
SKELETONWITCH – Devouring Radiant Light
STORMTHRASH – Systematic Annihilation
STRIKER – Play To Win
SUBTYPE ZERO – The Astral Awakening
THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA – Sometimes The World Ain`t Enough
TRAUMA – As The World Dies
TRUST – Dans Le Mème Sang
WULFPÄCK – War Ain`t Over

Beste EPs:
HESPERA – In Absence
SAINT AGNES – The Death Or Glory Gang

Beste Boxsets:
RIOT – The Official Bootleg Box Set Vol.2 1980-1990
ROSE TATTOO – Scarred For Live 1980-1982
TOXIK – III Works

Beste Live Shows:
RIOT V – 7er Club, Mannheim
LEATHERWOLF – Music Hall, Weiher,
CASTLE – Das Bett, Frankfurt
THE WELL – Dreikönigskeller, Frankfurt
ROSE TATTOO – Colos Saal, Aschaffenburg
SPIDERS – Schlachthof, Wiesbaden
CONEY HATCH – H.E.A.T.Festival, Ludwigsburg
STRIKER – Connection, Mannheim
THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA – Connection, Mannheim
LOVEBITES – Colos Saal, Aschaffenburg

Ronald Senft (OLD MOTHER HELL)

SOLSTICE – White Horse Hill
DAUTHA – Brethren Of The Black Soil
VISIGOTH – Conqueror‘s Oath
SATAN – Cruel Magic
FUNERAL MIST – Hekatomb

Julian Izard (EXISTANCE):

Judas Priest – Firepower
Saxon – Thunderbolt
Primal Fear – Apocalypse
Riot V – Armor of Ligh
UDO – Steelfactory

Mem’ V. Stein:

Sleep – The Sciences
Judas Priest – Firepower
Windhand – Eternal Return
Uncle Acid & The Dead Beats – Wasteland
Tomb Mold – Manor Of Infinite Forms
Swamp – Swamp 2
Wayfarer – World’s Blood
Painted Doll – S/T
YOB – Our Raw Heart
John Carpenter / Cody Carpenter & Daniel Davis – Halloween OST

Maurizio Kratzsch (REVOLUTION 9)

JUDAS PRIEST – Firepower
RIOT V – Armor Of Light
FIFTH ANGEL – The Third Secret
TREAT – Tunguska
MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST – Resurrection

Dimitris Kart (SACRAL RAGE)

Warrel Dane – Shadow Work

The best possible farewell gift from one of the most talented musicians we had in metal community. A work that came from the shadows indeed.

Saboter – Architects of Evil

Nobody will know what hit them with this killer album. A unique mixture of variety subgenres of metal, delivered with great performances and passion.

Black Oath – Behold the Abyss

Black Oath comes with another killer album with great atmosphere, killer riffs and dramatic vocal lines. High quality metal.

Them – Manor of the Se7en Gables

The dark stories continue to haunt our dreams. A great second chapter with astonishing melodies that Transfers you to the scenes of action.

Black Viper – Hellions of Fire

The debut album of the Norwegian quartet was this year’s great surprise. Looking forward to see them live as well.

TOP 30

Johannes Zenner

Top 11-30 (in alphabetischer Reihenfolge)

ALICE IN CHAINS – Rainier Fog
AUTHOR AND PUNISHER -Beastland
BEHEMOTH – I Loved You At Your Darkest
BLOODBATH – The Arrow Of Saten Is Drawn
CULT LEADER – A Patient Man
DEAFHEAVEN – Ordinary Human Corrupt Love
EVOKEN – Hypnagogia
FOUR STROKE BARON – Planet Silver Screen
HATE ETERNAL – Upon Desolate Sands
HIGH ON FIRE – Electric Messiah
INFERNAL COIL – Within A World Forgotten
JESUS PIECE – Only Self
KEN MODE – Loved
MADBALL – For The Cause
PIG DESTROYER – Head Cage
SEPTIC TANK – Rotting Civilisation
THE CROWN – Cobra Speed Venom
TRIBULATION – Down Below
VENOM – Storm The Gates
VOIVOD – The Wake

