All in all, I thought this was a solid year for Metal. There was a ton of real solid releases, but no truly great discs. My Top 10 list was distilled out of the 540 2003 releases I listened to this past year, and then again out of the 96 that I purchased.
Top 10
Balance of Powers Heathen Machine. I was sad to see Lance depart. I thought Perfect Balance was a superb disc. It exhibited a band in transition from AOR to Metal. With the addition of John K., BoP has completed that transition and has done so in spectacular fashion. Heathen Machine is well played, maturely written and features undeniable melodies. Im sure some will take issue with the often uncanny similarities between John and Geoff Tate. However, Tate hasnt sounded this good since Operation: Mindcrime, and quite frankly, I miss listening to someone who can sing like this. John has immediately become one of my Top 5 favorite vocalists and I look forward to, with great anticipation, future Balance of Power releases.
Poisonblacks Escapexstacy. Escapexstacy is one of those CDs that has the ability to render an eject button useless. If youve yet to be exposed to this disc, let me sum up:
1 Part Monster Riff
2 Parts Vocalist (with a deep voice, whose pipes just drip with sexuality)
1 Part Headbanging Drum Beat
3 Parts Melodic Hooks (the size of Montana)
Suffice it to say, this disc should be standard issue at every strip bar on the planet.
Opeths Damnation. If youre familiar with Opeths music, than this disc is everything you could have expected when you caught wind that Opeth was set to record an all acoustic CD. If youre not familiar with Opeth, get familiar! This CD is hauntingly beautiful. The lyrics, as always, are spectacular, and Mikaels voice has never sounded stronger. If I had one complaint about this disc, it would be that I wish Mikael and Peter did a little more soloing. That being said, this disc has the sound of a CD that will be musically relevant for decades to come.
Amon Amarths Versus the World. This is Viking Death Metal at its finest. When vocalist Johan Hegg sings, you cant help but feel that he moistens his pipes by licking blood from a sword, rather than with a cool 12 oz. of Evian. Amon Amarths music is quite simply crushing. Yet, they have no need to pummel the listener with incessant blast beats or guitars that create an overwhelming wall of sound, leaving the listener unable to discern where one note ends and the next begins. Rather, their music is executed with the precision and maturity of a band who isnt new to this genre and isnt impressed by how fast or how loud they can play. If you need something to help you push out that last rep at the gym, or perhaps go on a small but efficient killing spree, heres your soundtrack.
Star Ones Live on Earth. Im not a fan of live albums. And to be honest, I think watching the DVD gave me a greater appreciation for the CD. Its amazing to consider, when watching the DVD or listening to the CD, that this isnt an actual band. These are simply hand-picked musicians, each contributing to the sum of the whole, at such a high level, that one would have to assume that this group had been playing together for the better part of a decade. All the players here deliver top flight performances, but special note has to be taken of those given by Russell Allen and Damian Wilson, whose voices are just spectacular.
Nevermores Enemies of Reality. Had you told me that a Nevermore release would end up as low as #5 on one of my Top 10 lists, I would have simply shook my head and walked away. However, Kelly Gray and the accountants at Century Media have conspired against our heroes, and have brought us a disc that sounds as if it was recorded on $39 Radio Shack boom box. Despite the horrid production, the songs are as strong as ever. Loomis puts to bed any and all debate about who the finest guitar player in the genre is. Vans drumming is top notch as always. Warrells vocals and lyrics are as emotive, intelligent, and as meticulously delivered as Nevermore fans have grown to expect. Make no mistake about it, had Neil Kernon, Andy Sneap or my nearly deaf Grandfather produced this CD, it would have garnered top honors.
King Diamonds The Puppet Master. Ive never been a huge fan of the King. Truth be told, his vocals have always turned me off. I downloaded this CD on a whim and Im thankful I did. This is one hell of a disc (and I mean that literally). King lays off some of the really, really high notes, and delivers some excellent music, framed within the context of a horror story. Something else worth noting about this release is the guitar play. I would never have expected the guitar work to be this strong. Mike Weed and Andy Laroque do an amazing job granting the Kings horror story life.
Evergreys Recreation Day. This CD was a bit of a disappointment for me. Dont get me wrong, its a very good offering. However, it just isnt on par with the last two Evergrey releases. The other aspect I found disappointing was the CDs production. Overall, it sounds a bit rough, which doesnt suit Evergreys music in the slightest. I realize that the band had some issues getting Neil Kernon, as they had hoped, to produce this disc. However, it should have been a non-issue, as the band should have never parted ways with Andy Laroque.
Dimmu Borgirs Death Cult Armageddon. Ive never been a fan of Black Metal (yes, yes, I know, I know, Dimmu isnt true Black Metal blah, blah, blah). While this CD is much more straight forward than PEM, there are some simply fantastic moments here, where the symphonic and the extreme collide head on, and then flow beautifully.
