Ok, well I am still pondering everything from this year; however, I will give my list as it is now (in no particular order of course).
Orphaned Land- The Never Ending Way of OrWarrioR
Blind Guardian- At the Edge of Time
Therion- Sitra Ahra (impulse buy that just seemed to blindside me)
Rhapsody of Fire- Tears of Frozen Angels (great return to form...reminds me a lot of Dragonflame)
Soilwork- The Panic Broadcast
Eluveitie- Everything Remains as it Never Was
Star One- Victims of the Modern Age (a bit more straightforward than normal but still very solid with great vox and atmosphere)
Angra- Aqua (while not GREAT...its different to see them concentrate more on progressivness than power metal)
Kalmah- 12 Gauge
Pain of Salvation- Road Salt One (this one just barely made my list because even though I appreciate what Daniel did with this one, its something I have to really be in the mood to listen to. I dunno, its a mix between that it felt unfinished, because its short and there is another part coming out, and that Daniel seems to be on this anti-metal crusade lately. I would really like to see something similar to the sound of Remedy Lane again.)
Honorable Mentions:
Dark Tranquillity- We Are The Void (very solid release that shows they can do something different while still retaining the sound they became famous for. I really need to listen to it more.)
Enslaved- Axioma Ethica Odini (I had never even heard of them until people here started talking about this album. Its very atmospheric and ethereal to listen to.)
Seventh Wonder- The Great Escape (this is here because its not out yet but I feel sounds very promising)
Dissappointment of the Year:
Kamelot- Poetry for the Poisoned
I have to admit that I have not really bought albums online this year, which means pretty much everything I have gotten has been from FYE; therefore, a lot of new stuff that has come out this year that is not carried in stores here in the US I have not really listened to mind a few songs here and there via youtube. For example, the new Vanden Plas. I have heard a song or two here and there online but I really don't like to listen to whole albums via youtube as I would with a cd. So this year was pretty much not a year of me discovering too many new artists. It was a big year for me in that there was a lot of new albums by artists I already enjoy.
