HMaM Global Mod
Post by GL on Jan 1, 2010 14:31:31 GMT -5
The Traditional Heavy Metal group, which is pretty much defined as being more of a classic heavy metal sound which differentiates between the two groups, had a surprisingly strong year, coming complete with several incredibly fun albums from a wide range of established veterans and upstarts looking to make a name for themselves, which when mixed together has created one of the strongest if undervalued scenes in the genre and will be a force to reckon with in upcoming years. This will be fun to watch.
10. Adagio-Archangels in Black
Mixing in equal parts Painkiller-style Judas Priest and Beethoven-influenced classical music, these guys have long been a favorite of mine in that they play the fast and the furious only with a touch more class and maturity than most others of the style. With tons of wicked leads, a pounding rhythm section and a clear, powerful voice that really makes for automatic comparisons to the greats, they’ve delivered and have done so on their finest album so far. Nothing much more to say here, just classy heavy metal with a modern touch and an old-school vibe.
9. Wolf-Ravenous
Again, another group that tends to play their heavy metal classy, only with less of a classic music influence, these Swedes are definitely one to watch in the scene to come. Again displaying that awesome Swedish tradition of keeping their riffing melodic yet vicious and with a catchy aftertaste, a more melodic rhythm section that tends to have the songs ease up on the throttle some compared to others, but which allows for a much more dynamic songwriting to come barreling through to the forefront, that keeps this one higher up than expected. Full of surprises and definitely fun, yet another surprisingly good band in this vast scene.
8. Saviours-Accelerated Living
For those of you who miss early-80s era Judas Priest, just without the vocal prowess, meet your new favorite band. These guys are so heavily into the British Steel-Screaming for Vengeance albums that they sound like leftovers from those three recording sessions, especially with the one I’ve chosen below but even more soon the rest of the album. It’s full of quality old-school smokers that there’s a real sense of passion and urgency in their attempts to pay respect to the forefathers, and they sound right at home with the early 80s/NWOBHM groups that they play like the greatest tribute band to that time-period. Just don’t expect Halford-like singing on here and you’ll be very happy with these guys.
7. Powerwolf-Bible of the Beast
Quite dark lyrically for your typical Heavy Metal band, as they’re more into Gothic stereotypes (werewolves, vampires, pagans and some Satanic stuff here and there) which is quite different, but with them it works nicely. However, it’s their music that works wonders, and they’ve got a Symphonic quality with heavy, liberal use of keyboards, epic choirs and backing vocals that sound almost out of Wagnerian-operas being melded onto up-tempo heavy metal, and while there’s a couple others out there like them, these guys are one of the more enjoyable groups out there. Quality songwriting, consistent playing ability and an infectious quality lend to an entertaining album.
6. Crystal Viper-Metal Nation
Perhaps the best example of Poland’s exports beyond the extreme, this here was a shocker and quite possible one of the finest bands in the genre period. With a female vocalist that has a voice for the heavens and a band that has not only graduated from the Iron Maiden twin lead academy, but have landed themselves at the top of the heap with such a fine performance here. The songs here just hit with a drive and ferocity that lends itself to highly enjoyable anthems, each song hitting harder than its predecessor and leading to this containing a high consistency throughout. With a pounding attack that is both ferocious and yet accessible, a series of incredibly strong songs back with a solid band, this will be a band to watch in this scene for a while to come.
5. Tim Owens-Play My Game
I really feel sorry for the guy, he can’t seem to stay in one band long enough to really develop a legacy as I’ve loved everything he’s done. This really should’ve been the second Beyond Fear album, since they band is just utterly spectacular and this one sounds just like that one did, grand old-school Heavy Metal. Tim has one of the best voices in the scene, and is let loose with one of the better performances in his career, not nearly topping ‘Jugulator’ but still offering up enough to make it questionable why he’s not kept around in other bands as, like mentioned earlier, everywhere he’s gone has produced quality. With a great band backing him and putting on just enough to make it feel natural for his voice to soar through with abandon, this is a spectacular effort in his growing canon.