Adam Holström (WILDNESS)

SAVATAGE – Gutter Ballet
DARK ANGEL – Time Does Not Heal
VINNIE MOORE – Meltdown
THE RIPPINGTONS – Live in L.A.
RED DAWN – Never Say Surrender

Erik Modin (WILDNESS)

W.E.T. – Earthrage
LEBROCK – Real Thing
TNFO – Sometimes The World Ain’t Enough
GUNSHIP – Dark All Day
CREYE – S/T

Matt Dobson (TOLEDO STEEL):

Judas Priest – Firepower
Visigoth – Conquerer’s oath
The Nightflight Orchestra – Sometimes the world ain’t enough
Anaal Nathrakh – A new kind of horror
Night Demon- Live Darkness

Arndt Hebel (NACHTGREIF)

MICHAEL ROMEO – War Of The Worlds, Pt. I
GUS G. – Fearless
MAGNUM – Lost On The Road To Eternity
SUBSIGNAL – La Muerta
PRIMAL FEAR – Apocalypse

Band Collective (DOWNPOUR)

JUDAS PRIEST – Firepower
ALICE IN CHAINS – Rainier Fog
ARCHITECTS – Holy Hell
VOLA – Applause Of A Distant Crowd
SLEEP The Sciences

TOP 30

Less Leßmeister

Top 11-30 (in alphabetischer Reihenfolge)

ARTILLERY – The Face Of Fear
DREAM CHILD – Until Death Do We Meet Again
ENTIERRO – Entierro
GREYSTONE CANYON – While The Wheels Still Turn
HEIR APPARENT – The View From Below
HOWLING SYCAMORE – Howling Sycamore
KILL RITUAL – All Men Shall Fall
KJELLVANDER – Wild Hxmans
LIZZY BORDEN – My Midnight Things
MANES – Slow Motion Death Sequence
MUSTASCH – Silent Killer
MYSTERY – Lies And Butterflies
NACHTGREIF – Spukhaus
SACRAL RAGE – Beyond Celestial Echoes
SATAN – Cruel Magic
SAVAGE MACHINE – Abandon Earth
STRYPER – God Damn Evil
TAD MOROSE – Chapter X
TRILLIUM – Tectonic
VOODOO CIRCLE – Raised On Rock

Megaseller außer Konkurrenz

JUDAS PRIEST – Firepower
SAXON – Thunderbolt
URIAH HEEP – Living The Dream
WITT – Rübezahl

Overlooked 2017

LESOIR – Latitude
SACRAL NIGHT – Darkness Process
SANHEDRIN – A Funeral For The World
SCARDUST – Sands Of Time
STEVE WALSH – Black Butterfly
TDW – The Antithetic Affiliation
WILDNESS – Same

Demos & EPs

IDLE HANDS – Don’t Waste Your Time (EP)
NOCHOY DOZOR – Nochnoy Dozor (EP)
REVOLUTION 9 – These Are The Days (EP)
TRAVELER – Demo 2018

Re-Releases

COVEN – Witchcraft
LAST VISION BLACK – Last Vision Black
PANTHER – Panther

Killer Songs – Turn on, tune in, drop out

HEIR APPARENT – The Door
JUDAS PRIEST – Rising From Ruins
KILL RITUAL – Kage
LEGEND OF THE SEAGULLMEN – Ballad Of The Deep Sea Diver
LEVEL FIELDS – Disowned
MYSTERY – How Do You Feel
OLD MAN WIZARD – Sorcerer
SAVAGE MACHINE – Behind The Veil
TAD MOROSE – Leviathan Rise
VELVET VIPER – Shadow Ryche

Audiovisueller Gipfel der Genüsse

AYREON – Universe: Best Of Live (DVD)
BABYLON BERLIN (Was ein Titelsong!)
DIE BRÜCKE – Das Finale
LORE (2.Staffel)
MANDY

Festival-Exzesse

TITAN FORCE & PICTURE @ METAL ASSAULT VIII
SIREN & WINTERHAWK @ KEEP IT TRUE XXI
TIAMAT & CORONER @ ROCK HARD
CAMELEONS VOX & THE DAMNED @ NEW WAVES DAY
STEEL PANTHER & SATYRICON @ COPENHELL
LOUDNESS & ABBATH @ BANG YOUR HEAD
IN THE NURSERY & MIDGE URE @ AMPHI XIV
AUDREY HORNE & SAMAEL @ NOAF
WHILE HEAVEN WEPT & COVEN @ HAMMER OF DOOM XIII
CONEY HATCH & JADED HARD @ H.E.A.T.

