The list of 2010

Well, it's a tradition to list the albums and events and so on that's been going on throughout the year. 2010 will forever be remembered as the year the Metal World lost its greatest vocalists of all time. I never thought Ronnie would be the first to go. Apart from Dio it's been a really black year with the loss of Peter Steele, Paul Grey, Steve Lee, Armando Acosta... R.I.P all of you!

But it sure has been a good record year! There has been a lot of good albums, perhaps not that many real surprises, I mean, you can always count on some bands to release a good album. So yes, there has been a lot of good ones but not as many SUPER albums as it normally is.

My list of 2010;

1. ACCEPT - Blood Of The Nations

The mighty Accept is back and damn they are BACK! A phenomenal album which sounds like the old Accept both when it comes to song structures, hit-melodies and the sound. Above that Andy has worked miracles and make it all sound modern. No fill-outs, just damn good metal.

Favorite track: Kill The Pain

2. OVERKILL - Ironbound

Overkill is always good but not THIS good. A real smack in the face, great songs and it still holds, it's still as good now as I thought it was when it was released. Just like Accept it sounds Old School with a modern touch, I like that!

Favorite track: Bring Me The Night

3. JON OLIVA'S PAIN - Festival

I think this is another great album from Jon and co. Straight through stronger than Global Warning and some new really cool elements and great songs. Even if the album is around an hour long it felt short and that's a good grade.

Favorite track: Death Rides A Black Horse

4. IRON MAIDEN - The Final Frontier

Iron Maiden always releases good albums but I admit I was a bit skeptic towards the Eldorado track on the first few spins but then, when I got the full album it all fell into place. It is perhaps a little different compared to what Maiden normally sounds like, some tracks sounds more like Bruce solo but I really love that dark sound.

Favorite track: Mother Of Mercy

5. TANK - War Machine

Not the real Tank, bla bla bla. No matter what, this is an amazing record. The songs sounds like Tank but of course there are miles and miles between Algy and Doogie. Sure, it can be questioned if they should continue as Tank but if this is the result they have my vote.

Favorite track: Phoenix Rising

6. GRAND MAGUS - Hammer Of The North

I really thought this should be the same smack in the face as Iron Will, especially when listening to I, The Jury as the first sample from the album. To start with I thought this felt laid back and even lazy compared to its predecessor but the more I listened the more it grew and of course it's a great album.

Favorite track: Ravens Guide Our Way

7. ROSS THE BOSS - Hailstorm

I had no hopes for this one what so ever. New Metal Leader is ok but not more. This is a Metal album everyone wish Manowar will release these days. Great Metal songs and absolutely more unique than the last one.

Favorite track: Among The Ruins

8. NEVERMORE - The Obsidian Conspiracy

After 5 years the waiting was finally over and boy was I disappointed. The production wasn't as good as it used to be and the riffs and structures felt re-used and copied from old albums. Still, even if this isn't the high point of Nevermore it's a great album, some really great melodies and I like Warrels lower voice.

Favorite track: Emptiness Unobstructed

9. PROCESSION - Destroyers Of The Faith

It came like a flash from a clear sky. Perhaps not that unique neither in sound or style but a damn good Doom album. Felipe is an extraordinary vocalist and that's needed in this genre.

Favorite track: Destroyers Of The Faith

10. MOTÖRHEAD - The Wörld Is Yours
After a small down period a few albums ago Motörhead came back and realsed great albums again. This is ordinary for Motörhead, maybe not their strongest songs but it feels more like the old Motörhead again.

Favorite track: Get Back In Line

And the ones that almost made it (alphabetically);
BLAZE - Promise And Terror

EXCITER - Death Machine

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM - The Cold

FORBIDDEN - Omega Wave

GHOST - Opus Eponymous

HELSTAR - Glory Of Chaos

SLOUGH FEG - The Animal Spirits

UNLEASHED - As Yggdrasil Trembles

WATAIN - Lawless Darkness

Y&T - Facemelter

And the ones I should have listened more to that could have made it into the list with a little more time;

ANNIHILATOR - Same

BLIND GUARDIAN - At The Edge Of Time

EREB ALTOR - The End

GRAVE DIGGER - The Clans Will Rise Again

HALFORD - Made Of Metal

KAMELOT - Poetry For The Poisoned

MASTERPLAN - Time To Be King

NOMAD SON - The Eternal Return

PHARAO - Road To Nowhere

RATT - Infestation

And the greatest disappointments of the year;

DARK TRANQUILLITY - We Are The Void (not really a bad album but far from the smack in the face Fiction was)

GAMMA RAY - To The Metal (now even I start to think he's been stealing too much)

THERION - Sitra Ahra (perhaps not so bad either but extremely far from the greatness of Gothic Kabbalah)

And then, Peter's list of 2010;

1. IRON MAIDEN - The Final Frontier

2. OVERKILL- Ironbound

3. JON OLIVA'S PAIN - Festival

4. ACCEPT - Blood Of The Nations

5. EXCITER - Death Machine

6. TANK- War Machine

7. VIRGIN STEELE - The Black Light Of Bacchanalia

8. GRAVE DIGGER - The Clans Will Rise Again

9. HALFORD - Made Of Metal

10. PROCESSION - Destroyers Of The Faith

Not really that far away from mine!

Of course there's been some really good concerts as well. It was hard to pick the best ones because these 5 were really amazing.

ACCEPT - Grammercy Theater, NYC, USA (picture from Debaser)

CANDLEMASS - 25th Anniversary Concert, Debaser Medis, Stockholm, Sweden

EXCITER - Metropole Ruhr Metal Fest, Oberhausen, Germany

IRON MAIDEN - Sonisphere Festival, Stockholm, Sweden

JON OLIVA'S PAIN - Bang Your Head Festival, Balingen, Germany

After the summary I realize I haven't had time to listen to as much music as I want to since I easily could list 10 records that I have that I need to listen more to. I also realized I've bought a lot of White Metal this year... Messiah, Veni Domine, Leviticus, Barren Cross... I'm actually a bit surprised over that too, but hey, as long as the music is good I don't care!

Cheers

E

NP: Messiah - Final Warning