4. 3 Inches of Blood-Thy Will Be Done
Managing to spread the gap between Modern and Traditional with their use of vocalists capable of doing both, there’s a great concept at work here and it produces some good stuff here. While not the insane blasting that made their last one so awesome, nor is it as heavy (to me, this sounds surprisingly lighter and not as heavy) that doesn’t mean these guys are going backward at all. Merely, this seems like an attempt to grow their old shredding style with a more melodic sound, and it does come off rather well and a lot of the songs here do have a memorable air. Still haven’t fully grasped the second vocalist though, as that screaming style doesn’t really appeal to the sound, but it’s not a detriment at all and becomes one of their strengths.
3. Saxon-Into the Labyrinth
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Frankly, I don’t know what’s gotten into these guys in the new millennium, but they’ve been putting out killer records ever since the new decade began, and this one continues that fine tradition. Fully immersed in their traditional NWOBHM roots, there’s a simply fantastic mix of grand epics, bombastic thrashers they used to be so good at, slower, more mid-tempo fare and a couple of decent ballads thrown into the equation. It’s pretty much expected coming from a Saxon album, but that they do it all with a sense of class is where this one becomes so much fun, like they know what they’re doing and are doing a really good job of it. Not nearly as appealing as they’re last one, but still another worthwhile addition.
2. Cage-Science of Annihilation
Considering I placed their album last year at the same spot might seem like a band stuck in their wheels, but frankly, I don’t see it that way. That’s the sign of a simple and awesome band just being barely beat out. These guys are quite frankly the best Traditional Heavy Metal band out there playing today, yet because they’re not on a big label, no one knows and if they can ever get some recognition, they’ll be up there with the best of the best. From jaw-dropping vocals, scorching guitars, blazing drums and a dedication to keep the speed alive, these guys are just getting better and are poised to become one of the biggest things going if they can only get some attention.
1. Heaven and Hell-The Devil You Know
This version of the band is pretty much the only incarnation of any line-up they’ve recorded under that is worthwhile, because they have the one member of the band who had no talent replaced with one who does and an upgrade at a position that didn’t need to but does, so all around this outfit here is much better than it’s core. Bristling through an album of classy, hard-driven Traditional Heavy Metal is certainly a lot of fun, but because there’s so much talent in the line-up, they get a chance to display that are fully rewarded with one of the best performances each man has ever committed to tape. The doom-and-gloom is actually melded quite nicely in style and tone to their more up-tempo charges, and the result is one of the finest albums of the year.
10. Adagio-Archangels in Black
Mixing in equal parts Painkiller-style Judas Priest and Beethoven-influenced classical music, these guys have long been a favorite of mine in that they play the fast and the furious only with a touch more class and maturity than most others of the style. With tons of wicked leads, a pounding rhythm section and a clear, powerful voice that really makes for automatic comparisons to the greats, they’ve delivered and have done so on their finest album so far. Nothing much more to say here, just classy heavy metal with a modern touch and an old-school vibe.
9. Wolf-Ravenous
Again, another group that tends to play their heavy metal classy, only with less of a classic music influence, these Swedes are definitely one to watch in the scene to come. Again displaying that awesome Swedish tradition of keeping their riffing melodic yet vicious and with a catchy aftertaste, a more melodic rhythm section that tends to have the songs ease up on the throttle some compared to others, but which allows for a much more dynamic songwriting to come barreling through to the forefront, that keeps this one higher up than expected. Full of surprises and definitely fun, yet another surprisingly good band in this vast scene.
8. Saviours-Accelerated Living
For those of you who miss early-80s era Judas Priest, just without the vocal prowess, meet your new favorite band. These guys are so heavily into the British Steel-Screaming for Vengeance albums that they sound like leftovers from those three recording sessions, especially with the one I’ve chosen below but even more soon the rest of the album. It’s full of quality old-school smokers that there’s a real sense of passion and urgency in their attempts to pay respect to the forefathers, and they sound right at home with the early 80s/NWOBHM groups that they play like the greatest tribute band to that time-period. Just don’t expect Halford-like singing on here and you’ll be very happy with these guys.