Reviewfuntastic

GOST – Possessor (MH)
JUDAS PRIEST – Firepower (Rudel)
KING WITCH – Under The Mountain (DC)
LANFEAR – X to the Power of Ten (GPS)
LONG DISTANCE CALLING – Boundless (LK)
MASTER – Vindictive Miscreant (JZ)
NASHVILLE PUSSY – Pleased To Eat You (JT)
OMEN (UK) – Dragon Flight (SLD)
SIGH – Heir To Despair (UV)
WINDHAND / SATAN`S SATYRS – Split (MK)

Vorfreude 2019

AYREON Live!!!
CHAOS INSIDE Debüt!
Freunde ohne Ländergrenzen treffen
neues OOMPH! Album
SARCASM SYNDROME starten durch!
siehe ‘Festival Eszesse’
Trüffelsichtung für euch

Vorsätze 2019

alle alten mp3 Player aufladen und überraschenlassen, was so drauf ist
ALLE Beiträge in STREETCLIP goutieren
Liveberichte zeitnah rausschleudern (still 4 more Summerdaze to come)
mehr Reviews (als MH) schreiben
weniger Punkte vergeben (fingers crossed)

Jutta Weinhold (VELVET VIPER)

RAINBOW – Long Live Rock’n’Roll
ARCH ENEMY – Khaos Legions
SAVATAGE – Gutter Ballet
GAMMA RAY – Land Of The Free
BLACK SABBATH – Heaven And Hell

Jim Hunter (WALPYRGUS, TWISTED TOWER DIRE, WHILE HEAVEN WEPT, OCTOBER 31)

UNCLE ACID – Wasteland
DECEASED – Ghostly White
VOIVOD – The Wake
IMMORTAL – Northern Chaos Gods
BEYOND CREATION – Algorythm

Darren Cherry (GREYSTONE CANYON)

JUDAS PRIEST – Firepower
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY – Grimmest Hits
THE DEAD DAISIES – Burn It Down
URIAH HEEP – Living The Dream
JAKE E LEE’S RED DRAGON CARTEL – Patina

Daniel Meier (CRONE):

GHOST – Prequelle
NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS – Tearing at the Seams
CHARLES BRADLEY – Black Velvet
VULFPECK – Hill Climber
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – Come tomorrow

Pascal Heemann (CRONE):

ERRA – Neon
GRETA VAN FLEET – Anthem Of The Peaceful Army
THE MIDNIGHT – Kids
UNDEROATH – Erase me
GHOST – Prequelle

Sakis Tolis (ROTTING CHRIST)

JUDAS PRIEST – Firepower
WATAIN – Trident Wolf Eclipse
BEHEMOTH – I love you at your Darkest
VARATHRON – Patriarchs Of Evil
GHOST – Prequelle

TOP 30

U.Violet

Top 13-30 (in alphabetischer Reihenfolge)

AMORPHIS – Queen of Time
ANTLERS – Beneath.Below.Behold
ASCENSION – Under Ether
CRONE – Godspeed
ENTIERRO – Entierro
EVIL WARRIORS – Fall From Reality
KATAKLYSM – Meditations
KING DUDE – Music To Make War To
NECROPHOBIC – Mark Of The Necrogram
NECROS CHRISTOS – Domedon Doxomedon
PRIMORDIAL – Exile Amongst The Ruins
SIGH – Heir To Despair
SLAEGT – The Wheel
SULPHUR AEON – The Scythe Of Cosmic Chaos
SVARTIÐAUDI – Revelations Of The Red Sword
VOIVOD – The Wake
WARREL DANE – Shadow Works
YGFAN – Hamvakból…