Arch Enemys Anthems of Rebellion. Some will cry that AE have sold out. Others will argue that Angela is nothing more than a gimmick. Whatever. Arch Enemy kicks ass! The Arnott brothers crank out one killer riff after another, as Daniel Erlandson lays down neck-snapping beat after neck-snapping beat, and all the while, Angela screams over the madness. We Will Rise is easily one of the top five songs penned in 2003.
Soilworks Figure Number Five. Soilwork continues to move further and further from their Death Metal roots. And in doing so, their music becomes of less and less interest to me. Not because Im such a huge fan of Death Metal, but because few others have ever been able to deliver music as aggressive as Soilworks, and yet retain a consistent melodic sensibility. While this CD isnt as good as NBC, which wasnt as good as APP, its still a real strong disc.
Other Noteworthy Releases
Andromedas II-I. A big let down after the debut. I find it a struggle to listen to this CD from beginning to end. Simply put, the songs just bore me.
Black Label Societys The Blessed Hellride. I dig Zakks voice and his guitar playing, but this CD sounds pre-fabricated.
Brainstorms Soul Temptation. Brainstorm is one of those bands who I should like, but who just leave me flat. Andy has one hell of a voice, but for whatever reason, it consistently fails to captivate me
Cages Darker Than Black. A real strong, albeit not terribly original, Power Metal release. If you love that classic Priest sound, pick this one up.
Circle II Circles Watching in Silence. I love Zachs vocals as much as the next guy, but this disc is terribly uneven. The first four songs are very strong, but the rest of this CD, uhhh kind of blows.
Dead Soul Tribes A Murder of Crows. I keep waiting for this disc to sink its hooks into me and never let go. Im still waiting.
Death Machines Death Machine. In the same vein as Meshuggah, only better.
Kamelots Epica. Not nearly as good as the previous two. There are no bad songs on here, but also none that are terribly interesting. That being said, if Khan sang the phone book, Id probably buy it.
Masterplans Masterplan. Dear Jorn, Im fairly certain that if you gave Tore a call, all would be forgiven. There are enough bands making completely unoriginal Power Metal. Please return to Ark at your earliest convenience. Sincerely, A Concerned Fan.
Redemptions Redemption. I know this CD blew up the collective skirt of the Perpetual Motion board, but I just dont hear it. Ill be real curious to hear their next disc, as Im a huge Corey Brown fan.
Sun Cageds Sun Caged. There are some absolutely wonderfully beautiful moments on this disc. Unfortunately, theyre few and far between.
Zod
Top 10
Balance of Powers Heathen Machine. I was sad to see Lance depart. I thought Perfect Balance was a superb disc. It exhibited a band in transition from AOR to Metal. With the addition of John K., BoP has completed that transition and has done so in spectacular fashion. Heathen Machine is well played, maturely written and features undeniable melodies. Im sure some will take issue with the often uncanny similarities between John and Geoff Tate. However, Tate hasnt sounded this good since Operation: Mindcrime, and quite frankly, I miss listening to someone who can sing like this. John has immediately become one of my Top 5 favorite vocalists and I look forward to, with great anticipation, future Balance of Power releases.
Poisonblacks Escapexstacy. Escapexstacy is one of those CDs that has the ability to render an eject button useless. If youve yet to be exposed to this disc, let me sum up:
1 Part Monster Riff
2 Parts Vocalist (with a deep voice, whose pipes just drip with sexuality)
1 Part Headbanging Drum Beat
3 Parts Melodic Hooks (the size of Montana)
Suffice it to say, this disc should be standard issue at every strip bar on the planet.
Opeths Damnation. If youre familiar with Opeths music, than this disc is everything you could have expected when you caught wind that Opeth was set to record an all acoustic CD. If youre not familiar with Opeth, get familiar! This CD is hauntingly beautiful. The lyrics, as always, are spectacular, and Mikaels voice has never sounded stronger. If I had one complaint about this disc, it would be that I wish Mikael and Peter did a little more soloing. That being said, this disc has the sound of a CD that will be musically relevant for decades to come.
Amon Amarths Versus the World. This is Viking Death Metal at its finest. When vocalist Johan Hegg sings, you cant help but feel that he moistens his pipes by licking blood from a sword, rather than with a cool 12 oz. of Evian. Amon Amarths music is quite simply crushing. Yet, they have no need to pummel the listener with incessant blast beats or guitars that create an overwhelming wall of sound, leaving the listener unable to discern where one note ends and the next begins. Rather, their music is executed with the precision and maturity of a band who isnt new to this genre and isnt impressed by how fast or how loud they can play. If you need something to help you push out that last rep at the gym, or perhaps go on a small but efficient killing spree, heres your soundtrack.