7. Powerwolf-Bible of the Beast
Quite dark lyrically for your typical Heavy Metal band, as they’re more into Gothic stereotypes (werewolves, vampires, pagans and some Satanic stuff here and there) which is quite different, but with them it works nicely. However, it’s their music that works wonders, and they’ve got a Symphonic quality with heavy, liberal use of keyboards, epic choirs and backing vocals that sound almost out of Wagnerian-operas being melded onto up-tempo heavy metal, and while there’s a couple others out there like them, these guys are one of the more enjoyable groups out there. Quality songwriting, consistent playing ability and an infectious quality lend to an entertaining album.
6. Crystal Viper-Metal Nation
Perhaps the best example of Poland’s exports beyond the extreme, this here was a shocker and quite possible one of the finest bands in the genre period. With a female vocalist that has a voice for the heavens and a band that has not only graduated from the Iron Maiden twin lead academy, but have landed themselves at the top of the heap with such a fine performance here. The songs here just hit with a drive and ferocity that lends itself to highly enjoyable anthems, each song hitting harder than its predecessor and leading to this containing a high consistency throughout. With a pounding attack that is both ferocious and yet accessible, a series of incredibly strong songs back with a solid band, this will be a band to watch in this scene for a while to come.
5. Tim Owens-Play My Game
I really feel sorry for the guy, he can’t seem to stay in one band long enough to really develop a legacy as I’ve loved everything he’s done. This really should’ve been the second Beyond Fear album, since they band is just utterly spectacular and this one sounds just like that one did, grand old-school Heavy Metal. Tim has one of the best voices in the scene, and is let loose with one of the better performances in his career, not nearly topping ‘Jugulator’ but still offering up enough to make it questionable why he’s not kept around in other bands as, like mentioned earlier, everywhere he’s gone has produced quality. With a great band backing him and putting on just enough to make it feel natural for his voice to soar through with abandon, this is a spectacular effort in his growing canon.
4. 3 Inches of Blood-Thy Will Be Done
Managing to spread the gap between Modern and Traditional with their use of vocalists capable of doing both, there’s a great concept at work here and it produces some good stuff here. While not the insane blasting that made their last one so awesome, nor is it as heavy (to me, this sounds surprisingly lighter and not as heavy) that doesn’t mean these guys are going backward at all. Merely, this seems like an attempt to grow their old shredding style with a more melodic sound, and it does come off rather well and a lot of the songs here do have a memorable air. Still haven’t fully grasped the second vocalist though, as that screaming style doesn’t really appeal to the sound, but it’s not a detriment at all and becomes one of their strengths.
3. Saxon-Into the Labyrinth
Frankly, I don’t know what’s gotten into these guys in the new millennium, but they’ve been putting out killer records ever since the new decade began, and this one continues that fine tradition. Fully immersed in their traditional NWOBHM roots, there’s a simply fantastic mix of grand epics, bombastic thrashers they used to be so good at, slower, more mid-tempo fare and a couple of decent ballads thrown into the equation. It’s pretty much expected coming from a Saxon album, but that they do it all with a sense of class is where this one becomes so much fun, like they know what they’re doing and are doing a really good job of it. Not nearly as appealing as they’re last one, but still another worthwhile addition.
2. Cage-Science of Annihilation
Considering I placed their album last year at the same spot might seem like a band stuck in their wheels, but frankly, I don’t see it that way. That’s the sign of a simple and awesome band just being barely beat out. These guys are quite frankly the best Traditional Heavy Metal band out there playing today, yet because they’re not on a big label, no one knows and if they can ever get some recognition, they’ll be up there with the best of the best. From jaw-dropping vocals, scorching guitars, blazing drums and a dedication to keep the speed alive, these guys are just getting better and are poised to become one of the biggest things going if they can only get some attention.
1. Heaven and Hell-The Devil You Know
This version of the band is pretty much the only incarnation of any line-up they’ve recorded under that is worthwhile, because they have the one member of the band who had no talent replaced with one who does and an upgrade at a position that didn’t need to but does, so all around this outfit here is much better than it’s core. Bristling through an album of classy, hard-driven Traditional Heavy Metal is certainly a lot of fun, but because there’s so much talent in the line-up, they get a chance to display that are fully rewarded with one of the best performances each man has ever committed to tape. The doom-and-gloom is actually melded quite nicely in style and tone to their more up-tempo charges, and the result is one of the finest albums of the year.
Custodian of the Keep