Grandiose EPs:
FARSOT / COLDWORLD – Toteninsel (Split)
LA MORTE VIENE DALLO SPAZIO – Sky Over Giza

Geilste Streetclip-Reviews 2018:
SUBTYPE ZERO – The Astral Awakening (Jürgen Tschamler)
LORD VIGO – Six Must Die (Michael Haifl)
JUDAS PRIEST – Firepower-Rudelreview, Teil Less Lessmeister
…und das coolste Flamingo-Liverudel:
RIOT V, RISING FIVE with MIKE TIRELLI, 7er Club, Mannheim

On the Dancefloor:
LADY GAGA & BRADLEY COOPER – ‘Shallow’
THY CATAFALQUE – ‘Töltés’
SAXON – ’747 (Strangers in the Night)’
AMORPHIS – ‘Amongst Stars’
JUDAS PRIEST – ‘Guardians/Rising from Ruins’
KHEMMIS – ‘Bloodletting’
MANES – ‘Endetidstegn’
ENTIERRO – ‘Dybbuk’
HEIR APPARENT – ‘The Door’
NECROPHOBIC – ‘Mark Of The Necrogram’

Überraschung 2018
Priest! Priest!! Priest!!!

Phantastischer Nachwuchs:
AYAHUASCA, YGFAN, IDLE HANDS

Gänsehautmomente vor der Bühne:

Modern…:
TRIPTYKON aka CF aka HH, beim Czar Fest, Basel, sowie bei Metal Méan
Dark Easter Metal Meeting, München: NAGLFAR, ENISUM, DOOL, ULTHA, FURIA
House of the Holy II, Abtenau: DOOL, WITTR, RUINS OF BEVERAST, CRONE, MASTER’S HAMMER
JONATHAN HULTÉN, THE DEVILS TRADE, Mannheim
ULTHA, Esslingen
SAMAEL, NOAF

…Classics:
JUDAS FUCKIN’ PRIEST, Dortmund
RIOT V, 7er Club, Mannheim
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, Aschaffenburg

Moving Pictures:
A Star Is Born (Bradley Cooper) & Mandy (Panos Cosmatos)

Highlight 2018:
Der erfolgreiche Start unseres ‚Me(n)tal Health’ Projekts!

Vorfreude 2019:
Neue TOOL (ha,ha, … 2032… – Anm. d. Red.), neue MGŁA, der wilde Festivalapril…und hoffentlich noch viel mehr Interaktion mit unserer Leserschaft!

Cedric Teubl (CHAPEL OF DISEASE)

IDLE HANDS – Don’t waste your time

Eine großartig eingängige Platte. Es ist nichts direkt weltbewegendes, was die Jungs da machen, aber was sie tun, tun sie außerordentlich gut. Klassischer Heavy Metal, tight gespielt und mit vielen Hooks veredelt. Und um sich dann doch hervorzuheben, gibt es da drin eine Prise Post-Punk in der Stimme, so dass es sich anhört, als würden am Ende NEW MODEL ARMY Metal spielen. Meine Platte des Jahres.

NECROS CHRISTOS – Domedon Doxomedon

Eine sehr schwere und stellenweise, aufgrund ihrer Länge schwer zugängliche Platte. Aber das Durchhalten wird belohnt. Es ist ein Koloss, der den dunklen Death Metal dieser Band perfekt wiedergibt und den Hörer auf eine aufregende Reise schickt. Für diejenigen, die es interessiert, bieten die Texte auch noch viel Stoff, um sich tiefer mit zu beschäftigen. Sollte es das letzte Werk sein, so haben NECROS CHRISTOS hier noch einmal einen Trumpf hervorgeholt.

ASCENSION – Under Ether

Ein weiteres schweres Album, was sich nicht sofort offenbaren will, aber mich fasziniert hat. Es finden sich so viele Feinheiten darin, so viel Detail und doch auch Neues, jedoch bleibt die Band sich treu und verfeinert ihren Black Metal kontinuierlich. Doch, ich bin begeistert davon.

