With the start of the New Year, it is a time of reflection
and resolutions. This past year of 2015 there were ups and downs with those we
have lost and tragedies within our own lives. But there will always be great
music, music that helps us get through the rough times and help us enjoy the
good times. For this past year, I have compiled a list of my top 15 albums that
I have listened to and liked.
15) “Suicide Society”
– Annihilator
Annihilator is one of those thrash bands that would be in
the next big 4 if the current big 4 did not exist. Ultimately my only
impression before its release was the title track, since it was the single.
Suicide Society is a good album but unfortunely has nothing new to offer. For
example the song “Creapin’ Again” shares some lyrics in the chorus, with the
song “Clown Parade”. I’m not trying to nitpick, because there are some good
songs here. Jeff Waters need some more variation in the lyrics. I bought the
deluxe version which has some rerecording of some of the old songs with the new
line up. I was more interested in that and the commentary on the album that was
also included, than the actual album.
Top 3 Tracks:
- Suicide Society
- Break, Enter
- Narcotic Avenue
14) “Birth and the
Burial” – Act of Defiance
After Chris Broderick and Shawn Drover left Megadeth, due to
creative reasons. One wondered what exactly they were going to do. Forming a
band together was intriguing but I was curious in what direction they would go.
The direction they chose was to go a more death metal route. The result is a
decent album, but what really kills it for me is the vocals. The screaming and
shouting just doesn’t do it for me. But the instrumentation of the rest of the
band was good enough to redeem them in my opinion.
Top 3 Tracks:
- Refrain and Refracture
- Birth and the Burial
- Legion of Lies
13) “Farmikos” –
Farmikos
With an early 2015 release in January, I had forgotten about
this band and their album. Fortunately, I was listening to podcast by Eddie
Trunk talking about this band and it jogged my memory. Former Ozzy guitarist,
Joe Holmes, who was only a touring member of the Ozzy band, came out with a
band that sounds eerily similar to Ozzy but a departure in the style. Overall I
like the album, and would love to see what they do next.
Top 3 Tracks:
- Scapegoat
- King of Dust
- Am I One
12) “War of Kings”
– Europe
Come on, the band known for two song in the US. “The Final
Countdown” and the power ballad “Carrie”. A hugely overlooked band, but big
globally. Hopefully now with the final countdown back in the charts due to the
Geico commercial that airs every time I watch TV, maybe people can get into the
band. One can only hope. As for the album, “War of Kings”, this is a great
album. But sadly not many people over in the US will notice. Also the title
track is a great addition, and would be in my top 5 tracks from the album.
Top 3 Tracks:
- Hole in my pocket
- Praise You
- Nothin To Ya
11) “Saint Asonia”
– Saint Asonia
A new super group formed with Adam Gontier, Mike Mushok,
Corey Lowery, and Rich Beddoe. I listened to this album on an indirect
recommendation from a friend. This band’s style is very close to the style of
music that I like. Good vocals and excellent musicianship. I’m surprised at how
well it still holds. I still have some riffs stuck in my head.
Top 3 Tracks:
- Blow Me Wide Open
- King of Nothing
- Fairy Tale
10) “VII: Sturm Und
Drang” - Lamb of God
This was the first Lamb of God album that I have listened
to. I listened to this album for three reasons. One, because I heard Randy
Blythe’s vocals on the song “Gift of Pain” by Metal Allengence. Two, due to the
song “Overlord”, which has more traditional singing as opposed to their normal
screaming. Finally Three, Chris Alder’s contribution to the Megadeth album “Dystopia”.
As my introduction to this band, I find it oddly satisfying. I really don’t
like screaming, but I can enjoy it fine as long as I can hear some semblance of
lyrics. “VII: Sturm Und Drang” is a fine addition to my library of music, but I
don’t see myself jumping head first into the realm of screaming in metal
anytime soon.
Top
3 Tracks:
- Overlord
- Still Echoes
- 512
9) “Ride” – Motor
Sister
Motor Sister is a tremendous tribute to the band Mother
Superior, giving new life to their songs and an entry way for those how may
have not have heard this band before. All the songs on this album are Mother
Superior covers. I would have liked to know if Motor Sister thought of doing
any original music, because they have such a good line up for this project. I
have not heard of Mother Superior prior to this album but I am intrigued enough
to check out that band.