Star Ones Live on Earth. Im not a fan of live albums. And to be honest, I think watching the DVD gave me a greater appreciation for the CD. Its amazing to consider, when watching the DVD or listening to the CD, that this isnt an actual band. These are simply hand-picked musicians, each contributing to the sum of the whole, at such a high level, that one would have to assume that this group had been playing together for the better part of a decade. All the players here deliver top flight performances, but special note has to be taken of those given by Russell Allen and Damian Wilson, whose voices are just spectacular.
Nevermores Enemies of Reality. Had you told me that a Nevermore release would end up as low as #5 on one of my Top 10 lists, I would have simply shook my head and walked away. However, Kelly Gray and the accountants at Century Media have conspired against our heroes, and have brought us a disc that sounds as if it was recorded on $39 Radio Shack boom box. Despite the horrid production, the songs are as strong as ever. Loomis puts to bed any and all debate about who the finest guitar player in the genre is. Vans drumming is top notch as always. Warrells vocals and lyrics are as emotive, intelligent, and as meticulously delivered as Nevermore fans have grown to expect. Make no mistake about it, had Neil Kernon, Andy Sneap or my nearly deaf Grandfather produced this CD, it would have garnered top honors.
King Diamonds The Puppet Master. Ive never been a huge fan of the King. Truth be told, his vocals have always turned me off. I downloaded this CD on a whim and Im thankful I did. This is one hell of a disc (and I mean that literally). King lays off some of the really, really high notes, and delivers some excellent music, framed within the context of a horror story. Something else worth noting about this release is the guitar play. I would never have expected the guitar work to be this strong. Mike Weed and Andy Laroque do an amazing job granting the Kings horror story life.
Evergreys Recreation Day. This CD was a bit of a disappointment for me. Dont get me wrong, its a very good offering. However, it just isnt on par with the last two Evergrey releases. The other aspect I found disappointing was the CDs production. Overall, it sounds a bit rough, which doesnt suit Evergreys music in the slightest. I realize that the band had some issues getting Neil Kernon, as they had hoped, to produce this disc. However, it should have been a non-issue, as the band should have never parted ways with Andy Laroque.
Dimmu Borgirs Death Cult Armageddon. Ive never been a fan of Black Metal (yes, yes, I know, I know, Dimmu isnt true Black Metal blah, blah, blah). While this CD is much more straight forward than PEM, there are some simply fantastic moments here, where the symphonic and the extreme collide head on, and then flow beautifully.
Arch Enemys Anthems of Rebellion. Some will cry that AE have sold out. Others will argue that Angela is nothing more than a gimmick. Whatever. Arch Enemy kicks ass! The Arnott brothers crank out one killer riff after another, as Daniel Erlandson lays down neck-snapping beat after neck-snapping beat, and all the while, Angela screams over the madness. We Will Rise is easily one of the top five songs penned in 2003.
Soilworks Figure Number Five. Soilwork continues to move further and further from their Death Metal roots. And in doing so, their music becomes of less and less interest to me. Not because Im such a huge fan of Death Metal, but because few others have ever been able to deliver music as aggressive as Soilworks, and yet retain a consistent melodic sensibility. While this CD isnt as good as NBC, which wasnt as good as APP, its still a real strong disc.
Other Noteworthy Releases
Andromedas II-I. A big let down after the debut. I find it a struggle to listen to this CD from beginning to end. Simply put, the songs just bore me.
Black Label Societys The Blessed Hellride. I dig Zakks voice and his guitar playing, but this CD sounds pre-fabricated.
Brainstorms Soul Temptation. Brainstorm is one of those bands who I should like, but who just leave me flat. Andy has one hell of a voice, but for whatever reason, it consistently fails to captivate me
Cages Darker Than Black. A real strong, albeit not terribly original, Power Metal release. If you love that classic Priest sound, pick this one up.
Circle II Circles Watching in Silence. I love Zachs vocals as much as the next guy, but this disc is terribly uneven. The first four songs are very strong, but the rest of this CD, uhhh kind of blows.
Dead Soul Tribes A Murder of Crows. I keep waiting for this disc to sink its hooks into me and never let go. Im still waiting.
Death Machines Death Machine. In the same vein as Meshuggah, only better.
Kamelots Epica. Not nearly as good as the previous two. There are no bad songs on here, but also none that are terribly interesting. That being said, if Khan sang the phone book, Id probably buy it.
Masterplans Masterplan. Dear Jorn, Im fairly certain that if you gave Tore a call, all would be forgiven. There are enough bands making completely unoriginal Power Metal. Please return to Ark at your earliest convenience. Sincerely, A Concerned Fan.
Redemptions Redemption. I know this CD blew up the collective skirt of the Perpetual Motion board, but I just dont hear it. Ill be real curious to hear their next disc, as Im a huge Corey Brown fan.
Sun Cageds Sun Caged. There are some absolutely wonderfully beautiful moments on this disc. Unfortunately, theyre few and far between.
Zod