WITCHING HOUR – …and silent grief shadows the passing moon

Eine super Verschmelzung von Heavy Metal und Black/Thrash. Auf diesem Album zeigen WITCHING HOUR ihr Können in Sachen Melodieführung und Songwriting sehr gekonnt. Es wirkt authentisch, räudig und hat immer wieder Stellen, die Hitpotenzial haben. Wer die letzte MALOKARPATAN gut findet, sollte hier ein Ohr riskieren:

SOFT KILL – Savior:

Düster und bedrückend, melancholisch aber auch treibend, so empfinde ich diese Platte. Es ist eine Scheibe, bei der die Emotionen frei liegen und vertont wurden. Eine Perle aus dem derzeitigem Post-Punk und eine Band, die man nächstes Jahr unbedingt sehen sollte.

Kirill “Kay” Gromada (AYAHUASCA, PRIPJAT, RAPTVRE)

VOIVOD – The Wake

Puh, habe ich dieses Album oft gehört. Vom ersten bis zum letzten Song ein totaler Trip. Voivod haben sich nie angepasst und das ist auch gut so. Besondere Credits gelten wohl Chewy an der Gitarre, der einfach nur ein Gott ist. Das Album (bzw. die Band) ist nichts für jedermann, aber meinen Nerv hat es mehr als getroffen.

HATE ETERNAL – Upon Desolate Sands

Erik Rutan und seine Mannschaft schlagen wieder zurück. Brutal und gut produziert wie eh und je. Die Jungs aus Tampa wissen genau, wie man spannenden Death Metal macht.

RIVERS OF NIHIL – Where Owls Know My Name

Kreativo-Metal anno 2018. Klischees sind hier fehl am Platz. Brutaler, moderner Death Metal gemischt mit Atmosphäre, Progressivität und einem Hauch Jazz. Die Platte macht einfach Spaß.

IHSAHN – Amr

Ich war schon von seiner letzten Platte total begeistert. Seine Art zu komponieren ist sowohl intelligent als auch spannend. Erstaunlich, mit welcher Hingabe Ihsahn seine Musik ausschmückt.

JUDAS PRIEST – Firepower

Priest zeigen uns, dass Sie es immer noch drauf haben und bescheren uns ein Album voller Hits mit mächtig Feuer unter dem Arsch.

TOP 30

Ludwig Krammer

Top 11-30 (in alphabetischer Reihenfolge)

AGE OF TAURUS – The Colony Slain
ASHBURY – Eye Of The Stygian Witches
O.C. – No Cross No Crown
DAUTHA – Brethren Of The Black Soil
FIFTH ANGEL – The Third Secret
GRETA VAN FLEET – Anthem Of The Peaceful Army
HESSIAN – Mercenary Retrograde
HIGH ON FIRE – Electric Messiah
JUDAS PRIEST – Firepower
KHEMMIS – Desolation
MARK KNOPFLER – Down The Road Wherever
LETHEAN – The Waters Of Death
MANACLE – No Fear To Persevere
MOTOROWL – Atlas
NECROPHOBIC – Mark Of The Necrogram
THE OCEAN – Phanerozoic I: Palaezoic
OPEN BURN – Divine Intermission
SOLSTICE – White Horse Hill
STONEWALL – Never Fall
URIAH HEEP – Living The Dream

András Nagy (SEAR BLISS)

MANES – Slow Motion Death Sequence

Manes became one of my personal favourites with their groundbreaking album Vilosophe 15 years ago. I follow them since then and as they seldom release albums, every time they show up with something has a special importance for me. Slow Motion Death Sequence is a really unique album with incredible atmosphere. Totally dreamy and breathtaking. Can’t stop listening to it. I love this band very much. They are totally original and talented.

ANNA VON HAUSSWOLFF – Dead Magic

I knew little or almost nothing of Anna Von Hausswolff until this summer when we played a show with my other band Arkhe at Fekete Zaj festival (a very special Hungarian festival focusing on unusual musical projects), headlined by her band. We were preparing for soundcheck when we heard incredible voices and sounds from the distance. It drew us like magnet and we all went to see what happens and couldn’t leave. We almost missed our own soundcheck. What we saw was mesmerizing, hypnotic and magical. We never saw or heard anything like that before. I will never forget her performance. We were sad to rush back to the stage where we had to do a short soundcheck and start playing. When we got home we all dug into her music. She is one of the most outstanding artists of our days in my opinion and Dead Magic is a wounderful piece of art.