Top 3 Tracks:
- Beg Borrow Steal
- Fool Around
- This Song reminds me of You
8) “Win Hands Down“– Armored Saint
I know of Armored Saint, because of their vocalist John
Bush’s stint with Anthrax. The song “Win hands down” is a pleasant surprise. I
don’t know any of their previous catalogue, but this album blew me away in how
good it sounded and the quality of the songs. A great album for lovers of hard
rock and heavy metal.
Top 3 Tracks:
- An Exercise in Debauchery
- Win Hands Down
- Mess
7) “Battering Ram”
– Saxon
The mighty Saxon strikes again with this hard hitting
addition. Saxon is one of those bands that comes from the old school, like Motörhead.
But also like Motörhead, they can come out with an album and still have that
same sound and guttural reaction. Just awesome.
Top 3 Tracks:
- The Devil’s footprints
- Hard and Fast
- Battering Ram
6) “Psychic Warfare“–
Clutch
This is my introduction to Clutch, so as my first soirée, I
was surprised by what I had heard, because I really like this album as a whole.
Each song is so strong, and I’m amazed I haven’t heard this band sooner.
Top 3 Tracks:
- Firebirds
- Behold the Colossus
- Sucker for the Witch
5) “Bad Magic” –
Motörhead
Now as Motörhead’s final album, their swan song. It pleases
me to say that this album is very very good. It’s Motörhead at its finest, and
with the song “Until the end” a great reminder that Lemmy can sing softly but with
passion. Truly a one of a kind, and an album worthy to buy in full.
Top 3 Tracks:
- The Devil
- Till the End
- Thunder and Lightning
4) “Metal Allegiance”
– Metal Allegiance
Metal Allegiance was born on the Motörboat cruise. One of
the bands had to bow out, so some of the musicians that were already there on
tour assembled a group and played a set list. They created a phenomenal line up
with a revolving door of musicians. The four key guys holding it together are
Mike Portnoy (Dream Theather, Winery Dogs), David Ellifson (Megadeth), Alex
Skolnick (Testament), and Mark Menghi.
It’s essentially a greatest hits of Thrash metal with
original songs, of course not including the closing track which is a Dio cover.
If I had to say specifically it’s a mixture of thrash, progressive and grove
metal.
Top 3 Tracks:
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Let Darkness Fall
- Dying Song
3) “Repentless” –
Slayer
SLAYER, is there anything else I really need say? It sounds
like it and feels like it, and that is what I believe this album needs to be. I
know I cheated a little but with my top 3 list, because number three is two
songs. “Delusions of Savior” is the
opening instrumental, and segues so well into opening the title track “Repentless”.
Top 3 Tracks:
- Take Control
- Vices
- Delusions of Savior / Repentless
2) “Condition Human”
– Queensrychre
This album is very strong. As the second album with singer Todd La Torre,
I really felt the band jelled so much better than the previous album. I highly
regard this album as better than or equal to their first two albums “The Warning” or “Rage for Order”. And while I did not include it, the opening track
“Arrow of Time” would be my number four.
Top 3 Tracks:
- Guardian
- Hellfire
- Selfish Lives
1) “The Book of Souls”
– Iron Maiden
Every song on this album is so strong and works so well
together. On a first listen it can seem like the songs “When the River Runs
Deep” and “The Man of Sorrows” are the weak links, but they grow on you as you
listen to them. An almost perfect album and I dare say the best album they’ve
made since ”Brave New World”, which I hold as my 2nd all-time favorite
Maiden album.
I’m not doing a top 3 for this album because every song is
so great and I believe it is worth it to buy the whole album.
Honorable
Mentions:
“Hot Streak” –
Winery Dogs
“Hollywood Vampires”
- Hollywood Vampires
“The Bay Calls for
Blood” – Death Angel [Live]
“Spookshow
International Live” – Rob Zombie [Live]
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