BLOODBATH – The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn

I love Swedish death metal since the early 90’s. Bloodbath is awesome with all the brutality and aggression of that era. Pure and sheer with an absolutely heavy sound and image and Nick Holmes, being one my favourite vocalists is the icing on the bloody cake.

VOIVOD – The Wake

It’s no question Voivod are the pioneers of progressive brutal music and with this new album they are still capable of surprising the listeners. They become even better with age. The Wake is a masterpiece, so much happening in each song. Only true geniuses are able to create something like this. They have created their own universe decades ago but it is still so fresh and unique with so much energy, can’t be compared to anything. And the sound is awesome too.

IN THE WOODS – Cease the Day

The reason I like this album is that it brings back so many memories from the past. It’s like traveling in time. Perfect companion for these long winter nights. A decent record with great atmosphere.

Jens Gellner (MASTERS OF DISGUISE, LORD VIGO, REVELATION STEEL)

SUBSIGNAL – La Muerta
VOIVOD – The Wake
SATAN – Cruel Magic
FATES WARNING – Live Over Europe
THE OCEAN – Phanerozoic I

John Cruppe (FALLEN ANGEL)

Top five studio

Judas Priest – Firepower
Ghost – Prequelle
Corrosion of Conformity – No Cross No Crown
Saxon – Thunderbolt
A Perfect Circle – Eat The Elephant

Bonus pick – Best Black Metal: DIMMU BORGIR – Eonian

Top five live

Steve Hackett – Wuthering Nights Live in Birmingham
Porcupine Tree – Arriving Somewhere
King Crimson – Elements Tour Box
Overkill – Live in Overhausen
Rob Zombie – Astro Creep 2000 Live

Best 2 Boxes:

Angel – The Casablanca Years
Saxon – The Hoard

Best Re-Release: RUSH – Hemispheres

Best new Artist to keep an eye on: GRETA VAN FLEET

Danny Tunker (ALKALOID)

Frank Zappa/MOTHERS – The Roxy Performances
King Crimson – Meltdown (Live in Mexico)
Rivers Of Nihil – Where Owls Know My Name
Azusa – Heavy Yoke
Horizon Ablaze – The Weight of a Thousand Suns
Psycroptic – As The Kingdom Drowns
Rabbit Rabbit Radio – Black Inscription
Obscura – Diluvium
The Soft Moon – Criminal
Revocation – The Outer Ones

TOP 20

Markus Gps

Top 11-20 (in alphabetischer Reihenfolge)

A DYING PLANET – Facing The Incurable
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME – Automata I + II
COHEED AND CAMBRIA – The Unheavenly Creatures
HAKEN – Vector
LONG DISTANCE CALLING – Boundless
PRIMORDIAL – Exile Amongst The Ruins
REDEMPTION – Long Nights Journey Into Day
SOAP & SKIN – From Gas To Solid
TOUNDRA – Vortex
WITHERFALL – A Prelude To Sorrow

Fünf bislang ungeöffnete Schätze

HIER APPARENT – The View From Below
INTO ETERNITY – The Sirens
LEVEL FIELDS – 1104
SATAN – Cruel Magic
SEPTAGON – Apocalyptic Rhymes

Beste Live Gigs

1. CORONER – Rock Hard Festival
2. RIOT – 30 Years Thundersteel (Mannheim)
3. CALIGULA’s HORSE – Prog Power Europe
4. GUILD OF AGES – Heat Festival
5. WHILE HEAVEN WEPT – Farewell Gig @ Hammer of Doom
6. BENT KNEE – Rüsselsheim
7. HITTMAN – Keep it True
8. SONS OF APOLLO – Prog Power Europe
9. MAJOR PARKINSON – Prog Power Europe
10. VISIGOTH – Metal Assault